Floors machining device

Abstract

 The invention relates to a tool (10) for machining stone or concrete floors, comprising at least two rotatably mounted carrier plates (20a, 20b) driven during use and arranged adjacent each other, wherein each plate (20a, 20b) in turn is adapted to carry at least one rotatably mounted machining disc (30) rotary driven during machining,

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool for machining floors, comprising at least two rotatably mounted carrier plates driven during use and arranged adjacent each other, wherein each plate in turn is adapted to carry at least one rotatably mounted machining disc rotary driven during machining of the floors.

Description of related art

[0002] Today, tools for machining stone or concrete floors, i.e. primarily grinding and polishing but also cutting, milling or crushing floor surfaces and/or cleaning these surfaces by removing coatings on them with the object of producing plane, clean and/or smooth floor surfaces commonly use a machining appliance which carries one or more rotatably mounted plates that in turn carries one or more machining elements, e.g. in the form of discs that are smaller than the carrier plates and adapted to be rotated in relation to the carrier plates for machining the surface. This machining disc contacts the floor surface by means of different types of cutters/bits while performing a movement in a plane in parallel to the rotating carrier plates, so that a machining of the surface is produced.

[0003] In order to increase the removal or machining width of the grinding machine, the machine is provided with a machining tool having three overlapping machining devices, i.e. the machining area of the devices overlaps in at least one direction of driving. Each of these machining devices comprises one carrier plate with one or more associated machining discs. The applicant has machines for machining floors with for example three, four or more machining discs per carrier plate arranged with one front machining device and two machining devices placed adjacent each other following behind the first one in the direction of movement, the first one being arranged between the other two, in a similar way as a shaving apparatus with three in a triangular pattern arranged cutting units, as e.g. sold by Philips®, so that the machining of the first machining device is performed in the area that is not machined by the following two devices, in an overlapping manner.

[0004] A disadvantage of these known tools for machining of floor surfaces is that three machining devices are to be used when machining a surface in an overlapping manner, whereby a complicated tool have to be manufactured. These prior art tools also have a disadvantage in that the machines become heavy and therefore are difficult to handle and also have to be designed with rugged constructions due to the fact that these machines have long overhanging tools at the front demanding very sturdy and complicated suspension and frame structures. Moreover, these prior art machines require separate lifting devices, i.e. one for each machining device in the tool, and also more dust-extractor hoods, one for each machining device in the tool, which hoods also must be configured with complicated shapes. The known tools with three machining devices also occupy a large space, especially when machining of floor surfaces is to be performed in narrow spaces and passages, making the handling and driving of the machine difficult.

Summary

[0005] An object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved machining tool, which eliminates or at least reduces the disadvantages for prior art machining tools.

[0006] The invention is defined by the enclosed independent claims. Embodiments are set forth by the dependent claims attached and by the following description and the drawings.

[0007] According to the invention a tool for machining floors, comprising at least two rotatably mounted carrier plates driven during use and arranged adjacent each other, wherein each plate in turn is adapted to carry at least one rotatably mounted machining disc rotary driven during machining. The machining discs are arranged such that their machining areas are able to overlap when the discs are driven, and the rotation of the two carrier plates are operatively synchronized such that the overlapping machining discs are able to rotate in a non-colliding manner when machining the floor.

[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the rotary synchronization of the two carrier plates is achieved by means of a transmission interconnecting the plates..

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, the transmission comprises wheels, at least one wheel for each carrier plate, whereby each wheel is fixedly coupled to its associated carrier plate and rotatably interconnected by means of a loop, which loop is able to synchronize the rotation of the wheels in relation to each other such that the rotation of the carrier plates and the machining discs is synchronized..

[0010] In other embodiments, the transmission is a belt drive, a chain drive, a gear train, a V-belt drive, or a synchronous belt drive, or any other suitable transmission that may be used for the inventive synchronization..

[0011] Moreover, in another embodiment, the transmission comprises at least one tension wheel for tightening the transmission., whereby the transmission in yet another embodiment comprises two tension wheels for tightening the transmission.

[0012] Furthermore, in one embodiment, each carrier plate is carrying at least two rotatably mounted machining discs that are rotary driven during machining., which, in another embodiment, is carrying three rotatably mounted machining discs. Moreover, in yet another embodiment, each carrier plate is carrying four rotatably mounted machining discs.

