US1057786A

US1057786A - Rim polishing and finishing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1057786A
Application number: US69191912A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Vance
Original assignee: JACOB J WEISNER; PERRY H RUE
Current assignee: JACOB J WEISNER; PERRY H RUE
Priority date: 1912-04-19
Filing date: 1912-04-19
Publication date: 1913-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1930-04-01

Description

J. G- VANCE. RIM POLISHING AND FINISHING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 19, 1912.

1,057,786, Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. G. VAN GE. RIM POLISHINGAND FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 1912.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

2 SHEETFSHEET 2.

WE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. VANCE, OF FRANKLIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY-SEVEN AND ONE-HALF ONE-HUNDREDTI-IS T0 JACOB J. WEISNE-B AND TWENTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO PERRY I-I. RUE, BOTH 0F FRANKLIN, OHIO.

RIM POLISHING AND FINISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

Application filed April 19, 1912. Serial No. 691,919.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, JOE-IN G. VANCE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Franklin, county of Warren, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Him Polishing and Finishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for polishing the rims or fellies of vehicle wheels, and has for an object to produce a machine which will polish wheel rims and will eliminate the possibility of their being injured during the polishing operation.

The operation of completing a wheel rim includes three steps, each of which is usually carried forward by hand and necessitates considerable skill, care and experience. The first of the three operations is termed rounding and consists in rounding off the edges of the inner peripheral face of the rim, so as to produce the spoke supporting shoulders. This operation is usually performed by means of a special machine employing cutting knives, and it leaves the rim rough and with ridges on its inner and lateral faces and around the spoke supporting shoulders. The next operation is termed polishing and consists in smoothing and polishing the portions of the inner and lateral faces of the rim, located between the spoke supporting shoulders. Sand belts are usually employed in performing this operation, and the rim to be polished, is held in the hands of the operator and is swung back and forth while it is pressed against the polishing belt. Great care must be taken during this operation to prevent the edge of,

the polishing belt from moving too far up onto the spoke supporting shoulders, since if this occurs the belt will out too deeply into the rim and will leave a ridge or shoulder which will render the rim unfit for use. The third operation is termed finishing and is performed after the parts of the wheel are assembled. It consists in smooth ing and polishing the surfaces of the spoke supporting shoulders and is performed by hand with a finishing file and sandpaper.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a, machine which will polish and finish a wheel rim in the same operation,

and will perform both operations without marring the wheel rim.

Another object of my invention is to produce a machine which can be operated by a novice without any danger of damaging the rim.

In. the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views and illustrate positions which the rim, to be polished, assumes with relation to the polishing belt and the backing rollers, during the polishing operation. Fig. 4 is a sectional View along the line l4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a modified form of backing roller which forms a detail of my invention. Fig. 6 is a modified form of polishing belt which may be employed in the machine illustrated.

The machine illustrated as an embodiment of my invention includes a polishing belt and means for holding the belt in engagement with the surface of the rim during the polishing operation. The means employed, consists of two backing rollers, between which -a rim to be polished is inserted during the polishing operation. The rollers are so located that they press the belt into engagement with the surface of the rim to be polished, and they are so constructed that they permit the edges of the belt to yield quickly and easily to slight pressures so that the belt is capable of readily adjusting itself to conform to the contour of the surface of the wheel rim, with which it contacts, and particularly to the contour of the spoke supporting shoulders formed on the rim. This is accomplished in the-illustrated embodiment of my invention by forming the rollers of resilient or yielding material so that they are capable of distorting to accommodate variations in the positions of the edges of the belts which are encountered during the polishing operation and are occasioned by a variation in the contour of the surface of the wheel rim against which the belt contacts. This yielding of the backing roller prevents the edges of the belt fro-m cutting into the spoke supporting shoulder, but the rollers are so formed that they are capable of exerting suflicient pressure on the belt to hold its edges and its central portion in polishing engagement with the surface of the rim during the polishing operation. In other words, the rollers are so constructed that they are capable of holding the central portion and the edges of the polishing belt against the surface of a rim to be polished, with sufficient pressure to insure a thorough polishing action, but they are also capable of yielding sufiiciently to prevent the edges of the belt from being pressed against the spoke supporting shoulders with sufficient force to cause them to cut into and mar the surface of the rim. This action of the edges of the belt is further insured by the position of the rollers, with reference to the rim surface, to be polished, and also by the construction and arrangement of the'belt, as will hereinafter be pointed out.

