Endless abrasive belt dispenser

Abstract

An endless abrasive belt dispenser (212) is disclosed and has a housing (222), a retaining element (224) and an actuating element (226). The housing (222) is configured to receive a plurality of endless abrasive belts (14) therein with the plurality of endless abrasive belts arranged as a stack. The retaining element (224) is moveable relative to a wall (230) of the housing (222) and is configured to hold the stack within the housing such that a first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack selectively contacts the first wall (230) and is generally aligned with an opening (216) of the housing. The actuating element (226) is moveable relative to the first wall (230) and retaining element (224) and is configured to selectively contact and move the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts (14) relative to the first wall (230) and to the opening (216).

1 . An endless abrasive belt dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to receive a plurality of endless abrasive belts therein with the plurality of endless abrasive belts arranged as a stack with when so received, wherein the housing has a first wall and an opening adjacent the first wall;   a retaining element positioned opposite the first wall within the housing and moveable relative thereto, wherein the retaining element is configured to hold the stack within the housing such that a first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack selectively contacts the first wall and is generally aligned with the opening; and   an actuating element moveable relative to the first wall and retaining element, wherein the actuating element is configured to selectively contact and move the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack relative to the first wall and move the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts to the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The endless abrasive belt dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating element moves the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack with a rolling linear movement relative to a second of the of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack. 
     
     
         3 . The endless abrasive belt dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element comprises a spring and follower, wherein the follower has a platform configured to hold the stack by applying a pressure at a middle portion thereof, and wherein the platform is configured such that the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack have first end portions and second end portions free of the pressure applied by the platform such that the first end portions and second end portions have a radii of curvature. 
     
     
         4 . The endless abrasive belt dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the housing are removable to facilitate at least one of loading of the plurality of endless abrasive belts to form the stack, holding the stack with the retaining element and contacting of the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack with the actuating element. 
     
     
         5 . The endless abrasive belt dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first wall of the housing that contacts the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts is formed of a relatively smoother material than a surface of the actuating element that contacts the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts, and wherein the surface of the actuating element is formed of a relatively more textured and compliant material than the surface of the first wall. 
     
     
         6 . The endless abrasive belt dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element and housing are configured such that the plurality of endless abrasive belts are retained in the stack due to friction therebetween and pressure between the first wall and the retaining element, and wherein the plurality of endless abrasive belts are untethered relative to one another in the stack. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of endless abrasive belts;   a housing configured to receive the plurality of endless abrasive belts therein with the plurality of endless abrasive belts arranged as a stack when so received, wherein the housing has a first wall and an opening adjacent the first wall;   a retaining element configured to be positioned in the housing opposite the first wall and moveable relative thereto, wherein the retaining element is configured to hold the stack within the housing such that a first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack selectively contacts the first wall and is generally aligned with the opening; and   an actuating element configured to move relative to the first wall and retaining element, wherein the actuating element is configured to selectively contact and move the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack to the opening such that the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts at least partially protrudes from the housing through the opening.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a member configured to insert through an interior loop portion of the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts, wherein the member is moveable to draw the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts fully from the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a robotic device configured to manipulate the member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining element is configured such that upon withdraw of the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts fully from the opening the retaining element displaces the stack toward the first wall and actuating element so as to position a second of the plurality of endless abrasive belts aligned with the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the actuating element is configured to move the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack with a rolling linear movement relative to a second of the of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the retaining element comprises a spring and follower configured to bias the stack towards the first wall such that the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts generally aligns with the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein one or more portions of the housing are removable to facilitate at least one of loading of the plurality of endless abrasive belts to form the stack, holding the stack with the retaining element and contacting of the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack with the actuating element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a surface of the first wall of the housing that contacts the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts is formed of a relatively smoother material than a surface of the actuating element that contacts the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts, and wherein the surface of the actuating element is formed of a relatively more textured and compliant material than the surface of the first wall. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the retaining element and housing are configured such that the plurality of endless abrasive belts are retained in the stack due to friction therebetween and pressure between the first wall and the retaining element, and wherein the plurality of endless abrasive belts are untethered relative to one another in the stack. 
     
     
         16 . A method of dispensing at least a first endless abrasive belt from a dispenser comprising:
 inserting a plurality of endless abrasive belts including the at least the first endless abrasive belt within a housing of the dispenser so the plurality of endless abrasive belts comprise a stack therein, wherein inserting includes displacing a retaining element relative to a first wall of the housing;   moving the at least the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts to an opening of the housing adjacent the first wall, the moving comprising a linear rolling movement of the at least the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts; and   removing the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts from the housing via the opening.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising biasing the stack with the retaining element towards the first wall such that the second of the plurality of endless abrasive belts generally aligns with the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing one or more portions of the housing to facilitate at least one of inserting the plurality of endless abrasive belts, holding the stack with the retaining element and moving the at least the first of the plurality of endless abrasive belts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising retaining the stack within the housing by applying a pressure with the retaining element and the first wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein retaining the stack with the retaining element applies the pressure at a middle portion thereof, and wherein the retaining element is configured such that the plurality of endless abrasive belts of the stack have first end portions and second end portions free of the pressure applied by the retaining element such that the first end portions and second end portions have radii of curvature. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)