US3162984A

US3162984A - Buffing or polishing machines

Info

Publication number: US3162984A
Application number: US218745A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Sewell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-22
Filing date: 1962-08-22
Publication date: 1964-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-29

Description

Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL BUFFING OR POLISHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL If h umm

mmmm

mm on 1/ om mum Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL BUF'FING OR POLISHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SJOHN B. SEWELL mmmmmm 3m 2m mwm 2 3m 3% Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL 3,162,984

BUFFING OR POLISHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL BYWW Dec. 29, 1964 J. B. SEWELL I BUFFING OR POLISHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. SEWELL Fig.7

United States Patent 3,1623842 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 Office Btnuustt; R PQLESHENG MACHINES, Jane B, sewelriiao Haymarregst Danae, Tex. Filed Aug; 22,1962; seeNe, 215,745 12 Ciflifii; or.- 51:16

This invention relates to bufling or polishing machines and more particularly to an automatic bufiin'g or polishing machine for buffing or polishing the exterior surfaces of objects. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bufiing machine for polishing external surfaces of an object by moving the object to be polished sequentially past a pluralit Of butting wheels and changing the attitude or positionof the object relative to each wheel to cause the several buffer wheels to polish different areas of the external surface of the object so that subst'aiitially all external surfaces of the object are polished by the machine. 7

Another object is to provide an automatic buffing machine having a plurality of individually mounted rotatable buffer wheels and having means for. carrying the objects to be polished into engagement with successive butter wheels spaced along the path of travel of the objects and for changing the position of the object relative to each wheel to cause different external areas of the external surface of the object to be polished sequentially by different buffer wheels whereby substantially the whole external surface of a three dimensional body may be engaged by arid polished by the buffer wheels;

Still another object is to provide a bufl lng machine having a continuous flexible member provided with cartiers for carrying the 'o'bjects to be polished past buffer wheels spaced along the path of travel of theobje'cts.

A further object is to provide a buffer machine wherein the carriers have adjusting means for varying the position of the bodies carried thereby and wherein the machine is provided with means for actuating the adjusting means as the carriers are moved by the flexible means past the buffer wheels to cause difierent areas of the external surface of the body carried thereby to be engaged by successive buffer wheels.

A still further object is to provide a buffer machine wherein the carriers having releasable securing or latch means for releasably securingthe objects to be polished thereto and wherein the machine is provided with means for engaging the securing means to" free the objects for movement off the carriers and with means for moving or stripping the freed objects oif the carriers upon the completion of the polishing of the objects.

Another object is to provide a buffing machine wherein the buffer wheels are each rotatably mounted on individual mounting assemblies or carriages which are piv otally movable to permit the buffer wheels to move in the direction of travel and out of the path of travel of the objects being polished thereby whereby the wheels are caused to engage progressively different areas of the surface of the object as the objects are moved therepast and move the buffer wheels out of the path of their travel.

Still another object is to provide a b'ufiing machine provided with means for biasing the butter when use the path of travel of the object to be polished.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the buffer machine; I

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the object carriers of the buffer machine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the carrier;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the means and the manner of changing the positions of the object carried by a carrier; .v

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing the means for stripping or removing polished objects frbm the carriers; and,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view showing the pivotal mounting of the carriage of one of the buffer wheels of the buffer machine.

The buffer machine 20 inbludes a supporting structure 21 on which is mounted a continuous flexible member or chain 22 to which are connected at spaced intervals therealong a plurality of the object carriers 24- for carrying the objects 0 to be polished successively into engagement with and past the

buffer wheels

25, 26 and 27. The buffer wheels are rotatably mounted on substantially identical carriages 3 921,, 3% and 300 mounted for pivotal movement, about the longitudinal axes of the shafts 31a, 31b and 31c so that the

butter wheels

25 and 26 are moved downwardly and to the left and the buffer. wheel 27 is moved downwardly and to the right upon being engaged by the objects, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, to permit the movement of such objects past the buffer wheels and in order to cause the buffer wheels to come into engagement with progressively different areas of the external surface of each object as the object moves therepast whereby each buffer wheel may come into engagement with and polish relatively large areas of the external surface of each object moved therepast by the chain 22,

The chain 22 is driven by a sprocket 35 rigidly secured to a shaft 36rot'atably mounted on the pillow or journal blocks37 and 38 rigidly secured to the longitudinal members 4i and 41, respectively, of the upper frame 42 of the supporting structure. The longitudinal frame members are connected at their ends by the transverse members 43 and 44, respectively, to form the rectangular upper frame which is supported at its corners by the vertical columns 45. The'drive shaft 36 has a pulley 46 rigidly secured thereto which is connected by a belt 47 to the pulley 48 rigidly secured to the output shaft 49 of a speed reducing transmission 4%. Suitable collars 50 rigidly secured at desired positions to the drive shaft by means of set screws 50a and engageable with. the pillow block prevent longitudinal movement of the drive shaft and also provide for its longitudinal adjustment relative to the pillow block. The speed reducing transmission is rigidly mounted in any suitable manner as by bolts or the like on the intermediate transverse members 51 and 52 of the upper rectangular frame 42. The input shaft 53 of the speed reducing transmission 4% has a pulley 54 rigidly secured thereto connected to the pulley 55 of the drive shaft 56 of a suitable prime mover, such as the electric motor 57, by means of the belts 58 The motor 5'7 is also" mounted in any suitable manner (as by belts or the like) on the intermediate transverse members 51 and 52 of the upper rectangular frame 44.

