SEMI-MANUAL MACHINE TOOL FOR TREATING FLAT AND HORIZONTAL SURFACES

Abstract

Disclosed is a semi-manual machine tool for treating flat horizontal surfaces, this machine including: a base; a drive plate connected to the base having a lower face adapted to be connected to a working tool; a motor; a transmission system between the motor and the drive plate; a handle for controlling the machine; and a working tool connected to the lower face of the drive plate. The drive plate is connected to the base in a manner sliding along a direction parallel to the direction of translation of the machine tool, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine tool, the transmission system being configured to impart to the drive plate a reciprocating rectilinear movement along the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A semi-manual machine tool for treating flat horizontal surfaces, said machine comprising: a base; a drive plate connected to the base having a lower face adapted to be connected to a working tool; a motor; a transmission system between said motor and said drive plate; a handle for controlling the machine; and a working tool connected to the lower face of the drive plate; wherein the drive plate is connected to the base in a manner sliding along a direction parallel to the direction of translation of the machine tool, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine tool, said transmission system being configured to impart to said drive plate a reciprocating rectilinear movement along said longitudinal direction.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the contact area between the working tool and the surface to be treated has an extension in width greater than the extension in depth of the surface to be treated.

3. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of the extension in width to the extension in depth is in a range of 1 to 6.

4. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the tool has the same form and dimension as the drive plate.

5. The machine tool according claim 1, wherein the drive plate performs a movement with a range of travel from 5 to 30 mm.

6. The machine tool according to claim 1, comprising at least one linear guide means for guiding the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the drive plate, said linear guide means comprising at least one linear guide with a track fixed to the lower side of the base and a slide, sliding on the track, integral with the drive plate.

7. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the transmission system comprises a belt that transmits the rotary motion from a first pulley, mounted on the motor shaft, to a second pulley mounted on a second shaft pivoted in the base or in the motor mount, said transmission system further comprising a crank-connecting rod mechanism, connected to the drive plate, to convert the rotary motion of the second pulley into a reciprocating rectilinear motion of said drive plate.

8. The machine tool according to claim 1, comprising wheels configured to move said machine tool along a rectilinear direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9. The machine tool according to claim 8, comprising a motor mount, integral with the base, said motor being arranged on the motor mount so that the ratio dr/dp ranges from 0.5 to 2, where dr is the distance of the rotation axis of the motor from the axis of the wheels and dp is the distance from the centreline of the drive plate, taken in longitudinal direction, from the axis of said wheels.

10. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle for controlling the machine comprises a steering rod which is connected to the motor mount so that the distance between the connection point of said rod and the axis of the motor, taken along the longitudinal direction, is no greater than 150 mm toward the front or rear part of the machine.

11. The machine tool according to claim 1, comprising a water dispenser arranged close to the front side of the base.

12. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein said working tool is chosen from a felt polishing disc, a brush disc, an abrasive cloth disc, an abrasive mesh disc or a nonwoven disc.

13. The machine tool according to claim 3, wherein the tool has the same form and dimension as the drive plate.

14. The machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the drive plate performs a movement with a range of travel from 5 to 30 mm.

15. The machine tool according to claim 3, wherein the drive plate performs a movement with a range of travel from 5 to 30 mm.

16. The machine tool according to claim 4, wherein the drive plate performs a movement with a range of travel from 5 to 30 mm.

17. The machine tool according to claim 2, comprising at least one linear guide means for guiding the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the drive plate, said linear guide means comprising at least one linear guide with a track fixed to the lower side of the base and a slide, sliding on the track, integral with the drive plate.

18. The machine tool according to claim 3, comprising at least one linear guide means for guiding the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the drive plate, said linear guide means comprising at least one linear guide with a track fixed to the lower side of the base and a slide, sliding on the track, integral with the drive plate.

19. The machine tool according to claim 4, comprising at least one linear guide means for guiding the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the drive plate, said linear guide means comprising at least one linear guide with a track fixed to the lower side of the base and a slide, sliding on the track, integral with the drive plate.

20. The machine tool according to claim 5, comprising at least one linear guide means for guiding the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the drive plate, said linear guide means comprising at least one linear guide with a track fixed to the lower side of the base and a slide, sliding on the track, integral with the drive plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive example of embodiment of a machine tool as illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the machine tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine tool of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 3 is a view of the machine of FIG. 1, sectioned along a vertical and longitudinal plane;

[0051] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the machine tool of FIG. 1, without the drive plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference number 1 indicates as a whole a machine tool having a base 2, a motor mount 3, a handle 4, a drive plate 5 and a motor 6.

[0053] In the example illustrated, the base 2 comprises a substantially parallelepiped shaped box element open at the bottom to accommodate the drive plate 5.

