Method and apparatus for cleaning workpieces

An apparatus for cleaning workpieces by the impingement of abrasive particle, comprising:

• abrasive particle throwing means for projecting abrasive particles throwing means for projecting abrasive particles onto the workpieces;
• means for supporting the workpieces for movement along a path of travel, the path of travel extending past the abrasive particle throwing means, the path of travel having a feed end and an exit end;
• and
• means for advancing the workpieces along the path of travel, the means for advancing the workpieces engaging the means for supporting the workpieces and oscillating the means for supporting the workpiece in a single plane such that workpieces carried by means for supporting are moved along the path of travel from the feed end to the exit end, said means for supporting said workpieces being in the form of a generally horizontally oriented barrel having first and second ends, said barrel having skeletal walls defining openings along its length, the barrel being open at both ends, said openings at said ends of said barrel permitting workpieces to enter and exit said barrel, said means for advancing workpieces along said path of travel includes a tube extending from one end of said barrel, said tube having an opening through which workpieces may pass, an actuator for oscillating said tube along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, and a connection providing relative rotational movement between said tube and said actuator.

An apparatus for cleaning workpieces by the impingement of abrasive particles, comprising:

• a generally horizontally oriented barrel having first and second ends, the barrel having skeletal walls defining openings along its length, the barrel being open at both ends to define a feed end and an exit end, the openings at the ends of the barrel permitting workpieces to enter and exit the barrel;
• rotating means for rotating the barrel about a longitudinal axis;
• abrasive particle throwing means disposed adjacent the barrel for projecting abrasive particles through the openings in the walls onto workpieces passing through the barrel;
• and
• means for advancing the workpieces through the barrel, the means for advancing the workpieces engaging the barrel and oscillating the barrel such that workpieces disposed in the barrel are moved from the feed end to the exit end, said means for advancing workpieces through said barrel includes a tube extending from one end of said barrel, said tube having an opening through which workpieces may pass, an actuator for oscillating said tube along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, and a relatively movable connection between said tube and said actuator such that said barrel can be rotated while said actuator remains stationary.

An apparatus for cleaning workpieces by the impingement of abrasive particles, comprising:

• a generally horizontally oriented barrel having first and second ends, the barrel having skeletal walls defining openings along its length, the barrel being open at both ends to define a feed end and an exit end, the openings at the ends of the barrel permitting workpieces to enter and exit the barrel;
• rotating means for rotating the barrel about a longitudinal axis;
• abrasive particle throwing means disposed adjacent the barrel for projecting abrasive particles through the openings in the walls onto workpieces passing through the barrel;
• and
• means for advancing the workpieces through the barrel, the means for advancing the workpieces engaging the barrel and oscillating the barrel such that workpieces disposed in the barrel are moved from the feed end to the exit end, said means for rotating said barrel including a ring circumferentially disposed about said barrel, said ring being in engagement with said barrel such that rotating of said ring causes said barrel to rotate, said means for rotating further including a drive motor having a selectively rotatable drive wheel, said drive wheel being in driving engagement with said ring, said ring being connected to said barrel by means of a connection which permits relative axia movement between said ring and said barrel while preventing relative rotational movement between said ring and said barrel.

An apparatus for cleaning workpieces by the impingement of abrasive particles, comprising:

• a generally horizontally oriented barrel having first and second ends, the barrel having skeletal walls defining openings along its length, the barrel being open at both ends to define a feed end and an exit end, the openings at the ends of the barrel permitting workpieces to enter and exit the barrel;
• rotating means for rotating the barrel about a longitudinal axis;
• abrasive particles throwing means disposed adjacent the barrel for projecting abrasive particles through the openings in the walls onto workpieces passing through the barrel;
• and
• means for advancing the workpieces through the barrel, the means for advancing the workpieces engaging the barrel and oscillating the barrel such that workpieces disposed in the barrel are moved from the feed end to the exit end, said means for advancing workpieces through the barrel including a ring connected to the barrel at one end of the barrel, an actuator for oscillating the ring along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, and a connection providing relative rotational movement between the ring and the actuator.

A method for cleaning workpieces by the impingement of abrasive particles, comprising:

• supporting a plurality of workpieces for movement along a predetermined straight line path of travel;
• projecting abrasive particles onto the workpieces as the workpieces are advanced along the path of travel;
• and
• advancing the workpieces along the straight line path of travel by oscillating the workpieces in a single plane.