Barrel polishing apparatus

Abstract
A barrel polishing apparatus which can easily hold a work having a large mass and detach therefrom. The barrel polishing apparatus includes a polishing medium receiving container having a polishing medium received therein and a work supporting arm for holding the work. The position of the work supporting arm is shifted from the center of the polishing medium receiving container. The polishing medium receiving container rotates about a vertical axis to form a continuous circumferential flow of polishing medium therein and includes an upper end opening for receiving the work attached to a distal end of the work supporting arm. The work supporting arm is oriented diagonally toward a direction of the continuous circumferential flow of polishing medium.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a barrel polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a work by relative movements of polishing medium.




2. Description of the Related Art




One of the methods of polishing a surface of a work (workpiece) is to rotate or vibrate polishing medium or abrasive in a container and the work is introduced in the container. With use of such a conventional barrel polishing apparatus, each work is subjected to polishing by allowing a polishing medium to flow in a polishing medium receiving container while the work is dipped in the polishing medium in the polishing medium receiving container.




In using the conventional barrel polishing apparatus, however, since each workpiece is dipped in the polishing medium in the polishing medium receiving container while it is seized immovably, there arises an inconvenience that it is difficult to polish the workpiece in a short time.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the inconvenience inherent to the conventional technique as mentioned above.




Therefore, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a barrel polishing apparatus which substantially improves an operational efficiency in a process of polishing the work.




According to the present invention, the barrel polishing apparatus includes a polishing medium receiving container having a polishing medium therein and a work supporting arm, the polishing medium receiving container includes an upper end opening, the work supporting arm is able to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof, and a work is detachably attached to an end of the work supporting arm. As the work and the polishing medium sufficiently and easily contact each other, an operational efficiency of the barrel polishing operation can be substantially improved.




In addition, since the barrel polishing apparatus is so structured that the work supporting arm can extend and contract in the longitudinal axial direction, each work can be dislocated to assume a low position when it is attached to the work supporting shaft and detached from the same. Thus, the work can more easily be attached to the work supporting shaft and detached from the same, resulting in the ease of operation in replacing the work.




In addition, since the barrel polishing apparatus is so structured that the work supporting arm is turnably displaced in the horizontal direction, the work can easily be located at an adequate position in the polishing medium receiving container.




Further, since the work supporting arm is turnably displaced in the horizontal direction, the work can be located under the condition that the surface of the work to be polished is upwardly inclined in the flowing direction of the polishing medium against the inner side wall and/or the bottom wall of the polishing medium receiving container. Thus, a flowing of the polishing medium can be throttled between the work and the inner side wall and/or the bottom wall of the polishing medium receiving container. Therefore, the pressure of the polishing medium to the surface to be polished of the work can be increased, resulting in substantial improvements in the polishing effect of the work.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a barrel polishing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing an attached state and a detached state assumed by the barrel polishing apparatus shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a schematic diagram showing a forward/rearward displacing mechanism employable for a work supporting arm arranged on the work supporting unit used in the barrel polishing apparatus of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a schematic diagram showing a rotating mechanism employable for a reversing plate arranged on the work supporting unit used in the barrel polishing apparatus of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view showing a barrel polishing apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a sectional view showing a barrel polishing apparatus in the third embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a sectional view showing a barrel polishing apparatus in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.




FIG.


8


A and

FIG. 8B

are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the flow of polishing medium and the position of the work in the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a barrel polishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention wherein a work is held in the polishing state.

FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing the attached/detached state of the work in the barrel polishing apparatus.

FIG. 3

is an illustrative view showing a forward/backward displacing mechanism for a work supporting arm in the barrel polishing apparatus.

FIG. 4

is an illustrative view showing a rotating mechanism for a reversing plate in the barrel polishing apparatus.




In FIG.


1


and

FIG. 2

, reference numeral


9


B designates a barrel polishing apparatus, and reference numeral


910


designates a base board for the barrel polishing apparatus


9


B. Reference numeral


920


designates a polishing medium receiving container mounted on the base board


910


. The polishing medium receiving container


920


has a cylindrical configuration so that it can be rotated about an axis line thereof (

FIG. 1

) in the circumferential direction by actuating suitable driving means (not shown). Reference numeral


921


designates a polishing medium in the polishing medium receiving container


920


. All kinds of normally available material such as ceramic grain or the like can be used as the polishing medium


921


. Incidentally, a wet type polishing process may be used for practicing a polishing method, and alternatively, a dry polishing process may also be used for practicing the polishing method.




