Method and apparatus for bowl type vibratory finishing

Claim 1

A finishing mill having a substantially annular trough adapted to contain media and parts, means for vibrating the trough to cause the media and parts therein to travel in admixture about the trough, the improvement for separating the parts from the media comprising a segment forming a part of the trough but extending downwardly as a well to below the normal level of the bottom of the trough with the return from the well to the bottom of the trough being at a relatively small incline, and a separating screen positionable to extend crosswise of the trough substantially as a continuation of the bottom wall thereof to overlie an initial portion of the well to retain the parts on the surface thereof while the media passes through into the underlying portion of the well for return to the trough, and means for removing the parts from the surface of the separating screen.

Claim 11

A method for treating parts comprising introducing said parts and media into a first zone at a normal level, subjecting said mixture of parts and media to vibratory action whereby said parts and media travel in one direction through said first zone, into a second zone at a lower level and which follows as a continuation of the first zone and back to the first zone at normal level, and upon completion of the treatment of said parts, introducing a screening member at normal level as a continuation of said first zone and overlying at least a portion of said second zone whereby the parts and media travel from said first zone on to said screening member, separating the parts from the media while over said second zone to retain the parts in the first zone while the media falls gravitationally to the lower second zone, returning the media from the lower second zone to the first normal zone beyond said second zone, and removing the parts separated from the media.

Claim 12

A method for treating parts comprising introducing said parts and media into a first zone at a normal level, subjecting said mixture of parts and media to vibratory action whereby said parts and media travel in one direction through said first zone, into a second zone at a lower level and which follows as a continuation of the first zone and back to the first zone at normal level, and upon completion of the treatment of said parts, introducing a screening member at normal level as a continuation of said first zone and overlying at least a portion of said second zone whereby the parts and media travel from said first zone on to said screening member, separating the parts from the media while over said second zone to retain the parts in the first zone while the media falls gravitationally to the lower second zone, returning the media from the lower second zone to the first normal zone beyond said second zone, and removing the parts separated from the media.