Grinding and/or Polishing Pad Device, Grinding and/or Polishing Machine, and Method for Manufacturing a Grinding and/or Polishing Pad Device

Abstract

A grinding and/or polishing pad device for a grinding and/or polishing machine with a carrier unit is disclosed. The carrier unit on the machine side has at least one air duct, in particular an exhaust air duct, which runs transversely with respect to a main normal of the carrier unit.

Claims

1. A grinding and/or polishing pad device for a grinding and/or polishing machine, comprising a carrier unit, wherein: the carrier unit has, on the machine side, at least one air duct which extends transversely with respect to a main normal of the carrier unit.

2. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, wherein the air duct extends at least substantially radially with respect to the main normal.

3. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover unit which is arranged on the carrier unit on the machine side and which is configured to at least partially delimit and/or close the air duct on the machine side.

4. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 3, wherein the cover unit has at least one recess which defines an air passage opening for the air duct on the machine side, with an opening cross-section which runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the carrier unit.

5. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier unit has, on the machining side, at least one ribbed structural element which extends at least substantially radially straight with respect to the main normal.

6. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 5, wherein the ribbed structural element is configured to form a side wall of the air duct.

7. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 5, wherein the ribbed structural element protrudes on a machining side of the carrier unit in a direction parallel to the main normal of the carrier unit beyond the air duct.

8. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, further comprising a cushioning unit which is foamed onto the carrier unit on the machining side relative to the carrier unit.

9. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, further comprising a chain wheel-like drive interface unit, wherein the carrier unit has an air passage opening connected to the air duct which is arranged between two adjacent teeth of the chain wheel-like drive interface unit.

10. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, further comprising a cushioning unit arranged on the carrier unit, the end face of which has, along a circumferential direction, recesses spaced apart from one another, different from openings.

11. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 10, wherein a recessed region defined by the recesses along the circumferential direction extends over at least 10% of a maximum circumferential extension of the end face in the circumferential direction.

12. The grinding and/or polishing machine having the grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1.

13. A method for manufacturing a grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, comprising: producing an air duct extending transversely to a main normal of a carrier unit in the carrier unit via injection molding; and foaming a cushioning unit onto the carrier unit on the machining side so that a ribbed structural element of the carrier unit forms a side wall of the air duct and/or a drive interface unit is at least partially integrated into the carrier unit.

14. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one air duct is an exhaust air duct.

15. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, wherein: the carrier unit has ribbed structural elements which each extend at least substantially radially straight with respect to the main normal, and the ribbed structural elements form side walls of all air ducts.

16. The grinding and/or polishing pad device according to claim 1, further comprising a cushioning unit arranged on the carrier unit, the end face of which has, along a circumferential direction, recesses spaced apart from one another, different from material-free sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages follow from the description of the drawings below. Three exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will appropriately also consider the features individually and combine them into further advantageous combinations.

[0033] The figures show:

[0034] FIG. 1a grinding and/or polishing machine with a grinding and/or polishing pad in a side view,

[0035] FIG. 2the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIG. 1 in a perspective view,

[0036] FIG. 3the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIG. 1 in an exploded view,

[0037] FIG. 4the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIG. 1 in a lateral cross-sectional view,

[0038] FIG. 5a carrier unit for the grinding and/or polishing pad in a perspective view on an upper side of the carrier unit,

[0039] FIG. 6the carrier unit from FIG. 5 in a perspective view on a lower side of the carrier unit,

[0040] FIG. 7a top view of the grinding and/or polishing pad without a cover unit,

[0041] FIG. 8a top view of the grinding and/or polishing pad without the cover unit, with a dashed line indicating part of a drive interface unit which is integrated into the carrier unit,

[0042] FIG. 9a top view of an abrasive agent interface of the grinding and/or polishing pad,

[0043] FIG. 10a schematic diagram of a method for manufacturing a grinding and/or polishing pad device,

[0044] FIG. 11a top view of a grinding and/or polishing pad in a first alternative design,

[0045] FIG. 12a top view of the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIG. 11 with air ducts shown as dashed lines,

[0046] FIG. 13a perspective view of part of the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIGS. 11 and 12,

[0047] FIG. 14a top view of a grinding and/or polishing pad in a second alternative design and

[0048] FIG. 15a side cross-sectional view of the grinding and/or polishing pad from FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a grinding and/or polishing machine 12a with a grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a corresponds to a grinding and/or polishing pad 48a. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a is merely part of a grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, for example merely comprising a drive interface unit 36a or the like.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a has a carrier unit 14a. The carrier unit 14a is provided for stiffening and/or stabilizing the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a. The carrier unit 14a is designed as a single piece. The carrier unit 14a is made at least partly of plastic, preferably polyamide, for example PA6-GF30.