Reference numeral


922


designates an upper end opening which is formed at the upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


920


, and a work W (for example, an aluminum wheel usable for vehicle or the like) to be described later is dipped in the polishing medium


921


via the upper end opening


922


.




Next, reference numeral


911


designates a supporting frame formed on the base board


910


. The supporting frame


911


is caused to extend in the upward direction to reach the substantially upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


920


.




Reference numeral


930


designates a reversing plate which is turnably mounted on the supporting frame


911


via a rotational shaft


931


. The reversing plate


930


can be turned within the range of about 180° by rotation of the rotational shaft


931


(i.e. within the range defined by the state shown in FIG.


1


and the state shown in FIG.


2


). In addition, as shown in

FIG. 4

, a first driving motor


932


is mounted on the supporting frame


911


. While the rotational force of the first driving motor


932


is reduced in the decelerated state, the foregoing rotational force is transmitted from a pulley


933


of the first driving motor


932


to a pulley


935


of the rotational shaft


931


via a V-belt


934


, whereby the reversing plate


930


is turned within the range of about 180° as noted above.




Reference numeral


940


designates a supporting bed fixed to the reversing plate


930


via a pair of brackets


941


. The supporting plate


940


is mounted on the supporting frame


911


in the forwardly inclined state (it is assumed that a distal end side of a work supporting arm


960


to be described later is represented as a forward direction). It should be noted that the inclination angle of the supporting bed


940


can be adjusted.




Next, a slide plate


950


(

FIG. 3

) is arranged on the back surface of the supporting bed


940


so as to move in the forward or backward direction along the inclined surface of the supporting plate


940


. The slide plate


950


can be displaced relative to the supporting bed


940


in the forward/backward direction by actuating, for example, a bolt/nut mechanism


951


. Incidentally, reference numeral


9511


designates a bolt portion in the bolt/nut mechanism


951


arranged on the back surface of the supporting bed


940


, and reference numeral


9512


designates a pair of nut portions connected to the slide plate


950


. When a second driving motor


952


is driven, causing the bolt portion


9511


to be rotated, the nut portions


9512


, i.e., the slide plate


950


are displaced in the forward/backward direction by way of threadable engagement of the bolt portion


9511


with the nut portions


9512


.




Referring to FIG.


1


and

FIG. 2

again, reference numeral


960


designates a work supporting arm, and as shown in

FIG. 3

, the work supporting arm


960


is projected from the slide plate


950


. A work W (for example, an aluminum wheel usable for vehicle or the like) is detachably attached to the foremost (distal) end of the work supporting arm


960


with the aid of an air chuck (not shown) so that the work W is dipped in the polishing medium


921


in the polishing medium receiving container


920


. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 3

, a third driving motor


961


is mounted on the slide plate


950


. The work supporting arm


960


can be rotated about a longitudinal axis line thereof by transmitting the rotational force of the third driving motor


961


to the work supporting arm


960


in the decelerated state. Incidentally, the work supporting arm


960


can intermittently be rotated in the normal direction as well as in the reverse direction.




An operation of the polishing apparatus will be described below.




Firstly, as shown in

FIG. 2

, the reversing plate


930


is arranged outside of the polishing medium receiving container


920


by driving the first driving motor


932


, causing the rotational shaft


931


to rotate (refer to the state as represented by phantom lines in FIG.


4


). At this time, the foremost (distal) end of the work supporting arm


960


assumes an upwardly inclined state. While this state is maintained, an operator attaches the work W on the foremost end of the supporting arm


960


.




Thereafter, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the reversing plate


930


is located inside of the polishing medium receiving container


920


by driving the first driving motor


932


, causing the rotational shaft


931


to be rotated, whereby the wheel (work) W is dipped in the polishing medium


921


in the polishing medium receiving container


920


in the flowing state. Incidentally, while the wheel W is contacting the polishing medium


921


in the dipped state, the work supporting arm


960


can intermittently be displaced in the vibrative state. After completion of the polishing operation, the reversing plate


930


is located outside of the polishing medium receiving container


920


by driving the first driving motor


932


, causing the rotational shaft


931


to be rotated. At this time, the fore end part of the work supporting arm


960


assumes an upwardly inclined state. While this state is maintained, the operator disconnects the wheel (work) W from the work supporting arm


960


, and thereafter, attaches a next work on the work supporting shaft


960


.




