Tool holder for a grinding machine

Abstract

A tool assembly for a grinding machine that supports a tool and is separately and easily removed from the grinding machine to change tools. The grinding machine includes one or more grinding heads that support a plurality of the tool assemblies. The grinding heads include ring members and the tool assemblies include a tapered tool holder. The tool holder is held in the ring member in a friction fit. In one embodiment, a pad holder is mounted to the tool holder by a bolt. The pad holder includes a Velcro layer for securing the tool to the pad holder. In another embodiment, the tool, such as a turbo cup, is bolted directly to the tool holder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/615,801, titled Tool Holder for a Grinding Machine, filed Oct. 4, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a tool holder for a grinding machine and, more particularly, to a tool holder for a grinding machine, where the tool holder is readily removed from a grinding head of the grinding machine so as to allow other tool holders with other tools to be attached to the grinding machine without changing the grinding head.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Large industrial grinding machines are sometimes used to grind and polish various surfaces, such as marble floors. These industrial grinding machines typically include one or more grinding heads rotatably mounted to an underside of a platform of the machine, where grinding tools are mounted to the grinding heads. A grinding machine for grinding and polishing a marble floor may include six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four tools, where three separate tools are mounted to each grinding head.

In one grinding head design, plug inserts are secured within ring members in the grinding head in a friction fit, and the grinding tool is attached to the plug insert by a Velcro layer. The weight of the grinding machine secures the plug inserts to the grinding head. The plug inserts are removed from the grinding head by tipping up the grinder platform and striking the grinding head with a hammer to loosen the plug inserts from the ring members. Other plug inserts can then be secured within the ring elements to provide a tool with a different grit size or grinding surface.

Various tool types are used to grind and polish a marble floor and may have different structural configurations and different abrasive materials, such as diamond particles. Different grinding heads may support different tool types, where the grinding head must be removed from the platform and replaced with another grinding head to change the tool type. Therefore, when the machine operator wishes to switch from one tool type to another to another tool type, such as from a metal bonded tool to a resin bonded tool, to perform a certain grinding or polishing operation, the machine operator must remove each grinding head from the machine and replace it with other grinding heads that include the desired tools. This process is costly and time consuming. It would be desirable to provide a tool holder for the grinding machine for all tool types that are more easily replaced in a grinding machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a tool holder for a grinding machine is disclosed, where the tool holder supports a tool and is easily removed from the grinding machine to change different tool types. The grinding machine includes one or more grinding heads having ring elements that accept a tapered body of the tool holders in a friction fit. In one embodiment, a pad holder is bolted to the tool holder. The pad holder includes a Velcro layer for securing the tool to the pad holder. In another embodiment, the tool, such as a turbo cup, is bolted directly to the tool holder.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an underside view of a grinding machine including a plurality of removable tool assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the tool assemblies removed from the grinding machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a blown-apart perspective view of one of the assemblies removed from the grinding machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a tool holder of the tool assembly of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the tool assemblies and a spanner wrench for removing a pad holder from the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a tool holder for a grinding machine is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses.

FIG. 1 is an underside view of a platform 12 of a grinding machine 10. The grinding machine 10 includes a plurality of grinding heads 14 that are rotatably mounted to the platform 12, as is well understood in the art. The machine 10 may have two, four, six, eight or more grinding heads 14. The grinding heads 14 include three legs 22, where each leg 22 includes a ring member 20. A separate tool assembly 16, according to the invention, is mounted to each ring member 20 in a friction fit. One of the tool assemblies 16 is removed from one of the grinding heads 14 in FIG. 1 to show the ring member 20. Therefore, when the grinding machine 10 is up-right to grind or polish the floor, the tool assemblies 16 are maintained in place by the weight of the machine 10. Further, each tool assembly 16 is easily removed from the ring member 20 when the grinding machine 10 is in an overturned position. Each tool assembly 16 retains and holds a tool 18, such as a metal bonded tool or a resin bonded tool, for use in different types of grinding operations.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and FIG. 3 is a blown apart view of one of the tool assemblies 16 separated from the grinding machine 10. The tool assembly 16 includes a tool holder 24 and a pad holder 26. A cross-sectional view of the tool holder 24 is shown in FIG. 4. The tool holder 24 includes a tapered body 32 having a bore 30 extending therethrough. In one embodiment, the body 32 is a single piece of hardened steel machined in the configuration and shape as shown, and the pad holder 26 is a single piece of machined aluminum having the configuration and shape, as shown. The taper of the body 32 allows it to be inserted into the ring member 20 to secure the tool assembly 16 to the grinding head 14.

