Apparatus and method employing a grinder wheel coolant guard
View Patent ↗Edges of panels, such as glass panels, are ground and polished using grinder wheels that are cooled and lubricated with a coolant. A coolant deflector is utilized to help prevent coolant, which may contain panel particles or abrasives, from entering between the panel and a conveying mechanism that transports the panel.
1. An apparatus for grinding a side edge of a panel, the apparatus comprising:
at least one grinder wheel positioned to grind the side edge of the panel;
a coolant device configured to supply a coolant to the grinder wheel;
a conveying mechanism configured to convey the panel such that the side edge of the panel can be ground by the grinder wheel;
a coolant guard interposed between the conveying mechanism and the grinder wheel and extending collinearly in a direction of the side edge of the panel being conveyed;
a first coolant deflector positioned between the coolant device and the coolant guard and configured to block coolant from contacting the conveying mechanism; and
a first wiper affixed to the coolant guard between the coolant guard and the grinding wheel and extending collinearly in a direction of the side edge of the panel being conveyed along the conveying mechanism such that a transported panel contacts the first wiper.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first coolant deflector comprises a plate.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plate comprises an arcuate shape and is positioned adjacent the grinder wheel such that the arcuate shape is substantially concentric with the grinder wheel.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plate comprises a planar shape and is positioned adjacent the grinder wheel such that the coolant deflector is parallel to a line tangent to the grinder wheel.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first wiper and the at least one grinder wheel is adjustable.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first wiper comprises a fastener inserted into the coolant guard to affix the first wiper to the coolant guard.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant guard comprises a groove and the first wiper comprises a tab configured to be retained in the groove.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first wiper comprises a first edge arranged to contact a transported panel and a second edge affixed to the coolant guard, wherein a linear distance between the first edge and the grinder wheel is less than a linear distance between the second edge and the grinder wheel.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second wiper, and wherein the first wiper contacts an upper surface of the transported panel and the second wiper contacts a lower surface of the transported panel.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second wipers are positioned parallel to an edge of the transported panel.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first wiper is positioned parallel to an edge of the transported panel.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first coolant deflector is formed integral with the coolant guard.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first coolant deflector is affixed to the coolant guard.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a wheel box, wherein the wheel box comprises a frame, a lid, a bottom plate, and enclosed on at least two sides, wherein the wheel box contains the grinder wheel.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second coolant deflector.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first wiper comprises a thickness of between 0.025 and 0.035 inches.
17. An apparatus for grinding a side edge of a panel, the apparatus comprising:
at least one grinder wheel positioned to grind the side edge of the panel;
a coolant device for supplying a coolant to the grinder wheel;
a conveying mechanism for conveying the panel such that the side edge of the panel can be ground by the grinder wheel;
a first coolant deflector comprising a plate for blocking coolant from contacting the conveying mechanism;
a coolant guard mounted adjacent the first coolant deflector and interposed between the conveying mechanism and the grinder wheel; and
a first wiper affixed to the coolant guard and extending along the conveying mechanism such that a transported panel contacts the first wiper;
wherein the plate comprises a top edge and a bottom edge and is arced from the top edge to the bottom edge such that the top edge extends toward a top surface of the grinder wheel and the bottom edge extends toward a bottom surface of the grinder wheel.
18. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first coolant deflector comprises a first tab, a second tab, and a notch, further wherein the first and second tabs define the notch and the coolant deflector is configured such that a transported panel passes through the notch.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the coolant guard comprises a channel configured to receive the first tab.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the first wiper is provided adjacent to the notch.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant guard is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the conveying mechanism.
22. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant guard is angled toward the conveying mechanism.
23. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant guard is angled away from the conveying mechanism.
24. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the coolant guard is adjustable.
25. An apparatus for grinding a side edge of a panel, the apparatus comprising:
at least one grinder wheel positioned to grind the side edge of the panel;
a coolant device for supplying a coolant to the grinder wheel;
a conveying mechanism for conveying the panel such that the side edge of the panel can be ground by the grinder wheel;
a first coolant deflector for blocking coolant from contacting the conveying mechanism;
a coolant guard mounted adjacent the first coolant deflector and interposed between the conveying mechanism and the grinder wheel;
a first wiper affixed to the coolant guard and extending along the conveying mechanism such that a transported panel contacts the first wiper; and
a wheel box, wherein the wheel box comprises a frame, a lid, a bottom plate, and enclosed on at least two sides, wherein the wheel box contains the grinder wheel;
wherein the coolant deflector is affixed to the bottom plate.