US20040048549A1 - Device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad - Google Patents
Device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040048549A1 US20040048549A1 US10/237,291 US23729102A US2004048549A1 US 20040048549 A1 US20040048549 A1 US 20040048549A1 US 23729102 A US23729102 A US 23729102A US 2004048549 A1 US2004048549 A1 US 2004048549A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sanding pad
- abrasive disk
- guide
- guide rails
- blade
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
- B24D9/00—Wheels or drums supporting in exchangeable arrangement a layer of flexible abrasive material, e.g. sandpaper
- B24D9/08—Circular back-plates for carrying flexible material
Abstract
A device for removing an abrasive disk from a rotary sander of the type having a disk-shaped sanding pad with upper and lower surfaces that are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The device includes a frame having a pair of elongated guide rails secured to the frame. Each guide rail has an elongated guide surface adapted to abut against the upper surface of the sanding pad on opposite sides of the sanding pad. At least one blade is secured to the frame so that the blade lies in a plane parallel to the guide surfaces and is spaced from the guide surfaces by the predetermined distance corresponding to the thickness of the sanding pad. In use, the sanding pad is moved along the guide rails by a robot so that the upper surface of the sanding pad slides along the guide surfaces. In doing so, the blade engages the sanding pad between its lower surface and its attached abrasive disk thus removing the abrasive disk from the sanding pad.
Description
- I. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates generally to a device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad.
- II. Description of Related Art
- There are many manufacturing operations in which a robot manipulates a rotary sander to abrade or sand a manufactured item. These rotary items conventionally include a disk-shaped sanding pad having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper and lower surfaces of the sanding pad lie in parallel planes to each other and are spaced apart by a predetermined distance equal to the thickness of the sanding pad. An abrasive disk is then detachably secured to the lower surface of the sanding pad by any conventional means, such as hook and pile fasteners or pressure sensitive adhesive.
- After prolonged use, the abrasive disk becomes worn and is no longer capable of performing the desired abrasive operation on the workpiece. When this occurs, it is necessary to remove the abrasive disk and replace it with a new abrasive disk.
- Previously, there have been no acceptable devices for automatically removing an abrasive disk from a rotary sander when used in a robotic application. Instead, it has been previously necessary to stop the robot and manually remove and thereafter replace the abrasive disk with a fresh abrasive disk. Such a procedure, however, is disadvantageously labor intensive and, therefore, expensive. Furthermore, since the manual replacement of the abrasive disk is necessarily time consuming, such replacement results in a delay in the manufacturing operation thus increasing the cycle time for the manufacturing operation.
- The present invention provides a device which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of manually removing the abrasive disk from a robotic rotary sander.
- In brief, the device of the present invention is used with a rotary sander of the type having a disk-shaped sanding pad with an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper and lower surfaces of the sanding pad lie in parallel planes that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. A drive shaft is attached to and extends coaxially outwardly from the upper surface of the sanding pad while an abrasive disk is removably secured to the lower surface of the sanding pad. Any conventional means, such as hook and pile fasteners or pressure sensitive adhesive, is used to secure the abrasive disk to the lower surface of the sanding pad.
- The device of the present invention comprises a frame having a pair of elongated guide rails secured to the frame. Each guide rail has an elongated guide surface adapted to abut against the upper surface of the sanding pad on opposite sides of the pad.
- At least one, and preferably two, blades are also secured to the frame so that the blades lie in a plane parallel to the guide surfaces on the guide rails. Furthermore, the blades are spaced from the guide surfaces on the guide rail by a distance equal to the thickness of the sanding pad.
- In operation, the rotary sander is manipulated by a robot. When the abrasive disk on the sanding pad becomes worn, the robot moves the sanding pad from an entry end of the guide rails and to an exit end of the guide rails while maintaining the upper surface of the sanding pad in contact with the guide surfaces of the guide rails. In doing so, the blade or blades engage in between the lower surface of the sanding pad and the spent abrasive disk thus removing the spent abrasive disk from the sanding pad. A chute formed in the frame adjacent the exit end of the guide rails transports the spent abrasive disk to a collection area for subsequent disposal.