The chain 22 also extends around the idler sprocket 6t rigidly secured to the shaft 62 rotatably mounted on the upper frame by means of the pillow or journal blocks 63 and 64. Each of the pillow or journal blocks is mounted on a pair of parallel longitudinally extending angle or slide member 66 and 67 whose upper horizontal flanges extend toward one another. The slide members are held in spaced relationship by the end spacer and support blocks 68 and 69 which extend between the vertical parallel flanges or legs of the angle members and upon Whose upper surfaces rest the inwardly extending horizontal flanges of the angle members. The spacer blocks are secured to the transverse intermediate frame member 72 which extends between and is secured to the longitudinal frame members 463 and 41 of the upper frame and to the end transverse member 44 thereof by means of the screws 74- and 75 which extend t ough suitable apertures in the vertical legs of the slide members into suitable threaded lateral bores of the spacer and

support blocks

63 and 69. The horizontally extending flanges or legs 75:: and '76 of the brackets 77 and 73, respectively, are secured by any suitable means, as by the bolts 79, to the frame members 72 and 44, respectively. A screw 86 extends between the vertical flanges of the slide members and through suitable aligned apertures of the spacer blocks and of the brackets and is held in any suitable manner therein for rotatable movement about its longitudinal axis. The bolts 81 of the pillow blocks 63 and 64 extend downwardly between the inner edges of the horizontal flanges of slide members 66 and 67 on which each rests to secure the pillow blocks to travelling blocks 82 through whose threaded bores the screws extend. It will be apparent that the tension on the chain may be varied by moving the pillow blocks 63 and 64 on the slide members 66 and 67 to any desired position by rotating the screws. The shaft 62 may be adjusted relative to the pillow blocks by varying the position of the collars 84.

The carriage support shaft 31a, on which the carriage 313a of the buffer wheel 25 is pivoted, is rotatably mounted on a support plate 9% by means of the pillow or

journal blocks

91 and 92 rigidly secured to the plate by the usual bolts 94. The support plate d ll has its rear portions resting on and secured to the longitudinal frame member 4% of the upper frame 42 and its forward portions resting on and secured to a horizontal bar or member 96 rigidly secured to the upper end of the

vertical support columns

97 and 98.

The carriage 39a includes a lower plate 99 having a pair of bearing blocks rigidly secured to its lower surface by means of the bolts 101. The shaft 31a extends rotatably through the bearing blocks. A pair of sleeves 1%2 are rigidly secured to the upper surface of the lower carriage plate in any suitable manner, as by welding, and receive the rods 104 which telescope into the sleeves and are rigidly secured therein in any adjusted position by means of the set screws 195 threaded in suitable lateral bores of the sleeves. The upper carriage plate 107 is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the rods 104 in any suitable manner, as by welding. The buffer wheel is rigidly secured, in any suitable manner, as by the nuts 110, to the shaft 112 rotatably supported on the upper carriage plate in spaced parallel relationship to the shaft 31a by means of the pillow or

journal blocks

114 and 115 rigidly secured to the upper carriage plate in any suitable manner, as by the bolts 117. The shaft is held in any longitudinally adjusted position relative to the pillow blocks by the collars 118 rigidly secured to the shaft by the set screw 119.

The carriage support shaft 31a is driven by the drive shaft 120 of any suitable prime mover, such as the electric motor 121, by means of the belts 123 which extend about the pulleys 124 and 125 rigidly secured to the carriage support shaft 31a and the drive shaft 12%, respectively. The electric motor is mounted on a support plate 128 secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the

transverse frame members

129 and 130 which extend between and are rigidly secured to the longitudinal frame members 44 and 4-1 of the upper frame 42. The motor may be secured to the support plate in any suitable manner, as by the bolts 133. The buifer wheel shaft 112 is connected to the carriage support shaft 3141 by means of the belts 135 which extend about

pulleys

137 and 138 rigidly secured to the bulfer wheel shaft and the carriage support shaft, respectively. The tension of the pulley belts may of course be adjusted by adjusting the telescoping position of the rods ill-t in the sleeves 192.

The carriage 30a is yieldingly biased toward the upright or verticle position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by a tension spring 149 whose upper hooked end extends through a suitable aperture of the upper carriage plate 107 and whose lower hooked end extends through a suitable aperture in the upper end of the bracket 142 whose horizontal leg or foot 143 is rigidly secured to the plate 96 in any suitable manner, as by the bolts 145, Pivotal movement of the carriage in a clockwise direction about the longitudinal axis of the carriage support shaft 31a is limited by a shock absorber and stop 158 which may be of any suitable type such as the usual door shock absorber and stop having a cylinder 151 in which is slidable a piston whose rod 152 extends outwardly of the cylinder and into a sleeve 153 whose flattened free end is pivotally secured, as at 154, to the bracket 155 secured to the support plate in any suitable manner as by welding. The closed end of the cylinder is pivotally secured as at 157 to the dependent bracket 158 of the upper carriage plate. The spring 160 disposed about the sleeve 153 engages a flange ldtla of the sleeve and a stop member 161 on the rod to yieldingly limit outward movement of the rod from the sleeve. Telescoping movement of the piston into the sleeve is stopped by the engagement of the cylinder with the stop 162 of the piston rod. Escape of air from the cylinder is controlled by the usual restricted orifice of the cylinder (not shown) between the closed end of the cylinder and the piston whereby the entry of air into the cylinder is slowed down to cushion movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder.

It will now be apparent that counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the carriage 36a about the longitudinal axis of the carriage support shaft 31:; is yieldably resisted by the force exerted by the spring 140 and that when the carriage is freed for pivotal movement from the lower position indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 2 to which it is moved by the engagement of an object 0 carried by one of the carriers 24, the shock absorber and stop will slow down and limit such clockwise pivotal return movement of the carriage and also absorb or cushion the shock imparted thereto when its clockwise movement is arrested.

