Rotating Work About Vertical Axis Patents (Class 451/327)
  • Patent number: 11065647
    Abstract: A vibratory drive system, suitable for a material screening apparatus, includes rotatable drive shafts each having a centre of mass offset from its rotational axis. A respective drive mechanism is coupled to each drive shaft and is controlled by a controller. The controller adjusts the relative rotational speed of the drive shafts to adjust the relative angular position of the respective centre of mass of the drive shafts. This adjustment allows the vibratory characteristics of the drive system to be changed without having to halt the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TEREX GB LIMITED
    Inventor: Glenn Murphy
  • Patent number: 9926142
    Abstract: A workpiece supplying device includes a pallet that has a groove portion being disposed in an arc state and a stepped portion including a stepped surface intersecting a circumferential direction of the pallet and accommodates a workpiece, and a vibration unit that drives the pallet due to vibration and transports the workpiece in the circumferential direction toward the stepped portion. A plurality of the groove portions are disposed in a concentric manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiguma Iijima, Tsuguya Kojima, Takuma Okamuro, Takahiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9908715
    Abstract: A workpiece supplying device includes a pallet that has a stepped portion and accommodates a workpiece, a vibration unit that applies vibration to the pallet, and a posture change unit that changes a posture of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuguya Kojima
  • Patent number: 9238229
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a trough having a first end and a second end, and at least first and second variable amplitude vibration generators coupled to the trough. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators include at least one variable eccentric weight assembly having a variable center of mass relative to an axis of rotation. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators have at least a first state wherein an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the first vibration generator is different than an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the second vibration generator to cause movement of material in the trough toward the first end or the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Kempf, Thomas P. Musschoot, Daniel T. Lease
  • Patent number: 8920215
    Abstract: A machine for the flow finishing of mechanical pieces is described. The machine has a rotary vat for containing finishing media and a unit for moving pieces having at least one mechanical arm for moving the pieces being machined, said mechanical arm being associated to means for rotating the pieces within the rotary vat, the rotary vat has at least two separate sections formed by concentric circular crowns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Paolo Redaelli
  • Publication number: 20140273769
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resurfacing ball container for repeated removal of dirty, used or damaged surfaces from a plurality of India rubber type bounce balls. The resurfacing ball container also allows for easy transport and storage of balls during periods of non-use. The resurfacing ball container includes a cylinder with a lid and an abrasive surface rotating within the cylinder for resurfacing the contained balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Evan Jones
  • Patent number: 8801498
    Abstract: A finisher arrangement for surface finishing of parts, including a bowl-type centrifugal finishing device for agitating a mixture of parts and treating media within the bowl, and a handler for loading and unloading the parts/media to and from the bowl, respectively. The finishing device and handler are positioned sidewardly adjacent but on opposite sides of a rotary drive unit which defines a transfer horizontal drive axis. Arm linkages couple each of the finishing device and handler to the drive unit so that each is independently vertically swingable about the drive axis into respective loading and unloading positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hammond Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Paul Hammond, Kyle James Elmblad, Stuart William Quick
  • Publication number: 20140065929
    Abstract: A vibratory mass finishing machine for faster finishing of parts along with better finishing of the parts (e.g., smoother finishing) compared to the prior art vibratory mass finishing machines. The vibratory mass finishing machine allows the use of a motor with increased horsepower, incorporates a top eccentric weight located at a position below a line defined by a center of mass of the media, and has the top eccentric weight positioned close to a bottom eccentric weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: John S. DAVIDSON, Jeremy Paul HAMMOND, Kyle James ELMBLAD, Stuart William QUICK
  • Patent number: 8568200
    Abstract: An ultra-low temperature magnetic polishing machine includes a housing defining therein a grinding chamber, a door hinged to the housing and controllable to open/close the grinding chamber, a motor mounted inside the housing below the grinding chamber, a magnetic disc set in between the grinding chamber and the motor and rotatable by the motor to cause an alternative magnetic field in the grinding chamber, a freezer having an output pipeline inserted into the grinding chamber and freezing medium deliverable through the output pipeline into the grinding chamber, a container set in the grinding chamber, and magnetically conductive grinding media put in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Holding Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lu-Jung Liao
  • Patent number: 8550882
