US4396836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated contour deburring apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-06-09
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Granted: 1983-08-02
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Expires: 2001-06-09
Abstract
Abstract An automated part contour deburring apparatus has a deburring station which includes a pair of deburring brushes with a pair of gripping rollers disposed on either side of the brushes. The brushes and rollers in the respective pairs thereof are movably adjustable toward and away from each other simultaneously as they cooperate to transfer a part through the station. The adjustment to the positions of the brushes and rollers is determined through operation of stepping motors by a microprocessor-based controller. The contour profile of the part is sensed by banks of light emitters and detectors as the part is fed into the station. The controller repetitively reads the part contour profile and operates the motors to adjust the positions of the brushes and rollers so that they will accommodate the profile of the part as it moves through the station.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest M. Vitaliani
- 👤 Gordon E. Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:02
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B29/00; B24B29/005; B24B49/00; B24B7/00; B24B7/10; B24B7/12; B24B9/00; B24B9/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for contour deburring of parts having varying sizes and shapes, comprising: a. a part deburring station having an entrance and exit; b. means located adjacent the entrance of said station for feeding a part into said station; c. means located adjacent the exit of said station for transporting the part from said station; d. means positioned adjacent said part feeding means for sensing the contour profile of the part being fed into said station; e. means mounted in said station for gripping the part and simultaneously transferring it through said station from said part feeding means to said part transporting means; f. means mounted in said station for deburring the part as it is being transferred through said station by said part gripping means; and g. control means interconnecting said part contour profile sensing means to said gripping means and to said deburring means and operable in response to said sensing of the contour profile of the part for adjusting said gripping means and said deburring means to accommodate the particular size and shape of the part as it is transferred through said station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for contour deburring of parts having varying sizes and shapes, comprising: a. a part deburring station having an entrance and exit; b. means located adjacent the entrance of said station for feeding a part into said station; c. means located adjacent the exit of said station for transporting the part from said station; d. means positioned adjacent said part feeding means for sensing the contour profile of the part being fed into said station; e. means mounted in said station for gripping the part and simultaneously transferring it through said station from said part feeding means to said part transporting means; f. means mounted in said station for deburring the part as it is being transferred through said station by said part gripping means; and g. control means interconnecting said part contour profile sensing means to said gripping means and to said deburring means and operable in response to said sensing of the contour profile of the part for adjusting said gripping means and said deburring means to accommodate the particular size and shape of the part as it is transferred through said station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for deburring the part includes a pair of deburring brushes being mounted one above the other for independent movement toward and away from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for deburring the part also includes: a. means for independently moving said brushes toward and away from each other to position the same to accommodate the particular size and shape of the part being transferred through the station; and b. means for operating said brushes to cause deburring of the part simultaneously as the brushes move toward and away from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for gripping the part includes first and second pairs of gripping rollers, said first pair of rollers being located between the entrance of said station and said pair of deburring brushes, said second pair of rollers being located between the exit of said station and said pair of deburring brushes, and said rollers of each pair thereof being mounted one above the other for independent movement toward and away from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for gripping the part also includes: a. first and second drive means connected respectively to corresponding first and second pairs of gripping rollers for independently moving said rollers of said corresponding pairs thereof toward and away from each other to accommodate the particular size and shape of the part being transferred through the station; and b. means for operating said rollers of each pair thereof to cause transferring of the part simultaneously as the rollers move toward and away from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for sensing the contour profile of the part includes: a. at least one bank containing a plurality of light emitters arranged in a generally vertical column and positioned at one side of said means for feeding the part into the station; and b. at least one bank containing a like plurality of light detectors arranged in a generally vertical column and positioned on an opposite side of said feeding means with each light detector being aligned with one of said light emitters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one bank of light emitters is comprised by first and second banks of said light emitters, and said at least one bank of light detectors is comprised by first and second banks of said light detectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first bank of light emitters is aligned across said part feeding means with said first bank of light detectors, and said second bank of light emitters is aligned across said part feeding means with said second bank of light detectors, said second banks of emitters and detectors being disposed along the same sides of said part feeding means as, and the same distance from, said respective first banks of emitters and detectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said control means includes means for periodically reading said light detectors of said at least one bank thereof for repetitively determining the lowermost and uppermost ones of said light detectors that are not receiving light from their corresponding light emitters, said ones of said light detectors corresponding to the bottom and top contour profile boundary of the part being fed between said light emitter and detector banks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said control means also includes means for repetitively determining the particular adjustment needed to be made to said gripping means and said deburring means in order for the same to accommodate the particular size and shape of the part being transferred through the station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The contour deburring apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said control means includes means for periodically reading said light detectors of said first and second banks thereof and comparing the same to ensure that the lowermost and uppermost ones of said light detectors which are found not receiving light from their corresponding light emitters correspond to the bottom and top contour profile boundary of the part and not to some malfunction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-01 | 1987-01-31 | 1987-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-01 | 1991-01-31 | 1991-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-01 | 1995-01-31 | 1995-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |