Abrading – Carrier for relatively movable simultaneously usable tools – For radially movable tools
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-11
2001-04-17
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Abrading
Carrier for relatively movable simultaneously usable tools
For radially movable tools
C451S466000, C451S469000, C451S490000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217431
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application Serial No. 298 04 936.8, filed Mar. 19, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a sanding brush assembly, and more particularly to a sanding brush assembly of a type having a metallic base body formed about its circumference or on its end face with grooves spaced at an angular distance from one another for detachably receiving in form-fitting or force-fitting engagement clamping elements of strip brushes, with sanding segments being secured to the base body between the strip brushes and supported by the strip brushes.
These types of sanding brush assemblies are also known as rotary brushes and can be used in sanding machines for sanding, dusting, cleaning, polishing and structuring of wood, metal, plastics or the like. The base body has a bore for placement on a sanding shaft, with the strip brushes containing an array of bristles made, for example, of horsehair, wire, abrasive grain, fiber or other like material.
The sanding segments form the sanding means and rest upon the strip brushes trailing in direction of rotation of the base body, thereby realizing also a sanding action of uneven or profiled workpieces. These sanding segments are subject to wear so that the sanding action deteriorates after a certain sanding operation. In conventional sanding brushes, the sanding segments extend into the interior of the base body, thereby forming a reserve which is used to compensate progressive wear of the sanding segments. This, however, requires the operator to, for example, loosen screw fasteners in order to pull out the sanding segments by a certain length. Thus, the readjustment of the sanding segments becomes rather cumbersome. Moreover, a relatively great length of sanding segments remains as residue, when further compensation of wear is no longer possible. This length is defined as the distance of the outer edges of the strip brush from the outer surface or end face of the base body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved sanding brush assembly, obviating the afore-stated drawbacks.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sanding brush assembly which is so configured as to significantly reduce the amount of waste, thereby increasing the overall efficiency.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved sanding brush assembly which is so configured as to allow attachment of a greater number of sanding segments.
These objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention by securing each of the sanding segments to a flexible footing whereby the flexible footing of the sanding segment is clamped together with the clamping element of the strip brushes in the groove of the base body.
In accordance with the present invention, the base body is thus freed from direct attachment of the sanding segments. The flexible footing is so configured that the dimension of the attached sanding segment is substantially smaller than the wasted residue experienced in conventional sanding brushes and no longer suitable for use. As the flexible footing is mounted together with the strip brush in the groove, the need for separate fasteners to secure the sanding segments is eliminated. Replacement of sanding segments can thus be carried out in an extremely short period as the grooves and the clamping elements of the strip brushes are designed for a positive or form-fitting engagement. This can, for example, be realized by grooves of dovetail cross section.
Suitably, the attachment between the flexible footing and the sanding segment is realized outside the base body. As sanding brushes are operated at fairly high speed, the sanding segments are prevented from detachment from the grooves when exposed to centrifugal forces, by configuring the footing in such a manner that at least the area clamped in the groove has an angular or U shaped configuration and encompasses the clamping element.
According to another feature of the present invention, the bottoms of the grooves extend at least along two different circles, when, according to one configuration of the sanding brush assembly, the strip brushes are attached about the circumference of the base body, whereby the bottoms of the grooves are disposed in alternating distance to the axis of rotation of the sanding disk, or at least in two different planes when, according to another configuration of the sanding brush assembly, the strip brushes are attached on the end face of the base body, whereby then the bottoms of the grooves are disposed in alternating distance to the end face. Thus, as grooves are provided of at least two different depths, the use of the sanding segments is further optimized because the sanding segments can first be placed in those grooves whose bottoms are at a greatest distance to the perimeter or end face of the base body. After worn out to a certain extent, the sanding segments can then be repositioned into those grooves whose bottoms are at a smaller distance to the perimeter or end face of the base body. Thus, the sanding segments can be used up almost completely.
Suitably, the grooves are disposed in the base body according to a pattern. It is, for example, advantageous to arrange the grooves of varying depths in alternating relationship because it allows to shorten the angular distances between the grooves compared to conventional designs. Thus, the number of strip brushes and the number of sanding segments may be increased about the circumference or end face of the base body, thereby realizing a significantly improved sanding result. It is possible, to increase the number of strip brushes and sanding segments by about 40%.
Moreover, in the embodiment of the sanding brush assembly with strip brushes and sanding segments attached at the end face, the attachment of the strip brushes and the sanding segments to the base body may be realized in a star-shaped manner.
According to another feature of the present invention, each flexible footing has a section projecting beyond the perimeter or end face of the base body, with the outwardly projecting section being of arcuated configuration. The sanding segment is then so shaped as to conform to the shape of the arcuate section. While the deformability of the strip brushes is limited, the sanding segments are so configured as to deform to a greater extent. In this manner, the range of application of the sanding brush is expanded as the risk of damage of the workpiece being ground is significantly reduced, and wear of the sanding segment is decreased as a result of the diminished impact force upon contact with the workpiece being ground. The arcuate section may have any desired curvature or curved pattern. Preferred however is a configuration in which the outer edges are positioned at a greater distance to the associated strip brush than the mid-region. Regardless of the configuration of the sanding brush, the sanding segments are provided at least in the outer zone distal to the flexible footing with longitudinal indentations.
A sanding brush assembly according to the present invention is also utilized for handling profiled bars of varying cross sections, whereby the design of the strip brushes and the sanding segments depends on the cross sections of the profiled bars. Advantageously, the flexible footing extends into the area of the outer free edge of the pertaining strip brush, with the sanding segment being secured to the outer free edge of the flexible footing. As in this configuration, the external contour of the strip brush and the matching contour of the sanding segment are suited to the cross section of a profiled bar, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a support pad between the array of bristles of the strip brush and the flexible footing, whereby the support pad is preferably secured to the array of bristles. Thus, the sup
Arminius-Schleifmittel GmbH
Feiereisen Henry M.
Rachuba M.
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