Abstract: A hand-held, manually-operated, sanding tool that can be used with conventional rectangular or square shaped sheet-like abrasive media to sand corners or other confined areas includes a base member having at least one tapered end and includes means for securing the sheet-like abrasive media to the tool.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually-operated sanding tool for use with a replaceable sheet-like abrasive material, such as sandpaper, includes a base member and one or more clamping mechanisms pivotally connected with opposed ends of the base member. The clamping mechanism(s) include a tensioning member arranged to slidably interface with a corresponding contact surface provided at the end of the base member to tighten the sheet-like abrasive material as it is installed on the tool. Further, the tensioning member positions a leading edge thereof so as to minimize possible harmful contact with a user's finger(s) during loading of the abrasive material.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing non-uniform stretch of a belt used in the CMP system is disclosed. The belt that may be used with the apparatus extends between a first roller and a second roller to define a belt loop with an inner surface and an outer surface to be used for CMP. The apparatus includes a compensating roller that has a first end and a second end where the first end and second end extends a width of the belt. The first end and the second end have a first diameter. The center of the roller has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The compensating roller has a symmetrically tapered shape that extends between each of the first end and second end to the center. The compensating roller is positioned inside of the belt loop, and is applied to the inner surface of the belt loop to reduce non-uniform stretch of the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing non-uniform stretch of a belt used in the CMP system is disclosed. The belt that may be used with the apparatus extends between a first roller and a second roller to define a belt loop with an inner surface and an outer surface to be used for CMP. The apparatus includes a compensating roller that has a first end and a second end where the first end and second end extends a width of the belt. The first end and the second end have a first diameter. The center of the roller has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The compensating roller has a symmetrically tapered shape that extends between each of the first end and second end to the center. The compensating roller is positioned inside of the belt loop, and is applied to the inner surface of the belt loop to reduce non-uniform stretch of the belt.

Abstract: An abrasive drum, suitable for polishing or sanding a workpiece, that incorporates an internal expansion member, configured so that when a belt of abrasive material fitted to the exterior cylindrical surface so that a loop of the band is disposed around the internal expansion member, expansion of the member tensions the abrasive band against the surface of the drum. The invention includes the abrasive drum, a sander or polisher that incorporates the abrasive drum, and a method of using the drum of the invention to grind, shape, polish, or sand a workpiece.

Abstract: A sanding device for use with abrasive sheet material. The device has a body with a rounded side for sanding concave recesses, sharp corner edges for use in sanding ninety-degree corners, and flat surfaces for sanding planar areas. Abrasive sheet material is attached to the body by an anchor strip which fits into a groove in the body to cause a friction fit.

Abstract: An apparatus for refurbishing a belt, the latter having a width, a length and a degraded surface. The apparatus includes a frame, a grinding roller for selectively and uniformly removing a determined amount of the degraded surface along the belt width, and a positioning member to keep the belt in position during refurbishment, both the roller and the positioning member are mounted on the frame adjacent to each other. The grinding roller defines a helical grinding region thereof and a substantially complementary helical non-grinding region thereof. The positioning member has a belt abutment member spacedly positioned relative to the grinding roller to abuttingly retain the belt against the roller and a belt tensioning member to tension the belt in either side of the roller in the displacement direction of the belt.

Abstract: Generally, a method and apparatus for supporting a web of polishing material. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a platen adapted to support the web, a frame assembly, and one or more flexures coupled between the platen and the frame assembly. The flexure allows the frame assembly to be moved in relation to the platen. When the frame assembly is in an extended position relative to the platen, the web is placed in a spaced-apart relation to the platen.

Abstract: An abrading tool (10) includes an abrasive belt (11) loosely wrapped around an elongated block (12). A tension adjuster (22) is inserted between the belt (11) and the block (12). The tension in the belt (11) is adjusted by sliding the tension adjuster (22) on the block (12). Alternatively, an abrading tool (40) includes an abrasive sheet (41) wrapped around a base block (42). The two ends of the sheet (41) are disposed in a slot (52) on the base block (42). A mounting block (62) tightly fits into the slot (52) to secure the abrasive sheet (41) to the base block (42).

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus and method for aligning a pad/belt on a roller for use in chemical mechanical polishing using linear planarization. The present invention comprises an alignment sensor that senses the alignment of the pad/belt. The present invention additionally comprises a tensioner that tensions the pad/belt on the roller. And, a controller that controls the alignment of the pad/belt on the roller by controlling the tensioner.

Abstract: A rotary drum sander is provided with a horizontal boom orienting a rotatable cylindrical drum to cover the spirally wound strip of abrasive material above a work supporting platen. The abrasive material is affixed to the drum by a first and second anchor, the second anchor is pivotally mounted relative to the drum and rotatably biased by a spring to cause the second anchor to rotate relative to the drum to maintain tension in the abrasive strip as the abrasive strip stretches during use.

Abstract: This tool consists of a deformable plastic supporting base plate (1) bearing on its lower outer surface the stopper and abrasive materials, it further includes two upwards slanting interconnecting elements (2) in indeformable material or plates having a low deformability index, the lower end of these elements (2) being fastened to the transverse legs of the supporting base (1), two rotating cross journal (6) being secured to the upper end of the interconnecting elements (2), each journal (6) featuring at both ends threaded holes (9') as well as a longitudinal central boring (3', 4') with opposed threads, a screw (3, 4) half of which is left-threaded and the other half is right-threaded separated by a small control wheel (5), a guide (8) bearing the handgrips (10), provided with a central hole (11) through which the control wheel (5) is protruding, lateral slots (12) through which to fit the locking screws (9) into the borings (9') in both ends of the journals (6).

Abstract: An improved endless belt sanding block, typically having four flat rigid support sections connected by a set of hinges (12), (16), (22), and (28) to form a foldable closed loop. Two of the support sections, an upper tapered support (18), and a lower tapered support (26), have thickened ends which hinge together at the inner surface of the foldable loop. A base support (10), typically the longest support section, and a top support (14), typically intermediate in length, complete the closed loop. When tapered supports (18) and (26) are folded inward at the juncture of their thick ends, the sanding block is in a contracted position and an endless sanding belt (32) may be placed around the outer surface of the sanding block. Conversely by folding outward, the thick ends pry outward against the endless sanding belt causing it to tighten. A brace section (24) inside the foldable loop connects to the same hinge used at the tapered supports juncture to form a triple hinge (22).