Burnishing Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Burnishing Machine.
I, MERRILL ELBRIDGE CLARK, of No. 63 Windsor Street in the City of
Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is torbe performed to.he particularly described and ascertained in and' by
the following statement:-
The purpose of my "invention is to devise a burnishing machine in which stock
of various shapes and curvatures may be successfully treated, and which is
particularly adapted to burnish such irregular forms as bicycle frames, which have,
heretofore, been fiuished largely by hand. "This, I accomplish without rotating
the stock being treated, by an arrangement of pulleys carrying burnishing belts
and mounted upon a movable plate actuated by suitable mechanism so that the
burnishing belts may be brought in contact with every portion of the surface to be
treated.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front view of the casing of the machine, showing the driving, pulley,
the controller and the burnishing belts.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the operating parts of the machine, the casing being broken
away, and shows the several parts in their initial positions, when the machine is
not in operation.
Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the pulleys' in one position when the machine
is in operation, and a section of stock being operated upon. The reverse position
when the machine is in operation is similar to this, the; pulley plate being swung
to the opposite extreme.
Fig. 4 is a section on the line '4-4, 'Fig. 2, looking in the 'direction of the arrow,
showing particularly the means for operating the pulleys which drive the burnishing
belts.
Fig. 5 is a section through line 5-5, 'Fig. 2, 'looking in the 'direction of the
arrow, showing particularly the connection between the controller and the clatch
mechanism by means of which the machine may be thrown into and out of
operation.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of mechanism 'for controlling the operation of the
burnishing belts, with such parts broken away as are necessary to show the
operation of the 'device in which the stock being treated may be supported.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig: 6, and discloses the duplicate
arrangement of the pulleys governing the' burnishing belts and actuating mechanism
therefor, as well as the framework supporting these parts.
Fig. 8 is a section through the line.8-8, Fig. 6, omitting the supporting 'device,
looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the frame of the machine, the ring
affording a bearing for the movable plate to which the pulleys are attached, and
the means for connecting these several parts.
Fig. 9 is a feeding device, which may conveniently be used, and it is. shown
bolted to the frame of the machine.
'Fig. 10 is a modification, showing means by which motion niay be communicated
to the movable pulley, plate.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the line 11-11, Fig. 10, looking' in-the
direction of the arrow.

page_text: Fig. 12 is a modification in which buffing pads are used as burnishers instead of
the belts.
In the drawings,
A is the casing of the machine, consisting of an upper and lower part, conveniently
divided and provided with suitable framework for supporting the operating parts,
as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.. The upper part is a hood, hung on hinges so that
the operating parts of the machine may be exposed when necessary.
B is the driving pulley, which may receive power in any convenient manner.
C is the controller, so-called, by means of which the burnishing belts are brought
into contact with the work and the supporting device operated and may be
conveniently manipulated by the foot of the operator.
D is the main shaft which ruus through the casing and is mounted in suitable
boxes.
Within the casing of the machine, and mounted upon the shaft D are the two
pulleys 1, 2, which are connected by belts 51, 52, with the pulleys 3, 4, mounted
upon the shafts 5, which have proper bearings in the arms 6, 7, said arms being
pivotally mounted upon the shaft D, and held in position by the springs 8, secured
to the casing of the machine, for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.
Mounted upon the shafts, are the pulleys 9-10 from which the belts 61, 62,
run over the idlers 11-12, and over the small pulleys 13, 14, and their duplicates
on the opposite side of the movable plate. It may be remarked here that only one
side of the machine is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be noticed, however,
from the other drawings, that some of the parts and the burnishing belts are in
duplicate.
The belts may be run continuously, whether the machine is being used or not.
On the shaft D, is rigidly secured the sprocket 15, from which, the sprocket
chain 72 runs to the sprocket wheel 16, mounted upon the shaft 17, secured to the
arm 18, which is fastened to the casing..
This large sprocket wheel is connected by a clutch with a small sprocket wheel 19,
on the same shaft from which the sprocket chain 82 runs to the sprocket wheel 20,
mounted upon the shaft 21, secured in the frame 22.
Upon the shaft 21, are also mounted the eccentrics 23, 24, rigidly connected with
the sprocket wheel 20, with which they revolve and connected by the arms 25, 26,
with the movable plate 27, to which the pulleys 13, 14, and their duplicates, are
attached.
The movable pulley plate 27 has a rotating motion within a bearing ring 28,
which is secured in place within the frame of the machine, by means of the
screws 29.
Upon comparing Figs. 2 and 3, the different positions, will be noted of the
eccentrics 23, 24, the former showing their positions when the burnishing belts
are not in operation, and the latter their positions when the burnishing belts are in
operation.
30, 31, (best seen in Fig. 6) are two tong-like arms, pivoted at 32, and connected
at their bases by the links 33, 34, and by the pin 35, with the arm 36, which may
have a reciprocating motion in the slot 37.
