Abrasive Belt Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023398656-A1
Application number	US-202217837384-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2022
Priority date	Jun 10, 2022
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An abrasive belt device includes first and second rollers that accommodate an abrasive belt to define a sanding surface, and a lever usable to modify a distance between the rollers. The abrasive belt device also defines an opening through which the belt passes during installation or removal. In a first lever position, the rollers are separated by a first distance that allows the installation or the removal of the belt, and the opening is not covered by the lever, thereby permitting a portion of the belt to pass through the opening. In a second lever position, the rollers are separated by a second distance, greater than the first distance, that inhibits the installation or the removal of the belt, and the opening is covered by a portion of the lever, thereby inhibiting any portions of the belt from passing through the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An abrasive belt device comprising:
a belt assembly comprising a first roller and a second roller, wherein the belt assembly accommodates an abrasive belt partially around each of the first and the second rollers to define a sanding surface, and wherein during installation and/or removal of the abrasive belt, the abrasive belt passes through an opening defined by the belt assembly; and a lever comprising a body portion and a tab portion, wherein the lever is rotatable through a plurality of positions and usable to modify a distance between the first roller and the second roller to facilitate installation, removal, and/or retention of the abrasive belt relative to the belt assembly, wherein a first position of the lever corresponds to a first distance between the first roller and the second roller, wherein separation of first roller and the second roller by the first distance enables the installation and/or the removal of the abrasive belt, and wherein in the first position of the lever, the opening is not covered by the tab portion thereby permitting a portion of the abrasive belt to pass therebetween, wherein a second position of the lever corresponds to a second distance between the first roller and the second roller, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, wherein separation of first roller and the second roller by the second distance inhibits the installation and/or the removal of the abrasive belt, and wherein in the second position of the lever, the tab portion at least partially covers the opening thereby inhibiting any portions of the abrasive belt from passing therebetween.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tab portion extends substantially perpendicular from the body portion

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a motorized component operationally coupled to the belt assembly, the motorized component configured to rotate at least the first roller when the lever is in the second position and thereby rotate the abrasive belt around the first roller and the second roller.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member positioned between first and second rollers, wherein the biasing member introduces a biasing force against first and second rollers, wherein rotation of the lever about a lever axis adjusts a force applied on the biasing member that opposes the biasing force.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring, and wherein when the lever is in the first position the lever causes compression of the spring and thereby a reduction in the distance between the first roller and the second roller.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lever further comprises an engagement portion extending substantially perpendicular from the body portion and substantially parallel to the tab portion, wherein the engagement portion comprises an engagement portion pivotably mounted about a lever axis to a housing of the device.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the engagement portion comprises a section having a curved profile extending from a first notch to a second notch, and wherein the device further comprises a follower portion mechanically linked to the engagement portion of the lever, wherein the follower portion is translated according to the curved profile, wherein a portion of the follower portion rests in the first notch when the lever is in the second position, and wherein the portion of the follower portion rests in the second notch when the lever is in the first position.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the follower portion includes a pin, wherein the pin moves perpendicular to the lever axis responsive to movement by the lever.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein while the lever is in the second position and the abrasive belt is positioned partially around each of the first and the second rollers, the abrasive belt is retained partially around the first roller and the second roller by the tab portion.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein while the lever is in the second position, no abrasive belt can be installed on or removed from the device.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein in first position and the second position are separated by 90-degrees of rotation of the lever about the lever axis.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive belt cannot be installed on the device when the first roller and the second roller are separated by the second distance due to a size of an internal perimeter of the abrasive belt.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein during the installation and/or the removal of the abrasive belt, the abrasive belt passes through a second opening defined by the belt assembly, wherein in the second position of the lever, the tab portion at least partially covers the second opening thereby inhibiting any portions of the abrasive belt from passing therebetween.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lever is u-shaped.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first position is an open position, and wherein the second position is a closed position.

16 . A method of using an abrasive belt device comprising:
providing an abrasive belt device comprising a first roller, a second roller, and a lever, wherein the abrasive belt device defines an opening through which the abrasive belt device receives a portion of a continuous abrasive belt for placement partially around each of the first roller and the second roller to define a sanding surface, wherein a distance between the first roller and the second roller is based on a rotational position of the lever; while the lever is positioned in a first position in which a tab portion of the lever does not inhibit any portions of the continuous abrasive belt from passing through the opening and in which the first roller and the second roller are separated by a first distance, installing the continuous abrasive belt onto the abrasive belt device, wherein said installing comprises inserting the portion of the continuous abrasive belt through the opening and placing the continuous abrasive belt partially around each of the first roller and the second roller; and transitioning the lever from the first position to a second position in which the lever inhibits the continuous abrasive belt from passing through the opening, wherein said transitioning causes the distance between the first roller and the second roller to increase from the first distance to a second distance thereby introducing tension to the continuous abrasive belt.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising operating the abrasive belt device while the lever is in the second position, wherein during said operating a tab portion of the lever inhibits the continuous abrasive belt from passing through the opening.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
transitioning the lever from the second position to the first position; and uninstalling the abrasive belt from the abrasive belt device by passing at least a portion of the abrasive belt through the opening.

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Christophersen Kyle J

Classifications

• B24B21/20

  for controlling or adjusting the tracking or the tension of the grinding belt · CPC title

• B24B23/06 Primary

  with abrasive belts, e.g. with endless travelling belts; Accessories therefor · CPC title