GB934150A - Improvements in or relating to a continuous finishing and polishing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

934,150. Tumbling. ROTO-FINISH CO. July 5, 1960 [Dec. 30, 1959], No. 23537/60. Class 60. [Also in Group XXIV] A finishing and polishing machine, Figs. 1, 3, comprises a trough 1 for receiving finishing or polishing material, e.g. rock chips, and the pieces to be finished or polished, the trough having a receiving end 3, a discharge end 4 and a semicylindrical bottom 2. A vibrator 9 with its axis parallel to the axis of the bottom 2 and carrying an eccentric weight arranged to impart rotary vibrations to the trough 1 and its contents is mounted directly on the trough 1, the trough 1 and vibrator 9 being supported as a unit on vibration-isolating mounts 5. Hoppers 14, 16 feed workpieces and treating material respectively into the receiving end 3 of the trough. Within the bottom of the trough are fixed guiding vanes 18 extending generally transversely of the trough, one end 20 of each vane being closer to the discharge end than the other end 19. The ends 20 are secured to the trough side walls while the ends 19 are free and extend substantially to the centre line of the trough. Screening means mounted directly on the discharge end 4 of the trough include screens 22, 23. The screen 22 will not pass the finished workpieces which are conducted away by a discharge 26. The screen 23 will not pass the treating material which is conducted away by a discharge 27. The fines and waste pass to a platform 24 and out through a discharge 25. The treating material from discharge 27 is returned by a conveyer or trough 28 and bucket conveyer 29 to the hopper 16 for re-use. Water may be supplied from a tank to nozzles 33 discharging into the trough. In operation the vibration of the trough by the vibrator 9 creates a rotary motion around the axis of the trough, whereby the workpieces and treating material are tumbled together and the entire mass is fed from the receiving end of the trough to the discharge end. The vanes may be adjustable to vary the residence time in the trough and therefore the length of treatment. In a modification a sloping false bottom leads up to the screening means. In a further modification, Fig. 6, the guiding vane is in the form of a helix 34 extending axially of the trough 101, the helix consisting of a central shaft 35 and the thread or guide portion 36 disposed adjacent the trough bottom. Figs. 9, 11, 13 and 15 show other forms of vane. To unload the machine the end of the trough at the inlet is removed and the motor reversed.