US3845588A

US3845588A - Article finishing machine

Info

Publication number: US3845588A
Application number: US00421346A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Huffman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-03
Filing date: 1973-12-03
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of elongated articles such as picker sticks. The picker stick is shifted by a conveyor means into the path of a first pair of elongated sanding machines. At least one of the sanding machines is pivotally supported and is shifted to and from a sanding position by selectively supplying air to a pneumatic cylinder which has its piston rod coupled to the pivotally supported sanding machine. First and second switch means are carried in the path of the picker stick for generating signals that are supplied to a pneumatic valve for controlling the flow of air to the pneumatic cylinder. A second pair of sanding machines is provided for sanding the upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick. Driven wheels engage the picker sticks for feeding them between the sanding machines.

Description

lite States tent Huffman, Jr.

[ Nov. 5, 1974 ARTICLE FINISHING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Coy L. Huffman, Jr., 107 Brookside Way, Greenville, SC 29605 [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 421,346

Primary ExaminerOthell M. Simpson Attorney, Agent, or FirrnBailey & Dority [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of elongated articles such as picker sticks. The picker stick is shifted by a conveyor means into the path of a first pair of elongated sanding machines. At least one of the sanding machines is pivotally supported and is shifted to and from a sanding position by selectively supplying air to a pneumatic cylinder which has its piston rod coupled to the pivotally supported sanding machine. First and second switch means are carried in the path of the picker stick for generating signals that are supplied to a pneumatic valve for controlling the flow of air to the pneumatic cylinder. A second pair of sanding machines is provided for sanding the upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick. Driven wheels engage the picker sticks for feeding them between the sanding machines.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PMENYEMW 5 can swimaur s. 3'845'588 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of elongated articles and more particularly to an apparatus for finishing outer surfaces of picker sticks while omitting certain portions thereof. Picker sticks used on looms can be constructed of many suitable wooden materials such as hickory and compressed laminated woods. In preparing the picker sticks, it is desirable that the exposed surfaces thereof be finished by sanding or the like. On one side of the picker stick, there is a serrated portion which is engaged by a lug strap during weaving. Heretofore, in order to finish picker sticks, such was manually sanded omitting the serrated portion. Such is time consuming and increases the overall price of the finished picker sticks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes an apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of an elongated picker stick while leaving a serrated portion of the picker stick unfinished. The apparatus includes a supporting frame with a conveyor means for moving the elongated picker sticks in a straight path thereover. A first elongated sanding machine is carried by theframe on one side of the path for engaging and finishing one side of the picker stick as the picker stick is moved therepass by the conveyor means. A second elongated sanding machine is pivotally supported on the framefor being shifted into and out of engagement with the other side of the picker stick. A double acting pneumatic cylinder is carried by the frame and has a piston rod extending out one end thereof coupled to a second sanding machine. A valve means is coupled between the pressurized source of air and the cylinder and is capable of assuming a first state wherein air is coupled therethrough to the cylinder extending the piston rod and a second state wherein air is coupled therethrough to the cylinder retracting the piston rod. A first switch means is carried in the path of the picker stick for supplying a signal to the valve means upon engaging the picker stick being moved by the conveyor means. A second switch means is carried in the path of the picker stick and is spaced a predetermined distance from the first switch means for supplying a signal to the valve means upon engaging the picker stick being moved by the conveyor means. The valve means selectively supplies air to the cylinder causing the second sanding machine to shift between a sanding position and a non-sanding position responsive to signals from the first and second switch means. Thus, the second sanding machine sands a portion of the other side of the picker stick adjacent the leading edge of the stick, omits the serrated portion, and sands a portion adjacent the trailing edge. Additional sanding machines are provided for sanding the upper and lower surfaces of the picker stick as such is moved by the conveyor means.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present in-- vention to provide an apparatus which automatically finishes exposed surfaces of a picker stick while omitting certain portions thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically finishing picker sticks in which various size sticks can be finished thereby.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for finishing elongated articles which possesses adjustable means that controls the areas of the article to be sanded.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the following specification, attendant claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side, elevational view illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for finishing picker sticks and the like,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 3a, 4 and 4a, 5 and 5a, disclose diagramatically the location of a'picker stick relative to control switches forming part of the invention and the corresponding position of sanding machines,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view with parts removed for purposes of clarity illustrating the drive mechanism forming the conveyor means for conveying the picker sticks during the finishing operation, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the pneumatic controls for selectively shifting sanding machines between a sanding and non-sanding position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a supporting frame generally designated by the reference character 10 which includes four vertically extending corner legs 12 through 15 which have a substantially square frame member 16 carried on the top thereof. Extending between the sides of the square frame member 16 is a cross brace 17 which is constructed of any suitable material, such as angle iron. Another cross brace 18 is disposed vertically below the cross brace 17 and is supported between upright braces 19 carried between the upper frame member 16 and the lower side braces 20. Other suitable bracing such as a lower horizontal rail 21, upwardly extending brace 22 and an upper rail 23 are suitably supported by the frame member 10. Conventional motor mounts and the like are supported by the frame 10 but such are not disclosed for the purpose of clarity.

