Method and apparatus for deflashing

Abstract

A machine, and method, for tumbling objects or parts, generally of plastic material, to remove thin flange-like projections left along mold mating lines and frequently referred to as "flash". An advancing belt-like conveyor has a portion disposed to define an object-supporting surface so upwardly sloped in the direction of conveyor advance, as to cause tumbling and consequent deflashing of a mass of objects supported on said surface. The conveyor is also movable between two positions in which the objects are, respectively, loaded upon and automatically discharged from the conveyor. In the illustrated apparatus these are upper and lower positions. Tumbling occurs in the upper position, and discharge takes place in the lower position, under the influence of the advancing movement of the conveyor. The system includes mechanism for effecting additional cleaning of the objects, while tumbling on the conveyor, by subjecting them to a blast of impact cleaning media. The deflashed objects are conveyed during discharge to a terminal station of the system where they are stored in suitable receptacles. Provision is made to modify the tumbling action, to accommodate the cleaning of objects of different sizes and shapes, by adjusting the speed of conveyor advance or the elevation of its sloped surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. In apparatus for tumbling objects to remove flash from the surfaces of such objects: belt-type conveyor means having associated therewith means defining an object loading zone and an object discharge zone; drive means for advancing said conveyor means in one direction past said loading zone and toward said discharge zone during tumbling and discharging operations; .Iadd.guide means positioned along and engaging the conveyor along the path of movement of the conveyor between said loading and discharge zones, said .Iaddend.guide means .[.forming a portion of said conveyor means into a.]. .Iadd.being shaped to constrain movement of a portion of the conveyor in a path of .Iaddend.shaped contour .[.surface.]. upwardly sloped in the direction of advance of said portion of the conveyor means for causing .[.substained.]. .Iadd.sustained .Iaddend.tumbling of objects upon said surface during the tumbling operation; .Iadd.and means for .Iaddend.effecting movement of .[.at least said portion of.]. said conveyor means .Iadd.together with said guide means as a unit about the lower end of the conveyor .Iaddend.between a first, upper, loading position providing for tumbling of objects upon the conveyor means, and a second, lower position in which said objects are discharged from said discharge zone under the influence of the advancing movement of the conveyor means in said direction. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized in that said last means .[.effects.]. .Iadd.provides for .Iaddend.angular swinging movement of .[.said portion of.]. said conveyor means between said positions. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, and in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.the guide means engaging the conveyor between the loading and discharge zones is shaped to provide an increasing .Iaddend.upward slope .[.of said portion.]. of said conveyor means .[.increases.]. in the direction of advance of said conveyor means. .[.4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the countour of the specified portion effects said increase in 
     
     
        upward slope..]. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, and in which said conveyor means has the characteristics of a flexible belt and presents, when so sloped, such predetermined frictional resistance to gravitational sliding movement of such objects as to retain said objects in tumbling 
     
     
        position. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, and in which said conveyor 
     
     
        means comprises a chain-like belt of the open wire type. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including impact cleaning means for 
     
     
        augmenting deflashing during the tumbling operation. 8. Apparatus according to claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., and further including container means disposed in said loading zone and confining a mass of such objects above said surface and with a lower layer of objects in contact with said surface, said container means being movable with .[.said portion of.]. said conveyor means, between said two positions, and having wall portions configured to accommodate movement of said objects toward said discharge zone and discharge of said objects therefrom when moved to said 
     
     
        lower position. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7, and further including hood-like shield means enclosing said .[.portion of said.]. conveyor means and the objects thereon, and in which apparatus said cleaning means takes the form of equipment for blasting impact media into contact with said 
     
     
        objects and under said hood-like shield means. .[.10.  Apparatus according to claim 1, and in which said guide means comprises guide structure in association with which said belt advances and by which said portion is guided so as to have the recited sloped contour, as it passes adjacent to 
     
     
        said structure..]. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including means providing for modification of the tumbling action, to 
     
     
        accommodate objects of different physical characteristics. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, and in which said last-recited means includes means for adjusting the speed of conveyor advance. .[.13. Apparatus according to claim 12, and further including means affording adjustment of the slope of 
     
     
        said surface..]. 14. Tumbling apparatus comprising a unit for tumbling objects, to remove flash therefrom, including an endless belt-type conveyor having associated therewith means defining a loading zone and a discharge zone.[., means .]..Iadd.; guide means engaging the conveyor along its path of movement between said loading and discharge zones; common .Iaddend.mounting .Iadd.means for said guide means and .Iaddend.said conveyor .Iadd.providing .Iaddend.for swinging movements .Iadd.of said conveyor together with said guide means as a unit .Iaddend.between a first, upwardly angled position, and a second, generally horizontal, position; drive means for advancing said conveyor in one direction from said loading zone toward said discharge zone during a tumbling operation; .Iadd.the .Iaddend.guide means .Iadd.being .Iaddend.fixed with relation to said advancing conveyor and so constraining said conveyor as to cause the latter to present, as it passes over said guide means and when the conveyor is in said first position, such upward slope in the direction of advance, as to cause sustained tumbling of such objects upon the conveyor; and means for swinging said conveyor to said second position in which such objects are discharged from said discharge zone under the influence of the advancing movement of said 
     
