Patent GB-1437774-A (GB)
Title: Installation fo polishing pieces of cutlery
IPC: B24B19/00
Filed: 1975-04-22
Abstract: 1437774 Polishing cutlery E SIEPMANN & CO 22 April 1975 [14 May 1974] 16604/75 Heading B3D Apparatus for polishing pieces of cutlery 35 comprises two rotatable conveyer devices 1, 2 each adapted to move through a respective circular path for transporting workpiece holders 15 through work stations so that the holders move on the first device 1 from a clamping device 4 by way of at least one polishing station 5, 6, 7, 8 and a re-clamping device 9 back to the clamping device, and on the second device 2 from the re-clamping device 9 by way of at least one polishing device 11, 12 and an unclamping device 13 back to the re-clamping device. The conveyer devices comprise rotatable turrets 18 stepwisely rotatable and having pivoted arms 14 each consisting of an inner arm part 23 articulated on the turret about a horizontal axis and adapted to be pivotally moved radially outwards about the axis and an outer arm part 22 articulated to the outer end of the inner arm part and extending radially outwards, each outer arm part carrying a workpiece holder 15. The conveyer device 1 rotates about a vertical axis 3 and has six pivoted arms each having a workpiece holder 15 for successive presentation to the device 4 wherein a number of forks or spoons are clamped by their handles in a holder 15. The conveyer device is successively indexed to present the forks or spoons to the polishing devices 5, 6, 7, 8 and eventually to the reclamping device 9, the holder then moving to the device 4 for clamping another set of forks or spoons. Each holder 15, as it is presented to the device 4, clamps a set of forks or spoons. At the re-clamping device 9, the forks or spoons are clamped at their polished portions by a workpiece holder of the conveyer device 2 which rotates about axis 10 to present the forks or spoons successively to the polishing devices 11, 12 for polishing the handles and then to the unclamping device 13. The arms 14 of the conveyer devices 1, 2 are identical and each consists of an inner arm part 23 mounted on a horizontal pivot 21 on table 18 which is stepwisely rotatable on a stationary part 16 and has an upstanding column 19. The part 23 is connected by a pivot 24 to an outer arm part 25, each part consisting of two elements 23<SP>1</SP>, 251 joined by braces 20, 20<SP>1</SP>, 20<SP>11</SP>. Brace 20 of the inner arm part is connected by an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 26 to the column whereby it can be pivoted from a substantially vertical position outwardly to a position 60 degrees from the vertical. The outer arm part has an abutment 29 which engages a bracket 27 on the part 23 to hold the parts at between 80 and 90 degrees when the part 23 is in its vertical position, the part 25 being freely movable when the part 23 is in its inclined position. Arms 30 extend from the brace 20<SP>11</SP> and have bushes 31 slidably receiving guide rods 32 connected to holding plates 33 having swivel pins 34 of a workpiece holder 15 comprising clamp jaws 36, 37. The pins 34 engage guide surfaces 40 and slots 43 of guide devices 38 mounted on each side of the polishing machines. When the pins engage the slots 43 upon operation of the cylinder 26 to radially extend the arms 23, 25, rollers 43 mounted in the holders engage cams 45 on the guide devices to position the holders so that the workpieces are correctly positioned during insertion and withdrawal from between the polishing rollers 41, 42 of the associated machine. The stepwise movement of the turrets of the conveyer device is effected by a drive 48 having, for example, a Maltese cross or Geneva mechanism. In another embodiment, the movement of the arms of each turret is effected by a common hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.