[0013] In still another embodiment, the tool comprises at least three rotatably mounted carrier plates provided thereon.

[0014] In one embodiment, the transmission interconnecting the two carrier plates is driven directly by at least one separate power source, and, in another embodiment, the transmission interconnecting the two carrier plates is driven by the carrier plates, and, in yet another embodiment, the transmission is a third transmission interconnecting the two carrier plates, which third transmission is driven indirectly by at least one motor that firstly drives the at least one machining disc on each carrier plate via a first transmission, whereby the at least one machining disc in turn drives its carrier plate by means of a second transmission, such that the carrier plates drives the third transmission.

[0015] The invention also concerns a machine for machining floors, comprising at least one tool in accordance with any of the embodiments defined above.

[0016] Providing a machine for machining stone or concrete floors with a tool for this, which tool comprises at least two machining devices of which each carries at least one machining disc being arranged with overlapping machining areas and rotary synchronized such that they do not collide when rotating during machining of the surface means that the machining discs machines the floor surface without leaving any unmachined area between them, so that the machine for grinding the floor surface is made more compact, lighter, and less complicated as the machining devices forming the tool are arranged as close as possible to each other to provide the overlapping machining areas such that the overall size of the floor grinding machine is minimized, the overhang of the tool is minimized, whereby the suspension and associated components may be optimized compared to prior art machines, and that the tool according to the invention may be equipped with any number of machining devices, e.g. three, four, five or more, without requiring the same sturdiness and complexity as prior art machines. The inventive tool makes the machine according to the invention easier to handle and maintain reducing, consequently, costs associated therewith.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The tool will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which

Fig. 1 is a front view of an exemplary machine with a tool according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view from above of the tool in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is another partly sectional view from above of the tool in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the tool in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is view from below of the tool in Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0018] Fig. 1 indicates a machine for machining surfaces on floors, preferably having concrete or stone as a wearing layer, with an abrading, machining or grinding tool 10 with at least two rotating plates 20a, 20b or more, which are mounted rotatably and adapted for machining of surfaces by means of at least one surface contacting machining disc 30, which is driven by a power source, e.g. a motor 11, as is explained in more detail in for example the patent publication WO 94/08752. In this document, the floor grinding machine comprises two motors 11, each motor separately rotating one or more, in this embodiment, three machining discs 30 via a first belt transmission (not shown in this application). Each disc 30 has a rotational axis protruding upwards towards the motors for operative engagement with a second belt transmission (not shown in this application) that drives each carrier plate 20a, 20b separately with a lower rotative speed in relation to the discs. This prior art machine has no synchronization between the two carrier plates 20a, 20b, which disadvantage is eliminated by the invention by providing the machine according to the invention with carrier plates 20a, 20b placed adjacent, in a preferred embodiment close, to each other and machining discs 30 that are arranged along the periphery of each carrier plate such that the disc machining areas overlap when the discs are rotary driven, and the rotation of the two carrier plates 20a, 20b are operatively synchronized such that the overlapping machining discs 30 rotate in a non-colliding manner when machining the floor.

[0019] This inventive synchronization of the carrier plates 20a, 20b may in one embodiment be done by indirect use of the existing motors 11 for rotative powering of the carrier plates or in another embodiment be done by use of a separate motor 12 that directly actuates and controls the synchronization, the motors 11, 12 preferably being electrically driven.

[0020] The floor surfaces may be stone, concrete, different types of asphalt, or different types of coatings on these surfaces, e.g. epoxy lacquers/resins/adhesives, plastic materials (e.g. plastic mats), paint, lacquer, or any other type of floors and coatings. Moreover, the machine according to the invention may also be used for cleaning and polishing floor surfaces by using cleaning and/or polishing pads instead of machining elements, e.g. TWISTER®-pads. On the rotatable plates 20a, 20b a suitable number of machining, i.e. grinding discs 30 may be attached, which discs are provided with detachably attached machining elements 31, which elements are positioned according to a predetermined and known pattern, i.e. a pattern suitable for the desired machining, at the periphery of each disc 30. Each machining disc is rotated substantially in a plane parallel to the surface to be machined and the planes of the carrier plates 20a, 20b in a known way and by means of known driver means as explained earlier. There may be more than one disc 30 (not shown), e.g. two (not shown), three (as shown), or four or more, per carrier plate 20a, 20b forming the tool 10 and these discs 30 may all be rotated in the same direction or one or more discs may be rotated in opposite directions in relation to the other disc or discs, i.e. in a contra-rotating manner, and/or in pairs, or only a single disc 30 may be used. If two contra-rotating discs 30 are used the forces during machining are balanced.

