IMPROVEMENTS TO ABRASION POWER TOOL APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a power tool apparatus which is provided to perform an abrasion work operation on a workpiece, said apparatus including at least one spindle which is driven to rotate and a plurality of abrasion components which can be selectively attached to the spindle, said abrasion components provided in different configurations to perform different work operations and selectable by the user with regard to the particular work operation to be performed on a workpiece at that time. The speed of rotation of the spindle is manually or automatically adjustable so as to allow the speed of rotation of the abrasion component to be optimised with regard to the particular work operation to be performed. In one embodiment, the said speed of rotation is one of a range of predetermined speeds which can be manually selected by the user via user actuation means or may be automatically set upon detection of a particular component being fitted to the spindle at an instant of time of use.

Claims

1. An abrasion power tool apparatus, said apparatus including a housing, a motor which, when provided with a power supply, is operable to rotate at least one spindle located externally of the said housing, one or more abrasion components including an abrasion surface, said one or more abrasion components selectively engageable with the spindle such that, when engaged, the abrasion component is rotated by the spindle to perform a work operation on the surface of a workpiece placed against the same and wherein, the apparatus includes adjustment means to allow the adjustment of the speed of rotation of the spindle to a selected speed within a range of speeds, with the selection being made with respect to the abrasion component fitted to the spindle and/or the work operation to be performed on the workpiece at the instant of time of use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment of the speed is achieved by adjustment of the operation of the motor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the operation of the adjustment means is manually performed by the user of the apparatus via a user actuable mechanism provided on said housing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the user actuable mechanism is provided in the form of a dial switch located on a face of the housing in conjunction with graduations to allow the user to select a particular position of the dial switch to suit a desired adjustment means setting.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes guide means to provide the user with an indication of the appropriate setting of the adjustment means for the plurality of abrasion components when the particular component is fitted to the spindle and/or for specific uses or stages of use of the abrasion components to perform a work operation.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the guide means are located on a face of the housing so as to be externally viewable by the user.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the setting of the adjustment means to operate the spindle at a particular speed is performed automatically upon the engagement of the abrasion components with the apparatus for use.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the particular setting of the adjustment means is achieved as a result of a coded mechanical engagement of the said particular abrasion component with the spindle or another component of the apparatus at the time of fitting and the coded engagement is translated into a particular setting for the adjustment means and hence speed of rotation of the spindle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the automatic adjustment of the adjustment means is achieved as a result of a wireless detection made between the adjustment means and the abrasion component such that when a particular abrasion component is fitted to the spindle, wireless detection of a particular speed setting is achieved and transmitted to the adjustment means so at to allow the control of speed of rotation of the spindle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the wireless connection is via RFID, Bluetooth or other wireless communication system.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus housing includes a plurality of storage locations in which abrasion components which are provided to be selectively fitted to the spindle are stored when not in use.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes a platform which is located adjacent to the spindle and the angular position of the platform with respect to the housing is selectively adjustable to suit the particular abrasion component which is fitted to the spindle and or the size and shape of the workpiece on which the work is to be performed.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an on/off switch to allow control of said power supply to the apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said abrasion components include one or more drum components to be driven to rotate about a longitudinal centre axis of a channel in which the spindle is received and engaged, and one or more belt components which include first and second spaced apart members, one of which is mounted on said spindle to allow the same to be driven and hence move the belt abrasion component.

15. A method of using an abrasion power tool apparatus, said method including the steps of mounting the apparatus on a support surface, selecting to locate and engage an abrasion component including an abrasion surface on at least one spindle located on said housing, providing a power supply to a motor to operate the same and rotate the said spindle and abrasion component, bringing a workpiece into contact with the moving abrasion surface to perform a work operation on the surface of the workpiece and wherein operating adjustment means to select the speed of rotation of the said spindle prior to and/or during the performance of the said work operation.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the adjustment of the speed of rotation is made by a user interaction with a user actuable mechanism to alter the speed of the motor and with reference to predetermined setting values relating to a range of abrasion components which can be fitted to the apparatus.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the speed of rotation of the spindle is automatically altered as a result of mechanical or wireless connection between the abrasion component which is fitted to the apparatus at that time, and the apparatus, such that when a particular coding is received by the apparatus the motor is automatically controlled to rotate the spindle at a particular predetermined speed.