The rollers are so located and arranged that they hold the belt in a looped position, so that it partially surrounds the rim, when i the rim is moved to the polishing position between them. The machine illustrated also includes a support for wheel rims which is adapted to guide the rim to position between the rollers and also to guide its motion relatively to the polishing belt during the polishing operatio Stops are also included in the machine for the purpose of limiting the motion of the support, or of the wheel rim, relatively to the polishing belt. In the machine illustrated, means are "employed for moving the backing rollers inwardly or toward each other, when the rim is moved. to the operative position. This movement of the rollers causes them to press the belt into polishing engagement with the sides as well as the inner peripheral face of the rim, and is limited by means of adjustable stops which are capable of being adjusted to different positions for rims of different sizes.

Referring to the drawings by means of the reference numerals which are so employed that similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views: The frame portion of the machine illustrated, includes two uprights 66 which are preferably, but not necessarily, rolled channel sections, and which are mounted on legs 6 for the purpose of providing a space for pulleys 9 and 10 one of which is located adjacent to the lower end of each channel 6 and is journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the frame portion. The upper ends of the channels 6-6 are secured together by means of plates 11 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the lateral flanges of the channels. Pulleys l2 and 12 are mounted on shafts, which extend transversely across the space between the plates 11 and which are mounted on the plates. The pulley 12 is located in line with the pulley 9 and cooperates with it in supporting a power belt 14. The pulley 12 is located in line with the pulley 10 and cooperates with it in supporting a power belt 14. Both of the pulleys 9 and 10 are driven by any suitable means through the agency of a belt 15 and cooperating pulleys. The pulleys 9, 10, 12, and 12 cooperate in supporting a polish ing belt 13 which surrounds them and eX- tends over the power belts 14 and 14: The power belts aid in supporting the belt 13, and they impart motion to it. A rim support 16 is mounted on the frame portion of the machine and is so located and arranged with reference to the belt 13 that a wheel rim 17, supported by it, is capable of being moved into engagement with the belt 13 so that it depresses the belt and causes it to occupy a looped position between two backing rollers 1818, with which the machine is provided. The support is also adapted to swing about a fulcrum or pivotal point for the purpose of moving the rim circumferentially across the face of the belt during the polishing operation.

Each backing roller 18 is shown journaled between the outer ends of a pair of arms 19 which are pivotally mounted on the plates 11 and are held in the retracted or withdrawn position by means of springs 20 located between the arm and suitable pins or lugs on the plate 11. The arms 19 are preferably, but not necessarily, so located and arranged that the backing rollers 13-18 en gage the belt 13 when it is in the normal position and when they are in normal or retracted positions, as shown in Fig. 1. The rollers are also adapted to be moved toward each other, or inwardly, with relation to the rim 17, when the guide 16 is moved downwardly and the rim is moved into engagement with the belt. This motion of the rollers is resisted by the springs 20 and its extent is limited by adjustable stops or set screws 23, which are suitably mounted on the frame of the machine and are adapted to engage the lower ends of the arms 19 when the rollers 18 are moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. The inward motion of the rollers moves the looped portion of the belt 13 to the position shown in Fig. 3, so that it partially surrounds the rim 17 to be polished and engages its lateral faces as well as its peripheral face.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of backing roller which is rounded or beveled at its edges and is formed of yielding or resilient material such, for example, as rubber. I find it advisable to employ yielding or resilient backing rollers under all conditions but it is not necessary under all circumstances to bevel or round off the edges of the rollers as shown in Fig. 5. By employing the yielding rollers 1818 the edges of the belt 13 are yieldingly held against the surface to be polished and are therefore capable of moving so as to follow variations in the contour of the surface against which they contact. This construction is employed for the special purpose of permitting the belt to accommodate itself to the variations in the contour of the rim occasioned by the spoke supporting shoulders, and it permits the edge of the belt to deflect and follow the surface of the shoulder without cutting too deeply into the rim and without marring it. The belt 13 is preferably so constructed that it cooperates with the rollers 18 in causing its edges to readily follow the variations in the contour of the rim to be polished. This is accomplished in the present embodiment of my invention by so forming the belt that it is heavier and consequently stiffer along its central portion than it is along its edges. In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a belt which is provided with a entrally extending reinforcing strip 24: and which is employed for the purpose of stiffening the central portion of the belt without stiffening its edges. The belt illustrated is also provided with smooth or unsanded margins 25 which are capable of varying their positions to follow the contour of the rim. While a belt including the margins 25 is not absolutely essential it may be employed with my machine.

