US2419739A - Crystal grinding device - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1947. s l 2,419,739

CRYSTAL GRINDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1947.

A. SPINA CRYSTAL GRINDING DEVIICE' Filed Jan. 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ANTHONY 5mm A'I'T RNEY April 29, 1947. A I A 2,419,739

CRYSTAL GRINDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 29. 1947. A, H A 2,419,739

CRYSTAL GRINDING DEVI CE INVE'N'I'OR ANTHONY EPINA b Patented Apr. 29, 1947 't UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRYSTAL GRINDING DEVICE Anthony Spina, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 4, 1946, Serial No. 638,987

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic crystal grinder.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a machine for automatically grinding a plurality of crystals at once, means being provided for insuring a level bearing of the face of the crystal to be ground on the flat surface of the grinding stone, each crystal being rotated about its axis as it is being ground.

Another object is to provide means for stopping the rotating of any one crystal without affecting the grinding of the other crystals.

A further object is to provide means for rocking the crystal holder so that an even grinding of the crystal is assured.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section, of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the automatic crystal grinder.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing an enlarged detailed view of a portion shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section, showing a modified form of crystal holder.

Fig. 5 is a plan viewof a modified type of crystal rotater adapted to be used in place of the crystal rotater of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the crystal rotater of Fig. 5, parts being omitted. V Y

The automatic crystal grinder machine, 'ac cording to this invention, comprises. a base in on which a pan-cylinder l l is supported by means of legs l2. An inclined holder l3 for a powdered grinding compound is mounted on a wall 01'' the pan, it having a port M at its lowest point. A water faucet I5 is also mounted on the wall over the holder 13. Water dripping from the faucet will moisten the powder and keep a small trickle falling through the port H.

The boss I6 is secured on the bottom :wall of the base and this boss has a threadedbore I1 in which is adjustably screwed a thrust bearing l8 supporting a vertical main shaft [9. Boss I6 is provided with a set screw Ili for vertical adjustment of thrust bearing l8. The shaft l9 extends through the bottom wall ll of the pan and through bearings 20 at the bottom and top sides of the bottom wall of the pan. v A spacer 2! is mounted on the shaft on top of the top hear: ing 23, then a disc 22, then a circular grinding wheel or stone 23, then another disc 24 and finally a nut 25. The topmost end of shaft I9 is provided with threads 26.

Above the thrust bearing 18 a pulley 21 is mounted on the shaft and this pulley is adapted to be belt driven by an electric motor or the like (not shown). Above the pulley a gear 28 is secured to the shaft. Gear 28 meshes with an idler 29 of a larger size, which meshes with another idler 30. A small gear 3| is mounted on top of gear 39 and this meshes with a gear 32 larger than gear 31 but smaller than the gear 29. The shafts of all the ears are in a line and the idlers are mounted on shafts secured to the pan bottom wall. This arrangement of gears makes one gear set. The gears are shielded by a cylindrical projection I2 Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that another gear meshes with gear 3|, this other gear be-' ing in another seat and being indicated by the numeral 33. It meshes with a large gear 34 which has a small gear 3P on it meshing with a gear 32 gear 31 being like gear 3| and gear 32 being like gear 32. r I

There are two other trains of gears driven by the gear 23 and these trains are similar to that already described so no further description thereof is deemed necessary, the same reference numeral being used to indicate likeparts. Thus there are six gears 32-32% and these six gears turn six drive shafts 35. The mechanism associated with each shaft 35 is the same and therefore only one will be described.

Shaft 35 extends upwardly through a housing 36 mounted on top of the bottom wall of the pan. Housing 36 has a casing 31 extending radially over the stone. There are six housings and siX casings and thus six crystals can be ground simultaneously, as will presently appear.

- Shaft 35 extendsthrough a bearing 38 in the housing and thereabove the shaft is square and is telescoped in a vertically slidable sleeve 39 on top of which is a collar 40 and thereabove a bevel gear 4|. Lugs 42 on the housing wall below the collar 40 secure the bottom ends of compression springs 43 which seat at their tops under the collar 40, urging the collar and hence the bevel gear upwards.

The lever 44 is pivoted in the housing wall and this lever has at its inner end and pivotally connected thereto, a depending dog 45 which bears against the collar 40. If the lever 44 is lifted, the dog is pushed down, pushing the collar and bevel gear down. A latch 46 is pivoted to the housing above the lever and it has a hook 47 for hooking over a pin l8 on the lever for holding the lever in raised position when desired.

