US3859759A

US3859759A - Vibratory finishing machine with reversible eccentric drive

Info

Publication number: US3859759A
Application number: US292657A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Rampe
Original assignee: RAMPE RESEARCH
Current assignee: JEPMAR RESEARCH
Priority date: 1972-09-27
Filing date: 1972-09-27
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14
Also published as: DE2333320A1; GB1402212A; JPS4971592A

Abstract

A vibratory finishing machine including a tub resiliently mounted on a supporting structure and provided with a reversible eccentric vibratory drive system. When the drive system is rotated in one drive direction, eccentric weights align to vibrate the tub at a forceful amplitude. When the drive system is rotated in the opposite drive direction, selected ones of the eccentric weights move to positions out of alignment with the other weights to vibrate the tub at a less forceful amplitude.

Description

Unite States atet [191 Rampe 1 Jan. 14, 1975 [54] VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE WITH 3,608,388 9/1971 Hubner 51/163 X REVERSIBLE ECCENTRIC DRIVE 3,618,267 11/1971 Hubner et a1 51/163 [75] Inventor: John F. Rampe, Mayfield Heights,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Rampe Research, Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 292,657

[52] U.S. Cl. 51/163 [51] Int. Cl B241) 31/06 [58] Field of Search 51/163 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,197,922 8/1965 Smith 51/163 3,435,564 4/1969 Balz 51/163 3,449,869 6/1969 Rampe 51/163 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatts, Hoffmann, Fisher & Heinke [57] ABSTRACT A vibratory finishing machine including a tub resiliently mounted on a supporting structure and provided with a reversible eccentric vibratory drive system. When the drive system is rotated in one drive direction, eccentric weights align to vibrate the tub at a forceful amplitude. When the drive system is rotated in the opposite drive direction, selected ones of the eccentric weights move to positions out of alignment with the other weights to vibrate the tub at a less forceful amplitude.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE ECCENTRIC DRIVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,869 issued June 17, 1969 to John F. Rampe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to vibratory finishing machines and more particularly to a reversible drive system for vibrating the tub ofa finishing machine at forceful and less forceful amplitudes depending upon the direction of rotation of the drive system.

2. Prior Art Vibratory finishing machines of the type including a tub resiliently mounted by a supporting structure and provided with an eccentric weight drive system for vibrating the tub are well known. The reference patent describes one such finishing machine.

It is frequently desirable to adjust the amplitude of vibration of the tub in accordance with the finishing operation to be performed. A more forceful vibratory finishing action is desirable where large burrs are being removed from relatively hard workpiece materials. A less forceful finishing action is desirable where a simple polishing action is being performed especially on soft workpiece materials.

Two approaches have been used in conjunction with prior art finishing machines to vary the amplitude of vibration of the tub. One approach is to shut down the machine, remove the guards surrounding eccentric weights of the drive system, and add or subtract weights to provide the desired tub vibration amplitude. Such an approach is costly both from the viewpoint of the amount of down time required for the machine and the amount of labor time involved in changing the weights.

Another approach is to provide the machine with a variable speed drive system whereby the speed of rotation of the eccentrics can be adjusted. This approach has a number of drawbacks since the type of finishing action carried on in the tub of the machine changes in character in accordance with the rate of tub vibration. Accordingly, when the speed of rotation of the eccentrics has been adjusted as required to provide the necessary tub vibration amplitude, the character of the finishing action which results in the tub may be undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art and provides a vibratory finishing machine with a novel and improved eccentric drive system for vibrating the tub at a selected one of a plurality of amplitudes.

A plurality of eccentric weights are provided. These weights are supported for selective relative positioning to provide a selected resultant amplitude of vibratory forces. When the weights are aligned a maximum amplitude is achieved. When the weights are adjusted relatively, the eccentric forces oppose one another to a selected degree to produce a resultant force amplitude less than the maximum. In the preferred arrangement the selective positioning of the weights is achieved by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive system.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention a vibratory finishing machine of the type including a resiliently supported finishing tub is provided with a plurality of rotatably mounted eccentric weights to vibrate the tub. The eccentric weights are selectively interconnected by one or more lost motion connections. When the eccentric weights are rotated in one drive direction they align to impart a vibratory action to the tub of forceful amplitude. When. the weights are rotated in the opposite drive direction, the lost motion connections cause one or more of the weights to move out of alignment with the remaining weights thereby reducing the effective vibration producing weight and accordingly vibrating the tub at a less forceful amplitude.

