Abstract:
Provided is a shot peening device with which recovered projection material and foreign bodies can be more precisely separated while inhibiting an increase in the size of the device. The shot peening device is provided with: a projector which projects projection material onto a workpiece (W); recovery mechanisms which recover the projection material projected by the projector; and a wind power sorting mechanism in which recovered projection material is allowed to fall freely while an upward air current is applied to the recovered projection material, and foreign bodies included in the recovered projection material are separated from the recovered projection material.

Description:
This application is a 371 application of PCT/JP2012/069177 having an international filing date of Jul. 27, 2012, which claims priority to JP 2012-132821 filed Jun. 12, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention, in summary, relates to a shot processing machine, and more particularly to a shot processing machine for recovering blast material blasted onto workpieces and separating foreign matter from this recovered blast material. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A shot processing machines comprising separating machines which recover blast material blasted onto workpieces and separate foreign matter from this recovered blast material is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In such machines, foreign matter is separated from blast material using a vibration sifter, for example. 
     PRIOR ART REFERENCES 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Chinese Patent Unexamined Publication CN102189496A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems the Invention Seeks to Resolve 
     However, such machines become enlarged due to the placement of a vibrating sifter within them. 
     The present invention was undertaken to solve the aforementioned problems, and has the object of providing a shot processing machine capable of accurately separating recovered blast material and foreign matter while constraining the increase in machine size. 
     Means for Resolving Problem 
     The invention is a shot processing machine comprising: 
     a projecting device for projecting blast material onto a workpiece; 
     a recovery mechanism for recovering blast material blasted by the projecting device; 
     and an air sorting mechanism for applying an upward air current to recovered blast material and allowing the recovered blast material to fall freely, thereby separating foreign matter mixed into the recovered blast material from that recovered blast material. 
     In the invention thus constituted, sorting accuracy is improved by allowing blast material (a mixture of blast material and foreign matter) recovered after blasting with a projecting device to fall freely as an upward air current is applied. 
     This is because sorting accuracy improves with longer exposure of the blast material and foreign matter to an air current. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention, 
     the air sorting mechanism comprises: 
     a freefall zone in which the upward air current is generated, and the recovered blast material is allowed to fall freely; 
     and a supply portion, the bottom most portion of which communicates with the free fall zone through an opening portion, by which recovered blast material is supplied; 
     whereby the opening portion is formed between a regulator plate disposed to extend in the vertical direction on the free fall zone side of the supply portion, and an inclined portion extending diagonally downward at an incline toward said regulator plate and toward the free fall zone of the supply portion. 
     In the invention thus constituted, the flow volume of recovered blast material is restricted by the regulator plate when flowing into the free fall zone, and is spread in the width direction of the regulator plate, so as to fall within the free fall zone spreading over the width direction of the regulator plate, which promotes separation of foreign matter by air currents. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention, 
     the air sorting mechanism comprises: 
     multiple dispersion rods placed across the free fall zone. 
     Using the shot processing machine thus constituted, recovered blast material is dispersed by multiple dispersion rods when free falling; an appropriate spacing is thus created between falling blast material, with the result that upward air currents flow approximately uniformly between the falling blast material, thereby facilitating the sorting (classification) of the mixture by upward air currents. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     a convex receiving portion for receiving free fallen blast material, disposed at the bottom of the free fall zone. 
     In the invention thus constituted, the falling of the blast material is temporarily stopped by the receiving portion before colliding with members at the bottom of the free fall zone, thereby constraining wear by the blast material of components in lower members. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention, 
     the air sorter mechanism comprises a settling chamber communicating with the upper part of the free fall zone. 
     In this settling chamber, a bypass current is created by a guide plate, and foreign matter is separated into powder material carried by the bypass current and granular material, which falls. 
     In the shot blasting machine thus constituted, light weight matter among the foreign matter is separated into powder material carried by a bypass current in the settling chamber, and falling granular material. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     a cabinet within which is formed a blast chamber wherein blast material is blasted, comprising a blast chamber entrance for loading workpieces into the blast chamber, and a blast chamber exit for discharging workpieces from the blast chamber; 
     a first shot curtain machine for causing blast material to fall in a curtain shape from the top of the blast chamber entrance; 
     a second shot curtain machine for causing blast material to fall in a curtain shape from the top of the blast chamber exit; 
     a recovery mechanism for recovering blasted blast material from the blast chamber; 
     and a distribution box for distributing blast material recovered by the recovery mechanism to the first shot curtain machine and the second shot curtain machine. 
     In the invention thus constituted, blast material blasted inside the projecting device is stopped or constrained from flying out of the blast chamber entrance or the blast chamber exit by blast material allowed to continuously fall from the first shot curtain machine and the second shot curtain machine. 
     In addition, because the blasted blast material is distributed by a distribution machine to an air sorting mechanism, a first shot curtain machine, and a second shot curtain machine, the amount of blast material supplied to the air sorting mechanism is optimized, and enlargement of the air sorting mechanism and dust collector is constrained. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention: 
     blast material from which foreign matter has been separated by an air sorting mechanism is supplied to the projecting device. 
     In a shot processing machine thus constituted, blast material from which foreign matter has been removed can be reused in a projecting device. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     a conveyor means for conveying workpieces to a position at which blast material is blasted from a projecting device; 
     whereby the conveyor means comprises: 
     a chain conveyor belt having a rotationally driven endless chain, and a carrier attached to the outer perimeter of the chain for supporting workpieces; 
     and a pair of rotating rollers disposed on both sides of the carrier in the direction of workpiece transport, capable of rotating and swinging about an axial line extending in the direction of workpiece transport. 
     In a shot processing machine thus constituted, a workpiece loaded on a rotating roller turns by the rotation of the rotating rollers, and blast material is blasted over the entire surface of the workpiece, resulting in uniform shot processing. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention: 
     a variable adjustment mechanism is provided with which the spacing between the pair of rotating rollers can be variably adjusted. 
