GB790006A - Apparatus for plating and/or chemical treatment of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

790,006. Endless conveyers. UDYLITE RESEARCH CORPORATION. July 7, 1955 [Aug. 5, 1954], No. 19675/55. Class 78 (1). [Also in Groups XXXVI and XXXVII] Apparatus for electroplating workpieces, e.g. placed in barrels 84, comprises a plurality of spaced, vertical carriage frames comprising uprights 40 and cross-pieces 41, Fig. 6, a pair of outwardly extending arms 75 (or 78) pivotally secured to the frame 40, 41, e.g. at backwardly-extending arms 70, 71 rigid with the frame 40, 41, the arms 75, 78 having arms 82 supporting a barrel 84, a member 42 which is vertically movable on the frame 40, 41 in guides 58, 60 thereon to raise and lower the arms 75, 78, means for moving the carriages horizontally and means carried by the arms 75, 78 for rotating the barrels 84. A fixed iron framework comprising uprights and horizontals 20 ... 28 has an upper and a lower track 47, 48 and 52 ... 54 respectively running therearound in which engage wheels 45, 50, carried by the frames 40, 41. A number of tanks extend round the framework. A bracket 80 is rigidly connected to the movable member 42 and pivotally connected at 81 to a cross-piece 76 of the pair of arms 75. The frames 40, 41 are moved round the apparatus by arms 169 on uprights 40 engaging a driven chain 166. Barrel rotating mechanism.-Cross-bars 72 on the arms 70 support a spring-loaded gear 111, Fig. 3, which always contacts a fixed gear 118 on a shaft 114, which is connected through a pulley 119, Fig. 6, belt 120 and further gears to a gear 130 on the barrel 84. The gear 111 is actuated to rotate the barrel 84 when the carriage frame 40, 41 in moving around the tracks described above brings the gear 111 into engagement with a gear 96 on a driven shaft 90 which runs the length of each side of the apparatus. Gears 96 are positioned at the location of each tank. Gearing on shafts 90 ensures a slower rate of rotation of the barrels near each end of the apparatus, i.e. in the rinsing tanks, Fig. 5 (not shown). Driven gears are likewise positioned at each end of the apparatus to engage the gears 111. Elevator mechanism.-The member 42 has a wheel 43 which runs on a rail 30 secured to an arm 29, Fig. 3, carried by pieces 185 which are slidable up and down centre columns 22 by rollers 187. The rail 30 does not extend round one end of the apparatus where the barrels 84 remain submerged during plating. A motor 188, Fig. 2, drives a speed reducer 189 having a sprocket 191 at each side about which pass chains 192, 192a which extends between a counterweight 192b, slidable in the column 22, and a block 198, various pulleys as 193b, 193c intervening. Further chains 201, 202 extend from the top of the block over fixed pulleys and pulleys 195 on the pieces 185 to fixed points 203 ... 206 on the horizontals 23. The motor 188 may rotate the speed reducer 189 in either direction to raise or lower the pieces 185 and therefore the arms 75, 78 through member 42, bracket 80 and cross-piece 76. Delayed set-down mechanism.-At any position along the side of the apparatus a mechanism may be located which permits a barrel to be raised out of turn or retained in raised position, e.g. to skip a tank. The mechanism comprises a shoe 212, Fig. 2, vertically slidable in channels 210, and having a projection 214 which normally rests on the rail 30, whereby the member 42 rides thereon. A spring-loaded dog on the shoe 212 can ride up a chain 227 to allow the shoe 212 to rise with the rail 30 and hence lift the member 42 and associated barrel-lifting parts, but cannot return down the chain 227, which is driven when the member 42 is to be lowered. Conversely, the chain 227 may be driven in the opposite direction to raise the shoe 212 and hence the member 42 before the rail 30 would normally be raised. The apparatus is driven in correct sequence by a number of electric motors (see Group XXXVII).