3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Allen J Rivard

Galen A Fitzel

Chris A Minick

Robert H Heil

Frederic A Longworth

John G Petersen

James O Kubokawa

David R Dow

The present disclosure is directed to method, apparatus, and system for uniformly supporting flexible surface modifying articles during surface modification as well as enabling replacing and repositioning thereof for improving their useful service life as well as improving dust and debris control management.

Method, system, and apparatus for modifying surfaces

The disclosure is directed to conversion assemblages adapted for use in converting a surface modifying apparatus, such as a pole sander, whereby the conversion assemblage includes a generally rigid body assembly including first and second major surfaces opposing each other, the first major surface is adapted for receiving the supporting member, and the second major surface is attachable to a surface modifying member.

Conversion assemblage adaptable for use in combination with a surface modifying apparatus and method thereof

A surface modifying apparatus, system, article, and method are disclosed for modifying a surface by surface modification, whereby inserts of surface modifying elements are quickly and easily replaceable on a carrier assembly therefor without being damaged during use.

Surface modifying tool adapter using a plurality of surface modifying article inserts for use in a surface modifying system

A reversibly expandable filter element includes pleated filter media and a flexible spacing structure attached to the pleated media that provides the pleated media with uniform pleat spacing.

Collapsible pleated filter element

An abrasive article is formed from a lofty nonwoven abrasive pad and one or more abrasive sheets. In one embodiment, each sheet has an abrasive layer on its front side and a plurality of engagement stems on its back side. Enough of the engagement stems engage fibers on the surface of the nonwoven pad to affix the two components together for workpiece surface treatment. In another embodiment, the nonwoven pad has a slit therein, and each abrasive sheet has a portion thereof inserted into its respective slit to anchor the sheet to the pad. In this embodiment, each sheet has an abrasive layer on its front side but may have no stems on its back side. In either embodiment, the sheets are readily replaceable on the nonwoven pad, thus creating a very simple and versatile arrangement for varying the abrasive characteristics presented to the workpiece.

Multiple abrasive assembly and method

A portable device for guiding a length of pressure sensitive adhesive coated tape partially onto the outer wrap of a roll of masking material adjacent one of its edges to provide a composite masking sheet for use in masking surfaces comprising a length of the sheet material having the tape adhered along and extending widthwise past one edge by which the composite masking sheet can be adhered to a surface. The outer edge of the tape is not guided by the device, and a tendency that otherwise exists for the tape being adhered along the edge portion of the roll of masking material to move transversely away from the masking material so that less and less of the tape is adhered to the masking material is restricted by a tracking member mounted on a frame of the device between a hub supporting a roll of the tape and the roll of masking material. The tracking member engages the rear surface of the tape along its edge that overlaps the masking material for less than the full width of the tape and deflects the tape toward a plane through the axes of the rolls of tape and masking material from a plane which is mutually tangent to the peripheries of the rolls of tape and masking material.

Masking device with tape tracking member

A pin extending along an axis which is mutually parallel to the axis of rotation of a roll of tape and the axis of rotation of a roll of masking sheet in a masking machine deflects tape inboard from the normal tangential path between rolls whereby the tape is coursed into overlapping engagement while the edge of the roll of masking sheet material. An auxiliary roll of tape is rotatably carried by a subframe which is slidably engagable with a slot formed in the frame of a masking machine. The subframe, which is removable, is automatically retained by a manually releasable detent.

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Allen J Rivard