US2194780A

US2194780A - Polishing machine

Info

Publication number: US2194780A
Application number: US254361A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred O Andersen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-02-03
Filing date: 1939-02-03
Publication date: 1940-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1957-03-26

Description

March 26, 1940. A. o. ANDERSEN- POLISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1939 4 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR flZ/ied 0 fllzaersen/ My. 0W

ATTORNEY March 26, 1940.

A. O. ANDERS EN POLISHING MACHINE Fild Feb. 3, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. fl l/9ed Qflnwiersezg BY r %1 Mw ATTORNEY March 26, 1940. A. o. ANDERSEN POLISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE r 2,194,780 POLISHING MACHINE Alfred 0. Andersen, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254,361 17 Claims. (01. 51-105) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in polishing machines such as are employed for polishing or buffing the surface of automobile light lenses, or other forms of sheet or cast metal or glass parts.

In this connection it will be understood that the polishing wheels and chucking means herein.

disclosed will necessarily vary in accordance with the shape and character of the work to be polished. As shown in the drawings, the chucks are especially designed for holding sheet metal concave and convex discs which require to be.

polished on both the inner concave and outer convex faces.

The machine is of a continuous rotating table type which carries and allows for the simultaneous and continuous rotary movement of a number of work carrying chucks which are carried around with the table, the work being placed in position by an operator standing in front of the machine, and by whom the finished work is removed and replaced by new Work pieces while remaining in one position, and while the table is rotating. As soon as the work pieces to i be polished are chucked, they are brought into engagement with the polishing wheels which polish the work when mounted in the rotating chucks while being carried around with the table.

The usual class of work polished on this machine, such as reflectors, are completely polished on one side during a single rotation of the table, yet if necessary two or more rotations may be made depending on the character of the work i for the completion of the polishing operation.

The machine, as herein illustratedJs a fourspindle machine, it being obvious, of course, that the invention may be carried out in the construction of a machine having a greater or lesser nummer of work spindles as may be necessary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a central vertical cross section through my complete machine showing two of the four chucking spindles.

Fig. 2 shows a detached perspective view of the annular tract for supporting the chuck spindles as they are moved around by the table for polishing operations.

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of my improved polishing machine.

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatical plan View of the distributor shown in Figs. 1 and 6, including electrical connections therefrom.

Fig. 5 shows an inverted sectional plan view on a slightly reduced scale, as seen from thebottom looking up under the machine, better to illustrate thedrive means for the table. and chucks.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged vertical cross sectional. view of the electric distributor seen in. Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged broken cross section taken on line I of Fig. 6 showing the vacuum pipe connections for the chucks.

,Fig. 8 shows an enlarged detached front elevation of the chuck. carrying means shown at the left in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 shows a central vertical sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8, showing the chuck supporting sleeve, the adjustable housing and gear drive mechanism for the chuck, and

Fig. 10 shows a detail side elevational view as seen from the outer side of the machine looking at the edge of the table, the chuck spindle and mechanism for raising and lowering the same.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, l l represents a flat base plate which may be formed of cast iron and which in practice would rest upon the floor of a shop or other place where the machine is set up for operation. II a is a central hollow pedestal that is bolted to the base plate and serves to support the rotatable table and other operating features of the machine. I2 is an annular sheet metal closure or guard member that is attached to the edge portion of the base plate as at l3 and serves to enclose the side portions of themachine. l4 represents a cylindrical supporting member which is also attached to the base as at l5 and carries an annular track 16 upon which a roller l1 travels as in the lifting and supporting of the chuck as will later be described.

To the upper flanged portion of the pedestal I la is secured a ring gear l8, its teeth being upon its outer periphery for the operation of gear connections for the several chucks of which but four are shown in the accompanying drawings. There obviously may be a greateror lesser number of these chucks, as may be required, for the particular class of work to be performed. To the upper end of the pedestal Ha is secured a supporting plate IS in which is formed an annular groove forming a ball-race 20, in which suitable balls 2| are positioned for supporting the ring 22 secured to the closure member 23 that is fastened to the rotatable table 24, the said balls, race-Way and bearing plates serving as the bearing upon which the table rotates, it being understood that with the rotation of the table, the train of gears 25 are caused to rotate and operate the several drive spindles as will be later described. The upper dome portion 26 of the housing that surrounds the reduced end 21 of the column is provided with a ball bearing 28, see Figs. 1 and 6, that insure free rotary movement of the housing and table with respect to the supporting column.

