3m Innovative Properties Company

Douglas C Hunt

Robert A Follensbee

Stephen J Yoos

Gary L Heacox

Ann M Hawkins

Ross A Brown

An apparatus and method for forming an endless spiral wound abrasive article and the resulting article. The apparatus includes first and second spaced-apart hubs, configured so that a portion of first and second webs passing between the first hub and the second hub is oriented substantially in a plane which remains stationery even if a position of a hub is changed. The apparatus further includes winders and a web joiner. The method includes providing a second web which includes an adhesive disposed on a first surface and a liner releasably affixed to the adhesive. The method includes removing the liner from the second web before positioning the second web adjacent the first web. The first and second webs are wound about the first and second hubs to form a spiral wound article having a desired circumference.

Apparatus and method for forming a spiral wound abrasive article, and the resulting article

A spiral wound abrasive belt is formed from an abrasive media including a plurality of webs. The webs of the abrasive media may include coated abrasives joined by splicing media or other suitable joining material. Alternatively, the webs may include individual single or multiple layers that form a coated abrasive simultaneously along with the spiral belt without the use of additional joining material. A method of forming the spiral belt includes draping the abrasive media over a fixed hub at an angle to form the spiral belt while abutting the edges of the outermost web and overlapping the outermost web and adjacent web or webs. Heat and pressure may be applied to the joined edges to form a strong bond along the spiral seam. Another method includes introducing the webs forming the abrasive media at an angle and draping the webs over a fixed hub. The abrasive media may then be passed around an adjustable hub that provides tension in the spiral belt while allowing for different circumferentially sized belts. Continuous feeding of the input abrasive media or webs will result in a spiral belt of ever increasing width that may subsequently be slit to a desired width.

Growing community of inventors

Miltona, MN, United States of America

Douglas C Hunt