DEFLASHING APPARATUS

DEFLASHING APPARATUS of the Invention A deflashing apparatus is disclosed having an insulated housing defining a deflashing chamber in which a continuous belt rotates for tumbling molded or die cast articles having flash thereon. The articles within the chamber are bombarded by a high velocity stream of deflashing media propelled into the chamber by a throwing wheel. The deflashing chamber is maintained in a cryogenic environment which lowers the temperature of articles so that the flash becomes brittle in comparison to the body portion of the article and is readily removed by the impact of deflashing media and the tumbling along the belt. A gas interlock which may be referred to as a vestible structure is additionally disclosed which forms an effective barrier to prevent the escape of the cryogenic gas during the insertion and removal of articles from the chamber. The efficiency of the deflashing process is enhanced by novel means which permit a variable adjustment during machine operation of the density, intensity, and pattern of the thrown media to ensure proper and uniform flash removal.