Grinding or polishing arrangement

Abstract

A grinding or polishing machine or device having a grinding or polishing disc for grinding or polishing a work piece for the condition of the work piece placed against the lower surface of the grinding or polishing disc. The grinding or polishing disc has a plurality of slots extending therethrough to allow visual inspection of the work piece during the grinding or. polishing operation.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . An improved grinding or polishing machine, comprising, in combination: 
 a. a base member;    b. a housing having walls defining a cavity and having a bottom portion coupled to said base member, and a top portion;    c. a rotary motion producing means positioned in said cavity of said housing;    d. an output shaft coupled to said rotary motion producing means for rotation thereby in a predetermined direction;    e. a top plate coupled to said top portion of said housing in a substantially dust or particulate matter sealing relationship therefore, and said output shaft extending through said top plate to regions external said cavity and having a remote end spaced a predetermined distance from said top plate;    f. a grinding or polishing disc coupled to said output shaft at said remote end thereof for rotation therewith, and said grinding or polishing disc having an upper surface, a generally circular peripheral edge, a lower surface adapted to grind or polish the surface of a work piece, and having walls defining a multiplicity of slots extending through said grinding or polishing disc from said upper surface to said lower surface, the multiplicity of slots comprising four radially extending slots placed approximately ninety degrees apart and extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc and four generally arcuate extending slots spaced approximately ninety degrees apart and extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc, the radially extending slots and the arcuate slots respectively positioned so that an arcuate slot is intermediate between two radially extending slots and a radially extending slot is intermediate between two arcuate slots;    g. a duct or hood coupled to said top portion of said housing and extending a predetermined distance therefrom to regions beyond said grinding or polishing disc, and said duct or hood having first walls defining an opening therethrough to provide access for positioning the work piece to engage said lower surface of said grinding or polishing disc, and second walls defining an aperture through said walls of said duct or hood, and said aperture positioned in dust or particulate matter receiving relationship to said grinding or polishing disc for the condition of a work piece being ground or polished; and    h. an exhaust passage connected to said duct or hood at said aperture for receiving dust or particulate matter conducting said dust or particulate matter to remote regions;    i. whereby the multiplicity of radial slots combined with the multiplicity of arcuate slots in the disc provides significantly greater viewing of the work piece during the grinding or polishing operation.    
   
   
       25 . The arrangement defined in  claim 24  wherein: said output shaft is oriented to rotate about an axis and said axis makes a predetermined angle with said base member.  
   
   
       26 . The arrangement defined in  claim 25  wherein: said predetermined angle is other than perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       27 . The arrangement defined in  claim 25  wherein: said predetermined angle is perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       28 . The arrangement defined in  claim 24  wherein said disc further comprises: 
 a. an upper surface having a generally planar portion surrounding a central aperture through which the shaft passes and allows the disc to be coupled thereto for rotation; and    b. the upper surface further comprising a tapered portion which extends from the planar portion to the peripheral edge.    
   
   
       29 . The arrangement defined in  claim 24  wherein the peripheral edge of the disc has a predetermined axial extent so that there is sufficient structural integrity of the disc at the peripheral edge to withstand the forces involved in the grinding or polishing operation.  
   
