U.S. patent application number 10/569868 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for tool for machining surfaces, edge areas and contours.
This patent application is currently assigned to PROFIN PROGESSIVE FINISH AG. Invention is credited to Josef Vogel.
Application Number | 20070026773 10/569868 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32235171 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070026773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vogel; Josef |
February 1, 2007 |
Tool for machining surfaces, edge areas and contours
Abstract
The tool according to the invention has a variable loading of
working means (3-6). The total set of working means (3-6) is
divided into subsets, which, with respect to the direction of
rotation (18), have different working angles (15, 16, 17). By
changing the height (35) of subregions (23-28) of the base plate
(1) of the tool, the free length of the working means (3-6) can
also be varied. A single tool can be built, which combines several
working functions and working properties in one tool. (FIG. 2)
Inventors: |
Vogel; Josef; (Horw,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NOTARO AND MICHALOS
100 DUTCH HILL ROAD
SUITE 110
ORANGEBURG
NY
10962-2100
US
|
Assignee: |
PROFIN PROGESSIVE FINISH AG
Obernau
CH
CH-6012
|
Family ID: |
32235171 |
Appl. No.: |
10/569868 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 26, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH04/00538 |
371 Date: |
February 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
451/469 ;
451/463 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24D 13/145 20130101;
B24B 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/469 ;
451/463 |
International
Class: |
B24D 9/00 20060101
B24D009/00; B24B 9/02 20060101 B24B009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 8, 2003 |
CH |
1531/03 |
Claims
1. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours with a base
plate (1) rotating about a tool axis (2), a multiplicity of
flexible working means (3-6), which are directed against a
workpiece surface and are fastened on the base plate (1), these
working means (3-6) being formed in the shape of a rod and disposed
at a spacing from each other, and the longitudinal axes (7-10) of
these working means (3-6) forming a predetermined working angle
(15, 16, 17) with an imaginary axis (12-14) at right angles to the
front face (11) of the base plate (1), characterized in that the
working angles (15, 16, 17) of the working means longitudinal axes
(7-10), measured in the direction (18) of the rotational movement,
are defined between +60.degree. and -60.degree. and therein a
positive working angle is open in the forward direction in the
direction of rotation (18) and a negative working angle is open
toward the back against the direction of rotation (18), the
multiplicity of the working means (3-6) are divided into subsets
and in each subset the longitudinal axes (7-10) of the associated
subset of working means (3-6) have a working angle (15, 16, 17)
which differs from the working angle (15, 16, 17) of the other
subsets, wherein at least one first subset of working means (3, 6),
and therewith their longitudinal axes (7, 10) is disposed at a
neutral working angle (17) of 0.degree. and at least one second
subset of working means (5), and therewith their longitudinal axes
(9), is disposed at a positive working angle (15) of up to
+60.degree..
2. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that at least a third subset of working
means (4) is fastened on the base plate (1), wherein their
longitudinal axes (8) are disposed at a negative working angle (16)
of up to -60.degree..
3. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that each of the subsets of working means
(3-6) with different working angles (15, 16, 17) is disposed in a
certain region of the base plate.
4. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (1) is divided into
several regions in the form of concentric rings (19-22) and with
each of the ring regions (19-22) is associated one of the subsets
of working means (3-6) with a certain working angle (15, 16,
17).
5. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (1) is divided into
several regions in the form of circle sectors (23-26) and with each
of the circle sectors (23-26) is associated one of the subsets of
working means (3-6) with a certain working angle (15, 16, 17).
6. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (1; 1') is assembled
of several structural parts (19-22 or 23-26, respectively), these
structural parts (19-22; 23-26) are connected with one another
directly or by means of a mounting plate (27) form-fittingly and/or
force-fittingly and these structural parts have the form of an
annulus (19-22) or of a circle sector (23-26).
7. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 6, characterized in that the individual structural parts of
the base plate (1; 1') are each equipped with working means (3-6),
which are disposed at a predetermined working angle (15, 16, 17)
and therein at least two structural parts (19-22; 23-26) have
working means (3-6) with different working angles (15, 16, 17).
8. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 6, characterized in that the individual structural parts
(19-22; 23-26) have at least partially a different thickness in the
direction of the tool axis (2).
9. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that each of the working means (3-6) is
comprised of a bristle tuft with a multiplicity of parallel
bristles (28).
10. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed
in claim 1, characterized in that the working means (3-6) of the
individual subsets are comprised of diverse materials.
11. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed
in claim 1, characterized in that the subsets of working means
(3-6) are each equipped with grinding means of different grain
size.
12. Tool for working surfaces, edge areas and contours as claimed
in claim 1, characterized in that each of the subsets of working
means (3-6) has different dimensions.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a tool for working surfaces, edge
areas and contours, with a base plate rotating about a tool axis, a
multiplicity of flexible working means, which are directed against
a workpiece surface and fastened on a front face of the base plate,
these working means being formed in the shape of rods and spaced
apart from one another and the longitudinal axes of these working
means forming a predetermined working angle with an imaginary axis
at right angles to the front face of the base plate.
[0002] Tools of this type are known in many embodiments and serve
inter alia for grinding, polishing and deburring of surfaces, edge
areas and contours of workpieces produced by casting, pressing,
punching or similar working processes. The workpieces are most
often fastened on a workpiece carrier and the corresponding
rotating tools are disposed on driving units, the workpiece carrier
and driving units moving relative to one another.
[0003] A grinding tool of this type is known for example from EP
700 754 A1. In this tool on a disk-shaped and rotating base plate
rod-shaped grinding means are disposed which are spaced apart in
the radial direction as well as also in the direction of the
circumference on the front face of the base plate. These grinding
means are formed as working means and can have different shapes,
for example the shape of a rod-form bundle or a rod with a grinding
ball at the free end.
[0004] This publication also discloses placing the. working means,
or grinding means, at right angles to the front face of the base
plate or all of the working means at an incline with respect to the
front face of the base plate. Between the longitudinal axis of an
individual working means and of an imaginary axis at right angles
to the front face of the base plate, a working angle is formed
which has a defined relationship to the direction of the rotational
movement. This known tool is utilized as a universal tool or in
each instance is only equipped for a specific working case or a
specific workpiece is equipped with suitable grinding means or
working means. When exchanging the workpiece to be worked or the
materials to be worked, a new tool must be equipped with suitable
grinding or working means and the previous tool must be
substituted. With complexly shaped workpieces it is often necessary
to employ several tools in succession, and with each of the
successive tools the working means are developed differently, in
order to satisfy all requirements of the working sequence. This
requires relatively expensive and elaborate driving units and high
tool expenditures are generated since for a specific working
sequence several different tools are required. High tool
expenditures also become necessary since for a specific working
sequence several different tools are required. When exchanging the
workpieces to be worked, all tools must be adapted to the new
working sequence and most often need to be exchanged. Exchanging
the tools is often forgone with the consequence that the working
process is no longer optimal. Complexly shaped parts can often only
be inadequately worked. Moreover, tools of this type have the
disadvantage that with unequal abrasion of the working or grinding
means, it is necessary to exchange and dispose of the entire
tool.
[0005] EP 983 825 A2 discloses an improved tool of this type, which
is intended to be applied for deburring automobile wheel rims, in
particular aluminum rims. This tool in the form of a head brush is
equipped with a multiplicity of grinding bristle tufts, which form
the working means. These grinding bristle tufts are secured in a
base plate and directed approximately in the direction of the
rotational axis against the workpiece to be worked. Some of the
grinding bristle tufts are disposed at an incline with respect to
the base plate, and specifically are inclined radially inwardly or
outwardly. This disposition is made in particular in order to
obtain a profiling of the working surface of the head brush. The
described tool is suitable for working automobile wheel rims;
however, in differently shaped workpieces it has similar
disadvantages as already described above. Consequently, in
complicated working sequences several successively disposed tools
are here also necessary, which must be exchanged and newly
optimized when changing over a workpiece.
[0006] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a
tool with which surfaces, edge areas and contours, with simple as
well as also complicated form can be optimally worked. With the
same tool diverse working requirements are intended to be fulfilled
such that several tools, disposed one behind the other, can be
avoided or at least their number can be significantly reduced.
