Separating and unloading device for vibratory finishing machines

• Main Authors: ANDERSON, GORDON H, JOHNSON, STEVEN R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.12.1980
• Subjects: DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS; GRINDING; MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHING; TRANSPORTING

A workpiece separating and unloading device is disclosed for use with vibratory finishing machines of the type comprising a generally circular or annular finishing bowl; the device comprises a generally horizontally disposed workpiece separating screening assembly and a dam or weir which is movably supported so as to be positionable above the level of the finishing media and workpieces within the bowl during a normal finishing operation and being selectively movable to a downward or lower position extending generally transversely of the path of movement of the workpieces and media within the bowl to cause the media-workpiece mixture to be moved onto the upper surface of the separator screen whereby the workpieces are conveyed to some predetermined destination and the finishing media drops downwardly through the separator screen back into the interior of the finishing bowl; the dam or weir is mounted upon a pivot arm which is secured within the central enclosure or dome of the finishing bowl and is pivotable about a generally horizontally disposed axis and concomitantly rotatable about its longitudinal axis as the weir is moved between the aforementioned upper and lower positions.