Wire mesh conveyor abrasive machine and abrasive return system therefor

Abstract

This relates to a cleaning machine which employs blast wheels to throw abrasive particles against a workpiece to be cleaned. The cleaning machine is of a simple construction and employs two wire mesh belts through which abrasive particles may freely pass. A first of these belts extends longitudinally through the machine and serves to support workpieces or articles to be cleaned. The workpieces are cleaned by blasts of abrasive particles from opposite sides of the belt and from above and below the belt. This first belt may be considered extending longitudinally of the cleaning machine. The abrasive particles fall into a bottom collection trough and are removed by an abrasive particle collection system which includes a second wire mesh belt through which abrasive particles can freely flow into the collection trough. The second belt is also vertically disposed, but extends transversely of the first belt. The second belt carries a series of buckets for removing collected materials including abrasive particles from the collection trough and dumping the materials onto an upper run of the second belt through which the collected materials freely flow into collection bins. The collected material flows in a curtain from each of the bins through which an air blast passes to remove foreign material from the abrasive particles, after which the abrasive particles fall into respective supply hoppers for the blast wheels.