EP1857224A1 - Apparatus for vibratory polishing - Google Patents

Abstract

The trough vibrator (10) has vibration mechanism (34) and base frame (12), on which a trough (26) is provided, open at one side and tilted at a horizontal axis. A buffer container (24) is provided open at one side, which is tilted together with the trough at the axis. The levels, in which the openings of the trough and the buffer container are present, are arranged to each other under an angle. The trough and buffer container are not rigidly connected with one another, but are connected directly with one another over an elastic element (44), particularly a rubber flange.

Description

The present invention relates to a vibrating trough vibrator with a vibrator and a trough, which is pivotable about a horizontal axis together with a buffer container. In such trough vibrators there is the problem that the service life is often unsatisfactory, since comparatively large masses are put into vibration, which can lead to a material break within the machine.

It is the object of the present invention, a trough vibrator of the type mentioned in such a way that with improved work results a longer service life can be achieved.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and in particular in that the trough and the buffer tank are not rigidly connected to each other.

According to the invention, it is possible to tilt the contents of the trough by pivoting into the buffer container by pivoting the trough together with the buffer container, wherein during the tilting or at the end of the tilting process larger workpieces can be easily removed from the buffer tank. If, for a new cycle, the workpieces are first placed in the still empty trough, when the buffer container and trough are tilted, the contents of the buffer container, namely the grinding or polishing agent, fall on the workpieces located in the trough, so that they are at the subsequent Editing not in the Abrasives float on top, but are completely covered by abrasive, which increases the quality of the treatment and shortens the processing time. In addition, since trough and buffer tank are not rigidly interconnected, ie there is no direct rigid connection between these two containers, the trough can be vibrated regardless of the mass of the buffer tank, which on the one hand to energy savings and on the other hand leads to a significant increase in the life of the machine is because a much lower mass must be vibrated, which may also be symmetrical.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the description, the drawings and the subclaims.

According to a first advantageous embodiment, trough and buffer container are connected to each other exclusively via an elastic element, for example a rubber flange or the like, so that a vibration transmission from the trough to the buffer container is minimized. According to the invention, the elastic element should not provide for a mechanical connection between the two containers, but merely ensure that no working medium escapes between the trough and the buffer container.

According to a further advantageous embodiment trough and buffer container are arranged on a common pivoting frame, for example, resiliently mounted. In this way, the trough and buffer container can be pivoted together particularly easily, with the resilient attachment unwanted transmission of vibrations to the pivoting frame, the base frame or the buffer tank is avoided.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vibration device comprises at least one vibration drive, which is attached to the trough, but not to the base frame or on the pivoting frame. This arrangement of the vibration drives an unwanted transmission of vibrations to the base frame or the pivot frame is prevented and it is not necessary that elastic coupling connections are provided between the vibration drive and the trough, since the vibration drive is attached exclusively to the trough.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a further vibration drive is provided, which is attached to the buffer tank, but not to the base frame or the pivoting frame. With such a vibration drive, the unloading of the buffer tank can be positively influenced.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the trough is resiliently mounted on its underside relative to the base frame, wherein on the upper side of the trough an activatable tensioning device is provided, which tensions when activated the trough in the direction of its underside against the resilient mounting. In this way, it is ensured that the trough is secured during the pivoting in the pivoting frame by the clamping device is actuated prior to pivoting. When the trough is in its working position, the tensioning device can be released, so that the trough can then vibrate freely on its resilient mounting. The tensioning device can be formed for example by air springs, which can be tensioned between a part of the pivoting frame and the trough. Such an embodiment has the great advantage that on the one hand, the trough can be stably braced within the pivot frame, but on the other hand, by slightly reducing the pressure of the air springs spring-damped storage of the trough within of the frame is possible. This is particularly advantageous if the trough in a removal position, ie in the tilted state, to be vibrated to promote complete emptying of the trough. In this case, the trough is kept stable and clamped, yet a (slight) vibration of the trough by activating the vibration drives is possible.

