DEVICE FOR SURFACE RENEWAL WITH QUICK-LOCKING ROLLER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of surface renovation using portable electric tools, generally called satinizing machines.

[0002] Portable electric surface renovation tools comprise a rotating cylindrical element of the brush or roller type whose active friction surface makes it possible, in particular, to strip, brush, sand, polish, clean, or polish small or medium-sized surfaces such as metal, wood, brick, plastic, or even tile or stone. The active surface of the roller is adapted to the type of surface to be renovated; it is, for example, based on felt, or sandpaper (with a continuous surface or in the form of strips), or even equipped with plastic or metal brush bristles, etc.

[0003] In a known manner, such a roller surface renovation tool comprises a main body which houses electric drive means of the electric motor type, and part of which forms gripping means, a rotary shaft which is connected to the drive means and is intended to carry at least one roller, and means for holding the roller in position on the shaft, as well as a protective casing which is partially open and surrounds the roller in a semi-cylindrical volume.

[0004] The means for locking the roller in position on the shaft are of course necessary due to the rotation of the roller. These locking means usually consist of a washer and a clamping screw which cooperate with the end of the shaft and rest on the side face of the roller (once the roller is placed on the shaft).

[0005] The casing is intended to protect the user (and the surrounding work area) from dust and debris flying during operation of the tool, i.e. when the roller rotates on a work surface. The casing forms a semi-cylindrical shell that extends in a closed manner from the main body of the tool and above the rotation shaft so as to surround the roller along its entire length and at half its volume. To easily change the roller, many casings are open laterally opposite the end of the rotating shaft. However, to ensure better protection, some tools have a casing that includes a lateral closing cheek opposite the free end of the rotating shaft, as shown in document FR 3 062 791.

[0006] However, while using a protective side cheek is much safer, the assembly and disassembly of the roller remains laborious. On the one hand, it is necessary to disassemble / reassemble the clamping screw and the washer of the locking means, which does not contribute to the speed of implementation, and these added parts can easily be lost during disassembly. On the other hand, the side cheek is currently removably fixed in several places by fastening systems such as butterfly screws (as in the aforementioned document FR 3 062 791A1), which again requires implementation time to disassemble and reassemble the closing cheek, and sometimes requires manual assembly and reassembly tools such as a tightening wrench.Furthermore, the user may be distracted once the cheek and the locking means have been disassembled, by placing them among other objects on his work bench, and once he has to reassemble a roller, he may have difficulty finding all the parts of the locking means and the closing cheek.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to propose a surface renovation device forming a portable electric tool, comprising a protective casing which is provided with a lateral closing cheek, the device overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks by providing in particular a rapid solution for mounting and dismounting the roller and the protective casing, while ensuring locking of the roller on the rotation shaft. The surface renovation device must provide rapid locking of the roller.

[0008] According to the invention, the surface renovation device (forming a portable electric tool) comprises a main body which houses electrical rotary drive means, a rotation shaft capable of rotating via said drive means and intended to carry at least one cylindrical element with an active renovation surface of the roller type, locking means intended to lock the roller in position on the shaft, and a protective casing which extends from the main body and houses the rotation shaft, the casing being closed opposite the main body by a cheek which can be in the closed or open position (the casing comprises a body and a closing cheek), the device being characterized in that the roller locking means are integral with the cheek of the casing and comprise a so-called locking part which is capable of rotating and, in the closed position of the cheek,is capable of cooperating by bearing against the roller intended to be mounted on the rotation shaft.,

[0009] Thus, the locking means, being integral with the casing cheek, cooperate directly with the roller when the cheek is closed, which allows the roller to be locked in place on the shaft in a single operation - closing the cheek. In addition, since the locking part is able to rotate, the roller remains firmly held in place while being driven by the tool shaft. Both assembly and disassembly of the roller are very quick since only the casing cheek needs to be closed or opened. Locking of the roller is therefore also quick. Locking of the roller is automatic when the cheek is closed.

