US2733464A - le mieux - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1956 R. w. LE MIEUX BALL CLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed D90. 18. 1950 ff /Z ////M///////// INVENTOR. er Zefzlea/z,

BY /w'v 'o M INVENTOR.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LED.

R. W. LE MIEUX BALL. CLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS Feb. 7, 1956 Filed Deo. 18, 195o Feb. 7, 1956 R. w. LE. MlEux 2,733,464

BALL CLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Shea?I 5 1N VEN TOR.

R. W. LE MIEUX BALL CLEANING AND FOLISHING APPARATUS Feb. 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1950 INVENTOR.

a /QZ Feb. 7, 1956 R. w. LE MIEUX BALL CLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS Filed DGO. 18. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CU//V SWITCH SHUT-OFF SWITCH GROUND INVENToR. joer ijle/Vieux,

United States Patent 2,133,464 Y 'BALL.CLEANWG.mlfwismwereaews 5 Application December 18,1250,- Sjerial Plo. 201,295 10 lament (Q1-21.57252,

More particularly the invention relates to suchy anv 15 apparatus adapted for 'cleaiiing and ypolis"hing bowling ballsland (the like, andy otherspherical j'objet'swith relatively large"diameters'.

It is the general object ofthe invention to provide a new and improved apparatus forv automatically cleaning 20 and polishing balls wheeintlieentire s'r'l'ac'eof the ball` is` treated Without requiringmanual'i'nanipulation ofthe b allduring the operation'o'f "tl'iefappartatus.,y

Another Iobject is to'p'rovide" a, cla'ningf and polishing machine having avrotatig cleaning'nerriber and aro- 25 tatingpolishing vmember together wi'thrivv and improved means for supporting a ballvfa'r'ideiectingfccnitactl of the ballfiirst Ywith the cleaning 'fmeivberffandfthenwith the polishing member. l r

Another object isito provide such amachine adapted 30 for cleaning andp'c' liishi'n'g` aifbowlingjball 'without "the use' ofla detergent or other' cleaningfiriatriall.

other obets'jndfanng' "gssr'ih mvmin will', become readily uapparent from the followingldeta'iled de# sciiption` taken froirf'the" 35 which:v i

`Fig. rlfis aiperspectivevview of abowlingvballclean' g andA polishing machinewenbdyin'g 'fthe 'preferred fo of the invention; i 'i Fig. Z-s anI enlarged -elevationalrear viewof therrla:V 40 chinewith thecovr'or Vtasiifg ved'm; n' iEig. 3 is a similar "sid""'e Ieva`tional ,view looking `at the righthandenqfef 2; Fig.- 4 is a topplan i y f-1:"ig. Figi 5- is a 'fragin tary/'vertical lsectionA along `line U. ni-'frm' Ii ,uffi

lFig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section alongv liney 6 6Vof 4; and., ,.nw v if, ,ii-,.1 fr, Y lFig. 7 is `a wiring diagram, i While there ""shw'lirltli' drawings andher 'nide 50 scribed inndetail-a preferrediemb' m tion,l it is contemplated "that v made by those skilliediri` `with`lit-` the spirit and scope` of'the "infentin a', appended Claims- As shown in Fig. l, the preferred f orrn of ,theiiwrivention has arcasing consist O'f'af'fro'nfjpangl'lOg' le, panels 11, a mpnlembrizaagia l. biliaire* lid` has an opening l"14 'preferably covered 'bi' or other transparent material softbal operation di the machine a bau 1s,4 therein ma 'bf'observed 4irroughL the window ofthe lid. liany la a` to raise' the lidv forY the purposeftf` removing or 1n a b aH- It is Q01-lemma@ that .thmaliinwill 65 vided with a manual startin `sivuvniirlr1A or lternatively, it will belprov'ided wi coin'slotV ce as de; scribed more fully vliereinavli'fe iifcdnnecytion With the wiringdiagram of-Fig. 7. 'i'