It will be apparent that the carriage 36b is substantially identical in structure and function to the carriage 3th: and accordingly elements of the carriage 38b have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript b has been added, as the corresponding elements of the carriage 30a. The carriage support shaft 31b on which the carriage 30b is pivotally mounted is connected to the drive shaft 165 of a suitable prime mover, such as the electric motor 166, by means of the pulley belts 12311 which extend about the pulleys 1241b and 125i; rigidly secured to the carriage support shaft and the drive shaft of the motor, respectively. The motor 165 is mounted on the motor support plate 17%) secured to the base plate 172 of the supporting frame by means of the upright studs 173 which extend upwardly from the base plate whereby the vertical position of the motor, and therefore the tension of the pulley belts 123i) may be ad justed by adjusting the positions of the nuts 174 threaded on the studs and located on opposite sides of the motor support plate 170.

The base plate 172 is disposed on the upper ends of the longitudinally extending angle members 174 of the supporting structure which connect the corner columns 45 of the supporting frame. If desired, suitable intermediate, transverse members extending between the longitudinally extending angle members (not shown) may be provided to give added support to the base plate 172. The base plate and other members of the supporting frame or struc-. ture may be rigidly secured to one another in any suitable manner, as by Welding.

The pillow blocks 91!; and 92b which rotatably support;

the carriage support shaft 31b are mounted on the plate 180 whose rear portions rest upon and are rigidly secured to the forward longitudinal frame member 4i) of the upper frame 42 and whose forward portion rests upon and is rigidly secured to the column 184. The lower ends of the

columns

97, 98 and 184 may be connected to one another by the longitudinally extending angle member 185 and to the longitudinal angle member 174 connecting the forward corner columns 45 by suitable transverse members 18 6.

The carriage 30b is biased for pivotal movement in a clockwise direction about the carriage support shaft 311) by the tension spring 1411b one of whose hooked ends may extend through a suitable aperture in the lower carriage plate 9% and whose other hooked end may extend through a suitable aperture of a bracket 1421) secured in any suitable manner to the support plate 180. Pivotal movement of the carriage 30b in a clockwise direction is limited by the, stop shock absorber and check 15% whose cylinder 15111 is pivotally connected as at 157 to a dependent bracket 1587: of the upper cam'ag'e plate 1117b. The free end of the sleeve 153b intowhich extends rod 15211 is pivotally connected as at 154]) to the bracket 155'!) of the plate 180. p 7 I The carriage 3110 is substantially identical in structure and function to the carriage 30a"and accordingly the elements of the carriage 300 have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript "0 has been added, as the corresponding elements of the carriage The support shaft 310 of the carriage 300 is rotatably mounted by means of the pillow blocks 91c and 920 which are rigidly secured to the forwardly extending extension 1l resting on and being rigidly secured, as by welding, to the forward longitudinal lower member 185 of the supporting structure; The carriage support shaft is driven by any suitable prime mover such as the electric motor 192 mounted on the base plate 172 whose drive shaft 193 is connected to the carriage support shaft 310 by means of the belts 1230 which extend about the pulleys 19 4 and 1240 rigidly secured to the drive shaft and to the carriage support shaft 31c, respectively. The carriage is biased for pivotal movement in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2, about the longitudinal axis of the carriage support shaft 310 by a tension spring 1 .110 whose lower hooked end extends through a suitable aperture of the bracket 1410 of the upper carriage plate 1070 and whose lower hooked ends extend through a suitable aperture of the upright bracket1420 of the forward extension 1% of the base plate. Counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the carriage 30a is limited by the shock absorber and stop 1500 whose cylinder 1510 is pivotally secured in any suitable manner as at 1570 to the bracket 1580 of the rower carriage plate 990 and whose sleeve 153C into which the rod 152s extends is pivotally secured at 1540 to the bracket 195 rigidlysecured to the forward extension 190 of the base plate 172.

The electric starter or control switches 200 for the varions motors may be mounted on a vertical mounting plate 201 rigidly secured, as by welding, to the transverse end member 44 of the upper frame of the supporting structure.

Each of the carriers for such objects 0 which are to be polished, as the T-shaped connector or fitting illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, includes a shaft 211 to which is rigidly secured a latch support member or disk 212 by a set screw 214 threaded in a suitable bore of the latch disk whose inner end extends into a suitable recess 215 of the carrier shaft. A support member disk 217 is rotatably mounted on the reduced rear portion 218 of the carrier shaft and is secured thereon against rearward displacement by means of the split retainer or lock ring 21h received in a suitable annular external recess 220 of the carrier shaft. Forward movement of the support disk 217 on the carrier shaft is limited by its engagement with the 6 annular shoulder 221 of the shaft. The support disk 217 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending threaded bores 222 for receiving the belts or screws 223 which rigidly secure the support disk 217 to the chain 22.

