Grading system and method for abrasive article

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 by detecting whether an abrading article installed on an abrading machine is an appropriate grade, comprising: 
 a sensor that is aimed toward the abrading article installed on the abrading machine and that receives a reflection from a characteristic on a first side of the abrading article to produce an input signal value that varies depending upon whether the characteristic indicates that the abrading article is the appropriate grade, 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 exclusively by a result of the comparison; and    a controller that maintains the abrading machine in an active or inactive state and that maintains an alert in an active or inactive state, wherein the alert is indicative of the abrading article not being the appropriate grade, wherein the controller receives the output signal and activates the abrading machine from an inactive state while maintaining the alert in the inactive state based exclusively on the output signal value indicating that the abrading article is the appropriate grade, and wherein the controller activates the alert from the inactive state while maintaining the abrading machine in the inactive state based exclusively on the output signal value indicating that the abrading article is not the appropriate grade.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the abrading article is the appropriate grade 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 abrading article is not the appropriate grade 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  41 , further comprising: 
 a source area from which the abrading article is unwound; and    a collection area to which the abrading article is rewound.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic is color.  
   
   
       10 . A method for controlling an abrading operation by detecting whether an abrading article installed on an abrading machine is an appropriate grade, 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 a characteristic of the first side;    comparing the input signal value to a reference signal value, exclusively, to determine whether the abrading article is the appropriate grade;    when it is determined that the abrading article is the appropriate grade, then maintaining an alert that is indicative of the abrading article not being the appropriate grade in an inactive state while activating the abrading machine from an inactive state; and    when it is determined that the abrading article is not the appropriate grade, then maintaining the abrading machine in the inactive state while activating the alert from the inactive state.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein comparing the input signal value to the reference signal value results in an output signal value that indicates whether the abrading article is the appropriate grade.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the abrading article is the appropriate grade 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 11 , wherein the output signal value is binary and indicates that the abrading article is not the appropriate grade 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.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the abrading article is an abrasive article comprising a plurality of abrasive particles adhered to a film backing.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the abrading article comprises index marks on a side of the abrading article.