Patent GB-772817-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic machines for deburring, polishing and buffing
IPC: B24B27/00
Filed: 1955-01-24
Abstract: 772,817. Buffing. HARPER, J. F. Jan. 24. 1955 [Jan. 27, 1954], No. 2117/55. Class 60 [Also in Group XXX]  A buffing, polishing and deburring machine comprises a buff assembly including a rotary buff, means for moving the axis of rotation of the buff in a selected plane, and means independent of the moving means for 'adjustably supporting the assembly for universal selection of the selected plane. In the preferred embodiment, three buffing units, A, Fig. 1, are each supported by a pair of rods 13 from the frame-work F of the machine by means of blocks 17 which may be adjusted on frame members 12 by chains 20 and clamped thereto in the adjusted position. The work pieces H, such as tumblers are carried by an endless chain conveyer past each buffing unit A in succession. To enable the axis of rotation of each buff B, Fig. 4, to be angularly adjusted, the buff shaft 56 is supported by bearing bracket 37 secured to a fluted turret member 34 which is locked in angularly adjusted position by a toothed member 52 secured to a plate 33 forming part of a yoke 32 supported from the rods 13. The yoke 32 may be angularly adjusted about the axis of bearings 14, Fig. 5, by means of a worm mechanism 24, while the buff B may be advanced or retracted in a direction transverse to its own axis by means of an electric motor 46 driving through chain drives 45 and 44 a series of feed screws 43, the extent of this feed movement being controlled by limit switches 50. An electric motor 61 drives the butt B through a belt 58 and its load current shown by an ammeter is maintained constant by adjustment to the feed mechanism. Cakes 95 of buffing compound are periodically applied to the periphery of the buff by oscillation of a carrier 76 driven by a motor 106, Fig. 3, and a speed reducing gear 107. The output shaft 111, Fig. 13, of the speed reducing gear drives the carrier 76 through a linkage 112, 114 while a finger 123 adjustably secured to the carrier 76 periodically oscillates a spring-loaded shaft 117 which through a. one-way clutch, not shown, and worm gearing causes the compound cakes 95 to be advanced in the carrier 76 to compensate for the quantity of compound removed by the buff. When the compound is exhausted, a limit switch automatically interrupts the power to the machine. The work conveyer includes a number of carriages 153. Fig. 19, each provided with guide rollers 155, 156, and 157 which engage flanges 151 and 152, Fig. 17, forming part of the conveyer framework 146. The carriages are connected by links 165 to a chain 162 passing round four sprockets 163, Fig. 1, one of which is driven by a motor 168 through speed reducing gear 169. Each carriage 153 is provided with a number of work holders 175 which may be rotated at the buffing stations by sprockets 185 through auxiliary ehain drives 186 driven by a motor 197, Fig. 18. The work holders may also be indexed at the buffing station by a cam track 248 which, through a roller 246 operates a shaft 241 connected to the work holder 175.The latter is normally held in a vertical position but as it approaches and leaves each buff it may be caused to tilt about an axis transverse to its direction of travel by means of a cam 224, Fig. 19,. which engages a roller 227 mounted at one end of a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage 153 and to the work holder 175. A latch mechanism operated by a second cam track 222 holds the work holder 175 vertical as it travels between buffing stations. A modified construction of the work holder. is described in which the work-piece is rotated about a horizontal axis through bevel gears. The buff assemblies may be located on either or both sides of the conveyer at each station and individual start and stop switch buttons are provided for each of the buff motors. One of the four straight sections of the conveyer track is used for loading and unloading work-pieces in the holder fixtures and is not provided with a supplementary drive for rotating the work holders. The drive may, however, be provided in combination with an operable pressure or other member which holds the work-piece against rotation while the chain 186 rotates the work-piece holder to thereby screw or unscrew a work-piece.