The arm 36 is connected with the lever 38, Figs. 2 and 3, which is operated by
the rod 39, which is connected with the arm 40, Fig. 5, upon the controller rod 41,
in such a manner that when the controller C is moved up and down, the tong-arins,
which afford a suitable support for any article being burnished, may be opened and
closed.
The clutch-device, by means of which the sprockets 16 and 19 are connected,
and which is operated by the controller rod 41, is shown in Fig. 5,-in which 42 is
an arm rigidly connected with the controller rod 41; and rising from it, and
connected with it, is the curved arm 43, with the bent portion 44 affording a
shoulder against which the hinged arm 45 may have a bearing; and, as the latter
revolves with the sprocket wheel 19, it strikes the shoulder 44 when the rod 43 is
elevated and withdraws the pin 95 from a socket in the sprocket wheel 16, so that

page_text: motion is not communicated to the sprocket wheel 20, upon shaft 21, and the
eccentrics 23, 24, connected therewith; and the parts are so timed that the clutch
is disengaged only when the pulleys 13, 14, are in their initial positions, as indicated
in Fig. 2, and at the same time, the tong-arms 30, 31, are opened so that the work
may be easily removed from the machine.
This may be done at the will of the operator, and whenever desired, inasmuch
as the sprocket 16 moves, say, 133 revolutions in a minute and the pulleys 13, 14,
may be returned to their initial positions and the work disengaged once during
each revolution of the sprocket wheel 16.
In practice, I find it desirable to run the pulley 1 about 400 revolutions per
minute, reducing the speed of the sprocket wheel 16 to about 133 revolutions per
minute, as indicated above.
If desired, I may attach to the frame the feeding device, illustrated in Fig. 9, as
bolted to the machine, by means of which stock may be fed to the burnishing
belts.
This feeding device may be operated by means of the pulley 46, mounted on the
shaft 47, which, through the gears 48, 49, communicates motion to the rollers 50, 51
which may be adjusted by means of the crank 52, 53. The pulley 46 can receive
motion from a pulley 87, which may be placed on the end of the shaft 17, which
could be extended for this purpose.
I have already explained the way in which motion may be imparted to the plate
carrying the rolls 13, 14. Other mechanism for accomplishing this result is
illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the plate 54 may be substituted for the sprocket 19,
aud, like it, be connected by suitable clutch mechanism with the sprocket 16.
Rigidly connected with the plate 54 is the eccentric 105 which, as it revolves
upon the shaft 17, imparts, through the connecting-rod 55 a reciprocating motion
to the segment gear 56 which meshes with the gear 57, secured to the plate, on
which the pulleys 13, 14 and their duplicates are mounted.
The pulleys are not shown in Fig. 10, because it is not thought necessary to
disclose in this figure any other mechanism than that necessary to effect the
Swinging motion of the plate to which the pulleys are secured.
It will be noted, in Fig. 4, that there is sufficient space between the pulleys 9
and 10 to permit of unshipping the burnishing belts, which is a convenience.
Providing each burnishing belt with an independent pulley, while not indispensable
to the working of the machine, is a distinct advantage, as any inequality in the
length of the belts is thus compensated for, and it will also be noticed, upon
referring to Figs. 1 and 4, that there are two burnishing belts; and it will be
found desirable to run them in opposite directions.
It will be noted that it is desirable to have two eccentrics on the shaft 21 and
arms connecting them with the movable pulley plate, in order that the latter may
not be caught upon a centre and difficulty experienced in returning it to the initial
position, and it is necessary to carry the pulleys by the centre, in order to treat all
points on the circumference of the stock without rotating the latter.
In the modification illustrated in Fig 12, I show flexible buffing pads 106 in
place of burnishing belts.
These pads are secured to the outer sides of the pulleys, which are mounted
upon the movable plate, and which are actuated by belts arranged in precisely the
same manner as the burnishing belts.
This device is useful in treating stock in which there are very sharp angles, and
irregular or ornamental surfaces."
Having described the several parts of the machine, I will now describe its mode
of operation.
The parts being in the position shown, in Figs. 2 and 6, the work is placed in
the machine by pressing it against the burnishing belts, which will yield to
pressure, as the pulleys 9 and 10 are mounted upon arms 6 and 7, secured to the
casing of the machine by the springs 8.
The work may be supported between the arms 30, 31, and by placing the

page_text: controller C in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the supporting tongs are closed,
and the pulleys 13, 14 are placed in the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby drawing
the burnishing belts around the work to be treated, and the action of the
eccentrics 23 24, swings the pulley plate to and fro, carrying first one pulley and
then the other by the centre of the stock being burnished, until the entire
circumference is treated, without revolving the work, which may be fed along at
any désired speed, either by hand or by means of the feed device illustrated in
Fig. 9. The modification shown in Fig. 12 works upon precisely the same
principle, the rotating plate bringing the buffing pads instead of the burnishing
belts into contact with the work.
