Abstract: An abrasive surfacing machine is disclosed that is specifically intended to debur and polish hard components (e.g., metal and plastic). The machine includes a horizontal component conveyor with an overlying abrasive surfacing head. The abrasive head has a large disk with a substantially planar abrading surface that is substantially parallel to the workpiece carrying surface of the conveyor. The diameter of the disk is appreciably larger than the width of the conveyor, so that every workpiece will be engaged by the abrasive medium in at least two directions, notwithstanding its position on the conveyor belt. The abrasive medium may be formed from a uniform, lofty, open, non-woven, three-dimensional web of fibrous members, or may be formed from a plurality of bristles impregnated with abrasive particles. The multidirectional abrasive engagement insures complete deburring of each component, notwithstanding its size, and also provides for continuous, uniform dressing of the abrasive medium.

Abstract: A device for setting the position of a workpiece relative to the endless abrasive belt of an abrasive grinding machine. The device employs a first sensor that can be extended to engage and sense the position of the endless abrasive belt when it is at rest. The device also utilizes a second sensor that can be moved to a position of engagement with the workpiece when it is at rest on a workpiece conveyor. The first and second sensors are constructed and arranged so that the position of one is mechanically related to the position of the other. A movable indicator senses the position of one of the first and second sensors and indicates such position relative to a reference position. The workpiece conveyor can be raised or lowered until the indicator is in the reference position, at which point the distance between the second sensor and the workpiece conveyor corresponds to the distance between the grinding portion of the endless abrasive belt and the workpiece conveyor.

Abstract: The specification discloses a curing oven (10) and a control system (120) therefor. The oven (10) includes a heat exchanger (70) which preheats process air from the work chamber (36) before thermal oxidation. A separate recirculating fan (78), mixing box (84), and set of motorized dampers (92, 94) are provided for each zone (40, 42) of the work chamber (36) for controlling mixture of hot and cold air and delivery thereof to the work chamber for better temperature control. The motorized dampers (92, 94) are preferably controlled by microprocessors (124) responsive to temperature sensors (126, 128) located in the work chamber (36). Discharge of the exhaust fan (76) is adjusted by a motorized damper (96) through a controller (136) responsive to a pressure sensor (138) inside the oven (10).

Abstract: A surface grinding method in a first embodiment of which a workpiece supported on a surface (56) is rotated about a vertical axis while being translated along ways (46, 47) past a cutting head (22) comprising an abrasive belt (71) driven about a drum (72) to have a working edge (17) skewed with respect to the direction of the ways. In other embodiments the workpiece (100) is fed axially into the belt (106), which may be oscillated transversely to the direction of feed, and the workpiece may be moved, in the direction of the working edge, out of engagement with the belt while the belt and workpiece are in motion.

Abstract: An abrasive grinding machine (11) is disclosed which comprises workpiece conveying means (14) carried in a horizontal position by a frame (12) with a grinding head (15) disposed in overlying relation thereto. The conveying means (14) includes a flexible endless conveyor belt (22) the upper flight of which passes over a rigid planar backing surface. The grinding head (15) includes an abrasive belt (27) that moves in a direction opposite the conveyor belt (22). A back-up roller (31) is rotatably disposed in a recess (21) in the bed (13) in opposition to a drive roller (28) of the grinding head (15). The back-up roller (31) slightly elevates the conveyor belt (22) from the rigid support surface of the bed (13). The belt (22) is thus able to deflect and conform to a warped or twisted workpiece as it moves through the grinding area, resulting in uniform deslagging of each workpiece.

Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus for controlling the lateral tracking movement of a wide abrasive belt back and forth over back supporting rollers. The apparatus is employed in the grinding head of an abrasive grinding machine in which the endless abrasive belt is movably carried by at least two spaced rollers. The upper roller is rotatably mounted in a cradle that pivots within the grinding head about an axis perpendicular to the roller axis and passing through the roller midpoint. Pivotal swinging of the cradle about this axis, as effected by opposed pneumatic actuators, causes the abrasive belt to track back and forth over the rollers. The tracking movement is cyclically controlled by a photodetector that cooperates with a solenoid valve to alternately actuate the pneumatic actuators.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a self-centering feed apparatus for a dual head abrasive grinding machine. The grinding heads are mounted in opposed vertical relation, and workpieces are fed therebetween along a horizontal center line or plane. The self-centering feed apparatus comprises at least two sets of control arm mechanisms mounted above and below the center line. The control arm mechanisms of each set are mounted in side-by-side relation on a common pivot shaft, and are independently movable toward and away from the center line as the workpieces move through. Each mechanism includes a drive wheel for engaging the workpiece and driving it through the machine. Each control arm mechanism is urged toward the center line by a spring loaded pneumatic actuator that provides a constant gripping force, and which also generates a resistive force that increases as a function of deflection of a control arm mechanism from the center line.

Abstract: An abrasive grinding machine is particularly suited for the removal of slag surrounding the edges of metal workpieces torch-cut from flat stock. The grinding machine includes a longitudinal conveyor that is tilted about a longitudinal axis so that one longitudinal edge is lower than the lower. A fence is positioned along the lower edge to retain and guide workpieces as they are carried forward by the conveyor. A grinding head consists of an endless grinding belt carried and driven by upper and lower parallel rollers. The lower contact roller is positioned in spaced relation to the upper flight of the conveyor. The contact roller is positioned with its rotational axis at a predetermined acute angle measured clockwise from the forward line of conveyor movement. The rollers are driven so that the grinding belt moves toward the fence, creating a major component of movement perpendicularly toward the fence and a minor component of movement in the direction of conveyor belt movement.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a perimeter safety switch for machines that require an operator. The safety switch comprises a longitudinal support member that extends around the permimeter of the machine at approximately waist level, and is spaced outwardly therefrom by a plurality of brackets. The support member carries a longitudinal switching element that is actuatable at any point over its length, and which forms part of an electrical circuit for interrupting power to the machine in response to actuation of the switch.

Abstract: Apparatus for cross abrading a workpiece of wood or the like to create a rough-sawn effect across the grain of the wood. The apparatus employs a continuously operating endless abrasive belt that moves relative to a predetermined work area. The workpiece is moved through the work area by a plurality of drive and press rollers generally perpendicularly to the line of endless belt movement. To preclude the abraded rough-sawn effect from being oblique on the workpiece surface, the apparatus includes an oblique platen having a narrow land surface that causes the endless abrasive belt to engage the workpiece over a narrow region of contact. The obliqueness of the platen limits the effect of any given abrasive particle to the narrow region of contact, thus creating cross abrading which is generally perpendiular to the line of workpiece movement.