[0021] Each carrier plate 20a, 20b, as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, supports three machining discs 30, which may be of any kind, e.g. as disclosed in EP-1 321 233 and/or WO 2004/108352.

[0022] The tool 10 according to the invention for machining floors comprises two or more rotatably mounted carrier plates 20a, 20b, which are driven during use and arranged adjacent each other, and, in one embodiment, arranged side by side, but, preferably, sufficiently close to each other. Each rotary plate 20a, 20b in turn carries three rotatably mounted machining discs 30, which are rotary driven during machining of the floor surface. The machining discs 30 are arranged along the periphery of each carrier plate such that the disc machining areas overlap when the discs are rotary driven, and the rotation of the two carrier plates 20a, 20b are operatively synchronized such that the overlapping machining discs 30 rotate in a non-colliding manner when machining the floor.

[0023] The machining discs 30 are in this embodiment with three discs per carrier plate 20a, 20b arranged in a triangular pattern and spaced apart angularly about 120°, if four or more discs are used, this angular spacing may be 90° for four discs or 72° if five discs are used or any other suitable angular spacing may be used, around the periphery of the carrier plates 20a, 20b, depending on the number of machining discs. These machining discs 30 may in another embodiment be arranged with their periphery extending more or less beyond and outside the periphery of the associated carrier plate 20a, 20b, i.e. at least partly outside the plane of the carrier plates when viewed perpendicularly to the carrier plate plane, such that the discs 30 on one carrier plate 20a extend over the adjacent carrier plate or plates 20b, at least partly.

[0024] The overlapping machining areas for the machining discs 30 in an embodiment are achieved in that the carrier plates 20a, 20b are arranged side by side with their rotational axes spaced apart in parallel with a distance D being close to the diameter of each plate 20a, 20b, i.e. only a small gap G exists between the carrier plate peripheries or contours as shown in Fig. 3. The distance D is defined when dimensioning the machine and the gap G is optimized in relation to this, i.e. these parameters may be freely chosen for fulfilling the requirements of each machine and application, but should of course, within limits, be as small as possible. This arrangement, in combination with the machining disc peripheries protruding with a distance P beyond the circle contour or swept area of the two carrier plates when the plates are rotated, this distance P being bigger than the gap G, means that the discs 30 on one carrier plate, e.g. the left carrier plate 20a in Figs. 1-3 and 5, is moved in a path that lets these left discs, at least partly, sweep over the same area as the other discs on the other carrier plate, i.e. the right discs and the right carrier plate 20b in Figs. 1-3 and 5, whereby the machining area of the left discs and the right discs (see Figs. 3 and 5) overlap at an intermediate area.

[0025] The carrier plates 20a, 20b have their axes around which they rotate aligned with shafts on their electrical motors 11 shown in Fig. 1. In the shown embodiment, the plates have their axes aligned horizontally, but, in other embodiments, they may be arranged in a straight but somewhat skew alignment, i.e. one plate 20a may be placed a distance from the other plate in relation to the horizontal direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 or as seen in the direction of movement for the floor grinding machine shown as a two-directional arrow in Fig. 5.

[0026] The rotary synchronization of the two carrier plates 20a, 20b is achieved by means of a transmission 40 interconnecting the two carrier plates. The transmission comprises wheels, gears or pulleys 40a, 40b, i.e. at least one wheel, gear or pulley for each carrier plate 20a, 20b, whereby each wheel, gear or pulley is fixedly coupled to its associated carrier plate and rotatably interconnected by means of a loop 41, which loop is able to synchronize the rotation of the wheels, gears or pulleys in relation to each other such that the rotation of the carrier plates and the machining discs 30 is synchronized as explained above.

