JP2007521141A - High-speed vertical processor - Google Patents

Abstract

  A vertical processor (10) is provided for processing the parts by subjecting the parts to rotational and centrifugal motion using a friction medium. The processor includes an outer drum (32) and a plurality of inner containers (34) positioned within the outer drum. The inner container engages the inner surface of the outer drum by centrifugal movement. Each inner container has an open top. A drive system causes the inner container to be centrifugally driven within the outer drum. A lid (62) removably engages each inner container to close each inner container. A lift mechanism for lifting the lid from the inner container is attached to each lid.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing products at high speed, and more particularly to a vertical axis improved processor including a capping assembly.

  Various methods and devices for processing product surfaces have been developed over the years. In some devices, the product is finished by using centrifugal force applied from a rotating container in combination with a friction medium. Many of these types of devices use complex gear configurations that target centrifugal and rotational forces, and their rotational speed to rotational speed ratio is limited to a specific value. Also, the structure of these existing devices is complex, requires a large number of moving parts and is generally very noisy. In another type of device, the container is rotated about an axis to create a centrifugal force, and the rotational force is generated by a belt wound around the axis and the outside of the container. In the case of this type of device, the belt speed is directly related to the axial speed, so if the belt speed becomes excessive, the device will overheat.

  One of the main drawbacks of many conventional devices is that the rotating parts are supported by bearings. Because of this configuration, the speed and operating life of the conventional apparatus are determined by the maximum capacity of the bearing, and in the apparatus that supports the rotating container with the bearing, the vibration resistance of the bearing is not so good, and the operation speed is considerably slow.

A successful example of a device using both centrifugal and rotational forces that has a simple design without a gear system and can be operated at very high speed is described in US Pat. No. 5,355,638. . In the U.S. patent, a vertical centrifugal finisher (or polisher) is provided with a rotatable outer container, and an inner container that rotates around the axis of the outer container and also rotates around its own axis. At least one is provided. A traction surface is provided between the inner surface of the outer container and the outer surface of the inner container. This traction surface allows the outer container to restrain the inner container while the inner container is subjected to centrifugal force. At the same time, the device uses the momentum caused by the speed and possibly directional differences between the outer and inner containers to turn the inner container.
This US patent also discloses an apparatus that can use a center drive to rotate the outer and inner containers.

US Pat. No. 5,848,929 shows another example of an apparatus that uses both centrifugal and rotational forces. In this device, a vertical centrifugal finisher with a fixed outer container is described that allows much larger articles to be finished without the need to add excessive energy and force to the device unit. In addition, in this apparatus, the inner container is removable so that containers of various diameters can be used within the apparatus unit without having to replace the outer container.
Although the devices of US Pat. Nos. 5,355,638 and 5,848,929 provide significant improvements in the field of rotary process processing, these devices automate the opening and closing of the barrel or container. It does not include a description of having a mechanism for facilitating loading and unloading of products and media.

US Pat. No. 5,355,638 US Pat. No. 5,848,929

  To meet the need for an improved vertical processor that includes an automatic lid system to facilitate access to the inside of the process vessel.

The present invention relates to providing an improved vertical processor for processing parts by subjecting them to rotational and centrifugal motion using a friction medium. The processor includes an outer drum having an inner surface and a plurality of inner containers positioned within the outer drum and driven by centrifugal motion to engage the inner surface of the outer drum. The inner container and the outer drum are engaged to generate a rotational motion in each container, and each container has an open top.
A drive system is provided for centrifugally driving the inner container against the outer drum. This drive system can also be used to rotate the outer drum to further increase the movement of each container.

Each container also includes a lid that is detachably engaged with the container to close the container. The lid is attached to a lift mechanism that is designed to lift and remove the lid from the container.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings. The present invention may be modified in all various aspects without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are exemplary in nature and are not intended to be limiting.

  Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a vertical processor 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The vertical processor 10 includes a frame assembly 12 that forms a support structure and a safety housing for the processor. The frame assembly 12 includes a frame cover 14 attached to the frame structure 16, one or more of the frame covers being removable from the frame structure 16 to facilitate access to the processor. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame assembly 12 constitutes an enclosure within which the process processing assembly 18 is positioned. The frame cover restricts access to the process processing assembly 18 so that foreign matter does not enter the process processing assembly 18.

  The frame structure 16 is preferably made from tubular steel or other high strength parts. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame structure includes a vertical column 20 and a horizontal beam 22, and the vertical column 20 includes legs 24 that are preferably designed to be secured to the ground. The legs 24 may include a vibration insulator such as a rubber material for minimizing or dampening vibrations transmitted from the frame structure 16 to the ground. The horizontal beams 22 are preferably grouped to form a box structure as shown in FIG. This provides strong support to accommodate the various loads imposed on the frame structure 16 by the processor.