In the preferred embodiment, the eccentric drive system includes a drive shaft, a relatively large eccentric weight rigidly mounted along a central region of the drive shaft, and a pair of smaller weights disposed at opposite ends of the central weight and rotatably mounted on the drive shaft. A notch is formed in each of the smaller weights. Each notch receives a drive pin extending radially outwardly from the drive shaft. When the drive shaft is rotated in one drive direction, the drive pins are brought into engagement with one notch surface. When the drive shaft is rotated in the opposite drive direction, the drive pins are brought into engagement with another notch surface.

In the preferred embodiment, the notch surfaces comprise opposite ends of the notches. When each pin is in engagement with one end of its respective notch, the smaller and larger eccentric weights are in alignment and the effective driving weight is the sum of all three weights. When the drive pins are in engagement with the opposite ends of the notches, the smaller weights are disposed on the opposite side of the drive shaft from the larger eccentric weight and the effective driving weight is the difference of the larger and smaller weights.

As will be apparent, such an arrangement, when driven by a reversible motor, provides a drive system capable of vibrating the tub of the finishing machine selectively at forceful and less forceful amplitudes simply by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive motor. There is no need to vary the speed of rotation of the drive motor nor to disassemble the machine to add or subtract weights in order to adjust the tub vibration amplitude.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a vibratory finishing machine with a novel and improved drive system for selectively varying the amplitude of tub vibration.

Other objects and features will become apparent and a better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description and claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vibratory finishing machine incorporating the reversible drive system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of the reversible drive system;

FIG. 4 is a foreshortened top plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the reversible drive system;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the drive system as seen from the plane indicated by line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the arrangement of eccentric weights which results when the drive system is reversed DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. I and 2, a vibratory finishing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The machine 10 includes a supporting structure 11 and a tub 12 resiliently carried by the supporting structure 11.

A pair of

vibratory drive systems

13, 14 are disposed along opposite sides of the tub 12. Each of the

drive systems

13, 14 includes a plurality of eccentric weights. A pair of reversible synchronous motors l5, 16 are provided to power the

drive systems

13, 14. Electrical conductors l7, 18 extend from a control panel 19 to the

motors

15, 16 to energize the

motors

15, 16 in synchronous operation and to control their direction of rotation.

The supporting structure 11 includes four uprights interconnected at floor level by horizontally extending cross members 21. Bolts 22 secure the cross members 21 to a supporting floor surface 23. Four pairs of elastomeric spacers 25 are interposed between the uprights and the tub structure 12. The tub structure 12 includes two pairs of horizontally extending channelshaped cross members 26. The elastomeric spacers extend into engagement with the cross members 26 and resiliently mount the tub structure 12.

The tub structure 12 additionally includes an open top receptacle 30 adapted to receive finishing media and workpieces to be finished. A door 31 is provided at one end of the tub 12 for discharging workpieces and finishing media onto a chute 32. A pair of relatively heavy

structural channels

34, 35 extend horizontally along the receptable 30 and are welded to the receptacle 30. The

drive systems

13, 14 are rigidly mounted on the

channels

34, 35 such that the vibratory drive motions generated within the

drive systems

13, 14 are imparted directly to the tub structure 12.

A motor mounting structure includes a pair of

brackets

41, 42 underlying the

motors

15, 16. The brackets support the

motors

15, 16. As is explained in the referenced patent, the motor mounting platform 40 is preferably provided with a means of vertical alignment, not shown, for maintaining the alignment of the

motors

15, 16 with the

drive system

13, 14 regardless of the loading of the tub structure 12.

