Apparatus for treating a product

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) for treating a product ( 11 ) is provided, in particular for tumbling a surface of the product. The apparatus includes vibration elements designed to move the product treatment composition and product retaining elements in the form of magnetic anchoring elements ( 12 a, 12 b ).

1 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . An apparatus ( 10 ) for tumbling or polishing a surface (S) of a product, the apparatus comprising means ( 12 ) for supporting the product, means ( 14 ,  140 ) for containment of a product ( 11 ) treatment composition ( 13 ), and means designed to move a product ( 11 ) treatment composition ( 13 ) relative to the product itself, in which the supporting means ( 12 ) are in the form of a product resting plate which are connected to a base ( 120 ) by elastic means ( 32 ,  32 ); said resting plate defining vibrating means designed to move the product treatment composition ( 13 ); wherein the apparatus comprises means for retaining the product which are in the form of magnetic anchoring means ( 12   a ,  12   b ); and in that the resting plate forms or comprises said magnetic anchoring means ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the retaining means ( 12   a ,  12   b ) are designed to retain the product on the supporting means ( 12 ). 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the magnetic anchoring means are in the form of means which can be switched on and off. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the supporting means comprise a plurality of sections forming respective anchoring magnetic poles ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising actuator, or vibration means for the supporting means ( 12 ), in particular being in the form of an actuator or vibration motor ( 30 ) connected to the supporting plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) are supported on the supporting plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         76 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) are below the supporting plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         77 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 14 ,  214 ) are designed to contain a plurality of products ( 11 ,  11 ); and wherein it comprises means ( 18 ) for draining the treatment composition from the containment means ( 14 ,  214 ). 
     
     
         78 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 140 ) are magnetically anchored to the supporting means ( 12 ). 
     
     
         79 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 140 ) are removable from the supporting means ( 12 ). 
     
     
         80 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 140 ) are designed to contain a single product ( 11 ). 
     
     
         81 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means comprise a base ( 140   a ) which rests on the supporting plate ( 12 ). 
     
     
         82 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising control means for the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) and for the magnetic anchoring means ( 12   a ,  12   b ). 
     
     
         83 . The apparatus according to  claim 82 , wherein the control means are designed to switch on the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) only after the magnetic anchoring means have been switched on, and are designed to switch off the magnetic anchoring means ( 12   a ,  12   b ) only after the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) have been switched off. 
     
     
         84 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 140 ) are made of ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         85 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising product sustaining means ( 125 ) comprising means which can be anchored to the apparatus by magnetic attraction; the product sustaining means ( 125 ) comprising means ( 126 ,  126 ′) for securing the product to the sustaining means; the sustaining means being in the form of a body ( 125 ) made of ferromagnetic material or having a layer or portion made of ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         86 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the treatment composition ( 13 ) is housed in the container or containment tank ( 14 ,  214 ) and is designed to have an abrasive action on the surface of the product ( 11 ). 
     
     
         87 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the wall ( 14 ) forming the containment means or tank is fixed to the magnetic plate ( 12 ) and wherein the wall ( 14 ) forming the containment means or tank, in particular the lateral wall of the latter, is connected in such a way that it can engage with or disengage from the supporting and/or magnetic plate or panel ( 12 ). 
     
     
         88 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein it comprises a removable layer ( 121 ) on the supporting plate ( 12 ), or base of the containment means ( 14 ), the removable layer ( 121 ) being positioned above and in contact with the upper surface ( 12 ′) of the supporting plate ( 14 ). 
     
     
         89 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising means ( 201 ) for closing the container, in the form of a respective lid which can be opened. 
     
     
         90 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the product comprises an inner cavity formed by the surface to be polished and defining the containing means for the treatment composition. 
     
     
         91 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the elastic resting means ( 32 ,  32 ) for the supporting and/or magnetic plate or panel ( 12 ) comprise a plurality of elastic or spring elements which are peripherally distributed and preferably located close to or at the peripheral edge of the supporting and/or magnetic plate or panel ( 12 ), and wherein the actuator or vibration means ( 30 ) are positioned radially internally relative to the elastic resting elements ( 32 ,  32 ) for the supporting and/or magnetic plate or panel ( 12 ). 
     
     
         92 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the supporting plate or panel ( 12 ) forms the lower wall or base of the containment means or tank; the magnetic supporting plate or panel ( 12 ) having a load-bearing structure formed by a respective frame ( 12   t ) forming respective housing means ( 12   s ) for magnetic anchoring means or poles which are connected to the frame ( 12   t ); the vibration means or vibration actuator means being connected to the load-bearing structure of the supporting plate or panel; and the wall ( 14 ) forming the containment tank being connected to the load-bearing structure of the supporting plate or panel. 
     
     
         93 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the containment means ( 340 ) comprise a respective peripheral lateral containment wall ( 340   b ) extending axially and having a respective thickness, the containment means being open at the bottom to form a lower edge ( 340   a ) for resting on the supporting panel ( 12 ). 
     
     
         94 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , further comprising auxiliary sustaining means ( 425 ) for a plurality of products; wherein the auxiliary sustaining means ( 425 ) for a plurality of products are in the form of a common base unit ( 425 ) comprising a plurality of holders designed to accommodate a corresponding product; and wherein the auxiliary means are in the form of a body or base unit ( 425 ) made of ferromagnetic material or having a layer or portion made of ferromagnetic material.