PLANETARY SANDING HEAD WITH VARIABLE DIAMETERS

Abstract

A planetary disk style rotary sander is provided that includes a plurality of planetary-style sanding head units attached to the sander. The sanding head units described herein preferably have multiple diameters. As a result, some of the head units may be located closer to the center of the sander than others.

Claims

1. A rotary sander including a sanding head, the sanding head comprising: at least one first head unit located at a first distance from a center of the sanding head; and at least one second head unit located at a second distance from the center of the sanding head.

2. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the sanding head includes two first head units at the first distance from the center of the sanding head.

3. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the sanding head includes two second head units at the second distance from the center of the sanding head.

4. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein sanding head includes an at least one third head unit located at a third distance from the center of the sanding head.

5. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are each independently rotatable.

6. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the first distance is less than 10 inches.

7. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the second distance is at least 10 inches.

8. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are circular in shape.

9. A rotary sander for sanding a surface, the rotary sander comprising: a sanding head having a first circumference and a second circumference; at least one first head unit attached to the sanding head at the first circumference; and at least one second head unit attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.

10. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes two first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.

11. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes two second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.

12. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes three first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.

13. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes three second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.

14. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are each independently rotatable.

15. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are circular in shape.

16. A rotary sander for sanding a surface, the rotary sander comprising: a sanding head; two or more first head units attached to the sanding head; two or more second head units attached to the sanding head; wherein the two or more first head units lie in a first circumference; and wherein the two or more second head units lie in a second circumference that is concentric relative to the first circumference.

17. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the sanding head includes three first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.

18. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the sanding head includes three second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.

19. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the two or more first head units and the two or more second head units are each independently rotatable.

20. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the two or more first head units and the two or more second head units are circular in shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art rotary sander;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a prior art planetary sanding head with an annotated circumference;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a planetary sanding head with variable diameters in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the planetary sanding head with variable diameters of FIG. 3 with annotated circumferences.

[0014] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a planetary sanding head 105 that may be attached to a rotary sander (not illustrated) like the sander 5 of FIG. 1 by a fixed surface 110. The fixed surface 110 may include a base 115, which may be circular or a semi-cone shape member that is adjacent to and abuts a motor (not illustrated). The base 115 preferably includes a first end (not illustrated) and a second end 118 where the base 115 may taper outwardly from the first end to the second end 118. The base 115 therefore may have a greater diameter at its second end 118 than at its first end. In alternative embodiments, the first end and the second end 118 may have the same diameter.

[0017] The fixed surface 110 may further include an attachment member 120 located and positioned at the second end 118 of the base 115. In one embodiment, the attachment member 120 may be a planar annular ring that circumscribes the second end 118 of the base 115. The attachment member 120 may support a plurality of sanding head units 125. The sanding head units 125 may be soldered, screwed, or otherwise engaged with the attachment member 120, or integrally formed therewith.

[0018] Each sanding head unit 125 may include a first face (not illustrated) and a second face 128 located and positioned opposite from the first face. The first face of each sanding head unit 125 is preferably attached to or otherwise engaged with the attachment member 120. The second face 128 may be used to sand a desired surface. In the current embodiment, each sanding head unit 125 has the same diameter and a uniform size with the rest of the sanding head units 125. In alternative embodiments, however, the sanding head units may include multiple sizes.

[0019] In the current embodiment (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4), the planetary sanding head 105 includes six sanding head units 125. Three of the sanding head units 125A, 125B, and 125C have been move inwardly so as to form an inner circumference 130 with an effective diameter of 18 inches. The remaining sanding head units 125D, 125E, and 125F preferably form an outer circumference 135 with an effective diameter of 20 inches. The resultant effective average diameter of the illustrated sanding head units 125 is 19 inches.

[0020] Like the prior art sanding head units 25, each of the sanding head units 125 independently rotates on its own individual rotational axis (not illustrated). However, in at least one embodiment, unlike prior art sanding head units 25, some of the sanding head units 125 may rotate in a first direction while others rotate in a second direction. In one embodiment, the sanding head units 125A, 125B, and 125C located at the inner circumference 130 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, and the sanding head units 125D, 125E, and 125F with the outer circumference 135 rotate in a clockwise direction. In some embodiments, this may be switched, and in yet other embodiments all the sanding head units 125 may rotate in the same direction. In yet another alternative embodiment, the sanding head units 125 may be individually controllable to rotate in specifically programmed directions.

[0021] In alternative embodiments, a smaller inner circumference and/or greater outer circumference may be provided. Similarly, more or fewer sanding head units 125 may be provided. In yet another alternative embodiment, the sanding head units 125 may not be alternatingly offset, but may have one or more adjacent sanding head units 125 moved inwardly or outwardly so that the sanding head units 125 are still offset, but not necessarily in an alternating pattern. The planetary sanding head 105 may also have additional sanding head units 125 moved inwardly or outwardly to create more than two effective diameters.

[0022] The effective diameter of the sanding head units 125 and the work or power required to rotate the head units 125 is proportional, but non-linear. Thus, the offset sanding head units 125 reduce energy consumption and reduce the likelihood of tripping breakers. The reduced energy consumption provides more flexibility in choosing outlets and also reduces the likelihood of having to use dedicated power generators.

[0023] In addition for using the described planetary sanding head 105 for sanding hardwood floors powered with 120V AC, the planetary sanding head 105 may also be powered by alternate voltages, battery or batteries (DC powered), and/or with internal combustion engines. In addition to being used with hardwood floors, the planetary sanding head with variable diameter 105 be used with other substrates, such has concrete, stone, terrazzo, or vinyl composition tile. The planetary sanding head 105 may also be used with other processes including but not limited to grinding, polishing, coating removal, scrubbing, and burnishing.

[0024] From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

[0025] Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.