    Abstract: A game ball surface treatment apparatus for abrading, cleaning or polishing game balls includes an outer housing having a base portion and a side wall portion, an inner housing arranged within the outer housing and having a bottom portion and a circumferential wall portion extending upwards from the bottom portion, a damper arranged to interconnect the outer housing and the inner housing, an electric motor fixed to the bottom portion of the inner housing and having an output shaft extending upwards, a rotary disc fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor to support the game balls and provided with an abrading fabric making contact with the game balls, an impeller arranged above the rotary disc to accommodate the game balls in a mutually isolated state, and a lining attached to the circumferential wall portion of the inner housing to make contact with the game balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Sang-Bae Shim
  • Patent number: 8267747
    Abstract: A chamber for an abrading apparatus comprising an inlet, an outlet, a main body and an insert, the main body comprising a recess on an inner surface thereof between the inlet and the outlet, whereby, in use, the insert is removably retained in the recess. The apparatus also comprises a housing and actuation means, the chamber being pivotably secured at one end to the housing by a quick release pin, wherein the actuation means is connected to the chamber and operable to cause the chamber to pivot with respect to the housing toward and/or away from the abrasive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Koolmill Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alec Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120064804
    Abstract: A finisher arrangement for surface finishing of parts, including a bowl-type centrifugal finishing device for agitating a mixture of parts and treating media within the bowl, and a handler for loading and unloading the parts/media to and from the bowl, respectively. The finishing device and handler are positioned sidewardly adjacent but on opposite sides of a rotary drive unit which defines a transfer horizontal drive axis. Arm linkages couple each of the finishing device and handler to the drive unit so that each is independently vertically swingable about the drive axis into respective loading and unloading positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Jeremy Paul Hammond, Kyle James Elmblad, Stuart William Quick
  • Patent number: 7883396
    Abstract: Vibratory tumblers for processing workpieces and methods for manufacturing such vibratory tumblers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vibratory tumbler includes a base, a support member movably coupled to the base, a bowl configured for removable attachment to the support member, and a motor attached to the support member for moving the bowl relative to the base. The bowl is sized and configured such that the support member and at least one-fourth of the base can be received within the bowl while the support member is coupled to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Battenfeld Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell A. Potterfield, Tim Morrow
  • Patent number: 7871307
    Abstract: A fluid barrel-polishing device comprises a cylindrical fixed tank (1) and a turntable (2) that is located at the bottom of the tank (1) with a gap (3) that allows it to rotate horizontally, and wherein when workpieces and media are thrown in the fixed tank (1) and the turntable (2) is rotated horizontally, the workpieces and the media circulate and form themselves into a mass (M) and thereby the workpieces are polished, wherein an inner cylinder (4) is rotatably or fixedly placed coaxially on the center of the rotation of the turntable (2) and it allows the workpieces in the mass (M) to be polished with the inside of the mass (M) contacting the wall of the inner cylinder (4) and with its outside contacting the wall of the fixed tank (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatomo Watanabe, Hiroaki Suesuga
  • Patent number: 7549912
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing drill bit inserts in which the inserts are finished in a centrifugal disc finishing machine. The centrifugal disc finishing machine comprises a configured surface rotating relative to a stationary receptacle, and the inserts may be finished with a mass of materials comprising at least one of a group of media, parts, detergent, and solution. Also, a method of increasing drill bit insert performance comprising accelerating a plurality of inserts in a high-energy finishing machine, wherein the acceleration results in a generally toroidal interaction between the inserts and at least one of the group comprising media, parts, detergent, and solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dah-Ben Liang, Ramamurthy K. Viswanadham
  • Publication number: 20080166954
    Abstract: A fluid barrel-polishing device comprises a cylindrical fixed tank (1) and a turntable (2) that is located at the bottom of the tank (1) with a gap (3) that allows it to rotate horizontally, and wherein when workpieces and media are thrown in the fixed tank (1) and the turntable (2) is rotated horizontally, the workpieces and the media circulate and form themselves into a mass (M) and thereby the workpieces are polished, wherein an inner cylinder (4) is rotatably or fixedly placed coaxially on the center of the rotation of the turntable (2) and it allows the workpieces in the mass (M) to be polished with the inside of the mass (M) contacting the wall of the inner cylinder (4) and with its outside contacting the wall of the fixed tank (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Masatomo Watanabe, Hiroaki Suesuga
  • Patent number: 7258833
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for manufacturing tungsten carbide components is provided. The method includes forming a composite material out of tungsten carbide powder and binder powder, pressing the composite material into a plurality of components, heating the plurality of components, optionally under pressure, to liquefy the binder, cooling the plurality of components until the binder solidifies, optionally grinding each of the plurality of components to a desired size, and cascading the plurality of components in a cascading machine under high energy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Varel International Ind., L.P.