Incidentally, when soft material such as sponge, rubber, soft plastic or the like is used in the polishing apparatus


9


B as the polishing medium, each finish polishing operation can be achieved at a high efficiency. Further, soft material may be coated on the surface with hard grain or hard small block. The coated hard grain or the coated hard small block can be used as the polishing medium of the aforementioned type. As known in the art, after the barrel polishing operation is completed, surface treatment such as coating, plating, alumite treatment or the like is carried out for the work. All kinds of usually available surface treatment are included within the concept of surface treatment.





FIG. 5

shows a barrel polishing apparatus which is a second embodiment of the present invention. In

FIG. 5

, reference numeral


8


B designates a barrel polishing apparatus, and reference numeral


860


designates a driving section for driving the barrel polishing apparatus


8


B such as by a rotational force of a motor (not shown). Reference numeral


861


designates a cylindrical polishing medium receiving container mounted on the driving section


860


. The polishing medium receiving container


861


can be rotated about an axis line of the driving section


860


in the circumferential direction by actuating the driving section


860


. Reference numeral


862


designates a polishing medium in the polishing medium receiving container


861


. All kinds of usually available polishing medium such as ceramic grain or the like can be employed for the polishing medium


862


. In addition, a wet type polishing process may be employed for the polishing method, and alternatively, a dry type polishing process may be employed for the polishing method.




Reference numeral


863


designates an upper end opening which is formed at the upper end of the polishing medium receiving container, and a work W (for example, an aluminum wheel usable for vehicle or the like) to be described later is dipped in the polishing medium


862


via the upper end opening


863


.




Next, reference numeral


870


designates a base board which is integrated with the driving section


860


, and reference numeral


871


designates a supporting column which upright stands on the base board


870


. The supporting column


871


extends in the upward direction to reach the substantially upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


861


.




Reference numeral


880


designates an attaching bracket which is arranged to swing on the supporting column


871


. Specifically, the attaching bracket


880


can swing about a point O along the vertical surface. Reference numeral


890


designates a supporting bed mounted on the attaching bracket


880


via rotating means


881


. With this construction, the supporting bed


890


can swing along the vertical surface together with the attaching bracket


880


, and moreover, it can turn or swing about an axis line P by driving the rotating means


881


.




Reference numeral


891


designates a supporting member which is arranged on the supporting bed


890


in such a manner as to enable it to move in the forward/backward direction. In addition, reference numeral


892


designates a supporting arm which is fitted into the supporting member


891


in such a manner as to enable it to move in the forward/backward (longitudinal) direction. Reference character W designates a work (for example, an aluminum wheel usable for vehicle or the like). The work W is attached to the foremost end of the supporting arm


892


via an air chuck


893


so as to be dipped in the polishing medium


862


in the polishing medium receiving container


861


.




An operation of the polishing apparatus constructed in the aforementioned manner will be described below.




Firstly, as shown by phantom lines (one-dot chain lines) of

FIG. 5

, the supporting arm


892


is in the position where its upper end is located directly above the supporting member


891


, and thereafter, it is retracted in the downward direction. While the foregoing state is maintained, the wheel (work) W is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the supporting arm


892


with the aid of the air chuck


893


. Thereafter, as shown by phantom lines (two-dot chain lines), the supporting arm


892


is extended in the upward direction. Then, as shown by solid lines, the supporting arm


892


is rotated about the point O together with the supporting member


892


and the supporting bed


890


along the vertical surface, whereby the wheel W is dipped in the polishing medium


852


which is flowing in the polishing medium receiving container


861


.




Incidentally, while the wheel W is dipped in the polishing medium


862


, the supporting arm


892


can periodically be displaced in the vibrative state. After completion of the polishing operation, the supporting arm


892


is rotated about the point O in the opposite direction together with the supporting bed


890


along the vertical surface, and then, as shown by the phantom lines (two-dot chain lines), the supporting arm


892


is held at the position where the foremost end of the supporting arm


892


is located directly above the supporting member


891


. Thereafter, the supporting arm


892


is retracted in the downward direction as shown by the phantom lines (one-dot chain lines). While the foregoing state is maintained, the wheel W is disconnected from the foremost end of the supporting arm


892


. Subsequently, the aforementioned operational steps are repeated.