     Using the shot processing machine thus constituted, the spacing between the pair of rotating rollers can be set according to the size of the workpiece, therefore the length of the carrier in the vertical direction can be constrained. 
     For example, if a large workpiece is loaded on the pair of rotating rollers, the workpiece top end height position can be constrained by widening the spacing between the pair of rotating rollers, thereby enabling the length of the carrier supporting the workpiece to be constrained in the vertical direction, thus constraining the overall height of the machine. 
     Also, because the spacing between the pair of rotating rollers is variably adjustable, workpieces of various outside diameters can be loaded on the pair of rotating rollers, and shot processing can be applied to workpieces of various outside diameters. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention: 
     the bottom surface of the shot processing machine is formed to be flat. 
     In a shot processing machine thus constituted, there is no need to dig a pit, thereby reducing the labor and cost of installation. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     a control device having: a calculating section for comparing the operating times of consumable parts with which the shot processing machine is equipped to pre-set lifespan times so as to calculate replacement timing for the consumable parts; and a display section capable of displaying the calculation results of the calculation section. 
     In a shot processing machine thus constituted, the lifespan of consumable parts can be easily determined. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     a control device having a memory section into which information on the replacement history of consumable parts in the shot processing machine is input, for storing said replacement history information; and a display section capable of displaying the replacement history information stored in the memory section. 
     In a shot processing machine thus constituted, the replacement history of shot machine consumable parts can be easily determined. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     Using the present invention, a shot processing machine capable of accurately separating recovered blast material from foreign matter can be provided, while constraining machine enlargement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation of a shot peening machine in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the shot peening machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the shot peening machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)  are diagrams showing a separator in the shot peening machine shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4(A)  is a cross section along line  4 A- 4 A in  FIG. 4(B) ;  FIG. 4(B)  is a plan view of a separator. 
         FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B)  are diagrams showing a displacement adjustment mechanism for a spinner-roller in the shot peening machine shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5(A)  is a front elevation;  FIG. 5(B)  is side view. 
         FIG. 6 : A front elevation showing the state in which a workpiece is being transported in the shot peening machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a shot peening machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Note that the arrow FR shown in these diagrams indicates the front side when the machine is viewed from the front; arrow UP indicates the upper side of the machine, and arrow LH indicates the left side when the machine is viewed from the front. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the shot peening machine  10  is shown in a front elevation; in  FIG. 2  the shot peening machine  10  is shown in a right side elevation; and in  FIG. 3  the shot peening machine  10  is shown in plan view. Workpiece W in the shot peening machine  10  according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical product such as a coil spring. Note that arrow D shown as appropriate in the diagrams indicates the direction in which the workpiece W is transported. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shot peening machine  10  comprises a cabinet  12 . The cabinet  12  comprises an outside wall portion for partitioning between an internal space and an external space in the shot peening machine  10 , so that steel balls used as blast material (shot or shot material) inside the cabinet  12  do not scatter outside the shot peening machine  10 . The bottom surface at the lower portion of the machine is shaped to be flat; i.e., it is set so that the height of the machine in the vertical direction is the same. 
     The cabinet  12  comprises a cabinet body  14  in an intermediate section in the direction of transport of the workpiece W. A blast chamber  14 A (referred to as “blast booth,” “processing chamber,” “cleaning chamber”) is formed inside the cabinet body  14 . The blast chamber  14 A is a booth for surface processing (in this embodiment, peening) of the workpiece W using blast material blasted from a projecting device  42 , described below. 
     In the cabinet body  14 , a blast chamber entrance  14 B is formed on the upstream side (the left side in the figure) in the direction of transport of the workpiece W; a blast chamber exit  14 C is formed on the downstream side (the right side in the figure) in the direction of transport of the workpiece W. the blast chamber entrance  14 B is an opening for loading a workpiece W into the blast chamber  14 A; the blast chamber exit  14 C is an opening for discharging a workpiece W from the blast chamber  14 A. 
     An upstream booth  16  forming the part of the cabinet  12  is adjacently disposed on the upstream side (the left side in the diagram) of the cabinet body  14  in the direction of transport of workpiece W. The upstream booth  16  forms a space  16 A communicating with the blast chamber  14 A through the blast chamber entrance  14 B. 
     An upstream booth entrance (not shown) for loading a workpiece W is formed opposite the blast chamber entrance  14 B of the cabinet body  14  on the upstream booth  16 . In addition, further upstream in the direction of transport of the workpiece W, a setting portion  15  for setting workpiece W on the shot peening machine  10  is provided on the upstream booth  16 . Note that if a workpiece W is heavy or difficult to work due to high temperature or the like, it is acceptable to provide a loading machine (not shown) such as a manipulator or handler on the setting portion  15  and mechanically load the workpiece W from this loading machine. 
     At the same time, a downstream booth  18  forming a part of the cabinet  12  is adjacently disposed on the downstream side (the right side in the diagram) of the cabinet body  14  in the direction of transport of the workpiece W. The downstream booth  18  forms a space  18 A communicating with the blast chamber  14 A through the blast chamber exit  14 C. 
     A downstream booth exit (not shown) for discharging a workpiece W is formed opposite the blast chamber exit  14 C of the cabinet body  14  on the downstream booth  18 . 
     Multiple suspended curtain-shaped sealing bodies (not shown) extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the workpiece W are hung from the ceiling of the upstream booth  16  and the ceiling of the downstream booth  18  to prevent scattering of the blast material. Each seal body is disposed to be mutually parallel, separated by a predetermined spacing in the direction of transport of the workpiece W. These seal bodies are curtain-shaped members consisting of multiple pieces of long dimension elastic and plastic material, and are arranged to bend in the direction of transport of the workpiece W when the workpiece W passes through them. 