[0051] The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a has a chain wheel-like drive interface unit 36a (see also FIG. 8). The drive interface unit 36a is provided for connecting the carrier unit 14a to the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. The drive interface unit 36a is formed integrally with the carrier unit 14a. The term at least one unit and at least one further unit are designed to be at least partially integral with one another is in particular understood to mean that at least one element of the unit is designed to be integral with at least one further element of the further unit. The term integral is to be understood in particular to mean at least a materially bonded connection, for example, by a welding process, an adhesive bonding process, an injection molding process and/or another process that appears to the person skilled in the art to be reasonable, and/or advantageously formed in one piece, for example, by manufacturing from a casting and/or by manufacturing in a single-component or multi-component injection molding method and advantageously from a single blank.

[0052] The drive interface unit 36a is at least partially integrated into the carrier unit 14a, in particular at least partially surrounded by the carrier unit 14a. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the drive interface unit 36a can be detachably fastened to the carrier unit 14a, for example by way of screw connection, riveting or the like. The carrier unit 14a is provided for carrying the drive interface unit 36a. The carrier unit 14a is preferably provided as a carrier for a cushioning unit 34a and/or an abrasive agent interface 80a. The drive interface unit 36a is preferably designed as a sintered component, a punched component, or a deep-drawn component. However, it is also conceivable that the drive interface unit 36a is designed as a die-cast component or forged component.

[0053] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, has the abrasive agent interface 80a. The abrasive agent interface 80a has an abrasive agent application surface 88a for an abrasive and/or polishing agent (see FIG. 9). The abrasive agent application surface 88a is circular. Alternatively, the abrasive agent application surface 88a could be triangular, rectangular, square, or have any other shape that a person skilled in the art would consider appropriate. The abrasive agent interface 80a has, in particular, an abrasive agent fastening unit 90a for fastening the abrasive or polishing agent to the abrasive agent interface 80a. For example, the abrasive agent fastening unit 90a has a hook-and-loop surface, an adhesive surface, a combination of these, or the like for fastening the abrasive and/or the polishing agent. The abrasive agent fastening unit 90a, in particular the hook-and-loop surface and/or the adhesive surface, forms at least part of the abrasive agent application surface 88a.

[0054] The abrasive agent interface 80a, in particular the abrasive agent application surface 88a of the abrasive agent interface 80a, has a plurality of air passage openings, in particular exhaust openings 92a (in FIG. 9, only one of the exhaust openings 92a is marked with a reference numeral). The exhaust openings 92a have at least partially different shapes and/or sizes. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the exhaust openings 92a have the same shapes and/or sizes. The abrasive agent or polishing agent preferably has exhaust openings corresponding to the exhaust openings 92a of the abrasive agent interface 80a.

[0055] The abrasive agent is designed as sandpaper, for example. The abrasive agent preferably has a fastening unit for fastening to the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, preferably the abrasive agent interface 80a, corresponding to the abrasive agent fastening unit 90a, for example a hook-and-loop surface and/or an adhesive surface or the like. The polishing agent is, for example, in the form of polishing paper, a polishing sponge with polishing agents, or similar. The polishing agent preferably has a fastening unit for fastening to the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, preferably the abrasive agent interface 80a, corresponding to the abrasive agent fastening unit 90a, for example a hook-and-loop surface and/or an adhesive surface or the like.

[0056] The carrier unit 14a has, on the machine side, at least several air ducts 18a extending transversely with respect to a main normal 16a of the carrier unit 14a. Transversely should be understood as meaning not parallel. The air passage openings of the abrasive agent interface 80a are fluidically connected to the air ducts 18a. It is conceivable that several air passage openings of the abrasive agent interface 80a are connected to one of the air ducts 18a in terms of fluid technology, for example two, three, four or more than four. In addition, it is conceivable that the abrasive agent interface 80a has at least one air passage opening which is free of any connection to the transverse air ducts 18a.

