Patent ID: 6102781
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A surfacing machine for treating workpieces, comprising:a frame;conveyor means having a surface for supporting and advancing said workpieces;at least one workpiece finishing means having a surface opposed to the surface of said conveyor means and being coupled to said frame;at least one working station being defined by the opposed surfaces of said at least one workpiece finishing means and said conveyor means;said workpieces having a first and second surface, said first surface of said workpieces being in contact with and opposed to said surface of at least one workpiece finishing means, said second surface of said workpieces being in contact with and opposed to said surface of said conveyor means;said at least one workpiece finishing means treating and finishing said first surface of said workpieces advanced therepast, and including means for contacting said first surface of said workpiece;pressure shoe means pivotally coupled to said frame proximate each said working station for applying downward pressure to said workpieces as they pass upon said conveyor means through said working station;adjustable stop limit means and a retracting spring means coupled to said frame for limiting a rocking movement of said pressure shoe means relative to said workpiece;first control means coupled to said stop limit means for selectively altering a position of said adjustable stop limit means such that said pressure shoe means can be selectively setup to accommodate a particular said workpiece;second control means including:(i) a data storage memory having means for receiving and retaining data representing workpiece dimensions, workpiece configuration, workpiece properties, and acceptable operating parameters experienced by said workpiece finishing means while workpieces having such dimensions, configurations and properties are being treated within said at least one work station; and(ii) means for simultaneously selectively and adjustably controlling the operating parameters of a motion and a vertical position of said workpiece finishing means so as to enable the workpiece finishing means contacting the workpiece to perform within acceptable operating parameters, to adjust during the treatment of workpieces to at least one of the workpieces dimensions, configurations and properties as received and retained by the data storage memory, and to assure constant forward motion of the workpiece through each working station of said surfacing machine following initial contact of each workpiece with said pressure shoe.