- Since the robot is programmed to slide the sanding pad of the rotary sander through the frame in the above-described fashion, removal of the spent abrasive disk can be rapidly and automatically accomplished.
- A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
- FIG. 1 is a side diagrammatic view illustrating a robot manipulated rotary sander;
- FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 4 is a side diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the present invention; and
- FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the operation of the present invention.
- With reference first to FIG. 1, a
rotary sander 10 is shown having a disk-shaped sanding pad 12 with anupper surface 14 and alower surface 16. The upper andlower surfaces sanding pad 12 lie in parallel planes and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance X, i.e. the thickness of thesanding pad 12. - An
abrasive disk 20 is detachably secured to thelower surface 16 of thesanding pad 12. Any conventional means, such as hook andpile fastener 22 or a pressure sensitive adhesive, may be utilized to secure theabrasive disk 20 to thesanding pad 12. - A
drive shaft 24 extends coaxially outwardly from theupper surface 14 of thesanding pad 12. Thisdrive shaft 24 is rotatably driven by a motor 26 (illustrated only diagrammatically) and the entirerotary sander 10 is manipulated by a robot 28 (illustrated only diagrammatically). - With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a
device 30 for removing theabrasive disk 20 from thesanding pad 12 is shown. Thedevice 30 includes aframe 32 which is mounted in a stationary position in any conventional fashion. Preferably, theframe 32 is made of a rigid material, such as steel. - A pair of
elongated guide rails 34 are secured to theframe 32 so that theguide rails 34 are spaced apart and parallel to each other. Furthermore, eachguide rail 34 includes anelongated guide surface 36 in which theguide surface 36 on oneguide rail 34 is coplanar with theguide surface 36 on theother guide rail 34. Any conventional means, such as bolts 38, can be used to secure theguide rails 34 to theframe 32. - The
guide surfaces 36 of theguide rails 34 are adapted to abut against the upper surface 14 (FIG. 1) of thesanding pad 12. Eachguide rail 34 further includes aside 42 which conforms in shape to an outer periphery 44 (FIG. 1) of thesanding pad 12. - Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one and preferably two
blades 50 are secured to theframe 32 so that theblades 50 lie in a plane parallel to the plane of theguide surfaces 36 on theguide rails 34. Furthermore, theblades 50 are spaced from theguide surfaces 36 by the distance X (FIG. 2), i.e. the thickness of thesanding pad 12. - As best shown in FIG. 3, each
blade 50 is preferably tapered at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of theguide rails 34. As such, theblades 50 each include ablade edge 52 which angles from anentry end 54 of theguide rails 34 and toward anexit end 56 of theguide rails 34. - Although in the preferred embodiment a pair of
guide blades 50 are secured to theframe 32, alternatively, asingle guide blade 50 may be employed. - As best shown in FIG. 3, the
frame 32 also includes achute 60 extending downwardly from theblades 50 adjacent theexit end 56 of theguide rails 34. Thischute 60 is open to acollection bin 62 for collecting the spent abrasive disk after removal from thesanding pad 12. - With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation of the present invention will now be described. In FIG. 4, after the
abrasive disk 20 becomes worn, therobot 28 moves thesanding disk 12 between the guide rails 34 (only one shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) from theentry end 54 of theguide rails 34 and toward theexit end 56. Furthermore, therobot 28 maintains theupper surface 14 of thesanding pad 12 in sliding contact with theguide surface 36 on the guide rails. Simultaneously, the sides 42 (FIG. 2) of theguide rails 34 effectively center thesanding pad 12 between theguide rails 34. - As the robot moves the
sanding pad 12 along theguide rails 34, the leadingedge 52 of theblade 50 engages thesanding pad 12 in between itslower surface 16 and theabrasive disk 20. In doing so, theblade 50 in FIG. 4 initiates the separation of theabrasive disk 20 from thesanding pad 12. - With reference now to FIG. 5, continued movement of the
sanding pad 12 along the guide rails 34 from theirentry end 54 and towards their exit end 56 causes theblade 50 to completely remove theabrasive disk 20 from thesanding pad 12. Upon removal, the spentabrasive disk 20 falls through thechute 60 to thecollection bin 62. Thecollection bin 62 is periodically emptied as required. - After removal of the spent
