Patent ID: 7384437

Claim:
An apparatus for making a flexible abrasive product comprising: a. a frame for supporting and dispensing a flexible backing having a first surface and an opposite second surface with the first surface deployed in a substantially horizontal deployment; b. a primer dispensing system for depositing curable primer material over the first surface of the backing; c. a primer curing system for at least partially curing the curable primer material to provide a primer coating on the first surface of the backing; d. a dispensing apparatus for receiving a mixture of particulate curable binder material and abrasive particles and depositing a plurality of temporary shaped structures comprising the mixture of particulate curable binder material and abrasive particles on the at least partially cured primer coating of the first surface of the backing; e. a particulate binder softening system for softening the particulate curable binder so that it will adhere adjacent abrasive particles; f. an embossing apparatus for embossing the softened particulate curable binder mixture to modify the distal surfaces of the structures to provide a pattern of raised areas and depressed areas; g. a particulate binder curing system for curing the particulate curable binder material and for curing the at least partially cured primer coating to convert said temporary shaped structures into permanent shaped structures adhered to the cured primer coating on the first surface of the backing; h. an optional dispensing apparatus for receiving and dispensing an additional coating at least partially over said permanent shaped structures; i. an optional curing system to cure any optional coating; and j. an optional flexing apparatus for flexing the backing bearing the cured permanent separated shaped structures.