Machine for cleaning and polishing pool balls

Claim 2

A machine for washing pool balls comprising a cylindrical open container of predetermined dimension having a substantially planar removable lid normal the axis of said container and adapted to hermetically seal the upper open end of said cylinder, said lid having at least one transverse bristle brush removably secured to the inner surface thereof positioned normal said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid, a bushing means secured and sealed centrally in the bottom of said container and having a bore therethrough coaxial with said axis, a fixed support means for engaging said bushing and retaining the bottom of said container in a substantially horizontal position on said support means, an electric gear-motor secured under said support means with the final drive shaft thereof extending upward coaxially through said bore in said bushing and into said container and adapted to rotate at a predetermined speed when said gear-motor is energized, hermetic sealing means positioned between the inner surface of said bore and the outer surface of said shaft for sealing cleaning liquid in said container, a circular rotor means coaxially secured on said shaft for rotation thereby with the lower surface and the outer periphery thereof in close proximity to the bottom and inner wall of said container respectively, said rotor means having an upper planar marginal surface of predetermined width normal to said axis for supporting a plurality of pool balls thereon. a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid in said container whereby the said balls under the influence of centrifugal force will simultaneously rotate in said liquid in a random manner on said marginal surface and against the inner periphery of said container and periodically traverse said brush means for washing extraneous matter from the entire surface of said balls when said gear-motor is energized.

Claim 3

The construction recited in claim 1 including a plurality of bristle brushes secured to the inner surface of said lid in radial position with respect to said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid.

Claim 4

A machine for polishing pool balls comprising means forming a frame having a substantially horizontal top and a parallel spaced horizontal platform, an upper electric gear-motor secured to the under side of said top having a first final drive shaft extending downward for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, an upper circular first disc of predetermined diameter secured to the end of said first shaft for rotation at a predetermined speed having a planar lower surface normal to said axis, a first fibrous polishing means of substantially uniform thickness secured to the said lower surface of said disc having freely extending fibers extending downward a predetermined distance from said lower surface, a lower electric gear motor secured to the under side of said platform and having a final upstanding drive shaft extending upward through said platform and positioned coaxial with said axis, a lower second like disc secured for rotation on sAid upward extending shaft and having a planar upper surface normal to said axis and parallel spaced a predetermined distance from said lower surface of said first disc, a second said fibrous polishing means secured to said upper surface of said second disc with freely extending fibers extending upward a predetermined distance from said upper surface and spaced from said first fibrous polishing means a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said pool balls to be polished, a ball confining ring having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined uniform thickness, said ring having a plurality of radially spaced arcuate recesses on the inner periphery thereof and supported coaxial with said axis and positioned in a plane midway between said first and second disc by a plurality of like legs having their upper ends integral with said ring and their lower ends secured to said platform, a bumper rotor of predetermined diameter secured to the end portion of said upstanding shaft and coaxial with said axis and in said plane between each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined thickness and having a plurality of elastomer bumpers integral with the outer periphery thereof, a source of electric energy, a circuit means including a manual switch for movement from open to closed positions connecting said upper and lower gear motors with said source of electric energy whereby when a plurality of said balls are positioned between said first and said second polishing means and between the inner periphery of said ring and the outer periphery of said bumper rotor they will be random rotated and moved in a generally circular path and become polished when said switch is moved from said open to said closed position for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

A machine for polishing pool balls comprising means forming a frame having a substantially horizontal top and a parallel spaced horizontal platform, an upper electric gear-motor secured to the under side of said top having a first final drive shaft extending downward for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, an upper circular first disc of predetermined diameter secured to the end of said first shaft for rotation at a predetermined speed having a planar lower surface normal to said axis, a first fibrous polishing means of substantially uniform thickness secured to the said lower surface of said disc having freely extending fibers extending downward a predetermined distance from said lower surface, a lower electric gear motor secured to the under side of said platform and having a final upstanding drive shaft extending upward through said platform and positioned coaxial with said axis, a lower second like disc secured for rotation on sAid upward extending shaft and having a planar upper surface normal to said axis and parallel spaced a predetermined distance from said lower surface of said first disc, a second said fibrous polishing means secured to said upper surface of said second disc with freely extending fibers extending upward a predetermined distance from said upper surface and spaced from said first fibrous polishing means a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said pool balls to be polished, a ball confining ring having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined uniform thickness, said ring having a plurality of radially spaced arcuate recesses on the inner periphery thereof and supported coaxial with said axis and positioned in a plane midway between said first and second disc by a plurality of like legs having their upper ends integral with said ring and their lower ends secured to said platform, a bumper rotor of predetermined diameter secured to the end portion of said upstanding shaft and coaxial with said axis and in said plane between each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined thickness and having a plurality of elastomer bumpers integral with the outer periphery thereof, a source of electric energy, a circuit means including a manual switch for movement from open to closed positions connecting said upper and lower gear motors with said source of electric energy whereby when a plurality of said balls are positioned between said first and said second polishing means and between the inner periphery of said ring and the outer periphery of said bumper rotor they will be random rotated and moved in a generally circular path and become polished when said switch is moved from said open to said closed position for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 6

