DEVICES FOR SURFACE FINISHING OF PARTS

Abstract

A device (1) for surface finishing of parts comprising an annular container (2) configured to receive a plurality of working media and at least a part to be treated, the container (2) has a central axis (A) and a bottom surface (3); vibratory means (4) associated (2) with the container (2) to make it oscillate and configured to cause the part to circulate inside the container; the bottom surface (3) has a plurality of projections (5) configured to change the spatial orientation of the part as it moves thereon.

Claims

1. A device for surface finishing of parts, comprising an annular container configured to receive a plurality of working media and at least one part to be treated, said container having a center axis and a bottom surface; vibratory means associated with said container for causing said container to oscillate, said vibratory means being configured to cause said part to circulate in said container along a feeding path; at least one projection placed on said bottom surface and having a crest extending along a respective radial direction, an ascending lateral surface extending from the bottom surface up to said crest and a descending lateral surface extending from the crest to the bottom surface; wherein the device comprises a plurality of said projections, said projections being configured to change the spatial orientation of said part as it moves on said projections.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crest is inclined in said radial direction downwards toward said central axis, preferably at an angle of less than 40.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lateral surfaces have a downward inclination from the crest to the bottom surface.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crest has a height that ranges from 50% to 80% the height of the container from the bottom surface.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ascending lateral surface has an inclination that ranges from 30 to 70 in respect to the bottom surface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downward lateral surface has an inclination that ranges from 40 to 70, or is vertical in respect to the bottom surface.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vibratory means is configured to move said container such that said semifinished part is fed in said container and moved up said ascending lateral surfaces of said projections and down said descending lateral surfaces.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises two to six, preferably four projections.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has a first inner lateral surface with a bulge defining a first inner annular concavity in the container.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more evident from the indicative and non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for surface finishing of parts, as illustrated in the enclosed drawings wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a device for surface finishing of parts according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a view from above of the device of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3a is a sectional detail of the device of FIG. 1 along line B-B; and

[0023] FIG. 3b is a further detail of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to the enclosed figures, a device for surface finishing of parts according to the present invention is indicated by 1.

[0025] Referring in particular to FIG. 1, the device 1 comprises a base 14, adapted to be laid on and/or fixed to a fixed external surface, for example a floor. A movable platform 15 is arranged on the base 14, in particular it is linked thereto by means of a plurality of elastic shock absorbers 16. Such shock absorbers 16 are made in a way known to the person skilled in the art, and comprise for instance some springs.

[0026] The device 1 comprises an annular container 2, having a central axis A and a bottom surface 3. In particular, the container 2 is fixed to the above-mentioned movable platform 15. Such container 2 is adapted to receive one or more parts to be treated. To this end, the container 2 is configured to receive a plurality of working media. In the background of the present invention, medium means a solid element adapted to react with each part through friction and/or rubbing. Working media are selected according to their physical properties, in particular shape, size and degree of abrasiveness, according to the specific working process to be implemented.

[0027] In greater detail, container 2 has one first inner lateral surface 2a surrounding one second inner lateral surface 2b. Such inner lateral surfaces 2a, 2b each have a respective bulge. Such bulges each define a respective inner concavity inside the container 2.

[0028] Referring in particular to FIG. 1, an upper wall 7 is placed above container 2. Such upper wall 7 has an annular opening 8 directly communicating with the inside of the container 2.

[0029] The device 1 further comprises vibratory means 4, which are associated with container 2 such as to cause it to oscillate. Vibratory means 4 are configured to cause the part inside the container to circulate along a feeding path P. In particular, the path P is preferably a toroidal-spiral path, i.e. it makes up a circular motion lying on a radial plane of container 2 and a movement along directions tangential to the container 2 itself. In other words, the path P is given by a movement of the part along inner lateral surfaces 2a, 2b and the bottom surface 3 of the container 2.

[0030] In greater detail, the device comprises a housing 9 in a single piece with the container 2, where the aforementioned vibratory means 4 are housed. The housing 9 has a cylindrical shape, and it is placed inside the toroidal ring defined by the container 2. In particular, the housing 9 is defined by a cylindrical wall 10 arranged coaxially with respect to the central axis A of container 2.

[0031] In further detail, vibratory means 4 comprise a motor actuating, by means of a shaft 12, a torque of eccentric masses 13. The motor 11 is in particular fixed to the cylindrical wall 11 of the housing 9, so as to transmit to container 2 the vibration generated by the rotation of the eccentric masses 13.

[0032] Referring in particular to FIGS. 3a, 3b, it must be noted that the bottom surface 3 has a plurality of projections 5. In the preferred embodiment, projections 5 are arranged angularly equally spaced with respect to the central axis A. In alternative embodiments, not shown, projections 5 can be distributed in any way around the central axis A. Such projections 5 are configured such as to change the spatial orientation of the part as it moves thereon.

[0033] In one first embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface 3 has a number of projections between two or more, in particular between two and six, preferably four. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the number of projections can be any and in particular it can vary also according to the sizes of the container 2.

[0034] In detail, each projection 5 has a crest 5a. Such crest 5s develops along a radial direction R identified by the projection 5, i.e. a direction that joins the protrusion 5 with the central axis A. Furthermore, crest 5a has a height between 50% and 80% of the height of the container 2 with respect to the bottom surface 3.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the crest 5a has an inclination along the radial direction R, in particular descending towards the centre of the container 2 passed through by the central axis A. Preferably, the crest 5a is inclined at an angle I lower than 40. Advantageously, the crest 5a inclination eases the rotation of the part, and allows to further reduce working times.

[0036] Each projection 5 has an ascending lateral surface 5b, which extends from the bottom surface 3 of the container 2 up until the crest 3a. Similarly, a descending lateral surface 5c extends from the crest 5a up until the bottom surface 3. It must be noted that lateral surfaces 5b, 5c have a descending inclination from the crest 5a up until the bottom surface 3.

[0037] The ascending 5b and descending 5c lateral surfaces are so called as, in use, parts introduced in the container 2 overcome the projections 5 moving up along ascending surfaces 5b and down along the descending lateral surfaces 5c of each projection 5. In greater detail, vibratory means 4 are configured to move the container 2 with an eccentric movement with respect to the central axis A according to one first rotation direction, thus feeding the part into the container 2 along the aforementioned path P, in particular towards the projection 5 where an irregular movement of the part occurs making it possible to obtain the previously described advantages.

[0038] In greater detail, lateral surfaces 5b, 5c generally have a different inclination with respect to the bottom surface 3. In particular, the ascending lateral surface 5b has an inclination that ranges from 30 to 70. The descending lateral surface 5c has an inclination that ranges from 40 to 70. It must also be noted that the descending lateral surface 5c can be vertical.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container 2 is provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) placed at the bottom surface 3. In particular, each hole is arranged between two respective projections 5. Each hole is provided with a valve (not shown) such that it can be opened/closed to allow or prevent the passage of fluid.

[0040] When the device 1 is in use, vibratory means 4 are actuated, such that the container 2 is put into vibration. The part is thus fed into the container up until it reaches the ascending lateral surfaces 5b of the projections 5 and is moved down along the descending lateral surfaces 5c.

[0041] In case the processing to be carried out envisages the use of a liquid additive together with the media, it is possible to selectively open or close each of the holes according to pre-established modes. In case the hole between two projections 5 is open, the liquid present therebetween is drained, while in the opposite case it is retained inside the container 2. Thanks to holes and projections 5, it is possible to implement a treatment in which parts alternatively move in tanks containing both liquid and media and in tanks containing only media.