Patent GB-1212307-A (GB)
Title: Orbital finishing machine
Inventor: RAMPE JOHN FISCHER
IPC: B24B31/06
Filed: 1969-04-01
Abstract: 1,212,307. Vibratory finishing. J. F. RAMPE. 1 April, 1969 [15 April, 1968], No. 16977/69. Heading B3D. A precision finishing machine adapted so as to produce orbital movement of finishing media comprises (i) a supporting structure;  (ii) a receptacle resiliently carried by the supporting structure; (iii) a plurality of superposed vibratory units coupled to and in juxtaposition to the receptacle on each of two opposite sides thereof; and  (iv) means for driving the vibratory units in timed relation to each other.  A supporting structure, Figs. 1 and 3, includes a vertical end plate 3, a pair of cutaway vertical plates 4 and a pair of cut-away vertical plates 5. The plates 4, 5 support, by rubber-in-shear mounts 12, plates 13, 14 serving as end-pieces for a generally cylindrical tub 15 having an open top for charging and a discharge opening controlled by a vertical sliding door 18. Two vibratory unit assemblies 20 are provided at the level of the centre line of the tub, one on each side. Each assembly includes a channel member 21 welded to the cylindrical portion of the tub and having mounted thereon an elongated bearing yoke 22. The opposite ends of the yoke have bushings 23 with antifriction bearings mounting a shaft 24 carrying an eccentrically mounted weight 26. Mounted above and below the assemblies 20 are further similar assemblies having eccentrics 27, 28. Each shaft 24 is connected through flexible coupling 25, extension shaft 30 and flexible coupling 31 to a short shaft 32 extending into a gear-box 33 mounted on the plate 3. The shaft 32 is connected through bevel gears 36, 37 to a radial shaft (38) connected through flexible coupling (40) to a radial shaft (41) extending into a gear-box 43 mounted on the plate 3. The shaft 41 is connected through bevel gears (47, 48) to a shaft 49 connected through flexible coupling 56 to a shaft 57 driven through a cleated endless timing belt 64 by a motor 68 mounted on the supporting structure with adjustment for belt tensioning. In a modification, Figs. 5 and 7, each vibratory unit assembly comprises eccentrically mounted weights 81, 84 on shafts 80, 83 connected by flexible coupling 85; shaft 83 is connected through flexible coupling 86, shaft 87 and flexible coupling 88 to a drive shaft. The drive shafts 98, 103, 106, 110, 116, 122 are connected by cleated belts 101, 105, 125, 114, 120; shaft 98 is driven through cleated belt 96 by a motor 93. In another modification; Fig. 8, a cylindrical tub 126 has a liner 127 of rubber or similar material. Media and workpieces are introduced more or less continuously through a hopper 128 the lower portion of which is open and in registry with a vertical opening 129 in the plate 13, and are discharged continuously, the door 18 being raised. Couplings 88 are connected through shafts 131 and couplings 132 to shafts 133 each driven by an individual electric motor 134; there are three motors on each side of the machine, one for each two-unit vibratory assembly. By use of gears 135 and a cleated belt 136 all six operate in synchronism. After continuity of flow through the tub has been established, paired motors may be allowed to idle. Magnetic and pneumatic vibrators may be used. (For Figures 3, 7 and 8 see next page.)