In Figs. '2 to 6 themachine isillustrated with the side panelsN andthe back 'of tlf'casigN-ie'rndved arizdj'als'o without the top tzzandthe mira efdjgire clearly; te

ice

show the operating mechanism: This. mechanism is supported on`a frame made' up' o f anglesand channels having a" rectangular 'top' 20, rectangularbottom 21 and corner posts 22; The'` tophasa Ycover plate 2S,` and cross members 23 `and 24 extending above the 'plate' 25. v"The 'bottom of the framehfs front and rear mem-` bers 26 and side members f27. A ball cleaning means is shown in: the form of a Wire buier or brush wheel 30 carried on al `shaft 31 which is rotatablysupporte'd'in bearingiblocks 32 and 33ucarried respectively on lthe members 23 and 24. A ball polishing means is also in theforn'lA of a brush or bnifer wheel 36, positioned in laterally spaced and'parallel relation to the cleaning wheelon a Shaft 37 rotatably `supported in bearing blocks'SS and 39 on the members 23 and24.

The cleaning and polishing wheels are arranged to be driven by an ele'ctricrinortor 40 which has apulley 41 over which a V-belt 42 passes. This belt'passes over a pulley 43 on the cleaning wheel shaft 3l and a pulley `44 on the polishing wheel shaft 37 so that` when the machine is in' operation the wheels will turn in a clock* wise direction asshown in Fig. 2. The mtJtorAilfi's` provided with a hinged mounting having a pivot shaft 45 locatedfotf center of Sthe motor shaft 46 as shown iny Fig. 2, so that the weightof the motor'acts to maintain the'belt 42'under a vsuitable tension. yAV bolt '21' may extend up from .the :bottom '2 1'` and have nutsv Zhf' adjustable to limit the downward swinging movement offthe motor, if'des'ired.

The preferred` form of the invention is arranged to receive a `balllin a position"intermediate'the cleaning` and polishing. wheels and includesmeansfo'r supporting `and" driving the bal l"while the'balhis" in contactf'withoiief Wheel` 0r` the other As shown Vherein,y andlmo'ije 'p a'r ticularly in Figs. 4 to ,6, a ballisupporting'"and'fdriviiig member inthe 'form of. a rolliSl, preferably of rabber or ajjlikenmaterial, is "carried: on a shaft "51 rotatablyY supported in .bearingbloclgs S2" and 53 positioned 'oi the `lower portions' ofztliev channel 'members' '23 `and 221; This shaftfcarries a v.relatively` :large pulley 54* whieh isV arranged, tofhe driven Abfy a Voelt.from a' relatively` small pulleytA on the polishingwheels'haft 37." Thus," duririgoper'ation of .the machine the drivingroll 'Sil rotates in a clockwise,direetionas viewedin 'Fig.`2.'

It is, contemplated. thatfwhen a ballis inserted 'in the machine itjwillf be placedin'abtthe dash"'lii1e posh tion'B ,(,aSL shown in :Fi'gl` 6) soas tdbesupprted byr the driving 'roll 59, and. the' cleahing'wheelftl." The weight ohthefball the'nacts to press'J the ball 'against the, cleaning wheelwith" suicient ,torce to'iperform''the cleaningjoperation. VUponfcompletion of t'liec'leaning operatiofnlthe, ball; is adapted` to he'shifted tothev'pos'i' tivoiilrlf'` (,ajs shoWninEig. 6,).` wherein the Y weight: of theball ,functions ,toV keepfitfin Contact with' the'y poli-shi ing Whelf. :Duringthe period' ofithecieaning' and polishingoperations itis preferable tooscillatethe ball laterallyof` the whjeelsj'iila manner to indexthe bali ani gnlarly about a somewhat vertical ,axis"'with respect to the wheels to provide ,Contact of `the wheels with the entire. :surface ofthe ball.

