US 5,181,342 A · Sander with orbiting platen and abrasive

Abstract

The invented Sander with Orbiting Platen and Abrasive includes a platen, an abrasive secured to the platen, and a motor connected to the platen to move the platen and abrasive in an orbit or circular pattern. The motor is connected to the platen by a belt that extends around at least one drive shaft, where the shaft includes two ends with a step between the ends so that when the shaft is rotated around one end's longitudinal axis, the step causes a portion of the shaft and the platen to orbit around that axis. The preferred embodiment of the invented sander includes a frame, a conveyor, first and second drive shafts that support a brace and that cause the brace to move in a first orbit, second and third drive shafts that are supported by brace and connected to a platen so that when the second and third drive shafts are rotated, the platen moves in a second orbit, and a plurality of neoprene, rubber or synthetic rubber stabilizers positioned between the brace and platen. In the invented sander the conveyor feeds a product toward the platen and a rotating brush abrades and polishes the product after it has been sanded by the platen.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A sander comprising:

an elongate platen with a substantially flat contact surface;
an abrasive sheet;
a securing device for holding the abrasive sheet on the platen's contact surface;
a brace:
a drive mechanism having at least two power-driven shafts interconnecting the platen and the brace at spaced locations for moving the platen and abrasive sheet in a translational motion and for stabilizing the platen;
at least one yieldably resilient stabilizer operatively interposed between the platen and the brace to stabilize the platen;
and
a conveyor adjacent the platen for conveying products to be sanded in a feed direction toward the platen while the platen moves;
where the elongate platen is positioned substantially across the conveyor and where the abrasive sheet's motion is solely dependent on and controlled by the platen's motion;
and
where the yieldably resilient stabilizers are adjustable to apply various predetermined pressures to the platen.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sander with orbiting platen and abrasive

Life of this patent

Sander with orbiting platen and abrasive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27