Quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk

• US 6,719,619 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Chih-Hsien, Kuo, Ching-Hui, Wu, Jheng-Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan, Eileen P.
• Application Number:
  US09/846,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 451/41, 451/285, 451/287, 451/288, 451/443, 451/56, 279/75, 279/76, 279/40, 279/79, 279/46.1, 285/268
• US Class Current: 451/443
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 45/006 Quick mount and release means for disc-like wheels, e.g. on power tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 53/017 Devices or means for dressing, cleaning or otherwise conditioning lapping tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 53/12 Dressing tools; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17411 Spring biased jaws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17752 Ball or roller jaws

Abstract

A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk which enables the rotational disk to be quick connect to or disconnect from a pad conditioner disk holder is disclosed. The quick coupler consists of two major components of a disk holder and a travel housing. The disk holder is formed in a ring shape having a center aperture in a polygon shape for intimately engaging a polygon-shaped shaft of the travel housing such that a rotational torque can be transmitted from the travel housing to the disk holder. Each side of the polygon is provided with a steel ball and a recessed slot behind the ball for receiving a jutting key operated by a retractable ring attached to the travel housing. The travel housing is formed in a cylindrical shape that has a first end threaded for engaging a drive means and a second end in the polygon shape.

Claims

1. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk comprising:

a disk holder of a ring shape having a center aperture formed in a polygon, each side of the polygon being provided with a spring-loaded steel ball and a recessed slot behind each ball adapted for receiving a jutting key situated on and operated by a retractable ring attached to a travel housing, said disk holder being further provided with a planar surface for releasably engaging a rotational disk thereon by mechanical means; and

a travel housing of cylindrical shape having a first end threaded for engaging a drive means and a second end in said polygon shape for intimately engaging said center aperture of said disk holder for transmitting a rotational motion of said drive means, said second end being further provided with a spring-loaded retractable ring for sliding in a longitudinal direction of said travel housing and for operating a plurality of jutting keys attached thereon such that when said second end being pushed into said center aperture of the disk holder each of said plurality of jutting keys engages one of said steel balls by pushing the balls radially inward in a locked position into a hemispherical recess provided in a flat surface of said polygon-shaped second end of the travel housing.

2. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said center aperture being formed in a polygon having at least six sides.

3. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said center aperture being formed in a octagon.

4. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said disk holder further being provided with a recessed slot along an outer peripheral surface of the holder adapted for receiving a retaining ring therein for retaining said steel balls in said holder.

5. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said rotational disk having attached thereon a diamond disk for conditioning a polishing pad.

6. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of jutting keys being eight jutting keys when said center aperture is formed in an octagon.

7. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical means for engaging said rotational disk to said planar surface of the disk holder is a plurality of bolts.

8. A quick coupler for mounting a rotational disk according to claim 1, wherein said drive means being a pulley and a belt that are connected to a motor driven pulley.

9. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly comprising:

a drive means for providing rotational motion to said assembly;

a rotational disk for attaching to a disk holder;

said disk holder of a ring shape having a center aperture formed in a polygon, each side of said polygon being provided with a spring-loaded steel ball and a recessed slot behind each ball adapted for receiving a jutting key situated on and operated by a retractable ring attached to a travel housing, said disk holder being further provided with a planar surface for releasably engaging said rotational disk thereon by mechanical means; and

a travel housing of cylindrical shape having a first end threaded for engaging said drive means and a second end in said polygon shape for intimately engaging said center aperture of said disk holder for transmitting a rotational motion of said drive means, said second end being further provided with a spring-loaded retractable ring for sliding in a longitudinal direction of said travel housing and for operating a plurality of jutting keys attached thereon such that when said second end being pushed into said center aperture of the disk holder each of said plurality of jutting keys engages one of said steel balls by pushing the balls radially inward in a locked position into a hemispherical recess provided in a flat surface of said polygon-shaped second end of the travel housing.

10. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said drive means being a pulley and a belt that are connected to a motor driven pulley.

11. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical means for engaging said rotational disk to said planar surface of the disk holder is a plurality of bolts.

12. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said center aperture being formed in a polygon having at least six sides.

13. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said center aperture being formed in a octagon.

14. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of jutting keys being eight jutting keys when said center aperture is formed in an octagon.

15. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said rotational disk having attached thereon a diamond disk for conditioning a polishing pad.

16. A pad conditioner disk holder assembly according to claim 9, wherein said disk holder further being provided with a recessed slot along an outer peripheral surface of the holder adapted for receiving a retaining ring therein for retaining said steel ball in said holder.