Devices for surface finishing of parts

Abstract

A device for surface finishing of parts may include: an annular container configured to receive working media and at least one part, the container having a central axis and bottom surface; vibratory means associated with the container for causing the container to oscillate, wherein the vibratory means is configured to cause the at least one part to circulate in the container along a path; and at least one projection on the bottom surface and having a crest extending along a respective radial direction, an ascending lateral surface from the bottom surface to the crest, and a descending lateral surface from the crest to the bottom surface. The device may further include a plurality of the projections. The projections may change a spatial orientation of the at least one part as it moves on the projections. The crest may be inclined with respect to the radial direction downwards toward the axis.

Claims

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

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an inclination of the crest with respect to the radial direction is less than 40°.

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

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the crest has a height greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 80% of a height of the container from the bottom surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the ascending lateral surface has an inclination greater than or equal to 30° and less than or equal to 70° with respect to the bottom surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the descending lateral surface has an inclination greater than or equal to 40° and less than or equal to 70° with respect to the bottom surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the vibratory means is configured to move the container such that the at least one part is fed in the container and moved up the ascending lateral surfaces of the projections and down the descending lateral surfaces of the projections.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is greater than or equal to two and less than or equal to six.

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

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the ascending lateral surface has a downward inclination from the crest to the bottom surface.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the descending lateral surface has a downward inclination from the crest to the bottom surface.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the descending lateral surface is vertical with respect to the bottom surface.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is equal to two.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is equal to three.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is equal to four.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is equal to five.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the projections is equal to six.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

(1) 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:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a device for surface finishing of parts according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view from above of the device of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3a is a sectional detail of the device of FIG. 1 along line B-B; and

(5) FIG. 3b is a further detail of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Referring to the enclosed figures, a device for surface finishing of parts according to the present invention is indicated by 1.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

(11) 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.

(12) 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.

(13) In further detail, vibratory means 4 comprise a motor 11 actuating, by means of a shaft 12, a torque of eccentric masses 13. The motor 11 is in particular fixed to the cylindrical wall 10 of the housing 9, so as to transmit to container 2 the vibration generated by the rotation of the eccentric masses 13.

(14) 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.

(15) In one first embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface 3 has a number of projections 5 between two or more, in particular between two and six, preferably four. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the number of projections 5 can be any and, in particular, it can vary also according to the sizes of the container 2.

(16) In detail, each projection 5 has a crest 5a. Such crest 5a develops along a radial direction “R” identified by the projection 5, i.e. a direction that joins the projection 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.

(17) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the crest 5a has an inclination along the radial direction “R”, in particular descending towards the center of the container 2 passed through by the central axis “A”. Preferably, the crest 5a is inclined at an angle “I” less than 40°. Advantageously, the crest 5a inclination eases the rotation of the part, and allows to further reduce working times.

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

(19) The ascending lateral surfaces 5b and descending lateral surfaces 5c are so called as, in use, parts introduced in the container 2 overcome the projections 5 moving up along ascending lateral 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.

(20) 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.

(21) 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.

(22) 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.

(23) 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.