Patent Application
20150239091
This invention relates to the polishing and grinding art, and more particularly to a polishing and grinding system useful to polish, grind, sand, burnish and/or finish a number of different objects and materials.
A variety of polishing and grinding systems have been made available in the past. Many incorporate a rotating element, such as a disc, against which various substrates can be positioned so they may be polished or ground when the disc rotates. These systems have a number of shortcomings. For instance, some of these systems are bulky or are designed to reside permanently in a single location, which limits their utility and/or portability. Some systems lack flexibility in the positioning of the rotating disc or element, making it inconvenient or even dangerous for a user to hold a substrate in the required position for system operation. Other systems may require extensive, burdensome or counterintuitive setup procedures before operation. Some systems restrict operation to certain types of substrate or workpiece materials. A variety of other shortcomings in these systems will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.
The invention provides an improved polishing and grinding system that obviates many of the shortcomings of conventional systems. Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.
In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus for grinding and/or polishing, comprising a main body; a shaft in rotatable communication with the main body, wherein a portion of the shaft resides outside the main body, and wherein the portion of the shaft that resides outside the main body is configured for removable attachment to a disc for grinding and/or polishing a substrate; and a base, removably attached to the main body, wherein the base is configured for removable attachment to the main body in a first position, in which the shaft is orientated in a substantially upright position, and a second position, in which the shaft is orientated in a substantially horizontal position. The first position may comprise an ergonomic tilt, wherein the shaft is orientated in a substantially upright position and with a tilt in the general direction of a user of the apparatus during operation. The base may comprise at least one latch mechanism to removably attach the base to the main body. The apparatus may further comprise at least one electromechanical component housed within the main body and in mechanical communication with a portion of the shaft that resides within the main body, and being selected from the group consisting of a motor, a gear box, a power supply, and a control mechanism. The motor may be adapted for operation at a constant speed or at a variable speed, and for rotation in a single direction or in two directions. The apparatus may further comprise a switch configured on the main body and in communication with the at least one electromechanical component, wherein actuation of the switch causes the shaft to rotate. The apparatus may further comprise a hood to reduce dispersion of particulate matter and/or to improve safety during operation, wherein the hood is attached to the main body adjacent to the portion of the shaft that resides outside the main body. The hood may be removably attached to the main body. The hood may comprise an opening therethrough to facilitate exhaust of the particulate matter during operation. The main body may comprise a handle. The handle may be collapsible so as to be substantially flush with and/or possessing a reduced profile relative to the main body when in a collapsed configuration. The handle may be in a fixed position with respect to the main body. The base may comprise a drawer. The apparatus may further comprise a shelf for placing items to be polished and/or ground during operation of the apparatus or for containing a volume of liquid into which items may be placed for cooling, rinsing and/or lubricating. The shelf may be configured for removable placement within the base. The apparatus may further comprise a tool rest to impart stability and/or improve accuracy and/or improve safety during operation. The tool rest may be removably attached to the main body. The tool rest may comprise a central element comprising a side adapted for use with items that have at least one substantially flat element and/or a side adapted for use with drill bits, wherein the central element is rotatable around its axis and positionable at a multitude of angles with respect to the disc, and, optionally, wherein the central element is lockable at each of at least one angle with respect to the disc.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a system for grinding and/or polishing, comprising the aforesaid apparatus and a disc for grinding and/or polishing a substrate, removably attached to the shaft of the apparatus.
In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a method of polishing, grinding, sanding, burnishing and/or finishing a substrate, comprising providing the aforesaid system; causing the disc to rotate; and contacting the rotating disc with the substrate to polish, grind, sand, burnish and/or finish the substrate. The substrate may be a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a non-precious stone, jewelry, a tool, a drill bit, a router bit, a CNC end-mill, a knife, a chisel, a wood turning tool or a carving tool. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a method for adjusting the orientation of an apparatus for grinding and/or polishing, comprising providing the aforesaid apparatus, wherein the base is removably attached to the main body in the first position; removing the main body from the base; and removably attaching the base to the main body in the second position.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully set forth, to the extent not inconsistent with the present description. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described.
The invention relates to a polishing and grinding system. The system may be configured in a variety of ways so as to be useful for polishing, grinding, sanding, burnishing and/or finishing (referred to collectively herein as “polishing and grinding”) a variety of objects and materials. Simply by way of non-limiting example, the system can be used to shape and/or polish precious, semi-precious and non-precious stones and jewelry; to sharpen tools such as drill bits, router bits, CNC end-mills, knives and chisels, wood turning tools, and carving tools; or to grind, sand and/or polish a variety of surfaces and materials. A variety of additional uses will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art and can be implemented by way of routine effort in connection with alternate embodiments of the present invention.
