Ball polishing apparatus and method for the same

Claim 2

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a lower polishing disk having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer polishing disk forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; magnetic holding means for holding said outer disk in a state in which said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, said magnetic holding means including a holding ring provided for a lower surface of said outer disk and a repulsive ring located in opposition to the holding ring, said holding ring and said repulsive ring being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said outer disk in a floating state; first driving means for driving said inner disk; second driving means for driving said outer disk without impairing the floating state of said outer disk achieved by the magnetic force; an upper polishing disk opposing said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; and third driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic holding means comprises a holding ring, constituted by a permanent magnet provided on a side of a lower surface of said outer disk, and a repulsive ring, provided at a location to oppose said holding ring, for generating a magnetic repulsive force with respect to said holding ring.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said upper polishing disk and said third driving means are integrally provided and are driven by fourth driving means in a direction to approach and separate from said lower polishing disk.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, comprising: detecting means for detecting a load applied on the ball by said upper polishing disk; and control means for driving said fourth driving means by a detection signal supplied from said detecting means in order to control the load applied on the ball by said upper polishing disk.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means is a strain gauge provided on said upper polishing disk.

Claim 7

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a base; a rotary member constituting a cylindrical member and provided on said base to be rotatable about an axis of the cylindrical member; a lower polishing disk having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, and provided in said rotary member, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk, forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; magnetic holding means for holding said outer disk in a state where said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, said magnetic holding means including a holding ring provided for a lower surface of said outer disk and a repulsive ring located in opposition to the holding ring, said holding ring and said repulsive ring being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said outer disk; first driving means for driving said inner disk; magnetic coupling means, provided at an inner circumferential portion of said cylindrical member, for coupling said outer disk with said cylindrical member in a non-contact manner by a magnetic force; second driving means for integrally rotating said outer disk and said cylindrical member through said magnetic coupling means provided to said cylindrical member by driving said cylindrical member; an upper polishing disk opposing said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; third driving means, being integral with said upper polishing disk, for driving said upper polishing disk; fourth driving mean, for driving said upper polishing disk in a direction to approach and separate from said lower polishing disk; detecting means for detecting a load which said upper polishing disk applies to the ball; and control means for controlling the load which said upper polishing disk applies to the ball, by driving said fourth driving means in accordance with a detection signal supplied from said detecting means.

Claim 8

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a base; a rotary member constituting a cylindrical member and provided on said base to be rotatable about an axis of the cylindrical member; a lower polishing disk having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, and provided in said rotary member, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk, forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; magnetic holding means for holding said outer disk in a state where said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, said magnetic holding means including a holding ring provided for a lower surface of said outer disk and a repulsive ring located in opposition to the holding ring, said holding ring and said repulsive ring being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said outer disk; first driving means for driving said inner disk; magnetic coupling means, provided at an inner circumferential portion of said cylindrical member, for coupling said outer disk with said cylindrical member in a non-contact manner by a magnetic force; second driving means for integrally rotating said outer disk and said cylindrical member through said magnetic coupling means provided to said cylindrical member by driving said cylindrical member; an upper polishing disk opposing said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; third driving means, being integral with said upper polishing disk, for driving said upper polishing disk; fourth driving mean, for driving said upper polishing disk in a direction to approach and separate from said lower polishing disk; detecting means for detecting a load which said upper polishing disk applies to the ball; and control means for controlling the load which said upper polishing disk applies to the ball, by driving said fourth driving means in accordance with a detection signal supplied from said detecting means.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second driving means comprises an integral gear formed on the inner circumferential surface of said cylindrical member, a driving gear meshed with said internal gear, and a power source for driving said driving gear.

Claim 10

A polishing method of polishing a ball with upper and lower polishing disks, comprising the steps of: holding an outer disk by a magnetic repulsive force and in a state in which said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, by using said lower polishing disk constituted by said inner disk and said outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith; supplying a ball to a holding portion formed by an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk; pushing the ball held by said holding portion by said upper polishing disk with a predetermined load; and driving said inner disk, outer disk, and upper polishing disk.

Claim 11

A polishing method of polishing a ball with upper and lower polishing disks, comprising the steps of: holding an outer disk by a magnetic repulsive force and in a state in which said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, by using said lower polishing disk constituted by said inner disk and said outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith; supplying a ball to a holding portion formed by an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk; pushing the ball held by said holding portion by said upper polishing disk with a predetermined load; and driving said inner disk, outer disk, and upper polishing disk.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 8, wherein said upper polishing disk and said inner disk of said lower polishing disk are rotated in different directions, and said outer disk of said lower polishing disk and said inner disk are rotated in the same direction.

