Metal finishing barrel cover locking system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6409039
  • Patent Number
    6,409,039
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, March 21, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 25, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A metal finishing barrel side opening has a cover secured by a series of cover and barrel tabs, the cover slid into a secured position with the cover tabs partially overlain by the barrel tabs. A locking handle assembly includes a graspable portion supported on a deflectable spring blade attached to the cover at one end which allows the handle assembly to move away from an aligned locator feature on the barrel as the cover is pushed into position. When the cover is shifted lengthwise, the handle assembly moves past the locking feature, and the locking blade pushes the handle assembly back down alongside the locking feature which then prevents reverse sliding of the cover back from under the barrel tabs. When the handle is pulled to initiate removal of the cover, the handle assembly is then moved out above the locking feature to enable the cover to be slid to the released position. An automation apparatus interacts with one form of the locking assembly to automatically install and remove the cover.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention concerns metal finishing barrels used in the cleaning, plating, phosphating, etc. of metal parts in bulk.




A material which will not be attacked by the various processing solutions such as polypropylene or stainless steel is typically used to construct metal finishing barrels, which are perforated so as to allow the parts to be immersed when the barrel is lowered into a tank of a plating or other processing solution. The finishing barrel is rotatably mounted on a support structure to allow it to be rotated while immersed in the tank to tumble the parts insuring even processing, and a gear is affixed to one end of the barrel for driving the barrel with an electric motor.




One or more removable covers are installed over a loading/unloading opening provided in the side of the barrel. The covers must be closely fit to the opening to insure that small parts will not be captured in clearance cracks or escape through gaps between the cover and the barrel. The covers must also be held securely to withstand the heavy loads imposed by the weight of bulk quantities of metal parts as the finishing barrel is rotated.




These requirements have led to the development of an interlocking tab cover securement in which a series of tabs on each side of the cover are slid beneath barrel tabs projecting towards the barrel opening to secure the cover in position. A separate cover locking system is needed to positively prevent the cover from shifting back to release the tabs during processing. This locking system has previously taken the form of a polypropylene nut piece threaded into a gap between two covers arranged in end to end alignment over the opening, preventing the covers from shifting back to disengage the tabs.




This arrangement has worked very well, but requires the threading and unthreading of the separate nut piece, significantly slowing the process of installing and removing the covers manually. Further, this system makes it difficult to automate the cover installation and removal process, which automation is often desirable.




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a processing barrel cover locking system which is positive and secure but does not require separately installed locking system components to speed up the installation and removal of the covers.




It is a further object to provide such a cover locking system which is readily compatible with an automated cover handling system.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The above recited objects of the invention, as well as other objects which will be understood upon a reading of the following specification and claims, are achieved by mounting a cover handle assembly including a spring blade attached at one end to the cover. The cover and barrel are each formed with a series of interfit tabs, which allow the cover to be placed into the barrel opening with the tabs offset. When the cover is slid in one direction, the cover tabs are positioned lying partially beneath the barrel tabs to be interengaged and hold the cover over the barrel opening.




The handle assembly is aligned between successive cover tabs to engage a barrel tab when the cover is pushed into place over the barrel opening, but the spring blade mounting allows the handle to be moved out to allow the cover to be advanced so that the cover tabs are positioned beneath the barrel tabs. The cover is then slid to a tab engaged position with the cover tabs partially lying beneath the barrel tabs to secure the cover in position over the barrel opening.




When the handle is released, the spring blade causes the handle assembly to move back down against the cover, with the handle assembly then located just to one side of the barrel tab. The handle assembly has a blocking portion which is then located to one side of that barrel tab, acting to block any reverse shifting of the cover back out from under the barrel tabs, to positively lock the cover in the secured position.




The handle assembly moves away from the cover when the handle is pulled as the cover is being removed against the force generated by the spring blade, to elevate the handle blocking portion above the barrel tab.




This outward movement of the handle assembly allows the cover to be slid back out from under the barrel tabs and then lifted off the barrel opening.




Either one or two covers can be employed, with one cover having a locking handle securing the other cover in position by an end to end abutment of the covers.