It will be understood that the belt may be reinforced along its central portion in a number of different ways and that one of the reasons for reinforcing the central portion of the belt is to provide a belt which is strong enough to withstand the strains to which it is subjected and yet is provided with flexible edges capable of yielding in response to slight pressure, and of following the contour of the rim, to be polished.

As has been said, the rim support 16 is adapted to guidethe rim 17, supported by it, as it is moved downwardly into engagement with the belt 13 and between the rollers 18 18. It is also adapted to guide the rim so that it moves circumferentially across the face of the belt after the belt is moved to the looped position between the rollers. The support is therefore so mounted on the frame of the machine that it is capable of being moved up and down and also of being swung about a pivotal point. This is accomplished in the illustrated embodiment of my invention by mounting the support 16 between guides 16 and by securing it to the guides by means of a pin and slot connection which permits the support to be moved up and down along the guides and also to be swung about its point of connection with them.

As illustrated, the support consists of a triangular rocker frame 26, on which two rim supporting arms 2727 are adjustably mounted, so that they are capable of being moved to different positions, relatively of the rocker frame, to accommodate wheel rims of different diameters. Each arm 27 is preferably formed of metal tubing and extends through suitable slides 28 formed on the frame 26 and so located with relation to each other that the arms extend at an angle to each other, corresponding to the angle between adjacent spokes of wheels of standard make. Each arm is adapted to be secured in the adjusted positions on the rocker frame by means of a pin 29, which is adapted to be mounted in one or another of a series of apertures 30 formed in the arm and to engage a cooperating slot or notch formed in the edge of one of the slides 28. The apertures 30 are so spaced that the arm can be secured in diflerent positions to accommodate wheel rims of different standard diameters. The guides 28 are off-set, with relation to the pivotal point of the rocker frame 26, for the purpose of providing a greater amount of longitudinal adjustment for the arms 27 than could otherwise be obtained. In order to compensate for the off-setting of the arms 27 and to insure a circumferential motion for rims of all sizes, as they are moved across the face of the belt 13 during the polishing operation, I have provided each arm 27 with an adjustably mounted end piece 31, having an inwardly projecting arm on which a tip 32 is removably mounted. As illustrated, each tip is provided with a pin 33, which -is adapted to be movably mounted in an aperture formed in the piece 31, and which is so located that the center of the tip is located at the same distance from the axis of the arm 27, to which it is secured, as the arm is located from the point of oscillation or pivotal point of the rocker frame 26. With this arrangement each tip will be moved radially with reference to the pivotal point of the rocker frame, as its mounting arm is moved longitudinally through its mounting slides 28. Each piece 31 is provided with a tubular stem 34:, which is adapted to telescope with the end of one of the arms 27 and to be secured to it by any suitable means, such for example, as a pin 35, whichas shownis adapted to engage one or another of a series of apertures, formed in the stem 34, and a registering aperture, formed in the end of the arm 27. The tips 32 are made removable so that they can be interchanged .to fit spoke holes of different sizes.

As illustrated, the guides 16, for the rocker frame 26 consists of two oppositely disposed bars, which are secured to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner and are preferably located midway between the channels 6-6, or so that they occupy a central position with relation to the backing rollers 18-18. The guides 16 are spaced apart so as to receive the rocker frame 26 between them, and they are provided with oppositely located apertures 36,

which are adapted to cotiperate in receiving a mounting or pivot pin 37 for the rocker frame 26. The pin 37 is adapted to be mounted in place, on the guides, by being inserted through any two of the oppositely disposed apertures 36, and it is also adapted to project through a slot 38, provided in the rocker frame 26, and to thereby secure the support 16 to its guides. The rocker frame is also secured to the bars 16 by means of coiled springs 3939, which operate to hold it in a central position, with relation to the bars, and also in the upper or raised position so that the pin 37 normally engages the low-er end of the slot 38, and so that the wheel rim 17 mounted on the end pieces of the arms 27, occupies a position above the belt 13 and the rollers 1818. The springs 39 are mounted between suitable lugs, provided on the frame 26, and a movable bar 41, which is adapted to be adjustably mounted between the guides 16, by means of a pin 42, which is capable of being secured in different positions along the guides, by being inserted through its oppositely located apertures 36. Vith this arrangement the position of the bar 41, can be varied to sult the different positions of the frame 26, which is adapted to be moved to different positions along the guides by varying the position of the pin 37.

