Patent Grant
9993906
Vibratory finishing is a finish manufacturing process used to deburr, radius, descale, burnish, clean and brighten a variety of small objects. Vibratory tumblers are utilized in many industries, including metal fabrication and machine shops and are available in many sizes and configurations for use in this finishing process. Small versions of vibratory tumblers suited for the consumer are widely used in the shooting industry to clean and polish bullet casings in preparation for loading and reloading.
A vibratory tumbler typically includes a vibrating base and a bowl, basin or other container (generically referred to herein as a “bowl” though no particular shape requirement is intended) into which the objects being finished are placed along with a finishing medium. An eccentric, rotating weight shakes the bowl in a circular or substantially circular path. This motion causes the entire load—i.e. the objects being finished and the finishing medium—to be lifted up at an angle and then dropped. As the load is falling, the tub returns to an upward position. Thus, an upward and angular force is applied. This force causes a sheering action where the parts and media rub against each other. Vibratory tumblers produce a smooth finish because the media essentially laps the objects being finished. Since the load is moving as a unit, there is no tearing action or unequal forces that tend to bend and distort objects and this method of finishing is safe for even fragile objects.
It is noted that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular vibratory tumbler mechanism. The general description of vibratory tumblers given above is for background information only. Numerous other vibratory tumbling mechanisms as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are considered within the scope of the present invention.
One problem with vibratory finishing, whether small scale or large, is removing the items and media from the bowl. Larger commercial tumblers employ a variety of methods, including gates, screens and ramps, to get the parts and media out of the bowl. For small tumblers, a user usually just picks up the entire unit—i.e. the vibration base and the bowl—and the entire contents are dumped out onto a screen or other separating device. Although the entire unit is not always prohibitively heavy, removal of the load is cumbersome and usually results in spilled product and media. It also makes more likely the possibility that the entire unit will be dropped and broken or damaged.
To address this issue, some vibratory tumblers have been equipped with a removable bowl. However, detaching the bowl requires the removal of screws or other similar fasteners that hold the bowl in place while in use. This method of removal is slow and inefficient. Overall, the removal mechanisms are so inconvenient and cumbersome that many users—even if they have a detachable bowl—will simply not bother with it and will just pick up the whole unit and dump out the contents.
Less secure removal mechanisms are also challenging in that a poorly secured bowl can interfere with the tumbling motion making the machine ineffective for its intended purpose. Additionally, having the bowl wobbly can lead to premature damage to the tumbler. Loosely attached bowls also are more likely to become disengaged potentially spilling their contents and are noisy.
Thus, a vibratory tumbler having a secure attachment mechanism that also allows for quick and easy removal of the bowl would be advantageous.
The present invention in its various embodiments is a vibratory tumbler. The vibratory tumbler includes a bowl having one or more engagement hooks and a latching hook. The engagement hooks and the latching hook can be substantially uniformly spaced apart, but are not required to be. The bowl includes a lid and in some embodiments that lid is dome shaped which helps minimize noise. The bowl can vary in shape, but a substantially annular shape is advantageous in that it allows for maximum capacity and also allows secure fitting of the lid.
The vibratory tumbler includes a connection platform that can be removably secured to the bowl. The connection platform includes a vibration source, one or more openings capable of engaging the one or more engagement hooks and a locking mechanism capable of engaging the latching hook. In certain embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a latching opening capable of receiving the latching hook; a spring clip substantially within the latching opening and capable of engaging the latching hook; and a locking lever rotatably coupled to the spring clip whereby the spring clip engages the latching hook when the locking lever is in a locked position and releases the latching hook when the locking lever is in an unlocked position. The engagement hooks and latching hook can be substantially the same or they can be different. In some embodiments, the engagement and latching hooks are notched; in some embodiments they are substantially solid. One or more compression pads can be included on the connection platform which help to secure the bowl and also minimize noise.
In certain embodiments, the connection platform is coupled to a base through a series of springs. The springs serve to isolate the vibrating motion of the bowl
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
The present invention in its various embodiments is a vibratory tumbler that includes a removable bowl that can be securely affixed to the base when in use, but that can also be quickly and easily removed when a user desires to empty its contents. In particular, the present invention includes a connection platform having a novel locking mechanism that securely affixes the bowl to the connection platform from substantially every degree of freedom when in use. It also allows for quick and easy removal of the bowl when desired. As illustrated below, the present invention utilizes hooking mechanisms, levers and clips that work in combination to this end.
Prior art tumblers typically include a lidded bowl into which the objects and finishing medium are placed and a vibratory base. The bowl must be secured tightly enough to transfer the energy from the source of the vibrating motion to the bowl during the tumbling process. However, this usually requires a user simply pick up the entire tumbler to remove the bowl's contents.
It is also noted that in some of the illustrated embodiments, the hooks 158 are notched 162 which allows for optimal strength with minimum materials. However, in other embodiments, the hooks 158 may not include such notches 162. In other embodiments, the hooks 158 could be narrower. In yet other embodiments, the hooks 158 could be wider. All are considered within the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the term “hooks” is not intended to be solely limited to a rounded side-sectional “J” shape. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to have hooks that are more angular.
