US3144777A - Compound motion adapter for buffing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1964 THIEL ETAL 3,144,777

COMPOUND MOTION ADAPTER FOR BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR:

AW/ ME m.

'Aug. 18, 1964 o. THIEL ETAL 3,144,777

COMPOUND MOTION ADAPTER FOR BUF'FING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 h W Q ND I I I I a Q I JNVENTORJ OTTO T/f I HIV Aug. 18, 1964 o. THlEL ETAL.

COMPOUND MOTION ADAPTER FOR BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ orro 770:4

A ra /V49 6 United States Patent 3,144,777 COMPOUND MOTION ADAPTER FUR BUFFING MACHINE Otto Thiel, Detroit, and John G. Hackert, Birmingham, Mich., assignors to Midwest Supply and Manufacturing Company, Ferndale, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 61,515 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-22) The present invention relates to an improved adapter applicable to the usual workpiece mounting spindle of a polishing, buffing or like machine, for the purpose of converting the latter in a manner to afford a compound motion of the workpiece in relation to a buffing or polishing Wheel. More particularly, the invention relates to an adapter which is applied to a machine in which the usual spindle in question, in addition to its normal work rotation action, has suitable provision for the linear reciprocation of such spindle. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the adapter, as applied to a reciprocating spindle type machine, may be employed in conjunction with a buffing or polishing head having provisions for imparting a reciprocatory or oscillatory stroke in one direction or another to its buffing wheel, as in accordance with the disclosure of the copending application of Glen A. Carlson, Serial No. 36,963, filed June 17, 1960 now Letters Patent No. 3,099,902 of August 8, 1963.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved compounded stroke type of work holder adapter by which workpieces of considerable intricacy as to surface contour, featuring abrupt changes in elevation, and the like, may in a polishing cycle of extremely short duration be given a uniformly high degree of polish throughout the entire polished area thereof.

Another general object of the invention is to provide an improved oscillating adapter for a workpiece or work holding chuck spindle, particularly as characterized by a bodily reciprocatory action of such spindle, in which the adapter moves with the spindle in such reciprocation and has means positively driven, preferably by a line of gearing direct-connected to the spindle proper, by which the adapter is given an oscillatory action in a direction transverse that of the reciprocatory stroke. This oscillation is on a relatively flat are which in effect approaches a reciprocatory stroke of its own, so that the combined reciprocation-oscillation results in a characteristic sine-wave motion of the workpiece in its traverse past the polishing or buffing wheel.

It is a further object to provide an adapter of this character, in which the driving connection or chain of gearing which operates the spindle for the compound motion described is also connected to an auxiliary or secondary spindle which is part of the adapter, mounted for rotation on an axis paralleling that of the spindle proper of the machine to which the adapter is applied, the secondary spindle thus tracing the path of the compounded reciprocatory or reciprocatory-oscillatory motion referred to above as it is rotated.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an adapter as described, comprising an oscillatory housing having means for fixedly mounting the same on the spindle head of a reciprocatory work or chuck spindle type polishing or buffing machine, for reciprocation with such work head, the housing being in turn mounted for oscillation upon such mounting means in a plane paralleling the direction of reciprocation, and rotatably carrying, in transversely spaced relationship to the mounting means in question, a secondary spindle for rotation on an axis paralleling that of the spindle proper and mounting means. Thus the secondary spindle, to which a work chuck or work supporting means is mounted for rotation, describes a path of compound motion transverse of the direction 3,144,777 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 of primary reciprocation of the machines work spindle proper, being driven from this motion by the same line of gearing through which it obtains its rotary motion from the spindle proper.