The apertures 36 are spaced apart 1n accordance with the variations in the diameters of standard wheels, and the operation of adjusting the positions of the rim support, to suit a wheel of a standard diameter, consists merely in moving the rocker frame along the guide bars and then inserting the pin 37 through the proper pair of apertures 36 and the slot 38. The positions of the pin 5 2 and the bar 11 are then adjusted to corre spond to the position of the rocker frame. I have found it convenient to number the apertures 36 so as to indicate the proper position for the pin 37 for wheel rims of different diameters. I have also found it convenient to correspondingly number the apertures 30 provided in the arms 27 so that the G'lIQCtlVQ length of the arms can be easily varied to correspond with the variations in the position of the rocker frame.

In the drawings I have illustrated means for moving the rim support 16 downwardly along the guides 16 and in opposition to the pull of the springs 39, so that the upper end of the slot 38 is moved into engagement with the pin 37 and becomes the point of oscillation of the rocker frame or of the rim support. The means illustrated consists of a foot lever 43 which is so mounted on the frame of the machine that it projects forwardly so that it is in a convenient position relatively to the foot of the operator, of the machine. When the foot lever is depressed it operates, through the agency of a link or other connection 4:4, to move the rocker frame 26 downwardly along its guides and to hold it in the lowest position with the upper end of the slot 38 engaging the pin 37. When the rocker frame is in this position the rim 17 carried by the arms 27 is located in the operative position, with respect to the belt 13 and the backing rollers l8-l8. The circumferential motion of the rim relatively to the belt 13 is transmitted to it by oscillating the guide 16 about the pin 37. This oscillatory motion of the rim is limited by means of adjustable stops 15, which are mounted on the rocker frame 26 and are adapted to engage the guides 16 when the rocker frame is moved to one extreme position or the other. These stops are so located on the frame that they permit the wheel rim, mounted on the rim guide, to be swung back and forth through an arc of a circle, which is approximately equal in length to the distance between adjacent spoke holes, of the rim on the guides. The stops are provided for the purpose of preventing the edges of the polishing belt from moving too far up on the spoke supporting shoulders and they cooperate with the flexible backing rollers in preventing the belt from marring the surface of the rim.

In the drawings I have illustrated means for moving the rollers 18l8 inwardly or toward each other when the rim support is moved downwardly. The means illustrated consists of a system of cords and pulleys which is operated by the foot lever 43, and is solocated that it moves the upper ends of each of the arms 19 inwardly when the lever is depressed. The connection between the arms 19 and the lever, however, is such that the lever may be moved downwardly a predetermined amount before the rollers 17 are moved inwardly. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and is for the purpose of per mitting the rim 16, carried by the rim support, to be moved down below the axes of the rollersas shown in Fig. 2-before the 'rollers are moved toward each other, and it is accomplished by providing a lost-motion connection between the actuating cords 46 and the lever. In Fig. 3 the rollers 18-18 and the rim 17 are shown in the positions they occupy during the rim polishing operation. The cords 46 also form stops for the arms 19, which prevent the springs 21 from moving them too far back.

Ihave found it desirable to provide means for holding the belt 13 taut over its guide pulleys and the

