FINISHING MACHINE

Abstract

A finishing machine comprises a motor mounted on a support frame and connected to a drive shaft and two or more finishing heads and an impeller fan driven by the drive shaft via a serpentine belt drive which rotates the finishing heads in opposite directions. The impeller fan impels dust from the grinding heads into a rear vacuum manifold and the support frame has rear wheels the height of which is adjustable by means of an hydraulic cylinder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to machines for finishing surfaces such as grinders for polishing concrete floors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,772 discloses a floor conditioning machine which provides a random rotating orbital action and includes a main housing, wheel assembly, a handle assembly, a motor, a belt cover, a belt, a dust recovery system and orbital head assemblies. The belt drive utilizes a serpentine configuration which rotates head assemblies in opposite directions so that torque is reduced and the machine is therefore easy to control and steer.

AU Patent Application 1006202204 discloses a machine which also utilizes a serpentine belt drive. A primary pulley is driven by a motor and the belt drives pulleys which rotate head assemblies in opposite directions. However both these machines have a number of deficiencies; the dust collection apparatus is ineffective, they are difficult to move when not in operation and changing worn belts is time consuming.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a finishing machine which is an improvement on the prior art machines or at least provides a useful alternative.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention a finishing machine comprises a motor mounted on a support frame and connected to a drive shaft and one or more pairs of finishing heads and an impeller fan driven by the drive shaft via a serpentine belt drive which rotates pairs of finishing heads in opposite directions.

Preferably the fan impels dust from the grinding heads into a rear vacuum manifold.

Preferably the support frame has rear wheels the height of which is adjustable.

Preferably the adjustment is by means of an hydraulic cylinder.

Preferably the drive belt runs on taper lock pulleys which allow quick release.

Alternatively a finishing machine comprises a motor mounted on a support frame and connected to a drive shaft which drives ten finishing heads via a serpentine belt drive which rotates the finishing heads in opposite directions in a torque free configuration.

Preferably the finishing heads have vanes mounted on their upper side to sweep dust to vacuum ports located on the periphery of the base of the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a finishing machine in use

FIG. 2 is an underneath plan view of the head assemblies of the machine of FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of FIG. 2 and

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative configuration of grinding head assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an operator using a finishing machine which has motor 1 mounted on frame 2 with removable front wheels 3 and adjustable rear wheels 4. Handles 5 have a control box 6 mounted within reach of the operator. As well as switching the machine on and off box 6 controls height adjustment by operating hydraulic cylinder 7 to rotate rear wheel strut 8 up or down. Accordingly when not in use strut 8 is lowered and the machine can be easily wheeled to another location.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of grinding head assemblies with a pair 10 at the front corners, a pair 11 at the rear corners, one 12 in the centre and a pair 13 between the centre and the rear corners. The assembly 14 midway between the rear corners does not have a grinding head but is a fan which impels dust into a vacuum manifold 15 at the rear of the assemblies.

Motor 1 drives assembly 12 through a direct drive flexible coupling (not shown) and assembly 12 drives assemblies 10, 11, 13 and 14 via serpentine belt 16. Belt 16 is so configured that it rotates pairs 10, 11 and 13 and 12 and 14 in opposite directions thus tending to cancel out the torque from the grinding heads. Accordingly the machine is easy to steer since there is only minimal resultant torque.

Fan assembly 14 is optimally placed midway between the rear corners to impel dust generated by grinding assemblies 10, 11, 12 and 13 into manifold 15 as the machine moves forward. Manifold 15 is connected to a vacuum device (not shown) mounted on the machine. This vacuuming action is enhanced by a broom skirt (not shown) extending around the base of the machine.

FIG. 3 shows grinding assemblies 10, 11, 12 and 13 and serpentine belt 16 driven by motor 1 which is flexibly coupled to spindle 17 of assembly 12. Accordingly belt 16 is driven by pulley 18 mounted on spindle 17 and in turn drives pulleys 19, 20 and 21 mounted on spindles 22, 23 and 24 of assemblies 10, 11 and 13. Spindles 17, 22, 23 and 24 are retained in bearings in plate 25 and pulleys 18, 19, 20 and 21 have a taper lock to allow quick release for fast change of belt 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative configuration of grinding head assemblies with a pair 30 at the front corners, a pair 31 at the rear corners, one 32 at the front centre, a pair 33 on either side of and just behind 32, one 34 between the pair 31 and a pair 35 between pair 33 and pair 34.

Motor 1 drives assembly 32 through a belt and pulley coupling (not shown) and assembly 32 drives assemblies 30, 31, 33, 34 and 35 via serpentine belt 36. Belt 36 is so configured that it rotates pairs 30, 31, 33 and 35 and 32 and 34 in opposite directions, thus canceling out the torque from the grinding heads. All assemblies have vanes (not shown) on their upper side which sweep dust to vacuum ports (not shown) on the periphery of the base of the machine.

Advantages

It will be obvious that the machine of this invention utilizes the known torque reduction serpentine belt configuration in a novel way to achieve optimum dust removal with the substitution of impeller fan assembly 14 in place of a grinding head or the provision of vanes on assemblies 30 to 35. However It is only the ten It also provides rapid height adjustment via hydraulic cylinder 7 to facilitate transport and rapid belt change by means of taper lock pulleys 18, 19, 20 and 21. Electric, petrol and gas motors are available to power the grinding assemblies.

Variations

It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art including mechanical equivalents are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

Claims

1. A finishing machine comprising a motor mounted on a support frame and connected to a drive shaft and one or more pairs of finishing heads and an impeller fan driven by the drive shaft via a serpentine belt drive which rotates pairs of finishing heads in opposite directions.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the impeller fan Impels dust from the grinding heads into a rear vacuum manifold.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which the support frame has rear wheels the height of which is adjustable.

4. The machine of claim 3 in which the adjustment is by an hydraulic cylinder.

5. The machine of claim 1 in which the drive belt runs on taper lock pulleys which allow quick release.

6. A finishing machine comprising a motor mounted on a support frame and connected to a drive shaft which drives ten finishing heads via a serpentine belt drive which rotates the finishing heads in opposite directions in a torque free configuration.

7. The finishing machine of claim 6 in which the finishing heads have vanes mounted on their upper side to sweep dust to vacuum ports located on the periphery of the base of the machine.