Yet another and more specific object is to provide an adapter of the character described, in which the housing journals an intermediate shaft, to which a gear is fixed for the purpose of transmitting rotary drive from the work spindle proper of the buffing machine to the spindle of the adapter; and in which this intermediate shaft also functions to provide the oscillatory action of the housing and secondary spindle. This is done through the agency of a crank device on the shaft, driven by the gearing which drives the secondary spindle and appropriately controlled by a fixed guide to cause the housing to oscillate as the crank is rotated.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in horizontal section through the adapter of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the adapter, as partially broken away and vertically sectioned along line -22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of the tubular means to mount the adapter to the buffing machine, and the oscillation control guide means of the adapter carried thereby;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section on line 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the oscillation control guide, as from the right of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, views in section along lines 6-6, 7-7 and 88 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view showing an adapter as further equipped with vacuum chuck means, in the event such is desired.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved oscillating spindle adapter of the invention, which is intended to be applied to a known type of automatic buffing or polishing machine 11. The latter is characterized by means for reciprocating its rotatively driven spindle, as carried by a spindle mounting head in a reciprocatory path, usually horizontal; and such reciprocation affords one component of the compounded stroke of adapter 10.

As indicated above, the buffing machine may have further provisions for reciprocating or otherwise movably mounting its rotary bufiing Wheel, although this refinement is not an essential to the adapter of the present invention, whose compound motion enables a workpiece mounted on the work chuck spindle of the adapter 10 to be buffed or polished with extreme thoroughness. Workpieces or irregular surface contour, presenting relatively deep recesses and sharp changes in cross section, are quickly given a uniformly high degree of polish.

Adapter It) comprises a special housing 15 composed of forward and rearward recessed housing castings 16, 17, respectively, which are marginally secured to one another by a series of bolts 18 passing through outer flanges or bosses 19, 20 thereof. As so secured, the housing members 16, 17 define a forward gear box recess 22 and other cavities for the reception of certain shafting and mounting provisions.

Adapter housing 15 is rotatively journaled for oscillation about the axis of a tubular mounting member or sleeve 24, as by combined radial and axial thrust roller bearings 25, 26 respectively adjacent the forward and rearward axial ends of this sleeve. The latter is received within a relatively large diameter bore 27 of the rear housing part 17, and is provided at its forward end with a re- 3 taining ring 28 bolted thereto and bearing rearwardly against the inner race of forward bearing 25. The outer race of bearing 25 engages an offset shoulder of housing bore 27. The inner race of rear bearing 26 axially abuts an outer shoulder or annular abutment on sleeve 24, and the outer race of this bearing abuts a shoulder on housing casting 17. A suitable annular seal ring 29 is interposed between mounting sleeve 24 and the housing, to the rear of bearing 26.

Referring specially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, and as shown in dotdash line, the mounting sleeve 24 of adapter telescopes axially over the usual reciprocatory work holding or chuck head proper 31 of the buffing machine 11, in which head the usual chuck spindle 32 is mounted for rotation as head 31 reciprocates in the operation of machine 11. Sleeve 24 is fixedly secured to such head as a mount, for example by a radial set screw 33 or the like rearwardly of the housing 15. Thus sleeve 24 carries housing for reciprocation as a unit with a buffing machines work supporting head 31.

A tubular adapter drive pinion 35 is axially telescoped on the end of spindle 32 and secured fixedly thereto for rotation therewith, as by a key 36 and/or & set screw 37. This pinion extends forwardly through the sleve retainer ring 28, where its pinion teeth 38 are in mesh with a large intermediate gear 39 carried within housing 15 approximately at its horizontal center, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gear 39 having its hub 40 splined at 41 to a horizontally extending stub shaft 42. Shaft 42 is mounted for rotation on the rear housing casting 17, as by forward and rearward ball bearings 43, 44, respectively, separated by a tubular spacer 45. Gear 40 functions as a part of a chain of gearing of the adapter by which its own, or secondary, work supporting or chuck spindle 47 is rotatably driven, in the manner presently described; and it also drives its mounting shaft 42 to impart an oscillatory stroke to spindle 47 to compound the motion of the adapter.