    Inventors: Allan William Rainey, John Franklin Kita
  • Patent number: 7201638
    Abstract: A centrifugal processor is disclosed with includes an outer frame having an inner surface and an axis. At least one inner vessel positioned within the outer frame and is adapted to receive an object to be processed. A drive system rotate the inner vessel with respect to the outer frame and along the inner surface of the outer frame. The drive system includes a central shaft engaged with the vessel for rotating the vessel about the axis. An environmental control system is included which channels a secondary medium to or from the vessel to assist in the processing of the object. The environmental control system includes a manifold formed in at least a portion of the central shaft and adapted to channel the secondary medium. At least one port is formed in the central shaft and connected to the manifold. A conduit connects the port and the inner vessel for channeling the secondary medium between the manifold and the interior of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mikronite Technologies Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Manning, Craig Bredeson, Robert Bringard
  • Patent number: 7140947
    Abstract: Barrel polishing is effected while causing a mass (M) consisting of work and media (polishing material) to rotation-flow by rotating a rotary disk installed in the bottom of a polishing tank by a drive motor. A load on the drive motor for the rotary disk is preset as by a load current value, and the flow of the mass (M) in the polishing tank is controlled, thereby effecting polishing while maintaining the load on the drive motor within the preset range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sintobrator, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nishimura, Takao Ishida, Yoshihiro Masuda
  • Patent number: 7014533
    Abstract: A surface of the gas turbine blade is smoothed by way of a drag finish process. A first ring-shaped container is filled with a liquid abrasive medium. A second container which is arranged next to the first container is filled with a second liquid abrasive medium. A pivoting arm is arranged between and above the containers and can be pivoted along a pivoting direction. A drag device is arranged on the pivoting arm. The drag device leads a gas turbine blade on a carrier arm through the abrasive medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrea Bolz, Martin Feldhege
  • Patent number: 6899605
    Abstract: The invention provides a grinding machine for grinding grinding material by means of grinding bodies or wheels, having at least one grinding unit and two parts rotatable relative thereto, which has a container for receiving grinding material and a rotary disk placed above a container base, accompanied by the formation of a finite gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Helmut Lutz
  • Patent number: 6875081
    Abstract: A method for forming a tool having a smooth surface finish is disclosed. The method involves the step of first rotating a plurality of tools within an inner vessel at high speed relative to the outer vessel with a first abrasive. The first abrasive is then removed and a second abrasive is added to the vessel. The inner vessel is then rotated, again at high speed, with the second abrasive. The resulting tools have reduced surface anomalies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Mikronite Technologies Group Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6733374
    Abstract: The invention proposes a device for grinding or polishing workpieces by means of an abrasive, having a container and a rotary disk located therein and rotatable relative thereto, in which the rotary disk is made from elastic material, is provided with an upwardly directed rim and said rim has a finite spacing from the adjacent inner wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: OTEC Prazisionsfinish GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Gegenheimer, Helmut Lutz
  • Patent number: 6688953
    Abstract: A barrel polishing apparatus which can easily hold a work having a large mass and detach therefrom. The barrel polishing apparatus includes a polishing medium receiving container having a polishing medium received therein and a work supporting arm for holding the work. The position of the work supporting arm is shifted from the center of the polishing medium receiving container. The polishing medium receiving container rotates about a vertical axis to form a continuous circumferential flow of polishing medium therein and includes an upper end opening for receiving the work attached to a distal end of the work supporting arm. The work supporting arm is oriented diagonally toward a direction of the continuous circumferential flow of polishing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: BBF Yamate Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Kawasaki, Akitaka Matsushita
  • Patent number: 6666757
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a centrifugal barrel finishing machine. The present invention is contemplated to provide the centrifugal barrel finishing machine, which has means for driving each barrel separately from a turret so as to correct a pose of a barrel to be horizontal and thus perform inserting and discharging of work parts effectively, and simultaneously has means for opening and closing a lid of the barrel by a power driven manner using a cylinder or a sliding manner so as to increase convenience and safety with regard to opening and closing of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Jem Ma Kim
  • Patent number: 6656027
    Abstract: In a grinding machine comprising a stationary wall part and a plate part which rotates about an axis of rotation, between which a gap is formed, the gap is limited from above by a ceramic part and from below by an elastic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Otec Präzisionsfinish GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20030077992