As illustrated l1ere1ina meansfor oscillating theball consistsjof ja pair Ojf lJi-.sliapedniembers 6l) andwhibh cured in nprightk position and in` laterally spaced re# lationY on a short inverted. channel member 62 '(Fi'g.f`6`)j., Preferably thexnembers ,691 a'ndA Glare welded 'ftthe' ing downtromtle cov'efpla't rA b direction-s from said member, one end 67 being normally pressed downwardly by a coiled spring 68. A vertically extended rod '69 has a ball and socket joint 70 at its upper end with the other end 71 of the bar 66 and at its lower end has a ball and socket joint with an angle member 72 which has a side bore engaging an eccentric pin 73 on a shaft 74. The shaft is rotatably supported in a channel member 75 which is integral with and extends downwardly from the cover plate 25. In order to oscillate the members 60 and 61 from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, the shaft is driven by means of a large pulley 76 thereon and a belt 77 connecting to a pulley '7S on shaft 51. During operation of the machine the members 60 and 61 are continuously oscillated with a stroke as indicated.

When a bowling ball B is in the position B contacting the cleaning wheel 30, the member 60 is effective during its oscillation to roll the ball back and forth on the roll 50 and against the wheel 30. The cleaning and polishing wheels are preferably composed of sections of diterent diameters so as to have a spool-like form as shown. As the ball is rolled over the cleaning wheel and engages a larger end portion thereof, it receives an angular indexing motion in addition to that which it would have rolling against a wheel of uniform diameter. This indexing motion shifts the ball about a somewhat vertical axisQ As the ball rotates on a somewhat horizontal axis by the driving roll 50, the indexing movements at opposite ends of the wheel are in opposite directions but also with different portions of the ball uppermost with the result that a cleaning operation is repeatedly performed over the entire surface of the ball.

Upon completion of the cleaning operation, and to shift the ball from the cleaning wheel to the polishing wheel, the machine is provided with a ball shifting member or linger 80, as shown best in Figs. 2, 4, and 6. This member is in the form of a bent bar normally positioned as shown in Fig. 2 with its upper end positioned under a ball in the cleaning position and a lower horizontally extending portion 81 secured ina channel member S2 pivotally supported on a rod 83 extending from the upright channel 75 (see Fig. 5). A timing mechanism is provided to actuate the member 80 so that after a ball has been contacted by the cleaning wheel for a predetermined length of time, the member 80 swings from the position of Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 6 so as to move the ball over the roll 50 suiciently to cause it to move into the position B" in contact with the polishing wheel 36.

As illustrated herein the timing mechanism comprises a toothed ratchet wheel 90 carried on a shaft 91 rotatably supported on members 92 and 93 extending downwardly from the cover plate 25. The ratchet wheel carries an eccentric pin 94 which, during the cleaning operation, moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 (counterclockwise) until it has almost reached the position shown in Fig. 6. The pin 94 then engages the adjacent end 81 of the bar 80 and swings it in a clockwise direction to shift the ball from the cleaning wheel to the polishingrwheel.

The ratchet wheel 90 is operated by means of a pawl 95 carried on one end of a rod 96, the other end of the rod being connected to the eccentric pin 73 on the shaft 74. Thus, during each revolution of the shaft 74, the wheel 90 is advanced one tooth position. Preferably, a second pawl 97 is provided, hung from a pin 97' from the top frame, so as to prevent reverse rotation of the wheel 90.

As shown in the electrical diagram'in Fig. 7, the machine is provided with an attachment plug 100 adapted for connection to a power source. The lines 101 and 102 extend to contacts 103 and 104, respectively, of a relay device R which has an operating coil 105. Switch element 106 of the relay is connected by a wire 107 to one contact of a shut-E switch 108. VThe other contact of the shutoil? switch is connected by a wire 109 to one contact of a coin-operated switch 110 which is of atype that closes and then immediatelyV opens, the other contact of which Vis connected by wires 111 and 112 to line wire 101. This places the shut-off and coin switches in series, the shut-olf switch being normally closed. The coil has one terminal connected by a wire 113 to a line wire 102 and the other terminal connected by a wire 114 to wire 109. This permits the coin switch 110, upon being closed, to cause energization of the relay.