A conveyor means is provided for moving the elongated picker sticks in a straight path over the supporting frame 10. The conveyor means includes the flat horizontal rail 23 which has a plurality of freely rotatable wheels 24 longitudinally spaced thereon. The picker stick is moved from right to left over the horizontal frame by a plurality of longitudinally spaced driven wheels 25. The wheels 25 engage one side of the picker stick while the other side of the picker stick is pressed against the freely rotatable wheels 24 for being driven across the frame 10.

The mechanism for driving the wheels 25 is best illustrated in FIG. 6 and includes an electric motor 26 which is coupled through a belt 27 to an input of a gear reduction box 28. The output of the gear reduction box 28 is coupled through a chain 29 to a gear 30 carried on a vertical shaft 31. Positioned on top of the shaft 31 is one of the drive wheels 25. The shaft is suitably journaled in a bearing block 32 carried on a side frame member 33. Positioned on the bottom of the shaft 31 is another gear 34 around which a chain 35 wraps. The

chain 35 extends longitudinally below the rail 23 around an idle gear 36 and gears 37 carried on the bottom of shafts 38 which have the wheels 25 suitably secured to the upper end thereof. Positioned between the shafts 38 are idle gears 39. The chain extends around the gears 37 and the idle gears 39 in a zigzag manner so that all of the shafts 38 are rotated in the same direction for driving the picker stick from right to left across the rail 23 as shown in FIG. 6 and from left to right as shown in FIG. 2.

The drive rollers 25 carried on the right end of the rail 23 shown in FIG. 6, are driven through

chains

39 and 40 which wrap around a gear 41 carried on the right hand shaft 38. The rollers 25 shown on the right in FIG. 6 are mounted on top of

shafts

42 and 43 which are suitably journaled in bearing blocks 44. Positioned on the bottom of shaft 42 are a pair of

gears

45 and 46. The chain 39, in turn, wraps around the gear 46 for driving shaft 42 and the chain 40 wraps around gear 45 for driving the vertical shaft 43.

The wheels shown on the left hand end of the conveyor means in FIG. 6 are driven by a chain 47 which wraps around a gear 48 carried on shaft 31. Chain 47, by means of chains 47a and 47b, drives shafts 49 which are suitably mounted on a side frame member 33 in bearing blocks 50.

Carried on the frame for sanding opposed sides and the top and bottom of picker sticks passing over the frame are four elongated sanding machines generally designated by the

reference characters

51, 52, 53

and 54. Each of the sanding machines are constructed in the same manner, therefore, a detailed description of only one will be given. For example, the sanding machine 51 includes an elongated angle iron member 55 which has a hub 56 welded thereto. Extending through the hub 56 is a shaft 57 which is journaled within a pair of vertically spaced bearing

posts

58 and 59. The bearing post 58 is. in turn, bolted to the cross angle iron 17 whereas the bearing post 59 is supported on the cross angle iron 18. The shaft 57 is permitted to rotate within the bearing posts 58 and 59 so as to allow the elongated angle member 55 to pivot about the bearing posts 57. An electric motor 60 is bolted to an inner end of the elongated angle member 55 and has a shaft 61 extending upwardly therefrom. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 61 is a drum 62 around which an elongated continuous sanding belt 63 is wrapped. The other end of the elongated sanding belt 63 is looped around a freely rotatable smaller drum 64 which is suitably mounted on the other end of the angle member 55. Electricity is supplied to the electric motor from any suitable source of electrical power by means of wires, not shown. Like reference characters are used for similar parts of each

ofthe sanding machines

51, 52, 53 and 54.

