Patent ID: RE38878

Claim:
A polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a workpiece comprising: a turntable having an abrasive cloth at an upper surface thereof; a workpiece supporting and pressing member for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against said abrasive cloth, said workpiece supporting and pressing member comprising a top ring positioned above said turntable; a top ring drive shaft coupled to said top ring; and a spherical bearing interposed between said workpiece supporting and pressing member and said top ring drive shaft, and spherical bearing comprising spherical seats formed in said workpiece supporting and pressing member and in said top ring drive shaft, respectively, and a single sphere seated in said seats so as to allow said top ring to tilt upon changes in the inclination of said upper surface of said turntable, the radius of said sphere being substantially the same as the radius of curvature of each of said spherical seats.