US2074599A - Conveyer driving control - Google Patents

Description

March 23, G. T D

CONVEYER DRIVING CONTROL Filed May 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ma e-firm? Gl/f/P/IV 7000. Br

March 23, 1937. G. TODD CONVEYER DRIVING CONTROL Filed May 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww p I 0 k 5 HQ r Y *H a R 5 m w\ \w\ 0 4 w mw\ a b m m6 \v. m5 \Q a? QQ Patented Mar. 23,- 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER DRIVING CONTROL Guerin Todd, Matawan, N. 1., assi'gnor to Honson-Van W inkle-Munning Company, Matawan, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey R Application May 20, 1935, Serial No. 22.3%

' 16 Claims. (01. 204-) This invention relatesto electr c-plating apparatus, and in particular, to devices for causing the articles in such apparatus to be subjected to a reciprocating motion, together with a travel generally in one direction. One object oi this invention is to provide an electro-processing machine, wherein the work carrier is given a reversing motion so as to cause the work-pieces to move backward and forward within the solution.

Another object is to provide devices for providing such a forward and reverse motion to the workpiece, the motion in one direction being ,greater than that in the other so that the workpiece slowly travels throughthe solution in one general direction,- while being moved to and fro in the solution.

Another object is to provide an electro-process- 90 ing machine of the conveyer chain type, where- ,in the conveyer chain travels in an orbitalpath, the apparatus being provided with independently driven transfer devices for transferring .the workpieces from one tank to another, the conveyer chain being provided with means for causing it to rnove forward and backward in unequal amounts. Another object is to provide an electro-processing machine having an endless conveyer chain mounted to conveywork-pieces through various solutions, the chain being driven by mechanism which imparts a reciprocating motion to the chain, together with a general motion in oiie direction and transfer devices for transferring the work-pieces from one tank portion over the partition or wall thereof into another tank po'rtion.

Another object is to provide an electrical thning device for operating an electro-processing machine oi the above-described type, this electrical, timing device having means for causing the driving motor of the apparatus to operate a greater length oi time in one direction than in another, thereby providin a reciprocation of the conveyer chain'driven thereby, together with a resultant motion in one direction. Referring to the drawings: d

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit 50 and apparatus for imparting a reciprocating motion to work-pieces, together with'a resultant motion in one direction, with single tank conveyer mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion oi the timing device shown in Figure 1.

an electro-processing machine with'transfer con- Figure 3 is a transverse section along the line 3-3 01' Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form 01 timing device.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a modified 5 form of timing device from that shown in Figures 1 and i.

veyer mechanism, showing the work-pieces being conveyed through diilerent tanks and trans- I ierred between tanks by transfer mechanism.

Figure 9 is a transverse section along the line 9-4 of Figure 8.' 20

Hitherto, whether in the single tank conveyer type or transfer conveyer type of machine, the speed at which it was necessary-to move the work through the various solutions-was always less than the speed desirable for freeing the work from the gas bubbles which collect upon it during treatment. The time of treatment is fixed by the thickness of the depositto be obtained, and the length 01'' the treatment tank is fixed by the number 0! work-pieces that are to be treated in that time. The speed of the chain'in feet per minute is thus the tank length in feet divided by the time in minutes. In commercial practice the chain speed is generally from oneto three 5 feet per minute,'whereas a speed of not less than five feet per minute would produce more satisfactory results, as it would wash ofi gas bubbles and particles of matter in the solution, as well as cause a rapid change 0! the solution in con- 40 tact with the objects being plated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a single tank conveyer type o1- machine with a circuit adapted to provide the reciprceating motion, together with the resultant motion in one direction, as created by the apparatus of this invention." In Figure 1 the electroprocessing tank i is provided with a suitable liquid in which is immersed the work-piece 2 carried on the work carrier 3. 'The rlatter, in turn, is mounted upon the work-carrying pins 4 carried bythe conveyer chain I The-conveyerchain i is arranged to move in an orbital path and is supported upon sprockets I and 1 at each end of the orbit. The sprocket 5 1 is supported as an idler upon the shaft 8, whereas the driving sprocket 6 is mounted upon the shaft 9. This receives power from the gear boxJU, which inturn, receives power from the 5 drive shaft H of thereversible motor l2. The motor is of the three-phase, reversible type, and is controlled, as to reversal, by a magnetic reverser, generally designated l3, and having the solenoidal operating coils and I5, respectively.

