Coated abrasive article maker apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518388-B2
Application number	US-201415106213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A coated abrasive article maker apparatus including a first web path guiding a production tool such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of an abrasive particle transfer roll; a second web path for a resin coated backing guiding the resin coated backing such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface of the production tool this is positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; and wherein abrasive particles are transferred from cavities in the production tool to the resin coated backing as the resin coated backing and the production tool traverse around the abrasive particle transfer roll.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coated abrasive article maker apparatus comprising:
a first web path for a production tool having a dispensing surface with a plurality of cavities, the first web path guiding the production tool through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of an abrasive particle transfer roll;
a second web path for a resin coated backing guiding the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface and the production tool positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; and
an abrasive particle feeder, positioned prior to the abrasive particle transfer roll in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path, to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface and into the plurality of cavities; and
wherein abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the resin coated backing as the resin coated backing and the production tool traverse around the abrasive particle transfer roll.

2. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 1 wherein the production tool comprises a carrier member having the dispensing surface and a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, wherein the carrier member has the plurality of cavities formed therein, wherein the plurality of cavities extend into the carrier member from the dispensing surface toward the back surface, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cavities comprise first, second, third, and fourth consecutive contiguous sidewalls, wherein the first and third sidewalls continuously taper inwardly toward each other and contact each other at a line, and wherein the second and fourth sidewalls do not contact each other.

3. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 1 wherein the production tool comprises a carrier member having the dispensing surface and a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, wherein the carrier member has the plurality of cavities formed therein, wherein, on a respective basis, each of the cavities extends from a first opening at the dispensing surface through the carrier member to a second opening at the back surface, and wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

4. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 1 wherein the production tool comprises a carrier member having the dispensing surface, a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, and a resilient compressible layer secured to the back surface of the carrier member; and wherein the carrier member has the plurality of cavities formed therein, wherein on a respective basis each of the cavities extends from a first opening at the dispensing surface through the carrier member to a second opening at the back surface, and wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

5. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 4 wherein the resilient compressible layer comprises a plurality of apertures and wherein each of the apertures is aligned with a one of the cavities such that an opening extends from the dispensing surface through the carrier member and through the resilient compressible layer.

6. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 1 wherein the production tool comprises a carrier member having the dispensing surface and a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, wherein the carrier member has cavities formed therein, and wherein the carrier member comprises at least two longitudinally-oriented raised standoff members disposed on the dispensing surface.

7. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 6 comprising a filling assist member positioned between the abrasive particle transfer roll and the abrasive particle feeder in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path to move abrasive particles on the dispensing surface into the cavities.

8. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 7 wherein the filling assist member comprises a brush.

9. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 8 comprising an abrasive particle removal member positioned between the abrasive particle transfer roll and the abrasive particle feeder in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path to remove excess abrasive particles from the dispensing surface.

10. The coated abrasive article maker of claim 9 wherein the abrasive particle removal member comprises an air knife to blow excess abrasive particles from the dispensing surface.

11. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 8 wherein the dispensing surface is inclined after the abrasive particle feeder such the elevation of the plurality of cavities increases in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path.

12. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 11 wherein the dispensing surface is inverted as the production tool wraps the abrasive particle transfer roll.

13. The coated abrasive article maker apparatus of claim 12 wherein a vibration source is coupled to the abrasive particle transfer roll.

14. The coated abrasive article maker of claim 3 wherein the abrasive particle transfer roll has an elastomeric outer circumference.

15. The coated abrasive article maker of claim 3 wherein the abrasive particle transfer roll has a plurality of apertures in the outer circumference in fluid communication with an internal source of pressurized air contained within the abrasive particle transfer roll.

16. The coated abrasive article maker of claim 3 comprising a vacuum box located adjacent to the back surface positioned near the abrasive particle feeder.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Culler Scott R
• Boden John T
• Keipert Steven J
• Adefris Negus B
• Jindal Karan
• Nienaber Aaron K
• Morrison David L
• Benson Peter T
• Pranay Pratik
• Wright Bradford B

Classifications

• B24D2203/00

  Tool surfaces formed with a pattern · CPC title

• B24D18/0072

  using adhesives for bonding abrasive particles or grinding elements to a support, e.g. by gluing · CPC title

• B24D11/001 Primary

  Manufacture of flexible abrasive materials · CPC title

• B24D3/28

  Resins {or natural or synthetic macromolecular compounds (B24D3/22 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C09K3/1436

  Composite particles, e.g. coated particles · CPC title