ADJUSTABLE DISC SANDER

Abstract

An adjustable disc sander includes: a base defining an operating surface; a sanding device being mounted on the base having a sanding disc; and an adjustable support unit including a linkage unit and an adjustable positioning unit. The sanding disc and the operating surface include a working angle. The linkage unit connects between the sanding device and the adjustable positioning unit. The adjustable positioning unit includes an adjuster being mounted around a support bar along a move direction, and includes a retainer being arranged between the support bar and the adjuster to move between a fixing position and a releasing position in a direction perpendicular to the move direction. When the retainer is at the fixing position, the adjuster can slightly adjust the support bar to achieve fine adjustment of the working angle. When the retainer is at the releasing position, the support bar can move significantly to achieve coarse adjustment of the working angle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to disc sanders, and more particularly to an adjustable disc sander.

2. Description of Related Art

A sander is a power tool for sanding and thereby smoothing surfaces of metal or wooden workpieces through.

Conventionally, a sander comprises a base and a motor mounted on the base. The motor drives a sanding wheel to rotate so that the sanding wheel contacts a surface of a workpiece placed on a platform of the sander to sand and smooth the surface of the workpiece.

As workpieces to be processed may have surfaces oblique at different angles, before operation, a sander has to be set with a proper angle defined by the platform and the sanding surface of the sanding wheel according to the obliquity of a workpiece, so as to ensure solid surface contact between the sanding wheel and the workpiece for satisfying sanding results.

For adjustment, most conventional sanders are equipped with an adjustable support, which requires a user to hold with his/her hand while making angle adjustment. The existing adjustable support however prevents the angle adjustment between the platform and the sanding wheel from being fine (such as being smaller than 1 degree), and undesirably leads to low precision of the sanded workpieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the shortcomings of the conventional sanders, the present invention discloses an adjustable disc sander, which provides fine and coarse angle-adjustment modes for a user to select, thereby achieving precise angle setting between the sanding device and the platform.

To address the foregoing issues, according to one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable disc sander comprises a base, a sanding device, and an adjustable support unit. The base has a platform that defines an operating surface for a workpiece to be placed thereon. The sanding device is mounted on the base and has a sanding disc for sanding the workpiece. The sanding disc and the operating surface include a working angle. The adjustable support unit has a linkage unit, a support bar, and an adjustable positioning unit. The linkage unit is connected to the sanding device. The support bar passes through the platform along a move direction. The support bar has an inner end connected to the linkage unit and an outer end exposed outside the platform to connect the adjustable positioning unit. The adjustable positioning unit has an adjuster and a retainer. The adjuster is mounted around the support bar along the move direction. The retainer is arranged between the support bar and the adjuster. The retainer moves between a fixing position and a releasing position along a direction perpendicular to the move direction. When the retainer is at the fixing position, the adjuster can slightly adjust the support bar to move along the move direction so as to achieve fine adjustment of the working angle. When the retainer is at the releasing position, the support bar can move significantly to achieve coarse adjustment of the working angle.

With the foregoing configuration, the present invention allows a user to switch the adjustable support unit between coarse and fine angle adjustment according to processing requirements of the workpiece by changing the position of the retainer. Thereby, the present invention can achieve high-precision adjustment of the working angle, and thereby facilitate production of high-precision workpieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable disc sander of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the adjustable disc sander;

FIG. 3, similar to FIG. 2, illustrates connection of the linkage unit, the support bar, and the adjustable positioning unit of the adjustable disc sander, with some parts shown in a cross-sectional way;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the adjustable disc sander for illustrating connection of the support bar and the adjustable positioning unit, with some parts shown in a cross-sectional way;

FIG. 5, similar to FIG. 2, illustrates connection of the support bar and the adjustable positioning unit after the adjuster has been rotated by 90 degrees; and

FIG. 6 is also a side view of the adjustable disc sander showing that the retainer is at the releasing position and the support bar is now movable, with some parts shown in a cross-sectional way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While a preferred embodiment is provided hereinafter for illustrating the concept of the present invention being described above, it is to be understood that the components of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings are depicted for the sake of easy explanation and need not to be made to exact scale.

FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 depict an adjustable disc sander 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a base 10, a sanding device 20, and an adjustable support unit 30. The present invention is used to sand and thereby smooth a surface of a workpiece (not shown).

The base 10 holds a platform 11. The platform 11 defines an operating surface 111 for the workpiece to be placed thereon, so that the workpiece can be moved on the operating surface 111 freely by a user according to the processing requirements of the workpiece.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the platform 11 has each of its two sides provided with a first pivot portion 112. The first pivot portions 112 pivotally connect the sanding device 20 and the platform 11 so that the sanding device 20 can pivotally swing with respect to the platform 11 and allows a user to set a working angle θ included by the sanding device 20 and the platform 11 according to processing requirements.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the base 10 is formed with a slide groove 12 and a curved groove 13 positionally aligned with the adjustable support unit 30, so that the adjustable support unit 30 can move along the direction in which the slide groove 12 and the curved groove 13 are arranged and accordingly adjust the position of the sanding device 20.