  With reference to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the process assembly 18 is shown. As will be described in detail below, the process assembly 18 includes a rotation processor 26, a drive mechanism 28, and a lid assembly 30. For clarity, the outer annular ring or outer drum is not shown in FIG. The outer drum forms part of the rotation processor 26 as described below. The frame structure 16 preferably provides a self-contained assembly that supports each of these components.

  3 and 4 illustrate details of the rotation processor 26. FIG. The rotation processor 26 includes an outer annular drum 32. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, this outer annular drum 32 will be referred to as the outer drum. The illustrated embodiment includes a cylindrical outer drum, but any shape of outer drum can be used. The outer drum provides a surface onto which the process vessel can roll, as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,355,638 and 5,848,929, to frame structure 16. It can be fixed, or more preferably rotatably mounted or supported, within which a plurality of inner containers 34 for processing are positioned. The inner process vessel 34 is mounted to be driven independently of the outer drum 32, as will be described in detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface of the outer drum 32 is cylindrical. In doing so, the inner vessel 34, which is also preferably cylindrical, is driven along the inner circumference of the outer drum 32 (ie, rotated along the inner surface) and thus rotates about the central axis of the outer drum.

  The outer drum 32 is preferably disposed about a central drive shaft 36, which is attached to the frame structure 16 via one or more bearings 38 and is therefore centered about its vertical axis. Can rotate with respect to. A drum shaft 40 is disposed around a portion of the central drive shaft 36. The drum shaft 40 is supported by two bearings 42 attached to the horizontal beam, and freely rotates not only with respect to the central drive shaft 36 but also with respect to the frame structure 16. The outer drum 32 is attached to the drum shaft 40 via a bearing 42. The bearing 42 is attached to the drum shaft 40 and the outer drum 32 so that the outer drum 32 and the drum shaft 40 are relatively rotated in a combined state.

One or more rolls 44 (shown in FIG. 3) are attached to the frame structure 16 and positioned to contact the outer surface of the outer drum 32. Each roll 44 provides lateral support to the outer drum while allowing the outer drum to rotate about the central axis.
The outer drum and drum shaft are preferably made from a high strength material, such as steel, to withstand high centrifugal loads.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a plan view of the rotation processor 26 is shown and the turret mounting configuration of the inner container 34 is illustrated. Specifically, the central disk 46 is attached to the central drive shaft 36 via the container mount 48 so that the central disk 46 and the central drive shaft 36 rotate in a combined state.

  The inner container 34 is mounted along the periphery of the central disk 46. This mounting configuration is similar to that shown in US Pat. No. 5,355,638, but the present invention incorporates a pivot connection. More specifically, a plurality of U-shaped mounts 50 are attached at intervals in the circumferential direction of the central disk 46. As shown, each U-mount 50 is associated with a respective inner container 34. The U-mount 50 and the inner container 34 are preferably arranged so as to be substantially balanced around the central drive shaft 36. Each U-mount 50 includes two spaced apart legs 52, each leg 52 having a design shape that extends along the lift arm 54 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A.

  Pins 56 are extended through each leg and lift arm 54 and these pins provide a pivot or hinge connection between the lift arm 54 and the U-mount 50. Thus, the lift arm can pivot about an axis extending through the center of the horizontal pin in the illustrated embodiment. The lift arm 54 is attached to the bearing block 58 via any conventional fastening mechanism such as a bolt.

  Inner container 34 is similar to the described container illustrated in US Pat. No. 5,355,638, and details thereof will not be described here. A mounting pin or mounting shaft 60 is mounted substantially at the center of the bottom of the container 34 and extends downwardly from this bottom. The mounting shaft 60 is designed to slide into at least one, and more preferably, two bearings 61 formed in the holes of the bearing block 58.

  The bearing 61 is designed to provide an initial position and initial alignment of the inner container 34 with respect to the outer drum. In particular, the mounting shaft 60 and the bearing 61 provide parallelism between the vertical axis of the inner container and the vertical axis of the outer drum, thus substantially bringing the inner container 34 and the outer drum 32 into a vertical contact line. Touch along. This provides the most effective mechanism for shifting the operating load.

  One of the main benefits of the present invention is to provide a reaction to centrifugal loads, primarily (and preferably almost entirely) through the interaction between the inner container 34 and the outer drum 32. . This type of support removes all loads from the bearings that support the inner container, thus allowing the inner container to withstand much greater loads than would otherwise be possible.

  By providing an initial parallel between the vertical axis and the bearings, each bearing provides support only when the centrifugal load is less than the load due to the inner container (and contents) weight. When the centrifugal force load becomes larger than the load on the inner container, the supporting force of the container is transferred to the outer drum. However, if the axes of the inner container and the outer drum are not aligned, a slight pressure gradient can occur and some load can remain on the bearing. In the present invention, a bearing 61 and a shaft 60 are used to initially align the inner container 34 with respect to the outer drum 32.

  Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6A and 6B, a lid assembly 30 is shown and has a design shape for automatically opening and closing the inner container. The lid assembly 30 includes a plurality of lids 62 that are designed to fit and substantially seal the open top of the inner container 34. Each lid 62 includes a cover plate 64 and a substantially frustoconical seal 66, such that the frustoconical slope provides a good sealing surface between the inner container 34 and the lid 62. It will be useful. The seal 66 is preferably made from an elastic material such as an elastomer (eg rubber), urethane or foam, although other types of seal materials may be used. To provide a tight seal it is better to use a softer rubber, for example a 70 durometer than a 95 durometer, which also makes it possible to incorporate a fairly high precision bearing 61, which makes the system significantly Silenced.

  The lid 62 is attached to the lift block 68 using bolts or other conventional fasteners. A thrust bearing 69 is attached to the lift block 68, and this thrust bearing receives a fastener. A thrust bearing 69 holds the lid 62 on the lift block 68 while allowing the lid to rotate in combination with the inner container 34.

  The lid 62 and the lift block 68 are attached to the upper end of the lift arm 54 via a hinge. As a result, the lid 62 can pivot around in the direction away from the upper portion of the inner container 34 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the inside of the inner container 34 can be accessed. As the lid moves away from the inner container 34, it is also relatively easy to remove and replace the inner container 34. Another benefit of the lid assembly in the present invention is that the lift block 68 has a design shape that presses the lid 62 onto the inner container 34 during device operation. Specifically, by positioning the hinge at a position below the plane of the lift block 68, centrifugal force or turning force exerted on the lift block 68 during operation pushes the lift block onto the inner container. Thereby, even if the lid or the hinge is broken during operation of the apparatus, the lid does not fly away, so that a significant safety advantage is provided. In the present invention, the hinge remains in place until the device is stopped.

  Lugs 70 are formed on the lift block 68. A gas spring 72 is pinned to one end of the lug 70 as shown. The other end of the gas spring 72 is pinned to the lift plate 74. The gas spring 72 is preferably MCM9416K14 and is designed to apply a desired amount of preload when the lid 62 is closed to properly seal the lid 62. This preload forces the tilted seal 66 onto the inner container to seat correctly. The gas spring 72 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the outer drum 32 by the gas spring 72 being angled with respect to the inner container 34 and the inner container 34 being hinged to its support. To force. As a result, the inner container 34 comes into contact with the outer drum immediately after being closed, and as a result, as soon as the apparatus is operated, each part in the inner container is caused to generate a long cycloidal motion up and down. Keep away from the wall.

  The lift plate 74 is preferably disposed around the upper part of the center drive shaft 36. In the illustrated embodiment, a spline shaft 76 is attached to the upper end of the central drive shaft 36, and the spline shaft extends upward through the lift plate 74. The lift plate 74 is attached to the spline shaft 76 so that the lift plate and the center drive shaft 36 rotate in a combined state. Specifically, a spline linear bearing 78 is used to attach the lift plate 74 to the spline shaft 76. The spline linear bearing 78 allows the lift plate 74 to move in the vertical direction with respect to the spline shaft 76, and at the same time transfers the rotational kinetic force of the spline shaft 76 to the lift plate 74.

A lift mount 80 is attached to the lift plate 74. At least one, and more preferably, a plurality of shafts 82 are attached to the lift mount 80 at one end thereof. The other end of the shaft 82 is attached to the upper lift plate 84. The upper lift plate 84 is eventually attached to a linear actuator 86, which is supported by the frame structure 16.
The linear actuator 86 operates the shaft 82 and the lift plate 74 when moved up and down in accordance with a command from the controller during operation of the apparatus. That is, when the linear actuator moves upward, the lift plate 74 pivots the lift block 68, whereby the lid 62 is removed from the inner container 34 and the inner container is opened. Conversely, when the linear actuator moves downward, the lift plate 74 is driven, the lift block 68 moves downward, and the lid 62 closes.

  The drive assembly will be described below with reference to FIGS. The drive mechanism or assembly 28 preferably includes a motor 90 that rotationally drives one or more sprockets 92, 94 via a speed reducer 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 90 drives two sprockets. The first sprocket 92 is used to rotate the outer drum 32 and the second sprocket 94 is used to rotate the inner container 34. If it is not desired to drive the outer drum 32, the first sprocket is unnecessary.