Incidentally, when soft material such as sponge, rubber, soft plastic or the like is used as a polishing medium employable for the polishing apparatus


82


, each finish polishing operation can be achieved at a high efficiency. Incidentally, soft material may be coated on the surface with hard grain or hard small block so as to allow the coated hard grain or the coated hard small block to be used as a polishing medium of the aforementioned type.




After completion of the barrel polishing operation, as is known in the art, surface treatment such as coating, plating, alumite treatment or the like is conducted. All kinds of normally available material is employable for achieving the surface treatment.




For example, an aluminum wheel usable for a vehicle or the like can be noted as a work employable for carrying out the present invention. However, the present invention should not be limited only to the aluminum wheel as a work but all products each usable as a work are included within the concept of the work in the present invention.




Usually, a wet type polishing method or a dry type polishing method for polishing the polishing surface of a work in the presence of a polishing agent is employed as a polishing method in the present invention. In this case, the number of buffs usable for carrying out the present invention may be limited only to one. Alternatively, a plurality of buffs may be used for carrying out the present invention. Incidentally, a buff wheel can be noted as one example which represents the buff.




To carry out the present embodiment, an ordinary wet type polishing method and an ordinary dry type polishing method can be employed for practicing the wet type polishing method and the dry type polishing method wherein the surface of a work is subjected to polishing in the presence of a polishing agent fed between the polishing surface of the work and the working surface of the buff wheel.




In addition, to carry out the present invention, any type of barrel polishing method such as a fluid barrel polishing method, a vibration barrel polishing method or the like can be used as a barrel polishing method. Additionally, any type of usually used polishing agent such as ceramic grain or the like can be employed as a polishing agent.




Further, the barrel polishing operation performed as a preliminary step for the dry type polishing step can be used as a so-called rough polishing operation.




Furthermore, the barrel polishing operation performed as a preliminary step for the wet type polishing operation exhibits the same operational effect as that of the dry type polishing operation, and therefore, it can be used as a so-called intermediate polishing step.




Moreover, the barrel polishing operation performed as a post-step for the wet type polishing operation exhibits the same operational effect as that of the wet type polishing operation, and therefore, it can be used as a so-called finish polishing step.





FIG. 6

shows a barrel polishing apparatus constructed, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.




In

FIG. 6

, reference numeral


710


designates a polishing medium receiving container for a barrel polishing apparatus. A polishing medium (aggregate)


720


is received in the polishing medium receiving container


710


. Incidentally, any kind of usually used polishing medium such as ceramic grain or the like can be employed for the polishing medium


720


.




Reference numeral


711


designates an upper end opening formed at the upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


710


, and the interior of the polishing medium receiving container


710


is communicated with the atmosphere via the upper end opening


711


.




Reference numeral


712


designates a polishing medium feeding port formed at the bottom part of the polishing medium receiving container


710


.




A polishing medium


720


contained in the polishing medium receiving container


710


naturally falls down via the polishing medium feeding port


712


. The intensity of pressure generated by the falling down of the polishing medium


720


is gradually reduced as the amount of the polishing medium


720


remained in the polishing medium receiving container


710


is decreased.




Reference numeral


730


designates a guide sleeve which is fitted to the bottom part of the polishing medium receiving container


710


in such a manner as to enable the guide sleeve


730


to be rotated. In addition, reference numeral


731


designates a trumpet-like sleeve which constitutes a part of the guide sleeve


730


arranged at the lower part of the guide sleeve


730


. A function of the guide sleeve


730


will be described later.




Reference character W designates an aluminum wheel usable for a vehicle or the like (corresponding to a “work” in the present invention). This wheel W can be rotated around an axis line


0


while it is vibrated. Incidentally, when the wheel W is rotated, the guide sleeve


730


inclusive of the trumpet-like sleeve


731


is vibratively rotated.




When the polishing medium


720


naturally falls down from the polishing medium receiving container


710


toward the surface of the wheel W while the wheel W is vibratively rotated, the polishing medium


720


continuously reaches the surface of the wheel W via the guide sleeve


730


with any substantial gap between the polishing medium receiving container


710


and the guide sleeve


730


. The polishing medium


720


is discharged in the downward direction via a plurality of holes


751


and


752


of the wheel W.




Incidentally, as mentioned above, the intensity of feeding pressure generated by the polishing medium


720


to be fed to the wheel W is reduced as the amount of the polishing medium


720


remained in the polishing medium receiving container


710


is decreased. Thus, even though a single kind of polishing medium


720


is employed, the surface of the wheel W can be subjected to rough polishing, and moreover, the surface of the wheel W can continuously be subjected to intermediate polishing and finish polishing.