power belts

14 and 14 and for also taking up the stretch which may occur in the belt while it is in use. The means illustrated consists of an ordinary weighted idler 17 which is adapted to engage the inner face of the belt. I have also found that it is desirable to provide flanges 'on the pulleys 12 and 12 for guiding the belt 13 as it passes over them. I also provide guides 48 on the upper end of each of the arms 19, for cooperating with the flange pulleys 12 and 12 in guiding the belt over the rollers 18-18. I find it desirable to form the guides 48 separately so that they can be easily and cheaply replaced after they are worn out by the friction of the sand belt 13. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the guides 48 to the upper ends of the arms and they are pref erably made of cast iron or some relatively hard and cheap metal.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows: A wheel rim to be polished is located in place on the rim guide by inserting the tips 32, carried by the rim support arms 27, into two adjacent spoke holes on the rim. The end of the rim is preferably held in the hands of the operator and the rim is moved downwardly so that it depresses the belt 13, as is shown in Fig. 3. The foot lever 43 is employed for aiding the downward motion of the rim, which is guided by the rim support 16. The rollers 18 are moved into the position shown in Fig. 3 by the foot lever 43 as the rim and the wheel rim support are moved to the operative position or to the end of their downward movement. The inner peripheral and lateral surfaces of the rim are then polished by moving the rim circumferentially as described, which is accomplished by oscillating the rim support 16 or swinging it about its mounting pin 37 until the portion of the inner peripheral and lateral faces of the rim located between adjacent spoke holes are fully polished. The oscillatory motion of the rim support 16 and consequently of the rim 17 is limited by the stops 45, which are so adjusted wit-h relation to the guide bars 16', that only the edges of the belt 13 can move up on to the spoke supporting shoulders. With this arrangement one flexible edge of the belt moves up onto one spoke supporting shoulder as the rim 17 is swung in one direction and then the other edge moves up onto the adjacent shoulder as the rim is swung in the other direction. The flexible edges of the belt 13, and the yielding backing rollers 1818 permit the edges of the belt to conform to the contour of the shoulders, on the rim, as they pass over them. The stops 45 limit the relative lateral motion between the belt and the rim and prevent the belt from riding too far up onto and damaging the shoulders by cutting too deeply into their surfaces. These stops can be adjusted to suit varying conditions of different rims. After the surface of the rim, located between one pair of adjacent spoke holes, has been polished the foot lever 43 is released and the rim 17 is allowed to move upwardly, in response to the pull of the springs 39, until it moves from bet-ween the rollers 1818 and is withdrawn from engagement with the belt 13. The rim is then moved so that the next adjacent pair of spoke holes are brought into engagement with the tips 32, and the operation is then repeated until the entire rim is polished and all the spoke supporting shoulders are finished. The operation of changing the adjustment of the arms 27 and the position of the rim support 16 on its guides to accommodate rims of different diameters, is very simple and has been described. The construction of the support 15, however, is such that the pivot point of the rocker frame 26 coincides with the center of the rim on the support no matter what the diameter of the rim is, and consequently every rim moves in a true circumferential direction when the support 16 is oscillated and every rim occupies about the same relative position with relation to the rollers 18-18 when the foot lever 43 is depressed.

In accordance with the United States patent statutes, I have illustrated what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, and I have described its details of construction together with its principles of operation, but I desire it to be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions, may be made in the construction, details and arrangements of parts of the machine illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing agent for the rim to be polished, and means for preventing said agent from moving up onto the spoke supporting shoulders of the rim during the polishing operation.

2. In a machine of the character described, a polishing belt, a resilient backing roller therefor, means for supporting and guiding a rim to be polished during the polishing operation and means for moving the supporting means to cause the rim carried thereby to contact with the belt and stops for limiting the motion of the supporting means relatively to the roller.

3. In a machineof the character described, a polishing belt, a pair of backing rollers, a guide for moving a rim to be polished into engagement with the belt and for deflecting it between the rollers and stops for limiting the motion of the guide relatively to the rollers.

4. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a guide for moving a rim into engagement with the belt and backing rollers for the belt and means formoving the rollers in response to the motion of the guide to press the belt against the rim during the polishing operation.

In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a guide for the rim to be polished, yielding means for pressing the belt into rollers to press the belt into engagement with the rim on the guide and stops for limiting the motion of the guide relatively to said means and said belt.

6. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a backing roller for the belt and a stop for limiting the motion of the rim to be polished relatively to said roller.

7. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt against which the rim is adapted to be moved during the polishing operation, backing rollers for pressing the belt into polishing engagement with the rim and a stop for limiting the motion of the rim relatively to the rollers.

8. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, movable backing rollers for the belt, stops for limiting the motion of the rim relatively tothe belt and means for moving the polishing engagement with the rim.

9. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a pair of rollers between which the belt is depressed by the rim during the polishing operation, a guide for guiding the motion of the rim and means for actuating the guide and said rollers.

