Abstract: A hand sander and sanding disc fixture for attaching a sanding disc to a hand sander includes a table having a top with a sander storage station and an application station thereon. The storage station has a holder capable of holding a hand sander having a sander pad on the top of the table. The application station has at least two datum pegs extending from the top of the table that are capable of passing through two corresponding datum holes in the sanding disc. The at least two datum pegs having datum surfaces configured to be received in datum notches in an outer diameter of the sander pad. The datum pegs are capable of aligning the sander pad with the sanding disc when the sander pad is pressed against an attaching side of the sanding disc.

Abstract: A sandpaper replacement device is used for replacing sandpaper of a polishing device, including a support platform, a driver, a driving detector sensor, a clamping member, a clamping detector and a controller. The driver includes a cylinder body and an extension rod movably positioned on the cylinder body. The cylinder body is positioned on the support platform, and the extension rod passing through and protruding out from the support platform. The driving detector sensor is positioned on the support platform adjacent to the extension rod. The clamping member includes a main body and two claws positioned oppositely to each other on the main body. The main body is mounted on the support platform away from the cylinder body. The clamping detector is positioned adjacent to the two claws. The controller is electrically connected to the driver, the driving detector sensor, the clamping detector and the clamping member.

Abstract: A sanding disk alignment tool for aligning a sanding disk having a plurality of dust collection holes to a sander platen having a cooperative plurality of holes is disclosed with a method of use. The tool includes a base member having at least two pins sized and positioned for cooperative insertion into the pluralities of dust collection holes extending from a surface thereof. The method includes the steps of inserting the pins through two of the dust collection holes in the sanding disk from the abrasive side, bending the sanding disk around the tool, inserting the pins into through two of the plurality of dust collection holes in the sander platen and advancing the tool and disk to engage the platen. Once initially engaged to the platen, the bend in the disk is released and the sides of the disk are laid down onto the platen, after which the tool is removed.

Abstract: A sandpaper replacement device is used for replacing sandpaper of a polishing device, including a support platform, a driver, a driving detector sensor, a clamping member, a clamping detector and a controller. The driver includes a cylinder body and an extension rod movably positioned on the cylinder body. The cylinder body is positioned on the support platform, and the extension rod passing through and protruding out from the support platform. The driving detector sensor is positioned on the support platform adjacent to the extension rod. The clamping member includes a main body and two claws positioned oppositely to each other on the main body. The main body is mounted on the support platform away from the cylinder body. The clamping detector is positioned adjacent to the two claws. The controller is electrically connected to the driver, the driving detector sensor, the clamping detector and the clamping member.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a hand utility interface comprising a body having a plurality of finger members or channels each sized and shaped to receive one finger of the user's hand, wherein the user's hand is releasably gripped by the hand utility interface when the fingers of the hand are inserted into the members or channels, the interface having a finger tip-receiving recess formed therein in the upper surface thereof at a location that is proximate a front edge/distal end of the hand utility interface substantially forward of at least one of the finger members or channels whereby the user may insert a finger tip into the recess to press the hand utility interface down firmly against a target surface at the front/distal end of the hand utility interface. This arrangement enhances control when the device is used to sand or otherwise treat surfaces of target objects in corners/regions that are otherwise enclosed and awkward to access.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid equal-height flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a precision-flat abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane that is co-planar with the base surface. The three spindles are positioned to form a triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. Flat surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindles and the rotating floating-platen abrasive surface contacts all three rotating workpieces to perform single-sided abrading. The platen abrasive surface can be re-flattened by attaching equal-thickness abrasive disks to the three spindles that are rotated while in abrading contact with the rotating platen abrasive. There is no wear of the abrasive-disk protected platen surface.

Abstract: A device for applying a sander disc to an orbital sander includes a member having alignment projections or an alignment wall for releasably holding at least one sander disc having a surface with hook or loop type fasteners such that the surface having the hook or loop type fasteners faces away from said member. The device is cooperatively engagable with the orbital sander to align the sander disc with a corresponding hook or loop type fastener surface of the orbital sander and fasten it thereto.

Abstract: A hand sander for attaching sandpaper thereto, the hand sander including a base having clamp ends; a handle for holding the sander in the hand; a clamping mechanism for clamping a sheet of sandpaper to each clamp end of the base wherein the clamping mechanism including a clamp pivoting between a clamp locked position and a clamp unlocked position and a planar generally upstanding tab resiliently biased against the clamp for locking the clamp in the clamp locked position. The tab including a shoulder for cooperatively engaging with a portion of the clamp thereby locking the clamp into the clamp locked position.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus and a pad replacing method thereof are provided. The polishing apparatus includes a first clamping element, a second clamping element and a polishing head. The first clamping element includes a first upper clamper and a first lower clamper for clamping one end of a first polishing pad. The second clamping element includes a second upper clamper and a second lower clamper for clamping another end of the first polishing pad. When the first clamping element and the second clamping element clamp the first polishing pad and are unloaded from the polishing head, the first polishing head slides out from the first clamping element and the second clamping element. Then, a second polishing pad slides into the first clamping element and the second clamping element.