It is advantageous if, in a working position of the pivoting frame, the open side of the trough is aligned approximately horizontally and in a removal position of the pivoting frame, the open side of the trough is oriented approximately vertically. In this way, it is ensured that on the one hand during processing no abrasive exits the trough and that on the other hand after tilting of the trough, the entire contents can be discharged in the direction of the buffer tank. Another advantage is obtained when the pivoting frame is pivotable by a little more than 90 °, for example by 105 °, since in this case not only the entire Troginhalt emptied reliably into the buffer tank, but also ensured that the still in the trough located workpieces from the trough in the direction of the buffer tank. In such an arrangement, it is also ensured that solely by pivoting the pivoting frame an abrasive located in the trough can be transferred into the buffer tank and from there back into the trough.

The two open sides of the buffer container and the trough are arranged according to a further embodiment at an angle of about 75 to 105 °, in particular about 90 ° to each other. It may also be advantageous if the angle is an acute angle, for example of the order of 75 ° to 80 °, since in this case a particularly good emptying or filling of the respective container can be achieved.

In order to prevent the escape of abrasive during the pivoting process, it may be advantageous if side cheeks are provided between the open side of the buffer container and the open side of the trough.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the entire base frame is resiliently mounted to minimize transmission of vibrations to the ground.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, partitions are provided, which can be adjustable or fixed, and which on the one hand extend into the trough and on the other hand extend beyond the open side of the buffer container. In this way, individual compartments for the workpieces to be machined, such as vehicle rims, created, these partitions form individual processing chambers within the trough and form above the buffer tank guide elements which guide the workpieces when leaving the trough.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a first sieve with a larger mesh size and a second sieve with a smaller mesh size are provided in the region of the buffer tank. In this way, in the area of the buffer tank working material, the outer dimensions of which has already been excessively reduced, are discarded by this working material, such as grinding or polishing, not only through the sieve with larger mesh size but also through the sieve with smaller mesh size and then, for example in the bottom of the buffer tank.

In this connection, it may also be advantageous if the first and the second sieve are provided on the open side of the buffer container are, wherein below the second screen in the buffer container, a separation chamber is provided. If, for example, the second sieve with a smaller mesh length extends longitudinally along the open-top side of the buffer container, but not completely in the transverse direction, the working medium first falls onto the sieve of smaller mesh size when emptying the trough so that working medium of correspondingly small diameter passes through it Sieve falls through. If a separation chamber is provided below the second screen in the buffer vessel, such rejected agent can be well separated and removed from the trough vibrator.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a cleaning device for workpieces is provided in the region of the buffer container. In this way, a particularly effective working operation can be achieved, since the workpieces can be cleaned immediately after emptying, the cleaning liquid then passes into the buffer tank and also cleans the working fluid located there.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Trogvibrators in einer Entnahmestellung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Trogvibrators von Fig. 1 in einer Arbeitsstellung; und

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Trogvibrators von Fig. 1 und Fig. 2 in der Arbeitsstellung in einer anderen Ansicht.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described purely by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a trough vibrator in a removal position;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the trough vibrator of Figure 1 in a working position. and

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the trough vibrator of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in the working position in another view.

The figures show a trough vibrator 10, which has a base frame 12 on which a pivoting frame 14 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis. Here, the base frame 12 is mounted on a total of four spring feet 16.

The pivoting frame 14 is pivotable on the base frame 12 by means of two shafts 18 about the horizontal axis, wherein the pivoting takes place automatically by means of a drive in the form of two hydraulic cylinders 20 and 22.

On the pivoting frame 14 a cuboid buffer container 24 and a cuboidal trough 26 are resiliently mounted, wherein the planes in which the open top of the buffer tank 24 and the open top of the trough 26 are located at an angle of approximately 90 ° to each other. At the same time, the trough and the buffer container adjoin one another along their longitudinal edges with their open upper sides, wherein a rubber sleeve 28 is provided to seal the transition region between trough 26 and buffer container 24. Likewise, between the open side of the buffer tank 24 and the open side of the trough 26, two triangular side walls 30 and 32 extend.