     A chain conveyor  20  for continuously transporting the workpiece W is disposed inside the cabinet  12 . This chain conveyor  20  comprises endless chains  22 . The endless chains  22  are wound around a sprocket  24  disposed on the loading side, and the sprocket  24  disposed on the discharge side. The sprockets  24  are linked to a drive source  25  such as a motor and rotationally driven. 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation showing the state in which the workpiece W is being transported by the chain conveyor  20 . Note that spinner-rollers  28  at the front of the diagram, described below, are omitted in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , multiple carriers  26  for supporting the workpiece W are attached to the outer perimeter surface of the chains  22 . The main part of the carriers  26  is rod-shaped; they are disposed at equal spacings along the longitudinal direction of the chains  22 ; the end portion of workpiece W is supported on the upstream side in the direction of transport when turning around the chains  22 , and the workpiece W is continuously transported. As shown in  FIG. 5(B) , the chains  22  form a left-right pair; the carriers  26  are vertically placed on the chain plate  23 , which is stretched across the left-right pair of the chains  22 . 
     The pair of spinner-rollers  28  formed of rotating rollers is disposed on the upper side of the chains  22  and on both sides of the carriers  26 . The pair of spinner-rollers  28  is disposed on both sides of the workpiece W in the direction of transport, and the workpiece W is loaded onto the pair of the spinner-rollers  28 . Note that a transport means for transporting workpiece W is constituted by this chain conveyor  20  and the spinner-rollers  28 . 
     A variable adjustment mechanism  30  for variably adjusting the distance between the spinner-rollers  28  is installed on the shaft portion of the pair of spinner-rollers  28 . The variable adjustment mechanism  30  comprises a pair of rotating arms  30 A disposed on both sides of the carriers  26 ; the tip portions of the rotating arms  30 A support the center axis of the spinner-rollers  28  so that it can rotate. The base end of each rotating arm  30 A is disposed at a position closely adjacent to the carrier  26 , and respectively affixed to the rotary shaft  30 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5(A) , the rotary shaft  30 B is rotatably supported on the machine frame side, and is connected through an endless belt  30 C on the shaft side of a drive motor  30 D, which serves as a drive source. In other words, the variable adjustment mechanism  30 , by the rotation of the rotary shaft  30 B in response to the rotation of the drive motor  30 D, causes the rotating arms  30 A to drive, such that the shaft portion of the spinner-rollers  28  is displaced along an arcuate track. 
     In the constitution of the present embodiment, when a large workpiece W is loaded onto the pair of the spinner-rollers  28 , the height position of the pair of spinner-rollers  28  can be lowered by deflecting the shaft portion of the pair of the spinner-rollers  28  in an arcuate form, causing them to mutually separate. Therefore compared to another variable adjustment mechanism for horizontally moving the shaft portion of the pair of spinner-rollers  28  between a close position and a separated position, an machine comprising the variable adjustment mechanism  30  of the present embodiment enables the top end height position of a large workpiece W to be kept low, so that the length of the carriers  26  can be kept low, thereby constraining the height of the overall machine. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 5(A) , drive motors  29  are affixed to the tip portion of the rotating arms  30 A through brackets  31 , and the output shafts of the drive motors  29  are linked to the shaft portions of the spinner-rollers  28 . This enables the spinner-rollers  28  to be rotationally driven about a center axis. The pair of spinner-rollers  28  shown in  FIG. 5(B)  is rotationally driven in the same direction about a center axis. It is also preferable for the pair of spinner-rollers  28  to have the same diameter, and to be rotated at the same fixed speed. 
     To obtain a stable peening effect, it is important to control the position of the workpiece W. To accurately control the position of workpiece W requires that the rotating mechanism of the spinner-rollers  28  and the workpiece W transport mechanism operate accurately. 
     It is preferable to equip the spinner-roller  28  rotating mechanism with a rotating roller inverter to set roller rpm according to finish quality, and to use high precision, long life parts for stable product transport. By providing a rotating roller inverter, roller rpm can be (easily) set in accordance with finish quality, and control can also be linked to transport speed. By using high precision, long life components for the spinner-rollers  28 , transport problems caused by premature wear can be prevented or effectively suppressed, and catching is reduced by the minimal height differences. 
     It is preferable for the special chains to be used as the chains  22  in the workpiece W transport mechanism in order to achieve stable product transport, and to provide an inverter to set transport speed according to finish quality. 
     As special chains, chains with good clearance and wear resistance are used in order to suppress biting by the blast (shot) material. Use of this type of special chains extends the life of the workpiece W transport mechanism and enables transport problems to be prevented or effectively suppressed. Provision of an inverter allows for easily changing the transport speed setting in accordance with finish quality, and permits linking of the control to rotational rpm. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a discharge chute  32  is installed on the furthest downstream point in the transport direction of the workpiece W in the cabinet  12 . The discharge chute  32  is disposed so that its top end portion is on a line extending from the spinner-rollers  28 , and it inclines downward in a direction moving away from the cabinet  12  side. I.e., the discharge chute  32  is a member which guides a workpiece W loaded on the spinner-rollers  28  and is moved by the carriers  26  of the chain conveyor  20  (see  FIG. 6 ) to outside of the cabinet  12 . 
     Multiple projecting devices  42  (in one example of this embodiment there are a total of 2 units) are attached on the upper side of the transport pathway for the workpiece W inside the cabinet body  14 . Projecting devices  42  are centrifugal projecting devices of a known structure, which impart centrifugal force to blast material (shot) inside a control cage through the rotation of an impeller comprising multiple blades; blast material is released through an opening window in the control cage. 
     I.e., the projecting device  42  accelerates blast material using centrifugal force and blasts vertically downward or diagonally downward onto the workpiece W transported to the blast chamber  14 A. In the present embodiment, multiple units of the projecting device  42  are installed, but a configuration using a single projecting device  42  is also acceptable. 
     We here provide a supplemental explanation of the shot blast management, which is important for obtaining a stable peening effect. Note that in order to obtain a stable peening effect, it is also important to manage shot grain size; this point is explained below. 