[0010] According to one feature, the locking part is mounted on a rotating support, in particular a ball bearing support (or an equivalent support with a rotating function by mechanical drive). The ball bearing support ensures uniform and permanent rotation of the locking part.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the locking part is elastically supported (against the roller), preferably the locking means comprise a spring, in particular a coil spring, which is positioned between the locking part and a rotating support of the part, the rotating support being integral with the cheek. This elastically supported configuration makes it possible to absorb any play that may exist in the length of different types of rollers. This makes it possible to adjust, position and adjust the locking part as best as possible on and / or in the hub of the roller, and furthermore automatically.

[0012] Advantageously, the locking part forms a male part which is intended to cooperate with the hub of the roller intended to be positioned on the rotation shaft of the device.

[0013] According to yet another feature, the locking part has its distal end chamfered, in particular the locking part has its distal end which is frustoconical in shape being convergent in the opposite direction to the cheek of the housing (in the direction of the shaft and therefore of the hub of the roller). This design facilitates the guidance by insertion of the locking part (convergent male shape) inside the hub of the roller. Furthermore, even when there is a clearance at the diameter of the hub, this shape makes it possible to cooperate with the hub of the roller and therefore guarantees the retention of the roller.

[0014] Preferably, the casing cheek is attached to the casing (body) via a pivot. Thus, the cheek remains integral with the casing body and opens / closes by pivoting. Alternatively, the casing cheek could be removable.

[0015] For the purposes of the invention, the term "pivot" means a part constituting the support or the end of a pivot axis around which the closing cheek is capable of rotating, the pivot securing the cheek to the body of the casing without the possibility of the cheek becoming detached from the casing. The pivot ensures direct attachment of the cheek to the body of the casing and non-removability of the cheek relative to the casing in the open position of the cheek during assembly or disassembly of the roller. Thus, the cheek remains secured to the body of the casing when it is opened. There is no risk of it falling and it cannot be misplaced. The pivoting articulation via a pivot is an inexpensive manufacturing solution, with a robust and aesthetically discreet design.Furthermore, the pivot thus allowing a joining of one part against the other and being directly integral (integrated) with the body of the casing, the pivot axis of the cheek is in no way offset, which gives a compact and robust arrangement, as well as a reliable pivoting. Furthermore, such a design allows a quick opening and closing of the cheek, which results in a simple and quick change of the roller. Finally, the articulation of the cheek by pivot guarantees the maintenance of the cheek even open after the casing; the user can only be obliged to close the cheek to use the device, which is a guarantee of safety for the user.

[0016] In one embodiment of the cheek attachment, the pivot includes a pivot axis that is parallel to the rotating shaft.

[0017] In another embodiment of attaching the cheek, the pivot includes a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the rotating shaft.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the pivot forms the end of a pivot axis which cooperates with a housing inside the body of the casing.

[0019] In another embodiment, the pivot forms a pivot axis which is housed on the outside of the housing body.

[0020] Preferably, the casing cheek is fixed on one side by a pivot pin, and on the opposite side by a quick-release fastener (or any other type of fastener, including clipping). The pivot pin may be removable if the entire cheek needs to be dismantled, in particular to better view certain precision work. In a preferred example, the pivot pin is external to the casing body and fixed by screws, which provides a simple and easily removable assembly. The quick-release fastener is preferably a latch fastener system, in particular the fastener (or counter-hook) being integral with the cheek while the latch is integral with the casing body. The term "quick-release system" means a system that does not require the use of tools for its implementation.

[0021] Preferably, the closing cheek of the casing comprises a plastic body, and a metal plate which is integral with the internal face of the body of the cheek and with which the locking means are integral. Preferably, the internal face of the cheek is entirely covered with the metal plate which may comprise shapes with reinforcing geometry. In addition, the metal plate may be provided with an extension projecting towards the outside of the cheek and forming an attachment means for closing the cheek, in particular forming the counter-hook of a quick-attach attachment, in particular a latch attachment. Alternatively, the cheek could be entirely metallic or entirely made of plastic.