In order to control the distance that the inner end of the

sanding machines

51 and 52 are allowed to pivot, a flange member 65 is welded to the inner end of the elongated angle member 55 and has an adjustable bolt 66 threadably extending therethrough. The inner end of the adjustable bolt 66 engages a stop 67 carried on the upper frame 16. The bolt 66 may be screwed in and out to accomodate the sanding of various width picker sticks.

Also, extending inwardly from the angle member 55 is an angle shoe 68 which has an inner end 69 which terminates closely adjacent the tangent of the drum 62 around which the sanding belt 63 is wrapped. The angle shoe 68 guides the picker sticks between the two

sanding machines

51 and 52 so that the sides of the picker stick are engaged by the sanding belts 63 at the tangent of the drums 62. The angle shoe 68 is supported by a bracket 70 which is welded to the angle member 65. Therefore, the angle shoe 68 moves with the sanding machine 51 as such is pivoted between a sanding and non-sanding position. The sanding machine 51 is shifted between a sanding and non-sanding position by a pneumatic cylinder 71 which has a piston rod 72 extending out one end that is attached by a pivot joint 72a to the angle member 55. The other end of the pneumatic cylinder 71 is pivotally attached by a pin to the frame 16. When air is supplied to an upper port 73 of the pneumatic cylinder 71, such causes the sanding machine 51 to pivot counter-clockwise about the shaft 57 out of sanding position. When air is supplied to a lower port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 the sanding machine 51 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Sanding machine 52 is also manipulated by a pneumatic cylinder 75 which has a piston rod 76 extending out one end thereof to engage the angle member 55 of the sanding machine 52. The other end of the pneumatic cylinder 75 is coupled to the frame 16. Air is selectively supplied to port 78 of the cylinder 75 for moving the sanding machine 52 into sanding position.

After the

sanding machines

51 and 52 have sanded the sides of the picker stick being moved along by the conveyor means over the frame 16 of the apparatus, it passes between the sanding

machines

53 and 54 which are provided for sanding the upper and lower sides of the picker sticks. The sanding machine 54 is pivotally supported on a shaft 79 journaled in a bearing block 80, carried on the vertical frame member 13. The rail 23 has a cut-out portion (not shown for clarity) for permitting the lower sanding machine 54 to engage the lower side of the picker stick as it passes thereby.

Sanding member 53 is similarly mounted on a shaft 81 carried within a bearing block 82 supported on the vertical frame member 13. A pneumatic cylinder 83 is coupled between a flange 84 extending outwardly from the frame member 13 and a bracket 85 carried by the upper sanding machine 53 for pivoting the sanding machine 53 into the position shown in FIG. 1 when air is supplied to the cylinder 83. When air is removed from the cylinder 83, a spring 86 pivots the sanding machine 53 clockwise out of the sanding position. The spring 86 extends between the angle member 55 and the rail 23. The sanding machine 54 is operated by sa similar pneumatic cylinder 83 as the sanding machine 53 for moving such into and out of sanding position.

Referring to FIGS. I and 2 of the drawing, a first switch means 87 is carried on an upwardly extending bracket 88 suitably mounted on the rail 23 for engaging picker sticks being moved by the conveyor across the frame 10. A second pneumatic switch 89 is spaced longitudinally to the right of the first switch means 87 for sensing the presence of a picker stick thereunder. The pneumatic switch 89 has a plunger 90 which is raised upon engaging the picker stick. Similarly, the pneumatic switch 87 has a plunger 91 which is raised upon engaging a picker stick. The

switches

87 and 89 are mounted on the end of an upwardly extending arm 92 which has a plurality of spaced holes 93 provided therein. A bolt 94 extends through one of the holes 93 for securing the arm 92 to the vertical bracket 88. The

exact location of the

pneumatic switches

87 and 89 can be adjusted by selectively securing the arm 92 to the bracket 88 by means of placing the bolt 94 through the desired hole 93 therein.

