U.S. patent application number 11/242512 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for tool holder for a grinding machine.
Invention is credited to Eric Gallup.
Application Number | 20060073776 11/242512 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36126165 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060073776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gallup; Eric |
April 6, 2006 |
Tool holder for a grinding machine
Abstract
A tool assembly for a grinding machine that supports a tool and
is separately and easily removed from the grinding machine to
change tools. The grinding machine includes one or more grinding
heads that support a plurality of the tool assemblies. The grinding
heads include ring members and the tool assemblies include a
tapered tool holder. The tool holder is held in the ring member in
a friction fit. In one embodiment, a pad holder is mounted to the
tool holder by a bolt. The pad holder includes a Velcro layer for
securing the tool to the pad holder. In another embodiment, the
tool, such as a turbo cup, is bolted directly to the tool
holder.
Inventors: |
Gallup; Eric; (Rochester,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John A. Miller;Warn, Hoffmann, Miller & LaLone, P.C.
P.O. Box 70098
Rochester Hills
MI
48307
US
|
Family ID: |
36126165 |
Appl. No.: |
11/242512 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60615801 |
Oct 4, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
451/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 7/186 20130101;
B24B 41/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/353 |
International
Class: |
B24B 23/00 20060101
B24B023/00 |
Claims
1. A grinding machine comprising: at least one grinding head
including at least one ring member; and at least one tool assembly
mounted to the at least one ring element, said at least one tool
assembly including a tool holder, a tool support and a bolt, said
tool support including a tool, said tool support being secured to
the tool holder by the bolt, said tool assembly being secured to
the grinding head by inserting the tool holder into the ring member
in a friction fit so that the tool assembly is readily removed from
the grinding head.
2. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and the tool is
secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.
3. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
support and the tool are a single piece structure.
4. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
holder includes a tapered body.
5. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
holder includes an internal bore through which the bolt extends and
the tool support includes an extended member that is positioned
within the bore of the tool holder.
6. The grinding machine according to claim 5 wherein the extended
member includes a flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin
member, said pin member extending into the bore and being
positioned against the flat surface so that the tool holder is
prevented from significantly rotating relative to the tool
support.
7. The grinding machine according to claim 6 wherein the pin member
is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in a
body of the tool holder.
8. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the
tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the
tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.
9. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool
holder is a steel member.
10. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool is
selected from the group consisting of a turbo cup, a metal bonded
tool, a segmented diamond tool and a resin bonded tool.
11. A tool assembly comprising a tool holder having a tapered body
and an internal bore extending therethrough, said tool assembly
further comprising a tool support and a bolt, said tool holder
being secured to the tool support by the bolt where the bolt
extends through the bore.
12. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool
support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and wherein a tool
is secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.
13. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool
support and an associated tool are a single piece structure.
14. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool
support includes an extended member that is positioned within the
bore of the tool holder, and wherein the extended member includes a
flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin member, said pin
member extending into the bore and being positioned against the
flat surface so that the tool holder is prevented from rotating
relative to the tool support.
15. The tool assembly according to claim 14 wherein the pin member
is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in the
body of the tool holder.
16. The grinding machine according to claim 11 wherein the tool
holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the
tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the
tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.
17. A tool assembly for a grinding machine, said tool assembly
comprising: a tool holder having a tapered body and an internal
bore extending therethrough, said internal bore including an upper
chamber and a lower chamber, said tool holder further including a
threadable pin member extending through the body so that an end of
the pin member extends into the lower chamber; a tool support
including a threaded bore extending therethrough, said tool support
further including an extended member having a flat surface, where
the extended member is positioned within the lower chamber of the
tool holder body so that the end of the pin is positioned against
the flat surface; and a bolt including a bolt head, said bolt
extending through the body and being threaded into the threaded
bore of the tool support so that the head of the bolt is positioned
within the upper chamber of the internal bore.
18. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool
support is a pad holder that includes a Velcro pad to which a tool
is mounted.
19. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool
support is a single piece member including a grinding tool.
20. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool holder
includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool
holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool
support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/615,801, titled Tool
Holder for a Grinding Machine, filed Oct. 4, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a tool holder for a
grinding machine and, more particularly, to a tool holder for a
grinding machine, where the tool holder is readily removed from a
grinding head of the grinding machine so as to allow other tool
holders with other tools to be attached to the grinding machine
without changing the grinding head.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Large industrial grinding machines are sometimes used to
grind and polish various surfaces, such as marble floors. These
industrial grinding machines typically include one or more grinding
heads rotatably mounted to an underside of a platform of the
machine, where grinding tools are mounted to the grinding heads. A
grinding machine for grinding and polishing a marble floor may
include six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four tools, where three
separate tools are mounted to each grinding head.
[0006] In one grinding head design, plug inserts are secured within
ring members in the grinding head in a friction fit, and the
grinding tool is attached to the plug insert by a Velcro layer. The
weight of the grinding machine secures the plug inserts to the
grinding head. The plug inserts are removed from the grinding head
by tipping up the grinder platform and striking the grinding head
with a hammer to loosen the plug inserts from the ring members.
Other plug inserts can then be secured within the ring elements to
provide a tool with a different grit size or grinding surface.