The chuck units, driving gears, etc., as well as the bufiing wheels and their mountings, are alike in each instance and as before intimated any desired number within reason may be employed, there obviously being a polishing unit for each chuck. The chucking units as well as the polishing units are carried upon the table which is designed to be continuously driven through the medium of an electric motor 29 secured to the underside of the table. This motor, shown in Fig. 5, includes a driving gear 30 that meshes with the beforementioned stationary ring gear l8 secured to the pedestal in a manner to rotate the table upon the pedestal.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be seen that the drive spindles 3! are each rotatedthrough separate gear trains 25 supported on the underside of the table. For this purpose a plate 32 is secured to the underside of the table by screws 33 which plates are disposed radially with respect to the axis of the table. These plates, there being one for each gear train, each support two depending

bolts

34 and 35 which form bearings for the gears 36, 3'! and 38. The

gears

36 and 31 as shown are twin gears, the upper one of which is driven through its engagement with the ring gear l8 and the other one 36 serves to drive an intermediate idle gear 38a mounted on a stud 35! carried by a plate All which is positioned against the underside of the

gears

31, 38 and Star by means of nuts 4|. The gear 33 is slidable vertically on its bearing 35, though is normally held down by a spring 42 mounted upon the bolt 35, thereby insuring meshing engagement with the gears 43 secured to the lower end portion of the drive spindles 3|.

Each of the several polishing units, see Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10, include a drive spindle, bearings and drive mechanisms, and are also otherwise alike in construction, as will be seen. Each unit includes a bearing 44 that is bolted to the table at equal distances apart and extends down through the table in a way to form an elongated bearing for a sleeve 45 in which the spindle 3! is mounted to rotate. These sleeves are each provided with a keyway 45a which is engaged by a spline 46 secured in the bearing 44 allowing the sleeve to be raised and lowered, against turning, but in a manner to form a bearing for the spindle whereby the same may be driven through the gear train before-mentioned.

Each of the several polishing units includes a chuck, universal driving means, as well as a polishing wheel, all of which are carried by the table. The form of the chuck 3611 as well as the peripheral surface of the polishing wheels 41 may be varied to accommodate the particular shape of work piece A to be polished. By this means both the sleeve 45 and the spindle 3| may be raised and lowered to contact the work pieces A with the polishing wheels 41, as will be later more fully described.

A double-acting pinch collar 43 is secured to the supporting sleeve 45 by means of a clamping screw 48a and forms an annular bearing 49 which is partially severed as at 4911 from the lower fixed part of the collar 48 and serves to adjustably support therein the depending hub portion 58 of the gear housing 5 I to provide a horizontal rotary adjustment of the gear housing on the nonrotatable bearing 49, the said hub portion 50 being clamped or released in the bearing 49 by means of the clamping screws cm. This obviously permits of a rotary adjustment of the housing 5| whereby it and the chuck can be turned completely around on the collar G8 or to any intermediate position to better accommodate concave, convex, fiat, oval and fan-shaped surfaces to be buffed.

The gear housing as will be seen is formed of two parts 5! and 52 whose annular finished surfaces 52a are fitted for annular adjustment, one of said parts being provided with a slot 53 and a screw 53a which passes through the said slot and threadably engages the coacting member in a way to clamp the members of the box together after the same have been adjusted to the position desired. In this respect it will be seen that the member 52 of the housing includes a radially disposed. hub portion 54 that forms a bearing for the chuck spindle 54a.

The housing is mounted for rotary adjustment on the sleeve 45 and serves to enclose a bevel pinion 55 secured on the upper end of the spindle 3i, which by the way extends through and into the housing member 5!. This housing also encloses a cross shaft 55a that'is arranged horizontally and at a right angle to the spindle 3| and carries upon one end a beveled pinion 56 that meshes with the beforementioned pinion 55 and carries upon its other end a beveled pinion 56a that meshes with and drives a fourth beveled pinion 57 upon the chuck spindle 54a. The cylindrical hubs of the two said beveled pinions mounted upon the cross shaft are keyed to the said cross shaft and their hub portions are fitted in bearings of the housing to permit free rotation of the shaft and pinions. From the foregoing it will be seen that the chuck is adapted for rotary, forward, backward and angular adjustment to meet all requirements, so that to it can be attached any form of work desired.