Flexible couplings

43, 44 connect the

motors

15, 16 to the

drive mechanism

13, 14 and serve to accommodate the relative motion which takes place between the tub mounted

drive mechanisms

13, 14 and the

motors

15, 16.

The drive systems l3, 14 are identical in construction and accordingly only the drive system 14 will be described in detail. Referring to FIG. 1, the drive system 14 includes a pair of bearing blocks 50, 51 which are rigidly secured to the channel member 35. A drive shaft 52 is journaled for rotation in the bearing blocks 50, 51. A protective shield 53 extends between the bearing blocks 50, 51 and houses three

eccentric weights

54, 55, 56.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive shaft 52 has an enlarged central region 63. A pair of

flat surfaces

64, 65 are provided on oposite sides of the central region 63.

The eccentric weight 54 comprises a steel plate 60. Fasteners 61 extend through apertures formed in the plate 54 and into threaded apertures in the enlarged central region 63 to clamp the plate 60 rigidly against the flat surface 65.

The

eccentric weights

55, 56 include a pair of

steel plates

70, 71 secured by fasteners 72, 73 to U-shaped mounting

structure

74, 75. Apertures 76, 77 are formed through the mounting structures 74, to receive the shaft 52 and rotatably mount the

structures

74, 75 on the shaft 52.

Notches

78, 79 are formed in the mounting

structures

74, 75. The

knotches

78, 79 are of U-shaped cross-section and include

side surfaces

78a, 78b, 79a, 79a and

bottom surfaces

80, 81. The

notches

78, 79 intersect the apertures 76, 77 at right angles thereto in such fashion as divides the bottom surfaces 80, 81 into

separate notch surfaces

80a, 80b, 81a, 81b.

Driving connections are provided between the

weights

55, 56 and the shaft 52 by shaft projections which project radially outwardly from the shaft 52 and into the

notches

78, 79. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft projections take the form of drive pins 82, 83. Apertures 84, formed through the shaft 52 receive end regions of the

pins

82,83. During assembly the

pins

82, 83 are driven securely into the

apertures

84, 85 to effect a rigid connection between the

pins

82, 83 and the shaft 52.

The

pins

82, 83 extend radially outwardly from only one end of the

apertures

84, 85 and into the

notches

78, 79. When the drive shaft 52 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 and as indicated by the arrow 90, the

pins

82, 83 are brought into driving engagement with the notch surfaces 80a, 810. When the drive shaft 52 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 and as indicated by the arrow 91, the

pins

82, 83 are rotated into driving engagement with the notch surfaces 80b, 81b. 7

A will be apparent from the foregoing description, rotation of the drive shaft 52 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 brings all three of the

eccentric weights

54, 55, 56 into alignment during rotation. Rotation of the drive shaft 52 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 cause the

weights

55, 56 to assume positions on the opposite sides of the shaft 52 from the weight 54. Accordingly, rotation in one driving direction will vibrate the tub 12 with an eccentric having an effective weight that is the sum of the

weights

54, 55, 56, while rotation in the opposite driving direction will vibrate the tub with an eccentric having an effective weight that is the difference of the

weights

54 and 55, 56.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred from has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A finishing machine comprising:

a. a tub structure;

b. structure supporting said tub structure;

c. a reversible rotary vibratory drive interposed between said structures for vibrating said tub structure relative to said supporting structure;

d. means to reverse the rotation of said vibratory drive;

e. said vibratory drive including means to vibrate said tub structure in a first mode at a first amplitude; and

f. said vibratory drive also including means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate said tub structure in a second mode at a second amplitude larger than the first.

2. The finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said vibrating drive includes:

a. a plurality of rotatably mounted eccentrics; and,

b. positioning means interconnecting said eccentrics and responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to reposition selected ones of said eccentrics relative to the other eccentrics to selectively vary the effective eccentric weight operable to vibrate the tub structure.

3. The finishing machine of claim 2 wherein said positioning means includes connection means coupling said selected eccentrics to said other eccentrics such that rotation of said eccentrics in one drive direction will bring said selected eccentrics substantially into alignment with said other eccentrics for vibrating said tub structure at one amplitude, while rotation of said eccentrics in the opposite drive direction will move said selected eccentrics out of alignment with said other eccentrics for vibrating said tub structure at a lesser amplitude.