     Shot flow volume, impeller rpm, and shot pattern are important items in managing shot blasting. 
     With respect to shot flow volume, a shot tank level meter and an impeller ammeter with lower limit detection are desirable in order to stably blast an appropriate amount of the blast material. A shot tank level meter is attached to a blast material hopper  48 , described below, and is a measuring instrument for controlling shot supply timing. 
     An impeller ammeter with lower limit detection detects an insufficiency in blast amount, and when there is insufficient blasting, displays an abnormal state indication, also stopping the machine; this is a machine for preventing the outflow of insufficiently processed defective products. 
     Regarding impeller rpm, in order to set an appropriate blast speed matched to finish quality and maintain that state, it is desirable to check the state (wear and stretch) of the V belt used to transfer drive force to the impeller, and to provide an impeller inverter. By using an impeller inverter, changes in the impeller rpm can be (easily) made to match finish quality. 
     Regarding the blast pattern, in order to projecting the blast material onto a workpiece at an appropriate blasting position, it is desirable to provide functions for displaying a control gauge angle (a reference position display using an arrow-labeled plate) and to provide notice of replacement times for impeller-related consumable parts (blades, control cage, distributor, etc.). The purpose of the latter is to prevent changes in the blasting position or blasting amount due to wear in the impeller-related parts. 
     A blast material introducing pipe  44  (also called an “introducing pipe”) is disposed on the upper side of each projecting device  42 . The top end of the blast material introducing pipe  44  is connected to a blast material hopper  48  (shot tank) through a cut gate  46  (flow control device). Blast material hopper  48  is a hopper for temporarily holding blast material. In main portion  48 A, which is internal space in the blast material hopper  48  of the present embodiment, the upstream and downstream sides in the workpiece W transport direction are partitioned by a partition wall  48 D, and the two sides in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece transport direction are partitioned by the side portions  48 B,  48 C. 
     The above-described cut gate  46  is connected to the bottom side of main portion  48 A of blast material hopper  48 . Note that the cut gate  46  is an opening and closing gate for adjusting the flow volume of blast material supplied from the main portion  48 A of the blast material hopper  48 . 
     A first shot curtain machine  36  is connected through a supply pipe  34 A to the bottom side of the side portion  48 B on the left side of the blast material hopper  48 . First shot curtain machine  36  is disposed on the upper side of the blast chamber entrance  14 B, and affixed to the cabinet  12 . First shot curtain machine  36  comprises a container portion  36 A connected to the supply pipe  34 A, and comprises a downward facing rectangular pipe  36 B, connected to the bottom portion of the container portion  36 A. The rectangular pipe  36 B is formed into a rectangular tube shape, and used to allow blast material to flow out. 
     The internal space in the container portion  36 A is partitioned by an upper partitioning panel into an upper space and a lower space. A gate mechanism  36 D capable of opening and closing an opening on the upper partitioning panel is installed on the first shot curtain machine  36 . A box-shaped receiving portion opening upward is provided on the lower side of the opening portion of the partitioning panel inside container portion  36 A; the receiving portion is constituted to temporarily receive blast material falling through the opening in the upper partitioning panel, then to supply that material to the bottom side. 
     With a first shot curtain machine  36  thus constituted, blast material supplied from the supply pipe  34 A is made to fall in a continuous curtain shape from the upper portion of the blast chamber entrance  14 B via the container portion  36 A and through the rectangular pipe  36 B, thereby creating what is known as a shot curtain. I.e., the blast chamber entrance  14 B comprises a structure for opening and closing a shot curtain by the opening and closing of a gate in the gate mechanism  36 D. 
     Also, a second shot curtain machine  38  is connected through a supply pipe  34 B to the bottom side on the side portion  48 C on the right side of the blast material hopper  48 . Second shot curtain machine  38  is disposed on the upper side of the blast chamber exit  14 C, and affixed to the cabinet  12 . The second shot curtain machine  38  comprises a container portion  38 A connected to the supply pipe  34 B, and comprises a downward facing rectangular pipe  38 B, connected to the bottom portion of the container portion  38 A. The rectangular pipe  38 B is formed in the shape of a rectangular tube and used for blast material outflow. 
     The internal space in the container portion  38 A is partitioned by an upper partition panel into an upper space and a lower space. A gate mechanism  38 D capable of opening and closing an opening on the upper partition panel is installed on the second shot curtain machine  38 . A box-shaped receiving portion opening upward is provided on the lower side of the opening portion of the partitioning panel inside the container portion  38 A; the receiving portion temporarily receives blast material falling through the opening in the upper partitioning panel, then supplies that material to the bottom side. 
     With a second shot curtain machine  38  thus constituted, blast material supplied from the supply pipe  34 B is made to fall in a continuous curtain shape from the upper portion of the blast chamber exit  14 C via the container portion  38 A and through the rectangular pipe  38 B, thereby creating what is known as a shot curtain. I.e., the blast chamber exit  14 C comprises a structure for opening and closing a shot curtain by the opening and closing of a gate in the gate mechanism  38 D. 
     At the top of the cabinet  12 , the projecting device  42  disposed between the first shot curtain machine  36  and the second shot curtain machine  38  is linked to a circulation machine  50  through a blast material introducing pipe  44 , a cut gate  46 , and a main portion  48 A of a blast material hopper  48 . The circulation machine  50  is a machine for transporting blast material blasted by the projecting device  42  and circulating it back to the projecting device  42 , and comprises a lower portion screw conveyor  52  on the lower side of the chain conveyor  20  within the cabinet  12 . 
     The lower portion screw conveyor  52  is horizontally disposed in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece W transport direction. The spiral winding directions of the screw blades on the lower portion screw conveyor  52  are opposite at sites disposed on the upstream and downstream sides in the shot peening machine  10  direction of transport. As a result, the lower portion screw conveyor  52 , by rotating about an axis, is able to transport blasted blast material and the like from the shot peening machine  10  upstream and downstream transport directions to the center, so that blast material, etc. can be collected in one location. 