A latch 225 is pivotally secured to the latch disk 212 by a pivot pin or shaft 226 which extends through a suitable bore and across the radial slot 228 of the latch disk 212 and through a suitable aperture or bore in the radially inwardly extending leg 229 of the latch. A spring 231 whose opposite ends extend into the

recesses

233 and 234 of the carrier shaft and of the latch 225 biases the rear end portion or arm of the latch 225 radially inwardly relative to the support disk 217 and therefore toward entry into the radial oppositely disposed peripheral notches or slots 238 and 239' of the sup ortdisk 217 to limit rotation of the latch disk 212, and therefore of'the carrier shaft 211, relative to the support disk 217. The latch 225 may be provided with a spring retainer pin 240 which extends into the recess 234 and into the coils of the spring 231. n

It will be apparent that if the latch 225 is pivoted in a clockwise manner, as seen in FIGURE 4, to move its arm 235 out of the slot 239, the latch disk 212 and the carrier shaft 211 will be freed for rotational movement relative to the support disk 217 and if the force exerted on the latch 225 holding it in its inoperative position is released once the rear portion of the latch is moved out of alignment with the radial peripheral slot 239, the arm 235' of the latch will engage the outer peripheral surface of the support disk 217 and will slide therealong until the arm 235 is aligned with the opposite radial peripheral slot 238 of the support disk 217 whereupon the force of the spring 231 will pivot the latch 225 and cause the arm 235 to enter into the slot 238 thus stopping further rotational movement of the latch disk 212 and the carrier shaft 211 relative to the support disk 217.

It will thus be apparent that the carrier shaft 211 and latch disk 212 is rotated through 18 0 degrees each time the latch arm- 235 is moved out of one peripheral slot and allowed to engage the peripheral surface of the carrier slot 239 of the support disk as rotational movement of the carrier shaft 211 is continued until the latch arm 235 again engages in the other radial slot 239.

A guide roller 242 is rotatably mounted on the carrier shaft 211 intermediate the ends thereof and retained in position on the shaft by suitable split retainer or lock rings 243 which are received in suitable annular external recesses of the carrier shaft 211. The roller 242 may have an inner annular member or race 244 and an outer member or face: 245 with the usual ball bearings interposed therebetween to reduce the friction therebetween as the outer race or roller member 245 rotates about the inner roller member or race 2 44.

The guide rollers 242' of the carriers movebetween' an upper pair of spaced channel guide members 250 and 251 when the carriers are in the upper horizontal portion of their path of travel located between the two sprockets and move between a similar pair of lower support and guide channel members 252 and 253 when the carriers in the lower horizontal portion of their path of travel located between the two sprockets. The channel guide members each have a web 254 and spaced

parallel flanges

256 and 257. As each carrier moves in the upper horizontal portion of the path of travel, the guide roller extends into the downwardly opening longitudinal groove of the top guide member 250 defined by the parallel flanges and into the similar upwardly opening longitudinal groove of the bottom guide member. The carrier shaft 211 extends between the vertically spaced longitudinal edges of the flanges of these guide members and the peripheral surface of the outer member or race 245 of the roller 2 42 engages the inner surface of the web of the upper channel member 250, which prevents upward movement of the carrier and the chain as the object carried by the carrier engages the

buifer wheels

25 and 26 and in passing there- Y over is subjected to upwardly acting forces due to the action of the springs 14% and 14%.

The guide rollers 242 of each carrier during the movement of the carrier in the lower horizontal portion of the path of travel similarly extends into the downwardly opening longitudinal groove of the top guide member 252 and into the upwardly opening longitudinal groove of the bottom guide member 253 whereby the peripheral surface of the outer member or race 245 of the roller engages the internal surface of the web of the top guide member to prevent upward movement of the carrier and chain due to the upward force exerted on the object carried by the carrier bythe buffer wheel 2'7. The flanges of the two pairs of guide members between which the roller 242 moves serve to prevent lateral displacement or tilting of the'carrier and also serve to prevent any undue vibration of the carrier due to the engagement of the object carried thereby with the rotating bufier wheels. It will thus be apparent that the guide members serve to hold the carriers and the objects carried thereby in the desired path of travel and into engagement with and past the buffer wheels.

The top guide member 259 is rigidly secured to the supporting structure 21 of the machine by means of the horizontal angle members 253, 259 and 2.69 which extend horizontally forwardly from the ends of the vertical angle members 261, 262'; and 263, respectively. The top guide member 256 is secured to the forward ends of the horizontal angle members by screws 264, or in any suitable manner. The horizontal angle members are secured to the upper ends of the vertical angle members in any suitable manner, as by welding. The lower end of the vertical angle member 261 rests upon and is rigidly secured to the plate 189, the lower end of the vertical angle member 252 rests upon and is rigidly secured to the longitudinal frame member 4a and the lower end of the vertical member 253 rests upon and is rigidly secured to the plate 9%. The vertical angle members may be secured to the elements on which they rest in any suitable manner, as by welding.

The bottom guide member 251 is similarly supported by the forwardly extending horizontal angle members 265, 266 and 267 whose rear ends are rigidly secured to the

vertical angle members

261, 262 and 263 in any suitable manner, as by welding. The lower guide members rest upon and are secured to the forward end portion of its horizontal angle members in any suitable manner, as by the screws 268.

The top guide member 252 of the lower pair of guide members is connected to the longitudinal frame member 40 by the forwardly extending horizontal angle members 269, 270 and 271 which may be secured to the longitudinal frame member by welding and to the guide member by screws 272.

The lower upwardly facing channel member 253 is similarly connected to the supporting structure 21 by the forwardly extending

horizontal angle members

273, 274 and 275 whose rear ends are rigidly secured as by welding to'the lower ends of the vertical angle members 276, 277 and 278, respectively, whose upper ends may be rigidly secured to the longitudinal frame member at in any suitable Way, as by welding. The forward ends of the horizontal angle members 273, 2'74 and 275 may be secured to the lower guide channel member 253 in any suitable manner, as by the screws 279. The upper and lower pairs of the channel guide members are thus held rigidly by the supporting structure and serve to guide movement of the carriers, and therefore of the objects, carried thereby past the bufiing wheels and to hold the carriers against displacement from'their path of travel due to the forces exerted thereon by the boiling wheels as the Wheels engage the objects carried by the carriers due to the forces exerted on the carriage by the carriage biasing springs.