The

switches

87 and 89 are pneumatic switches, therefore,

air hoses

92a and 93a are coupled thereto. The operation of the pneumatic switches will be discussed more fully in conjunction with the pneumatic circuit diagram of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates the pneumatic diagram for operating the

cylinders

75 and 71. Air is supplied from any suitable source of pressurized air such as indicated by the reference character 95, fed through a regulator 96, filter 97 to a center port of a T valve 98. One of the output ports of the T valve 98 is coupled to a regulator 99 through a line 78 to an input port of pneumatic cylinder 75. The other output port of the T joint 98 is coupled through a regulator 100 to a T joint 101. One of the outputs of the T joint 101 is coupled by a hose 102 to pneumatic switch 89 is coupled to one input 104 of a pneumatic'OR gate 105. The pneumatic OR gate has two inputs 104 and 106 which control the flow of air therethrough. Air is supplied to another input 107 of the OR gate 105 through a T joint 108 which has one input 109 coupled to the output of T joint 101. The T joint 108 also has an output l-which is coupled through a tube 92 a to an input 111 of thefirst pneumatic switch87. An output'l12 of the first pneumatic switch 87 is connected to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105. The OR gate 105 has two

outputs

113 and 114. Output 114 is coupled directly to the upper port 73 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 whereas the output 113 is coupled directly to the lower port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71. When the plunger of the pneu matic sensing switches 87 and 89 are raised, air is permitted to flow through the particular switch.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5 and 5a as well as schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7, the manipulation of the

sanding machines

51 and 52 will be discussed. When the air supply 95 is turned on, air is allowed to flow through the T joint 98 into the pneumatic cylinder 75 pivoting the sanding machine 52 inwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 2. When the sanding machine is in this position and a picker stick passes by the sanding drum 62, it will sand the entire side of the picker stick being engaged thereby. However, on the opposite side of the picker stick, it is desired to interrupt the sanding operation so as to permit a serrated portion 116 to pass under the sanding head 62 of the sanding machine 51 without being sanded.

As the picker stick is shifted along the rail 23 by the driven rollers 25, it first engages the plunger 91 of the pneumatic switch 87. When the plunger 91 is raised, air is permitted to flow from the air supply 95 through the switch 87 to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105. When air is supplied to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105 the main flow of air coming into the input 107 of the OR gate 105 is permitted to pass through the output 113 to the input port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 causing the piston rod 72 to be extended. When the piston rod 72 is extended, the sanding machine 51 engages the side of the picker stick 115 to sand that particular side such as shown in FIG. 3a.

The picker stick is moved along the rail 23 until the leading end engages the plunger 90 of the pneumatic switch 89-. When the plunger 90 of the pneumatic switch 89 is raised, air is permitted to flow through the pneumatic switch 89 to the sensing input 104 of the pneumatic OR gate 105. When this condition occurs, the pneumatic OR gate 105 permits air to flow therethrough out of the output 114 to the input port 73 of pneumatic cylinder 71. This retracts the piston pulling the sanding machine 51 out of engagement with the picker stick, such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, thereby not sanding the serrated portion 116 of the picker stick. The picker stick is shifted along by the conveyor means which includes the driven rollers 25 until the plunger 91 of the first switch means 87 drops off the end of the picker stick. In this condition, no air is permitted to pass through the pneumatic switch 87 to the sensing input 106 of the OR gate 105. The main flow of air through the OR gate 105 is returned back to the output 113 and fed to the input port 74 of the pneumatic cylinder 71 returning the sanding machine 51 to the sanding position such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a.

As previously mentioned, the spacing between the

pneumatic switches

87 and 89 can be varied so that the exact location of the unsanded portion on the side of the picker stick can be varied for accomodating various sizes and designed picker sticks.

The picker stick is then moved along by the conveyor means into engagement with the

sanding machines

53 and 54 for sanding the upper and lower sides thereof. When the air supply is turned on, air is fed directly to the pneumatic cylinders 83 for the

sanding machines

53 and 54 so that they are pivoted into a sanding position.