abrasive disk 20 from thesanding pad 12, therobot 28 manipulates thesanding pad 20 to attach a fresh abrasive disk to permit continued operation of therotary sander 10. - From the foregoing, it can be seen that the
device 30 of the present invention provides a simple and yet effective means for rapidly removing a spent abrasive disk from a rotary sander. Since the robot can be programmed to rapidly move the sanding pad between the guide rails 34 in the previously described fashion, the spentabrasive disk 20 can be rapidly removed from thepad 12 thereby minimizing any delay in the abrading operation performed by therobot 28 on the workpiece (not shown). - Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (9)
1. In combination with a rotary sander having a disk-shaped sanding pad with an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper and lower surfaces of said sanding pad lying in parallel planes and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an abrasive disk detachably secured to said lower surface of said sanding pad, a device for removing the abrasive disk from the lower surface of the sanding pad comprising:
a frame;
a pair of elongated guide rails secured to said frame, each guide rail having an elongated guide surface adapted to abut against the upper surface of the sanding pad on opposite sides thereof; and
at least one blade secured to said frame so that said at least one blade lies in a plane parallel to said guide surfaces and is spaced from said guide surfaces by said predetermined distance.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one blade comprises a pair of coplanar and adjacent blades.
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein an edge of said blade is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said guide surfaces.
4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein an edge of each blade is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said guide surfaces.
5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said guide rails have an entry end and an exit end and wherein said edges of said blades angle from said guide rails and towards said exit end of said guide rails.
6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a chute adjacent one end of said guide rails.
7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said abrasive disk is secured to said lower surface of said sanding pad by hook and pile fasteners.
8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said abrasive disk is secured to said lower surface of said sanding pad by a pressure sensitive adhesive.
9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide rail includes an elongated side, said elongated sides conforming in shape to a side periphery of the sanding pad and spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially the same as a diameter of the sanding pad.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/237,291 US20040048549A1 (en) | 2002-09-09 | 2002-09-09 | Device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/237,291 US20040048549A1 (en) | 2002-09-09 | 2002-09-09 | Device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20040048549A1 true US20040048549A1 (en) | 2004-03-11 |
Family
ID=31990780
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/237,291 Abandoned US20040048549A1 (en) | 2002-09-09 | 2002-09-09 | Device for removing an abrasive disk from a sanding pad |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US20040048549A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013143643A3 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-12-19 | Dula-Werke Dustmann & Co. Gmbh | Method for the multi-stage grinding of workpieces, and vacuum table, storage container, stripping device and plant for carrying out the method |
WO2017210755A1 (en) * | 2016-06-09 | 2017-12-14 | Embraer S.A. | Automated systems and processes for preparing vehicle surfaces, such as an aircraft fuselage, for painting |
WO2020169882A1 (en) * | 2019-02-20 | 2020-08-27 | Mirka Ltd | A device for changing abrading products |
CN111872810A (en) * | 2020-08-03 | 2020-11-03 | 广东技术师范大学 | Grinding device is used in processing of robot shell |
US20210276153A1 (en) * | 2020-03-05 | 2021-09-09 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic wet sanding apparatus |
US11203093B2 (en) * | 2016-04-04 | 2021-12-21 | Ferrobotics Compliant Robot Technology Gmbh | Changing station for the automatic changing of grinding materials |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3475810A (en) * | 1967-01-12 | 1969-11-04 | American Velcro Inc | Separation of rigid members joined by hook and loop |
US4263755A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1981-04-28 | Jack Globus | Abrasive product |