     The center portion of the lower portion screw conveyor  52  in the shot peening machine  10  transport direction is placed adjacent to the lower collection section of a bucket elevator  54  ( FIG. 2 ), disposed in the recovery pathway for blast material. The result is that the bucket elevator  54  receives, from the lower portion screw conveyor  52 , the blast material etc. transported to the center portion by the lower portion screw conveyor  52  from the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction of the shot peening machine  10 . 
     The bucket elevator  54  is a known structure, so a detailed explanation thereof is here omitted, but it has a structure in which an endless belt  54 B is wound around a pulley  54 A disposed at the top and bottom portions of the shot peening machine  10 , and a large number of buckets (not shown) are attached to this endless belt  54 B. 
     The pulley  54 A is rotationally driven by a motor. This rotational driving causes bucket elevator  54  to scoop up the blast material and the like (a mixture containing the blast material blasted at a workpiece W, and powder/granular foreign matter) which has dropped to the lower part of the shot peening machine  10  and been recovered by the lower portion screw conveyor  52 , transporting it from the bottom portion to the top portion thereof (the top side of cabinet  12 ). 
     In the present embodiment, the blast material recovery mechanism is constituted by the lower portion screw conveyor  52  and the bucket elevator  54 , etc. 
     A distribution box  56  is disposed adjacent to the machine front side on the top end portion of the bucket elevator  54 , and is through-connected to the distribution box  56  via the top discharge exit (ejection port) on the bucket elevator  54 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the distribution box  56  distributes blast material blasted from the buckets in the bucket elevator  54  to a first route  40 A for supplying the projecting device  42 , a second route  40 B for supplying the first shot curtain machine  36 , and a third route  40 C for supplying the second shot curtain machine  38 . 
     The first route  40 A is the route by which blast material reaches the projecting device  42  from the distribution box  56  through a separator  60 , the main portion  48 A of the blast material hopper  48 , the cut gate  46 , and the blast material introducing pipe  44 . 
     Also, the second route  40 B shown in  FIG. 1  is the route by which blast material from the distribution box  56  reaches the first shot curtain machine  36  through the distribution pipe  58 A, the side portion  48 B on the left side of the blast material hopper  48 , and the supply pipe  34 A. 
     Moreover, the third route  40 C is the route by which blast material from the distribution box  56  reaches the second shot curtain machine  38  through the distribution pipe  58 B, the side portion  48 C on the right side of the blast material hopper  48 , and the supply pipe  34 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the top portion discharge side of the bucket elevator  54  is connected via the distribution box  56  to the separator  60  (the air sorting mechanism  62 ), and is connected through the distribution box  56 , and not through the separator  60  (the air sorting mechanism  62 ), to the first shot curtain machine  36  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the second shot curtain machine  38 . 
       FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)  show the constitution of the separator  60  (opposing-type classifier) comprising an air sorting mechanism  62 .  FIG. 4(A)  is a side view cross section of the separator  60  (a cross section along line  4 A- 4 A in  FIG. 4(B) );  FIG. 4(B)  is a front elevation of the separator  60 . Note that in the explanation of  FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)  which follows, the direction which is the same as the machine left-right direction is referred to as the separator width direction. 
     The separator  60  is placed on a recovery path for recovering blast material blasted onto the workpiece W; as shown in  FIG. 4(A) , it comprises a settling chamber portion  68  connecting to the air intake side of a dust collector  80 . A flange  68 B (see  FIG. 4(B) ) for connecting ducts is formed on the top portion of the settling chamber portion  68 . 
     Note that dust collector  80  has the purpose of recovering foreign matter (impurities) such as fine dust, etc. mixed into the blast material, and comprises an air intake machine (blower) for intaking air, and is connected to the settling chamber portion  68  through the suction duct  70  (separator duct). An opposing air sorter  66  is disposed on the air current upstream side of the settling chamber portion  68 . A supply portion  64  for supplying blast material and the like discharged from the top discharge port on the bucket elevator  54  is placed on the opposite side to the settling chamber portion  68  side of the opposing air sorter  66 . 
     A mesh-shaped screen  64 A for dividing the supply portion  64  into two parts, top and bottom, is horizontally attached to the supply portion  64 . The coarseness of the mesh in the screen  64 A is set at a size permitting blast material to pass through. An inclined portion  64 B is formed below the screen  64 A on the supply portion  64 . The inclined portion  64 B is disposed on the upstream side of the opposing air sorter  66  flow path, inclining to the opposing air sorter  66  side facing downward (i.e., diagonally downward), and serves as a region into which a mixture of blast material and foreign matter supplied to the opposing air sorter  66  (free fall zone  66 B) falls in a fluid motion. 
     A regulator plate  64 C disposed to block the top side of the through opening  65  to the opposing air sorter  66 , is disposed on the furthest downstream portion of the supply portion  64 . The regulator plate  64 C is a plate-body extending in the separator width direction (in a vertical direction relative to the paper surface in  FIG. 4(A) ). The top end portion of the regulator plate  64 C is suspended downward by being affixed to a partition between the supply portion  64  and the opposing air sorter  66  on the upper side of the through opening  65 , and is disposed to form a long and narrow gap extending in the separator width direction between the bottom end edge of the regulator plate  64 C and the downstream end of the inclined portion  64 B. A mixture of blast material and foreign matter flows out through this gap. Note that the height position of the regulator plate  64 C can be adjusted. 
     The inclined portion  64 B is placed on the flow path upstream side of the opposing air sorter  66 , which causes the mixture to free fall, and the regulator plate  64 C has the function of fully spreading and making uniform the layer of powder and granular matter (the mixture including blast material) flowing out from the supply portion  64  to the opposing air sorter  66 , across the separator width direction (the direction vertical to the paper surface in  FIG. 4(A) ). 
