MACHINE CONTROL FOR DYNABRAID MACHINES

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure is directed to grinding machines and particularly to safety features for abrasive belt grinding machines.

[0002] A grinding machine employs an abrasive belt that is coated with an abrasive material or that has an abrasive material thereon. To perform a grinding operation, the abrasive belt is generally caused to rotate via a motor. Once the abrasive belt is rotating at a desired rate, the abrasive belt contacts a workpiece to perform a grinding operation. Typical abrasive belt machines include a latch style on / off switch that allows for the machine to remain in operation even while being unattended by an operator. Moreover, subsequent a power outage, an abrasive belt machine can have the switch remain in the on position, and upon reenergizing, the machine can spontaneously operate, creating a hazard. Grinding machines create substantial quantities of fine airborne particulate during operation. However, grinding machines are optionally equipped with exhaust vacuum particulate removal devices. These exhaust vacuum devices are optionally operated during the grinding operation. US 4 727 683 A describes a machine for supporting and driving an endless abrasive belt comprising in combination: a base mounting a powered belt drive roller, a belt tension control roller and a support arm, said drive and tension control rollers having essentially parallel axes of rotation, said support arm having a free end portion projecting from said base in a direction generally towards a user of said machine and normal to said axes; a contact arm mounting an idler roller adjacent one end thereof; mounting means for mounting an opposite end of said contact arm on said free end portion for pivotal movement about a belt position adjustment axis incident to which an axis of rotation of said idler roller is disposed essentially parallel to said axes of said drive and tension control rollers and said adjustment axis and moves along an arcuate path of travel disposed concentrically of said adjustment axis, said path of travel being disposed outwardly of said free end portion in a direction away from said base, said mounting means includes means for releasably fixing the pivotal position of said contact arm relative to said free end portion about said adjustment axis; and first, second and third tension rollers having their axes disposed essentially parallel to said adjustment axis and mounted on said mounting means for pivotal movement with said contact arm, said first and second tension rollers straddling said contact arm adjacent said opposite end thereof, said third tension roller and said idler roller are disposed on opposite sides of a plane passing through said axes of said first and second tension rollers, said endless belt is adapted to be trained in succession about said drive roller, said tension control roller, intermediate said first and third tension rollers, about said idler roller, and intermediate said second and third tension rollers for return to said drive roller, said first, second and third tension rollers being arranged such that said first and second tension rollers engage with said belt adjacent a mid portion of said path of travel, at least said first and third tension rollers engage with said belt adjacent one end portion of said path of travel, and at least said second and third tension rollers engage with said belt adjacent an opposite end of said path of travel. CN 107 695 837 A describes a swash plate chamfering machine that includes a frame, a work table disposed on the frame, a swash plate positioning rotating mechanism disposed on the work table, and a swash plate positioning rotating mechanism a chamfering mechanism on one side, the chamfering mechanism includes a support seat disposed on the worktable, an abrasive belt wheel installed at one end of the support seat, and a pulley coaxially connected with the abrasive belt wheel, The tensioning wheel adjusting plate installed at the other end of the supporting seat, the tensioning wheel installed on the tensioning wheel adjusting plate, the lifting cylinder mounted on the supporting seat, and the output end of the lifting cylinder Support wheels, belts tensioned on the tensioners, the belt wheels and the support wheels, chamfer motors mounted on the frame, and drives mounted on the output ends of the chamfer motors Wheels, tightening chamfered timing belts on the pulleys and the driving wheels. US 2022 / 023995 A1 describes a system for polishing an outer surface of a specimen, the system comprising: a motor and a rotatable shaft extending from a first end of the motor, wherein the specimen is removably attachable to the rotatable shaft; a safety cover configured to at least partially surround at least a portion of the rotatable shaft, the safety cover comprising: a top panel; a first side panel and a second side panel spaced from each other across a width of the safety cover and extending downwardly from the top panel; and at least one aperture extending through at least one of the first and second side panels; and an abrasive material insertable through the at least one aperture so that the abrasive material is positionable to contact the outer surface of the specimen.SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention relates to an abrasive belt machine and a process for configuring an abrasive belt machine for safety as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0004] Other details of the abrasive belt machine are set forth in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals depict like elements.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary abrasive belt grinding machine. Fig. 2 is an electrical schematic representation of the exemplary abrasive belt grinding machine and accessories. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there is illustrated at Fig. 1 an exemplary abrasive belt grinding machine 10. The abrasive belt grinding machine 10 includes a support housing 12. The support housing 12 supports a pivoting arm 14 that supports an abrasive belt 16. The abrasive belt 16 can be driven by a drive motor 18 coupled to various pulleys 20 and tensioners / tracking devices 22 that maintain proper tension and alignment of the abrasive belt 16.