4. A finishing maching comprising:

a. a supporting frame;

b. a tub supported on said frame;

c. vibratory drive means for vibrating said tub rela tive to said frame;

d. said vibratory drive means including a plurality of eccentric weights and power drive means to rotate said eccentric weights selectively in a first coordinated mode such that said weights vibrate the tub at a first amplitude, and in at least one other coordinated mode wherein the weights, when rotated at substantially the same speed as in said first mode but in the opposite direction, vibrate the tub at a lesser amplitude than the first, and

e. means to reverse the direction the power drive means rotates the shaft.

5. The finishing machine of claim 4 wherein said vibratory drive means includes positioning means for selectively positioning selected ones of said weights in a substantially aligned position in order that said selected weights will have an additive drive effect, and for positioning at least one of said selected weights in a position unaligned with at least one other of said selected weights in order that said weights will have a lesser additive drive effect.

6. The finishing machine of claim 5 wherein said positioning means includes connection means interposed between said one and said other weights for positioning said one and said other weights in said substantially aligned position during rotation in one drive direction, and for positioning said one and said other weights in said unaligned positionn during rotation in the opposite drive direction.

7. In a vibratory finishing machine of the type includ ing a receptacle adapted to receive finishing media and workpieces to be finished, the improvement of a reversible rotary drive with means connected to the receptable for vibrating the receptacle in :a first mode at a first amplitude and with means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate the receptacle in a second mode at a second amplitude smaller than the first, said improvement further including:

a. first and second rotatable eccentric weights;

b. connection means interconnecting said weights and permitting relative movement of said weights between first and second positions;

c. said connection means being arranged such that rotation of said weights in one drive direction will effect relative movement of said weights to said first position while rotation of said weights in the opposite drive direction will effect relative movement of said weights to said second position;

(1. said weights when in said one first position being substantially aligned to vibrate the receptacle at said first amplitude;

e. said weights when in said second position being substantially unaligned to vibrate receptacle at said second amplitude less than said first amplitude; and,

. reversible drive means for reversing thedirection of rotation of said drive to rotate said weights selectively in said one and said opposite drive directions.

8. The finishing machine of claim 7 wherein one of said weights is secured to a drive shaft for rotation and the other of said weights is rotatable about the axis of rotation of said shaft between said first and second relative positions as defined by said connection means.

9. The finishing machine of claim 8 wherein said connection means comprises:

a. radially extending projection means carried by said shaft;

b. a pair of spaced surfaces formed on each of said other weights, said spaced surfaces being engageable one at a time with said projection means to define said first and second positions;

c. said projection means and said spaced surfaces being arranged such that when said drive shaft is rotated in one driving direction, one of said spaced surfaces is brought into driving engagement with said projection means, and when said drive shaft is rotated in the opposite driving direction, the other of said spaced surfaces is brought into driving engagement with said projection means.

10. The finishing machine of claim 9 wherein;

a. said other weight is provided with a notch;

b. said spaced surfaces comprise a pair notch surfaces defining portions of said notch;

c. said projection means comprises a radially extending shaft carried projection which extends into said notch; and

(1. said other weight is movable relative to said shaft between positions where said projection selectively engages one and the other of said notch surfaces.

11. A finishing machine comprising:

a. a supporting frame;

b. a tub supported on said frame for vibration about a generally horizontal axis;

c. vibratory drive means on each side of said tub for vibrating said tub relative to said frame;

(1. said vibratory drive means on each side including means to vibrate said tube in a first mode at a first amplitude and means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate said tub in a second mode at a second amplitude smaller than the first;

e. said means to vibrate the tub in said first and second modes on each side of the tub including a rotatable shaft parallel to the axis of vibration of the tub and carrying a plurality of eccentric weights, and power drive means for said shaft to rotate the shaft and eccentric weights selectively in one of

Claims

1. A finishing machine comprising: a. a tub structure; b. structure supporting said tub structure; c. a reversible rotary vibratory drive interposed between said structures for vibrating said tub structure relative to said supporting structure; d. means to reverse the rotation of said vibratory drive; e. said vibratory drive including means to vibrate said tub structure in a first mode at a first amplitude; and f. said vibratory drive also including means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate said tub structure in a second mode at a second amplitude larger than the first.