This cover locking system can be employed with an automated process of installing and removing the cover. In this application, the cover handle assembly comprises a rod cammed out by a cam on a slide, which also advances a series of rods into bores in respective upright pieces attached to the cover. The cover and rod slides are then advanced further in the same direction by another actuator and slide to move the tabs out of engagement and allow the cover to be lifted out by motion of a third slide and actuator.











DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a top view of a metal finishing barrel assembly and support structure incorporating a cover lock system according to the invention.





FIG. 1A

is an enlarged top view of a portion of the barrel assembly shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 2

is a fragmentary end view of the finishing barrel assembly shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the barrel and cover with the handle assembly shown in the locked condition.





FIG. 3A

is the same view as

FIG. 3

but shows the handle assembly in the released position.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the finishing barrel assembly including a cover locking system according to the invention.





FIG. 4A

is a fragmentary sectional view of the top portion of the barrel assembly shown in FIG.


4


.





FIG. 5

is a fragmentary end view of the barrel assembly shown in FIG.


4


.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged perspective view of the locking handle assembly and portions of the cover and barrel shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.





FIG. 7

is an end view of a finishing barrel assembly loaded in a transfer shuttle cart and positioned adjacent to an automated cover handling apparatus.





FIG. 8

is a front elevation view of the barrel assembly and a support structure therefor.





FIG. 9

is a front elevational view of the cover handling apparatus components for engaging the barrel cover, shown in section, portions of the barrel shown in phantom lines.





FIG. 10

is a front elevational view of the barrel assembly positioned in front of the cover handling apparatus diagrammatically depicting a shuttle mounted motor for rotating the barrel assembly to a predetermined located rotary position.





FIG. 11

is a front view of the cover handling apparatus utilized for lengthwise location of the barrel assembly partially shown in phantom lines.





FIGS. 12 and 13

are fragmentary sectional views through the barrel assembly and the cover handling apparatus showing cover engagement, shown rotated out of its actual inclined position to a vertical position for clarity.





FIG. 14

is an enlarged plan view of a fragmentary portion of the barrel assembly showing the locking handle assembly.





FIG. 15

is a view of the section


15





15


taken in FIG.


14


.





FIG. 16

is a sectional view taken through one of the rod engagement pieces attached to the barrel cover.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.




Referring to the drawings and particularly

FIG. 1

, a metal finishing barrel assembly


10


is shown of a well known type, including a perforate barrel


12


rotatably supported on a support structure


8


. A large polypropylene gear


16


is affixed to one end for rotating the barrel


12


while immersed in a solution in a processing tank (not shown) for uniform treatment of metal parts, using motor driving gears


15


,


17


in the well known manner.




The barrel


12


has a lengthwise loading/unloading access side opening


18


(

FIG. 2

) formed therein of a generally rectangular shape. A perforate cover


20


is fit into the opening


18


and secured therein after the parts to be processed have been loaded. The opening


18


is defined by two rectangular frame pieces


22


having slots receiving the barrel wall


13


. The barrel wall


13


shown is constructed of one half inch thick polypropylene plastic which has been stress relieved. Holes are drilled into the barrel wall


13


and cover


20


to allow the plating or other solutions to freely enter the barrel to reach the parts loaded therein.




A pair of handle assemblies


26


,


28


are attached to the cover


20


for manually lifting the cover


20


into and out of the opening


18


.




The handle assembly


28


incorporates features comprising part of a self acting cover locking system according to the invention, described below.




The frame


22


defines a ledge


24


on which the bottom of the cover


20


rests when placed over the opening


18


. A series of spaced barrel tabs


30


are arrayed along the length of each side of the opening


18


projecting inwardly towards the opening


18


. A corresponding series of spaced cover tabs


32


are arrayed along each side of the cover


20


.




The tabs


30


,


32


are configured so that in an offset position, the cover tabs


32


can pass between the barrel tabs


30


so as to position the cover tabs


32


below the barrel tabs


30


, the cover


20


resting on the ledge


24


.




When the cover


20


is shifted to the left as shown in

FIG. 1

, the cover tabs


32


move to a position lying partially beneath the barrel tabs


32


, to secure the cover


20


over the opening


18


. Thus, portions of the cover


20


and barrel


12


are interfit by a endwire sliding movement of the cover to secure the cover over the opening


18


.