[0057] The term machine side here refers in particular to a side of an object that faces the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a in a state in which the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, is arranged on the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. A machine side 94a of the carrier unit 14a faces away from an abrasive agent side 96a of the carrier unit 14a. The abrasive agent side 96a is a side of the carrier unit 14a facing the abrasive agent interface 80a in a state in which the abrasive agent interface 80a is arranged on the carrier unit 14a.

[0058] The carrier unit 14a has a main extension plane 26a. The main extension plane of a structural unit or an element can be understood to mean a plane which is parallel to a largest side surface of a smallest possible imaginary cuboid, which just completely encloses the structural unit, and in particular extends through the center of the cuboid. The main normal 16a runs at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane 26a of the carrier unit 14a. The term substantially perpendicular can be understood to mean an alignment of a direction relative to a reference direction, wherein, in particular viewed in a projection plane, the direction and the reference direction enclose an angle of 90 and the angle has a maximum deviation of in particular less than 8, advantageously less than 5, and particularly advantageously less than 2.

[0059] The main normal 16a runs at least substantially parallel to a drive shaft 98a of the drive interface unit 36a, and in particular the main normal 16a corresponds to the drive shaft 98a. The air ducts 18a run at least substantially perpendicular to the main normal 16a of the carrier unit 14a. The air ducts 18a run at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane 26a of the carrier unit 14a.

[0060] The drive interface unit 36a and/or the carrier unit 14a, preferably the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, can be driven in a state connected to the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a for rotation about the drive shaft 98a and/or can be driven in such a way that the drive shaft 98a performs an eccentric movement. It is also conceivable, in a design of the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a as an oscillating or rotary grinder, that the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a only performs an orbital or circular movement without rotation, as is the case, for example, in a design with a rectangular or square basic shape of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. Substantially parallel can be understood here to mean an alignment of a direction relative to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein the direction has a deviation relative to the reference direction that is in particular less than 8, advantageously less than 5 and particularly advantageously less than 2.

[0061] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, is configured for dust extraction. The term configured is to be understood in particular as specially programmed, designed and/or equipped. In particular, the fact that an object is configured for a specific function should be understood to mean that the object fulfills and/or executes this specific function in at least one application state and/or operating state. The air ducts 18a are designed as exhaust air ducts. The air ducts 18a are designed to guide grinding and/or polishing dust. The air ducts 18a are preferably provided for guiding fresh air to the abrasive agent.

[0062] The grinding and/or polishing machine 12a has an exhaust fan for extracting grinding and/or polishing dust, which can be generated in particular by machining a workpiece by the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a, preferably via the air ducts 18a (not shown here).

[0063] The grinding and/or polishing machine 12a has a drive unit, for example an electric motor, a pneumatic drive or the like, for driving the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, in a state connected to the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a (not shown here). It is conceivable that the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a is designed as a random orbital sander, a rotary sander, an orbital sander, or the like. The grinding and/or polishing machine 12a is cordless, in particular as a battery-powered grinding and/or polishing machine. Alternatively, the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a could be designed as a corded grinding and/or polishing machine.

[0064] The air ducts 18a run at least substantially radially with respect to the main normal 16a. The air ducts 18a run radially outward at least in sections with respect to the main normal 16a. Part of the air ducts 18a have a curved path in sections, viewed from the main normal 16a, for example a winding path. A further part of the air ducts 18a runs straight along their entire longitudinal extension.

[0065] The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a has a cover unit 20a. The cover unit 20a is arranged on the machine side on the carrier unit 14a. The cover unit 20a delimits and/or closes the air ducts 18a, in particular on the machine side, at least partially.

[0066] The cover unit 20a is glued to the carrier unit 14a. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the cover unit 20a is detachably fastened to the carrier unit 14a. In this context, the term detachable is in particular understood to mean non-destructively separable.

[0067] The cover unit 20a is provided for at least partially delimiting the air ducts 18a on the machine side. A main extension plane (not shown here) of the cover unit 20a runs at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane 26a of the carrier unit 14a. The cover unit 20a is disc-shaped, preferably made of plastic.

[0068] The cover unit 20a has several recesses 22a (in FIGS. 2 and 3, only one of the recesses 22a is marked with a reference symbol). The recesses 22a define air passage openings 24a on the machine side for the air ducts 18a. The opening cross-sections of the recesses 22a run at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane 26a of the carrier unit 14a. The main extension plane 26a of the carrier unit 14a runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane (not shown here) of the abrasive agent interface 80a. The air passage openings 24a are designed as exhaust openings 46a for extracting grinding and/or polishing dust.