[0027] The transmission 40 may be a belt drive, a gear train or a chain drive. If the transmission is a belt drive, the belt may be a V-belt 41 or a synchronous belt 41, i.e. a toothed belt. The transmission also comprises at least one tension wheel, gear, pulley or jockey 42 for tightening the transmission, i.e. the belt or the chain such that any slack for the loop and/or skidding between the loop 41 and the wheels, gears, or pulleys 40a, 40b is eliminated or at least minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the transmission 40 comprises two tension wheels, gears, or pulleys 42 for tightening the transmission.

[0028] In this embodiment, the pulleys 40a, 40b are fixedly coupled to the carrier plates 20a, 20b by means of a key joint, a splined coupling, screw joint, force or shrinkage fit so that a rotation of one carrier plate 20a or pulley 40a also rotates the other fitted component, i.e. the other carrier plate 20b or pulley 40b.

[0029] The separate pulleys 42 are rotatably mounted on the floor grinding machine such that they may rotate with the pulleys 40a, 40b and be able to keep the tension in the loop 41.

[0030] In the embodiment with the separate motor 12 for driving the loop 41, the motor 12 is arranged in the similar way as one of the pulleys 42, i.e. the motor replaces one of these pulleys 42, and fixedly mounted on the floor grinding machine by means of known technology, e.g. by any one of the above mentioned coupling devices. Moreover, in this embodiment, the second belt transmission (not shown in this application) that drives each carrier plate 20a, 20b, as explained with reference to the machine disclosed in the patent publication WO 94/08752, is eliminated.

Claims

1. A tool (10) for machining floors, comprising at least two rotatably mounted carrier plates (20a, 20b) driven during use and arranged adjacent each other, wherein each plate (20a, 20b) in turn is adapted to carry at least one rotatably mounted machining disc (30) rotary driven during machining,
characterized in that the machining discs (30) are arranged such that their machining areas are able to overlap when the discs are driven, and
that the rotation of the two carrier plates (20a, 20b) are operatively synchronized such that the overlapping machining discs (30) are able to rotate in a non-colliding manner when machining the floor.

2. A tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rotary synchronization of the two carrier plates (20a, 20b) is achieved by means of a transmission (40) interconnecting the two carrier plates.

3. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission (40) comprises wheels (40a, 40b), at least one wheel for each carrier plate (20a, 20b), whereby each wheel is fixedly coupled to its associated carrier plate and rotatably interconnected by means of a loop (41), which loop is able to synchronize the rotation of the wheels in relation to each other such that the rotation of the carrier plates and the machining discs (30) is synchronized.

4. A tool (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the transmission (40) is a belt drive.

5. A tool (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the transmission (40) is a chain drive.

6. A tool (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the transmission (40) is a gear train.

7. A tool (10) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the transmission (40) is a V-belt drive.

8. A tool (10) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the transmission (40) is a synchronous belt drive.

9. A tool (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 87, wherein the transmission (40) comprises at least one tension wheel (42) for tightening the transmission.

10. A tool (10) according to claim 9, wherein the transmission (40) comprises two tension wheels (42) for tightening the transmission.

11. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each carrier plate (20a, 20b) is carrying at least two rotatably mounted machining discs (30) that are rotary driven during machining.

12. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each carrier plate (20a, 20b) is carrying three rotatably mounted machining discs (30) that are rotary driven during machining.

13. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each carrier plate (20a, 20b) is carrying four rotatably mounted machining discs (30) that are rotary driven during machining.

14. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least three rotatably mounted carrier plates (20a, 20b) are provided thereon.

15. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 14, wherein the transmission (40) interconnecting the two carrier plates (20a, 20b) is driven directly by at least one separate power source (12).

16. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 14, wherein the transmission (40) interconnecting the two carrier plates (20a, 20b) is driven by the carrier plates.

17. A tool (10) according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 14, wherein the transmission (40) is a third transmission interconnecting the two carrier plates (20a, 20b), which third transmission (40) is driven indirectly by one motor (11) that firstly drives the at least one machining disc (30) on each carrier plate via a first transmission, whereby the at least one machining disc in turn drives its carrier plate by means of a second transmission, such that the carrier plates drives the third transmission.

18. A machine for machining floors,
characterized in that the machine comprises at least one tool (10) in accordance with any of the claims 1-17.

Drawing