Furthermore, subsets of the working means on the tool are to be
exchangeable and replaceable in simple manner in order to make
possible, for example, adaptations to diverse working sequences or
to be able to replace abraded working means.
[0007] This problem is solved through the characteristics defined
in patent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the
invention are evident on the basis of the characteristics of the
dependent patent claims.
[0008] The core of the invention comprises that on a base plate of
an inventive tool groups of working means are disposed which have
diverse positions. For this purpose, their longitudinal axes,
measured in the direction of the rotational movement, have
different working angles between +60 and -60.degree. This working
angle is measured between the longitudinal axis of the particular
working means and an imaginary axis at right angles to the front
face of the base plate. The multiplicity or total number of the
working means is divided into subsets or groups. At least a first
subset of working means, and therewith their longitudinal axes, has
a neutral working angle of 0.degree., and at least a second subset
of working means, and therewith their longitudinal axes, has a
positive working angle of up to +60.degree.. With this basic
configuration of the working means the two subsets can be mixed
among each other or they can be disposed in two delimited regions
of the base plate or they can be distributed over several delimited
regions of the base plate. With this a universal tool can already
be structured which is suitable for working a multiplicity of
differently shaped workpieces. A further advantage results, if on
the base plate at least a third subset of working means is
disposed, the longitudinal axes of this group of working means
being disposed at a negative working angle of up to -60.degree..
With this advantageous disposition virtually all conceivable
movement or working sequences of the working means can be effected.
The individual subsets of working means can be comprised of
different materials or they can have different dimensions or they
are equipped with grinding means of different grain size or they
have a combination of several such specifications. A further
variation potentiality consists in forming the working means such
they are flexible or at least partially rigid. This leads to
further advantages in that on the same tool subsets of working
means are disposed, which, with respect to the workpiece to be
worked, have different working properties. This permits the
optimization of the tool in terms of simple, but also of
complicated, working sequences and working requirements. The
variable loading of a single tool with different working means
replaces several individual tools. Assigning the individual subsets
of working means with different working angles to a specific region
of the base plate, yields the advantage that equipping the
base-plate with the working means is simplified. The base plate can
be divided into several regions in the form of concentric rings or
the base plate is divided into several regions in the form of
sectors of a circle. To each of the regions of the ring or sectors
is assigned one of the subsets of working means with a specific
working angle. Especially advantageous is further the solution that
the base plate is assembled of several structural parts and these
structural parts are directly, or by means of a mounting plate,
form-fittingly or force-fittingly connected with one another. The
structural parts have therein the form of annuli, which are
disposed concentrically and which form the entire base plate or
they consist of sectors of a circle, which are also joined to form
the complete base plate. This embodiment according to the invention
entails the advantage that regions of the base plate or
corresponding structural parts can be prefabricated and be equipped
with working means in different configurations and formations. A
standard set of annuli or sectors of a circle are provided with
diverse placement of working means and, when needed, assembled to
form a complete base plate with working means or to a tool. In this
manner, in very short time and optimally, tools can be structured
which can be adapted in optimal manner to the most diverse working
processes and workpieces. It is no longer necessary in many cases
to dispose several tools one after the other, but rather a single
tool according to the invention can be assembled of several
structural parts in universal manner. This leads to a tool which
can be employed with greater versatility and to considerable
savings of expenditures. Subsets of working means with more severe
abrasion than the other subsets on the same tool can be replaced in
simple manner without having to replace and dispose of the entire
tool. It leads furthermore to additional advantages if at least one
of the structural parts of an assembled tool has a different
thickness. This thickness is measured in the direction of the tool
axis. The free length of the working means can thereby be changed
and therewith their bending behaviour. In this case on the same
tool working means are available which have a different free
length.
[0009] In the following the invention will be explained in further
detail in conjunction with embodiment examples and with reference
to the enclosed drawing. Therein depict:
[0010] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a tool according to the
invention in simplified illustration with subsets of working means
disposed in annuli,
[0011] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a tool according to the
invention with subsets of working means disposed in sectors of a
circle,
[0012] FIG. 3 a partial cross section through a working means with
positive working angle,
[0013] FIG. 4 a partial cross section through a working means with
neutral working angle, and
[0014] FIG. 5 a partial cross section through a working means with
negative working angle.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a tool according to the invention in simplified
perspective representation. This tool comprises a base plate 1 with
a drive shaft 29 and is rotatable about the tool axis 2. On the
base plate 1 are fastened a multiplicity of working means 3-6.