[0054] More in detail, the drive plate 5 is mounted movably on the lower or inner side of the base 2. The drive plate 5 is guided by a pair of linear guides 7, each comprising a track 7a, fixed to the base 2, and a slide 7b integral with a cross bar 8 to which the drive plate 5 is connected. Said tracks 7a are oriented along the longitudinal direction of the machine.

[0055] Preferably, said cross bar 8 is provided with removable connection means, for example snap fastening means or the like, to allow a rapid attachment and removal of the drive plate 5. The motor mount 3 extends at the back from the base 2 and, in the variant illustrated, also comprises a box element 3a, with two vertical wings 3b arranged at the respective sides of the box element 3a.

[0056] The motor 6 is mounted on the motor mount 3 in vertical position with its shaft 6a facing downward. In detail, the motor 6 is resting against the upper side of the box element 3a which has a seat, not indicated in the figure, to allow the passage of said motor shaft 6a.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates the transmission system, indicated as a whole with 10, which transmits the motion from the motor 6 to the drive plate 5. Said transmission system comprises a first pulley 11 fitted onto the motor shaft 6a, a second pulley 12, mounted on a shaft 13 pivoted on the motor mount, and a belt 14 wrapped around said first and second pulleys.

[0058] The transmission system further comprises a mechanism for converting the rotary motion of the second pulley 12 into the reciprocating rectilinear motion of the drive plate 5.

[0059] Said mechanism comprises a crank journal 15 fixed on the second pulley 12, a connecting rod journal 16 fixed on the cross bar 8, and a connecting rod 17 engaged with said crank and connecting rod journals, respectively with its head and foot.

[0060] The action of the connecting rod 17 on the cross bar 8 thus causes a reciprocating to-and-from linear movement of the drive plate 5 with respect to the base 2.

[0061] The machine is equipped with two wheels 20 configured to move said machine tool 1 along a rectilinear longitudinal direction. The two wheels 20 are connected in the rear part of the motor mount 3, i.e. on the opposite side with respect to the front side of the base 2.

[0062] In a preferred variant, said wheels 20 are mounted sliding vertically with respect to the motor mount 3 so as to be able to adjust their position in height. In the example illustrated, the wheels 20 are mounted on a same support 21 provided with two guide elements 21a, sliding in seats obtained in the box element 3a of the motor mount 3 and provided with blocking means to block their position with respect to said box element.

[0063] Adjustment of the wheels 20 makes it possible to use tools with different heights (or thicknesses) to be attached to the drive plate 5, while at the same time allowing said tools always to operate in a condition substantially parallel to the surface to be treated.

[0064] The handle 4 is connected to the motor mount 3 by means of a steering rod 10. As in prior art machine tools with rotary orbital movement, this rod 18 can be tilted as required, and its position can vary more or less from vertical to horizontal with respect to the surface to be treated. Usually, this position is vertical when the machine tool is idle.

[0065] According to the invention, said steering rod 18 is hinged to the motor mount 3 so that the rotation axis Xa of the rod 18 is substantially aligned, according to a longitudinal direction, with the rotation axis Zm of the motor 6. In the variant illustrated, the steering rod 18 has the lower end, i.e., facing the machine, that separates into two diverging branches 18a respectively hinged to one wing 3a of the motor mount 3.

[0066] According to an embodiment, a water dispenser 9 is arranged close to the front side of the base 2. Typically, the dispenser 9 is in the form of an elongated tube provided with orifices or nozzles for spraying water or another suitable liquid. During processing, it is this dispenser 9 can be activated so that it sprays water onto the floor surface in front of the drive plate 5. Said dispenser can be connected to an external water source, or the machine can be equipped with a tank for said water or other liquid and with pumping means.

[0067] Preferably, the drive plate 5 has a width ranging from 350 to 550 mm and depth ranging from 90 to 300 mm, although other dimensions are naturally possible.

[0068] According to the example of embodiment shown in the figures, the drive plate 5 has dimensions of 450 mm in width and 115 mm in depth. The working tool 5 has more or less the same dimensions as the drive plate 5. The total range of travel C of the drive plate 5 is around 20 mm, i.e., around 17% of its depth.

[0069] The drive plate 5 has a lower face adapted to receive and house a working tool 30, interchangeable as a function of the processing operation to be carried out and of the type of surface to be treated. This working tool 30 can, for example, be a felt polishing disc, a brush disc, an abrasive cloth disc, an abrasive mesh disc, a nonwoven disc or the like.

[0070] The invention has been described purely for non-limiting illustrative purposes, according to some preferred embodiments. The person skilled in the art can find numerous other embodiments and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the claims below.