There are various devices and systems for transmitting the torque of the motor shaft to the drive shaft, such as gear drives, chain drives, pulleys, but only one form of sprocket system that can be used in the present invention is described here. Is done.
The drive system includes a first belt 98 disposed around the first sprocket 92 and the drum sprocket 100. The drum sprocket 100 has a spline to rotate in combination with the drum shaft 40, or is otherwise attached to the lower end of the drum shaft 40. The first belt tensioner 102 is positioned adjacent to the first belt 98. Belt tensioners are well known in the art as providing tension to belt drive systems.

  A second belt 104 is disposed around the second sprocket 94 and the container sprocket 106. The container sprocket 106 has a spline so that the container sprocket 106 and the central drive shaft 36 rotate in a combined state, or is otherwise attached to the lower end of the central drive shaft 36. A second belt tensioner 108 is also positioned adjacent to the belt 104.

The drive system is controlled in a similar manner as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,355,638 and 5,848,929 and will not be further described. The dimensions of each sprocket are selected to provide the desired relative speed between the outer drum and the inner container.
A controller 200 (shown in FIG. 1), an electronic or digital controller or other type of control system, such as a signal processor, may be used to actuate the linear actuator that lifts the lid assembly as well as for the speed and direction of rotation of the motor. used. Controllers are known to those skilled in the art and will not be discussed further.

  A traction surface as a traction interface is preferably provided between a portion of the inner container 34 and the inner surface of the outer drum 32, as described earlier and in US Pat. No. 5,355,638. The traction surface causes the inner container 34 to roll along the inner surface of the outer drum, thus imparting a rotational motion to the inner container. The traction surface causes the inner container to pivot by transmitting the momentum of the outer drum to the inner container as the outer drum rotates at different rotational speeds and possibly in a direction different from the rotational movement.

The traction surface eliminates the need for a complex gear system or a belt for each container, and the device is simpler with fewer maintenance conditions than conventional ones. By using the traction surface, the vibration of the entire device is also greatly reduced and the operation of the device is much lower and quieter than many conventional devices.
In the illustrated embodiment, the traction surface 150 is formed as a ring made of a relatively soft material, such as rubber or urethane, having elasticity and a high coefficient of static friction. The traction surface may have compressibility in the soft to rigid range depending on the application. Details of the traction surface are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,355,638 and 5,848,929, and will not be described here.

  The present invention is intended to produce high centrifugal and rotational forces on articles placed in a container. In order to accommodate the high loads associated with the present invention, the inner container and outer drum should be made from a high strength material such as steel. The frame structure and drive system should also be of a design shape that will accept the anticipated high loads. One of ordinary skill in the art can readily select the appropriate materials to support the speed and load expected in connection with the present invention.

The high centrifugal and rotational forces generated in the article by using the present invention can be used to carry out process processes including finishing at high speed and precision, thus producing high quality and superior products. In the present invention, the high speed generated in the friction medium and product contained in the container causes cold plastic deformation on the surface of the product to be processed. Without limitation, various articles that may be processed using the present invention include any of the products described in US Pat. Nos. 5,355,638 and 5,848,929. included.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications can be made within the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a vertical processor according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical processor of FIG. 1 showing the frame structure with the outer frame cover removed. 4 is a perspective view of the vertical processor of FIG. 3 illustrating the drive mechanism for the lid mechanism and processor with the frame structure and drum removed. FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5. FIG. 6 is a side view of the inner container shown with a portion of the lid assembly. FIG. 6B is a side view of the inner container of FIG. 6A with the lid positioned at the open position.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vertical processor 12 Frame assembly 14 Frame cover 16 Frame structure 18 Process processing assembly 20 Vertical column 22 Horizontal beam 24 Leg 26 Rotation processor 28 Drive mechanism 30 Lid assembly 32 Outer drum 34 Inner container 36 Central drive shaft 38 Bearing 40 Drum shaft 42 Bearing 44 Roll 46 Central disk 48 Container mount 50 U-shaped mount 52 Leg 54 Lift arm 56 Pin 58 Bearing block 60 Mounting shaft 61 Bearing 62 Lid 64 Cover plate 66 Seal 68 Lift block 69 Thrust bearing 70 Lug 72 Gas spring 74 Lift plate 76 Spline shaft 78 Spline linear bearing 80 Lift mount 82 Shaft 84 Upper lift plate 8 Linear actuator 90 motor 92 first sprocket 94 second sprocket 96 reduction gear 98 the first belt 100 drum sprocket 102 first belt tensioner 104 second belt 106 containers sprocket 108 second belt tensioner 150 traction surface 200 Controller

Claims (1)

A vertical processor,
An outer drum having an inner surface;
A plurality of inner containers positioned within the outer drum, having an open top and adapted to engage the inner surface of the outer drum by centrifugal movement when driven;
A drive system for centrifugally driving the inner container in the outer drum;
A lid adapted to detachably engage each inner container to close the inner container;
A lift mechanism attached to each lid and adapted to lift the lid from the inner container;
Including processor.

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