After the polishing medium


720


is completely discharged below the wheel W, i.e., after the interior of the polishing medium receiving container


710


become empty, the polishing medium


720


is returned to the polishing medium receiving container


710


by using a suitable supply means (not shown). Thereafter, the wheel W is continuously subjected again to rough polishing, intermediate polishing and finish polishing. A practical extent attained by each polishing operation can be changed by adding pressurized air or water so as to allow the polishing medium


720


to be compressed by the pressurized air or water.




After the barrel polishing operation is completed, surface treatment such as coating, plating, alumite treatment or the like is conducted for the wheel W as is known in the art. All kinds of usually available surface treatment process is employable for carrying out the foregoing surface treatment.




According to the third embodiment of the present invention, since the feeding of the polishing medium to the surface of the work is attributable to the natural falling-down of the polishing medium, noisy sound is substantially reduced, and moreover, consumption of energy can be minimized.




In addition, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, since the guide sleeve is arranged between the feeding port of the polishing medium receiving container and the surface of the work, the feeding of the polishing medium to the work can be achieved without any loss.




Additionally, when the polishing medium received in the polishing medium receiving container can be compressed by using suitable means (not shown), a practical extent attained by each polishing operation performed for the work can be changed.





FIG. 7

shows a barrel polishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.




In

FIG. 7

, reference numeral


7


B designates a barrel polishing apparatus, and reference numeral


760


designates a driving section such as a motor for driving the barrel polishing apparatus


7


B. Reference numeral


761


designates a cylindrical polishing medium receiving container mounted on the driving section


760


. The polishing medium receiving container


761


can be rotated about an axis line of the driving section


760


in the circumferential direction by actuating the driving section


760


. Reference numeral


762


designates a polishing medium in the polishing medium receiving container


761


. All kinds of usually usable polishing medium such as ceramic grain or the like can be employed for the polishing medium


762


. Incidentally, the polishing method can be practiced in accordance with a wet type polishing process or a dry type polishing process.




Reference numeral


763


designates an upper end opening which is formed at the upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


761


, and the work W is dipped in the polishing medium


762


via the upper end opening


763


.




Next, reference numeral


770


designates a base board which is integrated with the driving section


760


, and reference numeral


771


designates a supporting column which upright stands on the base board


770


. The supporting column


771


extends in the upward direction to reach the substantially upper end of the polishing medium receiving container


761


.




Reference numeral


780


designates an attaching bracket which is arranged in such a manner as to swing on the supporting column


771


. Specifically, the attaching bracket


780


can swing about a point O along the vertical surface. Reference numeral


790


designates a supporting bed mounted on the attaching bracket


780


via rotating means


781


. Thus, the supporting bed


790


can swing along the vertical surface together with the attaching bracket


780


, and moreover, the supporting bed


790


can turn or swing about an axis line P by driving the rotating means


781


.




Reference numeral


791


designates a supporting member which is arranged on the supporting bed


790


so as to move in the forward/backward direction. In addition, reference numeral


792


designates a supporting arm which is fitted to the supporting member


791


so as to move in the forward/backward (longitudinal) direction relative to the supporting member


791


. It should be noted that the forward/backward direction of the supporting arm


792


is coincident with the forward/backward direction of the supporting member


791


. Reference character W designates a work (for example, an aluminum wheel usable for vehicle), and this work W is mounted on the foremost (distal) end of the supporting ram


792


via an air chuck


793


, whereby the work W is dipped in the polishing medium


762


received in the polishing medium receiving container


761


.




Next, an operation of the polishing apparatus constructed in the above-described manner will be described below.




Firstly, as shown by phantom lines (one-dot chain lines), the supporting arm


792


is mounted such that the foremost (distal) end of the supporting arm


792


is located directly above the supporting arm


792


, and thereafter, the supporting arm


792


is retracted in the downward direction. While the foregoing state is maintained, the work W usable for a vehicle or the like is mounted on the foremost end of the supporting arm


792


by actuating the air chuck


793


. Thereafter, as shown by phantom lines (two-dot chain lines), the supporting arm


792


is extended in the upward direction. Subsequently, as shown by solid lines, the supporting arm


792


is rotated about the point O together with the supporting bed


790


along the vertical surface so that the wheel W is dipped in the polishing medium


762


which is in the flowing state.




