Abstract: A high pressure water cleaning method and apparatus using a nozzle assembly wherein abrasive particles (172) are separated from a transport gas and injected into a high pressure water spray within an impact and mixing chamber (320) at an incidence angle (MA, MA') and velocity sufficient for the separated particles to penetrate into and thereby mix with a high velocity core (360) of the water spray (FS). The spray pattern is preferably fanned shaped instead of cone shaped, and preferably does not touch at least one outlet passage wall downstream of the impact chamber (320) to provide an exit flow path (AG) for the separated transport gas. For this purpose, an axis (CL) of the spray pattern may be offset (OS) from the center (SC) of the outlet passage (302) of the nozzle assembly, which may be either fixed (280, 285) or rotated (650).

Abstract: A caliper assembly for a grinding apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart, moveable, caliper arms for measuring a dimension of a workpiece held in the grinding apparatus. The caliper arms are independently movable. Each has a dimension measuring probe for contacting a workpiece surface and measuring a dimension of the workpiece. An inspecting device located at an end of one caliper arm for inspecting characteristics of the workpiece surface is supported spaced from the dimension measuring probe and so that the surface inspecting device is located at a desired, fixed distance from the workpiece surface when the dimension measuring probe contacts the workpiece surface. The surface inspecting device is movably adjusted in accordance with the adjustments of the caliper arm so that the surface inspecting device is accurately located at a constant distance from the surface of the workpiece. In one embodiment, the inspecting device is on the inward facing surface of one of the caliper arms.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for sharpening blades of a lawn mower cutting cylinder are disclosed. In the apparatus, a cutting cylinder is mounted on a fixed bed whereupon it can be subjected to the sharpening action of a grinding wheel passing along the length of its blades. The apparatus comprises urging means for resiliently urging the cylinder to rotate during the pass of the grinding wheel and to urge the blade against a support member. Additionally, indexing means is provided operable to rotate the cylinder about its axis to bring successive blades into position for sharpening by the grinding wheel.

Abstract: An in-process rotary machine balancer which utilizes a plurality of vibration wave motors with unbalanced rotor members for positioning the unbalanced rotors to cancel a measured imbalance of a rotating machine. Each unbalanced rotor member is positioned in rotation with respect to a rotating machine component by activating a respective vibration wave motor to orient the plurality of unbalanced rotor members to a desired trigonometric configuration which balances the rotating machine part. Preferably, an off-the-shelf vibration wave motor is modified by affixing an eccentric mass to the rotor member which provides the corresponding rotary imbalance. Preferably, a pair of vibration wave motors are utilized on a rotating machine shaft such that their initial configuration offsets and balances each respective eccentric mass in order to determine the imbalance of a rotating shaft. Corresponding rotation of each unbalanced rotor member produces a corresponding opposite imbalance which balances the rotating shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for bevelling the edge of a wafer, comprising a framework, a table rotatably mounted to the framework and capable of holding down the wafer, a buff rotatably mounted to the framework opposite the table and having a formed groove for bevelling the wafer edge, an air cylinder assembly mounted to the framework and pressing the buff by different forces on the orientation flat, the circular edge and the round joints of the wafer held down by the table, a sensor sensing the orientation flat, the circular edge and the round joints of the wafer held down by the table and producing corresponding signals, and a control controlling the air cylinder assembly to select between the forces in response to the signals. The apparatus may comprise a grooving cutter assembly removably held by the table, a lock locking the rotation of the table when the apparatus produces the formed groove in the buff, and a stopper stopping the air cylinder assembly and positioning the cutter assembly relative to the buff.

Abstract: A traveling device having a frame means, and a moving means mounted on the frame means and moving on a travel surface, the moving means comprising a plurality of wheels, or a plurality of endless tracks each including a plurality of belt pulleys is disclosed. The frame means includes a main frame, a pair of oscillating frames arranged on both sides of the main frame, and a connecting frame disposed on one end portion side of the main frame. A central portion of the connecting frame is coupled to the main frame via a monoaxially oscillating joint means, both end portions of the connecting frame are coupled to one end portion of each of the oscillating frames via an omniaxially oscillating joint means, and the other end portion of each of the oscillating frames is coupled to both side portions of the other end portion of the main frame via a biaxially oscillating joint means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for on-site dressing and truing of rubber-covered cylinders mounted within sanding machines. The grinding apparatus comprises a base having a pneumatic cylinder mounted thereon for imparting oscillating or reciprocating movement to an abrasive plate which extends back and forth along the length of the rubber-covered cylinder during the dressing and truing procedure. The grinding apparatus removes the necessary amount of rubber compound from the rubber-covered cylinder upon which it acts until the rubber-covered cylinder is perfectly round, and the grinding apparatus is then removed from the sanding machine. In this fashion, the apparatus and method of the invention provide for on-site dressing and truing of rubber-covered cylinders of sanding machines without the necessity for conventional removal of the rubber-covered cylinders for dressing and truing.