Preferably, a manual normally open switch 115 is connected in parallel with the coin switch 110 by wires 116, 117, so that, alternatively, the machine may be started manually.

One terminal of the motor 40 is connected by a wire 118 to the other switch element 119 of relay R so that upon closing, line wire 102 is connected to the motor. The other terminal of the motor is connected by a wire 120 to one Contact of a lidswitch 121 the other Contact of which is connected by a wire 122 to wire 107. The lid switch is located on the machine so as to be closed when the lid 13 is closed and thereby prevents starting of the machine if the lid 13 is open. The motor runs continuously until the cleaning and polishing operations have been completed. An eccentric pin 98 on the ratchet wheel 90 is adapted to engage and swing a shut-off arm 125 (which is freely rotatable on shaft 91) from the position shown in Fig. 2, through the position shown in Fig. 6 and to a vertical position from which it drops in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2) past the switch 108 and back to the bottom position shown. In passing the switch 108 the shut-off arm actuates the switch and thereby disconnects the motor. The switch 10S is so mounted that after the shut-off arm passes the switch, the switch closes and conditions the circuit for a subsequent cycle of operation.

By lifting the lid 13, a bowler may insert his ball in the machine in the position B' as shown in Figs. l and 6. He then closes the lid 13 and starts the machine in operation. If a coin device is used the coin switch 110 is closed by insertion of a coin to effect energization of the relay R. If the machine is started manually, the switch 115 is momentarily closed to close the relay. The shut-oli switch 108 is normally closed and with the lid shut the lid switch Y 121 is closed.

The ball is inserted in contact with the cleaning wheel 30 and the driving roll 50 and while being driven by the roll 50 is continuously oscillated by the U-shaped member 60. Preferably, the U-shaped members have tips 60 and 61 of steel or other material that does not mar the ball. The oscillation of the ball against the cleaning wheel is continuous, the ball being indexed somewhat as it reaches each end of the cleaning wheel so that it turns slightly on a somewhat upright axis.

When the cleaning operation has continued for the time determined Vby the ratchet wheel 90, the eccentric pin 94 pivots the bar 80 and pushes the ball over the roll 50 from the position B as shown in Fig. 6 and through the position B so that the ball falls downwardly to the position B in contact with thepolishing wheel 36. The polishing operation then takes place while the ball continues to be oscillated, now by the U-shaped member 61. Prior to the completion of the polishing operation the eccentric pin 98 on the ratchet wheel engages the shut-olf arm 125 and raises the arm to a vertical position. The arm then drops to a lower position and in so doing engages the shut-off switch 108 and stops the machine to end the polishing operation. It is then possible for the bowler to lift the lid 13 and remove the ball.

In a machine of the character described designed principally for cleaning and polishing bowling balls approximately 85/8" in diameter a driving roll 50, 11A" in diameter was driven at 350 R. P. M. The central portion of wheels 30 and 36 were `5" in diameter, the adjacent portions 6" in diameter, land the end portions 7 in diameter. Y The wheels were driven at a speed of 1890 R. P. M. The U-shaped members 60 and 61 were oscillated'fromfSO tto/55 timesr'- per:k minuter with; al stroke producingsaballfmovemen'tl of 1%4; In such jiamachin'e complete 'coveragef of Zthe :ball` during the ,'cleaning opera-nv tionrwaseobtinedeachfflO secondsiandzcomplete coverage of the` ball:` during 'a polishingi i operation:V was obtained each" secondsf'` APreferably'the machine was timedr for a rcleaningperiod fof'.4V 1%1 minutes andi polishing period ofA 3%; minute.'

