DYNAMIC PART POLISHING DEVICE

Abstract

A polishing device (PD) comprises: - a flexible abrasive sheet (FA) having a back face (FR) suitable for polishing a workpiece (PAP), - a flexible backing sheet (FS) positioned in front of the front face (FV) of the abrasive sheet (FA), to which is attached a set (ES) of ballast bags (SL) distributed in a chosen manner and having respective weights chosen to apply uniform pressure to the abrasive sheet (FA) during the polishing of the workpiece (PAP), and - a support (SD) on which the abrasive sheet (FA) and backing sheet (FS) are suspended. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: DYNAMIC PART POLISHING DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the polishing of parts, and more specifically to polishing devices suitable for polishing parts. State of the art

[0002] In certain technical fields, such as that of vehicles (possibly automobiles), metal parts, for example body parts, are used which must be polished on at least one of their faces, possibly after undergoing anti-corrosion treatment (for example by depositing a cathodic electrolytic coating). This polishing is usually intended to eliminate surface defects, such as grains, bubbles, and imperfections.

[0003] Many known solutions allow for the polishing of parts. Among these solutions, we can mention in particular manual polishing devices such as electric polishers or sanders, fixed machines equipped with abrasive(s), automated polishing machines associated with conveyors transporting the parts to be polished, robots (possibly assisted by at least one observation camera), and wet polishing lines using water or other liquids to cool and lubricate the surface to be polished of the parts.

[0004] All these known solutions have limitations and / or induce polishing defects. Indeed, these solutions induce inconsistent polishing in curved areas of parts, or have excessive water (or similar) consumption, or induce rapid wear of their abrasive which requires frequent (possibly complex) changes and therefore generates high operating costs, or prove insufficiently adapted to parts with various shapes and curvatures, or pose ergonomic and / or safety problems for technicians, or prove insufficiently effective due to a lack of automatic control(s) or an insufficient capacity for detecting visual defects.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a polishing device comprising a flexible abrasive sheet (or foil or layer) and having a rear face suitable for polishing a part.

[0007] This polishing device is characterized in that it also comprises:

[0008] - a sheet (or foil or layer) of flexible support, placed in front of a front face of the abrasive sheet, opposite the rear face, to which is attached a set of ballast bags distributed in a chosen manner and having respective weights chosen so as to apply uniform pressure to the abrasive sheet during the polishing of the workpiece, and

[0009] - a support on which the abrasive sheet and support sheet are suspended.

[0010] Thus, it is now possible to apply uniform pressure to the abrasive sheet, and therefore to the part, including if the latter has one or more curves, which makes it possible to obtain dynamic, efficient, consistent and high-quality polishing, without excessive consumption of consumables or water, and without posing ergonomic and / or safety problems when a technician is involved.

[0011] The polishing device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - the ballast bags can be distributed in a chosen manner in front of the front face of the abrasive sheet depending on the shape of the part (to be polished);

[0013] - the respective weights of the ballast bags can be chosen according to a shape of the part (to be polished) and / or of a chosen polishing grit size;

[0014] - it may comprise a flexible intermediate sheet (or foil or layer) and sandwiched between the abrasive sheet and the backing sheet to protect the ballast bags;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, the intermediate sheet can be suspended at support;

[0016] - also in the presence of the last option, the intermediate sheet can be made of a plastic material;

[0017] - the support may include a metal profile to which are attached respective ends of the abrasive sheet and backing sheet;

[0018] - in the presence of the last option, the intermediate sheet may include a end attached to the profile;

[0019] - the assembly may comprise at least ten rows of at least three ballast bags, parallel to each other. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an example of implementation of a polishing device according to the invention placed on a part to be polished, and

[0022] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane, the polishing device of the [Fig.1]. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] The invention aims in particular to provide a DP polishing device intended to dynamically and precisely and uniformly polish PAP metallic parts.

[0024] In what follows, PAP parts are considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be body parts intended to be part of motor vehicles, such as cars. However, the invention is not limited to this application. It relates to any metal part that requires polishing on at least one of its faces. Thus, the parts to be polished may be intended to be part of any vehicles (land, sea (or river), or air), devices (including consumer products), installations (including industrial ones), and buildings.

[0025] Furthermore, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the PAP parts to be polished have previously undergone an anti-corrosion treatment (for example by deposition of a cathodic electrolytic coating). But this is not mandatory.

[0026] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an example of the embodiment of a DP polishing device according to the invention intended to polish at least one metallic PAP part, such as for example a front hood of a vehicle.

[0027] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a polishing device DP, according to the invention, comprises at least one flexible abrasive sheet (or foil or layer) FA, one flexible support sheet (or foil or layer) FS, and a support SD.

[0028] The abrasive sheet FA comprises a back face FR, which is suitable for polishing a metal PAP part, and a front face FV opposite this back face FR. It should be noted that the grit of the back face FR of this abrasive sheet FA is chosen according to the requirements (defects to be removed, desired final appearance, in particular).

[0029] The backing sheet FS is placed in front of the front face FV of the abrasive sheet FA, and a set ES of ballast bags SL is attached to it (FS). The ballast bags SL of this set ES are distributed in a chosen manner and have respective weights that are chosen so as to apply uniform pressure to the abrasive sheet FA (and therefore to the workpiece PAP) during the polishing of this workpiece PAP.

[0030] In addition, the abrasive sheet FA and support sheet FS are suspended on the support SD.