The forward portion of the carrier shaft 211 has a longitudinally extending recess 280 in which is mounted a lock lever 282 by means of the pivot pin or shaft 283 which extends through suitable aligned bores in the shaft and the lock lever. The forward end portion or forward arm 285 of the lock lever extends into a longitudinal slot 286 of a loci; member or pin 287 slidably disposed in the transverse bore 283 of the carrier shaft which is inter sected by the slot 28%. The forward arm of the lock lever 282 is pivotally connected to the lock pin 237 by a pin or shaft 29% which extends through a suitable elongate slot 2% in the forward arm of the lock lever and is secured in suitable bores of the lock pin 23'? so that the loci; pin 23? may be moved to retracted position within the transverse bore 283 of the carrier shaft when the lock lever 2132 is pivoted in a clockwise manner as seen in FIGURE 4 about its pivot pin 283 and will be moved outwardly of the bore 288 and of the carrier shaft to the position illustrated in l-lGURE 4 upon counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lock lever 282. The lock lever 282 is biased by a compression spring 292 for movement in a counterclockwise direction disposed in a lateral bore 2% of the carrier shaft, intersected by the slot 289. One end of the spring breaks against the shoulder or surface 295 or" the shaft and its other end engages the surface 2% of the rear arm 297 of the lock lever.

Each of the carriers 24 is designed to hold releasably the T-shaped connectors or fittings 0 each of which has a tubular body portion 3% providing a longitudinal passage 3ll and a leg or extension 36?. extending perpendicularly outwardly from the mid-portion of the body and having a passage 305 which opens to the longitudinal passage 3tll. The connector also has an internal annular flange 306 to one side of the transverse passage An intermediate reduced portion Eli of the carrier shaft is adapted to extend into the longitudinal passage 361 of the T-connector 0 until its inward movement is stopped by the engagement of the annular shoulder 31E of the carrier shaft with the end shoulder or surface 313 of the T-shaped connector. The lock pin 23'? is then aligned with the transverse passage 3&5 and may move outwardly thereinto as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to hold the connector against longitudinal or rotational movement relative to the carrier shaft. The forward reduced end portion f ld of the carrier shaft is adapted to extend through the restricted passage or aperture provided by the internal flange 36% and the engagement of the internal flange 366 with the forward end portion 314 serves to further brace or secure the connector against movement relative to the carrier shaft. Opposite end portions of the longitudinal body portion 3th and an outer end portion of the leg 302 of the connector may be threaded.

Each carrier is rotated degrees after it has moved past the buffer wheel 25 and before it moves to the buffer wheel 25 to present a different area of the outer surface of the connector carried thereby to the buffer wheel 26 by means of the latch release and rotating assembly 319.

The latch disk 212 of each carrier has two sets of radially outwardly extending rotating pins 32% and 332i. The pins 32%, 32llb and 326m sequentially engage the stop pins 322a, 322i) and 322C mounted on an operator lever 323 of the rotating assembly 319 The operator lever is pivotally secured at one end by means of the bolt 325 to the angle support member 326 which is rigidly se cured to the horizontal angle member 259. The other end of the operator lever 323 is yieldingly biased toward the lower position illustrated in FTGURE 5 by the spring 323 disposed about the bolt 32% which extends downwardly through a suitable aperture in the horizontal flange 33% of the support member 326 and through a suitable longitudinally extending slot in the laterally outwardly etxending arm 332 of the operator lever. The bolt 329 has a nut 333 which limits movement of the arm 332 on the bolt. One end of the spring 32% abuts the spacer washers 334 interposed between the horizontal flange 339 of the support member 326 and the spring 323. The lower end of the spring 328 abuts the upper surface of the arm 332 of the operator lever 323. The assembly 319 also includes a cam plate 3M secured to the vertical flange of the anglesuport member 326 by means of the bolt 325 and the bolt 3.41. These bolts extend through suitable elongate slots 343 and 3.45 of the cam plate .so that the cam plate may be adjusted vertically and longi tudinally of the support member 3215 properly to position the arcuate cam surface .346 of the cam .plateto engage and pivot the latch 225 of each carrier as it moves toward the buffer wheel 26 .after having passed the butter wheel 25 so that its arm 235 moves out of the slot 239 of the support plate just prior to the engagement of the rotating pin 320:; with the stop .pin 32-2ato free the latch plate for rotation relative to the support plate before the pin 320a engages the stop pin 322a;

Whenthe pin 32% engages the stop pin 322a as the carrier moves past the operating lever, the latch plate is rotated in a counter clockwise manner, as seen in FIG- URE 3, whereby the arm 235 of the latch 225 is moved out of alignment with the slot 239 and,.as the latch moves out of engagement with the cam surface 346 and pivots to engage the support plate due to the action of the biasing spring 231, it engages the outer peripheral surface of the support plate and slides thereon as the rotation of the latch plate relative to the support plate continues. As the rotating pin 320a begins to move out of engagement with the stop pin 322a, the lower middle rotating pin 32Gb engages the stop pin 32% so that the latch plate continues to rotate as the chain continues to move the carrier past the operating lever and towards the buffer wheel 26. As the rotating pin 3253b begins to move out of engagement with'the stop pin 322b, the rotating pin 32tic engages the stop pin 322:: to cause the latch plate to continue rotating relative to the support plate until the arm 235 of 'the latch moves into alignment with the slot 238 and enters thereinto stop further rotation of the latch plate. At this time the operating lever is in the position illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 5. When the arm 235 of the latch enters into the slot 238 further rotation of the latch plate is arrested and the operated lever 323 now pivots upwardly as required to permit sliding movement of the stop pin 3220 relative to the rotating pin 3280 against the resistance offered by the spring 328 until the rotating pin 3200 moves outor" engagement with the pin 322a. It will be noted that due to the pivotal mounting of the operating l ver 32.3 and the downwardbiasing thereof by the spring 328, the engagement of the arm 235 of the latch in the o 3 may t ke p ac p ior o th diseng of the rotating pin 32tl-c with the stop pin 3226 so that the rotation of the latch plate through a full l80degrees is assured.