   
       30 . An improved grinding or polishing machine, comprising, in combination: 
 a. a base member;    b. a housing having walls defining a cavity and having a bottom portion coupled to said base member, and a top portion;    c. a rotary motion producing means positioned in said cavity of said housing;    d. an output shaft coupled to said rotary motion producing means at one end and having a remote end therefrom, the output shaft coupled to said rotary motion producing means for rotation thereby in a predetermined direction;    e. a grinding or polishing disc coupled to said output shaft at said remote end thereof for rotation therewith, and said grinding or polishing disc having an upper surface, a generally circular peripheral edge, a lower surface adapted to grind or polish the surface of a work piece, and having walls defining a multiplicity of slots extending through said grinding or polishing disc from said upper surface to said lower surface, the multiplicity of slots comprising four radially extending slots placed approximately ninety degrees apart and extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc and four generally arcuate extending slots spaced approximately ninety degrees apart and extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc, the radially extending slots and the arcuate slots respectively positioned so that an arcuate slot is intermediate between two radially extending slots and a radially extending slot is intermediate between two arcuate slots; and    f. means to provide access for positioning the work piece to engage said lower surface of said grinding or polishing disc and means to receive dust or particulate matter generated from grinding or polishing the work piece and means to conduct said dust or particulate matter to remote locations;    g. whereby the multiplicity of radial slots combined with the multiplicity of arcuate slots in the disc provides significantly greater viewing of the work piece during the grinding or polishing operation.    
   
   
       31 . The arrangement defined in  claim 30  wherein said output shaft is oriented to rotate about an axis and said axis makes a predetermined angle with said base member.  
   
   
       32 . The arrangement defined in  claim 31  wherein said predetermined angle is other than perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       33 . The arrangement defined in  claim 31  wherein said predetermined angle is perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       34 . The arrangement defined in  claim 30  wherein said disc further comprises: 
 a. an upper surface having a generally planar portion surrounding a central aperture through which the shaft passes and allows the disc to be coupled thereto for rotation; and    b. the upper surface further comprising a tapered portion which extends from the planar portion to the peripheral edge.    
   
   
       35 . The arrangement defined in  claim 30  wherein the peripheral edge of the disc has a predetermined axial extent so that there is sufficient structural integrity of the disc at the peripheral edge to withstand the forces involved in the grinding or polishing operation.  
   
   
       36 . An improved grinding or polishing machine, comprising, in combination: 
 a. a housing having walls defining a cavity;    b. a rotary motion producing means positioned in said cavity of said housing;    c. an output shaft coupled to said rotary motion producing means at one end and having a remote end therefrom, the output shaft coupled to said rotary motion producing means for rotation thereby in a predetermined direction;    e. a grinding or polishing disc coupled to said output shaft at said remote end thereof for rotation therewith, and said grinding or polishing disc having an upper surface, a generally circular peripheral edge, a lower surface adapted to grind or polish the surface of a work piece, and having walls defining a multiplicity of slots extending through said grinding or polishing disc from said upper surface to said lower surface, the multiplicity of slots comprising at least two spaced apart radially extending slots extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc and at least two spaced apart generally arcuate extending slots extending from the generally circular edge toward the center of the disc, the radially extending slots and the arcuate slots respectively positioned so that an arcuate slot is intermediate between two radially extending slots and a radially extending slot is intermediate between two arcuate slots; and    f. means to provide access for positioning the work piece to engage said lower surface of said grinding or polishing disc and means to receive dust or particulate matter generated from grinding or polishing the work piece and means to conduct said dust or particulate matter to remote locations;    g. whereby the multiplicity of radial slots combined with the multiplicity of arcuate slots in the disc provides significantly greater viewing of the work piece during the grinding or polishing operation.    
   
   
       37 . The arrangement defined in  claim 36  wherein said output shaft is oriented to rotate about an axis and said axis makes a predetermined angle with said base member.  
   
   
       38 . The arrangement defined in  claim 37  wherein said predetermined angle is other than perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       39 . The arrangement defined in  claim 37  wherein said predetermined angle is perpendicular to said base member.  
   
   
       40 . The arrangement defined in  claim 36  wherein said disc further comprises: 
 a. an upper surface having a generally planar portion surrounding a central aperture through which the shaft passes and allows the disc to be coupled thereto for rotation; and    b. the upper surface further comprising a tapered portion which extends from the planar portion to the peripheral edge.    
   
   
       41 . The arrangement defined in  claim 36  wherein the peripheral edge of the disc has a predetermined axial extent so that there is sufficient structural integrity of the disc at the peripheral edge to withstand the forces involved in the grinding or polishing operation.