To these operating coils are connected the armatures i6 and I1, arranged to operate the switch rods l8 and I9. Mounted on the switch rod l8 are the contractor switch blades 28, 2|, 22 and 23, whereas similarly mounted upon the switch rod l9 are the contractor switch blades 24, 25, 26

and 21.,

The motor receives power from the magnetic reverser by way of the lines 28, 29 and 30. whereasth'e reverser receives power from a main switch box 3| by way of the lines 32, 33 and 34. The external power lines are indicated by the numerals 35, 36 and 31. A branch line 38 transmits current from the line 33 to one pole of the solenoidal windings I4 and I5, the opposite poles of which are cross-connected to the upper switch blades and 24, respectively, by the lines 39 and 48.

From the main switch box 3| run the lines 4| and 42 to the synchronous timing motor 43 of the timing device, generally designated 54. The synchronous motor 43 on its shaft 45 carries a gear 46, which transmits power to a gear 48 by way of the idler gear 41 arranged therebetween. The gear 48 is mounted upon the shaft 49 of the timer, generally designated 58. The timer. 58, shown in enlarged view in Figure 2, consists of an insulating drum 5| mounted upon the shaft 49 and carrying on its periphery a pair of irregularly shaped segmental shells 52 and 53. The drum 5| is preferably of bakelite or some other similarmaterialp The segment 53 is connected' by the conductor 54 to the collector ring 55, whereas the segment 52 is similarly connected by the conductor 56 to the collector ring 51. The collector rings and 51 are mounted in insulated relationship upon the drive shaft 49.

Referring again .to Figure 1, the collector rings 55 and 51 of the timer.50 are engaged by brushes 5 58 and 59, respectively, whereas the central segments 52 and 53 are engaged by a brush 80. The brush 68, as shown by the double-headed rotor, is adjustable longitudinally along the timer. The brush66 receives current from the 55 power line 32 by way of the line 6|, whereas the lines 62 and 63, respectively, convey current from the brushes 58 and 59 to the magnetic reverser i3.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in 60 Figure 1, the synchronous motor 43 is operated to rotate the timer. shaft 49 through the gear train 48, 41 and 48. The segments 52 and 53, of

unequal peripheral extent, pass beneath the central brush 60 so that current'is passed between 5the brush 68 and the collector rings 55 and 51 for unequal periods. Accordingly, when the brush 68 is-in contact with the segment 53, as

shown, the operating coil [4 is energized through the switch blade 24 carried by the switch rod 70 I9, thereby energizing the motor I2 to drive the conveyer chain-5 in one direction.

As long as the timer rotates to bring the segment 52 under the central brush 60, the current passes from the latter to the collector ring 5 51;deenergizing the operating coil l4, .dropping its switch rod i8 and energizing the operating coil l5 through the switch blade 28. This action causes current to be received reversely by the motor |2,. reversing the direction of rotation thereof and accordingly reversing the direction of motion of the conveyer chain 5. It will be seen, however, that the peripheral extent of the segment 52 is much less than that of the segment 53', hence, the conveyer chain 5 will be operated a greater distance in one direction than in the other. Thus, the work-piece 2 will be given a reciprocating motion, having a greater extent in one direction than in the other, giving a. reciprocation with a resultant motion in one direction.