    Abstract: This invention concerns a machine for the drying, polishing and burnishing cutlery and other metal tableware. It consists of a tank suspended upon a base and moved by a vibrating device, having a treatment channel (15) designed to receive a drying material and the articles for treatment. The treatment channel (15) rises in a spiral from an entrance chute at the loading mouth to an exit passage or chute for the articles and has, in a transverse cross-section, a U-shaped bottom (22) defined by a substantially cylindrical concave surface and, lengthways, by a series of straight segments (23) which alternate with and are joined to curved segments (24), without sharp edges or corners. Ideally, the channel has a steeper gradient towards the exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Emilio Rolfi
  • Publication number: 20020055327
    Abstract: In a grinding machine comprising a stationary wall part and a plate part which rotates about an axis of rotation, between which a gap is formed, the gap is limited from above by a ceramic part and from below by an elastic part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: OTEC Prazisionsfinish GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6379233
    Abstract: A spiral-flow barrel finishing machine having a cylindrical stationary barrel and a rotary barrel closed at the bottom thereof includes an escape layer or air layer provided between an inner side of a metallic wall of the stationary barrel and an outer side of a lining layer being formed thereon for allowing for outward thermal expansion of the lining layer. The escape layer is provided over a specific area between the inner side of the metallic wall of the stationary barrel and the outer side of the lining layer formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Tipton Corp.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Izuhara, Akihito Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 6350189
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to increase strength of the turret plate and to disclose new constitution of a cover portion, a grinding device is constituted of a rotate fly-wheel; a turret plate which is located face to face with the fly-wheel and rotates in synchronization with said fly-wheel, said turret plates being formed in a cross shape with a plurality of leg portions extending in a radial direction thereof; a plurality of grind tubs located rotatably or oscillatably between said fly-wheel and vicinities of front ends of said leg portions of said turret plate, each of which has an opening portion above thereof, a periphery portion of said opening portion in said grind tub provided on said leg portion at a position ending horizontally positioning above said leg portion at a horizontally extending position; a cover portion installable to said opening portion of said grind tub by sliding; a fix means provided between the cover portion and the grind tub; and a reinforcement means provided on the turret pl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Dia Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6296556
    Abstract: The invention is a centrifugal grinder. The grinder contains a rotary receptacle lower part and a stationary receptacle upper part, wherein the receptacle lower part and the receptacle upper part each have a ceramic part on opposing faces defining an opening into the grinder between the receptacle parts, and an adjustable straight gap which includes the opening provided between the ceramic parts extending radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotary receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Helmut Gegenheimer
  • Patent number: 6270398
    Abstract: A vibrational magnetic polishing machine comprises a machine frame on which a workpiece container, an action device and a rotary alternating magnetic field generator are mounted such that the workpiece container is vibrated by the action device, thereby causing the workpiece and the polishing media to jump in the container. The polishing media arc induced by the alternating magnetic field to jump so as to smooth the surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Lu-Jung Liao
  • Patent number: 6261154
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for finishing the surfaces of workpieces, and that is particularly suitable for metal workpieces. The apparatus includes a tub, finishing media in the tub, means for moving the media in the tub in a generally revolving motion in the tub, and means for positioning and rotating a workpiece to be polished in the media about an axis that is oblique to the axis about which the media revolves and without moving the position of the workpiece with respect to the tub as the workpiece rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Jeffrey William McEneny
  • Patent number: 6231426
    Abstract: A magnetic polishing machine comprises a polishing tub and an alternating magnetic field generator for producing a magnetic field effect to induce a number of magnetic media to travel at a high speed to polish by rubbing a workpiece contained in the polishing tub. The magnetic polishing machine further comprises a built-in separation tub and a homomagnetic field generator for generating a unidirectional magnetic field effect to separate the cohered magnetic media from the workpiece which is transferred from the polishing tub to the separation tub upon completion of the polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Lu-Jung Liao
  • Patent number: 6213854
