Apparatus for machining balls

Claim 2

In an apparatus for machining balls in continuous operation comprising: a rotary disc, means for rotating the rotary disc, a stationary disc generally coaxial to the rotary disc and having a sector-like recess, the two discs defining therebetween a working gap, a stripper extending into the recess, means for supplying balls to an inlet side of the stripper, means for receiving balls from an outlet side of the stripper after they have been machined by being rolled against the stationary disc while moving from the inlet to the outlet side of the stripper in the working gap between the discs, and means pressing the discs towards each other in the axial direction by applying a force whose line of action intersects a base axis, said base axis being an axis which perpendicularly intersects the common axis of the discs, passes through the center of gravity of the stationary disc and runs through the recess, the improvement which resides in that the above-mentioned line of action intersects the base axis at a point lying at a predetermined distance from the common axis, said distance from the common axis extending along the base axis from the center of gravity of the stationary disc in a direction away from the center of gravity and from the recess so that the pressure exerted on the balls is such that it increases from a minimum value at their point of entry into the working gap between the discs to a maximum value and then decreasing again to a low value at the outlet side of the stripper.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lining of a wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the inlet side of the stripper for holding the balls before they pass into the working gap between the discs, and a lining of wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the outlet side of the stripper for receiving balls from the working gap.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for machining balls in continuous operation comprising: a rotary disc, means for rotating the rotary disc, a stationary disc generally coaxial to the rotary disc and having a sector-like recess, the two discs defining therebetween a working gap, a stripper extending into the recess, means for supplying balls to an inlet side of the stripper, means for receiving balls from an outlet side of the stripper after they have been machined by being rolled against the stationary disc whilE moving from the inlet to the outlet side of the stripper in the working gap between the discs, and means pressing the discs toward each other in the axial direction by applying a force whose line of action intersects a base axis, said base axis being an axis which perpendicularly intersects the common axis of the disc, passes through the center of gravity of the stationary disc and runs through the recess, the improvement which resides in that the apparatus comprises a lining of a wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the inlet side of the stripper for holding the balls before they pass into the working gap between the discs, and a lining of wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the outlet side of the stripper for receiving balls from the working gap, the above-mentioned line of action intersects the base axis at a point lying at a predetermined distance from the common axis, said distance from the common axis extending along the base axis from the center of gravity of the stationary disc in a direction away from the center of gravity and shoes forming part of the respective linings and extending over the surface of the rotary disc, the shoes having free ends adjacent to further parts of the linings which define entry and outlet gaps for the balls.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for machining balls in continuous operation comprising: a rotary disc, means for rotating the rotary disc, a stationary disc generally coaxial to the rotary disc and having a sector-like recess, the two discs defining therebetween a working gap, a stripper extending into the recess, means for supplying balls to an inlet side of the stripper, means for receiving balls from an outlet side of the stripper after they have been machined by being rolled against the stationary disc whilE moving from the inlet to the outlet side of the stripper in the working gap between the discs, and means pressing the discs toward each other in the axial direction by applying a force whose line of action intersects a base axis, said base axis being an axis which perpendicularly intersects the common axis of the disc, passes through the center of gravity of the stationary disc and runs through the recess, the improvement which resides in that the apparatus comprises a lining of a wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the inlet side of the stripper for holding the balls before they pass into the working gap between the discs, and a lining of wear resistant, impact absorbing plastic material on the outlet side of the stripper for receiving balls from the working gap, the above-mentioned line of action intersects the base axis at a point lying at a predetermined distance from the common axis, said distance from the common axis extending along the base axis from the center of gravity of the stationary disc in a direction away from the center of gravity and shoes forming part of the respective linings and extending over the surface of the rotary disc, the shoes having free ends adjacent to further parts of the linings which define entry and outlet gaps for the balls.

Claim 6

The structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the parts of the linings which cooperate with the shoes in forming the gaps are provided with ridges which are arranged so as to correspond with ridges on the rotary disc.

Claim 7

The structure as set forth in claim 4, in which the ball entry gap and also the ball outlet gap between the shoes and parts of the lining are aligned with planes defining an acute angle to the plane of the discs, the angles being directed against the direction of rotation of the rotary disc.

Claim 8

The structure as set forth in claim 4, in which the shoe on the inlet side of the stripper possesses grooves on its underside in an arrangement corresponding to grooves in the discs for the passage of the balls introduced into the gap between the discs.

Claim 9

The structure as set forth in claim 6, in which the shoe of the lining on the outlet side of the stripper has fingers fitting into grooves of the rotating disc.

Claim 10

The structure as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an oscillatory drive for causing the lining on the ball inlet side to vibrate.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first disc is a lower disc and the second disc is the upper disc.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second dIsc includes a sector shaped recess, said inlet and outlet means being located in said recess.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said pressure means includes spring means and a pressure plunger, said spring means transmitting the pressure exerted by the plunger to the second disc.