The form of chuck as well as the polishing wheels required therefore depends entirely upon the form of the work piece to be finished. Where concaved pieces such as an automobile head light lense is to be finished a form of chuck somewhat like that shown at the right in Fig. l and also in Fig. 10 would be employed. Whereas if it is a convex piece to be polished a form of chuck like that shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9 would be employed. One can obviously be substituted for the other by disconnecting the shank of the chuck from the chuck spindle 54a. It will also be understood from Fig. 1 that one or more difierent types of chucks may be carried by the machine at the same time, as for instance two like that shown at the left of Fig. 1 could be employed along with two like that shown at the right. In this way one set of chucks could be used for Ibufiing the outside of the discs and the other pair used to bufif the inside of the work, thereby completing the operation of bufling both sides of a piece with each rotation of the table. The particular adjustment of the supporting means for the chucks, including the housing, would necessarily vary according to the'size and shape of the work piece to be buffed. In most instances the resetting of the chucks would probably not be required very frequently since such work pieces as those above mentioned are produced by the thousands.

From the foregoing it will be understood that both the chuck and the polishing wheel are power driven to rotate in either direction, the polishing wheel being driven direct from the motor 68 while the chucks are driven through the gear train 25 from the ring gear, thence through the detachable gear 43 to the drive spindle 3|, the beveled gears 55, 56, 56a and 51 to the chuck spindle 54a. The gear drive within the housing is, as will be seen, of such construction as will permit the chuck shaft to be deflected forward or backward to permit one section of the housing as well as the chuck shaft carried thereby to be deflected forward as. shown in Figs. 1 and 8 or to be set back in a vertical position as shown'in Figs. 1 and 10. This housing, as well as the parts carried thereby, are also free to be adjustably turned in the pinch collar 48 as may be necessary to provide a proper setting of the chuck to accommodate the work piece carried thereby.

The work is held on the chuck by a vacuum system which includes a perforated form of chuck B against which the work piece A is placed and held by suction, these perforations leading to'a suitable passage b down through the chuck spindle 54a and is there coupled to a cross pipe 51a, see Figs? and 9, secured in the housing 52 and having an outlet 53 for the: attachment of a vacuum pipe. The pipes, not shown, from the several chucks may be connected in a manner to form a single pipe which can lead off to a vacuum tank or pump, not shown, as preferred. These individual pipe connections from the chucks may also be provided with suitable valves, not shown, which are turned off and on to release and clamp the work pieces.

The circular track [6 heretofore referred to, see Figs; 1, 2 and 5, is secured to the inner wall of the support M in any suitable manner and is level for a portionpf its circumference but has a decided dip at'the loading station. This clip includes a relatively sharp decline 0, a comparatively level lower portion d and a gradual incline 6 better to allow ofthe rapid lowering of the drive spindles to permit the same and the chucks to cease rotation, while the spindles continue to move along with the table for a short distance so that the work piece can be removed and the chuck reloaded. p

In order to best accomplish this I pivotally connect a spring actuated hook 59, see Figs. 1 and 10, as at 6i? to the underside of thetable and immediately above the rollers ll. A" spring 6! normally holds the hook in a vertical position in a Way to engage the bracket 62 secured to the sleeve 45, adjacent to the roller IT, and support the same and its chuck during the travel of the roller over the upper horizontal portion $4 of the track. In order to release this hook from the roller bracket as the chucks approach the loading station. I secure a knockout pin 65, see Fig. 5, to the inner wall of the support M, which pin extends inward, in the lineof travel of the hook so that the latter with the rotation of the table will strike the pin and become disengaged from the roller bracket and at the same time permit the gear 13 on the spindle 3| to become disengaged from the slip gear 38. This leaves the roller ll free to ride down the decline, along the level portion and up the incline of the track thereby lowering the chuckJand permite ting the finished work piece to be removed and.

another piece placed in the chuck, to be finished.

As the roller reaches the high point f of the.

track it again engages the hook and becomes connected, whereupon they travel together to support the work piece in engagement with, the polishing wheel 61, during the further travel of the table. Thechuck spindle and its roller are supported by the hook'slightly above the adjacent top surface of the track until its hook again strikes the knockout'pin and releases the spindle.

The polishing wheels Glare each driven by separate motors 68 which in turn are mounted on adjustable plates 69 whereby the axis of the motor spindles and polishing wheels may be adjusted at various angles better to perform the required polishing operations on various kinds of work, if

