Cleaning, washing and drying box for abrasive or cleaning or polishing pads, sponges, discs, sheets and similar materials.

5

This invention concerns a cleaning and drying chamber for polishing pads, discs, sponges, sheets and other parts of equipment used in the cleaning, polishing, smoothing or shaping of building materials, furniture-car-floor-metal parts surfaces, etc. The above mentioned objects are used in handheld power/air tools like sanders andQ- polishers or -in· wheeled· machines like- floor scrubbers, sweepers and also in fixe machines used for processing building or metal materials.

Henceforth for the sake of brevity, the polishing pads, discs, sponges, sheets and ail other tools used for the polishing, smoothing, cleaning and processing of various surfaces and materials, will be referred to as "polishing pads". The term "portable5 power/air tool" will be used to refer to the small light handheld power or air tool holding the "polishing pads" that are to be maintained.

Up until now users have to wash "polishing pads" in containers of water or under taps in order to clean them. This results in the 100% wetting of the "polishing pads" making them unfit for use until dry. This total moistening also affects the glue keeping the foam0 of "pofishlhg pads" and ^' its underlay (usually VeTcroJ Together, which adheres to the face of the backing pad of the "portable power/air tool", thus reducing its life span. It also alters its efficiency. Other users resort to holding the lighter "portable power/air tool" while working, on maximum rotations and cleaning _, the "polishing _, pads" with the aid of compressed air. This jeopardizes their safety by risking the abrupt ejection of the5 "polishing pads" and the injury of their eyes from flying scrap. This method also causes the littering of their surroundings, their getting dirty and it is a painstaking and dangerous process. The above mentioned method ^' is applied only if the "portable power/air tool" is light, so in the case of a bigger machine or tool with orbital movement it is neither feasible nor efficient. This way of cleaning does not allow for 0 high quality cleaning and washing or drying thus affecting the users' job negatively while wasting time and money and risking their health.

This invention offers solutions to all the problems mentioned above. First and foremost 5 it protects the user from possible injuries caused by the abrupt ejection of the "polishing pads", since the "polishing pads" are placed in the cleaning sub-chamber (21). The "portable power/air ΐoo is supported ^’ by the toof platform holder (3 and ^" held by the incisions (7, 8) and by securing the sliding door (12) with the locking mechanism (10) it is very stable and does not tire the user. The process can be 10 monitored through the transparent control port ( _. 13). safely and without getting _, dirty.

Waste is gathered in the waste collection basin at the bottom of the sub-chamber (21) and can be thrown in the drains by opening the drain switch (18). In the case of a rotary tool the drying process is maximized due to the centrifugal power caused by the high rotation. Ail ^' the above is feasible if the "portable power/air tool" is light and rotary. If 15 the "portable power/air tool" is big or orbital we extract the "polishing pads" and place it in the invention with the motor (fig.3) on the mounting plate (25) with the suitable receptor-holders or on a suitable adhesive surface e.g _, Velcro.

The application includes the following Figures:

Figure 1: Perspective of the invention.

,2Q· figure 2r. Bac view of the invention.

Figure 3: Back view of the variation of the invention with a motor.

Figure 4: Alternative form of the invention.

Below I will describe the invention extensively.

The features of the invention are defined in the claims.

25 The invention hastwo variartions, one wilti a mptor (27) (fig.3t and a second wfthotrt a motor (fig.l, 2). It can be on wheels and built in several sizes in order to accommodate "polishing pads" of all sizes. While under construction the structural elements may change position and form if deemed necessary by the manufacturer.

Description of the invention without a motor. The "portable power/air tool" is positioned sideways on the height-adjustable tool platform holder (3) and into the curved non-slip tool holder (4) of the fixed-incision (7) and so the "polishing pads" and the mounting plate (25) are now in the cleaning sub- chamber (21). The tool platform holder is adjustable in height to be able to accept "portable power/air tool of different sizes and the upper surface has non-slip material. Then we close the rear sliding door (TZj and immobilize it with the locking mechanism (10) (fig. 1, 2) so that the barrier "curtain" (5) of the incisions (7.8) "embraces" the "portable power/air tool" thus stabilizing it and protecting it from ejected materials at the same time.

If the "polishing pads" are oversized , usually from wheeled or fixed large-volume machines the invention with a motor (27) (fig. 3) is used. We remove the "polishing pads" and place them on the mounting plate (25) (fig. 3). Because the "polishing pads" used ^* are of different dimensions and ^” they have different adhesion or restraining surfaces on the fool or machine for which they are made, we can change mounting plates(25) in the invention with a motor (fig.3) to offer suitable surfaces. The mounting plate (25) of the invention is adjusted on the axis (28) (fig. 3) . We can screw a backing plate or adjust adapters or drill heads on this axis (28) to provide the appropriate adhesion or reception surface for the "polishing pads".

In both variations of the invention, as long as the "polishing pads" are placed inside the sub-chamber (21) and the "portable power/air tool" is put into operation or the motor invention is put into operation (via the power switch with the adjustment of the speed (24) (fig. 3) by the user), then the remaining actions are the same.

The user can blow onto the "polishing pads" using a compressed air blow gun through the front slot (16). The compressed air blow gun , if desired, may bear a snout length adjustment ring in order to avoid contact with the "polishing pad". The snout length adjustment ring cannot be passed through the slot (16) of the front door. The ring may also be of a size that passes through the slot (16) but does not pass through the optional protective grille that is placed on the multiple receptors (15) of the optional protection grid or through the door with a grid that adapts to the interior guides (22).

The optional protection grid and the door with a grid are not included in the designs to avoid any difficulty in reading them.

At this point the centrifugal force exerted on the "polishing pads" combined with compressed air , clean and dry effectively. If we wish to clean the sponge with liquid, having the front door (20) and the transparent control door (13) open, we spray or rinse the sponge with low or high pressure liquid, provided the optional protection grid or the door with mesh protects us from contact with the ''pofishmg pads".

The waste is concentrated in the watertight waste collection basin at the bottom of the cleaning sub-chamber (21) (fig. 1). The waste collection basin has a drainage pipe (19) and a drain switch (18). After the user finishes his job he can transfer the invention with the carrying handle (11) to any drainage in the work area and empty it. If desired, the invention can be permanently connected by using a pipe leading to the sewer network of the work araa through th e drainage nozzle (23 ) (fig. 2) In the case of a large volume. invention, the above permanent connection is recommended.

When we wish to clean the invention, in order to facilitate cleaning, we can remove the bottom separating grill (1), the perforated quenching material (2) and the spacer strip (17) which in the lateral and upper parts can be detachable.