Incidentally, while the work W is dipped in the polishing medium


762


, the supporting arm


792


can intermittently be displaced with the dipped state maintained. After completion of the polishing operation, the supporting arm


792


is rotated about the point O in the opposite direction together with the supporting member


791


and the supporting bed


790


along the vertical surface, the supporting arm


792


is in the upright state with the foremost end thereof located directly above the supporting member


791


as shown by the phantom lines (two-dot chain lines), and thereafter, the supporting arm


792


is displaced in the downward direction as shown by the phantom lines (one-dot chain lines). While the foregoing state is maintained, the wheel W is disconnected from the foremost end of the supporting arm


792


. Subsequently, the aforementioned operational steps are repeated.




Incidentally, when soft material such as sponge, rubber, soft plastic or the like is used in the form of grain or small block as a polishing material usable for the polishing apparatus


78


, each finish polishing operation can be performed at a high efficiency. Incidentally, soft material may be coated on the surface with hard grain or hard small block so as to allow it to be used as this kind of polishing medium.




After completion of the barrel polishing operation, surface treatment such as coating, plating, alumite treatment is carried out for the work W. All kind of normally employable surface treatment is involved in the concept of surface treatment as mentioned above.




The work W usable for practicing the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment of the present invention may be a work which is preliminarily subjected to surface treatment, and alternatively, it may be a work which is not subjected to any kind of surface treatment.




FIG.


8


A and

FIG. 8B

are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the flow of polishing medium and the position of the work in the present invention. In the present invention, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the work supporting arm


960


is positioned at an outer area within the polishing medium receiving container


920


but is apart from the center of the polishing medium receiving container


920


. This relationship is more clearly shown in

FIGS. 8A and 8B

.





FIG. 8A

is a top view showing the direction and position of the work supporting arm


960


in the polishing medium receiving container


920


. The circular flow of the polishing medium


921


in the polishing medium receiving container


920


is shown by the arrows in FIG.


8


A. The work supporting arm


960


is parallel with a line running through the center C of the polishing medium receiving container


920


but is apart from the center C and positioned at the outer area of the polishing medium receiving container


920


. Namely, the work supporting arm


960


is positioned close to the inner wall of the container


920


as well as in the direction tangential to the container


920


. The work W is attached to the tip (distal end) of the supporting arm


960


so that the work W receives a higher degree of friction by the flow of the polishing medium, resulting in the dramatic increase in the polishing efficiency.





FIG. 8B

is a front view showing the angle of the work supporting arm


960


, i.e., the work W, in the polishing medium receiving container


920


. The work supporting arm


960


is diagonally introduced into the polishing medium receiving container


920


at the position as shown in FIG.


8


A. Because of the angle of the work W in the polishing medium receiving container


920


, the circumferential flow of the polishing medium


921


is forced to downwardly flow when striking the surface of the work W as shown by the arrows of FIG.


8


B. This relationship causes the high degree of friction between the polishing medium


921


and the surface of the work W, thereby achieving the substantial increase in the polishing efficiency.




While the present invention has been described above with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted that the present invention should not be limited only to these preferred embodiments but various changes or modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A barrel polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a work, comprising:a polishing medium receiving container having a polishing medium therein; means for rotating said medium container about a vertical axis for creating a continuous circumferential flow of said polishing medium therein; and a work supporting arm for attaching the work at a distal end thereof wherein the work supporting arm is rotatably connected to a supporting column provided outside of said polishing medium container, said work supporting arm being positioned away from a center of the polishing medium receiving container in a direction tangential to the polishing medium receiving container; wherein said work supporting arm is inclined relative to a surface of the polishing medium so that the work is faced diagonally toward a direction of said continuous circumferential flow of polishing medium when polishing said work, thereby creating a downward flow of the polishing medium along a lower surface of the work.
Priority Claims (6)
Number Date Country Kind
8-332865 Nov 1996 JP
8-332866 Nov 1996 JP
9-358014 Dec 1996 JP
9-358015 Dec 1996 JP
9-047369 Feb 1997 JP
9-047370 Feb 1997 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/929,785 filed on Sep. 15, 1997, now abandoned.

US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
3623278 Schwartz Nov 1971 A
5449313 Kordonsky et al. Sep 1995 A
6280303 Kawasaki Aug 2001 B1
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/929785 Sep 1997 US
Child 09/893095 US