[0031] It should be noted that the SD support can be fixedly attached to a mounting support SF (see [Fig. 1]) which can be fitted to a moving part of a robot or to fixed equipment (for example, an overhead structure) on a production line. Furthermore, the polishing of a PAP part can result from the movement of the PAP part relative to the fixed polishing device DP, or from the movement of the polishing device DP relative to to the fixed PAP part. But in an alternative embodiment, the SD support could be operated by a technician.

[0032] Thanks to the combined action of the SL ballast bags and the fact that the FA abrasive sheet and FS backing sheet are flexible, and therefore deformable, it is now possible to apply uniform pressure to the FA abrasive sheet, and thus to the PAP workpiece, even if the latter (PAP) has one or more curves. It will be understood that the SL ballast bags can locally conform to the curvature of the PAP workpiece, and thus force the FA abrasive sheet to do the same dynamically. This makes it possible to obtain dynamic, efficient, consistent, and high-quality polishing without excessive consumption of consumables (FA abrasive sheet) or water (or similar liquid), and therefore at a low cost, and without posing ergonomic and / or safety problems for technicians. Furthermore, there is no need to perform automatic checks or use observation cameras, which makes the DP polishing device inexpensive.

[0033] It should be noted that the ballast bags SL can be an integral part of the support sheet FS or can be attached to the latter (FS).

[0034] For example, the ballast bags SL can be distributed in a chosen way in front of the front face FV of the abrasive sheet FA depending on the shape of the part PAP to be polished.

[0035] Also, for example, the respective weights of the SL ballast bags can be chosen according to the shape of the PAP part to be polished and / or the chosen polishing grit. It should be noted that the weight of each SL ballast bag can, for example, be defined by a quantity of liquid (such as water) or a quantity of solid elements (such as microbeads or sand).

[0036] Generally speaking, the choice of the weight of each SL ballast bag and the distribution of the SL ballast bags can be determined during tests carried out specifically on the PAP part to be polished and / or the chosen polishing granularity.

[0037] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], the ES assembly may comprise at least ten rows of at least three parallel SL ballast bags. This is notably the case in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], where the ES assembly comprises twelve rows of four parallel SL ballast bags. However, the number of rows may be any value greater than or equal to two, and each row may comprise two or more SL ballast bags when the PAP part to be polished has at least one curvature. As indicated in the preceding paragraph, this choice of arrangement of the ES assembly and the choice of the respective weights of the SL ballast bags depends on the shape of the PAP part in question and / or the chosen polishing grit. The DP polishing device is indeed adaptable to different types of parts to be polished, not not only in terms of shape, but also in terms of size, material and type of finish desired.

[0038] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the polishing device DP may also include a flexible intermediate sheet (or foil or layer) FI interposed between the abrasive sheet FA and the backing sheet FS. This intermediate sheet FI is intended here to protect the ballast bags SL from the abrasive sheet FA in order to increase their lifespan.

[0039] The abrasive sheet FA, intermediate sheet FI and support sheet FS together define a kind of multi-layer deformable abrasive covering.

[0040] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 and 2, the intermediate sheet FI can be suspended from the support SD, like the abrasive sheet FA and the support sheet FS. This suspension is achieved at one end, for example by gluing, clamping, or clipping. However, in an alternative embodiment, the intermediate sheet FI could be attached to the abrasive sheet FA or to the support sheet FS.

[0041] Also, for example, the intermediate sheet FI can be made of a flexible plastic material in order to allow the support sheet FS with its ballast bags SL to conform substantially to the local shape of the PAP part to be polished.

[0042] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 1 and 2, the support SD may include a metal profile PM to which are attached the respective ends of the abrasive sheet FA and support sheet FS, as well as possibly the possible intermediate sheet FL. For example, this metal may be aluminum.

[0043] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.1], the PM profile can be fixedly attached to a mounting support SF which can be fitted to a moving part of a robot or a fixed piece of equipment (as explained above).

Claims

Demands

1. Polishing device (PD) comprising a flexible abrasive sheet (FA) and having a rear face (FR) suitable for polishing a workpiece (PAP), characterized in that it further comprises i) a flexible support sheet (FS), placed in front of a front face (FV) of said abrasive sheet (FA), opposite said rear face (FR), and to which is attached an assembly (ES) of ballast bags (SL) distributed in a chosen manner and having respective weights chosen so as to apply a uniform pressure on said abrasive sheet (FA) during the polishing of said workpiece (PAP), and ii) a support (SD) on which said abrasive sheet (FA) and support sheet (FS) are suspended.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said ballast bags (SL) are distributed in a chosen manner in front of said front face (FV) of the abrasive sheet (FA) according to a shape of said part (PAP).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said respective weights of ballast bags (SL) are chosen according to a shape of said part (PAP) and / or a chosen polishing granularity.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a flexible intermediate sheet (FI) interposed between said abrasive sheet (FA) and support sheet (FS) in order to protect said ballast bags (SL).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said intermediate sheet (FI) is suspended from said support (SD).

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said intermediate sheet (IF) is made of a plastic material.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said support (SD) comprises a metal profile (PM) to which are attached the respective ends of said abrasive sheet (FA) and support sheet (FS).

8. Device according to claim 5 taken in combination with claim 7, characterized in that said intermediate sheet (FI) comprises an end attached to said profile (PM).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said assembly (ES) comprises at least ten rows of at least three ballast bags (SL), parallel to each other.

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