[0069] The carrier unit 14a has, on the machining side, a plurality of ribbed structural elements 28a which extend at least substantially radially, in particular radially straight, with respect to the main normal 16a (in FIG. 6, only two ribbed structural elements 28a of the plurality of ribbed structural elements 28a are shown).

[0070] Machining side refers in particular to the abrasive agent side or the abrasive agent interface. An abrasive agent side 96a or a machining side 32a of the carrier unit 14a is turned away from the machine side 94a of the carrier unit 14a. The machining side 32a of the carrier unit 14a corresponds to the abrasive agent side 96a.

[0071] The carrier unit 14a has a carrier base body 100a. The ribbed structural elements 28a are formed integrally with the carrier base body 100a, and the carrier base body 100a preferably has the ribbed structural elements 28a. The ribbed structural elements 28a are designed as walls.

[0072] The ribbed structural elements 28a form side walls 30a of the air ducts 18a. Two ribbed structural elements 28a form the side walls 30a of one of the air ducts 18a. The ribbed structural elements 28a protrude above the air ducts 18a on the machining side 32a of the carrier unit 14a in a direction parallel to the main normal 16a of the carrier unit 14a.

[0073] The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a has the cushioning unit 34a. The cushioning unit 34a is foamed onto the carrier unit 14a on the machining side relative to the carrier unit 14a. The cushioning unit 34a is made of foam. The abrasive agent fastening unit 90a is arranged on the cushioning unit 34a. The abrasive agent fastening unit 90a and the carrier unit 14a are arranged on opposite sides of the cushioning unit 34a, in particular, the cushioning unit 34a is arranged between the carrier unit 14a and the abrasive agent fastening unit 90a. The ribbed structural elements 28a, in particular at least one respective part of the ribbed structural elements 28a protruding with respect to the air ducts 18a, are/is surrounded by foam from the cushioning unit 34a. An adhesive or activator can be applied between the cushioning unit 34a and the carrier unit 14a with the ribbed structural elements 28a prior to foaming in order to achieve particularly robust adhesion of the cushioning unit 34a during foaming. The ribbed structural elements 28a are provided for force transmission, in particular torque transmission, from the carrier unit 14a to the cushioning unit 34a. The air ducts 18a are surrounded by foam on the machining side of the cushioning unit 34a.

[0074] The cushioning unit 34a has air passage openings corresponding to the air passage openings of the drive interface unit 80a and/or the air passage openings 38a of the carrier unit 14a.

[0075] The carrier unit 14 has several air passage openings 38a, each connected to one of the air ducts 18a (only one of the air passage openings 38a is shown in FIG. 7). The air passage openings 38a of the carrier unit 14a correspond to the air passage openings of the abrasive agent interface 80a. The drive interface unit 36a has a plurality of teeth 40a, in particular evenly spaced teeth, on an outer circumference. The drive interface unit 36a is rotationally symmetrical, preferably with respect to the drive shaft 98a. One of the air passage openings 38a of the carrier unit 14a is arranged between each pair of adjacent teeth 40a of the drive interface unit 36a. The drive interface unit 36a has a machine connection contour 102a for connection to an output element of the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. The machine connection contour 102a surrounds the drive shaft 98a.

[0076] The drive interface unit 36a is designed as a single piece. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the drive interface unit 36a is designed in multiple parts, for example in two parts, three parts, or the like. The drive interface unit 36a is shown here as an example in the form of a sintered component. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the drive interface unit 36a is designed as a sheet metal element. The drive interface unit 36a has a base body 104a. The base body 104a has the machine connection contour 102a. The machine connection contour 102a is arranged centrally on the base body 104a, in particular in a direction viewed parallel to the drive shaft 98a. The base body 104a has, in particular, the teeth 40a.

[0077] The drive interface unit 36a has a bent shape (see FIG. 4). The drive interface unit 36a, in particular the base body 104a, has a centrally arranged offset 106a, preferably a centrally arranged projection, preferably viewed in a direction parallel to the drive shaft 98a. The machine connection contour 102a is arranged on the offset 106a. The bend 106a is surrounded in a radial direction, preferably with respect to the drive shaft 98a, by an unbent part 108a of the drive interface unit 36a, preferably of the base body 104a. The teeth 40a are arranged on the unbent part 108a of the drive interface unit 36a, in particular of the base body 104a. The bend 106a is preferably arranged. The unbent part 108a is arranged on the machining side.

