GB1176560A - Continuous Cleaning Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,176,560. Blasting. PANGBORN CORP. 12 Sept., 1967 [8 Nov., 1966], No. 41496/67. Heading B3D. A continuous cleaning apparatus comprises: (i) an elongated barrel having an open feed end and an open discharge end to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough, (ii) feed means for delivering parts to said feed end one at a time, (iii) discharge means for receiving parts from said discharge end one at a time, (iv) cleaning means positioned along said barrel for cleaning the parts flowing therethrough, (v) rotation means connected to rotate said barrel to cause the parts therein to rotate as they are cleaned, and (vi) pick-up means on said feed end for removing parts from said feed means and disposing the parts in said barrel. Workpieces 14 are fed by a supply conveyer 12 to a feed conveyer 16 and are then inserted in an elongated rotating barrel 18 through which they are fed axially. The barrel is slotted or skeletal so that the workpieces are cleaned by abrasive blasting machines 20. The cleaned workpieces are discharged on to a receiving conveyer 22 and thence by conveyers 24. Feed conveyer 16 comprises a pair of bands or link chains 26 having projections 28 for maintaining proper spacing between the workpieces. Barrel 18 includes elongated bars 30 arranged for proper positioning of the workpiece in the barrel. A pair of elongated pick-up arms 32 are secured to some of the bars and fit between chains 26. One bar 30a terminates short of arm 32 so as not to interfere with the workpiece sliding into the barrel. Barrel 18 has a ring gear 34 driven by a gear train 36 also connected to drive gear 38 for conveyer 16 to ensure synchronization. The workpiece is moved axially into the barrel by a periodically actuated piston cylinder assembly 40, thereby moving the workpieces in the barrel towards the discharge end. The barrel has a number of workpiece positioning members arranged so as to receive the specialized shapes of various manifolds, automobile heads &c. For example, a workpiece 14b is positioned by bars 45, 46, 47 with bars 48 inactive while a differently shaped workpiece 14c is positioned by bars 46, 47, 48 with bars 45 inactive. The number of bars may be reduced by having some or all of them adjustable. To re-orientate the barrel relative to the conveyer, a clutch 50 disengages the drive 36 and a clutch 52 engages a gear 54 with a manual or automatic drive.