Reversing weight assembly for a vibratory bowl finishing machine

An improved vibratory bowl machine comprising:

• base means;
• motor means;
• bowl means resiliently mounted to the base means;
• drive shaft means rotatable in opposite direction by the motor means extending through bearing means connected to the bowl means;
• lower eccentric weight means fixedly attached to the drive shaft means, the lower eccentric weight means having a center of gravity extending laterally from a rotational axis defined by the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft means;
• upper eccentric weight mean having a center of gravity extending laterally outwardly from the rotational axis;
• upper shaft means to which the upper eccentric weight is fixedly attached, the upper shaft means extending generally along the rotational axis;
• dampener means associated with the upper eccentric weight means positioned intermediately between the drive shaft and the upper shaft means;
• the dampener means having a housing fixedly attached to the drive shaft means and directly rotatable with the drive shaft means;
• a dampener vane positioned inside the housing means, the dampener vane rotatable with the upper shaft means and upper eccentric weight means;
• dampening fluid contained within the housing means;
• and
• stop limit means mounted on the housing define the range of pivotal rotation for the upper eccentric weight with respect to the housing.

A method for improved reversing of a vibratory bowl

• finishing machine comprising:
• connecting an upper eccentric weight to a freely rotatable member;
• positioning a stop means at positions for desired trailing angles for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of a drive shaft for the machine;
• connecting a container filled with dampening medium to the drive shaft so that it is rotatable with the drive shaft;
• and
• dampening any shift of position of the upper eccentric weight between stop means by absorbing any shock or forces with the dampening medium.

An improved reversing weight assembly for a vibratory bowl

• finishing machine comprising:
• a housing attached to and rotatable with a drive shaft;
• the housing having a lower plate, upper plate, and an enclosing sidewall there between;
• a dampening vane freely rotatable inside the housing;
• connecting means between the vane and a top eccentric weight positioned outside the housing;
• and
• stop means associated with the housing adjustably positionable to determine opposite limits of rotation of the upper eccentric weight to determine trailing angles for rotation of the drive shaft in either direction.