To the former end, the spindle 47 has a spur driving pinion 48 fixedly mounted thereto, as by splines 49, the pinion 48 meshing with intermediate gear 39 diametrically opposite the adapter drive pinion 35. The spindle is journaled by a ball bearing 50 in a cylindrical opening 51 in forward housing casting 16, the bearing being retained by a forward retainer ring 52 secured to the casting. Pinion 48 abuts the inner race of bearing 50.

Spindle 47 is rearwardly journaled by a ball bearin g 53 received in a tubular rear extension 54 of housing casting 17, a spacer sleeve 55 being interposed between pinion 48 and bearing 53; and the latter is held in place by a take-up nut 56 threaded on the spindle.

As shown, the pinions 35, 48 are of the same diameter, so that equal speed rotation will be transmitted from the chuck spindle 32 of machine 11 to the adapter work spindle 47. In this connection, attention is directed to FIG. 9 of the drawings, indicating the possibility, if desired, of applying vacuum to a work chuck (not shown) carried by spindle 47, as through an axial bore 58 in the latter, in the event use of a vacuum-type chuck is desired. To this end, a suitable vacuum line connector fitting 59 may be employed coaxially of the spindle, with internal rotatable means (not shown) communicating the same directly with bore 58.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 through 8 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the stub shaft 42 by which the intermediate gear 40 is journaled on housing 15 projects rearwardly through a tubular casting extension 61 receiving the same, where it has fixedly mounted thereon a special type of crank arm, generally designated 62. Such arm comprises a crank body 63 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear end of stub shaft 42 for rotation as a unit with the latter. A slide 64 is carried within the crank body 63 for adjustment longitudinally thereof, i.e., radially of shaft 42; and this slide has a threaded bore 65 threadedly engageable by an adjusting stem 66. Stem 66 is mount- 4 ed for rotation in a fixed end plate 67 (FIG. 8) secured to crank body 63; and has a rectangular formation 68 externally of plate 67, for the reception of a suitable tool, by manipulation of which the radial position of slide 64 may be adjusted as desired. This, it will be appreciated, adjusts the radial throw of parts connected to the slide 64, with the effect of adjusting the arc of oscillation of the spindle 47, as effected through the agency of parts moving with the slide.

To the end of operatively connecting the adapter housing 15 (and spindle 47 bodily carried thereby) for such oscillation, the slide 64 is provided with a rearwardly extending fixed post 70 upon which the inner race of a ball bearing 71 is fixed, being secured by a nut 72 threaded on the post. The outer race of bearing 71 is fixed to an anti-friction roller 73; and such roller operates in a guide or control way provided by a fixed control way or track unit such as is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the unit in question being generally designated 75.

As therein illustrated, the unit 75 may be in the form of a primary mounting plate 76 having its inner end contoured arcuately at 77 for mating and positioning engagement with the rear end of the annular adapter mounting member or sleeve 24, projecting to one side of the latter. Plate 76 fixedly carries a pair of horizontally disposed, upper and lower way or track members 78, 79, respectively, and the latter may be rigidly mounted to a suitable part of the bufling machine, as by a flanged bracket 81. Other suitable provisions may be employed, if desired, to mount the control and guide unit 75 in fixed relation to the sleeve 24, as a means by which oscillation of housing 15 is controlled.

Way members 78, 79 afford parallel, horizontally extending track surfaces 83, 84, respectively, between Which the anti-friction roller 73 operates; and the outer ends of the ways 78, 79 are rigidly coupled by a vertical stop and brace piece 85. As indicated above, the overall throw of the roller is determined by the radial adjustment of its mounting slide 64.

Accordingly, upon rotation of intermediate stub shaft 42, the crank 62 at its top is rotated about a horizontal axis; and such rotation causes roller 71 to reciprocate back and forth between the way surfaces 84. This is accompanied by the oscillation of housing 15, and spindle 47 borne thereby, in a vertical arc of quite fiat or mildly curved character. As borne by the chuck spindle head 31 of the butting machine, this motion has a horizontally reclprocatory component combined therewith, resulting in a sine-type path of travel of a workpiece supported by spindle 47, which has been found to be very effective in securing an extremely thorough and uniform polishing action on parts which are surface-contoured with abrupt changes in elevation, and the like.

