Method and apparatus for buffing spherical parts

Apparatus for buffing a part having a spherical portion defining a spherical surface, said apparatus comprising:

• means mounting the part for rotation with the spherical portion exposed;
• a first rotating buffing wheel arranged to engage a first portion of the spherical surface of the spherical portion;
• a second rotating buffing wheel arranged to engage a second opposite portion of the spherical surface of the spherical portion;
• and
• means for driving said wheels in opposite directions so as to rotate said spherical portion therebetween and buff the spherical surface;
• the buffing wheels being urged by gravity against the respective portions of the spherical surface.

An apparatus for buffing a part having a spherical portion defining a spherical surface, said apparatus comprising:

• means mounting the part for rotation with the spherical portion exposed;
• a first rotating buffing element arranged to engage a first portion of the spherical surface of the spherical portion;
• a second rotating buffing element arranged to engage a second, opposite portion of the spherical surface of the spherical portion;
• means for driving said elements in opposite directions so as to rotate said spherical portion therebetween and buff the spherical surface;
• and
• means for sequentially indexing successive parts into a buffing position between the buffing wheels;
• said buffing wheels being gravity biased into engagement with said opposite surfaces of said spherical portion.

An apparatus for buffing ball joint studs having shank portions and ball portions defining spherical surfaces, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame structure;
• an index table;
• a plurality of fixtures spaced circumferentially about the index table and each arranged to rotatably mount the shank portion of a stud, with the ball portion exposed, so that the stud may rotate about its lengthwise axis;
• an index drive operative to indexingly move the table so that each fixture is moved successively through a loading station, a buffing station, and an unloading station;
• and
• first and second buffing wheels mounted on said frame structure at said buffing station with their respective peripheries arranged to buffingly engage opposed portions of the spherical surface of the ball portion of a ball joint stud moved therebetween by the index drive;
• said buffing wheels being biased by gravity into contact with the respective opposite surfaces of the ball portion of the ball joint stud.