Method of vibratory polishing of stones and the like
AssigneeGeode Industries, Inc.
InventorEdward Earl Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of polishing material for lapidary and like purposes, the material and abrasive being tumbled in a vibrated container which alternately compacts the material against a wall of the container and then separates it in order to reduce the time required for polishing. Apparatus for carrying out the method vibrates the container of the material and abrasive so that a portion of its orbit is about a theoretical center which is above and to one side of the center of gravity of its mass.
Claims3
In the method of polishing discrete material such as stones and the like by tumbling of the same together with an abrasive medium in a vibrated container having a wall whose inner surface is arcuate relative to a substantially horizontal first axis, the improvement comprising:
- tumbling a mass of the material and the abrasive medium in a path about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis and through the body of said mass, said path including a portion along said wall surface, and vibrating the container so that only part of said path portion describes an orbit having its theoretical center on a third axis parallel to the first and second axes and disposed above the center of gravity of said mass, said part of said path portion being more remote from said third axis than any other portion of said path, whereby increased alternate compaction and separation of the material in the abrasive is achieved during the tumbling process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.