     
        conveyor in said direction. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a plurality of such tumbling units, disposed in such serial relation to each other that discharge of objects from the conveyor of one such unit delivers such objects to the conveyor of another unit, when the conveyor of the discharging unit occupies its generally horizontal position, and the conveyor of an adjacent unit occupies its upwardly 
     
     
        angled position. 16. In a method for .[.tumbling.]. .Iadd.surface treatment of .Iaddend.objects .Iadd.by tumbling the objects .Iaddend.upon an advancing .Iadd.upwardly inclined .Iaddend.belt-like conveyor .[.to remove flash.]. .Iadd.within a hopper positioned to enclose the conveyor.Iaddend., the steps which include; so constraining the advancing belt-like conveyor that .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.a portion of it .[.provides.]. .Iadd.occupies a position providing .Iaddend.a surface which has such upward .[.slope.]. .Iadd.inclination.Iaddend., in the direction of conveyor advance, as to cause tumbling of objects supported upon said portion; loading a plurality of such objects upon said conveyor; causing advance of said conveyor in one direction while maintaining said .[.slope.]. .Iadd.inclination.Iaddend., with consequent tumbling of the objects .[.while the conveyor is in an elevated position.]. .Iadd.within the hopper in said position.Iaddend., for a period of time sufficient to remove flash from the objects; 171 and lowering said conveyor portion to a position.]. .Iadd.and concurrently shifting both the position of the conveyor and the position of the hopper to change the inclination of the conveyor and of the hopper to a position .Iaddend.providing for discharge of said objects therefrom, while continuing the advance of said conveyor in said direction. .[.17. In a method for tumbling objects upon unidirectionally advancing belt-like conveyor to remove flash, the steps which include: disposing said conveyor in an upwardly angled object-loading position; loading a plurality of such objects upon said conveyor; so constraining the advancing conveyor that a portion of it, when upwardly angled, provides a surface which has such progressively-increasing upward slope, in the direction of conveyor advance, as to cause sustained tumbling of the objects supported upon said surface; maintaining said slope, with consequent tumbling of the objects, for a period of time sufficient to remove flash from the objects; and disposing said conveyor portion in a lowered position, while continuing the advance of said conveyor, to provide for discharge of said objects under the influence of conveyor advance..]..Iadd. 18. Apparatus for tumbling objects to effect surface treatment of such objects, comprising a belt-type conveyor one run of which is adapted to receive objects to be tumbled toward one end thereof and to discharge tumbled objects toward the other end thereof, the conveyor having generally horizontal rotative conveyor belt supports toward opposite ends thereof and having drive means for effecting advance of said one run in a direction toward the discharge end of the conveyor, means associated with said one run of the conveyor and establishing an object tumbling zone in a region intermediate the ends of said one run of the conveyor, guide means associated with the edges of the conveyor in said tumbling zone and guiding the motion of the conveyor through said zone, and mounting mechanism for the rotative conveyor belt supports and also for said guide means including means providing for angular movement of the guide means and of one of said supports about the axis of the other one of said supports, between a position inclined upwardly from the tumbling zone toward the discharge end of the conveyor to provide for tumbling of objects upon the conveyor downwardly in a direction away from the discharge end and a position precluding said tumbling and providing for carrying the objects by the conveyor in a direction from the tumbling zone toward the discharge end of the conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. Apparatus for tumbling objects to effect surface treatment of such objects, comprising a belt-type conveyor one run of which is adapted to receive objects to be tumbled toward one end thereof and to discharge tumbled objects toward the other end thereof, the conveyor having generally horizontal rotative conveyor belt supports toward opposite ends thereof and having drive means connected with one of said supports for effecting advance of said one run in a direction toward the discharge end of the conveyor, guide means associated with said one run of the conveyor and establishing an upwardly inclined object tumbling zone in a region intermediate the ends of said one run of the conveyor, and common mounting mechanism for the rotative conveyor belt supports and for said guide means including means providing for angular movement of the conveyor as a whole together with said guide means about the axis of the rotative belt support with which the drive means is connected, between a position inclined upwardly from the tumbling zone toward the discharge end of the conveyor to provide for tumbling of objects upon the conveyor downwardly in a direction away from the discharge end and a position precluding said tumbling and providing for carrying the objects by the conveyor in a direction from the tumbling zone toward the discharge end of the conveyor. .Iaddend.