US3685213A - Orbital finishing system - Google Patents

Orbital finishing system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3685213A
US3685213A US8815A US3685213DA US3685213A US 3685213 A US3685213 A US 3685213A US 8815 A US8815 A US 8815A US 3685213D A US3685213D A US 3685213DA US 3685213 A US3685213 A US 3685213A
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United States
Prior art keywords
workpieces
tub
media
closure
discharge
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Expired - Lifetime
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US8815A
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English (en)
Inventor
John F Rampe
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JEPMAR RESEARCH
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RAMPE RESEARCH
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Assigned to JEPMAR RESEARCH reassignment JEPMAR RESEARCH CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RAMP, JOHN F. AND RAMPE JOHN N., PARTNER D/B/A RAMPE RESEARCH
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
    • B24B31/00—Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work and/or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
    • B24B31/00—Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work and/or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor
    • B24B31/06—Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work and/or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving oscillating or vibrating containers
    • B24B31/062—Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work and/or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor involving oscillating or vibrating containers the workpieces travelling through the containers

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A vibratory finishing machine including a supporting frame, a processing tub, and vibratory means interposed between the frame and the tub to vibrate the tub.
  • Spaced charging and discharging means deliver workpieces and media into one end of the tub and discharge it through an opening in the opposite end of the tub so as to provide a continuous feed finishing operation.
  • the discharging means includes a weir which extends to an adjustable height to control the height at which workpieces and media discharge from the tub.
  • the discharging means also includes a closure means for closing the discharge opening to retain or discharge workpieces and media.
  • a timing control serves to cyclically actuate the closure operator at adjustable predetermined intervals of time during operation of the machine. Together these adjustable controls permit the retention time of workpieces in the tub to be controllably varied.
  • the present invention relates generally to abrasive finishing machines and more particularly to a vibratory finishing machine of the continuous feed type having a variable discharge system for controlling the retention time of workpieces within the tub of the machine.
  • Vibratory finishing machines adapted to smooth and finish the surfaces of workpieces by such operations as deburring, burnishing, descaling and cleaning are well known. Such machines commonly employ a processing tub adapted to receive a quantity of workpieces and abrasive finishing media. The tub is then vibrated so as to impart a finishing action to the workpieces.
  • the abrasive media can conveniently be separated from the workpieces after the media and workpieces are discharged from the tub. After separation, the workpieces may then be returned to the tub of the finishing machine for re-use.
  • the finishing liquid is usually drained off during separation of the media and workpieces.
  • the finished workpieces are subsequently collected and conveyed to a separate unit or group of units for washing, drying, inspection and packaging.
  • Such proposed machines provide the processing tub with spaced charging and discharging means whereby media and workpieces enter one end of the tub and are subjected to a finishing action as they progress through the tub for discharge at the opposite end.
  • the present invention overcomes the foregoing drawbacks of prior art finishing machines and provides a finishing machines with a variable discharge system for controlling the retention time of workpieces in the tub of the machine.
  • the finishing machine of the present invention may be operated on a batch basis if so desired but is designed primarily for continuous operation according to a pre-arranged time schedule.
  • a discharge system including an adjustable weir for varying the height at which workpieces and media are discharged from the tub, and a closure-controlled discharge opening which alternately releases and retains the tub contents.
  • the operation of the discharge assembly is controlled by mechanism adapted to repeat the cycle at short intervals.
  • the operator adjusts the controls, more particularly a timing mechanism, to provide a predetermined retention period-typically 10 seconds for processing the workpieces constituting part of the contents of the tub.
  • a predetermined release period typically 5 seconds for partial discharge of the tub contents.
