Belt grinder

Abstract

A belt grinder includes a drive motor with a main drive wheel and a return wheel, over which a grinding belt passes. The turn around wheel has an external diameter in line with the outer diameter of the main drive wheel so that the belt tracks along a straight-line section between the two wheels.

1 . A belt grinder including a connector with a latch arranged to effect a 3-dimensional on a cartridge carrying a return roller of the grinder. 
     
     
         2 . The belt grinder of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a cradle for receiving and locking the cartridge in place and wherein the cartridge is defined by side members arranged either side of the roller and a cross piece for mounting the cartridge in the cradle. 
     
     
         3 . The belt grinder of  claim 2 , wherein the cradle includes laterally spaced contact surfaces to engage with the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The belt grinder of  claim 3 , wherein the cradle has a carved profile to fit the crosspiece. 
     
     
         5 . The belt grinder of  claim 4 , wherein the profile is formed as a part-cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The belt grinder of  claim 3 , wherein the connector includes a jaw against which the piece abuts in the locked position. 
     
     
         7 . The belt grinder of  claim 6 , wherein the latch is spring biased and serves to lock the cartridge against pitch, yaw and roll movement relative to the arm. 
     
     
         8 . The belt grinder of  claim 7 , wherein the crosspiece of the cartridge is rotated into connection with the cradle so as to wipe the contact surfaces clear of contaminants prior to locking the cartridge in place. 
     
     
         9 . The belt grinder of  claim 8 , wherein the side members are arranged to project beyond the crosspiece to register against end sections of the cradle and inhibit any lateral movement of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The belt grinder of  claim 9 , wherein the cartridge is adapted to be loaded into the cradle with one hand and snap locked in place. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge for a belt grinder including two side members supporting a roller and a crosspiece with a part-cylinder shaped profile arranged for receipt in a cradle with a corresponding profile. 
     
     
         12 . A method of loading the cartridge of  claim 11  into a cradle including rotating the cartridge into a locked position and snap latching the cartridge in place so as to provide a 3-dimensional lock between the cartridge and the cradle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , including wiping contact surfaces of the cradle with the crosspiece as the cartridge in rotated into the cradle, in order to remove contaminants. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including engaging end sections of the cradle with the side members in order to prevent lateral movement of the cartridge in the cradle.