     The opposing air sorter  66  comprises a perimeter wall portion  66 A cylindrically formed and extending up and down in the shot peening machine  10 . The inside of the perimeter wall portion  66 A is used as an air passage, and on the middle portion in the longitudinal direction a gap formed between the bottom end edge of the regulator plate  64 C and the downstream end of the inclined portion  64 B opens as a communicating port with the supply portion  64 . 
     The inside space in the site further under the portion communicating with the supply portion  64  in the perimeter wall portion  66 A is used as a free fall zone  66 B for permitting the mixture to free fall. 
     The bottom end opening  66 C of the perimeter wall portion  66 A is used as a downward-opening air introducing port; a mesh screen (not shown) is stretched horizontally around the outer circumference thereof. Therefore when the dust collector  80  operates in the free fall zone  66 B, outside air which has passed through the screen flows in from the bottom end opening  66 C of the perimeter wall portion  66 A, and an upward air current f 1  passing through the perimeter wall portion  66 A is generated. 
     Multiple dispersion rods  66 D are attached at the bottom of perimeter wall portion  66 A so as to cross the free fall zone  66 B. The dispersion rods  66 D have a prism or columnar shape, and are separated by spacing and positioned so as to be increasingly lower as they separate from the inclined portion  64 B on a line extending from the inclined portion  64 B. The dispersion rods  66 D are constituted to disperse, within the free fall zone  66 B, a mixture of blast material and foreign matter falling freely inside the free fall zone  66 B. The dispersion by the dispersion rods  66 D of the mixture of free falling blast material and foreign matter produces an appropriate space between the free falling mixture material, such that the upward air current f 1  inside the free fall zone  66 B flows in an approximately uniform manner between the falling mixture material. As a result, the upward air currents flow approximately uniformly between the free falling blast material and foreign matter, facilitating sorting (classifying) of mixture material using an upward air current. 
     The spacing between the dispersion rods is set so that no blast material accumulates on the dispersion rods, at a width not interfering with the air current f 1 , and so that the free falling blast material and foreign matter can be evenly dispersed. 
     A concave (plate shaped) receiving portion  72  is placed at a position opposite the bottom end opening  66 C on the perimeter wall portion  66 A, at the bottom side of the free fall zone  66 B in the air sorting mechanism  62 . The receiving portion  72  is used to prevent wear caused by the blast material; after temporarily receiving the free falling blast material and stopping its fall, it supplies the same to the main portion  48 A (see  FIG. 1 ) of the blast material hopper  48  on the bottom side thereof. 
     Using the above-described configuration, by allowing the mixture of the blast material and powder and granular foreign matter to free fall while applying the upward air current f 1 , the opposing air sorter  66  separates light weight matter carried by the air current f 1  from falling heavy matter (see the arrow S 1  direction). 
     More specifically, the opposing air sorter  66  sorts the “small grain size, light items” (foreign matter) which is carried by the air current f 1  from falling “large grain size, heavy items” (blast material). 
     A guide plate  68 A is disposed on the top portion of a settling chamber portion  68  so as depend from the upper wall side. The guide plate  68 A guides air containing powder and granular material suctioned into the interior of the settling chamber portion  68  under the suction force of a dust collector  80 ; a bypass current f 2  is generated toward that air as a classifying current. 
     That is, the settling chamber portion  68  separates (sorts) particles in suctioned-in air using a bypass current f 2 . More specifically, the settling chamber portion  68  places in an air current and discharges (arrow S 3 ) to the dust collector  80  side the fines (powder material) having a smaller grain size among the suctioned powder and granular matter (foreign matter), and allows the larger grain size, heavy fines (granular material), etc. to drop (arrow S 2 ), discharging these to the course discharge case  84  side through the course ejection pipe  82 , shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     To obtain a stable peening effect, management of shot grain size is important, and the constitution of the classifying machine (the separator  60 ) and management of the dust collection air volume are key points. For the classification machine, an opposing-type classification machine is adopted as described above in order to maintain shot grain size. Use of this type of opposing-type classification machine allows for more accurate (refined) grain size control compared to a perpendicular classification machine. For managing dust collection air volume, it is preferably to install a differential pressure upper limit switch on dust collector  80  or the like (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 (A)) to maintain the classification machine performance, thereby imparting a differential pressure upper limit detection function, so that an abnormal display can be made when the system has dropped below the required air flow. 
     Note that in the shot peening machine  10 , in order to obtain a stable peening effect it is also important to manage consumables, and displaying replacement times is a key point for preventive maintenance. Therefore it preferable to establish, for example, a means to give notice regarding consumables to the control panel  90 A etc., shown in  FIG. 3 , and to display replacement timing on a touch panel, or to display consumable replacement history on the control panel  90 A or the like, so that replacement cycles for consumables can be understood. 
     Consumables included in the shot peening machine  10  include the consumables included in the projecting device  42 , shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the consumables included in the transport mechanism for transporting the workpiece W, the consumables included in the circulation machine  50 , and the consumables related to the protective liner inside the blast chamber  14 A. 
     The consumables included in the projecting device  42  include, for example, components related to the blades, control cage, distributor, and liner. Consumables included in the transport mechanism for transporting workpiece W include, for example, spinner-rollers  28 , chains  22 , carriers  26  and transport guides. Consumables included in the circulation machine  50  include, for example, lower portion screw conveyor  52 , endless belt  54 B of bucket elevator  54 , and the buckets in bucket elevator  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the present embodiment a control device  90  comprising a control panel  90 A is equipped with a calculation section  92 . The calculation section  92  is constituted by a computer or the like; the replacement timing for each consumable is calculated for each consumable included in the shot peening machine  10  by comparing its operating time tx (wear time) with a pre-set lifetime tz. Here the calculation is made assuming the operating time tx is the same as the projecting device  42  blasting time, and is integrated by sequencer control. A display section  94  (display) is installed on control panel  90 A, and the display section  94  is capable of displaying the results of calculations by the calculation section  92 . 