[0022] According to yet another feature, the housing body has a side section closed by the closing cheek, which is polygonal, or circular, or a combination of straight and curved lines. The housing body forms in particular a half-shell.

[0023] According to yet another feature, the casing comprises an evacuation outlet intended for suction, the evacuation outlet being able to comprise an angled conduit and / or being able to be closed by a sealing means such as a removable plug.

[0024] Preferably, the dust evacuation outlet comprises means preventing the introduction of one or more fingers inside the casing, in particular the evacuation outlet has a through orifice in the thickness of the casing and partial closing means preventing the introduction of one or more fingers through the orifice, in the form of a grid or parallel bars spaced at a distance of at most 6 mm.

[0025] According to yet another feature, the renovation device comprises a roller which has a hub of which at least one distal end is chamfered and cooperates with the locking part, which further facilitates the guidance and cooperation of the locking part in the hub. Preferably, the device comprises a roller which has a hub comprising two longitudinal ribs which cooperate directly with two longitudinal grooves with which the rotation shaft is provided, which allows very rapid assembly of the roller; there is no need for keys as is usually the case.

[0026] In the remainder of the description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, are understood to describe elements of the device in the context of normal use of the device held by a user.

[0027] In the remainder of the description, the term “roller power tool” means a power tool capable of rotating a cylindrical functional element to perform a DIY task.

[0028] The present invention is now described with the aid of examples which are solely illustrative and in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and from the attached illustrations, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] represents a schematic perspective view from the rear of an exemplary embodiment of a surface renovation device according to the invention with its casing closed. [ Fig. 2 ] a perspective view of the front of the device of the figure 1 , with the crankcase open. [ Fig. 3 ] is a side view of the device of the Figures 1 and 2 with the casing cheek wide open, and showing the inner face of the cheek and the roller mounted on the rotating shaft. Fig. 4] is a perspective and top view showing the rotating shaft of the device and the interior of the housing with its cheek closed. [ Fig. 5 ] is a partial schematic sectional view of the closed casing cheek with the locking means engaged with the roller hub mounted on the rotating shaft of the device. [ Fig. 6 ] is a perspective and top view of the interior of the crankcase alone. [ Fig. 7 ] is a perspective view of a preferred example of a roller to be mounted on the rotating shaft of a renovation device of the invention.

[0029] The renovation function device 1 illustrated as an example which is in no way limiting on the figures 1 to 5constitutes a portable electric tool of the satin-finishing type which is intended for renovating surfaces. The renovation device 1 is a roller renovation device provided with means adapted to surface renovation in the form of at least one rotating cylindrical element 10 with an active renovation surface, called a roller. The roller 10 has an active renovation surface over the entire periphery of its cylindrical body, this surface being made of a material adapted to the type of surface to be renovated.

[0030] The renovation device 1 comprises a main body 2 which houses electrical rotary drive means and a part of which constitutes at least a first gripping means 20, a rotation shaft 3 which is intended to carry the roller 10, and a partially open protective casing 4 which comprises a body 40 partly enveloping said roller 10 and a lateral closing cheek 41, as well as locking means 5 for holding the roller 10 in position on the shaft 3. According to the invention, the locking means 5 for holding the roller in position are integral with the cheek 41 of the casing 4 ( figures 3 has 6 ). The locking means 5 are intended to cooperate with the interior of the hub 11 of the roller 10. Preferably, the device further comprises an evacuation outlet 6 (an orifice extended by a conduit which can be bent) intended to be connected to a suction system for sucking up dust and debris during operation of the tool.

[0031] The main body 2 of the device is here of elongated shape. Its distal end 20 serves as a handle and includes a switch 20A for on / off the tool. An electric cable or as illustrated schematically an electric cable sleeve 20B makes it possible to electrically power the device.

