Abrasive article splicing system and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods control abrading operations of an abrading machine by sensing characteristics of an abrading article installed on the abrading machine. When a problem is discovered by sensing the article, appropriate actions may be taken. As one example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether the abrading article has been installed with an abrasive side facing the wrong direction. An alert allows an operator to reinstall the article. As another example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether splicing tape is present to hold two pieces of abrading tape together. The article may be advanced until the splicing tape is beyond an abrading zone. As another example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether the abrading article has stopped moving while the article drive is advancing because the article has broken. An alert allows an operator to repair the break. As yet another example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether it is the appropriate grade. An alert allows the article grade to be corrected.

1 . A system for controlling an abrading operation upon splicing a new roll of abrading article into an existing roll that is installed on an abrading machine having an abrading zone, comprising: 
 a sensor that is aimed toward the abrading article installed on the abrading machine and that receives a reflection from a first side of the abrading article to produce an input signal value that varies depending upon whether the first side has splicing tape applied, the sensor comprising logic that analyzes the input signal value in relation to a reference signal value and that produces an output signal having a value determined by a result of the comparison; and    a controller that adjusts the position of the abrading article within the abrading machine, wherein the controller receives the output signal and initiates abrading when the output signal value indicates no splicing tape is present, and wherein the controller adjusts the position of the abrading article by an amount large enough to move the splicing tape past the abrading zone when the output signal value indicates that splicing tape is present.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that no splicing tape is present when the input signal value is substantially equal to the reference signal value.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the splicing tape is present when the input signal value is substantially equal to the reference signal value.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the abrading article is an abrasive article comprising a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to a film backing.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the abrading article comprises index marks on a side of the abrading article.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a workpiece having an outer surface, and wherein the abrading article abrades the outer surface of the workpiece.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the workpiece is an engine component.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a source area from which the abrading article is unwound; and    a collection area to which the abrading article is rewound.    
   
   
       9 . A method for controlling an abrading operation upon splicing a new roll of abrading article into an existing toll installed in an abrading machine having an abrading zone, comprising: 
 sensing a reflection from a first side of an abrading article installed on an abrading machine to produce an input signal value that varies depending upon whether splicing tape is present;    comparing the input signal value to a reference signal value to determine whether the splicing tape is present;    when it is determined that the splicing tape is not present, then initiating abrading; and    when it is determined that the splicing tape is present, then moving the abrading article by an amount large enough to move the splicing tape past the abrading zone.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein comparing the input signal value to the reference signal value results in an output signal value that indicates whether the splicing tape is present.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the splicing tape is not present when comparing the input signal value to the reference signal value results in the input signal value being substantially equal to the reference signal value.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the splicing tape is present when comparing the input signal value to the reference signal value results in the input signal value being substantially equal to the reference signal value.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the abrading article is an abrasive article comprising a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to a film backing.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the abrading article comprises index marks on a side of the abrading article.  
   
   
       15 . A system for controlling an abrading operation upon splicing a new roll of abrading article into an existing roll that is installed on an abrading machine having an abrading zone, comprising: 
 a sensor that is aimed toward the abrading article installed on the abrading machine and that receives a reflection from a first side of the abrading article to produce an input signal value that varies depending upon whether the first side has splicing tape applied, the sensor comprising logic that analyzes the input signal value in relation to a reference signal value and that produces an output signal having a value determined by a result of the comparison; and    a controller that adjusts the position of the abrading article within the abrading machine, wherein the controller receives the output signal and initiates abrading when the output signal value indicates no splicing tape is present, and wherein the controller activates an alarm when the output signal value indicates that splicing tape is present.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor produces an input signal value that varies depending upon whether the first side has splicing tape applied based on the splicing tape producing a greater intensity of reflection to drive the sensor closer to saturation.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein sensing a reflection from a first side of an abrading article installed on an abrading machine to produce an input signal value that varies depending upon whether splicing tape is present comprises sensing whether the first side has splicing tape applied based on the splicing tape producing a greater intensity of reflection to drive the sensor closer to saturation.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor produces an input signal value that varies depending upon whether the first side has splicing tape applied based on the splicing tape producing a greater intensity of reflection to drive the sensor closer to saturation.