     The control device  90  causes all or part of the calculation section  92  calculation results to be displayed on the display section  94  in response to manipulations of the control panel  90 A, etc. In the latter case (partial display), the control device  90  may also comprise an identifying section (not shown) for identifying the displayed object. By comparing operating time tx with pre-set standard time ta, which is shorter than lifespan time tz, the identifying section identifies, for each consumable included in the shot peening machine  10 , whether operating time tx has exceeded standard time ta. The control device  90  implements a control so that a display is made in the display section  94  of the replacement timing for only those consumables for which operating time tx is determined by the identifying section to exceed standard time ta. 
     The control device  90  also comprises a memory section  96 . Replacement history information about consumables include in the shot peening machine  10  is input by a worker from the control panel  90 A, for example. The memory section  96  stores replacement history information for each consumable include in the shot peening machine  10 . At the same time, the display section  94  can display replacement history information stored in the memory section  96 . I.e., if an operation is performed at the control panel  90 A to request display of replacement history information, for example, replacement history information is displayed on the display section  94 . 
     The memory section  96  may be used for storing information about past operating anomaly history, and the display section  94  can display operating anomaly history stored in the memory section  96 . Having such a function for displaying operating anomaly history facilitates an understanding of the frequency and trends in the occurrence of operational anomalies so that major problems can be prevented in advance. When searching for the cause of an operational anomaly, the cause of the operational anomaly can to some degree be surmised from the history of operational anomaly occurrences. Therefore having the ability to display operational anomalies is useful for quick recovery from operational anomaly states. 
     Next the operation of the shot peening machine  10  according to the embodiment will be explained. 
     In the shot peening machine  10  according to the present embodiment, the projecting device  42  blasts the blast material onto the workpiece W shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, a columnar workpiece such as a coil spring is processed. 
     The air sorting mechanism  62  shown in  FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B)  is placed in a recovery path for recovering blast material blasted at workpiece W; this air sorting mechanism  62  sorts between the light weight material carried by the air current f 1  and the falling heavy weight material by applying the upward air current f 1  to the mixture containing the blast material and powder and granular foreign matter while allowing the mixture to free fall. Because the upward air current f 1  is thus applied to the free falling mixture, sorting accuracy is improved. Sorting is also efficiently performed when large amounts of the light weight foreign matter is included in the mixture. 
     In the air sorting mechanism  62 , the inclined portion  64 B is here installed on the upstream side of the free fall zone  66 B for freely falling the mixture; this inclined portion  64 B inclines diagonally downward, and is used for the fluid movement of mixture to the free fall zone  66 B. 
     The regulator plate  64 C, which is disposed to form a gap between itself and the bottom end of the inclined portion  64 B, allows the free fall of the mixture from the gap at the bottom end of the inclined portion  64 B. The flow quantity of the mixture to the free fall zone  66 B is thus regulated by the regulator plate  64 C as the mixture is spread across the width direction of the regulator plate  64 C and free falling, thereby facilitating the sorting of the mixture by the upward air current f 1   
     The multiple dispersion rods  66 D are placed across the perimeter wall portion  66 A of the free fall zone  66 B where mixture is allowed to free fall, so that free falling mixture is dispersed by the multiple dispersion rods  66 D inside the perimeter wall portion  66 A. By thus dispersing mixture by the dispersion rods  66 D, the upward air current f 1  flows in an approximately uniform manner, resulting in an easier sorting (classification) of the mixture by the air current f 1 . 
     The concave receiving portion  72  is installed at the bottom side of the opposing air sorter  66  in the air sorting mechanism  62 , and after being temporarily received and stopped by the receiving portion  72 , the free falling blast material is supplied to the main portion  48 A of the blast material hopper  48  (see  FIG. 1 ). Wear caused by the blast material of the components positioned at the bottom is thus constrained. 
     Also, in the present embodiment, the settling chamber portion  68  for creating a bypass current f 2  using the guide plate  68 A, is installed on the downstream side of the flow path for the light weight material in the air sorting mechanism  62 ; light weight material is separated by the settling chamber portion  68  into powder material carried on the bypass current f 2  and granular material which falls. Powder material is then discharged to the dust collector  80  side, while granular material is discharged to the course discharge case  84  side through the course ejection pipe  82 . 
     The improved classification capability achieved by the action explained above enables the stabilization of the grain size of the blast material supplied to the projecting device  42 . As a result, a stable peening effect is obtained. 
     In the present embodiment, the first shot curtain machine  36  allows the blast material to fall continuously from the top portion of the blast chamber entrance  14 B as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the second shot curtain machine  38  allows the blast material to fall continuously from the blast chamber exit  14 C. Therefore even if blast material blasted by the projecting device  42  tries to scatter from the blast chamber entrance  14 B and the blast chamber exit  14 C, it will collide with the continuously falling blast material and thus be stopped. 
     Thus, the scattering of the blast material is stopped by the adoption of the first shot curtain machine  36  and the second shot curtain machine  38 , thereby shrinking the overall length of the machine and enabling a reduction in the number of so-called rubber shop curtains. Also, parts which could not be sealed by the rubber curtains (e.g. the inside of coil springs, etc. when rubber sheets turn inward as the coil spring workpiece passes through) can be sealed using the first shot curtain machine  36  and the second shot curtain machine  38 , so the amount of the blast material scattered to the outside is reduced. 
     The blast material which has fallen to the bottom of the machine is transported to the top of the machine by the bucket elevator  54  installed in the recovery pathway. Here the top discharge side of the bucket elevator  54  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is connected to the air sorting mechanism  62 , and is also connected to the first shot curtain machine  36  and the second shot curtain machine  38  without passing through the air sorting mechanism  62 . Therefore the supply of excess blast material and the like to the air sorting mechanism  62  is constrained, so the enlargement of the air sorting mechanism  62  and the dust collector  80  (see  FIG. 3 ) is constrained. 