A bolt 28 extends through the bore 30 in the body 32 of the tool holder 24 and is threaded into a threaded bore 36 extending through the pad holder 26 to hold the pad holder 26 to the tool holder 24. In one embodiment, the bolt 28 is a ⅝″ bolt, so that any tool than can accommodate the bolt 28 can be mounted to the tool holder 24.

When the tool holder 24 is secured to the pad holder 26, a head 40 of the bolt 28 is positioned within an upper chamber 42 of the bore 30, and a rectangular portion 34 of the pad holder 26 is positioned within a lower chamber 44 of the bore 30. A set-screw 46 is threaded through the body 32 of the tool holder 24 so that it extends into the chamber 44 and an end of the set screw 46 rests against a flattened edge 48 of the portion 34. Therefore, when the tool holder 24 is being bolted to the pad holder 26, the pad holder 26 is prevented from rotating relative thereto.

A Velcro layer (not shown) is glued to a lower surface of the pad holder 26, and a Velcro layer 50 is glued to an upper surface of the tool 18 so that the tool 18 can be secured to the pad holder 26. Therefore, another tool can be easily attached to the pad holder 26 if the tool 18 wears out or a different grit size is needed. Alternately, the pad holder 26 can be replaced with another tool. For example, a turbo cup for rough cutting, a segmented diamond tool, a metal bonded diamond tool, a scraper tool, etc. can be bolted directly to the tool holder 24 by the bolt 28 so that different types of tools can be easily replaced without removing the grinding heads 14.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tool assembly 16 showing an operation for removing the tool holder 24 from the pad holder 26. As shown, a wrench 52 is inserted into the head 40 of the bolt 28. Further, a knob of a spanner wrench 54 is positioned within an opening 56 in the body 32 and the wrench 54 is positioned around the body 32 of the tool holder 24. The wrench 54 prevents the tool holder 24 from rotating when the wrench 52 is used to rotate the bolt 28.

When a machine operator wishes to switch grinding processes and change, for example, from a metal bonded tool to a resin bonded tool, he can easily remove the tool assembly 16 from the ring member 20, and quickly insert another tool assembly 16 including the other tool into the ring member 20. Thus, the several tool assemblies 16 associated with the grinding machine 10 can be replaced instead of having to replace the grinding heads 14, as was previously done in the prior art.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A grinding machine comprising:

at least one grinding head including at least one ring member; and

at least one tool assembly mounted to the at least one ring element, said at least one tool assembly including a tool holder, a tool support and a bolt, said tool support including a tool, said tool support being secured to the tool holder by the bolt, said tool assembly being secured to the grinding head by inserting the tool holder into the ring member in a friction fit so that the tool assembly is readily removed from the grinding head.

2. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and the tool is secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.

3. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool support and the tool are a single piece structure.

4. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool holder includes a tapered body.

5. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool holder includes an internal bore through which the bolt extends and the tool support includes an extended member that is positioned within the bore of the tool holder.

6. The grinding machine according to claim 5 wherein the extended member includes a flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin member, said pin member extending into the bore and being positioned against the flat surface so that the tool holder is prevented from significantly rotating relative to the tool support.

7. The grinding machine according to claim 6 wherein the pin member is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in a body of the tool holder.

8. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.

9. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool holder is a steel member.

10. The grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a turbo cup, a metal bonded tool, a segmented diamond tool and a resin bonded tool.

11. A tool assembly comprising a tool holder having a tapered body and an internal bore extending therethrough, said tool assembly further comprising a tool support and a bolt, said tool holder being secured to the tool support by the bolt where the bolt extends through the bore.

12. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and wherein a tool is secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.

13. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool support and an associated tool are a single piece structure.

14. The tool assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tool support includes an extended member that is positioned within the bore of the tool holder, and wherein the extended member includes a flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin member, said pin member extending into the bore and being positioned against the flat surface so that the tool holder is prevented from rotating relative to the tool support.

15. The tool assembly according to claim 14 wherein the pin member is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in the body of the tool holder.

16. The grinding machine according to claim 11 wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.

17. A tool assembly for a grinding machine, said tool assembly comprising:

a tool holder having a tapered body and an internal bore extending therethrough, said internal bore including an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said tool holder further including a threadable pin member extending through the body so that an end of the pin member extends into the lower chamber;

a tool support including a threaded bore extending therethrough, said tool support further including an extended member having a flat surface, where the extended member is positioned within the lower chamber of the tool holder body so that the end of the pin is positioned against the flat surface; and

a bolt including a bolt head, said bolt extending through the body and being threaded into the threaded bore of the tool support so that the head of the bolt is positioned within the upper chamber of the internal bore.

18. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool support is a pad holder that includes a Velcro pad to which a tool is mounted.

19. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool support is a single piece member including a grinding tool.

20. The tool assembly according to claim 17 wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.