  • This initial cycle is immediately followed by a second such cycle.
  • the second cycle is commonly followed by a third such cycle, the third by a fourth, the fourth by a fifth and so on as long as desired.
  • the nature of the workpieces may call for longer or shorter processing times than those mentioned above; in such instances, the operator can readily re-set the timing mechanism to provide correspondingly longer or shorter retention periods preceding the release periods.
  • the charging apparatus supplies the tub as required with an abrasive processing medium of any one of kinds commonly used in orbital finishing machines. Concurrentlyusually but not necessarily intermittently-an aqueous finishing liquid is introduced therewith to facilitate finishing of the workpieces. The workpieces themselves are added by the operator.
  • the operation of the charging apparatus is, in effect, keyed to that of the discharge assembly, supplying abrasive media whenever the discharge assembly releases enough of the tub contents to permit of their introduction.
  • the discharge system ordinarily comprises a housing projecting from the tub the major axis of which constitutes a continuation of the longitudinal axis of the tub.
  • a discharge opening is formed through the housing.
  • An adjustable weir forms the lower lip of the discharge opening. The weir may be adjusted in height to control the height at which workpieces and media discharge from the tub of the finishing machine.
  • Movable closure is provided to preclude or permit retention of the tub contents, depending on the manner in which the controls are prograrned.
  • a timing mechanism serves to cyclically actuate the closure operator at adjustable predetermined intervals of time. Together these adjustable controls permit the retention time of workpieces in the tub to be controllably varied.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric representation of an orbital finishing machine within the purview of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan of the machine on a somewhat larger scale
  • FIG. 3 is an elevation showing on a still larger scale the discharge assembly at the end of the tub seen at the right in FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a corresponding vertical section as seen from the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 1 with the discharge assembly closure in closed position;
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical section similar to that of FIG. 4 showing the discharge assembly as it appears after it has been rotated clockwise through an angle of approximately 45;
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section as seen from the plane indicated by the line 66 of FIG. 2.
  • the finishing machine 1 of the present invention includes a platform 2, the near end of which appears in FIG. 1; other supporting structure such as horizontally and vertically extending channels, beams and reinforcements; a prime mover such as, motor 3; a chain belt drive 4 leading to shafting and vibration inducing means of the kind shown in the above-mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,337,997; a guard 5; and a shroud 6 enclosing much of the supporting structure, the shafting and the vibration-inducing means.
  • Adjoining shroud 6 is a console 7 on which is a control box 8 incorporating a convention timing mechanism 8a that can be programed by the operator to accomplish the objectives of the invention.
  • the timing mechanism 8a comprises a conventional timer which can be programed by an operator to cyclically open and close one or more sets of electrical contacts at predetermined intervals of time during operation of the machine 1.
  • a timing mechanism is used to cyclically open and close a discharge door so as to control the rate of discharge of materials from the tub 10.
  • Tub 10 which is generally cylindrical in shape, is supported from beneath by a cradle consisting in part of structural members 9 one of which may be seen in FIG. 1. Details of the system for vibrating the tub are shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,337,997.
  • tub 10 In its top portion, tub 10 has a wide longitudinally extending opening that is flanked by mutually diverging wings l1. Bridging the space that separates wings 11 is a plurality of cross heads 12 held in place as shown in FIG. 6 by nuts screwed onto studs projecting from the clamping members used to hold the tub lining in place.
  • a generally square end plate 13 Aligned with tub 10 at the charging end of the tub; i.e., the end shown at the left in FIG. 2, is a generally square end plate 13 with a central circular opening of substantially the same diameter as the tub. Attached to end plate 13 is a hopper 14 for feeding plastic or stone media to the tub. The media are supplied to hopper 14 through an elongated top opening 15. They may be added from time to time by the operator or caused to drop into opening 15 from the upper end of the bucket conveyor 16 seen in FIG. 1
  • Conveyor 16 is mounted in a framework 17 supported by suitable uprights 18 one of which appears in FIG. 1.
  • Motor 19 supplies power to the upper end of the conveyor.
