A completely automated apparatus for verifying the identity and geometry
of drill bits, re-sharpening the cutting tip of a drill bit and
re-positioning a locating ring upon the shank portion of the drill bit
subsequent to the re-sharpening of the cutting tip thereof. The apparatus
comprises a housing having a pair of cassette trays, a pair of grinding
assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of primary cleaning
assemblies, a pair of secondary cleaning assemblies, a pair of inversion
assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, a bumping assembly, and a
loader assembly attached thereto. The workhead and loader assemblies are
used to transport drill bits between the cassette trays and other
assemblies in a selected sequence which is controlled and coordinated by
a programmable control device. The control device is electrically
interfaced to each of the assemblies and allows the cutting tip
re-sharpening and locating ring re-positioning processes to be conducted
simultaneously on at least two drill bits.