US 4,363,194 AGranted

Vertical self-separating centrifugal finishing apparatus with automatic media return

AssigneeRoto-Finish Company, Inc.

InventorGunther W. Balz

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Abstract

A finishing machine comprising a rotatable housing, which is preferably but not necessarily resiliently mounted, comprising: a finishing chamber for receiving and finishing parts with finishing media when the housing is in finishing position, a storage chamber adapted to receive media from the finishing chamber when the housing is rotated to a parts-separation position, a foraminous member for separating media from parts, apparatus for rotating the housing about a substantially horizontal axis from a finishing position to a parts-separation position and return, and apparatus for transfer of media from the storage chamber to the finishing chamber upon return of the housing from parts-separation position to finishing position, wherein the finishing chamber comprises an annular spinner member and complementary tub member, the spinner member being adapted to rotate about a generally vertical axis when the housing is in finishing position, and a rotational motion-producing assembly and associated drive operatively associated with the spinner member for rotation thereof, whereby the spinner member may be rotated with respect to the tub member for carrying out a finishing operation; a vibratory device for vibration of the foraminous member when the housing is in parts-separation position for separation of media from parts; and a parts exit associated with the foraminous member for exit of finished parts when the housing is in parts-separation position and under the influence of the vibratory means, is provided.

A finishing machine for finishing the surface of unfinished parts with finishing media comprising a housing which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, a finishing chamber in said housing for receiving unfinished parts and finishing media and for finishing of parts when said housing is in finishing position, a storage chamber in said housing adapted to receive finishing media from said finishing chamber when said housing is rotated to a parts-separation or ejection position, a foraminous member disposed in said housing for separating finishing media from parts, means for rotating said housing about a substantially horizontal axis from a finishing position to a parts-separation position and return, and means for transfer of finishing media from said storage chamber to said finishing chamber upon return of said housing from said parts-separation position to said finishing position, characterized in that said finishing chamber comprises an annular spinner member constituting a lower portion of said finishing chamber and a tub member upwardly arranged with respect to said spinner member and comprising an upper portion of said finishing chamber, said spinner member being adapted to rotate about a generally vertical axis when said housing is in finishing position, a rotational motion-producing assembly operatively associated with said finishing chamber and comprising rotatable support means for said spinner member adapted to rotate about substantially the same axis as its complementary spinner member when said housing is in finishing position and associated drive means for rotation of said rotatable support means, whereby said spinner member may be rotated with respect to said tub member for carrying out a finishing operation in said finishing chamber, and

vibratory means operatively associated with said foraminous member for vibration of said foraminous member when said housing is in parts-separation position for separation of finishing media from parts, and
a parts exit associated with said foraminous member for exit of finished parts from said machine when said housing is in parts-separation or ejection position and under the influence of said vibratory means.

Abstract

Claims20