' I claimtv l`.` Aballcleaningzandfp'olishing :apparatus comprising-a rotatable ballf driving member, ,means forl rotating said driving;memberitovcause. rotation ofeafball in contact therewith=,1a1pa`ir otfrotatablef buffers arrangedzsonz opposite sides'` off said" drivingl .member 5 and with their axes substantially paralleltorthe axis ofthexdriving 'memberand ends of the Vbuiten-saidiengagement-of the rotating ball' with the enlarged ends of the buffer causing periodc;;in dexing of the ball, means for shifting the ball from one to the otherifot saidibutrscomprisingaf shifting member normally positioned below aball` supported on the driving member and one of the buiersmeans. operable upon completionof theoperation ofsaid buier on the ballfto'act'uate said'ballshifting meansand means for rotatingthe buffers:

'2i A ball cleaning-an'd-polishingl apparatus as defined inj claim I`l wherein'one-offtherotatable'buiers isa wire brush adaptetlf'to--cleanforeign-matter "from the surface of a ball and the other is a polishing device, and having a timing device comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, an eccentric driven during the operation of the buffers to actuate the pawl, and wherein the means for actuating the ball shifting means carriedeccentricallyupon the ratchet wheel and is operable upon completion of a cleaning interval and a second means carried on said ratchet wheel operable upon completion of a polishing operation to shut down the apparatus. n

3. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus as defined in claim 2 having a connection between the eccentric driving the pawl and the rocking device.

4. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus comprising a rotatable ball driving member, means for rotating said driving member to cause rotation of a ball in contact therewith, a pair of rotatable buffers arranged on opposite sides of said driving member and with their axes substantially parallel to the axis of the driving member and ata distance therefrom permitting the ball to be supported jointly by said driving member and one of said buffers, each buffer having one of its ends enlarged, a rocking device for rolling a ball back and forth over the driving member and the butter with which it is in Contact and into engagement with the enlarged end of the buffer, said engagement causing periodic indexing of the ball, means operable upon completion of the operation of one of said buffers on the ball to shift the ball into engagement with the other buffer, and means for rotating the buiers.

5. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus as dened in claim 4 wherein one of the rotatable buffers is a wire brush adapted to clean foreign matter from the surface of a ball, said apparatus having a timing device driven during the operation of the buffers, meansoperable by said timing device upon completion of a cleaning interval'to actuate said ball shifting'means and a second means operable by said timing device upon completion of a polishingV operation to shut down the apparatus. Y

6. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus comprising a continuously rotating ball driving member, means for rotating said driving member to cause rotation of a ball in contact therewith, a pair of Vrotatable buffers arranged on; opposite` sides, of-,said;dniyingfmernber and -with their axes substantially-parallel to the axis ofthe driving mem.-

ber and at a distance therefrom; permitting the-ball toV engageaagbuifer; whilmdriven by: said driving member, meansfcomplsng ballV engaging members oscillatable aboutfanfaxisztransverse ftothe. axis of thedrivins member for; rolling agba'llib'ack and -forth over the buffer with which itfisfinncontactaV meansforlshifting the ball from one tofthe; other of; said buffers upon completion of the open. ation-of one bufer'withithefball", and means for rotating the buffers.` e

7. A ball: cleaning andpolishing apparatus as defined infclaimz 5Wherein -oneofthe rotatable bnlers is a wire brush-adapted to Vclean foreign-matter from the surface of 3a-ball andthaviug.,a timingdevice comprising a pawl.

andfratchet meehanismand anteccentric driven during the operationoofth'e -buffersvto l'actuatethe pawl, means carried eccentricallyupon th'e ratchettwheel operable upon completionof; a cleaninginterval to actuate said ball shifting means anda second means carried on said ratchet- Wheel operable upon'compl'etionof a polishing operation to;` shut fdown the r apparatus.

8. A ballrcleaning{andpolishing apparatus as deiinedy in, claim; 7 havingf a :connection between the eccentric driving thegpawl 'and the rock-ing device.