[0032] Preferably, the renovation device 1 comprises a second gripping means 21. The second gripping means 21 facilitates handling of the device during use. In the illustrated embodiment, the second gripping means 21 is associated with the main body 2 of the device, but could be associated with the casing 4, or even with the main body 2 and the casing 4 while straddling each other.

[0033] As shown on the figure 4, the rotation shaft 3 extends from the main body 2 and perpendicular to it. The rotation shaft 3 comprises a first end which is connected inside the main body 2 to the electrical rotary drive means (known per se), and a second end 30 opposite the first end and from which the roller 10 is intended to be fitted.

[0034] Usually, the rotation shaft 3 ( figures 3 to 5 ) comprises two opposite longitudinal grooves 31 which participate in the engagement and maintenance of the roller 10 on the shaft 3. The roller 10 can be mounted / removed around the rotation shaft 3 of the device. The roller 10 is able to cooperate via its hub 11 with the shaft 3. In a preferred example of roller ( figures 5 And 7), a roller 10 is used designed for rapid mounting on the shaft 3. The hub 11 of the roller 10 illustrated here comprises integrated means 12 for mutual cooperation, in this case male means such as two opposite longitudinal ribs, which cooperate directly by mutual engagement with the grooves 31 of the shaft 3. To lock the fixing of the roller 10, the renovation device 1 comprises the locking means 5 of the invention described later, which are integral with the cheek 41, and by closing the cheek, are engaged ( Figure 5 ) in the hub 11 while being put into abutment against the lateral face 13 of the roller, thus compressing the roller laterally. In addition, the hub 11 of the roller 10 may have its inlet 11' chamfered towards the inside of the hub, as illustrated in the Figure 5 to facilitate the introduction of the locking means 5.

[0035] The casing 4 remotely covers a part of the roller 10. The casing 4 is not in direct contact with the roller 10 so as not to hinder its rotary movement. The casing 4 constitutes a half-shell. It has a hollow volume shape allowing it to surround the roller 10 to correspond at least to the half-cylinder of the roller. The casing 4 protects and covers, on the one hand, the upper part of the roller 10 and one of the lateral faces of the roller facing the main body 2 thanks to the body 40 of the casing, and on the other hand, the other face 13 of the roller thanks to the lateral closing cheek 41. In the position of use of the device, the roller 10 is hidden from the user. Thus, the dust resulting from stripping during operation of the roller remains confined inside the casing 4 to fall back downwards or preferably be sucked up by suction means not shown and intended to be connected to the casing 4 via the evacuation outlet 6.

[0036] Advantageously, the discharge outlet 6 is arranged on the rear face of the body of the casing, facing the user in the position of use of the device. The discharge outlet 6 may comprise a closure means, for example a removable plug, when the user does not wish to connect the device to suction means.

[0037] In addition, the evacuation outlet 6 is advantageously designed to prevent the user from being able to insert one or more fingers inside the casing when the renovation device 1 is in operation, while allowing the evacuation of dust. With regard to the figure 6, the discharge outlet 6 comprises a through orifice 60 in the thickness of the body 40 of the casing and partial closure means 61 preventing the introduction of one or more fingers through the orifice. The partial closure means 61 are for example a grid or, as here, parallel bars spaced at a distance of at most 6 mm.

[0038] In the example shown, which is in no way limiting, the casing 4 has a general polyhedron shape. According to a view transverse to the direction of the rotation shaft 3, the body 40 of the casing has a polygonal section. Alternatively, the body 40 of the casing could have a circular section or a combination of curved and straight lines.

[0039] The casing 4 and the elongated body 2 are preferably separable. The casing 4 is removable by removable fixing means 4' ( figures 4 And 6), for example of the clamping collar type. The casing 4 is preferably adjustable in rotation relative to the shaft 3, in particular thanks to the collar 4'.