The pivoting frame 14 is infinitely pivotable together with the buffer container 24 and the trough 26 by an angle of about 105 °. As a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 shows, the pivoting frame 14 can be pivoted from the removal position shown in Fig. 1 in the working position shown in Fig. 2. Here, the open top of the trough 26 is horizontally aligned in the working position, while the open top of the buffer tank 24 is inclined in the removal position relative to the horizontal by about 15 ° downwards.

At the two end faces of the cuboid trough 26, a vibration drive 33 and 34 is screwed directly, wherein the vibration drives 33 and 34 are not attached to the pivot frame 14 or the base frame 12. The vibratory actuators 33 and 34 are mechanical unbalance coupled directly to an electric motor, with no coupling required. The speed range of the vibratory drives is between 0 and 3200 revolutions / minute and can be varied within this range. Further, on the side facing the trough 26 of the buffer tank 24, a further vibration drive 36 (see FIG. 3) is provided, which is also attached only to the buffer tank, but not on the pivot frame 14 or the base frame 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the trough 26 is resiliently mounted on the pivot frame 14 via a plurality of coil springs 38 which are inserted into corresponding spring cups 37 and 39, the spring cups 37 with the pivot frame 14 and the spring cups 39 with the Trough are welded. In order to secure the trough 26 during pivoting, two air springs 40 and 42 are provided between the top of the trough 26 and a horizontal support of the pivoting frame 14, with which the trough can be clamped in the direction of its underside against the pivot frame 14. By applying the air springs 40 and 42 with air, they tension the trough 26 against the force of the springs 38, so that it does not fall out of its resilient mounting during a pivoting movement. During the vibration operation, the air springs are vented, so that the trough 26 can vibrate freely.

As an alternative to the air springs, other types of elastic spring elements can also be used, wherein an activatable clamping device is particularly advantageous since it can be completely deactivated during the vibration operation. At the same time it should be noted that the trough and also the buffer container not only downwards but also laterally within the pivoting frame via lateral elastic elements, i. in all directions, are resiliently supported. Also, the buffer tank 24 is fixed only elastically resiliently on the pivot frame 14 via such elastic elements 44.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover provided with openings is provided on the open upper side of the buffer container 24, which is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal bars 46, which form passage slots 48 between them. In addition, a total of three optionally adjustable partitions 50 are provided in the illustrated embodiment, which extend on the one hand to the bottom of the trough 26 and on the other hand to the open top of the buffer tank 24. The partitions 50 are adjustable in the longitudinal direction of trough or buffer container and can also be removed from the device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partitions 50 are formed as a grid frame.

Both trough and buffer container are provided on their insides with a wear protection lining made of rubber or polyurethane or the like. In addition, bottom drain screens are provided on the sides and bottom of the trough to facilitate process water exchange so that the machine can be operated in both continuous and batch mode with water and compound.

The trough vibrator described above is particularly well suited for ball polishing or deburring, e.g. with steel or stainless steel polishing bodies, for example for polishing aluminum rims. In principle, all known abrasive bodies which are suitable for deburring, grinding, rounding, cleaning, descaling, etc. are suitable as grinding bodies.

For polishing aluminum rims, for example, the buffer tank is filled with stainless steel balls having a diameter of 2.8 and 3.2 mm. Subsequently, the partition walls 50 are adjusted so that a total of four working chambers result, in each of which a rim can be entered, so that the rims can be polished without mutual contact.

In the removal position shown in Fig. 1, the four rims are placed with their tread on the cover 46, wherein it may be advantageous to pivot the pivot frame before still by about 20 °, so that the rims by itself to the bottom of the trough 26th can roll. Subsequently, the pivoting frame 14 is completely pivoted until the trough is in the working position shown in Fig. 2. During this pivoting process, the grinding or polishing bodies are poured from the buffer tank 24 into the trough 26 and completely cover the workpieces after complete emptying of the buffer tank, so that they do not float on top. To assist the emptying process, the vibration drive 36 of the trough 24 can be activated.

