Apparatus for manipulating workpieces having plane parallel surfaces

摘要

Apparatus for supporting, locating and transferring plate-like or disc-shaped workpieces between several stations or between several machines where each of two plane parallel surfaces of each workpiece is subjected to one or more treatments has at least two partially overlapping plate chucks. A workpiece which is introduced by one chuck into the space where the two chucks overlap is released by the one chuck and is then attracted by the other chuck so that the previously exposed surface of the workpiece becomes concealed and vice versa. The chucks can transport workpieces between successive stations of a series of stations where the surfaces of the workpieces can be subjected to a coarse and thereupon to a precision or final treatment such as grinding and polishing, lapping or honing. If the chucks are installed in a separate frame, they can be rotated through 180 DEG about an axis which is parallel to their work-contacting surfaces so that a workpiece between such chucks is inverted, i.e., its upper side becomes its underside and vice versa. The chucks may be equipped with permanent magnets and/or electromagnets to selectively attract and release the workpieces.