Automatic snag grinder

Abstract

An automatic snag grinder having conveyor means to feed a succession of parts to be ground into position before a ram. The ram pushes a part to be ground onto a tilting table whereafter the ram returns. The table tilts to about a 30.degree. angle at which point a pivoted arm moves so as to clamp the part against a stop pad whereafter the table returns to its horizontal position. A main arm swings from a retracted position to one of about 30.degree. so that it is properly positioned with respect to the clamped part, the main arm having a platen which will then be disposed immediately beneath the part and a centering mechanism which is then disposed immediately about the part. A ram for the main arm then fires so that the centering mechanism will clamp and center the part on the platen. Thereafter the main arm moves towards its retracted position and as it so moves it brings the part into contact with a rotating grinding wheel which effectively grinds off protruding gates and the like. Upon reaching its retracted position the main arm clamp is released and the ground part is ejected by gravity. In one arrangement of the invention, the platen on which the part is clamped by the centering mechanism rotates; as the rotating part moves into the grinding wheel the predetermined torque of the platen can be overcome by the resistance between the part and the grinding wheel acting thereon whereby the platen and part slow down to the predetermined torque load while grinding is achieved, whereafter the platen and part will speed up until the next area to be ground, on the same part, hits the grinding wheel whereby the part and platen are again slowed while further grinding is achieved. In a modification of the invention the platen for the part, rather than rotating continuously, may be indexed as desired.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.