T r at n Pi s 31 1a, 32 b an 2 ga a similar at e a nd o a i as emb y .50 hich is idenfi n ruc u to he atch rele se nd rotatin semly 319 to cause each carrier to be rotated another 180 qesrce i a s hnte -hlq wise dir ct c a te it h s moved out of engagement with the buffer wheel 27 in order to move the carrier back to its original position relative to the ppo pla after ea a ie a m ed pas an u of engagement with the buffer wheel 27. Since the two assemblies are identical in structure, the elements of the c n a s m l ha e bas P o ded W t e same re renc nume a o hich the su script ha bee added, as the corresponding elements of the assembly 31 9. The angle support member 32651 of the assembly 356 is rigidly secured to the horizontal angle member 35; whose rear end is welded to the longitudinal member 49.

Aca m rod 352 is provided to engage arm 282g of the k lever a pi t nw r ly nt the sl 289 to use the kick p n .87 20 h 10 l o re ert d osi n an hu t the connec r Qarri d by each a r er fo hm r tr in th e rom, h low r nd o he cam rod is rigidly secured to an angle member 353 in any s tab e manne as by w d ngh u pe d of t e cam .rod is secured to the upper end of .a post 35.4- whose .1 lower end is rigidly secured to the angle member 353 in any suitable manner, as-by welding. The lock lever of veach carrier engages the cam rod and is actuated thereby prior to the engagement of the end shoulder 313 of the connector carrier thereby with the vertical stripper plate 355 whichis pivotally secured to the supportmember 33 by the bolt 356. The vertical stripperplate is biasedtoward the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 by .means of a horizontal bar 35:7 whieh overlies the upper edge of the vertical stripper plate 355 and whose outer end portion is .seeured to the outer end of the vertical stripper plate by any suitable means, .such as a lock ring 3158 whichextends through suitable apertures or .slots in the support bar and the stripper plate whichpermits some movement between the stripper plate and the bar. The other end of the bar is pivotally mounted on the angle member 353 by means of the pin 360 which extends through a suitable elongate slot 361 in the bar and which is secured to the angle member 353 by meansof the nut 353. The bar restsupon thehorizonta-lfiange of the angle member and is biased downwardly toward the horizontal position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6 by the spring 365 disposed about the pin. The lower end of the spring bears against the support spacer nuts 366a slidably mounted .on the pin and its upper end bears against the washer 366 disposed on the pin and held against upward movement thereon by its engagement with the head 367 of the bolt.

The stripper plate has an upwardly curved lower edge 375 which is adapted to engage the carrier shaft inwardly of the shoulder 313 of a connector carried thereby and curves forwardly past the outer end of the shaft of each carrier so that as the upward movement of each carrier about the sprocket continues the stripper plate engages the shoulder 3113 of the body and moves it forwar ly and oil the end of the shaft of the carrier. Such movement of the connector is now possible since the lock lever is now in its depressed or ino erative position in the 'slot 28% of the carrier shaft.

The pivotal mounting of the support plate 3-57 permits upward pivotal movement of the vertical stripper plate as required by its engagement with the carrier shaft until each carrier shaft moves past the stripper plate which is then returned to its normal position due to the action of the spring 365.

The lock lever is held by the cam rod in its inoperative position over the path of travel indicated by the letters 'A A so that after one connector has been stripped off the carrier and allowed to fall in a suitable receptacle disposed below the stripper plate 355, another connector which is to be polished may be placed in position on the carrier shaft, As the movement of each carrier continues after the new connector has been placed on its shaft of the carrier, the lock pin 287 thereof will move into the lateral bore 305 thereof to lock it to the shaft as the latch lever of such carrier is moved out of engagement with the cam rod as the movement of the carrier continues. The operator placing the connectors on the shaft of each carrier may of course rotate the connector on the shaft to position the lock pin in eraot alignment with the lock pin 305 after the lock lever has moved out of engagement with the cam rod to cause the locking of the connector on the carrier shaft in the event he has not positioned it in correct alignment on the shaft prior to the release of the lock le er.

*In use, the drive motors of the buffer Wheels are energized as is the drive motor of the chain. A the chain is moved in its path of movement by the sprocket 35, the operator places' a connector on the shaft of each carrior as the carrier moves past the cam rod which moves the latch lever in its retracted inoperative position so that h o s tq need no h ms lf d ress he l c e A the arrier .is IlQ l upwar ly, h am 2.97 f its a k lever moves 01 of engagement with the cam rod and the force of the spring 292 pivots the lock lever and moves 1 l the pin 287 into the lateral bore 3% to lock the connector to the carrier shaft. The operator may rotate the coninector slightly to place the bore 335 of the connector into alignment with the pin 287 once the lock lever 282 has been freed to move to its operative position if he has not initially correctly aligned the connector and the cartrier shaft. The connector i then moved by the carrier into engagement with the buffer wheel 25 which engages one side of the body portion and of the leg or extension 302 which extend vertically upwardly from the body :portion. The bulfer wheel first engages and polishes a side area of the connector. As the carrier continues to move such connector in the upper horizontal portion of the path of its movement, the carriage 30a of the buffer wheel 25 pivots in a counter-clockwise manner about the shaft 31a against the force exerted by the spring 146 permitting the bufier Wheel to move to the left and downward, as seen in FIGURE 2, and thus to engage lower or downwardly facing surfaces of the body portion 300 of the connector. When the connector moves past the buffer wheel 25 and out of engagement therewith, the spring 140 is effective to move the carriage back to its original upright position so that it may engage the conector carried by the next carrier.