Abstract: A method and system are provided using an offset dial gage for alignment and adjustment of a polishing pad that has been attached to a turntable of a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) device. In a described embodiment, an offset dial gage has a surface that contacts a side of a turntable, while a sensor tip contacts the edge of a polishing pad positioned on the turntable. This provides an assessment of radial displacement of the polishing pad edge at this measurement point relative to the side of the turntable. Based on one or more such measurements, the polishing pad may be found acceptably positioned, may be trimmed, or may be replaced. The method and system reduce or eliminate the occurrence of a defect pattern found to be related to side unloading of semiconductor wafers from a CMP turntable.

Abstract: The method of adhering polishing pads is capable of easily exchanging polishing pads in a comfortable posture. The method comprises the steps of: setting a pad adhering carrier, which has a through-hole in which a roller unit for pressing polishing pads is fixed, in a holder with arranging a roller unit in a radial direction of a lower polishing plate and an upper polishing plate; relatively moving the upper polishing plate toward the lower polishing plate so as to clamp the roller unit between the lower polishing plate and the upper polishing plate with a prescribed force; rotating the lower polishing plate and the upper polishing plate, which clamp the roller unit, in the opposite directions at the same speed; and pressing the polishing pads onto polishing faces of the lower polishing plate and the upper polishing plate by the roller unit.

Abstract: The method of adhering polishing pads is capable of easily adhering the polishing pads without damages. The method comprises the steps of: tentatively adhering the polishing pads to polishing plates; attaching a roller unit having a shaft and a roller member, which is capable of rotating about the shaft and which has a projected section having a prescribed width and spirally formed in an outer circumferential face, on the lower polishing plate in the radial direction; moving the upper polishing plate downward, by the holding unit, until the upper polishing plate contacts the roller member; and simultaneously adhering the polishing pads onto the upper and lower polishing plate by rotating the upper and polishing plates in the opposite directions at the same speed with pressing the roller member by the upper polishing plate.

Abstract: An abrasive sheet dispenser for aligning and attaching hook and loop backed abrasive sheets onto abrading tools, which utilize vacuum holes incorporated into the backup pad and into its corresponding abrasive sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser has an injection molded universal base having a plurality of guide hole locations. Each group of guide hole locations is connected by a guide screw channel. The dispenser has a plurality of injection mold guides and a plurality of guide screws. The guides are of a height as to support a plurality of abrasive sheets and fastened onto the universal base by inserting the guide screws through the guide holes in the universal base from underneath and screwing into the bottom center of guides. The guides are adjustable allowing them to be aligned with various vacuum hole patterns and sizes of abrasive sheets by sliding each guide along the guide screw channel to another guide hole location within that group.

Abstract: A plurality of projections and grooves are formed on a polishing member. The grooves are formed in grid pattern. A portion on which the grooves and the projections are formed (polishing portion) has a substantially circular shape in a plane view. Around the polishing portion, an outer peripheral portion having a fixed height is provided. The height of the outer peripheral portion is equal to the height of bottom portions of the grooves. Ends of each of the grooves extend to the outer peripheral portion, which allows slurry and the like entering the grooves to flow outside via the outer peripheral portion. When a polishing pad thus structured is to be bonded to a surface plate, adhesive is applied or a double-stick tape is affixed to a rear surface of a base member, and thereafter, the polishing pad is put in place on the surface plate.

Abstract: A sandpaper dispenser (100) is provided. The sandpaper dispenser includes a frame (102) adapted to be coupled to a sanding device (106) and a sandpaper dispensing assembly 144 coupled to the frame. A sanding pad (105 or 110) is coupled to the frame. The sandpaper dispensing assembly is adapted to selectively dispense a length (108) of sandpaper to extend over the sanding pad.

Abstract: A drywall sanding implement having a shaft, a yoke attached to the shaft, a block pivotably mounted to the yoke, a pair of spindles mounted to the block, and a sanding block removably mounted on each spindle.