[0078] The carrier unit 14a is connected flush on the machine side to an application surface 50a of the drive interface unit 36a, in particular to a bent outer surface 52a of the drive interface unit 36a on the machine side, for flush connection to the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. In particular, the application surface 50a extends at least substantially perpendicular to the drive axle 98a.

[0079] The application surface 50a delimits the machine connection contour 102a. The machine connection contour 102a is provided for torque transmission from the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a to the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. The application surface 50a is provided for alignment and/or axial contact of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a on the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a.

[0080] The drive interface unit 36a, in particular the base body 104a, has several air passage openings 54a, in particular for dust extraction. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the drive interface unit 36a only has one air passage opening 54a. The air passage openings 54a are arranged radially, preferably radially with respect to the drive shaft 98a, between the drive shaft 98a, preferably the machine connection contour 102a, and the teeth 40a. The air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a have a uniform and/or circular arrangement, in particular around the drive shaft 98a. The air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a are arranged symmetrically about the drive shaft 98a. The air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a are each part of an axial air passage, in particular a material-free section, of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, in particular of the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a.

[0081] Teeth 40a are at least partially different in height. Teeth 40a are of two different heights. Alternatively, it is conceivable that teeth 40a have more than two different heights. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that teeth 40a have the same height. The teeth 40a, which are arranged in the radial direction behind air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a, have the same height. The teeth 40a, which are arranged behind air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a when viewed in the radial direction, have a height that is different from, preferably smaller than, a height of teeth 40a that are arranged in the circumferential direction, which runs in particular in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft 98a, between two adjacent air passage openings 54a of the drive interface unit 36a.

[0082] The ratio of the total height 64a of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, which runs in particular perpendicular to a main extension plane 66a of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, to a maximum diameter 68a of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, which runs in particular parallel to the main extension plane 66a of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a, is at most 0.15.

[0083] The ratio of the maximum diameter 62a of the drive interface unit 36a to the maximum diameter 60a of the carrier unit 14a is at least 0.35.

[0084] FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a method for manufacturing the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. In one method step, in particular in an injection molding method step 70a, the air ducts 18a extending transversely to the main normal 16a are produced in the carrier unit 14a.

[0085] In one method step, in particular in the injection molding method step 70a, the drive interface unit 36a is at least partially integrated into the carrier unit 14a. In injection molding method step 70a, the drive interface unit 36a with a bent shape and/or chain wheel design is at least partially integrated into the carrier unit 14a, in particular at least partially surrounded by the carrier unit 14a.

[0086] In one method step, in particular in a foaming step 72a, the cushioning unit 34a is foamed onto the carrier unit 14a on the machining side. In particular, the abrasive agent interface 80a and the drive interface unit 36a are placed in a mold, in particular with a sleeve 56a and a disc spring 58a. The cushioning unit 34a is preferably made of foam, especially in a way that's already known to experts.

[0087] The sleeve 56a, which is optional, and/or the disc spring 58a are part of the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. The disc spring 58a is provided for building up axial preload on a screw connection when mounted on the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. The sleeve 56a is provided for integrating the disc spring 58a into the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a. The air passage openings in the cushioning unit 34a are produced in a single method step, in particular by a punching process.

[0088] In one method step, in particular in a grinding step 74a, the drive interface unit 36a is ground down on the machine side, in particular flush with the adjacent carrier unit 14a. The application surface 50a of the drive interface unit 36a and/or a surface of the carrier unit 14a adjoining the application surface 50a, in particular on the machine side, is/are ground down, preferably in such a way that the application surface 50a and the surface of the carrier unit 14a adjoining the application surface 50a are flush with one another.

[0089] It is also conceivable that, in a method step, intake openings (cf. intake openings 78b in FIGS. 11 and 12) are produced in a peripheral region on a side facing away from the abrasive agent interface 80a.

[0090] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing device 10a, has a weight of between 120 g and 140 g, preferably 130 g. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the grinding and/or polishing pad 48a, in particular the grinding and/or polishing device 10a, has a weight that is less than 120 g or greater than 140 g.