These working means 3-6 are in the form of rods and, with respect
to the front face 11 of the base plate 1 as well as in the X and
the Y direction, are disposed at a spacing from one another. The
front face 11 of the base plate 1, and therewith the working means
3-6, are directed against a not shown workpiece to be worked. The
entire set of working means 3-6, which is disposed on the base
plate, is divided into subsets, with at least one first and one
second subset of working means 3-6 available. The working means 3-6
of each of these subsets are disposed and/or formed differently. In
the embodiment example according to FIG. 1 the front face 11 of the
base plate 1 is divided into several regions in the form of
concentric rings 19-22, and these rings 19-22 can only be imaginary
or the base plate 1 can in reality be subdivided into annuli. The
working means 3-6 in the described example are each comprised of a
bristle tuft with a multiplicity of parallel bristles 28 as shown
in FIG. 4. The individual bristles 28 of each bristle tuft are
comprised of a suitable synthetic material known per se, which is
equipped, in a manner also known per se, with a grinding means.
However, it is also possible to utilize other suitable working
means, such as are disclosed for example in EP 700 754 A1. In the
depicted embodiment example the base plate 1 is effectively
assembled from several structural parts in the form of annuli
19-22, and these annuli 19-22 are connected with one another
through not shown connection and fastening means. To each of the
annuli 19-22 a subset of working means 3-6 is assigned, which have
a specific formation and a predetermined working angle.
[0016] The outermost annulus 22 is equipped with working means 3,
which are disposed at right angles to the front face 11 of the base
plate 1, as is shown in FIG. 4. The longitudinal axis 7 of each of
the working means 3 extends congruently with an imaginary axis 12,
which is at right angles to the front face 11 of the base plate 1.
Therewith, the working means 3 are disposed at a neutral working
angle of 0.degree.. Within the scope of this description, by the
term working angle 15, 16, 17 is understood an angle, which, viewed
in the direction of the rotational movement, is formed between the
longitudinal axes 7-10 of the working means 3-6 and imaginary axes
12, 13, 14. The imaginary axes 12, 13, 14 are at right angles to
the front face 11 of the base plate 1 and extend through the
intersection point of the longitudinal axes 7-10 of the working
means 3-6 with the front face 11 of the base plate 1. If a working
means 5 is inclined forwardly in the direction of the rotational
movement, a positive working angle 15 is formed, as depicted in
FIG. 3, and, if a working means 4 is inclined backwardly in the
direction of the rotational movement 18, a negative working angle
16 is formed as depicted in FIG. 5. The negative working angles 16
can be in a range of 0 to -60.degree. and the positive working
angles in a range from 0 to +60.degree.. In the depicted example
according to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the negative working angles 16 are
approximately -15.degree. and the positive working angles 15
approximately +15.degree.. The selection of the working angle 15,
16, 17 takes place as a function of the desired working effects on
the workpiece to be worked or the surfaces, edge areas and contours
on the workpiece.
[0017] The second concentric annulus 21 is equipped with working
means 4, which are disposed at a negative working angle 16. This
disposition is depicted in partial section in FIG. 5 in detail. The
longitudinal axis 8, and therewith the working means 4, is inclined
backwardly and a negative working angle 16 is formed with the
imaginary axis 13. The next concentric annulus 20 is equipped with
working means 5, which are inclined forwardly in the direction of
the rotational movement 18. This disposition is depicted in FIG. 3
in partial section. The longitudinal axis 9, and therewith the
working means 5, is inclined in the direction 18 of the rotational
movement and the longitudinal axis 9 forms with the imaginary axis
14 a positive working angle 15. The next concentric annulus 19 is
again equipped with working means 6, which are disposed in the same
manner as the working means 3 on the outer annulus 22. The working
means 6 are consequently also at right angles to the front face 11
of the base plate 1. When needed, further annuli can be disposed
or, depending on the requirement of the working process, the
working means 3-6 can be disposed at a different working angle. The
working means 3-6 are, as shown in FIG. 3-5, secured in bores 30,
31 or 32 in the base plate 1 and are adhered by means of an
adhesion agent 33, for example a two-component synthetic adhesive
agent 33, with the base plate 1. However, the base plate 1 can also
be formed in the shape of a pot or be formed with a margin. In this
case the working means can be secured completely in a casting
compound and this compound forms a portion of the base plate and
fills the pot-like inner region. The disposition and positioning of
the groups of working means in this casting compound in this case
takes place with the aid of assembly devices. The division of the
total set of working means 3-6 into at least two subsets, the
working means associated with each subset having different working
angles, permits realizing tools with optimal working properties.