desired. These severalplates like the motors are alike in construction and are indirectly mounted upon the beforementioned closure member 23 which, as before stated, is secured to the table of the machine. This adjusting means for the several motors includes a fixed bracket 10 thatv connected to an eye 73 on the underside of the plate 69. This bracket it serves also to support two pair of uprights 14 that are slotted to receive arod 15 mounted in lugs of the plate 69 upon which the motor 68 is secured. Rods "It are carried by the arms of a yoke-shaped end on each motor plate, and serve to pivotally connect said plates with a block ll slidably mounted on one end of a threaded sleeve 3|, which engages a vertically disposed screw 18 made integral with and forming part of a covering 19 secured to the hub portion 26 of the closure member 23 and covering the electrical distributor 80.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the motor base plates 93 can readily be adjusted to change the angle of the motor spindles first by the adjusting of the nut 15 which serves to raise and lower the outer end portions of the said motor base plates. these base plates can be obtained through the raising and lowering of the block H, which as before stated is pivotally connected through rods 16 with said plates 69. As stated, the block ll is operated through the sleeve 3! that threadably engages the threaded stem "i8 and is rotated by a handle 82 mounted upon the upper end of the sleeve 8i whose lower end portion is slidably connected with the beforementioned block '3'! so that with the turning of the sleeve by the handle 82, the block will be raised or lowered for the adjustment of the motor plates and motors.

The distributor Bil, as shown in Figs. 6 and 4 comprises a hollow post 83 that is mounted on the reduced upper end portion 2'! of the column Ila and is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 85 made of fiber. washers 85 mounted on this sleeve, that are secured as by means of a washer and nut 83a There are also four fiber Further adjustment of on the end of the post 83. Three or more bronze,

plates

86, 8 and 88 are positioned between the fiber washers 85 and are provided with a series of tubular insulators 89 which are positioned in round holes through the bronze plates andserve to accommodate three or more contact rods 90 one of which is imbedded in the lower bronze plate 86, another in the intermediate bronze tion of the several bronze plates to insure the turning of the same with the table. 96 represents binding posts that are also carried by the said bronze plates and are electrically connected by wires 91 to distributor plates 98 of the outlet box 99 by wires IDE! there.

The distributor plate obviously serves to supply electric current to the

several motors

29 and 68, each motor being provided with a separate connection from each one of the three plates. The supply wire Hi8 which, in the present in stance, is in the form of a cable, is brought up through the column H and post 83, shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and each of the several wires of this cable are connected to binding posts 95 that supply current to the distributor 80 whereas the wires 9'! connect the several binding posts 96 to the several plates of the outlet box 99 from which connections are made to the respective motors.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A polishing machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles mounted in the table, gear drive means as between the column and the spindles for rotating the same, means for raising and lowering the spindles and chucks for engaging and disengaging said gear drive means, and a series of polishing wheels carried by the table and adapted to operate upon work carried by the chucks while in a raised position.

2. A polishing machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles mounted in the table, gear drive means as between the column and the spindles for rotating the same, means for engaging and disengaging said gear drive means, a series of polishing wheels carried by the table and adapted to operate upon work carried by the chucks while in a raised position, and an annular track beneath the table adjacent the line of travel of the spindles, and a supporting roller carried by each spindle to engage the track.

3. A polishing machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles mounted in the table, gear drive means as between the column and the spindles for rotating the same, an annular track beneath the table adjacent the line of travel of the spindles, a supporting roller carried by each spindle to engage the track, said track having a downwardly looped portion to guide the rolls and spindles down and up to disengage and engage the spindles from the drive, and a series of polishing wheels carried by the table and adapted to operate upon work carried by the chucks while in a raised position.

4. A continuous turning polishing machine comprising a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table,

a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles carried by the table, adjustable motor supporting means carried by the table, a series of motors each bearing a polishing wheel carried by said supporting means and means for operating the said adjusting means to change the angular position of the motors and polishing wheels to better operate on work carried by the chucks.

5. A continuous turning polishing machine comprising a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a bearing plate mounted on the column, a closure member secured on the table and carrying a bearing plate and balls to form a ball bearing for the table, a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles mounted on the table, gear drive means as between the column and the spindles for rotating the same, a series of polishing wheels carried by the table adapted to operate upon work carried by the chucks and means for raising and lowering the spindles and chucks to be engaged and disengaged by the polishing wheel.

6. A polishing machine comprising a column, a table mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a drive spindle, a chuck, a chuck spindle, chuck drive gearing, a ring gear secured to the column, a gear train connecting the ring gear and the chuck drive gearing, means to engage and disengage the gear train, chuck and chuck spindle, drive gearing connecting the drive spindle and the chuck spindle, means for adjusting the chuck and its spindle in various angular positions with respect to the drive spindle.

7. A continuous turning polishing machine, comprising a. column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a series of rotatable chuck bearing spindles carried by the table, a motor and polishing Wheel for each chuck, an adjustable motor supporting means comprising a bracket carried by the table, a motor supporting plate, an adjustable screw means for raising and lowering one portion of the motor supporting plate, guide posts carried by the table, a yoke in engagement with the said sup porting plates, and a screw and nut for raising and lowering the yoke to raise and lower the supporting plates and motors.