[0007] An E-stop 28 is operatively coupled to a safety controller 30. The E-stop 28 can be actuated by an operator (not shown) in order to shut down the abrasive belt grinding machine 10. The E-stop 28 can be a dual channel device. The safety controller 30 is electronically coupled to the E-stop 28, a guard door sensor 32, a vacuum pressure / air flow sensor 34 and the like. The safety controller 30 prevents operation of the motor 18 responsive to predetermined conditions. For example, if the safety controller 30 receives a signal from the guard door sensor 32 that the guard door 36 is not positioned properly, then the safety controller 30 will not allow actuation of the drive motor 18. In another example, if the safety controller 30 receives a signal from the vacuum / air flow sensor 34 that the exhaust vacuum 38 is not in operation, then the safety controller 30 will not allow actuation of the drive motor 18.

[0008] A foot pedal switch 40 is operatively coupled to the drive motor 18. An operator provides foot pressure on the foot pedal switch 40 to provide for drive motor 18 operation.

[0009] The safety controller 30 can detect electrical faults, such as short circuits, welded contacts and the like. The safety controller 30 can provide a signal to a fault light 42 on a panel 44.

[0010] A 480 volt AC 3 phase electrical power supply 46 is electrically coupled to the drive motor 18.

[0011] Redundant safety relays 50, 52 can be electrically coupled with the safety controller 30 and power supply 46.

[0012] A technical advantage of the abrasive belt machine disclosed includes redundant safety features that prevent operator injury.

[0013] Another technical advantage of the abrasive belt machine disclosed includes programmable motor controller for speed optimization.

[0014] Another technical advantage of the abrasive belt machine disclosed includes multiple sensors that ensure safety devices are active before operation of the abrasive belt machine.

Claims

1. An abrasive belt machine (10) comprising: a support housing (12) having a pivoting arm (14) that supports an abrasive belt (16) rotatably coupled to a drive motor (18); a guard door (36) coupled to the support housing (12) proximate the abrasive belt (16), the guard door (36) including a guard door sensor (32); an exhaust vacuum coupled to the support housing (12) proximate the abrasive belt (16), the exhaust vacuum including a vacuum / air flow sensor (34); a safety controller (30) operatively coupled with the drive motor (18); an E-stop (28) operatively coupled to the safety controller (30); a foot pedal switch (40) operatively coupled to the drive motor (18); and a 480 volt alternating current 3 phase electrical power supply (46) electrically coupled to the drive motor (18).

2. The abrasive belt machine (10) according to claim 1, wherein the safety controller (30) is electronically coupled to the E-stop (28) and / or a guard door sensor (32) and / or a vacuum pressure / air flow sensor (34).

3. The abrasive belt machine (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the safety controller (30) is configured to prevent operation of the drive motor (18) responsive to predetermined conditions.

4. The abrasive belt machine (10) according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein the safety controller (30) is electronically coupled to the E-stop (28) and / or the guard door sensor (32) and / or the vacuum pressure / air flow sensor (34).

5. The abrasive belt machine (10) according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the safety controller (30) is configured to detect electrical faults and / or short circuits and / or welded contacts.

6. The abrasive belt machine (10) according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a fault light on a panel, wherein the safety controller (30) is configured to provide a signal to the fault light on the panel.

7. A process for configuring an abrasive belt machine (10) for safety comprising: a support housing (12) having a pivoting arm (14) that supports an abrasive belt (16) rotatably coupled to a drive motor (18); coupling a guard door (36) to the support housing (12) proximate the abrasive belt (16), the guard door (36) including a guard door sensor (32); coupling an exhaust vacuum to the support housing (12) proximate the abrasive belt (16), the exhaust vacuum including a vacuum / air flow sensor (34); coupling a safety controller (30) with the drive motor (18); coupling an E-stop (28) to the safety controller (30); coupling a foot pedal switch (40) to the drive motor (18); and supplying a 480 volt alternating current 3 phase electrical power supply (46) to the drive motor (18).

8. The process of claim 7, further comprising: electronically coupling the safety controller (30) to the E-stop (28) and / or a guard door sensor (32) and / or a vacuum pressure / air flow sensor (34).

9. The process of claim 7 or 8, further comprising: configuring the safety controller (30) to prevent operation of the drive motor (18) responsive to predetermined conditions.