Abstract: A wafer polishing apparatus includes: a) a rotatable polishing platen; b) a polishing pad received outwardly of the polishing platen; c) a wafer carrier head, the wafer carrier head being mounted for selective rotation relative to the polishing platen; the wafer carrier head including a wafer carrier apparatus for use in polishing a semiconductor wafer having a particular orientation edge discontinuity shape, the wafer carrier apparatus including, i) a base support mounted to rotate with the carrier head; and ii) a wafer carrier ring separately rotatably received relative to the base support, the wafer carrier ring having an internal periphery which is sized and shaped to receive the particular semiconductor wafer for which the apparatus is adapted, the wafer carrier ring internal periphery including a portion which is sized and shaped to mate with the particular orientation edge discontinuity shape. A polishing process is also disclosed using this and other apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a surface of a member to be ground in which feelers are disposed on, or in close proximity to, the surface of the member to be ground, a sensor detects the displacement of the feeler as a projection on the member to be ground comes into contact with the feeler when the member to be ground is moved, and the projection is detected by an output signal from the sensor and an amount of movement of the member to be ground. An automatic inspection/grinding apparatus for grinding a projection is also disclosed. Projections and the like on the surface of the member to be ground, such as a color filter, can be detected and ground accurately and simply.

Abstract: Smoothing mill for compressed ejectors (3,4) of several stages, incorporated, for suction of dust generated and for conveying it through a flexible tube (19) to a collecting area, use being made of the compressed air discharged from the motor (40) which sets the abrasive disk (9) in rotation.

Abstract: A dynamic steady rest particularly adapted for use in supporting a rotating workpiece during a grinding operation. The steady rest includes a lever assembly pivotally mounted on a base and having a workpiece support arm and a counterweight arm. Weights are adjustably secured to the counterweight arm and bias the support arm upwardly and into supporting engagement with the rotating workpiece. The steady rest further includes two dashpots pivotally secured between the base and the support arm to dampen the motion of the support arm.

Abstract: A device for sharpening dental instruments is disclosed. The device is particularly advantageous for sharpening and shaping dental curettes and universals. The device is comprised of a generally rectangular and elongate wedge-shaped ceramic stone. The stone has a planar front surface and a planar back surface, the surfaces are obliquely positioned with respect to each other. A rounded top lip and a rounded bottom lip join the front surface and the back surface. The top surface has a groove, semicircular in cross-section, extending lengthwise. The groove is sized to receive the toe portion of dental curettes or universals for sharpening and shaping.

Abstract: A spherical member polishing apparatus has a fixed disk which is disposed in opposition to a rotating disk with a predetermined clearance. The rotating disk is rotated, and spherical members are clamped and pressurized between the rotating disk and the fixed disk for roll-polishing the spherical members. A plurality of grooves are formed along a circumferential direction of the fixed disk, and a plurality of working-fluid supply ports are randomly formed along the circumferential direction between the grooves, between the groove and an outer peripheral portion of the fixed disk, and between the groove and an inner peripheral portion of the fixed disk. The working fluid is supplied through the working-fluid supply ports to the fixed disk. A large number of spherical members are polished at a high precision, while a variation in polishing precision and the like are avoided as much as possible.

Abstract: In a method of grinding ball grooves formed in a workpiece with a grind stone, the grind stone is fed in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball groove in a condition in which an axis of rotation of the grind stone is inclined in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ball groove relative to a plane which perpendicularly crosses the longitudinal axis of the ball groove. An apparatus for grinding the ball groove has an apparatus bed which is movable in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball groove relative to a work holder for holding a workpiece, a supporting bed which is provided on the apparatus bed, a grind stone holder which rotatably mounts on a front end thereof a grind stone for grinding the ball groove, and an electric motor and a gear mechanism for rotating the grind stone. The grind stone holder, the electric motor and the gear mechanism are mounted on the supporting bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing optical chatter for use with a machine that is adapted to perform an operation on a surface of a workpiece by bringing a rotating roller into contact with the surface as the workpiece is advanced past the roller. The roller of the machine has a central axis and is powered to rotate about the central axis. The apparatus comprises an oscillation inducing device that is operably coupled to the roller for inducing an axial oscillation in the roller. The frequency of the induced oscillation of the roller is substantially greater than the frequency of rotation of the roller. The method for reducing optical chatter comprises the step of imparting axial oscillations to the roller during rotation of the roller, the imparted oscillations being of substantially greater frequency than the frequency of rotation of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing machine lines from the gasket groove in the flanges of a header box has a support plate mounted for linear movement on rails connected to the header box. The support carries a tool driver which can be pivoted below the support to bring a grinding or polishing tool, rotated by the tool driver, into and out of the groove for grinding and polishing away the machine lines in the groove as the support slides along the rail. This grinds and polishes the grooves while avoiding a wavy effect which was a disadvantage of using a hand-held grinder for the same purpose.

Abstract: The single-motored apparatus includes a motor which rotatingly drives a main shaft and a correction shaft, the main shaft in turn rotatingly driving the diamond toolholder, a clutch for coupling and uncoupling the shafts, and a cam/feeler assembly for transforming the rotary movement of the correction shaft into longitudinal movement of the diamond toolholder. When the correction shaft and the main shaft connected by the clutch rotate simultaneously, the diamond toolholder executes solely an angular movement; when the two shafts are uncoupled and only one of the two shafts rotates, the diamond toolholder executes either solely a longitudinal movement or a longitudinal and angular movement at the same time.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the position of a moveable regulating wheel in a centerless grinding machine, to provide a varying contour to the object being ground. The control system includes sensing means which measures the feed rate at which the object is being fed into the grinding machine. The rate at which the regulating wheel is moved is adjusted based on the feed rate of the object being ground, thus providing a high degree of control over the final shape of the ground object.