US 8,771,037 B2Granted

Pattern sander device, system and method

AssigneeColumbia Insurance Company

InventorsRobert Bryan Boggs, Joseph Shannon Miller, Michael Scott Standridge, Jason Richard Shaw

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Abstract

The invention relates to a device for sanding a predetermined impression into a workpiece. The device has a pattern belt positioned inside the area formed by a sanding belt. A pad is positioned inside the area formed by the pattern belt. A raised pattern is formed on the outer surface of the pattern belt. In use, the pad contacts the pattern belt, urging the raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact the sanding belt. The portion of the sanding belt contacted by the pattern belt is urged toward the workpiece so that the predetermined impression is sanded into the workpiece.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A device for forming a predetermined impression into a workpiece comprising:

a sanding belt having a grit configured to abrade at least a portion of the workpiece, wherein the sanding belt is an endless sanding belt selectively rotatable about a sanding belt area;
a pattern belt positioned therein the sanding area, wherein the pattern belt has a predetermined raised pattern formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the pattern belt, and wherein the pattern belt is an endless pattern belt selectively rotatable about a pattern belt area;
and
a pad positioned therein the pattern belt area, wherein the pad is selectively movable about and between a raised position, in which the pad is a first distance away from the pattern belt, and a lowered position, in which the pad is a second distance away from the pattern belt that is less than the first distance, wherein in the lowered position, a sanding surface of the pad exerts a force on a portion of the pattern belt urging at least the predetermined raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact a portion of the sanding belt, wherein the portion of the sanding belt contacts the workpiece and abrades the predetermined impression therein, wherein the pad comprises a plurality of pad fingers, and wherein each pad finger is individually, selectively movable about and between the raised position and the lowered position.

1 more element

A device for forming a predetermined impression into a workpiece comprising:

a sanding belt having a grit configured to abrade at least a portion of the workpiece, wherein the sanding belt is an endless sanding belt selectively rotatable about a sanding belt area;
a pattern belt positioned therein the sanding area, wherein the pattern belt has a predetermined raised pattern formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the pattern belt, and wherein the pattern belt is an endless pattern belt selectively rotatable about a pattern belt area;
and
a pad positioned therein the pattern belt area, wherein the pad is selectively movable about and between a raised position, in which the pad is a first distance away from the pattern belt, and a lowered position, in which the pad is a second distance away from the pattern belt that is less than the first distance, wherein in the lowered position, a sanding surface of the pad exerts a force on a portion of the pattern belt urging at least the predetermined raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact a portion of the sanding belt, and wherein the portion of the sanding belt contacts the workpiece and abrades the predetermined impression therein;
a feed belt configured to position the workpiece relative to the sanding belt for a predetermined amount of time;
and
a control system comprising a processor coupled to at least one of the feed belt, the sanding belt, the pattern belt and the pad, wherein the control system is configured to control at least one of a speed of the feed belt speed, a speed of the sanding belt, a speed of the pattern belt and the pad position, and wherein the control system comprises at least one feedback loop to automatically adjust at least one of the feed belt speed, the sanding belt speed, the pattern belt speed and the pad position based on the amount of wear sustained by the pattern belt.

4 more elements

A device for forming a predetermined impression into a workpiece comprising:

a sanding belt having a grit configured to abrade at least a portion of the workpiece, wherein the sanding belt is an endless sanding belt selectively rotatable about a sanding belt area;
a pattern belt positioned therein the sanding area, wherein the pattern belt has a predetermined raised pattern formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the pattern belt, and wherein the pattern belt is an endless pattern belt selectively rotatable about a pattern belt area;
and
a pad positioned therein the pattern belt area, wherein the pad is selectively movable about and between a raised position, in which the pad is a first distance away from the pattern belt, and a lowered position, in which the pad is a second distance away from the pattern belt that is less than the first distance, wherein in the lowered position, a sanding surface of the pad exerts a force on a portion of the pattern belt urging at least the predetermined raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact a portion of the sanding belt, and wherein the portion of the sanding belt contacts the workpiece and abrades the predetermined impression therein;
a feed belt configured to position the workpiece relative to the sanding belt for a predetermined amount of time;
and
a control system comprising a processor coupled to at least one of the feed belt, the sanding belt, the pattern belt and the pad, wherein the control system is configured to control at least one of a speed of the feed belt speed, a speed of the sanding belt, a speed of the pattern belt and the pad position, wherein the control system is configured to store a plurality of control recipes, and wherein each control recipe comprises operating conditions for forming the predetermined impression into the workpiece.

4 more elements

A device for forming a predetermined impression into a workpiece comprising:

a sanding belt having a grit configured to abrade at least a portion of the workpiece, wherein the sanding belt is an endless sanding belt selectively rotatable about a sanding belt area;
a pattern belt positioned therein the sanding area, wherein the pattern belt has a predetermined raised pattern formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the pattern belt, and wherein the pattern belt is an endless pattern belt selectively rotatable about a pattern belt area;
and
a pad positioned therein the pattern belt area, wherein the pad is selectively movable about and between a raised position, in which the pad is a first distance away from the pattern belt, and a lowered position, in which the pad is a second distance away from the pattern belt that is less than the first distance, wherein in the lowered position, a sanding surface of the pad exerts a force on a portion of the pattern belt urging at least the predetermined raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact a portion of the sanding belt, and wherein the portion of the sanding belt contacts the workpiece and abrades the predetermined impression therein;
a feed belt configured to position the workpiece relative to the sanding belt for a predetermined amount of time;
and
a control system comprising a processor coupled to at least one of the feed belt, the sanding belt, the pattern belt and the pad, wherein the control system is configured to control at least one of a speed of the feed belt speed, a speed of the sanding belt, a speed of the pattern belt and the pad position, and wherein the control system controls the rotational speed of the pattern belt relative to the feed belt.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/476,654Filed 21 May 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 20 May 2011
Published: US 2012/0295522 A122 Nov 2012
Granted: 8 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B24B 21/006
Machines or devices using grinding or polishing belts ; Accessories therefor: for special purposes, e.g. for television tubes, car bumpers
B24B 19/02
Single-purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group: for grinding grooves, e.g. on shafts,…
B24B 21/08
Involving members with limited contact area pressing the belt against the work, e.g. shoes sweeping across the whole area to be ground: pressure…
B24B 21/18
Machines or devices using grinding or polishing belts ; Accessories therefor: accessories

Family

Application61/488,436Us provisional application · filed 20 May 2011
US 2012/0295522 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Nov 2012
US 8,771,037 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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