Cleaning the sanding belt by blowing it off with an air knife

Abstract

A process for cleaning an abrasive belt using an air blade extending continuously over the entire working width, or several segmented air blades, as well as a device which encloses this air blade or these air blades having an extraction hood serving to guide away the dust-laden air. If this device is used for a belt grinding machine equipped with a workpiece vacuum device, the air supply requirements are optimised by use of a diverter to reduce the number of fans.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A process for blowing off an abrasive belt for the purpose of cleaning it during the abrasion process, wherein a stream of air acting on the abrasive belt is generated by an air blade. 
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein several air blades arranged over the width of the abrasive belt, and operationally controlled if required, are used. 
     
     
         12 . An air blade for blowing off an abrasive belt, wherein it has an extraction hood having one or more openings and a discharge pipe for recirculation of grinding dust-laden air from the grinding machine interior enclosing the air blade. 
     
     
         13 . An air blade for blowing off an abrasive belt, wherein air supply of the air blade occurs multilaterally. 
     
     
         14 . An air blade for blowing off an abrasive belt, wherein it is part of a grinding unit having a workpiece vacuum clamping device, and it draws air entering the grinding unit across the perforations of the feed table and of the conveyor belt of this vacuum clamping device. 
     
     
         15 . An air blade as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein deflectors in the air chamber of the air blade optimize uniform escape of air from the air chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A process, wherein an air blade as claimed in  claim 14  regulates an air supply by way of a valve or switch. 
     
     
         17 . A process for blowing off an abrasive belt by means of an air blade which is part of a grinding unit having a vacuum device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the air blade fitted with an extraction hood having one or more openings and one or more exhaust pipes for circulating the dust-laden air draws the incoming air from this vacuum device via a vacuum fan and an air supply pipe. 
     
     
         18 . An air blade as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein deflectors in an air chamber of the air blade optimize uniform escape of air from an air chamber of this air blade.