GB1381384A - Method and apparatus for surface treatment of workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

1381384 Blasting WHEELABRATORFRYE Inc 18 Sept 1972 43089/72 Heading B3D A method for the surface treatment of a blank 12 comprises raising the blank at a loading station 14 to a height wherein its horizontal centre axis 16 corresponds approximately to the axis of rotation of clamping means 55 on a mobile suspension system 20, clamping the blank between the clamping means, rotating the blank while carrying it through a blast chamber 2 and a blask media removal chamber 3, and releasing the blank and lowering it at an unloading station 18. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a feed chamber 1 in addition to the blast chamber 2 and blank removal chamber 3, the chambers being sealed by curtains 4 or rotatable gates. The suspension system 20 consists of a rail 36 along which a roller suspension means 34, 35 of a blank carrier yoke 20 is driven by a chain drive 37. The yoke has legs 50 which are movable together by a spring 56 to clamp a blank therebetween. One of the legs has a vertical shaft 45 which, at its lower end, is connected by bevel gears 48 to a rotary head 44 having an opening for receiving an entrainment disc 55 for engaging the blank. The upper end of the shaft is connected to a chain drive 46, 47 for rotating the shaft. The other leg has a similar rotary head 53 for engaging the opposite end of the blank. In operation, the blanks are fed along a conveyer 12 to the loading station 14 where they are lifted by a table 15 to a position between the legs 50 of a suspension system 20. The legs are moved to engage the entrainment discs 55 with the workpiece which is thus clamped therebetween, the table then being lowered. The suspension system 20 carries the workpiece, which is rotated about the axis 16 by rotation of the discs 55 by the chain drive 46, 47, through the feeding chamber 1, the chamber 2 where the blank is blasted by media thrown by impeller wheels, and the chamber 3 for removal of the blasting media, on to a table 18 at the unloading station 17 where the blank is released from the suspension system 20 by a pneumatic operating member 49 acting against the spring 56 and is lowered for discharge on the conveyer 19. In another embodiment, the chain drives 37, 46 are replaced by motors. A seal 72 at the top of the chamber is protected by a shield 77.