Patent GB-1097215-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to finishing apparatus
IPC: B24B31/06
Filed: 1965-04-01
Abstract: 1,097,215. Vibratory finishing. J. F. RAMPE. April 1, 1965 [April 3, 1964], No. 13879/65. Heading B3D. [Also in Division F2] A vibratory finisher includes a tub for containing a shiftable load comprising articles to be finished and finishing medium, a carrier and a counterpoise which each comprise a pair of uprights connected by a cross-member whereof the uprights are resiliently connected to a stationary frame by resilient shear mounting means, the tub being secured to the carrier above and with its axis substantially normal to the cross-members and having a charging opening in the top and a discharge opening in one end, and, for imparting orbital vibration to the tub, a drive shaft extending substantially parallel to the tub axis and having a pair of eccentrics 180 degrees out of phase with each other respectively acting on the cross-members of the carrier and the counterpoise. A stationary frame F comprises a base 2 and columns 3, 4. The column 3 has vertical angle members 5, 5<SP>1</SP>, top and bottom cross-members 6, 6<SP>1</SP>, top flanges 7, 8 and bottom flanges 7<SP>1</SP>, 8<SP>1</SP>. The column 4 is of identical construction. The columns 3, 4 are connected by cross-members 3<SP>1</SP>, 4<SP>1</SP>. A tub-supporting carriage C comprises end units 14, 15. The unit 14 has vertical members 17, 18 and a cross-member 19. The unit 15 is of identical construction. The units 14, 15 are connected by struts 16, 16, 16, 16<SP>1</SP>, 161, 16<SP>1</SP> and by heavy bars 22, 23 constituting weights which balance the weight of the tub and its contents. The carriage C is mounted on the frame F by four upper resilient shear mounts 30, 31, 32, 33 and four lower resilient shear mounts. Each mount comprises a cylindrical resilient body, e.g. of rubber, having coaxial bolts 35, 36 extending out from the opposite ends of the body, the inner ends of the bolts being spaced apart. In the upper suspension, one set of bolts are secured to the upper ends of the vertical members 17, 18 of the carriage unit 14 and to the upper ends of the corresponding vertical members of the carriage unit 15; the other set of bolts are secured in slots 13 in the upper ends of the top flanges 7, 8 of the frame column 3 and in the upper ends of the corresponding top flanges of the frame column 4. In the lower suspension, one set of bolts are secured in slots 42 in the lower ends of the vertical members 17, 18 of the carriage unit 14 and in the lower ends of the corresponding vertical members of the carriage unit 15; the other set of bolts are secured to the bottom flanges 7<SP>1</SP>, 8<SP>1</SP> of the frame column 3 and to the corresponding bottom flanges of the frame column 4. An open top tub T has a curved wall 45 to which is secured by gussets 56 a base-plate 55. The latter rests on, and is removably secured to, channels 20, 21 forming part of the carriage C. To minimize the vibration transmitted to the frame F during vibration of the carriage C, counterpoises P, P<SP>1</SP> are provided. The counterpoise P comprises vertical members 60, 61, a cross-member 62 and stiffening webs 71, 72, 73, 74; weights 69, 70 are secured to the member 62. The counterpoise P is mounted on the frame F by upper resilient shear mounts 63, 64 and lower resilient shear mounts 65, 66. In the upper suspension, one set of bolts are secured to the upper ends of the counterpoise vertical members 60, 61; the other set of bolts are secured in slots 13 in the upper end of the vertical member 5 of the frame column 3 and in the upper end of the corresponding vertical member of the frame column 4. In the lower suspension, one set of bolts are secured in slots 67, 68 in the lower ends of the counterpoise vertical members 60, 61; the other set of bolts are secured to the lower end of the vertical member 5 of the frame column 3 and to the lower end of the corresponding vertical member of the frame column 4. The counterpoise P<SP>1</SP> is of identical construction and is mounted on the opposite end of the frame F by resilient shear mounts in the same manner as the counterpoise P. The drive mechanism D comprises a motor 82 mounted on a bracket 81 pivotally mounted on the frame F. The motor drives, through a belt 87, a floating shaft 83 having eccentric portions (83e), (83g) supported respectively in a bearing 85 in the cross-member 19 of the carriage unit 14 and in a bearing 85<SP>1</SP> in the cross-member 19<SP>1</SP> of the carriage unit 15. Eccentric portions (83d), (83f), displaced 180 degrees from the eccentric portions (83e), (83g), are supported respectively in a bearing 84 carried by the cross-member 62 of the counterpoise P and in a bearing 84<SP>1</SP> carried by the crossmember 62<SP>1</SP> of the counterpoise P<SP>1</SP>. The total weight of the counterpoises P, P<SP>1</SP> is preferably 50-80% of the total weight of the carriage C, tub T and contents thereof. The tub T has a solid rear end wall 48; the front end wall (49) has a discharge opening (50), closable by a sliding door 52, and a shoot (50<SP>1</SP>) for discharging finished workpieces, finishing medium and liquid vehicle to the separator S. The separator S includes a screen box 96 rocked on pivots 97, 98 by drive means 96<SP>1</SP>. The material discharged from the tub is received by a coarse screen (102) which will not pass the finished workpieces, these being discharged by a shoot 100. Finishing medium are liquid vehicle passing through the screen (102) are received by a fine screen (103) which will not pass the finishing medium, this being discharged by a shoot 99. Liquid vehicle and fines passing through the screen (103) are discharged by a shoot 101. Finishing medium discharged by the shoot 99 passes to a hopper 116 and thence to a bucket conveyer M which delivers it to a receiving box 134 whence it passes down a shoot 136 into the rear end of the open top of the tub T. Flow of finishing medium down the shoot 136 can be arrested by a baffle 137. Liquid vehicle, e.g. water, is supplied from a settling tank R by a pump (107) through a hose (104), containing a valve (108), discharging into the open top of the tub T. Drain openings (106) in the bottom of the tub T are connected by a hose (105), containing a valve, to the tank R. At the end of a batch finishing operation, the tub T is emptied of liquid by discharge through a spout 110 into a trough 109 discharging through an outlet (111) into the tank R. In batch operation, the tub T is loaded with workpieces, finishing medium and liquid vehicle. Vibration is effected for the necessary time, liquid vehicle being continuously discharged from the tub T to the tank R and clear liquid being continuously fed to the tub T from the tank R. At the end of the period, liquid is drained from the tub T into the tank R and the end door 52 of the tub is opened to discharge the workpieces and finishing medium to the separator S. The bucket conveyer M is driven to return finishing medium from the separator S to the receiving box 134. In continuous operation, the end door 52 of the tub T is open throughout, workpieces and finishing medium being continuously fed into the rear of the open top of the tub T and continuously discharged through the front discharge opening; the finishing unit A, the separating unit S, the conveyer M and the liquid vehicle circulation are continuously operated.