Device and method for polishing or abrading products

Abstract

A device for polishing or abrading products (M), includes: a polishing element ( 1 ) provided with an operating surface ( 4 ) designed to perform a polishing or sanding movement, preferably a circular or orbital movement; motor elements ( 13 ) operatively connected to the polishing element ( 1 ) for impressing on the operating surface ( 4 ) the polishing movement; one or more air ducts ( 3 ) extending from an inlet opening ( 5 ), which communicates with a source ( 7 ) of a flow of treated air, for example dried air, gaseous nitrogen, or modified air rich in nitrogen, to one or more outlets ( 6 ) of the flow distributed in an area corresponding to the operating surface ( 4 ); and elements ( 8 ) for regulating the temperature of the flow of treated air at a value comprised between −5° C. and +20° C.

1 . A device for polishing or abrading products (M), comprising:
 a polishing element ( 1 ) provided with an operating surface ( 4 ) designed to perform a polishing or sanding movement, preferably a circular or orbital movement; and   motor means ( 13 ) operatively connected to said element ( 1 ) for impressing on the operating surface ( 4 ) said polishing movement,   wherein the device further comprises:   one or more air ducts ( 3 ) extending from an inlet opening ( 5 ), which communicates with a source ( 7 ) of a flow of treated air, for example dried air, gaseous nitrogen, or modified air rich in nitrogen, to one or more outlets ( 6 ) of said flow distributed in an area corresponding to said operating surface ( 4 ); and   means ( 8 ) for regulating the temperature of said flow of treated air at a value comprised between −5° C. and +20° C.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for regulating the pressure of said flow of treated air at a value comprised between 1 bar and 5 bar. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polishing element ( 1 ) comprises a disk provided with a polishing pad ( 12 ) permeable to said flow of treated air that can be removably applied on said operating surface ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said means ( 13 ) provided for impressing on the operating surface of said disk a circular or orbital motion comprise an electric motor ( 13 ) housed within a casing ( 14 ) provided with a manual grip ( 16 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said means ( 13 ) provided for impressing on the operating surface of said disk a circular or orbital motion comprise a pneumatic motor ( 21 ) housed within a casing ( 14 ) provided with a manual grip ( 16 ), the movement of which is supplied by a pressurized airflow. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the movement of said pneumatic motor ( 21 ) is supplied by a part of said flow of treated air. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said air ducts ( 3 ) are provided within said casing ( 14 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said operating surface ( 4 ) is able to perform a circular motion, and said outlet ( 6 ) of the flow of treated air comprises holes or outlets arranged concentrically with respect to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . A polishing apparatus comprising a device according to  claim 1 , and a unit ( 9 ) for supply of a flow of nitrogen-rich modified air produced by separation, preferably with hollow-fibre or molecular-sieve separation membranes, wherein said source ( 7 ) and said regulation means ( 8 ) are integrated in the unit ( 9 ). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said unit ( 9 ) comprises a second outlet ( 17 ) for a flow of nitrogen-rich modified air, which communicates with an air painting device ( 10 ). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , comprising an ionization unit ( 11 ) provided for charging said flow of treated air with a positive, negative, or neutral overall charge. 
     
     
         12 . A method for polishing products by means of a device comprising:
 a disk ( 1 ) provided with an operating surface ( 4 ) designed to perform a polishing movement, for example a circular or orbital movement; and   means ( 13 ) operatively connected to said disk for impressing on the operating surface ( 4 ) a polishing or sanding motion, for example a circular or orbital motion,   wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 driving said operating surface ( 4 ) in rotation; 
   sending on said operating surface ( 4 ) a flow of treated air, for example nitrogen or modified air rich in nitrogen at a regulated temperature; and   setting at least one portion of said rotating operating surface ( 4 ) in contact with a painted surface ( 15 ) of a product (M).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said products (M) are painted products. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , comprising an ionization unit ( 11 ) provided for charging said flow of treated air with a positive, negative, or neutral overall charge.