  • the lower end of the conveyor, which is contained within housing 20, is not powered.
  • Media such as those to be delivered to hopper 14 are normally re-used, being delivered to conveyor 16 at the righthand end of the machine, seen as in FIG. 2.
  • a square end plate 21 Mounted on tub 10 at its right-hand end, seen as in FIG. 2, is a square end plate 21 with a central circular opening (not shown) of substantially the same diameter as tub 10.
  • a discharge assembly 22 comprising a flat-sided drum 23 that is cylindrical in shape over most of its surface, particularly over the 220 stretch between zones 23a and 23b (FIG. 3). That end of drum 23 which bears against end plate 21 is provided with a radially directed generally circular flange 24 attached to end plate 21 by four equally spaced subassemblies each of which consists of a threaded stud, a nut and an attaching clip 25. Clips 25 are normally in contact with flange 24 but may be loosened to permit the drum to be rotated as desired, clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • Drum 23 has a closed outer face 26, best seen in FIG. 1.
  • Face'26 corresponds in outline to the shape of drum 23, which, as already indicated, takes the form of an incomplete cylinder.
  • Each has a lateral flat or cut-away portion extending over an included angle of about This portion can be regarded as theoretically delineating the maximum discharge opening of discharge assembly 22. In practice, however, the extent of such opening is diminished by the presence and manner of operation of the hereinafter described closure, which is designed to alternately preclude and permit the release, through the lateral opening in discharge assembly 22, of the contents of tub 10.
  • Trough 27 Projecting laterally from the drum; i.e., transversely of the machine as a whole, is the discharge trough 27 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Trough 27 is rectangular in cross section, substantially horizontally disposed, and provided just above its bottom with an inclined fine-mesh screen 28.
  • the openings in the screen are small enough to prevent the workpieces and media from passing through it while allowing the entrained finishing liquid to fall off and drop to the bottom of the trough. It may be recirculated if desired or, if preferred, allowed to drain from trough 27 into a collecting vessel or sewer.
  • the workpieces and media are urged toward the far end of screen 28 by gravity and/or forces imposed on them by subsequently discharging tub contents.
  • screen 28 is equipped with a wide-mesh insert 28a that allows the media, but not the workpieces, to drop through the screen into an underlying funnel 29 (FIG. 1).
  • the latter directs the media to the lower end of conveyor 16, which receives them and carries them toward its upper end for return to tub 10 through hopper 14.
  • the workpieces are precluded by the wide-mesh insert 28a from dropping through this portion of the screen; instead, they move onto an inclined run-off tray 30, where they fall by gravity into a waiting tote box or other receptacle.
  • the above-described construction of the discharge assembly is, in effect, such as to incorporate in drum 23, in the neighborhood of zone 23b, a laterally oriented, adjustably positioned weir.
  • the drum wall may terminate just short of zone 23b, in which case the resulting laterally presented terminal edge defines the upper limit of the weir.
  • the drum wall may be extended or continued tangentially to the body portion of drum 23 by means of upwardly extending flat portion 31, whereupon its upper edge becomes the upper limit of the weir.
  • the edge of the weir is preferably reinforced, as by the angular bracket 32.
  • the outwardly projecting portion 33 of the bracket or other reinforcement can advantageously serve as a seat for the outer edge of closure 34: see FIG. 4.
  • closure 34 In the neighborhood of zone 23a (FIG. 3), the opposite edge of closure 34 is pivotally supported by a horizontally extending pivot pin 35 carried by a pair of lugs 36 rigidly mounted on drum 23.
  • An L-shaped actuator 37 is welded as shown to the top face of closure 34. At its upper end, actuator 37 is connected to a piston rod 38 that projects from the near end of a power cylinder 39.
  • power cylinder 39 is pivotally supported at 40 on upwardly projecting ears 41 that are themselves rigidly mounted on an inverted channel 42. The latter is preferably welded to the cylindrical portion of drum 23.
  • shields 43 and 44 Attached to drum 23 inwardly of the sides of trough 27 are shields 43 and 44. These shields are a desirable but not a necessary feature of discharge assembly 22. The presence of shields 43 and 44 confines the discharging tub contents to a path that takes them into trough 27 and onto screen 28. Preferably, the lower edges 45 of shields 43 and 44 are slanted as shown to enable comer 46 to clear the underlying portion of trough 27 when the height of the weir is to be adjusted as, for example, by rotating the drum from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5.
  • drum 23 is completely open for discharge of the tub contents over the weir.
  • the tub contents consisting of the workpieces, media and fluid,
  • the timing mechanism 8a will operate a second time to restore closure 34 to its closed position.
  • the retention time of the tub contents in tub 10 may be increased or decreased.
  • the retention time may be reduced from 10 seconds to 5 seconds with the discharge time remaining constant at five seconds.
  • the retention time may be increased from 10 seconds to 15 seconds with the discharge time remaining constant at 5 seconds.
  • variations in the retention time sometimes dictated by the nature of the workpieces, may be achieved, as a result whereof the desired degree of finishing may be accomplished to better advantage.
  • the length of the release time may be varied in like fashion, depending on the wishes of the operator.
  • the discharge assembly need not take the form of a flanged hood shaped more or less like a flat-sided drum but, if desired, may take some quite difierent form so long as it consists or a tub-associated housing into which the tub contents can move as a result of the operation of the tub and from which they can be discharged from time to time, preferably on a pro gramed basis.
  • the closure for the discharge assembly need not be arranged and operated in the manner shown and described but may be difierently organized and operated. Other changes may be expected of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
  • a vibratory finishing machine comprising:
  • charging means for feeding into said tub structure a plurality of workpieces to be finished and media to be used in finishing the workpieces;
  • discharging means for controllably discharging workpieces and media from said tub structure
  • said charging means and said discharging means being arranged to introduce and discharge workpieces and abrasive media into and from spaced regions of said tub structure whereby the machine is operable in a continuous feed mode;
  • said discharging means comprising:
  • i. means defining a discharge opening in communication with said tub structure and forming weir means extending to a predetermined height to control the height at which workpieces and media discharge from said tub structure;
  • closure means selectively closing said discharge opening whereby said closure means may be opened to permit workpieces and media to pass over said weir means and to discharge through said discharge opening, and may be closed to retain workpieces and media within said tub structure;
  • closure operator means connected to said closure means for opening and closing the closure means
  • automatic flow control means for periodically actuating said closure operator means to open and close the closure means at selected intervals during the operation of said machine thereby to control automatically the discharge rate of workpieces and media from said tub structure.
  • said means defining a discharge opening comprises housing means adjustably connected to said tub structure;
  • said weir means comprises the lower edge of said discharge opening defined by said housing means
  • said housing extends substantially horizontally such that its central axis in effect continues the central axis of said tub structure;
  • said discharge opening is formed in the periphery of said housing with a region spaced radially from said central axis;
  • said housing is adjustably rotatably mounted on said tub structure whereby said housing may be rotated relative to said tub to adjustably position said weir means.
  • a vibratory finishing machine comprising:
  • charging means for feeding into said tub structure a plurality of workpieces to be finished and media to be used in finishing the workpieces;
  • discharging means for controllably discharging workpieces and media from said tub structure
  • said charging means and said discharging means being arranged to introduce and discharge workpieces and abrasive media into and from spaced regions of said tub structure whereby the machine is operable in a continuous feed mode;
  • said discharging means comprising:
  • closure means for selectively opening and closing said discharge opening so as to permit or prohibit the discharge of workpieces and media from said tub structure
  • closure operator means connected to said closure means for opening and closing said closure means
  • timing control means for cyclically actuating said closure operator means to open and close said closure means at predetermined intervals of time during the operation of said machine, whereby the discharge rate of workpieces and media is automatically controlled.
  • said closure operator means comprises a fluid operated cylinder which is extensible and contractable to move said closure means;
  • said timing means comprises a timer mechanism the intervals of operation of which are adjustable such that the discharge rate of workpieces and media from said tub structure may be adjustably controlled.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Workpieces (AREA)
US8815A 1970-02-05 1970-02-05 Orbital finishing system Expired - Lifetime US3685213A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US881570A 1970-02-05 1970-02-05