'8. A continuous turning polishing machine, comprising a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a

series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles carried by the table, a series of motors each bearing a polishing wheel carried by the table, one for each chuck, means for changing the relative position of the chucks and polishing wheels to bring the wheels into and out of operative engagement, means for simultaneously changing the angular position of the motors with respect to the chucks, means for rotating the chuck spindles simultaneously with the rotating of the table.

9. A polishing machine of the class described comprising a column, a ring gear positioned thereon, a table rotatably mounted on the column and having means to engage the ring gear to rotate the table, a gear train supported by the table, one gear of each train being normally in engagement with the ring gear, chuck carrying spindles mounted in the table and adapted to be raised and lowered and having a gear normally connected with the gear train, means for engaging and disengaging said spindle gear from the gear train to stop and start the rotation of the spindle, means for holding a work piece in the chuck, motor driven polishing wheels carried by the table in a position to operate on work mounted in the chucks.

10. A polishing machine of the class described, comprising a column, a ring gear positioned thereon, a table rotatably mounted on the column and having means to engage the ring gear to rotate the table, a gear train supported by the spindle carried on the support, drive gearing connecting the drive spindle and the chuck spindle,

table, one gear of which is normally in engagement with the ring gear, a chuck carrying spindle mounted on the table and adapted to be raised ing upon the supporting sleeve.

15. In a polishing machine, a rotatable table, 1 rotatable polishing wheels carried thereby, means and lowered and having a gear normally in engagement with the gear train, a hook carried by the table to engage and support the spindle motors and polishing wheels carried upon the table, means secured to the table for engaging the hook to disconnect it from the spindles at the loading station to disengage the polishing wheel.

11. A polishing machine ofthe'class described comprising a central column, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating the table, a series of rotatable chuck carrying spindles slidably mounted in the table, gear drive means as between the column and the spindles to rotate the same, an annular track beneath the table in chuck from the the path of travel of the spindles, a supporting roller carried by each spindle to run upon the track, motor driven polishing wheels carried by the table, hook means secured to the table for supporting the chucks in engagement with the polishing wheel, means to engage and disengage the spindle from the drive means and polishing wheels to permit loading of Work pieces.

12. In a polishing machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary table, a motor and polishing wheelv mounted thereon, a spindle and chuck rotatably mounted in the table beneath the polishing wheel, means for driving the spindle, means for raising and lowering the spindle and the chuck with respect to the polishing wheel, the chuck including vacuum means for clamping a work piece thereon.

13. In a polishing machine, a rotary table, a

polishing wheel and means for rotating the same,

chuck supporting and driving'means comprising a vertically movable support mounted in the table, a driving spindle journaled in the support,

means for driving the spindle, a chuck and chuck means for adjustingthe chuck spindle angularly with respect to the driving spindle and means for mounted in the table, a driving spindle 'journaled in the support, means for driving the spindle, an adjustable gear housing carried by the support, a chuck and chuck spindle carried by the necting the drive spindle and the chuck spindle,

housing, drive gearing Within the housing conand means for rotatably adjusting thegear housspindlejournaled in the support, means for oper-, ating the spindle, a chuck and chuck spindle carried by the housing, means for adjusting the housing at different angles'with'respectto the vertical support, drive gearing within the housing connecting the drive spindle and the chuck spindle, andvacuum means for the chuck whereby work pieces may besecured thereon. i

i6. In a polishing machine of the class described the combination with a rotatable table and means for rotating the same, of a series of rotatable polishing wheels with individual means for driving the same, a Work holding chuck for each of the polishing wheels, means for rotating the chucks through the movement of the table,

the said chucks each comprising a support vertically mo-vably mounted in the table and means for raising and lowering the same with respect to the polishing wheels, a chuck spindle carried on the support, driving connections fromthe driving spindle to the chuck spindle for operating the latterand means to permit adjustment of said driving connections to permit the chuck and spindle to be set at various angles with re-' spect to the saidsupport.

17. In a polishing machine, the combination of 1 a fixed column carrying a ring gear, atable rotatably mounted on the column, means for rotating the table, gear trains carried by the table and connected with the ring gear whereby the rotation of'the table will cause to drive the gear train, a'series of .polishing wheelscarried by the table, a series of chuck supports adjustably mounted in the table, a driving spindle for each support having gear connections with the said gear train for rotating the spindle, a chuck and chuck spindle, a flexible gear drive from the drive spindle to the chuck spindle means for adjustably positioning the last mentioned gear drive on the support and means for angularly positioning the chuck with respect to the said support.

ALFRED o. ANDERSENQ