IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDMUND WRIGHT of 54, Hamstead Road Handsworth in the County of
Stafford, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of two circular plates which may be placed either in a
horizontal or vertical position one of these plates is attached to a spindle and made
to rapidly revolve, the other may be either fixed to a bed plate and remain
stationary or left loose to revolve by the friction of the balls which come between
them, or both plates may be made to revolve in opposite directions. The upper or
driven plate is made with an opening and surmounted by a funnel-shaped hopper
in its centre through which the balls pass to the under or stationary-plate. The
driven plate inclines towards the lower opening of the hopper for a short distance
near its central surface by which means the balls are allowed to pass under it and
are thus forced between the two plates and by their centrifugal force are after a
few revolutions of the machine expelled at the outer edge of the plates. Here they
drop into an inclined receiver which carries them to a point where they are picked
up by an endless belt or chain bucket feeder and again deposited in the hopper to
be further acted on by the revolving plate or plates In the process of grinding the
balls to the required size, sand, emery or other suitable material is employed, the
balls being first moulded or turned approximately round. To ensure perfect
uniformity in size the balls are finally placed in a shallow fixed receiver above
which is also a revolving flat plate. The receiver is of smaller diameter than the
revolving plate and is made eccentric to it so that the balls in passing round the
receiver by means of the motion imparted to them by the revolving plate are
compelled to frequently change their position.

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
1 EDMUND, WRIGHT of 54 Hamstead Road Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BALLS " and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This Invention consists of two plates (circular by preference) placed either in a
horizontal or vertical position. These plates may be so arranged that one or both
of them may be made to revolve at the same time. I however prefer the plates to
be placed horizontally the bottom one being fixed, and the upper one made to
revolve. The upper plate is provided with apertures near its centre for the
purpose of allowing the balls to pass to the lower plate, and is surmounted with a
central hopper in which the balls are placed together with sand and water, oil and
emery, or other grinding substances. The upper plate rapidly revolving and in
contact with the balls causes them after a certain number of revolutions, by their
centrifugal force to be ejected from between the plates at the edges thereof whence
they pass down inclined surfaces to a receiver and are picked up by an elevator
which again delivers them in a shoot or channel communicating with the hopper.
Arrangements are made for ao adjusting the distance between the plates that balls
of any desired size may be ground perfectly round. My Invention will be more
readily understood, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs 1.
and 2 are front and side elevations and Fig 3 a semi-sectional elevation shewing
the upper or revolving plate and the method of fixing the lower one to the framing.
Fig 4. is an enlarged view shewing the bearing of the central spindle Similar
letters correspond with like parts in each figure Figs 1, 2, 3, shew a
framework a, a, a, a, a, preferably made of wood, part of which is made up of
cross-pieces on which are fixed the various parts hereinafter enumerated. Fig 1.
shews a view of the hopper b, partly hidden by the boarding c. c. the balls
striking against the latter on their ejection from between the plates d. d. e. c.
shewn sectionally in Fig 2. The inverted cone or pyramid f Fig 1, forins a
receiver for the balls (which are shewn by dotted circles) after leaving which by
the inclined shoot or channel g. g, they pass into the second receiver h. and from
there into the foot of the elevator i. whence they are picked up and carried by the
band k. k. and buckets . . . to the upper receiver m. and ejected therein after
which they pass down the inclined shoot or channel n. n. Figs 1. 2. to the bopper b.
again to undergo the process of grinding. The pulleys o. o. Fig 1, carry the
elevator band k. k. In the second or bottom receiver h. Fig 1. a piece of sheet
india-rubber or other suitable material p. is placed to prevent the balls coming in
too violent contact with the buckets . This receiver is also arranged with a
flap q. which on the balls being sufficiently ground, is used to close the passage to
the elevator foot i. allowing the finished balls to pass from the machine at r.
upper plate d. d. Fig 2. is keyed or fixed firmly to the spindle s. 8. which passes
freely through the lower or fixed plate e. e. and from thence to its bottom bearing
shewn on an enlarged scale in Fig 4. In the upper plate d. d. Figs 2 & 3. are also
The

page_text: shewn the apertures t. t. through which the balls fall to the lower plate e. e. Figs 2,
& 3. also shew sectional and top views of the lower plate e. e. with its arms u. u. u. u.
and method of fastening the same. The drum v. Figs 1. & 2. is firmly attached to
the spindle s. 8. and is actuated by the pulley w. and band x. x. y¹ & y. Fig 2. are
fast and loose pulleys for giving motion or otherwise to the whole machine. The
lever z. Figs 2. & 4. is used to lift the spindle and its accessories, and the cheese
weights A. held in position by the collar B. may be used to give additional
pressure when required. The bottom of the spindle s. Fig 4. is held loosely in the
cylindrical socket C. and bears centrally on the tapered point of steel or centre D.
this being driven into the lower part of tho socket C. The iron cross-piece E.
Figs 2. & 4 is recessed in its central part to receive the socket C. and has
longitudinal slots or openings at its side of sufficient size to allow the pin F.
Fig which passes through the hole G. Fig 4 to move freely up or down. The
forked lever z. is connected to this pin F. by the links H. one of which is seen
in Fig 2, the other being on the reverse side. The distance between the plates d. d
and e. e. is readily adjusted by the set screw K. Figs 1, 2, 4. The method of
lubricating the end of the spindle 8 is shewn in Fig 4. The lubricant being poured
in at L. fills the recess of the socket C. and constantly oils the centre point D. by
means of the small channel shewn above it. A small hole is made through the
bottom of the socket C. for removing the centre D. and a loose plate is placed
below the socket on which bears the point of the set-screw K. In working this
machine, motion is first given to the pulley y' which actuates the spindle N. N. Fig 2.
and thus communicates motion to the various parts herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A machine for grinding balls having an automatic feeding arrangement
substantially as shewn and described.
2. The delivery of balls approximately to the centre of the machine whether by
band or otherwise, whence they are ejected from between the grinding plates d. d
& e. c. as set forth and described.
3. The flap or cushion p. Fig 1. made of indiarubber or other suitable substance,
to obviate the too violent contact of the balls with the elevator buckets, as herein
described and shewn in the drawings.
4. The combination of the lever z. and links H Fig 2. with the movable socket C,
Fig 4, for the purpose of raising the spindle s. with its accessories, substantially as
herein set forth and described.
5. In a ball grinding machine the bearing centre D Fig 4, and the method of
lubricating the same substantially as set forth and shewn in the drawings.
6. A ball grinding machine constructed and combined substantially as herein
described and shewn in the drawings.
Ta thi TOLL
Taun 100K