Back to results
US 2016/0339557 A1Published application
Method and Apparatus for Maintenance of Surgical Instruments
OwnerGary Starnesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A maintenance machine particularly well-suited for servicing tools such as surgical instruments includes a base, a plurality of stations, and an adjustable tool platform. The stations each include respective servicing wheels that can include any of a variety of known servicing wheels, such as polishing and sharpening wheels. The wheels are supported by the base, which houses motors for driving the wheels. The adjustable tool platform includes a plurality of guide rails, rollers, pivot points, and a rotating post that together provide for fine adjustment of a position of a tool being services relative to any of the servicing wheels.
Claims20
A maintenance machine comprising:
- a base defining an interior space;
- a plurality of stations having respective ones of a plurality of removable wheels;
- a first motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least a first wheel of the plurality of wheels;
- a second motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least a second wheel of the plurality of wheels;
- a control panel operably associated with the first and second motors, the control panel having user-operable controls for operating the plurality of wheels;
- a base guide rail connected to a front surface of the base;
- and
- an adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to any of the plurality of wheels, the adjustable tool platform having a plurality of wheels for engaging the base guide rail.
5 more elements
A maintenance machine, comprising:
- a base defining an interior space;
- a plurality of stations having respective ones of a plurality of removable wheels;
- at least one motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least one of the plurality of wheels;
- a control panel operably associated with the first and second motors, the control panel having user-operable controls for operating the plurality of wheels;
- a base guide rail connected to a front surface of the base, the base guide rail including a first base raceway and a second base raceway;
- and
- an adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to any of the plurality of wheels, the adjustable tool platform comprising:
- a tool rest member including a first tool-receiving surface and a second tool receiving surface orthogonal to the first tool-receiving surface;
- a post member for supporting the tool rest member;
- a first support bracket for supporting the post member such that the post member is rotationally connected to the first support bracket about a longitudinal axis of the post member, the first support bracket including a bottom surface and a first plurality of guide rollers mounted to the bottom surface;
- a first guide rail for supporting the first support bracket, the first guide rail including opposing first and second raceways, wherein the first plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second raceway;
- a second support bracket for supporting the first guide rail, the second support bracket including a wall member and first and second support arms extending from the wall member, the first and second arms being pivotally connected to the first guide rail, and the wall member having a wall surface opposite the first and second support arms, the wall surface having a second plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto;
- a second guide rail for supporting the second support bracket, the second guide rail including opposing third and fourth raceways, wherein the second plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the third raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the fourth raceway;
- and
- a carriage member attached to the second guide rail and having a carriage surface, the carriage surface having a third plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto, wherein the third plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first base raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second base raceway.
12 more elements
An adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to an abrading, surface, the tool platform comprising:
- a tool rest member including a first tool-receiving surface and a second tool receiving surface orthogonal to the first tool-receiving surface;
- a post member for supporting the tool rest member;
- a first support bracket for supporting the post member such that the post member is rotationally connected to the first support bracket about a longitudinal axis of the post member, the first support bracket including a bottom surface and a first plurality of guide rollers mounted to the bottom surface;
- a first guide rail for supporting the first support bracket, the first guide rail including opposing first and second raceways, wherein the first plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second raceway;
- a second support bracket for supporting the first guide rail, the second support bracket including a wall member and first and second support arms extending from the wall member, the first and second arms being pivotally connected to the first guide rail, and the wall member having a wall surface opposite the first and second support arms, the wall surface having a second plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto;
- a second guide rail for supporting the second support bracket, the second guide rail including opposing third and fourth raceways, wherein the second plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the third raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the fourth raceway;
- and
- a carriage member attached to the second guide rail and having a carriage surface, the carriage surface having a third plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.