A machine for washing and polishing a plurality of pool balls comprising means forming a casing having an upper side, an open top cylindrical washing container removably secured to the upper side of said casing with the bottom thereof positioned substantially horizontal, a removable cover hermetically secured over the said open end of said container positioned substantially parallel said bottom, at least one brush means with the ends of the bristles thereof extending downward a predetermined distance from the inside surface of said cover and normal to the axis of said container, a first electric gear-motor means secured to the under side of said upper side of said casing and having a first final upward extending drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis and projecting upward a predetermined distance through said upper side and the said bottom of said container and a lower end portion thereof extending downward a predetermined distance, a hermetic sealing means between said shaft and said container, a circular rotor means in said container secured to said first upward extending drive shaft in coaxial relation and having a planar upper surface parallel said bottom of said container and spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of said bristles and adapted for rotation at a predetermined first speed for rotating said balls on said rotor against the inner said wall of said container when said first gear-motor is energized, a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid retained in said container, a first upper circular polishing disc secured for rotation to the said lower end portion of said first drive shaft with the lower surface thereof parallel said bottom and normal said axis, a fibrous polishing means on the said lower surface of said upper polishing disc and extending downward a predetermined distance therefrom, a platform supported in said casing in parallel spaced relation with said upper side of said casing, a second gear-motor secured to said platform having an upward extending second final drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis, a Second like said circular polishing disc coaxially secured on said second shaft in inverted relation with respect to said first polishing disc with the upper surface thereof in parallel spaced relation therewith, a like said fibrous polishing means on said lower polishing disc extending upward a predetermined distance from the upper side thereof and adapted to be rotated by said second shaft at a second said predetermined speed when said second gear-motor is energized, a circular ball confining member secured to said platform having a resilient portion thereof surrounding and coaxial said discs and positioned in a plane parallel and midway therebetween, a resilient ball agitator means secured to the upper end of said second drive shaft and positioned in said plane for agitating said balls for random rotation positioned in polishing position between the upper and lower said discs and retained therebetween by said confining member whereby a plurality of balls placed in said first container will be cleaned by the action of said brush means and said liquid when random rotated by said rotor and moved in a circular path around the inner side wall of said container and whereby simultaneously a plurality of cleaned balls are polished by the fibrous polishing means on each of said discs when said first and second gear-motors are energized for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 7

A machine for washing and polishing a plurality of pool balls comprising means forming a casing having an upper side, an open top cylindrical washing container removably secured to the upper side of said casing with the bottom thereof positioned substantially horizontal, a removable cover hermetically secured over the said open end of said container positioned substantially parallel said bottom, at least one brush means with the ends of the bristles thereof extending downward a predetermined distance from the inside surface of said cover and normal to the axis of said container, a first electric gear-motor means secured to the under side of said upper side of said casing and having a first final upward extending drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis and projecting upward a predetermined distance through said upper side and the said bottom of said container and a lower end portion thereof extending downward a predetermined distance, a hermetic sealing means between said shaft and said container, a circular rotor means in said container secured to said first upward extending drive shaft in coaxial relation and having a planar upper surface parallel said bottom of said container and spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of said bristles and adapted for rotation at a predetermined first speed for rotating said balls on said rotor against the inner said wall of said container when said first gear-motor is energized, a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid retained in said container, a first upper circular polishing disc secured for rotation to the said lower end portion of said first drive shaft with the lower surface thereof parallel said bottom and normal said axis, a fibrous polishing means on the said lower surface of said upper polishing disc and extending downward a predetermined distance therefrom, a platform supported in said casing in parallel spaced relation with said upper side of said casing, a second gear-motor secured to said platform having an upward extending second final drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis, a Second like said circular polishing disc coaxially secured on said second shaft in inverted relation with respect to said first polishing disc with the upper surface thereof in parallel spaced relation therewith, a like said fibrous polishing means on said lower polishing disc extending upward a predetermined distance from the upper side thereof and adapted to be rotated by said second shaft at a second said predetermined speed when said second gear-motor is energized, a circular ball confining member secured to said platform having a resilient portion thereof surrounding and coaxial said discs and positioned in a plane parallel and midway therebetween, a resilient ball agitator means secured to the upper end of said second drive shaft and positioned in said plane for agitating said balls for random rotation positioned in polishing position between the upper and lower said discs and retained therebetween by said confining member whereby a plurality of balls placed in said first container will be cleaned by the action of said brush means and said liquid when random rotated by said rotor and moved in a circular path around the inner side wall of said container and whereby simultaneously a plurality of cleaned balls are polished by the fibrous polishing means on each of said discs when said first and second gear-motors are energized for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 8

The construction recited in claim 4 including a support slide means secured on opposite inner sides of said casing and positioned a predetermined distance from the top of said casing and parallel therewith for slidably supporting said platform for the withdrawal of all said elements secured thereon for loading a plurality of balls to be polished on said lower disc between said confining member and said agitator means and for slidably returning said platform to its operative position.

Claim 9

The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said agitator means is circular in shape and coaxial with said axis having an elastomer coating on the outer periphery thereof including a plurality of elastomer projections for the random rotation of each of said plurality of balls while moving in a generally circular path on said second disc and against said confining member.