Patent GB-304810-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to ball painting apparatus
IPC: B05C3/09
Filed: 1927-10-25
Abstract: 304,810. Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., Willshaw, H., and Cropper, T. Oct. 25, 1927. Coating-machines.-In ball-painting apparatus of the kind wherein a ball receives a coating of paint or other liquid by immersion and is subsequently rotated to reduce to a film the paint so applied, the balls are held by grippers which are maintained against substantial movement in a vertical direction, the paint-container being moved to effect the immersion of the balls. The apparatus comprises a frame structure 1, Figs. 1 and 3, supporting four vertical rods 9 forming guides for horizontal platforms 2, 6, 7 which are movable in a vertical direction, a stationary platform 5 disposed below the platform 6 being rigid with the structure 1. The platform 5 is provided on its underside with a series of ball-grippers the opening and closing of which is controlled by relative movement of the platform 6. The paint-container 3, preferably in the form of a sheet-metal tank, is supported upon the platform 2 and is provided with paddles 19 operated by a handle 20 for agitating the paint. The platform 2 is raised and lowered by a counterweighted lever 10 which bears against its underside and coacts with a cam 11 on a shaft geared to an operating-shaft 16 provided with a handle 17. Geared shafts connect the driving- shaft 16 to similar cam and lever devices at the other side of the machine. Downward extensions 14 on the ends of the platform 7 coact with raising. and lowering cams 15 on the cam-shafts, and cams 13 on the same shafts effect the raising and lowering of the platform 6 by means of vertical rods 12 which bear upon them. The platform 7 is substantially in the form of a framework of sufficient size to provide end-supports for three loose trays 36 fitted with rests 36a for the balls 4, two trays only being in use at the same time, in order to leave space for them to be moved into progressive positions. The relative shapes and angular positions of the cams upon the cam-shaft are such that upon sliding a loaded ball-tray into position and turning the handle 17, the platform 7 carrying the trays is raised and the platform 6 is simultaneously lowered to operate the devices for opening the grippers; subsequently the grippers close to grip the balls,. and the ball-tray is lowered for removal. Continued rotation of the handle causes the paint platform 2 to be raised so that the balls are immersed, whereupon a hand-wheel 33a on a shaft 33 is operated to rotate the ball-grippers in the paint to ensure a thorough coating. The handle 17 is again rotated to lower the paint-container, the contour of the cams controlling the platforms 6, 7 being such that the latter remain stationary. A tray is then placed in position on the ball platform 7 and the handle 17 is again rotated to open the grippers, whereupon the painted balls drop on to the rests 36a. The grippers may be constructed as shown in Fig. 7, so that they are opened upon the downward movement of the platform 6, the gripper arms 22 being pivoted upon a collar 25 rigid with a hollow shaft 26 which is rotatable within a boss 21 on the underside of the platform 5. The upper ends of the arms 22 are connected bv links 23 to a collar 27 which is slidable upon the hollow shaft 26 under the influence of a vertical rod 26a extending within the shaft 26 and bearing upon a cotter extending laterally through slots in the shaft 26. A spring 28 tends to raise the collar 27 to close the grippers. The platform 6 is provided with a series of push-rods 26t in contact with the upper ends of the gripper-operating rods 26a. To ensure an even grip upon the balls the gripper arms are provided with indiarubber pads 35 interposed between members 34 formed with projections 34a. The mechanism for rotating the grippers comprises a gear-wheel 29 around which four grippers are arranged, the shafts 26 each having a driving-pinion 30. The wheels 29 are driven by a series of friction-disc gears 31 common to the shaft 33.