Computerized Method and Apparatus for Automated Sand Blasting

A sand blasting machine for marking work pieces, the machine comprising:

• an upright cabinet adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface, the cabinet comprising a pair of spaced apart ends, an inlet, an outlet, and a top;
• a roller conveyor for supporting work pieces, the conveyor disposed within said cabinet and extending substantially between said cabinet inlet and said cabinet outlet;
• an elongated actuator assembly horizontally disposed within the cabinet, the actuator assembly comprising an elongated track forming a horizontal pathway, the track comprising a rigid frame supporting a track, the actuator assembly comprising a displaceable carriage mounted on said track for horizontal displacements relative thereto, the actuator assembly comprising a drive belt for horizontally displacing said carriage and a servo motor for operating said drive belt, the belt oriented such that the plane of the belt is vertically disposed perpendicularly to ground;
• a high pressure nozzle secured to the carriage and aimed at work pieces for blasting work pieces, said nozzle connected to a high pressure source of grit or sand;
• an elevator assembly for vertically displacing said actuator assembly, the elevator assembly comprising a servo motor, a spindle driven by said motor, and a pair of cables entrained about said spindle that extend downwardly within said cabinet and connect to said actuator assembly for supporting it and moving it vertically upwardly or downwardly;
• and,
• wherein the cabinet comprises a pair of spaced apart, vertical guide rails, and said actuator assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart ends, wherein each end of the actuator assembly ends comprises buffer wheel assemblies for resisting unwanted torsional displacements of said actuator assembly and for dissipating shocks to the actuator assembly, the buffer wheel assemblies comprising at least one spring loaded radial tensioner for biasing at least a portion of the buffer wheel assemblies towards and into engagement with said guide rails.

A method for sand blasting work pieces, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an upright cabinet with a pair of spaced apart ends, an inlet, an outlet, and a top;
• supporting and moving work pieces within said cabinet with a roller conveyor extending substantially between said cabinet inlet and said cabinet outlet;
• providing a sand blasting jet;
• controlling the jet with an actuator assembly supporting a displacebale carriage traveling on a track for moving the jet;
• providing the actuator assembly with a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, rails;
• providing said said carriage with upper suspension wheels for riding said rails;
• stabilizing said carriage with lower stability wheels that contact an undersurface of said actuator assembly.
• actuating a drive belt for horizontally displacing said carriage with a servo motor;
• orienting the plane of the belt vertically, perpendicularly to ground;
• vertically displacing said actuator assembly with an elevator assembly comprising a servo motor, a spindle driven by said servo motor, a pair of cables entrained about said spindle that extend downwardly within said cabinet and connect to said actuator assembly for supporting it and moving it vertically upwardly or downwardly;
• stabilizing said actuator assembly with spaced apart buffer wheel assemblies for resisting unwanted torsional displacements of said actuator assembly and for dissipating shocks to the actuator assembly;
• and,
• spring biasing at least a portion of the buffer wheel assemblies towards and into engagement with guide rails provided upon interior sides of said cabinet.