Belt sander

Abstract

A belt sander includes a handle and a main housing having a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall opposite the first lateral sidewall, and a front end perpendicular to the first lateral sidewall. The belt sander further includes a drive unit disposed within the main housing between the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall, and a belt drive system driven by the drive unit. The belt sander further includes a first light disposed on the first lateral sidewall and a first lens for projecting light onto a first area of the workpiece that runs alongside the first lateral sidewall. The belt sander further includes a second light disposed on the front end and a second lens for projecting light onto a second area of the workpiece that is adjacent the driven wheel.

1 . A belt sander for sanding a workpiece, the belt sander comprising:
 a handle;   a main housing having a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall opposite the first lateral sidewall, and a front end being perpendicular to the first lateral sidewall;   a drive unit disposed within the main housing between the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall;   a belt drive system driven by the drive unit, the belt drive system has a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a sanding belt for engaging the workpiece;   a first light disposed on the first lateral sidewall and a first lens for projecting light onto a first area of the workpiece that runs alongside the first lateral sidewall; and   a second light disposed on the front end and a second lens for projecting light onto a second area of the workpiece that is adjacent the driven wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for selectively supplying electrical power to the drive unit, wherein the battery is received in the main housing adjacent a rear end of the main housing that is opposite the front end. 
     
     
         3 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the second light projects light onto a workpiece adjacent the front end of the main housing. 
     
     
         4 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the second lens diffuses light with an acute angle of incidence relative to the workpiece onto a third area of the workpiece in front of the belt sander to reveal deformities in the workpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the second light is disposed on a lower portion of the front end, such that the second lens diffuses light with an acute angle of incidence relative to the workpiece onto a third area of the workpiece, creating shadows on a workpiece where deformities may exist in front of the front end. 
     
     
         6 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the first area and the second area at least partially overlap, creating a continuous illuminated region around the first lateral side wall and the front end. 
     
     
         7 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the first lens and the second lens are both convex lenses, such that light emitted through the first lens and the second lens diverges outward. 
     
     
         8 . The belt sander of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit defines a drive axis, the drive wheel defines a drive wheel axis, and the driven wheel defines a driven wheel axis, and wherein the drive axis, the drive wheel axis, and the driven wheel axis are all parallel to each other. 
     
     
         9 . A belt sander for sanding a workpiece, the belt sander comprising:
 a main housing;   a handle extending from the main housing;   a drive unit disposed within the main housing;   a battery for selectively supplying electrical power to the drive unit;   a belt drive system driven by the drive unit, the belt drive system including
 a drive wheel, 
 a driven wheel driven by the drive wheel via a sanding belt, and 
 a platen for pressing the sanding belt against a workpiece while the sanding belt is rotated about the drive wheel and the driven wheel, creating dust and debris from the workpiece; 
   a dust extraction unit driven by the drive unit for transporting dust and debris away from the workpiece; and   a dust bag positioned downstream of the dust extraction unit to receive dust and debris therefrom, the dust bag having a rectangular shape,   wherein the dust bag includes a zipper extending along first and second edges of the dust bag.   
     
     
         10 . The belt sander of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second edges are adjacent one other. 
     
     
         11 . The belt sander of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second edges are disposed oppositely from a conduit inlet of the dust bag. 
     
     
         12 . The belt sander of  claim 11 , wherein the conduit inlet enters the dust bag along a third edge, and wherein the conduit inlet at least partially supports a fourth edge of the dust bag to avoid the dust bag from collapsing under gravity and to maintain the rectangular shape of the dust bag. 
     
     
         13 . The belt sander of  claim 9 , wherein the dust bag further includes a flap that is disposed behind the zipper on an interior of the dust bag to inhibit dust and debris within the dust bag from escaping through the zipper. 
     
     
         14 . The belt sander of  claim 13 , wherein a length of the flap is longer than a length of the zipper, and wherein a width of the flap is wider than a width of the zipper. 
     
     
         15 . The belt sander of  claim 9 , wherein the dust bag is removably coupled to the dust extraction unit. 
     
     
         16 . The belt sander of  claim 9 , wherein the dust extraction unit includes an inlet proximate the belt drive system, a shroud in fluid communication with the inlet, a fan disposed within the shroud for creating a low-pressure region adjacent the inlet, and an outlet that selectively receives the dust bag. 
     
     
         17 . The belt sander of  claim 16 , wherein the fan is driven by the drive unit via a pulley system coupled to a drive shaft, and wherein the fan creates the low-pressure region adjacent the platen for transporting dust and debris away from the workpiece. 
     
     
         18 . The belt sander of  claim 16 , wherein the dust bag includes a quick-disconnect mechanism having a latch that is moveable between a locked position, in which the latch mechanically interferes with an annular shoulder of the outlet to inhibit removal of the dust bag from the outlet, and an unlocked position, in which the latch is spaced away from the annular shoulder to permit removal of the dust bag from the outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The belt sander of  claim 18 , wherein the latch is biased towards the locked position. 
     
     
         20 . The belt sander of  claim 18 , wherein the quick-disconnect mechanism is disposed on a conduit inlet of the dust bag. 
     
     
         21 .- 79 . (canceled)