Claim 13

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: at least two inner disks vertically spaced apart at a predetermined gap and arranged coaxial in a horizontal plane, each having a diameter greater than the immediate lower one; at least two annular outer disks, having different diameters and surrounding said inner disks and coaxial therewith, respectively, forming holding portions for holding the ball with inner circumferential portions thereof and outer circumferential portions of said inner disk; magnetic holding means for holding said outer disk in a state in which said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, said magnetic holding means including holding rings provided for lower surfaces of the respective outer disks and repulsive rings located in opposition to the respective holding rings, said holding rings and said repulsive rings being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said outer disk; and driving means for driving said inner and outer disks in predetermined directions, respectively.

Claim 14

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: at least two inner disks vertically spaced apart at a predetermined gap and arranged coaxial in a horizontal plane, each having a diameter greater than the immediate lower one; at least two annular outer disks, having different diameters and surrounding said inner disks and coaxial therewith, respectively, forming holding portions for holding the ball with inner circumferential portions thereof and outer circumferential portions of said inner disk; magnetic holding means for holding said outer disk in a state in which said outer disk is movable with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk, said magnetic holding means including holding rings provided for lower surfaces of the respective outer disks and repulsive rings located in opposition to the respective holding rings, said holding rings and said repulsive rings being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said outer disk; and driving means for driving said inner and outer disks in predetermined directions, respectively.

Claim 15

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a driving shaft; first driving means for driving said driving shaft; a lower polishing disk having a holding portion formed on an upper surface thereof for rollably holding the ball, and a support shaft provided on a lower surface thereof; coupling means for coupling said support shaft to said driving shaft, allowing said support shaft to move along an axis of said driving shaft and to swing away from the axis of said driving shaft, and making said support shaft rotate together with said driving shaft; magnetic holding means for holding said lower polishing disk in a state where said outer disk is movable along said axis, said magnetic holding means including a first ring provided for a lower surface of said lower polishing disk and a second ring located in opposition to the first ring, said first ring and said second ring being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged above said lower polishing disk and opposing said lower disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion with a predetermined load; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 16

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a driving shaft; first driving means for driving said driving shaft; a lower polishing disk having a holding portion formed on an upper surface thereof for rollably holding the ball, and a support shaft provided on a lower surface thereof; coupling means for coupling said support shaft to said driving shaft, allowing said support shaft to move along an axis of said driving shaft and to swing away from the axis of said driving shaft, and making said support shaft rotate together with said driving shaft; magnetic holding means for holding said lower polishing disk in a state where said outer disk is movable along said axis, said magnetic holding means including a first ring provided for a lower surface of said lower polishing disk and a second ring located in opposition to the first ring, said first ring and said second ring being magnetized and arranged with their same-polarity portions facing each other, to thereby generate a magnetic repulsive force by which to hold said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged above said lower polishing disk and opposing said lower disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion with a predetermined load; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said coupling means comprises an insertion hole formed in an upper end face of said driving shaft and having a diameter larger than that of said support shaft, an engaging groove radially formed in an upper end portion of said driving shaft intersecting with the insertion hole, an a pin provided at a lower end portion of said support shaft and engaged in said engaging groove.

Claim 18

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a lower polishing disk, having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; positioning means for moving at least one of said outer and inner disks in an axial direction of said outer and inner disks and adjusting the positions of said outer and inner disks in a horizontal direction perpendicular to said axial direction; first driving means for driving said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged and opposed said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 19

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a lower polishing disk, having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer disk forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; positioning means for moving at least one of said outer and inner disks in an axial direction of said outer and inner disks and adjusting the positions of said outer and inner disks in a horizontal direction perpendicular to said axial direction; first driving means for driving said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged and opposed said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said positioning means regulates a movement of said outer disk in a radial direction thereof and vertically moves at least one of said outer and inner disks.

Claim 21

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a lower polishing disk, having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer polishing disk forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; holding means for moving said outer disk with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk and holding said inner and outer disks such that horizontal positions thereof are maintained in a predetermined state; first driving means for driving said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged and opposing said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.

Claim 22

A ball polishing apparatus for polishing a ball, comprising: a lower polishing disk, having an inner disk and an annular outer disk surrounding said inner disk and coaxial therewith, an outer circumferential portion of said inner disk and an inner circumferential portion of said outer polishing disk forming a holding portion for rollably holding the ball; holding means for moving said outer disk with reference to said inner disk in an axial direction of said inner disk and holding said inner and outer disks such that horizontal positions thereof are maintained in a predetermined state; first driving means for driving said lower polishing disk; an upper polishing disk, arranged and opposing said lower polishing disk, for pushing the ball held by said holding portion; and second driving means for driving said upper polishing disk.