Description

[0024] Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying Figures; wherein

[0025] FIGS. 1a-c illustrate one embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention in one configuration for use;

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a further configuration of use;

[0027] FIGS. 3a and b illustrate embodiments of adjustment means of the apparatus of FIGS. 1a-2 in one embodiment; and

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a range of abrasion components in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1a-c there is illustrated apparatus 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The apparatus includes a housing 4 to which there is provided a power supply 6 which passes to a drive means in the form of a motor provided within the housing. The motor is connected to rotate a spindle 8. The housing is provided to be mounted on a support surface 10 such as that of a work bench. The housing also includes a support platform 12 which is angularly adjustable between horizontal to vertical via operation of the adjustment mechanisms 14 and is used to provide support for the workpiece on which the abrasion, typically sanding, work operation is to be performed.

[0030] The spindle is provided to have engaged therewith an abrasion component and most typically an abrasion component which is selected from arrange of abrasion components 16. When engaged the spindle, when driven by the motor rotates and the rotation is transferred to the abrasion component.

[0031] A possible range of abrasions components 16 are illustrated in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 1a-c the abrasion component in the form of a belt 16 is shown in engagement with the spindle 8 and in FIG. 2 an abrasion component in the form of a drum 16 is shown in engagement with the spindle 8. Typically each of the abrasion components include a body 18 which includes a channel 20 with means to allow the same to receive therealong and engage with the spindle 8. Onto the body is mounted a replaceable sleeve with the abrasion surface 22.

[0032] The FIG. 4 also illustrates fitting tools and other components which can be provided as and if required. The housing, also in this embodiment includes storages areas 24 for those abrasion components which are not fitted to the spindle but it should be noted that that this is an optional feature. An on/off switch 26 to allow the selective provision of power to the motor is also provided.

[0033] In accordance with the invention adjustment means 28 are provided which in this embodiment are manually adjustable by the user and which will be described in greater detail subsequently.

[0034] In use of the apparatus, the user will be aware of the particular type and form of the workpiece on which they wish to perform the work operation. They can then select the particular abrasion component which they believe to be appropriate for the work operation either from their own knowledge or from a reference or instruction manual. They then engage the selected component 16 in position on the spindle 8 and adjust the position of the platform 12 to suit the size, shape and work which is to be performed on the workpiece and to enable the workpiece to access and contact the abrasion surface 22.

[0035] The speed of rotation of the spindle and hence speed of movement of the abrasion surface is selected within a range of possible speeds prior to and/or during the movement of the spindle by the user operating the adjustment means 28 which in FIG. 3a includes a dial or knob 30 which can be manually rotated about axis 32 or as shown in FIG. 3b is in the form of a slidable knob 33. In both embodiments an indicator 34 is provided thereon which can be aligned with speed markings and values 36 provided on the surface 38 of the housing 4 so as to select a specific speed within the range from slowest to fastest. In this embodiment the motor which is used is a digital brushless AC induction motor and the adjustment means includes a PCB control circuit 40 connected to the same but located within the housing which allows the manual movement of the dial or knob to be translated into a digital control signal to operate the motor so as to provide rotation of the spindle at the appropriate speed. The PCB can also be set to a particular speed range so as to allow the movement of the dial to be translated to specific speeds for particular abrasion components which may be provided with particular versions of the apparatus. Alternatively, coded means may be provided on the spindle and body of the abrasion component which allow the automatic selection of the speed of rotation of the spindle depending on the particular coded arrangement between the body and spindle ta that time and a control signal representative of the coded configuration is sent o the control means for the motor. Further means of actuation and adjustment of the speed of the spindle can include any or any combination of digital and analogue switches, dials, touchscreens, sliders, push buttons, capacitive switches or the like and therefore any suitable user interface could be used. Typically some means of visual indication will be provided so that the user is made aware of the speed of operation of the apparatus at an instant of time.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the dial can be adjusted during performance of the work operation and/or prior to the commencement of a work operation with a different selected abrasion component having been fitted to the spindle 8.

[0037] The provision of the speed adjustment may be achieved in a number of different ways to that shown here and with different types of motor which and these other means are incorporated within the scope of this application. In whichever embodiment, the adjustment of the speed allows the apparatus to be adapted so as to take into account variations in the abrasion surface of different abrasion components, different forms of workpiece materials and/or the type of finish which is required to be achieved by the work operation. For example, the variation in speed allows the reaction of different types of wood to the work operation to be taken into account such as with respect to the heat generated by friction and the speed adjustment allows previously problematic types of wood (such as maple) to be sanded at a slower speed to prevent burning of the wood. The ability to adjust the speed of the abrasion surface also allows adjustment of material removal rate. Furthermore, the control of the speed allows a reduced speed to be used in order to achieve a finer sanding detail and generally more control of the work operation.

[0038] Also, the use of the different workpiece material can be taken into account by adjusting the speed so that, for example, materials such as GRP which tend to clog-up the abrasion surface and the component in general if the speed is too fast can be worked on at a reduced speed and so extend the lifetime of the abrasive surface.