After the pivoting frame 14 is in the working position, the air springs 40 and 42 can be vented, whereupon the vibration drives 33 and 34 can be activated so that the work process begins.

After the end of the processing time, which may be on the order of one hour, the vibration drives 33 and 34 are stopped and the pivoting frame 14 is pivoted back into the removal position shown in Fig. 1. Here, the vibration actuators 33 and 34 can be activated again supportive, while the trough is resiliently held by the air springs 40 and 42 and the springs 38 to achieve a residual emptying of the trough.

During the pivoting process, first the grinding wheels move in the direction of the cover and fall through the passage openings 48 back into the buffer tank 24. Only when the grinding wheels have almost completely emptied from the trough, roll the vehicle wheels on the cover 46 so that they from there can be removed.

In addition, it should be noted that the pivoting frame can in principle be pivoted into any position and that with the described trough vibrator all current polishing and grinding methods are particularly advantageous applicable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

trough vibrator

12

base frame

14

pivoting frame

16

spring feet

18

wave

20, 22

hydraulic cylinders

24

buffer tank

26

trough

28

rubber sleeve

30, 32

Sidewall

33, 34, 36

vibration drives

38

feathers

37, 39

spring cups

40, 42

air springs

44

elastic elements

46

longitudinal bars

48

Through openings

50

partitions

Claims (20)

A trough vibrator comprising a vibration device (32, 34) and a base frame (12) on which is provided a trough (26) which is open on one side and pivotable about a horizontal axis and a buffer container (24) which is open on one side Trough (26) is pivotable about the axis, wherein the planes in which the openings of the trough (26) and the buffer container (24) are located at an angle to each other, said trough (26) and buffer container (24) not are rigidly connected. Trough vibrator according to claim 1,
characterized in that
Trough (26) and buffer container (24) exclusively via an elastic element, in particular a rubber flange or the like., With each other directly. Trough vibrator according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
Trough (26) and buffer container (24) arranged on a common pivoting frame (14), in particular resiliently mounted. A trough vibrator according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
characterized in that
the vibration device comprises at least one vibration drive (33, 34) attached to the trough (26) but not to the base frame (12). Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the vibration device comprises at least one vibration drive (36) which is attached to the buffer container (24), but not to the base frame (12). Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the trough (26) is resiliently mounted on its underside relative to the base frame (12) and that an activatable tensioning device (40, 42) is provided on the upper side of the trough (26), which activates the trough (26) in the direction of its underside clamped against the resilient mounting (38). Trough vibrator according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the activatable clamping device comprises at least one air spring (40, 42). Trough vibrator according to claim 3,
characterized in that
in an operating position of the pivoting frame (14), the open side of the trough (24) is aligned approximately horizontally, and that in a removal position of the pivoting frame (14), the open side of the trough (24) is aligned approximately vertically. Trough vibrator according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the pivoting frame (14) is pivotable by more than 90 °, for example by 105 °. Trough vibrator according to claim 3,
characterized in that
solely by pivoting the pivoting frame (14) in the trough (26) located abrasive in the buffer tank (24) and from there back into the trough (26) can be transferred. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the angle is an acute angle. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 - 10,
characterized in that
the angle is about 75 - 105 °. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
between the open side of the buffer tank (24) and the open side of the trough (26) side cheeks (30, 32) are provided. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
Trough (26) and buffer container (24) have approximately the same volume. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the base frame (12) is resiliently mounted. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
Partitions (50) are provided which extend on the one hand to the trough (26) and on the other hand to over the open side of the buffer tank (24). Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
in the region of the buffer container (24) a first sieve with a larger and a second sieve with a smaller mesh size are provided. Trough vibrator according to claim 17,
characterized in that
the second sieve is arranged below the first sieve. Trough vibrator according to claim 17,
characterized in that
the first and the second sieve are provided on the open side of the buffer container, wherein a separation chamber is provided below the second sieve in the buffer container. Trough vibrator according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
in the area of the buffer container (24) a cleaning device for workpieces is provided.

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