Polishing machine or the like with a removable platen

Claim 2

In an abrading machine, the combination comprising a frame; a platen assembly horizontally disposed in said frame for rotation about a vertical axis and including a platen to receive on its upper surface workpieces to be abraded, a platen support member below the platen and means for detachably connecting the platen to the platen support member; a control head supported by the frame and above the platen, the control head including at least one work support head above the platen, the work support head being movable between a first position constraining workpieces on the platen and a second position spaced from the platen; and hoisting means in said control head and connectable with said platen for removing the platen from the platen support member when the work support head is in the second position, the hoisting means comprising a mechanism to lift and translate the platen to a location outward of the frame.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lifting and translating mechanism comprises cranking means for raising and lowering the platen and a slidable carriage to translate the platen radially with respect to the vertical axis and frame.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein the platen comprises a central post on said axis, one of said hoisting mechanism and said post comprising a pin member and the other comprising a hook member engagable with the pin member to detachably connect the hoisting mechanism to the platen.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the translating mechanism comprises a slidable carriage located in said head.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 3 wherein the hoisting mechanism includes said hook member and the carriage comprises bracket means for storing the hook member when not in use.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 2 wherein the cranking means comprises a rotatable cog, a link chain connected at one end to said cog and connectable at other end to said platen, and an accessible hand crank for selectively wrapping and unwrapping the chain around the cog to raise and lower the platen.

Claim 8

Abrading apparatus comprising a frame including a head; a horizontally disposed platen assembly within the frame and rotatable about a vertical axis in the frame, the platen assembly including a platen which supports work pieces to be abraded, a platen support member and means for detachably securing the platen to the platen support member; at least one work support member located on the head above the platen and alternately raised and lowered to constrain movement of work pieces on the platen for relative movement therewith to abrade the work pieces; a center post on the platen, and a hoisting mechanism in the head, the hoisting mechanism comprising a translatable carriage movable from a closed position within the head to an open position extended in front of the head, hooking means detachably connectable to the center post, and a crank assembly and a linkage connecting the crank assembly to the hooking means, the crank assembly selectively raising and lowering the detached platen with respect to said platen support member and the carriage selectively movable to remove the platen laterally with respect to said frame.

Claim 9

Abrading apparatus comprising a frame including a head; a horizontally disposed platen assembly within the frame and rotatable about a vertical axis in the frame, the platen assembly including a platen which supports work pieces to be abraded, a platen support member and means for detachably securing the platen to the platen support member; at least one work support member located on the head above the platen and alternately raised and lowered to constrain movement of work pieces on the platen for relative movement therewith to abrade the work pieces; a center post on the platen, and a hoisting mechanism in the head, the hoisting mechanism comprising a translatable carriage movable from a closed position within the head to an open position extended in front of the head, hooking means detachably connectable to the center post, and a crank assembly and a linkage connecting the crank assembly to the hooking means, the crank assembly selectively raising and lowering the detached platen with respect to said platen support member and the carriage selectively movable to remove the platen laterally with respect to said frame.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the crank assembly is attached to the moveable carriage.