A shot-blasting machine for the treatment of metal pieces and the related shot-blasting system. In particular, a shot blasting machine provided with special support devices to improve the operation of its conveyor belt, so as to overcome technical drawbacks that are rather common in conventional shot blasting machines having a metallic conveyor belt.

A wet blast machine for cleaning or preparing surfaces comprises: a treatment source for providing a pressurised mixture of treatment material; a nozzle, the nozzle comprising: an inlet for receiving the pressurised mixture of treatment material; an outlet for ejecting the pressurised mixture; and at least one hole in a wall of the nozzle, the hole for feeding one or more products into the nozzle such that one or more surfaces of the product are exposed to the treatment material whilst within the nozzle, allowing for a more efficient wet blast of the products.

A computerized method and apparatus for high pressure grit or sand blasting comprises an upright cabinet through which work pieces, supported by a roller conveyor, can be disposed for blasting. An elongated actuator assembly horizontally extending across the enclosure interior comprises a pair of rigid, spaced-apart, rails upon which a displaceable carriage can move. The carriage supports a sand blasting head and nozzle. An internal tape within the actuator assembly moves the carriage. Tape condition is monitored by software in response to a magnetic sender driven by the tape idler pulley and an adjacent Hall effect sensor that picks up timed pulses. The actuator assembly is braced by buffer wheel assemblies at each end, in contact with vertical guide rails at each cabinet interior end. The hose-fed sand blasting head secured to the carriage directs sand or towards a target work piece be processed. The actuator assembly is vertically displaceable via cables controlled by an overhead servo motor, so that the sand blasting nozzle may be displaced in both horizontal and vertical. A programmable logic controller, armed with suitable software, provides operator menus for initiating various steps used in setup options, executing blast functions, moving the carriage blasting.

A computerized method and apparatus for high pressure grit or sand blasting comprises an upright cabinet through which work pieces, supported by a roller conveyor, can be disposed for blasting. An elongated actuator assembly horizontally extending across the enclosure interior comprises a pair of rigid, spaced-apart, rails upon which a displaceable carriage can move. The carriage supports a sand blasting head and nozzle. An internal tape within the actuator assembly moves the carriage. Tape condition is monitored by software in response to a magnetic sender driven by the tape idler pulley and an adjacent Hall effect sensor that picks up timed pulses. The actuator assembly is braced by buffer wheel assemblies at each end, in contact with vertical guide rails at each cabinet interior end. The hose-fed sand blasting head secured to the carriage directs sand or towards a target work piece be processed. The actuator assembly is vertically displaceable via cables controlled by an overhead servo motor, so that the sand blasting nozzle may be displaced in both horizontal and vertical. A programmable logic controller, armed with suitable software, provides operator menus for initiating various steps used in setup options, executing blast functions, moving the carriage blasting.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shot peening apparatus for which size increase is limited by projecting a shot material evenly on a workpiece using a single projector. The present invention provides a shot peening apparatus equipped with a workpiece-conveying mechanism for conveying a workpiece and a projector for projecting a shot material at the workpiece. The workpiece-conveying mechanism is equipped with: a pair of rollers, which extend in the workpiece conveyance direction, on which the workpieces are loaded, and which are rotated centered on the longitudinal axis line; an endless chain; and conveyance members for pressing and conveying workpieces in the conveyance direction. The projector is a centrifugal projector and is equipped with: a control cage into which the shot material is supplied and in which a first opening and a second opening are formed; and a bladed wheel, which is provided with multiple blades having a backward-sloping section that slopes toward the back in the rotation direction and which rotates centered on the central axis line of the control cage. The first opening and the second opening of the control cage are separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the control cage and are disposed offset from each other in the direction of the central axis line of the control cage.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shot peening apparatus for which size increase is limited by projecting a shot material evenly on a workpiece using a single projector. The present invention provides a shot peening apparatus equipped with a workpiece-conveying mechanism for conveying a workpiece and a projector for projecting a shot material at the workpiece. The workpiece-conveying mechanism is equipped with: a pair of rollers, which extend in the workpiece conveyance direction, on which the workpieces are loaded, and which are rotated centered on the longitudinal axis line; an endless chain; and conveyance members for pressing and conveying workpieces in the conveyance direction. The projector is a centrifugal projector and is equipped with: a control cage into which the shot material is supplied and in which a first opening and a second opening are formed; and a bladed wheel, which is provided with multiple blades having a backward-sloping section that slopes toward the back in the rotation direction and which rotates centered on the central axis line of the control cage. The first opening and the second opening of the control cage are separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the control cage and are disposed offset from each other in the direction of the central axis line of the control cage.

A method and apparatus for causing attrition to an outer surface of a food product to provide a removed portion of the food product and a remainder of the food product. In a first aspect, an abrasive stream contacts the outer surface of the food product, thereby separating at least a portion of the outer surface of the food product from the remainder of the food product to provide the removed portion of the food product. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a product positioner to position the food product in an attrition zone and a nozzle for discharging the abrasive stream into contact with the food product in the attrition zone. The abrasive stream can be food grade and can include a food grade fluid and a food grade abrasive, for example, air and salt, respectively.

A method and apparatus for causing attrition to an outer surface of a food product to provide a removed portion of the food product and a remainder of the food product. In a first aspect, an abrasive stream contacts the outer surface of the food product, thereby separating at least a portion of the outer surface of the food product from the remainder of the food product to provide the removed portion of the food product. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a product positioner to position the food product in an attrition zone and a nozzle for discharging the abrasive stream into contact with the food product in the attrition zone. The abrasive stream can be food grade and can include a food grade fluid and a food grade abrasive, for example, air and salt, respectively.

A system for coating articles which includes a coating booth, a conveyor system, which guides the articles through the coating booth, and at least one application unit, which is carried and guided by a handling device. A central supply unit having a tank for storing CO.sub.2 in liquid or solid form and which is able to remove CO.sub.2 from the tank and supply it at a suitable pressure to a collecting line connected to at least one cleaning apparatus, which includes at least one nozzle of suitable design for delivering CO.sub.2 for cleaning purposes. Under program control a relative movement between the nozzle and the application unit is induced, such that all surfaces of the application unit to be cleaned can be reached by CO.sub.2.

A system for coating articles which includes a coating booth, a conveyor system, which guides the articles through the coating booth, and at least one application unit, which is carried and guided by a handling device. A central supply unit having a tank for storing CO.sub.2 in liquid or solid form and which is able to remove CO.sub.2 from the tank and supply it at a suitable pressure to a collecting line connected to at least one cleaning apparatus, which includes at least one nozzle of suitable design for delivering CO.sub.2 for cleaning purposes. Under program control a relative movement between the nozzle and the application unit is induced, such that all surfaces of the application unit to be cleaned can be reached by CO.sub.2.