    Abstract: A centrifugal force sliding grinding machine comprising a stationary container part and a rotary-mounted base part driven with a drive motor and positioned below the stationary container part, as well as an arrangement for adjusting the gap width between the stationary container part and the base part is characterized in that the stationary container part has at least one expansion element preferably located in an elastic container lining for adjusting the gap width. The centrifugal force sliding grinding machine according to the invention can in particular be provided externally of the base part with a storage area for receiving a working fluid introduceable under a predetermined pressure into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Helmut Gegenheimer
  • Patent number: 6174220
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing blunt tip surgical needles. Taper point needles having conventional piercing tips are placed into a vessel containing a grinding media. The needles are maintained in the vessel for a sufficient amount of time to convert the piercing point into a blunt. Additionally, the needles may be separated from the grinding media using a rotating magnetic drum such that the needles remain engaged with the magnetic drum while the grinding media is directed away to a collection tray. Needles are later removed from the magnetic drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventors: Jerry W. Stametz, William C. McJames, Eric W. Hinrichs, Craig S. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6110020
    Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for drying, polishing and burnishing cutlery, crockery and metal tableware with the help of a drying material. It includes a tank (11,21) suspended on springs (13,23) on a supporting base (12,22) and connected to a motor driven vibrator (14,24) to maintain it in continual vibration, where said tank contains the drying material and is used to receive the objects to be treated with this material. The tank make also be equipped with a chute (25) for loading the items to be treated and on one side of the tank an exit chute (26) for the treated items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hyppocampus S.r.l.
    Inventor: Emilio Rolfi
  • Patent number: 6080052
    Abstract: On a conventional chassis (10) forming a rigid structure there is mounted an electromotor (12) whose rotary shaft is coupled to a reducer (13) whose output end (14) is secured via suitable means to a flat (23); on this chassis (10) there is a stationary cylinder (15) on whose lateral surface (15a) there are magnets (16-17); inside (15) there is tank (18) which rotates through the action of the shaft of the reducer (13), small flanges (30) being located on the end wall (18a) of (18), a support (25) with arms (24), from which iron chains (32) hang, being arranged on the threaded column (27), the machine being intended for the polishing and cleaning of nonmagnetic materials of the type used in jewelry, such as gold, silver, alloys thereof and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Juan Gaig Renter
    Inventors: Juan Gaig Renter, Jose Gimenez Vidal, Javier Gaig Gomez
  • Patent number: 5989109
    Abstract: Any part of an abrasive media in a solid particle or liquid form is prevented from entering a seal and/or the area where a rotary shaft bearing for a rotating barrel is sealed, thereby protecting the bearing and/or its seal against any possible damage that may be caused by abrasive media. A the barrel finishing operation performed by rotating a rotating barrel rotatably mounted inside a cylindrical stationary barrel on a lower portion thereof in a spaced relationship to the stationary barrel. The stationary barrel has an outer bottom plate at the bottom end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Tipton Corp
    Inventors: Hisamine Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Izuhara
  • Patent number: 5848929
    Abstract: A centrifugal finisher uses centrifugal and rotational forces for finishing at least one object. A fixed, non-rotatably outer vessel has an inner surface and a central axis. At least one inner vessel is positioned inside the outer vessel and is adapted to hold an object to be finished. The inner vessel has an outer surface. At least one intermediate roller is positioned between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of the inner vessel and engages the surfaces of respective outer and inner vessels. A drive mechanism rotates the inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel, thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel by engagement of the inner vessel with the intermediate roller which moves by rotation along the inner surface of the outer vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: H Technology
    Inventor: Steve E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5823861
    Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral-flow barrel finishing machine having a cylindrical stationary metallic barrel equipped with a lining layer at a lower inside portion. A rotating barrel is equipped with a lining layer on a metallic rotational body and is loosely engaged with the lower part inside of the cylindrical stationary barrel so as to rotate freely. A constant clearance is kept between the inner wall of the stationary barrel and the outer wall of the rotating barrel, regardless of the temperature change and the moisture content change. A measure to allow for thermal expansion having a specific vertical width, properly corresponding to the vertical width of the clearance, is circularly arranged between the inner wall of the metallic stationary barrel and the outer wall of the lining layer on the metallic stationary barrel. This makes an allowance for thermal expansion of the lining layer on the stationary barrel toward wall side of the metallic stationary barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Tipton Corp.