In an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
Turning back to
A shaft 104 is in rotatable communication with the main body 101, such that a portion of the shaft 104 reaches the interior of the main body 101 and another portion of the shaft 104 resides outside of the main body 101. In
An attachment mechanism 105 is configured on the end of the portion of the shaft 104 that resides outside of the main body 101. The attachment mechanism 105 is configured for removable attachment to a disc 200. As will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art, the attachment mechanism 105 can be configured in a variety of ways to enable removable mechanical communication with a variety of discs 200. By way of example, the attachment mechanism may comprise or consist of one or more of screw threading, magnets, pins, grooves or a variety of additional elements that in each case enable a disc 200 to be removably attached thereto and used in connection with a polishing and/or grinding operation. Examples of discs 200 that may be used in connection with the present invention are described, for instance, in
Contained within the main body 101 are various electromechanical elements of the system (not shown), which may include, in various embodiments, a motor, a power supply, other components necessary to drive the rotation of the shaft (and thus, the rotation of the disc), and further elements that will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art and which can be implemented in connection with alternate embodiments of the invention. If desired, a gear box (not shown) may also be contained within the main body 101 to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the motor and, consequently, the rotational speed of the shaft 104. The gear box may be of conventional design. The motor may be a constant speed or a variable speed motor as desired for particular applications. The motor is in mechanical communication with the portion of the shaft 104 reaches the interior of the main body 101. In an embodiment, the system 100 is configured such that the shaft 104 is rotatable by the motor in one direction (i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise). In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the system 100 is configured such that the shaft 104 is rotatable by the motor in two directions (i.e., clockwise and counterclockwise). The system 100 also includes at least one controller 107 that enables a user to turn the motor on and off and/or to cause the motor to rotate the shaft 104 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and/or to change the speed of the motor.
The main body 101 may comprise or consist of a handle 103 to facilitate transportation of the system 100. The handle 103 may optionally be configured to be collapsible into a “folded” position that renders it substantially flush with and/or lowers its profile relative to the side of the main body 101 when not in use. When in use, the handle 103 may be in its “unfolded” position.
As noted above, the main body 101 may be removable from the base 300. It may also be configured for removable interaction with the base 300 in multiple positions. In
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The side adapted for use with tools that have at least one substantially flat element 110 may include various indicia 113 that inform a user as to the angle of the side relative to the edge of a disc 200. Internal pins and grooves between the central element 114 and the upright elements of the tool rest 109 may facilitate accurate locking of the central element 114 at various angles (i.e., a pin on the central element 114 may interact with a groove on the upright element when the central element reaches a particular angle, consistent with the indicia 113). The side adapted for use with tools that have at least one substantially flat element 110 may include an alignment mechanism 117 that may be slidable along the side, and that may be used to maintain the position of a substrate to be polished and/or ground. For instance, when a chisel is to be ground, the flat side of the chisel may be held against the side adapted for use with tools that have at least one substantially flat element 110, and it may then be supported against the alignment mechanism 117.
The side adapted for use with drill bits 111 may include various indicia 113 that inform a user as to the angle of the side relative to the edge of a disc 200. Internal pins and grooves between the central element 114 and the upright elements of the tool rest 109 may facilitate accurate locking of the central element 114 at various angles (i.e., a pin on the central element 114 may interact with a groove on the upright element when the central element reaches a particular angle, consistent with the indicia 113). The side may also include one or more grooves 115 configured to receive drill bits of particular sizes.
The various methods and techniques described above provide a number of ways to carry out the invention. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all objectives or advantages described may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods can be performed in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objectives or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. A variety of advantageous and disadvantageous alternatives are mentioned herein. It is to be understood that some preferred embodiments specifically include one, another, or several advantageous features, while others specifically exclude one, another, or several disadvantageous features, while still others specifically mitigate a present disadvantageous feature by inclusion of one, another, or several advantageous features.
Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the applicability of various features from different embodiments. Similarly, the various elements, features and steps discussed above, as well as other known equivalents for each such element, feature or step, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to perform methods in accordance with principles described herein. Among the various elements, features, and steps some will be specifically included and others specifically excluded in diverse embodiments.
Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and modifications and equivalents thereof.
Many variations and alternative elements have been disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. Still further variations and alternate elements will be apparent to one of skill in the art. Various embodiments of the invention can specifically include or exclude any of these variations or elements.
In some embodiments, the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references used in the context of describing a particular embodiment of the invention (especially in the context of certain of the following claims) can be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations on those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It is contemplated that skilled artisans can employ such variations as appropriate, and the invention can be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein.
Accordingly, many embodiments of this invention include all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other modifications that can be employed can be within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the present invention can be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to that precisely as shown and described.
