Belt cleaner

A cleaning unit for cleaning an abrasive surface of a moving sanding belt in a belt sander having a casing and having an entry end and an exit end, said unit including:

• a cartridge holder containing a cleaning cartridge for mounting in the interior of said casing of said belt sander adjacent said moving sanding belt;
• at least one fluid-operated cylinder connected to said cartridge holder;
• means to actuate said cylinder to apply said cleaning cartridge to said moving belt;
• a control unit operated by microswitches or photoelectric switches positioned upon a selected one of the entry or exit ends of the belt sander for controlling said cylinder so that said cleaning cartridge is only applied to said sanding belt during a sanding operation.

A wide belt sanding machine having an entry end and an exit end, said sanding machine including:

• a sanding belt having an abrasive surface and passing over a top roller supported in bearings mounted in bearing supports in said machine;
• said sanding machine including a cleaning cartridge pivotally mounted on support brackets attached to said bearing supports;
• means mounted on said sanding machine for pivoting said cleaning cartridge to apply and remove said cleaning cartridge to and from said abrasive surface of said sanding belt;
• a cartridge support beam mounted on said support brackets;
• said support beam being positioned adjacent said sanding belt in contact with the cleaning cartridge;
• said means for pivoting said cleaning cartridge includes a fluid-operated cylinder controlled by at least one photoelectric switch or microswitch on at least one of an entry and exit end of the sanding machine, whereby said cleaning cartridge is only applied to said abrasive surface during a sanding operation.