Patent Application
20090163124
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sander and more particularly to a reciprocating linear sander that can simultaneously move an abrasive assembly reciprocatorily and rotatably to sand or polish an object.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional linear sander is usually used to smooth surfaces of an article for finishing or polishing finished surfaces and comprises a base, a conveyor belt, two axles, a driver and an abrasive brush. The conveyor belt is mounted in the base. The axles are mounted rotatably through the base in parallel above the conveyor belt. The driver is mounted on the base and rotates at least one of the axles. The abrasive brush is mounted around and rotated by the axles to sand a surface of an object abutting the abrasive brush.
However, unstable movement of the rotating abrasive brush of the conventional sander causes inconsistency of finish on the article. Therefore, the conventional linear sander cannot provide a fine finish to the article, and the fine finish must be achieved by other means such as using disc sanders or manual hand sanding.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a reciprocating linear sander to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the invention is to provide a reciprocating linear sander that can move an abrasive assembly reciprocatorily and rotatably at the same time to provide a preferred polishing effect.
The reciprocating linear sander in accordance with the present invention has a base, at least one abrasive assembly, at least one reciprocating device and at least one driving device. The base has two sides and a belt. Each abrasive assembly is mounted on the base above the belt and has a rotating axle and an abrasive brush mounted around the rotating axle. The reciprocating device is connected to respectively to the abrasive assembly and having a driven axle coaxially connected to the rotating axle of the abrasive assembly to allow the rotating axle to move reciprocatorily and linearly. The driving device is connected to the reciprocating device, drives the rotating axle of the abrasive assembly and has a couple to rotate the driven axle of the reciprocating device.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The base (10) has a top, a bottom, two longitudinal sides, at least four stanchions, at least two crossbars (12) and a conveyor belt (11). Each crossbar (12) is mounted between two different stanchions on the longitudinal sides of the base (10). The conveyor belt (11) is movably mounted in the base (10) between the sides.
Each abrasive assembly (20) is mounted rotatably on the base (10) above the conveyor belt (11), two abrasive assemblies (20) may be implemented and rotated in opposite directions, and each abrasive assembly (20) has two mounting brackets (22), a rotating axle (23), an abrasive brush (24), two optional clearance adjustors (30) and an optional adjustor driver (33).
The mounting brackets (22) are mounted adjacent to the sides of the base (10), may be mounted slidably on the crossbars (12) of the base (10) and each mounting bracket (22) has an inner side and an outer side.
The rotating axle (23) is rotatably mounted through the mounting brackets (22) and has a drive end, a non-drive end and a central segment. The central segment of the rotating axle (23) is mounted between the inner sides of the mounting brackets (22) and above the conveyor bell (11).
The abrasive brush (24) is mounted around the central segment of the rotating axle (23) to polish surfaces of an article mounted on the conveyor belt (11), and may be a sand cloth.
With further reference to
The guide frame (34) is mounted on one side of the base (10) and through a corresponding mounting bracket (22) of the abrasive assembly (20) and comprises two guiding shafts (340) and a stopping block (341). The guiding shafts (340) are vertically mounted securely on the side of the base (10) and through the corresponding mounting bracket (22) and each guiding shaft (34) may be connected to the crossbar (12) of base (10) and have a distal end. The stopping block (341) is mounted on the guiding shafts (340) to limit movement of the mounting bracket (22) along the guiding shafts (340) and may be mounted between the distal ends of the guiding shafts (340).
The adjustor shaft (31) is mounted securely on the mounting bracket (22), parallel to the guiding shafts (340) and has a connecting end, a distal end and an external thread. The connecting end of the adjustor shaft (31) is mounted securely on the mounting bracket (22). The external thread is formed around the adjustor shaft (31) near the distal end.
The adjustor pulley (32) is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the adjustor shaft (31), engages the external thread, and has an annular surface and multiple teeth (321) formed on the annular surface.
The adjustor driver (33) is mourned on the top of the base (10) between the guide frames (34) and has a chain (331), may engage the teeth (321) of the adjustor pulleys (32), and is connected to the adjustor pulleys (32). The chain (331) of the adjustor driver (33) rotates the adjustor pulleys (32) synchronously to move the adjustor shaft (31) through the adjustor pulley (32). Therefore, the mounting bracket (22) will move the rotating axle (23) perpendicularly relative to the conveyor belt (11).
With further reference to
The buffering frame (41) is mounted securely on the outer side of the mounting bracket (22) and has a top, all inner side, an outer side, a barrel (411), an axle mount and two bearings (412). The barrel (411) is formed on and protrudes from the buffering frame (41) and is mounted rotatably around the rotating axle (23) of the abrasive assembly (20). The axle mount is formed through the outer side of the buffering frame (41) and communicates with the barrel (411). The bearings (412) are mounted in the axle mount of lie buffering frame (41).
The driven axle (42) may be rotatably mounted slidably in the barrel (411) and the bearings (412) of the buffering frame (41), is connected securely to the rotating axle (23) and has an external surface, an inner end, an outer end, a fastener (421) and multiple engaging teeth (422). The inner end of the driven axle (42) is connected securely to the drive end of the rotating axle (23). The outer end of the driven axle (42) may protrude out of the buffering frame (41). The fastener (421) is mounted around the outer end of the driven axle (42). The engaging teeth (422) are formed on the external surface of the driven axle (42) and are mounted in the bearings (412) of the buffering frame (41).
The connecting collar (43) is rotatably mounted around the driven axle (42), is connected to the fastener (421) and has an external surface and a connecting wing (431). The connecting wing (431) is formed on and protrudes from the external surface of the connecting collar (43).
The linear driver (44) is connected to the driven axle (42) and may be mounted on the buffering frame (41) and has a drive shaft (441) disposed adjacent to the connecting wing (431) of the connecting collar (43).
The linking segment is connected to the connecting collar (43) and the linear driver (44) and has a crank (45) and a connecting rod (46). The crank (45) is connected to the drive shaft (441) of the linear driver (44). The connecting rod (46) is connected to the crank (45) and the connecting wing (431) of the connecting collar (43). The linear driver (44) moves the crank (45) that moves the connecting rod (46) and the driven axle (42) reciprocatorily to give the rotating axle (23) reciprocating motion along the rotational axis.
The driving device (50) is connected to the reciprocating device (40), drives the rotating axle (23) of the abrasive assembly (20) and has an optional driving motor (51) and a couple (52).
With further reference to
The driving motor (51) is mounted on the buffering frame (41), drives the couple (52) and has a driving shaft (511), a drive wheel (512) and a drive belt (513). The drive wheel (512) is connected securely to the driving shaft (511) of the driving motor (51). The drive belt (513) is mounted around the drive wheel (512) and the couple wheel (523).
With further reference to
At the same time, the driving, motor (51) will rotate the wheels (512, 523) to ensure the driven axle (42) rotates with the couple (52) since the engaging teeth (422) always engage the engaging grooves (522). Then, the rotating axle (23) can be rotated with the driven axle (42), and the abrasive brush (24) on the rotating axle (23) can rotatably polish the surfaces of an article reciprocalorily and linearly to provide a preferred polishing effect. Furthermore, the abrasive assemblies (20) may be rotated in different directions by the driving devices (50) to polish the surfaces of the article completely. In addition, the reciprocating linear sander can have the distance between the rotating axle (23) and the belt (11) adjusted by rotating the adjustor shafts (31) of the clearance adjustors (30), and the adjustor shafts (31) will move up or down the mounting brackets (22) along the guiding shafts (340) to change the distance between the abrasive brush (24) and the surfaces of the article to provide different polishing results.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape) size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
