BORDER PLANING MACHINE FOR WOOD FLOORS

Abstract: A border planing machine (1) for wood floors comprising a footing (3) provided with wheels (3a) and a handle (4); a structure (5) which is hinged to the footing (3) so that it can rotate about a longitudinal axis and is adapted to support abrasive disks (10, 11) on either side with respect to the axis and to support elements (10a, 11a, 12, 13, 14) for moving the disks (10, 11) so that the disks arranged on one side rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the disks arranged on the other side; levers (20, 21) adapted to determine, following an actuation on the part of the operator, small rotations of the structure (5) with respect to the longitudinal axis in both directions.

Description: BORDER PLANING MACHINE FOR WOOD FLOORS Technical field The present invention relates to a border planing machine for wood floors. Background art It is known that planing wood floors entails a step for finishing along the walls that surround the floors; this step is performed with suitable planing machines known as border planing machines. Border planing machines are currently provided with a single abrasive disk which makes them difficult to control in steering them along the intended paths. Conventional planing machines have a very compact structure with grip handles located close to the floor for the very purpose of reducing the effort required of the user in operating the machine, but this causes the drawback of forcing the operator to assume a very uncomfortable position during work. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a border planing machine which can be guided along the intended paths without requiring any effort of the operator and allows him to work while standing and therefore in great comfort. This aim and other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a border planing machine for wood floors, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises: — a footing provided with wheels for resting on the floor and with a handle which is adapted to be gripped by an operator; - a structure which is hinged to the footing so that it can rotate about a longitudinal axis and is adapted to support abrasive disks which are evenly distributed on either side with respect to said longitudinal axis and to support means for moving said disks so that the disks arranged on one side rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the disks arranged on the other side; and ~ means adapted to determine, following an actuation on the part of the operator, small rotations of said structure with respect to said longitudinal axis in both directions. Brief description of the drawing Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated only by way of non- limitative example in the accompanying drawing, wherein the only figure is a perspective view of the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to the above figure, the reference numeral 1 designates the machine, shown working along a skirting board 2 which delimits, along one side, a floor to be planed. The machine comprises a footing 3, which is shaped like a substantially rectangular plate provided with ground resting wheels such as 3a and with a handle 4 which is monolithically connected and has such a length as to allow an operator to grip knobs 4a and 4b while remaining in an upright position. The reference numeral 5 designates a structure formed by platforms 5a and 5b, which are monolithically connected by means of a rib-reinforced extension 5c of platform 5b; the structure 5 is hinged to the footing 3 by means of rotating supports 6 and 7 associated with L-shaped elements 6a and 7a which are fixed to the footing 3 so as to allow rotation about a longitudinal axis. Platform 5a supports, in addition to the cabinet 8 for containing electrical devices, an electric motor 9, which drives abrasive disks 10 and 11, which are supported by the platform 5b on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the structure 5 by means of a kinematic chain which comprises a pulley 12, which is keyed to an output shaft 9a of the motor 9 and operates in combination with a toothed belt 13, which makes contact with the pulleys 10a, 11a which are rigidly coupled to the abrasive disks 10, 11, and with a guiding pulley 14, so as to make the disks rotate in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows in the figure. The planing machine according to the invention is provided with a device for aspirating the dust generated during work; the device comprises a suction inlet 15, which is located proximate to the floor in the region of tangency of the disks 10 and 11 and is connected to a suction impeller 16, driven by means of a belt 17a by a pulley 17 which is keyed to the shaft 9a, and conveys the dust to a bag 19 by means of a duct 18. The planing machine 1 comprises means for producing, following an actuation on the part of the operator, small rotations of the structure 5 in either direction with respect to the longitudinal pivoting axis of the structure by means of the rotating supports 6 and 7 on the footing 3. Such means comprise a terminal portion which is in contact with the structure 5 and comprises two main levers 20 and 21, which are pivoted at ends thereof 20a, 21a to the footing 3 and are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the structure 5. The main lever 20 is provided, at an intermediate position, with a stem 22, which reaches an abutment plate 23 of a spring 24 which is interposed between the plate and the platform 5a of the structure 5, and is connected, at an end 20b, to a cable 25 which reaches a secondary lever 26 located proximate to the knob 4b. Likewise, the main lever 21 is provided, at an intermediate position, with a stem 27, which reaches an abutment plate 28 of a spring 29 interposed between the plate and the platform 5a, and is connected, at the end not shown in the figure, to a cable 30 which reaches a secondary lever 31 located proximate to the knob 4a. It can be noted that the