10. I11 a rim polishing machine, a polish ing belt, oppositely disposed yielding backing rollers for the belt between which the rim is introduced during the polishing op eration, a guide for guiding the motion of the rim during the polishing operation, and means for actuating the guide and the rollers to press the belt into engagement with the rim.

11. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, resilient backing rollers for the belt, and between which the rim is introduced during the polishing operation, means for varying the relative positions of the rollers, and adjustable stops for limiting the motion of the rollers.

12. In combination in a rim polishing machine, apolishing belt, a pair of oppositely disposed backing rollers for the belt, be-

tween which the rim is adapted to be moved during the polishing operation, means for actuating the rollers to move the belt into polishing engagement with the rim, and a rim support for the rim capable of being rocked about a pivotal point and of being moved toward and away from the belt.

13. In combination in a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a rim support for guiding the motion of the rim relatively to the belt during the polishing operation, guides between which the rim support is pivotally mounted and means for moving the support along said guides.

I 145. In combination in a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a pair of oppositely disposed backing rollers for the belt, be-

tween which the rim is adapted to be moved during the polishing operation, means for actuating the rollers to move the belt into polishing engagement. with the rim, a support for guiding the motion of the rim relatively to the belt, guides between which the support is pivotally mounted, means for moving the support along the guides and stops for limiting the oscillatory motion of the support, relatively to the guides.

15. In combination in a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a rim support for guiding the motion of the rim relatively to the belt during the polishing operation and comprising a rocker frame pivotally mounted between longitudinally extending guides, means for moving the frame along the guides and means for varying the position of the pivotal point of the frame relatively to the guides.

16. In combination in a rim polishing ma.- chine, a polishing belt, a rim support for guiding the motion of the rim relatively to the belt and comprising a rocker frame having adjustably mounted spoke supporting arms, guides between which said frame is pivotally mounted, means for moving the frame along the guides to move the rim into contact with the belt, means for shifting the position of the pivotal point of the frame along the guides and stops for limit-- ing the oscillatory motion of the frame relatively to the guides.

17. In combination in a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt and a backing roller for the belt, adapted to permit the edges of the belt to conform to the contour of the surface with which the belt contacts.

18. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt having edges capable of conforming to the contour of the surface of the rim to be polished, a yielding backing roller for pressing the belt into engagement with the 105 rim and means for limiting the lateral motion of the rim relatively to the edges of the belt.

19. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, having edges capable of confor nn ing to the contour of the surface of the rim to be polished. a backing roller for the belt adapted to permit the edges of the belt to yield during the polishing operation and a stop for limiting the lateral motion of the 5 rim relatively to the belt.

20. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt having edges capable of conforming to the contour of the surface of the rim 7 to be polished, yielding backing rollers be- 2 tween which the belt is adapted to be depressed by the rim during the polishing operation, stops for limiting the lateral motion of the rim relatively to the belt, and means for moving the backing rollers to 1% press the belt into polishing engagement with the rim.

21. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a movable support for guiding rims during the polishing operation, means, en- 1-31! gaging the belt, for holding the belt and a rim, located on the support, in polishing engagement with each other during the polishing operation, and stops for limiting the relative lateral motion of the rim across the face of the belt.

22. Ina rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a guide for rims to be polished, resilient backing rollers having rounded ends, means for actuating said rollers to move the belt into polishing engagement with a rim located on the guide and stops for limiting the motion of the guide across the face of the belt and relatively to said rollers.

23. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, a backing roller for holding the belt in polishing engagement wit-h the rim, and means for guiding a rim in a substantially arc-shaped path across the face of the belt during the polishing operation and for limiting the motion of the rim relatively to the belt.

24. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, means for driving the belt, a pivoted support for guiding a rim in an areshaped path across the face of the belt during the polishing operation, backing rollers for pressing the belt into polishing engagement with the rim on the support and stops for limiting the oscillatory motion of the support relatively to the belt.

25. In a rim polishing machine, a polishing belt, means for driving said belt, a reciprocally mounted and pivoted support for moving a rim into engagement with the belt and for guiding it in a substantially arcshaped path across the face of the belt during the polishing operation, stops for limiting the oscillatory motion of the support relatively to the belt, and a backing roller for pressing the belt into polishing engagement with the rim on the support.

J OHN- G. VANCE.

Witnesses:

J. J. IVIESNER, ELIAS FALK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.