Whether itself bodily reciprocated or not, the bufiing wheel of the machine seeks out all crevices and corners of the countour in a bufiing cycle of extremely slight duration, with a highly finished polishing of the piece as the result.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A work finishing machine comprising a rotary spindle mounted for back-and-forth movement transversely of the axis thereof, a housing having means to mount the same for movement with said spindle and for oscillation about an axis coincident with said spindle axls, a work spindle mounted by said housing for movement therewith and for rotation about an axis laterally spaced from and paralleling the axis of housing oscillation, drive means for said work spindle carried by said housing for oscillation therewith, including a pinion mounted in said housing coaxially of said first named spindle axis and adapted to be driven by said first named spindle, a pinion drivingly connected to said work spindle to rotate the same, and a shaft rotatably mounted by said housing and having a gear fixed thereon and meshing with said pinions to transmit power therebetween, a crank fixed on said shaft externally of said housing, and a fixed control device carried by said housing mounting means and operatively connected to said crank to oscillate said housing upon rotation of said shaft and crank,

2.-A work finishing machine comprising a rotary spindle, mounted for back-and-forth movement trans versely of the axis thereof, a housing having means to mount the same for movement with said spindle and for oscillation about an axis coincident with said spindle axis, a work spindle mounted by said housing for movement therewith and for rotation about an axis laterally spaced from and paralleling the axis of housing oscillation, drive means for said work spindle carried by said housing for oscillation therewith, including a pinion mounted in said housing coaxially of said first named spindle axis and adapted to be driven by said first named spindle, a pinion drivingly connected to said work spindle to rotate the same, and a shaft rotatably mounted by said housing intermediate said pinions and having a gear fixed thereon and meshing with said pinions to transmit power therebetween, a crank fixed on said shaft externally of said housing, and a fixed control device carried by said housing means and operatively connected to said crank to oscillate said housing upon rotation of said shaft and crank, said crank having an anti-friction roller thereon and said device including a fixed way cammingly engageable with the roller to so oscillate the housing.

3. A work finishing machine in accordance with claim 1, in which said pinions are of substantially equal effective diameter to rotate said work spindle at equal speed with said first named spindle, as drivingly connected with said gear.

4. A work finishing machine in accordance with claim 2, in which said pinions are of substantially equal effective diameter to rotate said work spindle at equal speed with said first named spindle, as drivingly connected with said gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,639 Ehrhardt Dec. 11, 1894 759,746 Pneuman May 10, 1904 FOREIGN PATENTS 386,506 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933 256,904 Germany Mar. 1, 1949 974,212 France Sept. 27, 1950

Claims (1)

1. A WORK FINISHING MACHINE COMPRISING A ROTARY SPINDLE MOUNTED FOR BACK-AND-FORTH MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIS THEREOF, A HOUSING HAVING MEANS TO MOUNT THE SAME FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID SPINDLE AND FOR OSCILLATION ABOUT AN AXIS COINCIDENT WITH SAID SPINDLE AXIS, A WORK SPINDLE MOUNTED BY SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS LATERALLY SPACED FROM AND PARALLELING THE AXIS OF HOUSING OSCILLATION, DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID WORK SPINDLE CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING FOR OSCILLATION THEREWITH, INCLUDING A PINION MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING COAXIALLY OF SAID FIRST NAMED SPINDLE AXIS AND ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY SAID FIRST NAMED SPINDLE, A PINION DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID WORK SPINDLE TO ROTATE THE SAME, AND A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED BY SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A GEAR FIXED THEREON AND MESHING WITH SAID PINIONS TO TRANSMIT POWER THEREBETWEEN, A CRANK FIXED ON SAID SHAFT EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOUSING, AND A

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