A worm 49 is mounted in the casing and it has a bevel gear 50 at its inner end in mesh with gear 4| to be driven thereby. When lever 44 is raised, these gears are put out of mesh so that the worm ceases to rotate.

A guide 5| is formed in the casing along side of the worm and a carriage 52 is mounted in this guide and has set screws 53 for locking it in any adjusted position longitudinally of the guide. The carriage carries a worm wheel 54 in mesh with the worm, the worm wheel shaft 55 depending and having a square bore 56 opening downwardly. A chuck 51 is secured by means of a square stem 58 in bore 58.

A crystal holder 59, is secured in the chuck, the holder having a square stem 60 secured in the chuck by a set screw 6|. A rubber cap 84 is secured to the holder 59. The cap has a concave bottom face which rests on top of the crystal 66 to be ground and holds it against the flat top face of the stone.

The operation of the machine is as follows: There are six caps 64 and a crystal is placed under each one with the surface to be ground resting on top of the flat stone. The motor is then started, turning the main shaft I9 by means of the pulley 21.

When the main shaft rotates, the mill 23 rotates and all the gears rotate, rotating all the six shafts 35. Thus all the worms rotate, rotating the worm wheeis 54 and thus the chuck 51 and the caps 64.

Should it be desired to stop one crystal from rotating, its correlated lever 44 is lifted, disengaging the bevel gears. However, the stone still rotates and still grinds the crystal. If it is desired to stop grinding one crystal, its correlated set screw 6| is loosened and the correlated cap 64 raised and the crystal removed. This can be done without disturbing the grinding of the remaining crystals.

In Figs. 4 to 6 a modified arrangement is shown for rocking the cap 64'. This modified arrangement constitutes extra equipment, and all the aforedescribed parts of the machine are utilized. Thus the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 which is not shown in Figs. 1-3 is really an attachment which may be used with the machine or not as desired. It includes a casing 65 which may be secured to the housing 36 by conventional securing means such as bolts. Two parallel shafts 67 are journalled in this casing and two cams, 58, extending in opposite directions are secured on the shafts. The ends of the shafts are geared together by gears 69 and one shaft has a bevel gear 10 on its end meshing with a bevel gear H which will be secured on shaft 35'. The cams are disposed under the bar 62' on opposite sides of the stem 60' connected by a bolt to bar 62 and as the shafts 61 rotate, the cams alternately lift opposite sides of the bar 62', rocking same and gently rocking the cap 64 by means of link members 63. This vibrates the crystal a bit without unseating it and insures a level bearing on the rotating stone 23.

The bar 62 is weighted with two balls 12 secured on top of its ends, these weights effecting a load on the crystal holding it tightly on the stone with the necessary pressure. These weights can be replaced by other weights to vary the weight depending on how much pressure is needed. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the chuck weight is usually sufficient, but Weights similar to the weights 72 may also be used if desired.

The machine of the present invention also permits adjustment of the crystal radially of the stone so that all parts of the stone surface can be utilized. This adjustment is effected by loosening the set screws 53 and. moving the carriage 52 along the guide 5| to any desired position, whereupon the set screws are tightened up again.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a pan mounted on said base, a

-: thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, a grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a grinding compound to said stone, a housing extending vertically at one side of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said housing over said stone, a driving shaft in said housing, a gear train driving said driving shaft from said main shaft, a worm in said casing, gears connecting said worm and driving shaft whereby said worm is rotated by said driving shaft, a carriage slidably mounted in said casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in said carriage and a worm wheel on said depending shaft connecting it to said worm, a chuck secured to the end of said depending shaft, and a crystal holder secured in said chuck including a body and a cap flexibly connected to said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shaft and said driving shaft rotates said worm and said chuck, thereby rotating said crystal, said driving shaft being formed of two telescoped sections, spring means normally holding the upper of said two sections upwardly maintaining geared connection with said worm, and means for forcing said upper section down against the resistance of said spring means to break said geared connection with said worm.

2. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a pan mounted on said base, a thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a grinding compound to said stone, a housing extending vertically at one side of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said housing over said stone, at driving shaft in said housing, a gear train driving said driving shaft from said main shaft, a, worm in said casing, gears connecting said worm and driving shaft whereby said worm is rotated by said drivingshaft, a carriage slidably mounted in said casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in said carriage and a Worm wheel on said depending shaft connecting it to said worm, a chuck secured to the end of said depending shaft, and a crystal holder secured in said chuck including a body and a cap flexibly connected to said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shaft and said driving shaft rotates said worm and said chuck, thereby rotating said crystal, said gear train connecting said main and driving shafts including a gear on said main shaft, an idler meshed therewith, another idler meshed with said first idler and having a, small gear on its shaft, and a gear on said driving shaft in mesh with said small gear.

3. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a, pan mounted on said base, a thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, a grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a grinding compound to said stone, a housing extending vertically at one side of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said housing over said stone, a driving shaft in said housing, a gear train driving said driving shaft from said main shaft, a worm in said casing, gears connecting said worm and driving shaft whereby said worm is rotated by said driving shaft, a carriage slidably mounted in said casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in said carriage and a worm wheel on said depending shaft connecting it to said worm, a chuck secured to the end of said depending shaft, and a crystal holder secured in said chuck including a body and a cap flexibly connected to said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shaft and said driving shaft rotates said worm and said chuck, thereby rotating said crystal, said gear train connecting said main and driving shafts including a gear on said main shaft, an idler meshed therewith, another idler meshed with said first idler and having a small gear on its shaft, and a gear on said driving shaft in mesh with said small gear, another driving shaft spaced from and parallel to said first driving shaft, and a gear train connecting said other driving shaft to said small gear, said other driving shaft being part of a mechanism for holding another crystal.

4. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a pan mounted on said base, a thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, a grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a, grinding compound to said stone, 2, housing extending vertically at one side of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said housing over said stone, a driving shaft in said housing, a gear train driving said driving shaft from said main shaft, a worm in said casing, gears connecting said worm and driving shaft whereby said worm is rotated by said driving shaft, a carriage slidably mounted in said casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in said carriage and a worm wheel on said depending shaft connecting it to said worm, a chuck secured to theend of said depending driving shaft, and a crystal holder secured in said chuck including 'a body and a cap flexibly connected to said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shaft and said driving shaftrotates said worm and said chuck, thereby rotating said crystal and means for adjusting said thrust bearing vertically relative to said base for aligning said main shaft gear with the adjacent gear of said train.

5. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a pan mounted on said base, a thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, a grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a grinding compound to said stone, a housing extending vertically at one side of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said housing over said stone, a driving shaft in said housing, including two telescoped sections, the upper section having a collar, said housing having lugs below said collar, and compression springs disposed between said collar and lugs normally urging said upper section upwardly, a level fulcrumed in said housing for pushing said collar and upper section downwardly, a, latch for looking said lever in its position for holding said upper section downwardly, a gear train driving said driving shaft from said main shaft, a worm in said casing, gears connecting said worm and driving shaft upper section whereby said worm is rotated by said driving shaft and whereby said worm can be disconnected from said driving shaft by swinging said lever, a carriage slidably mounted in said casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in said carriage and a worm wheel on said depending shaft connecting it to said worm, a chuck secured to the end of said depending shaft, and a crystal holder secured in said chuck including a, body and a cap flexibly connected to said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shaft and said driving shaft rotates said worm and said chuck, thereby rotating said crystal.

6. An automatic crystal grinding machine comprising a base, a pan mounted on said base, a thrust bearing mounted on said base and supporting a vertical main shaft extending through said base and pan, a pulley on said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated, a grinding stone on said shaft in said pan, means for feeding a grinding compound to said stone, a plurality of housings extending vertically at the outer circumference of said stone, a casing extending horizontally from the upper portion of each housing over said stone, a driving shaft in each housing, a gear train driving each driving shaft from said main shaft, a worm in each casing, gears connecting each worm and its correlated driving shaft whereby said worm is rotated by its said driving shafts, a carriage slidably mounted in each casing, a vertical depending shaft mounted in each carriage and a worm wheel on each depending shaft connecting it to its said worm, a chuck secured to the end of each depending shaft, and a crystal holder secured in each chuck including a body and a cap flexibly connected to its said body and having a concave bottom face for holding a. crystal on said stone, whereby rotation of said main shaft rotates said stone and said driving shafts and said driving shafts rotate said worms and said chucks, thereby rotating said crystals.

ANTHONY SPINA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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