By moving the central brush 68 relatively to the segments 52 and 53 in a longitudinal direction the proportionate period of engagement of the segment 53 compared with the segment 52 may bevaried. By moving the brush 60 to the left (Figure 1), for example, the disparity of motion between the opposite directions is increased because the peripheral extent of the segment 53 is increased while that of the segment,

52 is being decreased. By moving the brush 68 in a right-hand direction the opposite effect is obtained.

Instead of the timer, generally indicated by the reference numeral 58 (Figure 1), a modified form of timer, shown in Figure 4, may be employed. In this modified form the gear 46 on the synchronous motor shaft 45 'drives a pinion 10 upon a shaft 1|, which also carries the gear 12. The latter, in turn, meshes with the pinion 13 mounted upon the shaft 14. The latter carries the disc 15 with the crank pin 16 thereon. On the crank pin 18 is pivotally mounted the connecting rod 11, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected, as at 18, to a reciprocating member 19. On the" reciprocating member 19 is mounted a pairof plates and 8|, insulated from one another, the member 19 being preferably of insulating material. The plate 88 is provided with .an electrical conductor 82 to convey current-therefrom, whereas the plate 8| has a similar electrical conductor 83-. These two electrical conductors are in pig-tail form to enable a flexible connection during the reciprocation of the plates.

Arranged to engage the plates is a brush 84 mounted on the arm 85, pivoted as at 86, to a support 81. The support 81 carries a quadrant 88 having an arcuate slot 89 therein. The arm 85 is provided with a clamp screw 98, engaging the arcuate slot 88 and serving to clamp the arm 85 in any desired position around its pivot 86. By suitably adjusting the arm 85 the position of the brush 84 relative to the plates 88 and 8| may be varied.

When the shaft 45 of the synchronous motor 43 is rotated the connecting rod 11 obviously reciprocates, likewise causing a reciprocation of the reciprocating member 19. Under these conditions-the brush 84 alternately engages plates '80 and 8| for different periods of time.

Current is supplied to the brush 84 through the line 6| and passes outward either through the conductor 82 or the conductor 83 for different periods of time, as determined by the angular adjustment of the arm 85 upon the quadrant 88.

The apparatus shown in Figure 4 is electrically connected in a manner similar to that of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, and produces a.

similar effect upon the reciprocation of the conveyer chain 5 by, operating the motor 12' in a re- The modified form of timing device shown in Figure 5 is driven through a train of gears and a connecting rod, generally designated 11, in a manner similar to that of Figure 4, described above. The connecting rod 11 is provided with an adjustment 9|, whereby the effective length of the connecting rod 'I'I may be adjusted between the axis of the crank pin I6 and the pivot pin 92,

where it is connected to the arm 93 of a cam 94.

The cam 04 is pivotally mounted, as at 95, and has on its periphery a cam surface 96, of a configuration suitable for the switch-shifting purpose described below.

Arranged to engage the cam surface 06 is a follower I (Figure mounted upon an arm lated to and fro by the connecting rod 11, and the mercury switch III! will be tilted first in one direction and then in the opposite direction as the follower I00 is engaged by the diiferent portions of the cam surface 96. Under these conditions the switch I0'I may be connected to the same lines as the timing device shown in Figure 1, and employed to operate the magnetic'reverser I3 in a similar manner. It will be observed that by turning the adjustment 9| the relative move- 7 ment of the cam surface 96 on either side of its neutral point 91 may be adjusted by varying the setting of the adjustment 9-I thereby causing the switch tube II" to be tilted longer in one position than in the other. This, in turn, causes the motor I2 to be operated a longer period of time in one direction than in the other.

The modified form of timing device shown in Figure 7 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 and like numerals denote similar parts. In the Fig- F ure '7 construction, however, the gear train is -.replaced by a variable speed reduction unit i20,

having an adjusting wheel I2I. This variable speed reduction unit is of a conventional type, the details of which form no part of the present invention. By adjusting the wheel I2I thespeed obtained from the shaft I22 thereof and applied to the timing device may be varied so that the ultimate speed of travel of the conveyer chain may be varied as well as the proportionate travel in its opposite direction of travel.

