Patent GB-934852-A (GB)
Title: Universally adjustable buffing and like apparatus
IPC: B24B27/00
Filed: 1960-03-24
Abstract: 934,852. Buffing. MIDWEST SUPPLY & MFG. CO. March 24, 1960 [Nov. 2, 1959], No. 10491/60. Class 60. A buffing or like work-finishing machine comprises a shaft unit incorporating a pair of elongated, coaxially telescoping shafts, one of which has means for supporting a finishing device and the other of which is mounted for universal adjustment to present said shaft unit and finishing device at varying angles to a workpiece, the universal mounting for said other shaft including means for limiting adjusting movement of said shaft unit and device to a plane perpendicular to a selected pivot axis of the universal mounting and further including means for adjustably displacing said shaft unit transversely to the common axis of the shafts to take up wear in the finishing device. The machine may be used for buffing or similarly finishing elongated parts of curved contour which may also be curved in crosssection, such as automobile bumpers. The parts are moved by a conveyer past the finishing device. A buffing or polishing head 17 is mounted by a cylindrical stem 16 received in a split collar 15 supported by a bracket 14 projecting from a collar 13 vertically adjustable by means 13<SP>1</SP> on a column 11 adjustable by means 12, on a base 10. The stem 16 carries a horizontal housing 20 on which is fixed a calibrated ring 22 to indicate the degree of adjustment of the head 17 in the horizontal plane about the axis of the stem 16. The housing 20 has a flange 23 which carries a yoke comprising upper and lower arms 25, 26 provided at their outer ends with ballbearings 27 by which a gimbal ring 28 is mounted to swing on a vertical axis. An adjusting ring 30 coaxial with the ring 28 has secured thereto a worm wheel 42 meshing with a worm in a housing 44 bolted to the ring 28; the worm can be rotated by a tool applied to a squared end 45 thereof, to effect rotary adjustment of its ring 30 relative to the ring 28, the amount of adjustment being shown by a calibrated ring 43 secured to the ring 30. The adjusting ring 30 carries diametrically opposed, inwardlyextending trunnions 31 and ball-bearings 32 which swivel an inner ring 33 in turn carrying diametrically opposed, inwardly-extending trunnions 34 by which a tubular shaft 35 is mounted for swing. Within the shaft 35 is a solid shaft 40 engaged by a key carrying the shaft 35. A mounting bracket 49 has secured thereto a worm wheel 47 in turn secured to a guide ring 51 running in a peripheral groove 52 of the adjusting ring 30; the worm wheel 47 meshes with a worm in a housing 54 bolted to the ring 28; the worm can be rotated by a tool applied to a squared end 55 thereof to effect adjustment. The mounting plate 49 has a bracket 58 carrying a shaft 61 on which pivots a bracket 59. An adjustable pneumatic jack 65 is connected between a boss 63 on the bracket 59 and a bracket extension 67 of the mounting plate 49. A spring biasing device comprises rods 74 fixed at their upper ends to a crosspiece 75 and at their lower ends to a crosspiece 72 pivoted on the bracket extension 67 of the mounting plate 49; a threaded rod 76 is fixed to a crosspiece 77 slidable on the rods 74, extends through the crosspiece 75 and is connected to a coupling 70 pivotally connected to a boss 69 on the bracket 59. Adjustable nuts 80, 81 on the rod 76 limit its movement and coil springs 78, 79 cushion the extremes of the movement. Links 89, 89 have their upper ends pivotally connected to the outer end of the bracket 59 and their lower ends have inwardlyprojecting trunnions 88 rotatably mounted in diametrically opposed bosses 85 of a sleeve 84 having an axial opening 86 of considerably greater diameter than the shaft 35. A mounting bracket 91 is seated on a flange 90 of the sleeve 84 and held thereon by a clamp ring 93 secured to the bracket. The outer end of the shaft 35 is formed with upwardly-projecting side guide elements 96 received in an upright way carried by the mounting bracket 91 and constituted by inner upright way members 97, 97, outer way members 98, 98 and spacers 99, 99. The upper portion of mounting bracket 91 carries a forward extending part 101 providing a semi-cylindrical seat 102 receiving a split bushing 103 clamped in place by a semi-cylindrical cap 106; threaded hand pieces 108 engage bosses 109 in the bracket extension 101 and cap 106. The bushing 103 has a squared member 110 secured to its upper end and is internally threaded for engagement with a stem 104 secured by a screw 105 to the forward end of tubular shaft 35. A motor 113 mounted on a plate 112 secured to the inner shaft 40 drives, through belts 115, the spindle 117 of the buffing wheel 18. The spindle 117 is journalled in a housing 118 clamped on the outer end of the shaft 40 by a split housing extension 126. The spindle 117 may be axially adjustable in the housing 118 and can be axially withdrawn therefrom when a locking pin 122 has been withdrawn from engagement with a groove 123 in the spindle 117. A shield for the belts 115 may be mounted on rods 119 carried by the motor mounting plate 112 and the spindle housing 118. To adjust the pressure between the wheel and workpiece, additional weight may be hung on an angle bar 124 on the housing 118, or applied to the motor mounting plate 112. To permit axial adjustment of the shaft 40 relatively to the shaft 35, so as to balance the weight of the motor 113, the tubular shaft 35 is split between bosses 125 adjacent its outer end. A threaded rod 128 carried by the outer end of the shaft 35 passes through bosses 129, 130 of the housing extension 126 and carries adjusting nuts 131, 131. The housing 20 contains a coil compression spring 134 acting on a plunger 136 carrying a roller 137 co-operating with a cam surface 138 formed across the adjacent outer peripheral surface of the ring 28, so as normally to centre that ring while allowing slight movement sufficient to permit play of the wheel 18 as the workpiece passes in buffing contact with the wheel.