Backup pads, systems and methods of use thereof
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsAaron K. Neinaber, Mark w. Orlando, Brett R. Hemes, Xin Dong, Jonathan B. Arthur, Nathan J. Herbst, Rufus C. Sanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic abrading system that includes a robotic tool coupled to a robotic arm. The robotic arm is configured to move the robotic tool into an abrading position with respect to a workpiece. The system also includes a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes a polishing pad coupled to the backup tool. The backup pad or the polishing pad include a heat accumulation reduction mechanism that passively reduces heat accumulation within the backup pad during successive polishing operations.
Claims21
A backup pad for a robotic abrading system, the backup pad comprising:
- a tool interfacing portion configured to interact with a robotic tool of the robotic abrading system;
- an abrasive contacting side, opposite the tool interfacing portion;
- and
- a passive heat dissipation mechanism configured to reduce heat accumulation in an abrasive article coupled to the abrasive contacting side during a robotic abrading operation.
A polishing pad for a robotic abrading system, the polishing pad comprising:
- a compressible material configured to contact a worksurface, on a first side, and couple to a backup pad, on a second side;
- and
- wherein the compressible material is asymmetric shape with respect to a diameter of the polishing pad.
19-29. (canceled)
A method of reducing heat accumulation during an abrading operation, the method comprising:
- contacting a worksurface with an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article is coupled to a backup pad;
- driving rotation of the abrasive article against the worksurface, wherein driving rotation induces airflow through the backup pad;
- and
- wherein the backup pad is coupled to a robotic tool that automatically conducts a sequence of abrasive operations and wherein the induced airflow dissipates heat from the abrasive article.
31-39. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.