secondary levers 26 and 31 form a terminal portion which is meant to be handled by the operator of the means suitable to produce rotations of the structure 5. The described planing machine is of course provided with a suitable housing. If the operator does not actuate the secondary levers 26 and 31 in any way, the planing machine is perfectly balanced and works in place without the operator having to make efforts to retain it. If the operator wishes to move the machine along the skirting board 2 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, he merely needs to operate the secondary lever 26 in the direction of the arrow, applying to the cable 25 a traction, as shown by the arrow, which causes the upward rotation of the main lever 20. This produces an upward thrust which is applied by the spring 25 to the platform 5a, causing the rotation of the structure 5 in the direction of the arrow shown above the platform 5b, with a consequent increase in the pressure on the floor of the abrasive disk 10 and a reduction of the pressure applied by the abrasive disk 11, causing the translatory motion of the machine in the chosen direction. Obviously an actuation of the secondary lever 31 would cause the movement of the machine in the opposite direction with respect to the one indicated by the arrow, and it is evident that the movements of the machine also can be performed without requiring any effort on the part of the operator. A planing machine has thus been provided which allows very gentle handling, thus allowing optimum working conditions for the operator and an arrangement of the grip knobs at the end of the handle at such a height as to allow the operator to remain in a comfortable upright position. The described invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may also be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MN98A000041 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A border planing machine for wood floors, characterized in that it comprises: a footing provided with wheels for resting on the floor and with a handle adapted to be gripped by an operator; a structure which is hinged to the footing so that it can rotate about a longitudinal axis and is adapted to support abrasive disks which are evenly distributed on either side with respect to said longitudinal axis and to support means for moving said disks so that the disks arranged on one side rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the disks arranged on the other side; and means adapted to determine, following an actuation on the part of the operator, small rotations of said structure with respect to said longitudinal axis in both directions. 2. The planing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle has such a length that it can be gripped by the operator in an upright position. 3. The planing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure hinged to the footing comprises a first platform which is located above said footing and is adapted to support an electric motor for actuating the abrasive disks, which are supported by a second platform which is monolithically connected to the first platform and protrudes forward with respect to said footing. 4. The planing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric motor for actuating the abrasive disks, supported by a platform which lies above the footing, has an output shaft which is directed toward said footing and is provided with a pulley which mates with a toothed belt which reaches pulleys which are rigidly coupled to said abrasive disks. 5. The planing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a suction system for dust generated during work. 6. The planing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises two abrasive disks, one on each side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting structure, said disks rotating in opposite directions so that when viewed from above the disk on the right turns counterclockwise and the disk on the left turns clockwise, the dust suction system being provided with a suction inlet which is located proximate to the floor in the region of tangency of said disks and is connected to a suction impeller which is adapted to convey the aspirated dust into a containment bag which is supported on board the planing machine. 7. The planing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means adapted to determine, following an actuation on the part of the operator, small rotations of the abrasive disk supporting structure with respect to the longitudinal axis in either direction comprise elastic means which are interposed between a terminal portion meant to be managed by the operator and a terminal portion in contact with said structure. 8. The planing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the terminal portion of the means for producing small rotations of said structure in both directions about the longitudinal axis that is in contact with the abrasive disk supporting structure comprises two main levers which are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to said axis, each one of said main levers being pivoted to the footing at one end, being provided at an intermediate position with a stem connected to an abutment plate of a helical spring which is interposed between said plate and the surface of said supporting structure that faces the footing, and being connected, at the other end thereof, to a cable which reaches a secondary lever, the two secondary levers related to said two main levers being located proximate to respective grip knobs at an upper end of the handle, so as to constitute the terminal portion of said means which is meant to be handled by the operator.

Inventors: MARCHINI CLAUDIO, MIGLIARI RAFFAELE, ZANCHETTA RICCARDO, MARCHINI, CLAUDIO, MIGLIARI, RAFFAELE, ZANCHETTA, RICCARDO
Applicants: MARCHINI CLAUDIO, MIGLIARI RAFFAELE, ZANCHETTA RICCARDO, MARCHINI, CLAUDIO, MIGLIARI, RAFFAELE, ZANCHETTA, RICCARDO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B24B7
IPC codes: B24B7