[0007] Various tool types are used to grind and polish a marble
floor and may have different structural configurations and
different abrasive materials, such as diamond particles. Different
grinding heads may support different tool types, where the grinding
head must be removed from the platform and replaced with another
grinding head to change the tool type. Therefore, when the machine
operator wishes to switch from one tool type to another to another
tool type, such as from a metal bonded tool to a resin bonded tool,
to perform a certain grinding or polishing operation, the machine
operator must remove each grinding head from the machine and
replace it with other grinding heads that include the desired
tools. This process is costly and time consuming. It would be
desirable to provide a tool holder for the grinding machine for all
tool types that are more easily replaced in a grinding machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a
tool holder for a grinding machine is disclosed, where the tool
holder supports a tool and is easily removed from the grinding
machine to change different tool types. The grinding machine
includes one or more grinding heads having ring elements that
accept a tapered body of the tool holders in a friction fit. In one
embodiment, a pad holder is bolted to the tool holder. The pad
holder includes a Velcro layer for securing the tool to the pad
holder. In another embodiment, the tool, such as a turbo cup, is
bolted directly to the tool holder.
[0009] Additional features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an underside view of a grinding machine including
a plurality of removable tool assemblies, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the tool assemblies
removed from the grinding machine shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a blown-apart perspective view of one of the
assemblies removed from the grinding machine shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a tool holder of the
tool assembly of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the tool assemblies
and a spanner wrench for removing a pad holder from the
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention
directed to a tool holder for a grinding machine is merely
exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the
invention or its applications or uses.
[0016] FIG. 1 is an underside view of a platform 12 of a grinding
machine 10. The grinding machine 10 includes a plurality of
grinding heads 14 that are rotatably mounted to the platform 12, as
is well understood in the art. The machine 10 may have two, four,
six, eight or more grinding heads 14. The grinding heads 14 include
three legs 22, where each leg 22 includes a ring member 20. A
separate tool assembly 16, according to the invention, is mounted
to each ring member 20 in a friction fit. One of the tool
assemblies 16 is removed from one of the grinding heads 14 in FIG.
1 to show the ring member 20. Therefore, when the grinding machine
10 is up-right to grind or polish the floor, the tool assemblies 16
are maintained in place by the weight of the machine 10. Further,
each tool assembly 16 is easily removed from the ring member 20
when the grinding machine 10 is in an overturned position. Each
tool assembly 16 retains and holds a tool 18, such as a metal
bonded tool or a resin bonded tool, for use in different types of
grinding operations.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and FIG. 3 is a blown apart
view of one of the tool assemblies 16 separated from the grinding
machine 10. The tool assembly 16 includes a tool holder 24 and a
pad holder 26. A cross-sectional view of the tool holder 24 is
shown in FIG. 4. The tool holder 24 includes a tapered body 32
having a bore 30 extending therethrough. In one embodiment, the
body 32 is a single piece of hardened steel machined in the
configuration and shape as shown, and the pad holder 26 is a single
piece of machined aluminum having the configuration and shape, as
shown. The taper of the body 32 allows it to be inserted into the
ring member 20 to secure the tool assembly 16 to the grinding head
14.
[0018] A bolt 28 extends through the bore 30 in the body 32 of the
tool holder 24 and is threaded into a threaded bore 36 extending
through the pad holder 26 to hold the pad holder 26 to the tool
holder 24. In one embodiment, the bolt 28 is a 5/8'' bolt, so that
any tool than can accommodate the bolt 28 can be mounted to the
tool holder 24.
[0019] When the tool holder 24 is secured to the pad holder 26, a
head 40 of the bolt 28 is positioned within an upper chamber 42 of
the bore 30, and a rectangular portion 34 of the pad holder 26 is
positioned within a lower chamber 44 of the bore 30. A set-screw 46
is threaded through the body 32 of the tool holder 24 so that it
extends into the chamber 44 and an end of the set screw 46 rests
against a flattened edge 48 of the portion 34. Therefore, when the
tool holder 24 is being bolted to the pad holder 26, the pad holder
26 is prevented from rotating relative thereto.
[0020] A Velcro layer (not shown) is glued to a lower surface of
the pad holder 26, and a Velcro layer 50 is glued to an upper
surface of the tool 18 so that the tool 18 can be secured to the
pad holder 26. Therefore, another tool can be easily attached to
the pad holder 26 if the tool 18 wears out or a different grit size
is needed. Alternately, the pad holder 26 can be replaced with
another tool. For example, a turbo cup for rough cutting, a
segmented diamond tool, a metal bonded diamond tool, a scraper
tool, etc. can be bolted directly to the tool holder 24 by the bolt
28 so that different types of tools can be easily replaced without
removing the grinding heads 14.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tool assembly 16 showing
an operation for removing the tool holder 24 from the pad holder
26. As shown, a wrench 52 is inserted into the head 40 of the bolt
28. Further, a knob of a spanner wrench 54 is positioned within an
opening 56 in the body 32 and the wrench 54 is positioned around
the body 32 of the tool holder 24. The wrench 54 prevents the tool
holder 24 from rotating when the wrench 52 is used to rotate the
bolt 28.
[0022] When a machine operator wishes to switch grinding processes
and change, for example, from a metal bonded tool to a resin bonded
tool, he can easily remove the tool assembly 16 from the ring
member 20, and quickly insert another tool assembly 16 including
the other tool into the ring member 20. Thus, the several tool
assemblies 16 associated with the grinding machine 10 can be
replaced instead of having to replace the grinding heads 14, as was
previously done in the prior art.
[0023] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely
exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the
art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the
accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes,
modifications and variations can be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the
following claims.
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