Since with the individual sets different piece numbers of working
means 3-6 can be associated, an additional variation capability of
the working properties results. It is furthermore possible, to
impart to each of the subsets of working means 3-6 modified working
properties through the additional change of material and form.
[0018] The tool according to the invention and depicted in FIG. 2
has the same characteristics and properties as the embodiment
example according to FIG. 1. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2
the base plate 1', or its front face 11', is divided into several
regions, which have the form of sectors of a circle. In the present
case four sector regions were chosen, with each of which a subset
of working means 3-6 is associated. The base plate 1' is
effectively assembled of four structural parts 23-26, which have
the form of sectors of a circle. These four sectors 23-26 are
disposed on a mounting plate 27 and are connected with it by means
of securement means 34, for example machine screws. On the sector
23 are disposed working means 3, which have a neutral working angle
of 0.degree.. On sector 25 are also disposed the working means 6 in
the same manner, i.e. the working means 3 and 6 are at right angles
to the front face 11 of base plate 1'. However, the sector 23,
measured in the direction of the tool axis 2, has a different, in
this case, lesser, height 35 than the sector 25 and the two other
sectors 24, 26. The working means 3 on the sector 23 have a greater
free length than the working means 6 on the sector 25. This changes
the flexibility or elasticity of the working means 3 and yields an
additional variation capability. On the sector 24 are disposed
working means 5, which have a positive working angle 15 of
approximately 15.degree.. They are consequently inclined forwardly
in the direction 18 of the rotational movement. On circle sector 26
are disposed working means 4, which have a negative working angle
16. These working means 4 are consequently inclined backwardly with
respect to the direction 18 of the rotational movement. In this
embodiment example also further circle sectors with further subsets
of working means can be disposed and/or the working means 3-6, due
to a change of material or of form or of the working angle, have
different working properties.
[0019] The embodiment according to FIG. 1, as well as also the
embodiment according to FIG. 2, has the advantage that the base
plate 1, or 1', can be assembled in the manner of a mosaic of
several structural parts 19-22 or 23-26, respectively. The discrete
structural parts in the form of annuli 19-22 or of the circle
sectors 23-26 can be prefabricated as single structural modules and
be equipped differently with working means 3-6. The working means
3-6 have therein in particular different working angles, different
materials, different grain sizes and/or different dimensions. It is
thus possible to combine a tool according to the invention
precisely to the requirements of the working process for a specific
tool and therein to select individual annuli 19-22 or circle
sectors 23-26, on which working means 3-6 of the suitable material,
with the suitable dimensions, a suitable grinding means and an
optimized working angle are disposed. The combination of the
different subsets of working means 3-6 to form a total set of
working means 3-6, which are disposed on the base plate 1, or 1',
respectively, permits an optimal adaptation to the working
requirements. Furthermore, the tools of this type according to the
invention can be combined simply and cost-effectively and, when
needed, individual or several of the structural parts 19-22 or
23-26, respectively, can be exchanged. Adaptations to the working
process can thereby be made without the entire tool needing to be
changed every time. If individual regions of the total set of
working means 3-6 show relatively severe abrasion, the dimensions
of the structural parts 19-22 or 23-26, respectively, can be so
selected that abraded regions can be replaced by new elements. This
also permits the replacement of subsets of working means 3-6 which
are abraded more severely than others, such that the entire tool
can be utilized significantly longer than the solutions known up to
now. However, a significant advantage of a tool according to the
invention comprises that with a single tool with variable loadings,
workings can be completed for which previously the use of several
tools was necessary.
* * * * *