`9s Ahall cleaningandlpolishing apparatus comprising a'-frame aictontinuously rotating .ball supporting member mounted*onsaidframe,apairoferotatable buffers mounted on said ramerand; varranged onl axes parallel to the axis of andton1 oppositel sides.` of i said 2 supporting member and at` vmember and the other buffer.

l0. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which one buffer is in the form of a wire brush and performs a cleaning operation, and having a timing device, meansoperable by the timing device to actuate the ball shiftingv means and eilectthe shift or" the ball from the wire brush to the other buier upon comletion of a cleaning operation, and additional means operated by the timing device effective to shut down the `operation of the machine upon completion of an operation by said other buffer.V

ll. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus compris ing, a continuously rotating supporting member for causing rotation of a ball in Contact therewith, a pair of rotatable buffers arranged on opposite sides of said driving member and with their axes substantially parallel to the axis of the driving member and at a distance therefrom permitting the ball to be supported jointly by said driving member and one of said buffers, each butter having its lateral extremities of a diameter larger than the mid portion thereof, means comprising a pair of U-shaped members engageable with a ball and oscillatable about an axis normal to the axis of the driving member for rolling a ball back and forth over the driving member and the buiier with which it is in contact and into alternate engagement with the enlarged extremities of the buffer, said engagement of the rotating ball with the enlarged ends of the buler causing periodic indexing of the bail about an axis substantially normal to the path of rolling movement of the ball, means for shifting the ball from one to the other of said buffers comprising a ringer pivotally mounted beneath the driving member and extending to a position beneath a ball supported on the driving member and one of the buffers, said finger when actuated causing movement of the ball into engagement with the 7 other buffer, and rotatable timing means operable upon completion of the operation of said one buier on the ball to actuate said nger.

12. In a ball cleaning and polishing apparatus, in combination, a frame, a continuously rotating ball supporting member mounted in said frame, a pair of rotatable buiers mounted in said frame, said buffers being arranged on axes parrallel to the artis of and on opposite sides of said supporting member and at distances there from permitting a ball to be supported jointly by the supporting member and the buter with which it is in contact, means for rotating the buiers, and means mounted on said frame independently of said ball supporting member and buffers for shifting a ball from one buffer to the other including a member movable between the ball supporting member and a buffer to engage and shift a ball from engagement with the last mentioned buffer and into engagement with the other butter.

13. A ball cleaningv and polishing apparatus as dened in claim 12 in which one buifer is in the form of a wire brush and performs a cleaning operation, and having means for moving a ball back and forth across the surface of the Wire brush during a cleaning operation.

14. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus as defined in claim 13 having a timing device, means operable by the timing device to actuate the ball shifting means and effect the shift of the ball from the wire brush to the other buffer upon completion of a cleaning operation and additional means operated by the timing device effective to shut down the operation of the machine .upon completion of an operation by said other buifer.`

15. A ball cleaning and polishing apparatus comprising, a continuously rotating supporting and driving member for causing rotation of a ball in contact therewith, a pair of rotatable buiers arranged on opposite sides of said driving member and with their axes substantially parallel to the axis of the driving member and at a distance therefrom permitting the ball to be supported jointly by said driving member and one of said buiers, each buffer having its ends of a diameter larger4 than the mid portion thereof, means engageable with a ball and oscillatable about an axis normal to the axis of the driving member for rolling a ball back and forth over the driving member and the buffer with which it is in contact and into alternate engagement with the enlarged ends of the buffer, said engagement of the rotating ball with the enlarged ends of the buffer causing periodic indexing of the ball about an aXis substantially normal to the path of rolling movement of th'eball, means 'for shifting the ball from one to the other of said buffers comprising a pivotally mounted element extending to a position beneath a ball supported onthe driving member and one of the buffers, said element when actuated causing movement of the ball into engagement with the other buier, and rotatable timing means operable upon completion of the operation of said one buffer on the ball to actuate said element. Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,161 Murphy Allg. 27, 1929 2,179,459 Vreeland a; Nov. 7, 1939 2,297,377 Willard .Q Sept. 29, 1942 2,378,418 Lister June 19, 1945 2,528,341 Creely Oct. 31, 1950 2,588,714 Fleming Mar. 11, 1952

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