Abstract: A sand paper disc loading device that allows sanding discs to be easily and accurately placed on a sander including a sand paper support adapted for holding a plurality of sanding discs. The sand paper support has a front surface and a back surface. The front surface has a plurality of dowels extending outwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship. The dowels are arranged to correspond with dust collection apertures of the sanding discs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing pad alignment device having an alignment member positionable against a side wall of a platen. The height of the alignment member is sufficient to extend above a top surface of the platen when positioned against the wall of the platen. In one embodiment, the alignment member is an arcuate member having an arc substantially equal to an arc of the platen. In another embodiment, the alignment member is removably attachable to the wall of the platen and the polishing pad alignment member further includes an attachment device configured to attach the alignment member to the platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally attaching web-based polishing pads in a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) system. Specifically, one end of a first web-based polishing pad and an end of a second web-based polishing pad are inserted in a thermal sealing unit. The ends of the polishing pads are brought into contact with each other and secured in place within the thermal sealing unit. A heating element within thermal sealing unit is activated, thereby fusing the polishing pads.

Abstract: An end face polishing apparatus in which whereas a jig board mounted with a rod-like member is supported by an apparatus main body by a supporting mechanism, a polishing board mounted with a polishing member for polishing the rod-like member is supported by the apparatus main body rotatably and pivotably by a drive mechanism for polishing the rod-like member mounted to the jig board by the supporting mechanism by pressing the rod-like member to the rotating and pivoting polishing board, wherein the polishing member is mounted to the polishing board attachably thereto and detachably therefrom, further comprising an automatic interchanging device for interchanging the polishing member which is mounted to the polishing board and which has been used with the polishing member which is stored at a predetermined position and which is to be used by which the operational performance is promoted.

Abstract: A polishing pad installation tool comprised of a base portion and at least one compressible layer in operative connection with the base portion. The compressible layer includes a plurality of apertures through an upper surface of the compressible layer. The tool further includes a plurality of parallel pins extending outwardly from the base portion through the apertures of the compressible layer. Each of the pins includes a collar portion in surrounding relation about each pin. When the compressible layer is in an uncompressed condition, the collar portions are beneath the upper surface of the compressible layer. The pins are positioned on the base portion in a pattern which corresponds to the holes in the polishing platen. The pins have diameters which are smaller than the diameters of the holes in a polishing pad. The collars have diameters larger than the diameters of the holes in the polishing pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemical mechanical planarization (100). The apparatus has a platen assembly for holding an object (e.g., wafer, disk, flat panel, glass) to be planarized. The apparatus (100) also has a polishing head coupled to a polishing pad, which has a smaller diameter than the object. The polishing head is movable (e.g., pivotable, rotatable, translational) from a first region overlying the platen assembly to a second region, which is outside the first region. A removable substrate is coupled between the polishing pad and the polishing head. The removable substrate is removably coupled to a coupling on the polishing head. The apparatus also has a first magazine (511) disposed in the second region, where the first magazine houses at least one substrate comprises a first polishing pad to be placed on the coupling on the polishing head. A second magazine (513) housing at least one substrate comprising a second polishing pad may be provided in the second region.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus and a polishing method which can reduce the amount of consumption of the polishing agent and scratches caused on the object to be polished due to an increase of the particle size in the polishing agent. The polishing apparatus has a polishing head which is provided with a polishing agent receiving unit, a holding means for holding an object to be polished in a holding recess, a contact portion which is positioned at the periphery of the holding recess, a feed port for feeding the polishing agent from the polishing agent receiving portion into the closed space, a vibration imparting means for imparting vibration to the polishing agent, and a valve means provided with a valve for opening and closing the feed port.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body can be sanded with a robotic sanding (polishing) disk that is carried on a robotic head, such that the sanding disk has a relatively constant unit pressure on the vehicle surface as the head moves the sanding disk along the vehicle surface. An automatic supply mechanism can be employed to periodically remove a worn sanding disk from the head, and replace the worn sanding disk with a new sanding disk.

Abstract: A sand cloth packaging structure for vacuum-type rotary sanders comprised of sand cloths having a number of vacuum holes that are cluster mounted on the circular surface, with a number of support ribs that protrude upward from the bottom surface of the circular surface and, furthermore, are aligned within the circumference of the bottom surface. A surrounding annular wall extends along the outer diameter of the circumference and there are internal splines along the interior side of the annular wall that constitute a union opening which is congruous with the circumference of the bottom end. Positioned along the top surface of the said circular surface are a number of vertical guide posts that are in alignment with the vacuum holes of the said sand cloths and which are provided for insertion into the vacuum holes of the sand cloths.

Abstract: A sander is mounted in a cavity in a guide block so as to have an abrasive surface protruding from a bottom surface to a selectively variable extent. The bottom surface of the guide block acts as a depth guide when engaging a flat surface adjacent to a surface to be sanded to establish a step of predetermined height. Either a manual or power sander can be mounted to the guide block. The sander-guide block assembly allows a carrying out process of installing flooring to perfectly match an adjacent floor surface.