[0091] The drive interface unit 36a has a maximum diameter of 59 mm in this example.

[0092] The maximum diameter 68a of the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10a is, for example, 148 mm.

[0093] FIGS. 11 through 15 show further exemplary embodiments. The following descriptions and the drawings are substantially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein reference may also be made in principle to the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular FIGS. 1 through 10, with regard to identically described components, in particular with regard to components having the same reference numerals. To differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is placed after the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 10. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 11 through 15, the letter a is replaced by letters b and c.

[0094] FIG. 11 shows a grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b for a grinding and/or polishing machine. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b corresponds to a grinding and/or polishing pad 48b. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b has a carrier unit 14b. The carrier unit 14b has a plurality of transverse air ducts 18b, in particular exhaust air ducts, on the machine side with respect to a main normal 16b of the carrier unit 14b (see FIG. 12).

[0095] The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b has a cushioning unit 34b arranged on the carrier unit 14b. An end face 42b of the cushioning unit 34b has, along a circumferential direction, recesses 44b spaced apart from one another, in particular different from openings, preferably different from material-free sections (see FIG. 13).

[0096] The recesses 44b on the end face 42b are evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. The recesses 44b are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The recesses 44b each have a varying maximum depth when viewed in the circumferential direction. The maximum depth is measured radially with respect to the main normal 16b. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the recesses 44b have a constant depth when viewed in the circumferential direction.

[0097] A recessed region defined by the recesses 44b extends along the circumferential direction over at least 10% of a maximum circumferential extension of the end face 42b in the circumferential direction, preferably over at least 50%, and preferably over at least 75%.

[0098] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b, has an abrasive agent interface 80b. The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b, has several exhaust openings 46b arranged on a side facing away from the abrasive agent interface 80b.

[0099] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b, has several intake openings 78b arranged in a peripheral region on the side facing away from the abrasive agent interface 80b, and in particular different from a side surface 110b, for drawing in ambient air. The intake openings 78b are arranged on the machine side.

[0100] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b has an upper side, in particular on the machine side. The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b has a lower side, in particular on the machining side. The upper side is arranged away from the lower side. The intake openings 78b are arranged on the upper side, in particular on one machine side. The upper side corresponds to the machine side. The side surface 110b connects the upper side to the lower side. The abrasive agent interface 80b, in particular an abrasive agent application surface of the abrasive agent interface 80a, forms the lower side.

[0101] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48b, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10b, has a cover unit 20b. The cover unit 20b is arranged on the carrier unit 14b on the machine side. The cover unit 20b has recesses 22b. The cover unit 20b has the intake openings 78b. Part of the recesses 22b form the intake openings 78b. A further part of the recesses 22b forms the exhaust openings 46b.

[0102] The cover unit 20b of the grinding and/or polishing pad 48b forms the upper side. The cover unit 20b is glued to the carrier unit 14b. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the cover unit 20b is detachably fastened to the carrier unit 14b.

[0103] A main extension plane of the cover unit 20b runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the carrier unit 14b. The cover unit 20b is disc-shaped, preferably made of plastic. The main extension plane of the carrier unit 14b runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane of the abrasive agent interface 80b.

[0104] The grinding and/or polishing machine preferably has an exhaust fan for extracting grinding and/or polishing dust, which can be generated in particular by machining a workpiece by the grinding and/or polishing machine, preferably via the grinding and/or polishing pad 48b.

[0105] The intake openings 78b are provided for supplying fresh air to the abrasive agent interface 80b. Fresh air can be drawn in through the intake openings 78b via the exhaust fan.

[0106] A respective opening cross-section of the intake openings 78b runs at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane (not shown here) of the abrasive agent interface 80b. The opening cross-sections of the intake openings 78b run at least substantially perpendicular to a drive shaft of a drive interface unit 36b of the grinding and/or polishing pad 48b. The main extension plane of the abrasive agent interface 80b corresponds to a main extension plane of the abrasive agent application surface of the abrasive agent interface 80b. The main extension plane of the abrasive agent interface 80b runs at least substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft.

[0107] A minimum distance between the intake openings 78b and the drive interface unit 36b is greater than a minimum distance between the exhaust openings 46b and the drive interface unit 36b. The minimum distance between the intake openings 78b and the drive interface unit 36b, in particular the drive shaft, and/or the minimum distance between the exhaust openings 46b and the drive interface unit 36b, in particular the drive shaft, are preferably measured in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft and/or parallel to the main extension plane of the abrasive agent interface 80b.