The locking handle assembly


28


includes a spring blade


34


(

FIGS. 1A

,


3


,


3


A) fixed at one end to the cover


20


by a clamping block


36


and titanium screws


38


. A handle piece


40


is attached to the free end of the spring blade as by titanium screws


42


. A restraint piece


44


is secured to the cover


20


intermediate the length of the spring blade


34


limiting its upward movement and preventing any substantial sideways movement.




The cover


20


is lifted by grasping the handles


26


and


40


and placed over the opening


18


with the cover tabs


32


aligned with the gaps


46


between the barrel tabs


30


.




The cover


20


is pushed down into the opening


18


. The locking handle piece


40


is aligned with a barrel tab


30


in this position, but is deflected away as the cover


20


is seated on the lip


24


to accommodate movement of the cover tabs


32


below the barrel tabs


30


(FIG.


3


A).




Next, the cover


20


is slid to the left as seen in

FIG. 1

, until the left end abuts the gear end


16


of the barrel


12


. In this position, the cover tabs


32


are partially overlain by the barrel tabs


30


to capture the cover


20


in the barrel opening


18


. In this position, the handle piece nose


48


(

FIGS. 3

,


3


A) lies aligned with a gap


46


(

FIG. 1A

) between two barrel tabs


30


. Thus, when the handle


40


is released, the force of the deflected spring blade


34


pushes the nose portion


48


down to the left of the adjacent barrel tab


30


. The barrel tab


30


thus acts as a locking element with respect to the nose portion


48


, preventing the cover


20


from shifting to the right to unlock the cover tabs


32


from the position lying beneath the barrel tabs


30


.




Accordingly, a positive locking action is achieved without any further action than that required to secure the cover


20


in place.




Heavier duty metal finishing barrels are utilized in some processes, as in phosphating, and are typically constructed of metal such as stainless steel instead of plastic.

FIGS. 4-6

show such a barrel assembly


50


including the barrel


52


and two covers


54


A,


54


B aligned end to end over a lengthwise opening


56


in the side of the barrel


52


. The covers


54


A,


54


B shown are of polypropylene while the barrel


52


is made of stainless steel, but the covers


54


A,


54


B could be also made of stainless steel to minimize thermal growth and chemical expansion to avoid any tendency for wedging of the covers in place if higher temperature conditions are present.




A series of metal channels


58


are attached to each cover


54


A,


54


B as shown in FIG.


4


A. Angles


60


,


62


insure a snug fit of the covers


54


A,


54


B.




A (stainless steel) frame


64


is welded to the barrel


52


defining the opening


56


, with a spacer square bars


66


welded atop the frame


64


to support a series of barrel tabs


68


welded thereto.




Each end of each channel


58


is cut off at an angle A, and a bottom portion forms a cover tab


70


adapted to be slid below a corresponding barrel tab


68


as best seen in FIG.


4


.




Each cover


54


A,


54


B has a pair of handles


72


welded to respective channels


58


, enabling manual lifting of each of the covers


54


A,


54


B.




One of the channels


58


A has a spring blade


74


mounted within it, anchored at one end by one of the attachment bolts


73


for the channel


58


A itself (FIG.


6


). The spring blade


74


extends within the channel


58


A and projects beyond the opposite end. A bolt


76


passes through a hole in the spring blade


74


and the channel


58


A, allowing up and down movement of the free end of the spring blade


74


, but restraining, sideways movement. An angle


78


is welded to the top of the spring blade


74


and serves as a handle to lift the spring and limits the extent of up and down movement.




A stop block element


80


is welded next to a barrel tab


68


, which element


80


is aligned with the projecting end of the spring blade


74


when the cover tabs


70


are aligned with the spaces to the right of the barrel tabs


68


when installing the cover


54


B. The spring blade


74


deflects upwardly when the cover


54


B is pushed down over the opening


56


as seen in FIG.


6


.




Referring to

FIGS. 7-16

, a version of the cover lock system for use with an automated, power operated apparatus for removing and replacing the cover is shown, along with an embodiment of the automation apparatus.




A metal finishing barrel assembly


82


is of the type described above is transported by a shuttle cart


84


between the processing system in which it is used and a cover removal-installation station (FIG.


7


).




The barrel assembly


82


is rotatable on a support structure


94


(FIG.