•
The supporting device for the work is not indispensable to the successful
operation of my machine, and may be dispensed with; but in practice it will be
found a great convenience and a very desirable feature.
By diminishing the size of the pulleys on the movable plate, stock having sharp
angles can be successfully treated.
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. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a plurality of pulleys mounted
upon a rotatable plate, a burnishing surface adapted to be moved by the rotation of
said plate, mechanism for rotating said plate and for returning it to its initial
position, substantially as described.
2. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a pulley upon a shaft mounted
on a swinging-arm, a spring supporting said arm, a plurality of pulleys mounted
upon a rotatable plate, a burnishing belt encircling all of said pulleys, mechanism
for rotating said plate, and for returning it to its initial position, and mechanism
for imparting motion to the pulley on the shaft mounted upon the swinging-arm,
substantially as described.
3. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a pulley upon a shaft mounted
on a swinging-arm, a spring supporting said arm, a plurality of pulleys mounted
upon a rotatable plate, intermediate idler pulleys, a burnishing belt encircling all
of said pulleys, mechanism for rotating said plate, and for returning it to its initial
position, and mechanism for imparting motion to the pulley on the shaft, mounted
upon the swinging arm, substantially as described.
4. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, two swinging-
arms mounted thereon, each carrying a shaft adapted to receive motion from the
first named shaft, a pulley on each of said last-named shafts, springs for supporting
said swinging-arms, two pulleys on each of the faces of a rotatable plate, a
burnishing belt encircling the pulley on each of said swinging-arms and each pair
of pulleys upon the faces of said rotatable plate, and mechanism for rotating said
plate and for returning it to its initial position, substantially as described.
5. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, two swinging-
arms mounted thereon, each carrying a shaft adapted to receive motion from the
first-named shaft, a pulley on each of said last-named shafts, springs for supporting
said swinging-arms, two pulleys on each of the faces of a rotatable plate, a
burnishing belt encircling the pulley on each of said swinging-arms and each pair
of pulleys upon the faces of said rotatable plate, a third shaft adapted, through
suitable mechanism, to receive motion from the driving shaft, and to transmit
motion to a fourth shaft, and two eccentrics mounted on said fourth shaft, and
arms connecting them with said rotatable plate, whereby the plate may be rotated
and the burnishing belts brought into contact with the work, and the plate returned
to its initial position, and the work disengaged from the machine, substantially as
described.
6. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, two swinging-
arms mounted thereon, each carrying a shaft adapted to receive motion from the
first-named shaft, a pulley on each of said last-nained shafts, springs for supporting

page_text: said swinging arms, two pulleys on each of the faces of a rotatable plate, a
burnishing belt encircling the pulley on each of said swinging arms and each pair
of pulleys on the opposing faces of said rotatable plate, a sprocket wheel on said
driving shaft, a third shaft provided with a sprocket wheel, connected with the
driving shaft by a sprocket chain, a second sprocket wheel on said third shaft,
connected by a clutch mechanism with the other sprocket wheel on said third shaft, a
fourth shaft provided with a sprocket wheel and adapted to receive motion through
a sprocket chain, from a sprocket wheel on said third shaft, two eccentrics loosely
mounted on said fourth shaft, and rigidly connected with the sprocket wheel on
said fourth shaft, and arms connecting the eccentrics with said rotatable plate,
whereby the plate may be rotated and the burnishing belts brought into contact
with the work, and the plate returned to its initial position, and the work disengaged
from the machine, substantially as described.
7. In a burnishing machine, the combination of a driving shaft, two swinging-
arms mounted thereon, each carrying a shaft adapted to receive motion from the
first-named shaft, a pulley on each of said last-named shafts, springs for supporting
said swinging-arms, two pulleys on each of the faces of a rotatable plate, a burnishing
belt encircling the pulley on each of said swinging-arms and each pair of pulleys
on the faces of said rotatable plate, a sprocket wheel on said driving shaft, a third
shaft provided with a sprocket wheel and connected with the driving shaft by a
sprocket chain, a second sprocket wheel on said third shaft, connected by a clutch
mechanism with the other sprocket wheel ou said third shaft, a fourth shaft
provided with a sprocket wheel and adapted to receive motion through a sprocket
chain from a sprocket wheel on said third shaft, two eccentrics loosely mounted on
said fourth shaft and rigidly connected with the sprocket wheel on said fourth
shaft, and arms connecting the eccentrics with said rotatable plate, feeding
mechanism actuated by a pulley on said third shaft, a supporting device for holding
the work in contact with the burnishing belts, a controller arm and intermediate
connecting and operating mechanism, whereby the clutch mechanism and the
supporting device may be operated, the burnishing belts applied to the work, the
work released from the supporting device, and the burnishing belts restored to their
initial positions, substantially as described.
8. In a burnishing machine, a plurality of pulleys mounted upon a reciprocatingly,
rotatable plate, a burnishing belt encircling said pulleys, mechanism for imparting
motion to said belt, and mechanism for rotating said plate, substantially as
described.
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.