2. The finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said vibrating drive includes: a. a plurality of rotatably mounted eccentrics; and, b. positioning means interconnecting said eccentrics and responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to reposition selected ones of said eccentrics relative to the other eccentrics to selectively vary the effective eccentric weight operable to vibrate the tub structure.

4. A finishing maching comprising: a. a supporting frame; b. a tub supported on said frame; c. vibratory drive means for vibrating said tub relative to said frame; d. said vibratory drive means including a plurality of eccentric weights and power drive means to rotate said eccentric weights selectively in a first coordinated Mode such that said weights vibrate the tub at a first amplitude, and in at least one other coordinated mode wherein the weights, when rotated at substantially the same speed as in said first mode but in the opposite direction, vibrate the tub at a lesser amplitude than the first, and e. means to reverse the direction the power drive means rotates the shaft.

7. In a vibratory finishing machine of the type including a receptacle adapted to receive finishing media and workpieces to be finished, the improvement of a reversible rotary drive with means connected to the receptable for vibrating the receptacle in a first mode at a first amplitude and with means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate the receptacle in a second mode at a second amplitude smaller than the first, said improvement further including: a. first and second rotatable eccentric weights; b. connection means interconnecting said weights and permitting relative movement of said weights between first and second positions; c. said connection means being arranged such that rotation of said weights in one drive direction will effect relative movement of said weights to said first position while rotation of said weights in the opposite drive direction will effect relative movement of said weights to said second position; d. said weights when in said one first position being substantially aligned to vibrate the receptacle at said first amplitude; e. said weights when in said second position being substantially unaligned to vibrate receptacle at said second amplitude less than said first amplitude; and, f. reversible drive means for reversing the direction of rotation of said drive to rotate said weights selectively in said one and said opposite drive directions.

9. The finishing machine of claim 8 wherein said connection means comprises: a. radially extending projection means carried by said shaft; b. a pair of spaced surfaces formed on each of said other weights, said spaced surfaces being engageable one at a time with said projection means to define said first and second positions; c. said projection means and said spaced surfaces being arranged such that when said drive shaft is rotated in one driving direction, one of said spaced surfaces is brought into driving engagement with said projection means, and when said drive shaft is rotated in the opposite driving direction, the other of said spaced surfaces is brought into driving engagement with said projection means.

10. The finishing machine of claim 9 wherein; a. said other weight is provided with a notch; b. said spaced surfaces comprise a pair notch surfaces defining portions of said notch; c. said projection means comprises a radially extending shaft carried projection which extends into said notch; and d. said other weight Is movable relative to said shaft between positions where said projection selectively engages one and the other of said notch surfaces.

11. A finishing machine comprising: a. a supporting frame; b. a tub supported on said frame for vibration about a generally horizontal axis; c. vibratory drive means on each side of said tub for vibrating said tub relative to said frame; d. said vibratory drive means on each side including means to vibrate said tube in a first mode at a first amplitude and means responsive to the direction of rotation of said drive to vibrate said tub in a second mode at a second amplitude smaller than the first; e. said means to vibrate the tub in said first and second modes on each side of the tub including a rotatable shaft parallel to the axis of vibration of the tub and carrying a plurality of eccentric weights, and power drive means for said shaft to rotate the shaft and eccentric weights selectively in one of two drive directions, and means coupling at least some of said eccentric weights to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft and eccentrics in one direction will bring the eccentrics substantially into alignment with one another and vibrate the tub at one amplitude, while rotation of the drive shaft and eccentrics in the opposite direction will move some of said eccentrics out of alignment with others for vibrating the tub at a lesser amplitude, and f. means to reverse the rotation of said vibratory drive means.