In the presently illustrated embodiment, the bowl 104 includes three hooks 158. However, in certain embodiments, it may be desirable to have more or fewer hooks 158. In the embodiment illustrated below, three hooks 158 are arrayed approximately one hundred and twenty degrees apart. This exact angular orientation of the hooks 158 is not vital, but even positioning allows the bowl 104 to work the same in any orientation and there is no wrong way to put the hooks 158 into the corresponding engagement openings 128, 138.
It is noted that the term “slot” is not intended to be limited to a narrow, elongated opening even though that is how they are generally depicted in the illustrations. As discussed above, the hooks 158 could be a variety of shapes and configurations. Similarly, the slots or openings 128 in connection platform 106 could be other shapes including, but not limited to, substantially oval, substantially rectangular, substantially round or combinations thereof. The exact shape could differ provided the openings 128 are able to engage the hooks 158 as discussed herein. Moreover, as noted with the hooks, in some embodiments it may be desirable to have more or fewer slots or openings 128. In some instances, the number of slots 128 may not exactly match up with the number of hooks 158. For example, in some embodiments the connection platform 106 may include more slots 128 than there are hooks 158.
It is also noted that the connection platform 106 is depicted in the illustrations as a distinct component from the base 102. This is typically the case for ease of manufacture and assembly. However, a distinct base 102 and connection platform 106 is not intended to be a limiting feature as, in certain embodiments, the base 102 could be eliminated. In yet other embodiments, the base 102 and connection platform 106 could comprise multiple component parts or could be a singly manufactured unit.
As illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the latching action also creates a downward force sufficient to compress the bumpers or compression pads 130. In
As discussed above, engagement of the latch hook 159 with the spring clip 136 also acts to engage the other hooks 160 with the slots 128. Specifically, the pulling motion from the spring clip 136 in engaging the latch hook 159 also pulls the bowl 104 forward which in turn pulls the slot engagement hooks 160 forward and secures them in the slots 128 (about ¼″ of forward movement in one embodiment).
In certain embodiments, the lever 134 and spring clip 136 are attached in a way that allows the lever 134 to rotate while the portion of the spring clip 136 that engages with the bowl 104 remains substantially in the same plane. When the lever 134 is up, the spring clip 136 is located further toward the center of the machine leaving plenty of room for the bowl 104 to be removed or installed without interfering with the latch 132. When the lever 134 is pulled down, the spring clip 136 simultaneously pulls the bowl 104 towards it (engaging the hooks 160 with slots 128 as described above) and engages with the latch hook 159, locking the bowl 104 down.
When operation of the tumbler 100 is completed, the locking lever 134 is switched upward. Positioning the lever 134 in an up position translates the motion along the spring clip 136, pushing it away from the latch hook 159 and thereby disengaging it. Once the latch hook 159 becomes disengaged from spring clip 136, the bowl 104 can be removed by simply sliding it away from the latch 132 (about ¼″ in one embodiment) to disengage the other hooks 160 from the slots 128. Then the bowl 104 is free to be lifted away from the connection platform 106 which contains the motor 118 and offset weights 120. One additional advantage of the present invention is that separate bowls can be interchangeably used with a single unit. For example, a user might want to have a variety of different polishing media that can be swapped out (e.g. depending on the condition of the casing being polished, how shiny a finish is desired, etc.). The present invention allows users to have separate and interchangeable bowls for the different types of media.
It is noted that the relative maneuvering of the lever between the latched and unlatched position could, in certain embodiments, be reversed. For example, in some instances, it may be desirable to configure the lever and spring clip such that the upward position of the lever is the latched position and the downward position of the lever is the unlatched position.
The spring clip 136 is advantageous in this application as it not only provides the hook and spring function, but also provides a snug mechanical hold-down. Friction also provides just enough resistance in certain embodiments that the lever remains in the up position when the bowl 104 is removed.
Other features of certain embodiments of the present invention that are advantageous include the dome lid 150, as depicted in
The base geometry of certain embodiments of the present invention is also advantageous in that it provides more stability. Thus, it is quieter and less likely to walk which also lends itself to the longevity of the device.
According to one embodiment, an assembly diagram of the present invention is depicted in
Base 102 in this embodiment includes a motor guard 110 and one or more foot pads 112. Connectors such as bolts or screws can be used to secure the motor 118, offset weights 120 and fan assembly 122 to connection platform 106 at apertures 126.
Materials
Numerous materials as would be apparent to one skilled in the art could be utilized in connection with the present invention and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, bowls can be made of numerous materials including, but not limited to plastic, fiberglass, metal, wood or combinations thereof. Hooks can be made of numerous materials including, but not limited to plastic, fiberglass, metal, wood or combinations thereof. Hooks can be molded singly with the bowl or separately affixed by affixing mechanisms as would be apparent to one skilled in the art including but not limited to adhesives and plastic welds. In certain embodiments, the hooks and bowl can be made of differing materials. The spring clips are typically made of metal; but could be other materials as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Variations
In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to reverse in whole or in part the relative positioning of the hooks, latch levers and spring clips. In particular, in one embodiment, the latching hooks are on the connection platform and the latch and spring clip are positioned on the bowl. In yet other embodiments, the engagement hooks are mated into the connection platform and the slots are on the bowl which is turned to lock them into place. In other embodiments, cam locks and dovetail locks are used instead of the hook and slot configuration. In some embodiments, the connection platform may also include multiple latches and slots.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/105,181, filed Jan. 19, 2015 which is hereby incorporated by reference for its supporting teachings.
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