     In the shot peening machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5(A), 5(B) , and  6 , the workpiece W is held down and transported in the direction of transport by the carriers  26  when the chains  22  are looping. The pair of the spinner-rollers  28  disposed at the upper side of the chains  22  and on both sides of the carriers  26  are parallely placed on the left and right about the direction of transport of the workpiece W, and can be rotationally driven about an axial line extending in the transport direction, and the workpiece is loaded thereon. The loading of workpiece W onto the pair of spinner-rollers  28  and the rotation of the spinner-rollers  28  therefore results in thorough shot processing of the workpiece when it is subjected to blasting by the projecting device  42  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5(B) , the spacing between the pair of spinner-rollers  28  can be variably adjusted by the variable adjustment mechanism  30 . Hence the spacing between the pair of spinner-rollers  28  can be varied according to the size (diameter) of workpiece W, so that the length of the carriers  26  in the vertical direction of the machine is constrained. In other words if, for example, the spacing between a pair of spinner-rollers  28  is spread when a large workpiece W is mounted on the pair of spinner-rollers  28 , the position of the top end height of the workpiece W can be kept low, which also permits the length of the carriers  26  which press down on the workpiece W to be constrained in the vertical direction of the machine, so the height of the overall shot peening machine  10  is constrained. Also, because the spacing between the pair of spinner-rollers  28  is variably adjustable, workpieces W of various outside diameters can be mounted on the pair of spinner-rollers  28 , and shot processing can be applied to the workpieces W of various outside diameters. 
     Note that as shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom surface at the lower portion of the shot peening machine  10  is formed to be flat, so there is no need to dig a pit, and enlargement of the machine can be constrained. 
     As explained above, using the shot peening machine  10  according to the present embodiment, recovered blast material and foreign matter can be accurately separated, while enlargement of the machine is constrained. 
     In the present embodiment, the display section  94  in the control panel  90 A displays information about the replacement timing and replacement history of each of the consumables constituting the shot peening machine  10 , therefore this display can be referred to when replacing consumables to prevent in advance changes in blast position or blast amounts, as well as transport problems. 
     Note that “transport problems” refers to a non-uniform blasting of blast material onto workpiece W so that a stable shot peening effect cannot be obtained, or to workpiece W becoming completely stuck inside cabinet  12  so that processing cannot be performed, as a result of workpiece W not being normally transported (e.g., due to insufficient rotation of workpiece W or sticking of workpiece W). 
     In this embodiment, the centrifugal type of projecting devices  42  were used as the projecting device, but the projecting device can also be of another type, such as an air nozzle type of projecting device by which projection material is fed out under pressure together with compressed air and jetted from a nozzle. 
     Also, in the embodiment, the shot processing machine was the shot peening machine  10 , but the shot processing machine can also be another type of shot processing machine, such as a shot blasting machine or the like. A machine of the same constitution as the shot peening machine  10  may also be used as a combined shot peening machine and shot blasting machine. 
     In the embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4(A) , the air sorting mechanism  62  comprises the inclined portion  64 B and the regulator plate  64 C, but it is also acceptable for the air sorting mechanism not to comprise these. 
     In the embodiment, the regulator plate  64 C is affixed to the partition between the supply portion  64  and the opposing air sorter  66  to prevent changes in orientation, but the regulator plate may also be another regulator plate whereby its top end portion is capable, for example, of rotationally moving about an axis in the separator width direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in  FIG. 4(A) ). 
     Also, in the embodiment, the air sorting mechanism  62  comprises multiple dispersion rods  66 D, but a constitution may also be adopted in which the air sorting mechanism does not comprise multiple dispersion rods. 
     In the embodiment, the concave receiving portion  72  is placed at the lower side of the opposing air sorter  66  in the air sorting mechanism  62 , but a constitution may also be adopted in which such a receiving portion is not placed at the lower side of the air sorting mechanism. 
     In the embodiment, the settling chamber portion  68  is placed on the downstream side of the flow path for light weight material in the air sorting mechanism  62 , but a constitution may also be adopted in which an approximately columnar cyclone section is provided in place of the settling chamber portion  68  or the settling chamber portion is not provided. 
     As an alternative example of the embodiment, a constitution may also be adopted in which the top portion discharge side of the bucket elevator  54  serving as shot transport machine is connected to the first shot curtain machine  36  and the second shot curtain machine  38  through the air sorting mechanism  62 . 
     In the above embodiment, the shot transport machine for transporting blast material fallen to the bottom of the machine to the top part of the machine, is the bucket elevator  54  as shown in  FIG. 2 , etc., but the shot transport machine may also be another shot transport machine, such as a screw conveyor for which the axial direction is set to be the vertical direction of the machine. 
     In the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) , the variable adjustment mechanism  30  comprises the rotating arms  30 A, and is variably adjusted by rotationally moving the spacing between the pair of spinner-rollers  28  as a pair of rotating rollers, but the variable adjustment mechanism can also be another variable adjustment mechanism comprising, for example, a rack and pinion, whereby variable adjustment is accomplished by linear movement of the spacing between a pair of rotating rollers. A constitution is also possible in which the shot processing machine does not comprise a variable adjustment mechanism. 
     As an alternative example of the embodiment, a part of the bottom surface at the bottom of the machine may be set to have a different height from that of other parts of the bottom surface. 
     As an alternative example of the embodiment, a constitution may also be adopted which does not comprise the calculation section  92  for calculating the replacement timing of consumables, and does not comprise the memory section  96  for storing information about the replacement history of consumables. 
     Note that in the present embodiment, the display section  94  can display the calculation results of the calculation section  92 , and can display replacement history information stored in the memory section  96 , but it is also acceptable to separately provide a display section able to display the calculation results of the calculation section  92  and a display section able to display information about replacement history stored in the memory section  96 . 
     Note that the embodiment and multiple variant examples may be combined and practiced as appropriate.