The carriage and the connector then move past the latch release and rotating assembly 319 which causes the latch plate 212 and the shaft 211 of the carrier to rotate through 180 degrees to cause the leg or extension 302 to extend vertically downwardly so that it will move between the sections 26a and 26b of the butter wheel so that opposite rearwardly and forwardly facing areas or surfaces of the leg or extension are polished as well as the now downwardly facing surfaces of the tubular body portion 30% of the connector disposed on opposite sides of the leg or extension 3%2. The buffer wheel 26 of course also moves to the left and downwardly due to its engagement with the connector as it is moved therepast so that it comes into engagement and polishes large areas of the connector as it moves therepast. The buffer wheel and its carriage are moved back into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the spring 14Gb when the connector is moved out of engagement with the buffer wheel. The connector is then carried downwardly and about the sprocket 35 and enters into the lower horizontal portion of its path of travel wherein the side surfaces of the connector opposite to theside surface engaged and polished by the wheel 25 engage the buffer wheel 27, which then is moved downwardly and to the right as the connector is moved therepast, the spring 140s moving the buffer wheel 27 and its carriage 300 back to its vertical position when the connector is moved out of engagement with the buffer wheel.

The carrier then moves past the latch release and rotating assembly 359 which rotates the latch plate 212 and shaft 211 of the carrier through another 180 degrees to its original position relative to the support plate of the carrier so that in the event of some malfunction of the stripping plate 355 and its failure to remove the connector from such carrier, the carrier will again move in the same attitude or position relative to each buffer wheel. It will be apparent that if the leg or extension 302 were in its lower vertical position as it moved past the wheels 25 and 27 which do not have spaced sections, the leg would tend to tear or cause undue wear of these buffer wheels.

The carrier then moves past the cam rod and the stripper plate which free the connector for removal from the carrier shaft and then move or strip the connector from the carrier so that another connector may be secured to the carrier. The above sequence of operations may be sequentially repeated as each carrier moves continually about the path of travel defined by the two sprockets.

It will now be seen that the butting machine illustrated and described includes a flexible member or chain 22 which extends about the spaced drive and idler sprockts 35 and 60 whereby the carriers 24 secured to the chain at spaced locations along the length thereof move successively past the three

buffer wheels

25, 26 and 27 so that the objects, such as the connector 0, carried by the carriers have diiferent areas of their external surfaces engaged and polished by the buffer wheels disposed in locations to engage the objects carried by the carriers while the carriers are in the upper or lower portion of their travel.

It will further be seen that the rollers 242 engage the two pairs of channel guide members to hold the carriers against undesired movement and vibration as the connectors carried thereby are engaged by the buffer wheels.

It will further be seen that the bufiing machine and the carrier have coengageable means for rotating the carrier after the object carried thereby has been moved past one buffer wheel prior to it movement into engagement with the next buffer wheel.

It will also be apparent that the attitude or position of the connector or object carried by each carrier is changed relative to the buffer wheel in the lower portion of the path of the movement of the object as compared with its attitude towards the immediately preceding butter wheel disposed in the upper horizontal portion of its path of movement due to the movement of the carrier about the semi-circular end portion of its path of movement.

It will further be seen that the boiling machine and the carrier have co-engageable means for unlocking the object from each carrier and automatically removing or stripping each polished object off each carrier upon the completion of the polishing operation thereof.

It will further be seen that each of the buffer wheels is mounted on a pivotally mounted carriage so that the position of each buffer wheel is relative to each object to be polished thereby is varied as each such object moves therepast whereby each buffer wheel polishes a relatively large area of the external surface of each object.

It will also be seen that while the carriages 24 are designed to carry a particular object, the locking means of the carrier may be modified or required to engage and hold any other object which is to be carried by the carriers past the buffer wheels.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A bufing machine including: means for carrying objects to be polished in a predetermined path; a plurality of buffer means disposed in spaced relationship along said predetermined path and engageable with objects carried by said carrying means, each of said buffer means being mounted for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to the path of movement of objects moved therepast by said carrying means and for movement out of predetermined path about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis; means biasing said buffer means against movement about said second axis out of said path of movement; and means cooperable with said carrying means for varying the attitude of each object at predetermined locations along said predetermined path for causing different areas of said objects to be engaged and polished by different ones of said buffer means, each object being held against movement relative to said carrying means during its engagement with each of said bufier means.

2. A bufiing machine including: means for carrying objects to be polished in a predetermined path; a plurality of buffer means disposed in spaced relationship along said predetermined path and engageable with objects carried by said carrying means, each of said buffer means being mounted for movement out of said predetermined path when engaged and moved by an object carried by said carrying means whereby each buffer means engages and polishes large areas of the external surface of such object; means biasing said butler means against movement out of said path of movement; and means cooperable with said carrying means for varying the attitude of each object at predetermined locations along said predetermined path for causing different areas of said objects to be engaged and polished by different ones of said butler means, each object being held against movement relative to said carrying means during its engagement with each of said buffer means.

3. A butter machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a buffer wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said bufier wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said buffer wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of said buffer wheels is movable out of the path or" movement of object carried by each carrier; and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers.

4. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom; a pair of bufier wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and. in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; 21 bufier wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by saidcarriers, said buiier wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said buffer wheels; means supporting each of said buir'er wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction ofmovement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of said bufier wheels is movable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier; and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers, each of said carriers having guide means disposed between said chain and an object carried thereby; upper and lower guide means extending linearly and parallel to said upper and lower portions of said predetermined path and engageable with said carrier guide means to hold said carriers against displacement from said predetermined path.

5. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having releasable lock means for rigidly securing an object thereto; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said ,upper portion and inthe path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a buffer wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movementof objects carried by said carriers, said buffer wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of aid sprockets; drive means for rotating said .bufier wheels; means supporting each of said buffer wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of saidbulfer wheels is movable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier; and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out oi the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers. v

6. A butler machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having releasable lock means for rigidly securing an object thereto; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a butter wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said bufier wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said butter Wheels; means supporting each of said buffer wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the directionof movement of the carriers moved therepast by sai d chain whereby each of said butter wheels is movable out of the path ofmovement of object carried by each carrier; and means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers, each of said carriers having guide means disposed between said chain and an object carried thereby; upper and lower guide means extending linearly and parallel to said upper and lower portions of said predetermined path and engage able with said carrier guide means to hold said carriers against displacement from said predetermined path. i i

7. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a bulier wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said butter wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said butter wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of said buifer wheels is movable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers; and lock release means engageable with said lock means of each carrier upon movement of each carrier past said buffer wheels for releasing an object carried thereby for removal from the carrier.

8. A buffer machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain andextending laterally perpendicularly therefrom; a pair of butter wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a buffer wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said buffer wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said butter wheels; means supporting each of said butter wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of said butter Wheels is movable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers; release means engageable with said lock means of each carrier upon movement of each carrier past said buffer wheels for releasing an object carried thereby for removal from the carrier; and means engageable with an object carried by each carrier after said lock release means engages said lock means for removing such object from the carrier.

9. A butter machine including: a pair of spaced sprockets rotatable about parallel horizontally disposed axes; means for rotating one of said sprockets; a continuous chain extending about said sprockets and movable by said one of said sprockets in a predetermined path having an upper linear portion and a lower linear portion; a plurality of spaced object carriers secured to said chain and extending laterally perpendicularly therefrom, each of said carriers having a support means rigid with said chain, a shaft rotatable relative to said support means about an axis parallel to said axes of said sprockets and latch means for holding said shaft against rotation relative to said support means; a pair of buffer wheels disposed in spaced relationship along and spaced from said upper portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers; a bufier wheel mounted in spaced relationship from said lower portion and in the path of movement of objects carried by said carriers, said buffer wheels being rotatable about axes parallel to said axes of said sprockets; drive means for rotating said buiier wheels; means supporting each of said butter Wheels for limited movement about an axis parallel to and spaced from its axis of rotation in the direction of movement of the carriers moved therepast by said chain whereby each of said buffer wheels is movable out of the path of movement of object carried by each carrier; means biasing each of said wheels against movement out of the path of movement of objects being carried therepast by said carriers; and means coengageable with each carrier for engaging said latch means to free the carrier for rotation and for rotating said shaft through a predetermined angle upon movement of said carrier past a predetermined position along said path of movement.

19. A carrier including: a support means securable to a carrier transporting means; a shaft rotatably mounted on said support means for movement about the longitudinal axis of said shaft; cooperable latch means on said support means and said shaft for releasably locking said shaft against rotational movement in predetermined positions about its longitudinal axis; and lock means carried by said shaft for securing thereto an object to be carried by said carrier, said latch means including a latch secured intermediate its end to said shaft for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and stop means on said support means engageable by said latch when said latch is in one extreme pivoted position; and means biasing said latch toward said one position.

11. The carrier of claim 10, said latch having means extending outwardly of said shaft and engageable to pivot said latch to a second extreme position wherein said latch is out of engagement with said stop means and said shaft is free to rotate.

12. The carrier of claim 11; and means extending outwardly of said shaft and engageable by fixed means interposed in the path of movement of the carrier for rotating said shaft through a predetermined angle when said latch is out of engagement with said stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,086 Guild Feb. 3, 1880 773,612 Wallace et al Nov. 1, 1904 l,727,863 Clifiord Sept. 10, 1929 1,976,805 Robinson Oct. 16, 1934 2,344,476 Turnbull Mar. 14, 1944 2,552,194 Lindsay et al. May 8, 1951 2,635,394 Wing Apr. 21, 1953

Claims

1. A BUFFING MACHINE INCLUDING: MEANS FOR CARRYING OBJECTS TO BE POLISHED IN A PREDETERMINED PATH; A PLURALITY OF BUFFER MEANS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ALONG SAID PREDETERMINED PATH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH OBJECTS CARRIED BY SAID CARRYING MEANS, EACH OF SAID BUFFER MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A FIRST AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF OBJECTS MOVED THEREPAST BY SAID CARRYING MEANS AND FOR MOVEMENT OUT OF PREDETERMINED PATH ABOUT A SECOND AXIS SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AXIS; MEANS BIASING SAID BUFFER MEANS AGAINST MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS OUT OF SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT; AND MEANS COOPERABLE WITH SAID CARRYING MEANS FOR VARYING THE ATTITUDE OF EACH OBJECT AT PREDETERMINED LOCATIONS ALONG SAID PREDETERMINED PATH FOR CAUSING DIFFERENT AREAS OF SAID OBJECTS TO BE ENGAGED AND POLISHED BY DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID BUFFER MEANS, EACH OBJECT BEING HELD AGAINST MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CARRYING MEANS DURING ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OF SAID BUFFER MEANS.