US4649613A (en) * | 1985-09-09 | 1987-03-17 | Bednarik Richard J | Welding tip removal tool |
US4692958A (en) * | 1986-01-08 | 1987-09-15 | U.S. Chemical & Plastics, Inc. | Buffing pad assembly |
US5123139A (en) * | 1991-01-16 | 1992-06-23 | Meguiar's, Inc. | Buffing pad assembly |
US5170595A (en) * | 1990-12-19 | 1992-12-15 | Wiand Ronald C | Pull tab for velcro backed marble grinding pad and method for removal |
US5383309A (en) * | 1992-07-09 | 1995-01-24 | Norton Company | Abrasive tool |
US5482496A (en) * | 1992-04-13 | 1996-01-09 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Automated random orbital abrading system and method |
US6264534B1 (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2001-07-24 | Ford Global Technologies, Inc. | Method and tooling for automated wet or dry sanding of a vehicle surface |
US6379221B1 (en) * | 1996-12-31 | 2002-04-30 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Method and apparatus for automatically changing a polishing pad in a chemical mechanical polishing system |
-
2002
- 2002-09-09 US US10/237,291 patent/US20040048549A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3475810A (en) * | 1967-01-12 | 1969-11-04 | American Velcro Inc | Separation of rigid members joined by hook and loop |
US4263755A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1981-04-28 | Jack Globus | Abrasive product |
US4649613A (en) * | 1985-09-09 | 1987-03-17 | Bednarik Richard J | Welding tip removal tool |
US4692958A (en) * | 1986-01-08 | 1987-09-15 | U.S. Chemical & Plastics, Inc. | Buffing pad assembly |
US5170595A (en) * | 1990-12-19 | 1992-12-15 | Wiand Ronald C | Pull tab for velcro backed marble grinding pad and method for removal |
US5123139A (en) * | 1991-01-16 | 1992-06-23 | Meguiar's, Inc. | Buffing pad assembly |
US5482496A (en) * | 1992-04-13 | 1996-01-09 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Automated random orbital abrading system and method |
US5383309A (en) * | 1992-07-09 | 1995-01-24 | Norton Company | Abrasive tool |
US6379221B1 (en) * | 1996-12-31 | 2002-04-30 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Method and apparatus for automatically changing a polishing pad in a chemical mechanical polishing system |
US6264534B1 (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2001-07-24 | Ford Global Technologies, Inc. | Method and tooling for automated wet or dry sanding of a vehicle surface |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013143643A3 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-12-19 | Dula-Werke Dustmann & Co. Gmbh | Method for the multi-stage grinding of workpieces, and vacuum table, storage container, stripping device and plant for carrying out the method |
CN104364051A (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-02-18 | 杜拉维克达斯曼股份有限公司 | Method for the multi-stage grinding of workpieces, and vacuum table, storage container, stripping device and plant for carrying out the method |
US10081089B2 (en) | 2012-03-29 | 2018-09-25 | Dula-Werke Dustmann & Co. Gmbh | Method for the multi-stage grinding of workpieces, and vacuum table, storage container, stripping device and plant for carrying out the method |
US11203093B2 (en) * | 2016-04-04 | 2021-12-21 | Ferrobotics Compliant Robot Technology Gmbh | Changing station for the automatic changing of grinding materials |
EP3928924A1 (en) * | 2016-04-04 | 2021-12-29 | Ferrobotics Compliant Robot Technology GmbH | Changing station for automatically changing abrasives |
WO2017210755A1 (en) * | 2016-06-09 | 2017-12-14 | Embraer S.A. | Automated systems and processes for preparing vehicle surfaces, such as an aircraft fuselage, for painting |
US11534885B2 (en) | 2016-06-09 | 2022-12-27 | Yaborã Indústria Aeronáutica S.A. | Automated systems and processes for preparing vehicle surfaces, such as an aircraft fuselage, for painting |
WO2020169882A1 (en) * | 2019-02-20 | 2020-08-27 | Mirka Ltd | A device for changing abrading products |
EP3927493A4 (en) * | 2019-02-20 | 2022-11-16 | Mirka Ltd | A device for changing abrading products |
US20210276153A1 (en) * | 2020-03-05 | 2021-09-09 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic wet sanding apparatus |
US11685020B2 (en) * | 2020-03-05 | 2023-06-27 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic wet sanding apparatus |
CN111872810A (en) * | 2020-08-03 | 2020-11-03 | 广东技术师范大学 | Grinding device is used in processing of robot shell |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MIDWEST THERMAL SPRAY, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BEAUDOIN, JAMES M.;VAN EVERY, GUY JOSEPH;REEL/FRAME:013276/0938;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020828 TO 20020903 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |