US1982641A - Supporting means for glass surfacing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1934- J. P. CROWLEY I SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING A PPARATUS Filed March 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIN\ Dec. 4, 1934.

J. P. CROWLEY 1,982,641

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 11, 1929, Serial No. 346,094

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for surfacing sheets of material such as glass and the like and more particularly to an improved supporting means for the surfacing (grinding and/ or polishing) machines.

The present invention, while primarily designed for use in the so-called continuous system for surfacing sheet glass, is, of course, not restricted to use in such connection. In such continuous system, however, the grinding and polishing of the glass is accomplished in a straight-away operation, a plurality of sheets to be surfaced being supported upon a series of train of cars or carriers and passed first beneath a series of grinding machines and then beneath a series of polishingmachines. While the present invention will be described herein and illustrated in the drawings in connection with the supporting of the grinding machines, yet it will be readily apparent that the same can also be, and in fact is, used to support the polishing machines.

An important object of the invention is the provision of improved supporting means for glass surfacing machines whereby a plurality of such machines may be supported closely adjacent one another in a line, said supporting means being so constructed and arranged that the grinding heads of the grinding machines and the polishing runner frames of the polishing machines may be easily handled and so that anyone of them can be readily removed from and replaced in the line without disturbing the other machines or materially affecting the surfacing operations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved structural support for glass surfacing machines including a three-point supporting frame, which is of exceedingly strong and durable construction and which will rigidly support the machines and reduce to a minimum 0 any tendency towards vibration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a supporting frame whereinthe supporting legs thereof are so positioned with respect 4 to one another that the grinding heads or polishing runner frames may be removed laterally from or replaced in the surfacing line in a practical and convenient manner, the supporting frame being such that it requires no leveling and will at all times rigidly support the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in conneccation and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the supporting apparatus provided by the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2 2 60. of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion thereof.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists essentially of three principal units, namely, the carrier system for supporting the glass sheets to be surfaced and which is designated in its entirety by the letter A, the surfacing machine designated in its entirety by the letter B, and the improved supporting means or frame provided by the present invention for supporting the surfacing machine above the carriers and which is designated in its entirety by the letter C.

The carrier system A consists of a plurality of cars or tables 10 supported upon wheels 11 which runs along tracks 12. The tracks 12 are supported upon base plates 13 resting upon the concrete foundation 14 and secured in position by means of tie-rods or the like 15 which are imbedded therein. A desired number of tables 10 are adapted to be arranged end to end in preferably abutting relation as is well known in the art and are movable along therails in a predetermined horizontal path to carry a plurality of glass sheets 16 mounted thereupon first beneath a series of grinding machines and then beneath a s5 series of polishing machines. The glass sheets are preferably secured upon the upper surfaces of the tables by imbedding them within a layer of plaster of Paris or the like 17, the adjacent sheets being spaced from one another as shown.

Referring now to the particular construction of the supporting means C, for the surfacing machine B, it will be noted that the same consists of a three-point supporting frame including a hub 18 from whichradiate the three substantially 5 horizontal supporting arms or legs 19, 20 and 21. The supportinglegs are so positioned with respect to one another that they form in effect, a non-symmetrical or spider tripod frame as best shown in Fig. 1. The supporting legs are pref- 10o erably of hollow construction and the legs 19 and 21 are in substantial horizontal alignment with one another and extend diagonally over the glass supporting tables 10, although the leg 21 is shown as being slightly longer and larger than leg 19. The supporting leg 20 extends from a point substantially intermediate the legs 19 and 21 and is positioned at an obtuse angle with respect to leg 19 and at an acute angle with respect to leg 21. The outer ends of the-legs 19 and 20 are substantially parallel but not in alignment with one another since leg 20 terminates slightly inwardly of leg 19.

The leg 19 projects to one side of the tables 10 while the legs 20 and 21 project to the opposite side with the outer ends thereof being opposite one another. The leg 19 is supported upon and secured to the upper end of a vertical column or support 22 positioned at the front of the surfacing machine to one side thereof, while the leg 20 is supported upon and secured to the upper end of a vertical column or support 23 at the rear of said machine. The leg 21 is supported upon the column 23 of the adjacent supporting frame. That is, each column 23 supports the leg 20 of one frame and also the leg 21 of the adjacent frame. The supporting legs are preferably secured to the columns 22 and 23 by bolts or other fastening elements 6which extend through flanges '7 formed at the ends of said legs. The supporting columns may be secured in place by means of tie-rods or the like 24 which project downwardly through the concrete foundation 14 and are secured at their lower ends to plates 25 imbedded therein, the tie-rods passing upwardly through lateral projections or lugs 8 formed at the bottoms of said columns and receiving upon their upper ends the nuts 9. The hub 18 of the supporting frame is offset with respect to the legs 19, 20 and-21 thereof and is formed with a central annular recess 26 having a raised bearing portion 27 at substantially the center thereof While one particular type of grinding machine has been herein disclosed for the purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the supporting frame is not to be restricted to use in connection therewith. The grinding machine 13 em.

bodied herein, however, comprises a hollow housing 28 supported upon the frame C above the recess 26 in hub 18 and being-secured thereto by bolts or other fastening elements 29. Extending upwardly through the housing 28 is the main vertical drive spindle or shaft 30 carrying at its lower end the grinding head or runner 31 adapted to engage the glass sheets as they'are carried therebeneath. The shaft30 is journaled intermediate its ends in a bushing32 mounted within the bearing portion 27 of the supporting frame. Slidably keyed to shaft 30 and arranged within the recess 26 of the supporting frame is a worm gear 33 driven from the motor 34 through the motor shaft 35 and a worm not shown but which meshes with the worm gear. The motor, it will be noted, is also mounted upon the supporting column 23 at the rear of the surfacingmachine between supporting legs 20 and-21. The upper end of the drive spindle 30 is threaded as at 36 and has threaded thereupon the rotatable but non-slidable sleeve 37 carrying a worm gear'38 driven through suitable drive connections from a motor 39 supported upon a horizontal platform 40 carried by housing '28. Upon operation of the motor 39 to effectrotation of the worm gear 38 and sleeve 37, the shaft 30 will be threaded upwardly or downwardly through said sleeve dependent upon the direction of rotation thereof to effect either a raising or lowering of the grinding head 31.

The grinding heads or tool3l ordinarily employed in the continuous system above described effect the grinding thereof-with the aid of asuitable abrasive material which is usually discharged upon said sheets. After a certain length of time, however, the grinding lugs become worn to such an extent that the grinding head must be removed and a new head substituted therefor. Consequently, it is essential that the grinding machine be mounted and supported in such a manner that the grinding heads thereof can be easily and quickly removed when they become worn and without disturbing the operation of any of the other machines or material affecting the grinding operation.

The improved supporting frame herein provided-has been so designed as to greatly facilitate and expedite the removal and replacement of the grinding heads to the end that the same can be accomplished with the expenditure of a minimum amount of both time and labor. By arranging the two supporting legs 20 and 21 of the frame at the rear of the grinding machine and only the single supporting leg 19at the front thereof, the columns 22 of adjacent supporting frames can be spaced from one another a distance at least slightly greater than the diameter of the grinding head with the result that the grinding head can be removed laterally from the machine between the adjacent supporting columns 22. For instance, when it is desired to remove the grinding head, the motor 39 is first operated to effect a raising of the grinding head from the glass as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3. Acrane' or the like may'then be moved to'a position over the grinding machine and the crane hooks engaged within the eyebolts 41 carried by the grinding'head preferably at substantially diametrically opposite points. The grinding head is then detached from the lower end of drive spindle 30, after which the crane may be'operated tocarry the head laterally or forwardly of the machine as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. l and outwardly between the adjacent supporting columns 22. A new grinding head can then be just as easily and quickly secured in position by simply reversing the above operations.

The improved supporting frame herein provid ed, therefore, permits the rapid and convenient removal and replacement of the grindingheads and likewise will, in the same manner, facilitate the removal and replacement of the polishing runner frames of the polishing machines. The particular construction of the supporting frame also permits the surfacing machines to be positioned closely adjacent one another so as to conserve space. The supporting frame is of a strong, sturdy, and durable construction and will rigidly support the machine at all times. Moreover, it might be said that the frame is non-leveling since the three supporting legs willat all times rest firmly upon their respective supporting columns, and the necessity of using shims or the like between the columns and legs is obviated.

Although the side of the grinding machine from which the grinding head is removed has been designated the front thereof, this term has been used simply for the purposes of illustration and to simplify the description of the invention. The side of the machine from which the head is removed, however, is usually termed the from because it is along this side that the operators are ordinarily stationed, although it canjust as well be called the rear of the machine or one side thereof.

It is to be understood that the form ofthe invention herewith shown and described is tube 1 its taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and each including a surfacing runner adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting frame comprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignment with one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means to opposite sides thereof and the third leg projecting from a point substantially intermediate the two first-mentioned legs and extending transverselyof the sheet carrying means to one side thereof, pedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, those portions of the two first-mentioned legs arranged over the runner lying to one side of a straight line drawn through the center of gravity of said runner to permit lateral removal of the runner while supported by a vertically positioned removing means, and the third leg also lying to the same side of the center of gravity of the runner. 1

2. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and having surfacing runners adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner including a supporting frame comprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, one of said legs extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means and dis posed at the front of the machine and to one side thereof, while the other two legs extend transversely of said sheet carrying means in substantially the opposite direction and are positioned at the rear of the machine at opposite sides thereof, means at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for supporting the said legs, the diagonal supporting legs of adjacent frames at the front of the machine being spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the surfacing runner to provide an opening through which the runner may be laterally removed, those portions of the legs arranged over the runner being so shaped that they lie to one side of a straight line drawn through the center of gravity of said runner to permit vertical attachment of laterally movable removing means to said runner along said center of gravity.

3. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and each including a surfacing runner adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner including a supporting frame comprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, said hub being offset with respect to said legs, pedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means'outwardly thereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, two of said legs being in substantial alignment with one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means to opposite sides thereof, while the third leg extends transversely of the sheet carrying means from a point substantially intermediate the two first-mentioned legs, means carried by the runner at diametrically opposed points for the attachment of removing means thereto, those portions of said legs above the runner being so shaped that they lie entirely to and intersect the hub at one side of a straight line passing through said last-mentioned means so asto provide for the attachment of the removing means thereto and the removal of said runner laterally without interference from said arms.

' 4. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and each including a surfacing runner adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner including a supporting frame comprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, said hub being offset with respect to said legs, one of said legs extending diagonally -of the sheet carrying means and disposed at the front of the machine and to one side thereof, while the other two legs extend transversely of said sheet carrying means in substan tially the opposite direction and are positioned at the rear of the machine at opposite sides thereof, means at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for supporting the said legs, the diagonal supporting legs of adjacent frames at the front of the machine being spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the surfacing runner to provide an opening through which said runner may be laterally removed, means carried by the runner at diametrically opposed points for the attachment of removing means thereto, those portions of the legs above the runner being so shaped that they lie entirely to and intersect said hub at one side of a straight line passing through said last-mentioned means to provide for the attachment of the removing means thereto and the removal of said runner laterally without interference from said arms.

5. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series or surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and each including a surfacing runner adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting frame comprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignment with one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means, one to the front of the machine and the other to the rear thereof, and the third leg projecting from a point substantialy intermediate the two first mentioned legs and extending transversely of the sheet carrying means also to the rear of the machine, pedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, those portions of the two first-mentioned legs arranged over the runner lying to one side of a straight line drawn through the center of gravity of said runner to permit lateral removal of the runner while supported by a vertically positioned removing means, and the third leg also lying to the same side of the center of gravity of the runner, the three legs being of such length and so shaped that when the third leg of any one supporting frame is positioned closely adjacent the outer end of the diagonal supporting leg at the rear of the adjacent supporting frame, the diagonal supporting legs of the two adjacent frames at the front of the machine will be spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the surfacing runner.

6. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described, means for oarrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definite substantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mounted above the first-named means and each including a surfacing runner adapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means for supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting frame comprisinga hub and three substantially'horizontal supporting legs radiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignment with one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means, one to the front of the machine and the other to the rear thereof, and the third leg projecting from a point substantialy. intermediate the two first-mentioned legs and extending transversely of the sheet carryingmeans also to the rear of the machine, the two diagonal supporting legs being substantially straight throughout the greater portionof their length and having curved outer end portions extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the straight portions thereof, and pedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, those portions of the two first-mentioned legs arranged over the runner lying to one side of a straight line drawn through the center of gravity of said runner to permit lateral removal of the runner while supported by a vertically positioned removing means, and the third leg also lying to the same side of the center of gravity of the runner, the three legs being of such length and so shaped that when the third leg of any one supporting frame is positioned closely adjacent the outer end of the diagonal-supporting leg at the rear of the adjacent supporting frame, the diagonal supporting legs of the two adjacent frames at the front of the machine will be spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the surfacing runner, with the curved end portion of the diagonal supporting leg at the front of the one supporting frame being substantially opposite the curved end portion of the diagonal supporting leg at the rear of the adjacent frame.

JOSEPH P. CROWLEY.

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