[0108] The intake openings 78b are arranged in a circle. The intake openings 78b are arranged in a circular shape around the drive interface unit 36b, in particular around the drive shaft. It is conceivable that the intake openings 78b in the circumferential direction, which in particular run in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft, are spaced at equal intervals from one another, or that the distances between the intake openings 78b vary in the circumferential direction.

[0109] The carrier unit 14b has several air ducts 76b arranged on the machine side and running transversely to the main normal 16b, each of which is connected to one of the intake openings 78b. The cover unit 20b delimits and/or closes the air ducts 76b at least partially.

[0110] The air ducts 76b are designed as intake air ducts for supplying fresh air to the abrasive agent interface 80b. It is conceivable that a flow of air for drawing in fresh air can be generated via the air ducts 76b by the exhaust fan. The air ducts 76b run at least substantially perpendicular to the main normal 16b of the carrier unit 14b. The air ducts 76b run at least substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the carrier unit 14b. The main normal 16b runs at least substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the carrier unit 14b. The main standard 16b runs at least substantially parallel to the drive shaft of the drive interface unit 36b.

[0111] The air ducts 76b run at least substantially radially with respect to the drive interface unit 36b. The air ducts 76b run straight along their entire longitudinal extension. Alternatively, it is conceivable that at least a part of the air ducts 76b runs radially outward at least in sections with respect to the main normal 16b. For example, it is also conceivable that at least a part of the air ducts 76b has a curved path, for example a winding path, when viewed in sections starting from the main normal 16b.

[0112] The grinding and/or polishing machine 12a of exemplary embodiment a in FIG. 1 has a housing part unit 82a, in particular a friction ring 84a. The housing part unit 82a, in particular the friction ring 84a, covers the exhaust openings 46b at least partially, in particular when the grinding and/or polishing pad 48b is arranged on the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a. The peripheral region, in particular the peripheral region comprising the intake openings 78b, is arranged outside the housing part unit 82a, in particular in a state in which the grinding and/or polishing pad 48b is arranged on the grinding and/or polishing machine 12a.

[0113] The carrier unit 14b has several air ducts 18b on the machine side that run transversely to the main normal 16b. The air ducts 18b connect to the exhaust openings 46b. The air ducts 18b are designed as exhaust air ducts. At least a part of the air ducts 18b has a winding path, particularly when viewed in the radial direction relative to the main normal 16b.

[0114] FIG. 14 shows a grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c for a grinding and/or polishing machine. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c corresponds to a grinding and/or polishing pad 48c. The grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c has a carrier unit 14c. The carrier unit 14c is designed as a metal plate, such as a steel plate, aluminum plate, or similar. The carrier unit 14c is free of air ducts that run at least substantially transversely to a main normal of the carrier unit 14c.

[0115] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48c, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c, has an abrasive agent interface 80c. The grinding and/or polishing pad 48c, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c, has several exhaust openings 46c arranged on a side facing away from the abrasive agent interface 80c.

[0116] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48c, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c, has several intake openings 78c arranged in a peripheral region on the side facing away from the abrasive agent interface 80c, and in particular different from a side surface 110c, for drawing in ambient air. The carrier unit 14c has several recesses 22c. The carrier unit 14c has the intake openings 78c. Part of the recesses 22c form the intake openings 78c. The exhaust openings 46c form a further part of the recesses 22c.

[0117] A respective opening cross-section of the intake openings 78c runs at least substantially parallel to a main extension plane 86c of the abrasive agent interface 80c (see FIG. 15).

[0118] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48c, in particular the grinding and/or polishing pad device 10c, has a cushioning unit 34c. The cushioning unit 34c has axially extending air ducts. The intake openings 78c are connected to the abrasive agent interface 80c, in particular to the outlet openings of the abrasive agent interface 80c, via a part of the axially extending air ducts. The exhaust openings 46c are connected in a fluid-technological manner to the abrasive agent interface 80c, in particular to exhaust openings of the abrasive agent interface 80c, via a further part of the axially extending air ducts.

[0119] The grinding and/or polishing pad 48c has a drive interface unit 36c. The drive interface unit 36c is riveted to the carrier unit 14c. The cushioning unit 34c is glued to the carrier unit 14c on the machining side.