# US 8,771,037 B2 · Pattern sander device, system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,037 B2 - Document ID: US8771037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/476,654 - Filed: 2012-05-21 - Published: 2012-11-22 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-20 - Assignees: Columbia Insurance Company - Applicants: Robert Bryan Boggs; Joseph Shannon Miller; Michael Scott Standridge; Jason Richard Shaw - Inventors: Robert Bryan Boggs; Joseph Shannon Miller; Michael Scott Standridge; Jason Richard Shaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771037B2 ## CPC - B24B 21/006: {for special purposes, e.g. for television tubes, car bumpers} - B24B 19/02: for grinding grooves, e.g. on shafts, in casings, in tubes, homokinetic joint elements - B24B 21/08: Pressure shoes; {Pressure members, e.g.} backing belts - B24B 21/18: Accessories - B24B 51/00: Arrangements for automatic control of a series of individual steps in grinding a workpiece (if applicable to other machine tools, G05B takes precedence) - B24D 11/04: Zonally-graded surfaces - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - B24D: TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING (abrading-bodies specially designed for tumbling apparatus, e.g. abrading-balls B24B31/14; honing tools B24B33/08; lapping tools B24B37/11) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 1, further comprising a feed belt configured to position the workpiece relative to the sanding belt for a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the sanding belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a sanding distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the pattern belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a pattern distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 4, wherein the pattern distance is less than the sanding distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 2, further comprising 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 6, 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 6, 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 6, wherein the control system controls the rotational speed of the pattern belt relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 9, wherein the rotational speed of the pattern belt is maintained within an offset speed percentage relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 10, wherein the offset speed percentage of the pattern belt is 10%. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 1, wherein the predetermined raised pattern comprises a plurality of raised ridges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 12, wherein the plurality of raised ridges is formed from a friction reducing substance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 13, wherein the friction reducing substance is graphite. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 1, further comprising a means for maintaining a substantially constant area of the predetermined raised pattern as the predetermined raised pattern abrades during use. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 1, wherein the pattern belt is selectively rotated in the same direction as the sanding belt. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the sanding belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a sanding distance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the pattern belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a pattern distance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 19, wherein the pattern distance is less than the sanding distance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 17, 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 17, wherein the control system controls the rotational speed of the pattern belt relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 22, wherein the rotational speed of the pattern belt is maintained within an offset speed percentage relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 17, 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. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 17, wherein the pattern belt is selectively rotated in the same direction as the sanding belt. ### Claim 26 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. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the sanding belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a sanding distance. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the pattern belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a pattern distance. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 28, wherein the pattern distance is less than the sanding distance. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 26, 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. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 26, wherein the control system controls the rotational speed of the pattern belt relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 31, wherein the rotational speed of the pattern belt is maintained within an offset speed percentage relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 26, 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. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 26, wherein the pattern belt is selectively rotated in the same direction as the sanding belt. ### Claim 35 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. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the sanding belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a sanding distance. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the pattern belt is substantially parallel to a portion of the feed belt for a pattern distance. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 37, wherein the pattern distance is less than the sanding distance. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, 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. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, 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. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, wherein the rotational speed of the pattern belt is maintained within an offset speed percentage relative to the feed belt. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, 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. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) The device for forming a predetermined impression of claim 35, wherein the pattern belt is selectively rotated in the same direction as the sanding belt.