The sanding device 20 mounted on the base 10 has a sanding disc 21 for sanding the workpiece. The working angle θ is particularly defined between the sanding disc 21 and the operating surface 111 of the platform 11 and adjustable to a user according to the processing requirements of the workpiece. Therein, the sanding device 20 has a driver 22. The driver 22 drives the sanding disc 21 to perform high-speed rotation, so that when the user makes the surface of the workpiece contact the high-speed rotating sanding disc 21, sanding can be achieved. The sanding device 20 has each of its two sides provided with a second pivot portion 23. The second pivot portions 23 are pivotally connected to the first pivot portion 112, so that the sanding device 20 can pivotally swing with respect to the platform 11.

The adjustable support unit 30 comprises a linkage unit 31, a support bar 32, and an adjustable positioning unit 33. The linkage unit 31 is connected to the sanding device 20. The support bar 32 passes through the platform 11 along a move direction X. The support bar 32 has an inner end connected to the linkage unit 31 for support, and has an outer end exposed outside the platform 11 and connected to the adjustable positioning unit 33. The adjustable positioning unit 33 has an adjuster 331 and a retainer 332. The adjuster 331 is mounted around the support bar 32 along the move direction X. The retainer 332 is arranged between the support bar 32 and the adjuster 331, and is configured to move between a fixing position P1 and a releasing position P2 along a direction that is perpendicular to the move direction X.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, when the retainer 332 is at the fixing position P1, the adjuster 331 can be rotated to make the support bar 32 slightly adjusted to move along the move direction X, thereby achieving fine adjustment of a working angle θ1. When the retainer 332 is at the releasing position P2, the support bar 32 is allowed to move significantly along the move direction X, thereby achieving coarse adjustment of a working angle θ2. By changing the moving range of the support bar 32 moves according to processing requirements, precise adjustment of the working angle θ between the sanding disc 21 and the operating surface 111 can be accomplished.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the linkage unit 31 has a first moving arm 311 and a second moving arm 312. The first moving arm 311 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of the support bar 32. The second moving arm 312 has its two ends pivotally connected to an opposite end of the first moving arm 311 and the sanding device 20, respectively. The first moving arm 311 and the second moving arm 312 are driven by the support bar 32 to adjust the working angle θ.

Therein, the first moving arm 311 has each of its two sides provided with a first sliding portion 311a near the support bar 32. The first sliding portions 311a are configured to move along the slide grooves 12. The second moving arm 312 has each of its two sides provided with a second sliding portion 312a near the sanding device 20. The second sliding portions 312a are configured to move along the curved grooves 13. Thereby, with the relative pivotal movement between the first moving arm 311 and the second moving arm 312, the support bar 32 can control the sanding device 20 to pivotally swing with respect to the platform 11, and thereby adjust the working angle θ between the sanding disc 21 and the operating surface 111.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the adjuster 331 has a first receiving hole 331a extending in the move direction X and a second receiving hole 331b that intersects the first receiving hole 331a. The retainer 332 has a limiting hole 332a coaxial with the first receiving hole 331a. The first receiving hole 331a and the limiting hole 332a are configured to receive the support bar 32. The second receiving hole 331b is configured to receive the retainer 332. Thereby, the retainer 332 applies a retaining force from a wall of the limiting hole 332a to the support bar 32 so as to increase the friction between itself and the support bar 32, thereby preventing the support bar 32 from significant movement.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the support bar 32 has an externally threaded periphery, and the first receiving hole 331a and the limiting hole 332a each defined by an internally threaded wall. When the retainer 332 is at the fixing position P1, the user can rotate the adjuster 331 to slightly move the support bar 32, thereby finely adjusting the working angle θ1. The first receiving hole 331a and the second receiving hole 331b are perpendicular to each other. When the retainer 332 is at the fixing position P1, the internally threaded wall of the limiting hole 332a closely fits and matches the externally threaded periphery of the support bar 32, so as to eliminate any space between the wall of the limiting hole 332a and the support bar 32, thereby ensuring firm retention of the support bar 32 caused by the wall of the limiting hole 332a.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the adjustable positioning unit 33 further comprises a positioner 333. The positioner 333 is inserted into one side of the retainer 332 to hold the retainer 332 at the fixing position P1.