8


), driven by gearing


96


and a drive motor


98


(depicted diagrammatically) carried on the cart


84


. The barrel assembly


82


is rotated thereby to a rough located position by use of a target and sensor (not shown), where the cover


124


is approximately located opposite a cover engagement slide


102


moveable upwardly at an angle, the angled slide


102


part of cover removal and installation apparatus


104


.




The shuttle cart


84


is driven into the cover handling station with a pair of end locators


106


,


108


(

FIG. 11

) spread apart prior to moving the engagement slide


102


and a platform


110


towards the barrel assembly


82


on slides


112


by an actuator


114


(FIG.


7


).




The barrel assembly


82


is located endwise with respect to platform


110


which carries slide


102


by first moving the locator


106


toward the right against the left or idle end face of barrel assembly


82


by first actuator


116


as shown in FIG.


11


. After said contact is made, further travel of locator


106


is prevented by the weight resistance of the barrel assembly


82


, such that further travel of actuator


116


instead causes platform


110


which carries slide


102


and locator


108


to move toward the left on slides


120


, forcing the second locator actuator


118


to retract (which is allowed by connecting the actuator


118


to drain), until locator


108


contacts the right or gear end face of the barrel assembly


82


. At this point the barrel assembly


82


is located precisely in front of the cover handling apparatus


104


, regardless of the initial non-precise positioning of the barrel assembly


82


by the shuttle cart


84


relative to the cover removal and installation apparatus


104


.




The barrel assembly


82


is then rotated to a “fine” located position by operation of the motor


98


, using a second target and sensor (not shown) to accomplish this.




In this version, a series of aligned upright pieces


122


(

FIG. 8

) are attached to the cover


124


, each formed with a chamfered through bore


126


. A single locking handle assembly


128


provided.




The cover


124


has a series of tabs


130


projecting outwardly along each side.




The barrel


134


has a series of tabs


132


projecting inwardly towards a rectangular loading access


136


opening in the barrel side defined by a frame


138


(FIGS.


12


-


16


).




The cover


124


can be placed on the barrel opening


136


atop the frame


138


by aligning the cover tabs


130


with the spaces between the barrel tabs


132


as in the above described embodiments and then sliding the cover


124


endwise to carry the cover tabs


130


beneath the barrel tabs


132


(FIG.


14


).




Both the installation and removal is done automatically in this apparatus.




With the cover


124


in a locked position on the barrel


134


, and with the barrel assembly


82


precisely located endwise and rotationally, an actuator


138


is activated to carry the cover engagement angle slide


102


down onto the cover


124


(

FIGS. 9

,


11


). In this position, a fork piece


142


(

FIG. 9

) captures one of the upright pieces


122


, while rod carriers


144


are located to the right of each upright piece


122


, respective rods


146


each being aligned with a respective chamfered bore


126


. The rod carriers


144


are all supported on a pair of lengthwise extending rods


148


, which are in turn supported on a lengthwise slide


150


supported on guides


151


.




A first lengthwise actuator


152


fixed to slide


150


has a movable output rod


154


which drives all of the rod carriers


144


to the left against stops


145


and fork piece


142


(FIG.


9


), seating the rods


146


in their respective aligned bores


126


in the upright pieces


122


.




A second lengthwise actuator


156


is connected to the slide


150


, with an output rod


158


connected to the structure


102


.




The handle assembly


128


(

FIGS. 14-16

) includes a rod holder


160


fastened to a free end of a spring blade


162


with titanium screws


164


. The spring blade


162


is fastened to the cover


124


at its opposite end with a clamping piece


164


by titanium screws


166


. A side to side and outward restriction on the movement of the spring blade


162


is provided by a U-shaped piece


168


fastened to the cover


124


with titanium screws


170


at a point intermediate the length of the spring blade


162


. An opening


172


is sized to prevent side to side movement while allowing a predetermined extent of outward deflection of the free end of the spring blade


162


.




A cam rod


180


extends back over the cover


124


from one side of the rod holder


160


(cam rod


180


may also be grasped as a manual handle).




The cover tabs


130


are sized to fit between spaces


182


between the barrel tabs


132


when the cover


124


is positioned to align the same at the beginning of the cover removal cycle.