The pneumatic OR valve can be any suitable conventional valve that can be selectively operated by a pair of pneumatic switches for controlling the flow of air to inputs of a pneumatic cylinder. The particular valve 105 shown in FIG. 7, permits the air to flow from the input 107 to the output 113 when there is no air supply to either one or the other of the sensing inputs 104 and'106. When air is supplied to both of the inputs 104 and 106 the flow of air through the valve 105 is to the output 114.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of an elongated picker stick while leaving a serrated portion of said stick unfinished, said picker stick having opposed sides joined by an upper and lower surface, said apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

conveyor means for moving said elongated picker stick in a straight path over said supporting frame;

a first elongated sanding machine carried by said frame on one side of said path for engaging and finishing one side of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means;

a second elongated sanding machine pivotally supported on said frame for being shifted into and out of engagement with the other side of said picker stick;

a source of pressurized air;

a double acting pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rod extending out one end thereof coupled to said second sanding machine;

valve means coupled between said pressurized source of air and said cylinder capable of assuming a first state wherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder extending said piston and a second state wherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder retracting said piston;

a first switch means carried in the path of said picker picker stick for supplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stick being moved by said conveyor means;

a second switch means carried in said path of said picker stick and being spaced at predetermined distance from said first switch means for supplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stick being moved by said conveyor means; and

said valve means selectively supplying air to said cylinder for causing said second sanding machine to shift between a sanding position and a non-sanding position responsive to said signals from said first and second switch means;

whereby said second sanding machine sands a portion of said other side of said picker stick adjacent the leading edge of said stick, omits said serrated portion and sands a portion adjacent said trailing edge.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a third elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engaging and finishing an upper surface of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means, and

a fourth elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engaging and finishing a lower surface of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means,

whereby said upper and lower surfaces, as well as said opposed sides are automatically finished by said apparatus.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

conveyor means includes;

a plurality of spaced wheels engaging at least one side of said picker stick, and

means for rotating said wheels for moving said picker stick in said straight path across said supporting frame into engagement with said elongated sanding machines.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

means for pivotally supporting said first elongated sanding machine;

a second pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rod extending out of one end thereof coupled to said first sanding machine;

means for coupling said second pneumatic cylinder to said source of pressurized air for causing said piston rod of said second cylinder to be extended;

whereby said first sanding machine engages said one side of said picker stick under a predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically finishing selected areas of an elongated picker stick while leaving a serrated portion of said stick unfinished, said picker stick having opposed sides joined by an upper and lower surface, said apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; conveyor means for moving said elongated picker stick in a straight path over said supporting frame; a first elongated sanding machine carried by said frame on one side of said path for engaging and finishing one side of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means; a second elongated sanding machine pivotally supported on said frame for being shifted into and out of engagement with the other side of said picker stick; a source of pressurized air; a double acting pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rod extending out one end thereof coupled to said second sanding machine; valve means coupled between said pressurized source of air and said cylinder capable of assuming a first state wherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder extending said piston and a second state wherein air is coupled therethrough to said cylinder retracting said piston; a first switch means carried in the path of said picker picker stick for supplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stick being moved by said conveyor means; a second switch means carried in said path of said picker stick and being spaced a predetermined distance from said first switch means for supplying a signal to said valve means upon engaging said picker stick being moved by said conveyor means; and said valve means selectively supplying air to said cylinder for causing said second sanding machine to shift between a sanding position and a non-sanding position responsive to said signals from said first and second switch means; whereby said second sanding machine sands a portion of said other side of said picker stick adjacent the leading edge of said stick, omits said serrated portion and sands a portion adjacent said trailing edge.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a third elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engaging and finishing an upper surface of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means, and a fourth elongated sanding machine carried by said frame for engaging and finishing a lower surface of said picker stick as said picker stick is moved therepass by said conveyor means, whereby said upper and lower surfaces, as well as said opposed sides are automatically finished by said apparatus.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a bracket supporting said first switch means; a bracket supporting said second switch means; adjustable means carried by said brackets for varying the spacing between said first and second switch means; whereby said apparatus can be utilized for finishing picker sticks of various lengths and by adjusting the spacing between said first and second switch means the lengtH and location of said unsanded portion of said other side of said picker stick can be varied.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes; a plurality of spaced wheels engaging at least one side of said picker stick, and means for rotating said wheels for moving said picker stick in said straight path across said supporting frame into engagement with said elongated sanding machines.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: means for pivotally supporting said first elongated sanding machine; a second pneumatic cylinder carried by said frame having a piston rod extending out of one end thereof coupled to said first sanding machine; means for coupling said second pneumatic cylinder to said source of pressurized air for causing said piston rod of said second cylinder to be extended; whereby said first sanding machine engages said one side of said picker stick under a predetermined pressure.