[0040] The lateral closing cheek 41 has a section adapted to close the open lateral face of the body 40 of the casing, a face perpendicular to and opposite the second end 30 of the rotation shaft 3.

[0041] In view of the figures 3 to 6 , the cheek 41 comprises the locking means 5 which are intended to guarantee the maintenance of the roller 10 on the shaft 3.

[0042] The locking means 5 comprise a locking part 50 capable of being movable in rotation at the same time as the roller when the latter is driven by the shaft 3, a rotating support 51, and preferably an elastic means 52 such as a spring to ensure elastic support of the locking part 50 against the hub 11 of the roller, and preferably partly inside the hub.

[0043] The locking part 50 forms a male member which is intended to be introduced into the hub 11 of the roller in the mounted position of the roller on the shaft 3 and in the closed position of the closing cheek 41.

[0044] The rotating support 51 is preferably a support provided with a ball bearing. The rotating support 51 is integral with the closing cheek 41 by being for example trapped in the thickness of the cheek. In particular, the rotating support 51 is fitted into a molded housing 41A formed in the plastic body of the cheek 41 and retained by a metal plate 41B attached to the internal face of the cheek (face facing the inside of the casing 4) and made integral for example by screwing. The locking part 50 is assembled to the rotating support 51 so as to be able to rotate when it cooperates by insertion into the hub 11 of the roller and the latter is rotating.For fixing, the rotating support 51 comprises a threaded axis 53 on which the locking part 50 is fixed, for example using a screw 54 cooperating axially with the locking part 50 and screwed into the threading of the axis 53 (the part 50 being provided with a through hole to access the screw 54).

[0045] In addition, the locking part 50 is also able to be translated perpendicular to the general plane of the cheek 41, that is to say parallel to the rotation shaft 3 in the closed position of the cheek 41. The translation is obtained via the spring 52 which is a coil spring and which is integral with the locking part 50 by being positioned between said locking part 50 and the support 51. The spring 52 is positioned surrounding the axis 53. The spring 52 comprises a first end which is retained in a groove 55 of the locking part 50, formed by a shoulder of the locking part, and a second opposite end which rests on the support 51. The spring 52 is able to compress. Thus, the locking part 50 is able to be movable in translation during the closing of the cheek and its introduction into the hub 11 of the roller.More particularly, the locking part 50 can compress when it cooperates with a roller 10 in order to absorb the length clearances which may exist in commercial rollers, and guarantee that the locking part 50 will always be in abutment against the roller to lock it in position on the shaft 3.

[0046] Preferably, the locking part 50 has its free end 50' for cooperation with the roller, which is chamfered. The chamfer is inclined while being convergent in the direction opposite to the cheek 41 of the casing, that is to say in the direction of the shaft 3 and therefore of the hub 11 of the roller in the closed position of the cheek 41. This truncated cone-shaped configuration participates in the guidance and introduction of the locking part 50 into the hub 11 of the roller when closing the cheek 41. Advantageously, the introduction of the locking part 50 is even easier when the hub 11 of the roller has its inlet 11' also chamfered.

[0047] Furthermore, concerning the coupling of the closing cheek 41 to the body of the casing 4, the cheek 41 preferably remains integral with the body 40 of the casing in its open position ( figures 1 to 3). The closing cheek 41 is fixed to the body of the casing and is capable of being pivotally movable directly relative to the body 40 of the casing. The lateral closing cheek 41 is fixed directly to the body 40 of the casing by a pivot 42. The lateral closing cheek 41 is therefore integral with the body 40 of the casing thanks to the pivot 42 which ensures the pivoting in rotation of the cheek 41 while guaranteeing the immovability of the cheek once opened for the assembly or disassembly of the roller 10. The pivot 42 is at the edge or immediate edge of the periphery of the body 40 of the casing.