The rod holder


160


is urged down by the spring blade


162


to normally occupy one of the barrel tab spaces


182


, which thus engages an adjacent barrel tab


132


A, preventing the cover


124


from shifting back to allow the cover tabs


130


to move out from under the barrel tabs


132


.




When the actuator


152


moves the rods


148


to the left, a cam piece


184


mounted thereon (

FIG. 9

) is also driven to the left to engage the cam rod


180


, forcing the cam rod


180


to move out as seen in

FIG. 12

, moving the rod holder


160


away to clear the adjacent barrel tab


132


.




When activated, the actuator


156


causes the slide


150


to move to the left to carry the rods


148


, cover


124


, and rod carriers


144


to the left, sliding the cover tabs


130


out from under the barrel tabs


132


.




The locator actuators


116


,


118


are operated to spread the locators


106


,


108


out of engagement with the barrel


134


.




The actuator


138


is then operated to move the cover


124


off and away from the barrel


134


, actuator


114


retracting all of these parts and the cover


124


back.




The barrel


134


is then unloaded and then reloaded with parts, and the cover


124


replaced by the reverse of the cycle described.




In placing the cover


124


onto the barrel


134


, the handle rod holder


160


engages a barrel tab


132


A and the spring blade


162


deflects to allow the rod holder


160


to move out as the cover


124


is advanced over the barrel opening


136


. As the cover


124


is slid lengthwise, the rod holder


160


is moved back in by the spring blade


162


to be positioned adjacent a barrel tab


132


A to lock the cover


124


in the secured position.



Claims
  • 1. A perforated finishing barrel assembly including a finishing barrel having a lengthwise extending access opening in one side thereof, and at least one cover fit into said opening, said barrel side having a lengthwise series of tabs formed along said opening and projecting towards said opening, said cover having a series of spaced apart outwardly projecting tabs formed along its length, said respective series of tabs configured to allow said cover tabs to be pushed between said barrel tabs in a lengthwise relative position of said cover over said opening, said cover tabs thereby positioned past said barrel tabs and against said barrel, said cover able to be shifted lengthwise to cause capturing of said cover tabs beneath said barrel tabs to secure said cover on said barrel, the improvement comprising:at least one locking handle assembly secured to said cover enabling positioning of said cover on said barrel overlying said opening therein and lifting of said cover from said barrel opening, said locking assembly including a graspable handle mounted on said cover by a spring blade affixed at one end to said cover and free at the other end which mounts said handle to be deflectable away from said cover to a limited extent, a locking feature fixed to said barrel side positioned opposite said handle when said cover series of tabs are aligned with spaces between said barrel spaces in said lengthwise relative position, said deflectability of said spring blade causing said locking feature to push allowing said cover to be slid to move said cover tabs past said barrel tabs with said handle on said locking feature, said locking feature configured so that said handle moves past said locking feature upon shifting of said cover so as to bring said cover tabs beneath said barrel tabs, whereat a side of said locking feature blocks a portion of said handle assembly to positively prevent shifting endwise movement of said cover in the opposite direction, whereby said cover is locked in position over said barrel side opening.
  • 2. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cover abuts against a surface on said barrel upon shifting to said tab locking position to prevent continued lengthwise movement.
  • 3. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein one of said series of barrel tabs acts as said locking feature engaging said locking handle assembly.
  • 4. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 further including a restraining feature limiting the extent of sideward movement of said spring blade.
  • 5. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein another cover also overlies said barrel side opening in endwise abutment with said cover having said handle assembly attached, said another cover locked in position by locking of said first mentioned cover.
  • 6. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said locking feature comprises a block separate from said barrel tabs affixed to said barrel side adjacent said opening.
  • 7. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said finishing barrel and cover are constructed of perforated polypropylene.
  • 8. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cover and barrel of constructed are stainless steel, said cover being substantially flat.
  • 9. The barrel finishing assembly according to claim 4 wherein said restraining feature also limits outward movement of said spring blade.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of provisional Ser. No. 60/193,189, filed Mar. 30, 2000.

US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
912041 Snow Feb 1909 A
1564472 Daly et al. Dec 1925 A
3256170 Neilson Jun 1966 A
3560036 Kiefer et al. Feb 1971 A
4467940 Little Aug 1984 A
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/193189 Mar 2000 US