Patent ID: 7243696

Claim:
An edging apparatus to perform an edge modification to an edge profile of a planar object, said apparatus comprising a fixed structure to which the planar object can be mounted, an edge follower movably mounted from said fixed structure and adapted to move along at least part of said edge profile of said planar object, an edge sensor capable of determining the slope of said profile at said edge follower relative to a fixed frame of reference, an active force controller acting between said fixed structure and said edge follower responsive to feedback from said edge sensor to directly act on said edge follower to control the direction of bias of said edge follower to be towards said planar object, said edge follower carrying a driven roller which engages with the edge of said planar object and is biased there against by said force controller to, upon said driven roller being rotationally driven, generate movement of said edge follower along at least part of said profile, and means for modifying said edge of said object carried by said edge follower.