Abrading – Rigid tool – Having actuating handle
Patent
1998-04-08
2000-06-13
Rose, Robert A.
Abrading
Rigid tool
Having actuating handle
451540, 451321, 451555, 451554, 76 82, B24F 2103
Patent
active
060742933
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to finishing metallic and non-metallic surfaces by abrasion techniques.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
The literature is replete with descriptions of apparatus and methods for finishing the surfaces of a variety of articles of manufacture. Representative of such articles are tools and instruments, many having complex geometric shapes and curvilinear surfaces.
One of the problems in finishing complex surfaces, especially curvilinear surfaces, is the need to draw the article across an abrasive surface while continuously changing the angle so as to accommodate the geometric shape thereof. The finishing of complex surfaces usually requires skilled hands and experienced craftspeople. Even experts find it difficult to follow many complex surface shapes, due to the demanding control required.
In the manufacturing industry, establishing conditions for a finishing process to obtain a specified surface topography is also not problem free, since many interacting factors are involved. Under ideal circumstances, the factors to be considered involve the operational setting of the machine (e.g., the geometric characteristics of the abrasive tool, the work speed, the tool feed rate and the type of cutting fluid used). Even under ideal conditions it has been only possible to calculate the theoretical roughness developed in a machining operation for the simplest process, i.e., single-point tool cutting. The fact that it is not possible to fully specify the character and surface roughness scale and topography of a surface remains a serious problem for production/design engineers.
One aspect of the present invention concerns the finishing of surfaces on tools and instruments. For example, dental, veterinary and medical instruments may have sophisticated shapes which can only be obtained with an exacting and complex finishing procedure.
For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,268 (Marquam et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,462 (Moore) describe apparatus for sharpening dulled surfaces of dental curets. Marquan et al. says "A common sharpening error encountered is failure to restore the cutting edge to the proper angle. Another common error is failure to maintain the proper blade shape with the cutting edges parallel and the toe smoothly rounded". Marquam et al. approaches the problem by providing an adjustable protractor-like guide for positioning the curet blade at a proper angle with a flat sharpening stone. The operation of the guide requires the operator to determine the proper angle (various curets having different blade angles) and to sight along the guide to determine that the proper angle has been selected. It is necessary to re-position the curet for a second blade edge angle. Moore in the later U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,462 describes a similar protractor device, improved by the association with a pair of flat, spaced apart sharpening stones and an index for identifying the proper angle of an inserted blade. The difficulty with both devices remains in that a degree of training and expertise is required to use them, including the knowledge of proper angles required. In the hands of the untrained, a curet can be damaged beyond repair.
The present invention is an apparatus that will accurately provide an exactly shaped cutting edge to a dental curet. The apparatus not only provides an exact shape for the curet cutting edge, but it does so with precision every time. A reason that this apparatus works so well is its simplicity. With this apparatus, the dentist or technician performing the finishing need not be as careful in drawing the instrument across the abrasive surface. Although the instrument itself is generally held at certain angles with respect to the abrasive surface, even this is not critical. The apparatus of the invention has one or more specifically shaped abrasive surfaces to guide and finish the instrument surface. These abrasive surfaces create an exact shape for the cutting edge of the curet. The shape provides the fineness and delicacy
REFERENCES:
patent: 1540078 (1925-06-01), Long
patent: 4494340 (1985-01-01), Carter
patent: 4512111 (1985-04-01), Childers
patent: 5157879 (1992-10-01), Fletcher
patent: 5445050 (1995-08-01), Owens
patent: 5449556 (1995-09-01), Exner et al.
Nguyen George
Rose Robert A.
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