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US3685213A true US3685213A (en) 1972-08-22

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US8815A Expired - Lifetime US3685213A (en) 1970-02-05 1970-02-05 Orbital finishing system

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US (1) US3685213A (enExample)
AU (1) AU1977070A (enExample)
CA (1) CA919916A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2105469A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2080362A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1313523A (enExample)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3871136A (en) * 1974-03-14 1975-03-18 Vibrodyne Inc Vibratory apparatus with improved motor actuated door mechanism for closing the discharge outlet
US3991524A (en) * 1974-04-04 1976-11-16 Ultramatic Equipment Company Vibratory finishing equipment
US4074466A (en) * 1977-03-29 1978-02-21 Rampe Research Vibratory finishing system
EP0066007A1 (en) * 1981-05-29 1982-12-08 ROLLWASCH ITALIANA S.p.A. Method and apparatus for vibrating mass treatment of metal surfaces in a continuous cycle of controllable treatment time
EP0103848A3 (en) * 1982-09-20 1984-12-05 Ernst Heiberger Method and machine for the vibratory finishing of workpieces
US5607341A (en) * 1994-08-08 1997-03-04 Leach; Michael A. Method and structure for polishing a wafer during manufacture of integrated circuits
US5733175A (en) * 1994-04-25 1998-03-31 Leach; Michael A. Polishing a workpiece using equal velocity at all points overlapping a polisher
CN102848297A (zh) * 2012-09-21 2013-01-02 大连隆正光饰机制造有限公司 智能化漩流光饰加工生产线

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3871136A (en) * 1974-03-14 1975-03-18 Vibrodyne Inc Vibratory apparatus with improved motor actuated door mechanism for closing the discharge outlet
US3991524A (en) * 1974-04-04 1976-11-16 Ultramatic Equipment Company Vibratory finishing equipment
US4074466A (en) * 1977-03-29 1978-02-21 Rampe Research Vibratory finishing system
EP0066007A1 (en) * 1981-05-29 1982-12-08 ROLLWASCH ITALIANA S.p.A. Method and apparatus for vibrating mass treatment of metal surfaces in a continuous cycle of controllable treatment time
EP0103848A3 (en) * 1982-09-20 1984-12-05 Ernst Heiberger Method and machine for the vibratory finishing of workpieces
US5733175A (en) * 1994-04-25 1998-03-31 Leach; Michael A. Polishing a workpiece using equal velocity at all points overlapping a polisher
US5607341A (en) * 1994-08-08 1997-03-04 Leach; Michael A. Method and structure for polishing a wafer during manufacture of integrated circuits
US5702290A (en) * 1994-08-08 1997-12-30 Leach; Michael A. Block for polishing a wafer during manufacture of integrated circuits
US5836807A (en) * 1994-08-08 1998-11-17 Leach; Michael A. Method and structure for polishing a wafer during manufacture of integrated circuits
CN102848297A (zh) * 2012-09-21 2013-01-02 大连隆正光饰机制造有限公司 智能化漩流光饰加工生产线

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Publication number Publication date
DE2105469A1 (de) 1971-08-19
GB1313523A (en) 1973-04-11
FR2080362A5 (enExample) 1971-11-12
AU1977070A (en) 1972-03-16
CA919916A (en) 1973-01-30

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: JEPMAR RESEARCH 1246 HIGH STREET, FAIR PORT HARBOR

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:RAMP, JOHN F. AND RAMPE JOHN N., PARTNER D/B/A RAMPE RESEARCH;REEL/FRAME:004188/0878

Effective date: 19820927