[0048] The pivot 42 is arranged on the periphery of the open face of the body 40 of the casing (external to the body of the casing or integrated in a housing internal to the body of the casing; parallel or perpendicular to the rotation shaft). The pivot 42 can be arranged at different locations on this periphery of the body 40 of the casing. Here, the pivot 42 is on the outer periphery and along the front side 40A of the casing. The pivot 42 comprises a pivot axis 43 which is perpendicular to the shaft 3. The pivot axis 43 is secured to the cheek 41 via ears 44 and 45 spaced apart and secured to the edge of the body 40 of the casing and the fixing screws 46 and 47. The pivot axis 43 is disposed between the two ears 44 and 45 and held securely by the fixing screws 46 and 47 which pass through the respective ears 44 and 45 and screw into each of the threaded ends of the pivot axis 43.

[0049] Opposite the pivot 42, on the rear edge 40B of the body 40 of the casing, the casing comprises a fastening system 7 for keeping the closing cheek 41 closed. The fastening system 7 is preferably a quick-attachment system (which does not require any tools), for example a latch fastening system. Advantageously, the latch 70 is secured to the body 40 of the casing, while the counter-hook 71 with which the latch 70 can cooperate is secured to the cheek 41. Preferably, the body of the cheek is made of plastic, and its internal face is constituted by the metal plate 41B which is provided, in the extension of the plane of the plate and projecting from the peripheral edge and towards the outside, with a metal tab constituting the counter-hook 71 of the quick-attachment fastening system.

Claims

1. Surface renovation device (1) comprising a main body (2) which houses electrical rotary drive means, a rotation shaft (3) capable of rotating via said drive means and intended to carry at least one cylindrical element with an active renovation surface (10) of the roller type, locking means (5) intended to lock the roller in position on the shaft, and a protective casing (4) which extends from the main body (2) and houses the rotation shaft (3), the casing (4) being closed opposite the main body by a cheek (41) which can be in closed position or in open position, characterized in that the locking means (5) of the roller are integral with the cheek (41) and comprise a locking part (50) which is capable of rotating and is capable, in the closed position of the cheek, of cooperating by bearing against the roller intended to be mounted on the rotation shaft.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking part (50) is mounted on a rotating support (51), in particular a ball bearing support.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking part (50) is elastically supported, preferably the locking means (5) comprise a spring (52), in particular a coil spring, which is positioned between the locking part (50) and a rotating support (51) of the part, the rotating support (51) being integral with the cheek (41).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking part (50) forms a male part which is intended to cooperate with the hub (11) of the roller (10) intended to be positioned on the rotation shaft (3).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking part (50) has its distal end chamfered, in particular the locking part has its distal end which is of truncated cone shape being convergent in the direction opposite to the cheek (41).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cheek (41) is fixed to the casing (4) via a pivot (42).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cheek (41) is fixed on one side by a pivot axis (42), and on the opposite side by a quick-release fastener (7), preferably a latch fastening system.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cheek (41) comprises a plastic body, and a metal plate (41B) which is integral with the internal face of the body of the cheek and with which the locking means are integral, preferably the internal face of the cheek is entirely covered with the metal plate (41B) which can comprise shapes with reinforcing geometry.

9. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the metal plate (41B) is provided with an extension (71) projecting towards the outside of the cheek and forming an attachment means for closing the cheek, in particular forming the counter-hook of a quick-attachment fastener, in particular a latch fastener.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (4) comprises an evacuation outlet (6) intended for suction, the evacuation outlet being able to comprise an angled conduit and / or being able to be closed by a sealing means such as a removable plug, preferably the evacuation outlet (6) comprises means (61) preventing the introduction of one or more fingers inside the casing.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a roller (10) which has a hub (11) of which at least one distal end is chamfered and cooperates with the locking part (50).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a roller (10) which has a hub (11) comprising two longitudinal ribs (12) which cooperate directly with two longitudinal grooves (31) with which the rotation shaft (3) is provided.