Therein, as shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the adjuster 331 has a first fixing hole 331c, and the retainer 332 has a second fixing hole 332b that is coaxial with the first fixing hole 331c. The first fixing hole 331c and the second fixing hole 332b are configured to receive the positioner 333, so that the positioner 333 can be operated to hold the retainer 332 in position. Thereby, when the positioner 333 is inserted into the second fixing hole 332b, the positioner 333 holds the retainer 332 at the fixing position P1, and ensures firm retention of the support bar 32 caused by the wall of the limiting hole 332a. When the positioner 333 is retracted from the second fixing hole 332b, the retainer 332 is free to move between the fixing position P1 and the releasing position P2 along the axis of the second receiving hole 331b, thereby allowing a user to move the support bar 32 slightly or significantly.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the adjustable positioning unit 33 further comprises a spring member 334. The spring member 334 is mounted around one end of the retainer 332 to normally position the retainer 332 at the fixing position P1, thereby further ensuring firm retention of the support bar 32 caused by the wall of the limiting hole 332a.

As shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the support bar 32 has its outer end provided with a handle 321. The handle 321 is exposed outside the platform 11. Thereby, a user who needs to move the support bar 32 significantly can hold the handle 321 with his/her one hand, and presses the retainer 332 to the releasing position P2 with the other hand, thereby achieving convenient control of the support bar 32.

With the foregoing configuration, a user can switch the adjustable support unit 30 between the coarse and fine angle-adjustment modes according to processing requirements of a workpiece by shifting the retainer 332 between the fixing position P1 and the releasing position P2. Thereby, the present invention can achieve high-precision adjustment of the working angle θ, and thereby facilitate production of high-precision workpieces.

In addition, when the adjustable support unit 30 of the present invention is in the fine angle-adjustment mode, a user can adjust the working angle θ finely by rotating the adjuster 331 with effortless operation.

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable disc sander, comprising: a base, being provided with a platform that defines an operating surface for a workpiece to be placed thereon;a sanding device, being mounted on the base and having a sanding disc for sanding the workpiece, wherein the sanding disc and the operating surface include a working angle; andan adjustable support unit, comprising a linkage unit, a support bar, and an adjustable positioning unit, wherein the linkage unit is connected to the sanding device, and the support bar passing through the platform along a move direction has an inner end connected to the linkage unit for support, and has an outer end exposed outside the platform and connected to the adjustable positioning unit, while the adjustable positioning unit has an adjuster and a retainer, in which the adjuster is mounted around the support bar along the move direction, and the retainer is arranged between the support bar and the adjuster, so that the retainer moves between a fixing position and a releasing position in a direction perpendicular to the move direction;whereby when the retainer is at the fixing position, the adjuster is allowed to make the support bar to move slightly along the move direction, thereby achieving fine adjustment of the working angle, and when the retainer is at the releasing position, the support bar is allowed to move significantly along the move direction, thereby achieving coarse adjustment of the working angle.

2. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the adjuster has a first receiving hole extending in the move direction and a second receiving hole intersecting the first receiving hole, and the retainer has a limiting hole coaxial with the first receiving hole, in which the first receiving hole and the limiting hole are for the support bar to pass therethrough, while the second receiving hole is for the retainer to pass therethrough.

3. The adjustable disc sander of claim 2, wherein the support bar has a periphery that is externally threaded, while the first receiving hole and the limiting hole are each defined by a wall that is internally threaded.

4. The adjustable disc sander of claim 2, wherein the first receiving hole and the second receiving hole are perpendicular to each other.

5. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the adjustable positioning unit further comprises a positioner that is inserted into one side of the retainer to hold the retainer at the fixing position.

6. The adjustable disc sander of claim 5, wherein the adjuster has a first fixing hole, and the retainer has a second fixing hole coaxial with the first fixing hole, in which the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole are for the positioner to pass therethrough.

7. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the adjustable positioning unit further comprises a spring member that is mounted around one end of the retainer to normally bias the retainer toward the fixing position.

8. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the outer end of the support bar is provided with a handle that is exposed outside the platform.

9. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the platform has each of two sides thereof provided with a first pivot portion, and the sanding device has each of two sides thereof provided with a second pivot portion, in which the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion are pivotally connected to each other so that the sanding device is allowed to pivotally swing with respect to the platform.

10. The adjustable disc sander of claim 1, wherein the linkage unit has a first moving arm and a second moving arm, in which the first moving arm has one end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of the support bar, and the second moving arm has two ends thereof pivotally connected to an opposite end of the first moving arm and the sanding device, respectively, so that the first and second moving arm are driven by the support bar to adjust the working angle.

11. The adjustable disc sander of claim 10, wherein the first moving arm has each of two sides thereof provided with a first sliding portion near the support bar, and the base is formed with slide grooves aligned with the first sliding portions, so that the first sliding portions move along the slide grooves, and wherein the second moving arm has each of two sides thereof provided with a second sliding portion near the sanding device, and the base is formed with curved grooves aligned with the second sliding portions, so that the second sliding portions move along the curved grooves.