    Inventors: Hisamine Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Izuhara, Akihito Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 5733172
    Abstract: A dry barrel finishing machine is disclosed. The machine includes a device to drip or spray water to wet the surface of media. The faucet of the device is located adjacent or in the barrel or barrels of the finishing machine so that it can spray water on media in the barrel or barrels. The media is cooled by the sprayed water. Since the sprayed water wets and softens the surface of the media, attrition dust on the surface of the media is easily removed during attrition. Also, since the wetted surface of the media tends to peel, it is self-sharpened. Thus the media always keeps its abrasive ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sintobrator, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nishimura, Masatomo Watanabe, Takao Ishida, Satoshi Niwa, Mikitoshi Hiraga
  • Patent number: 5662034
    Abstract: A potato peeling system includes a drum-type batch peeler, an unpeeled potato infeed assembly upstream from the batch peeler and a peeled potato discharge assembly downstream from the batch peeler. The batch peeler includes a rotary plate and a vertically adjustable cylindrical liner with a number of vertically spaced bands of different abrasive material. A drive moves the liner up and down to position a selected abrasive band above the plate for peeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: UTZ Quality Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Fuhrman
  • Patent number: 5601475
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing blunt tip surgical needles. Taper point needles having conventional piercing tips are placed into a vessel containing a grinding media. The needles are maintained in the vessel for a sufficient amount of time to convert the piercing point into a blunt tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Stametz, William C. McJames
  • Patent number: 5487696
    Abstract: An apparatus for polishing medals for a game machine, and for separating an abrasive from the medals. An intake port (2) for the medals and the abrasive is provided on the lower end side of a polishing pipe (1) set upright, while a medal delivery port (3) is provided on the upper end side. A rotatable screw element (4) is mounted inside the polishing pipe (1) so as to lift up the medals and the abrasive while stirring them. A separation unit (A) which separates the abrasive from the medals and which feeds the separated abrasive to the intake port (2), is joined to the upper part of the polishing pipe (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
    Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto, Masayoshi Yoshikawa, Moriyuki Aoyama, Meiji Muramatsu, Kazunari Kawashima
  • Patent number: 5476415
    Abstract: An improved dry barrel finishing machine is described, in which a mass consisting of media and workpieces is flowed in the barrel of the machine for abrasive finishing of the workpieces and in which air suction is used to remove dust resulting from the finishing operation and to cool the barrel and the mass. The mass is flowed by rotation of the barrel by a motor or through the vibration of the barrel by a driving mechanism. Air inlets and outlets are provided in the barrel. An air suction device draws air through the barrel and around the workpieces and media during the finishing operation. The drawn out air picks up dust and media particles resulting from the abrasive finishing operation and cools the media and the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sintobrator, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nishimura, Yoshinori Kohketsu, Takao Ishida
  • Patent number: 5419735
    Abstract: A magnetic barrel finishing machine includes multiple different flows or motions of an abrasive medium and workpieces by varying magnetic fields, freeing the workpieces from the abrasive medium and subjecting the workpieces to a finishing action with the abrasive medium. The machine includes a rotary disk made of nonferromagnetic material, a plurality of permanent magnets rigidly mounted on the rotary disk, and a container located above the rotary disk with a small gap therebetween for containing the abrasive medium and the workpieces being finished thereby. The permanent magnets are arranged irregularly such that they provide magnetic lines of force acting in a circumferential direction as well as in a radial direction of the rotary disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Imahashi Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imahashi, Kazuhiro Kunugi
  • Patent number: 5355638
    Abstract: A centrifugal finisher having an outer vessel and at least one inner vessel includes a traction surface between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of each inner vessel. The inner vessels revolve about the axis of the outer vessel, and rotate about their own internal axes. The traction surface permits the outer wall to restrain the inner vessels and simultaneously causes the rotation of the inner vessels through interaction with the outer vessel, which can be stationary or moving at a different rotational speed and/or at a different rotational direction than the part which revolves the inner vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Steve E. Hoffman