By the use of the timing device of thisinven tion to reciprocate the conveyer chain, however, this waste space may be utilized for: the motion of the work-pieces. In this manner the effective length of the tank may be increased and the speed of motion of the work-pieces also increased thereby increasing the elimination of the gas bubbles which otherwise collect upon the work-pieces.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 8 and 9 the work-pieces, by the reciprocation, can be given an effectively high speed for eliminating the gas bubbles, and at the same time the resultant onward travel of the work-piece is sufliciently small to accommodate it to the mechanical limitations of the apparatus.

The length of the conveyer for an electro-processing machine is ordinarily determined by the number of. pieces to be processed and the time required to obtain the desired thickness of plated coating. To this end the apparatus in Figures 8 and 9 consists of a plurality of tanks I30, I3 I and I32 arranged in an orbital path, and having work-pieces $33 immersed in the liquid therein. The work-pieces I33 are suspended from work carriers I34 having arms I35 with apertures I36 adapted to slip over pins I31, spaced at intervals along the endless conveyer chain I 38. The latter moves in an orbital path in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with Figure 1. V

The transfer mechanism arranged adjacent each partition between tanks consists of an orbital guide frame I39, having a guideway I40 in which moves the follower I.4I on a pin I42 in the end of a rod E43. The upper ends of the work holders I 34 are provided with downwardly opening yoked portions or sockets I44 adapted to be engaged by the outer end of the pin I42. The rod I 43 is mounted for reciprocation in the guideways I45 of the cradle I45, the latter being attached to the transverse shaft i4! having the bevel gear I48 driven by the bevel gear I49 on the longitudinal shaft I50.

The longitudinal shaft I50 is driven independently of the conveyer chain I38 but in timed relationship therewith sothat the rod I43 will arrive at the proper position for engaging the socketed portion I44 of the work carrier I34 when the latter arrives opposite the left-hand lower corner of the guide frame I39. The rod I43 simultaneously reciprocates and sweeps through an angular path in a clockwise direction, while its follower I4I moves around the orbital path formed by the guideway I40.

The conveyer chain I38 is reciprocated in almove to and fro through the entire space within the tank I30, i3I or I32. The chain I38 thus moves forward, backward and forward again between each operation of the transfer mechanism so that the spaces otherwise empty at the ends of the tanks are fully utilized. 4

It will be understood that it is desired to.com prehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

It will be further understood that in place of the reversible motor, reversing devices may be used for reversing the direction of power from a non-reversible motor to the conveyer chain, these devices being operated by the timing devices of the presentinvention.

It will be further understood that in place of the arcuate adjustment of the arm 05, in Figure i, a linear adjustment may be provided to vary the position of the brush 8d.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and Letters Patent, is:

1. In ,an electro-processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain having means asso- 5 ciated therewith for supporting work-pieces, a

tank arranged to receive said work-pieces, a modesired to be secured by tor for driving said chain, reversing means for reversing the direction of motion of said chain,

' 'rent distributor connected to said reverser and havihg a plurality of conductors insulated from ,one another, a contact member arranged to engage said conductors, and means for moving said 25 conductors and said contact member into alter- ,nate engagement with one another whereby to move said chain alternately in opposite directions.

3. In an electro -processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain'having means asso- 30 ciated therewith for supporting work-pieces, a

tank arranged to receive said work-piecesa motor for driving said chain, a reverser for reversing the direction of motion of said chain, elec- Y trical means for operating said reverser, a cur- ,3 rent distributor connected to said reverser and having a plurality of conductors insulated from one another, a contact member arranged to engage said conductors, and means for moving said conductors and said contactmen ber into alter- ;o nate engagement with one another for difierent proportionate periods of time in each cycle of motion whereby to move said chain to and fro alternately in opposite directions but with a resultant progressive motion in a single direction.

ciated therewith for supporting work-pieces, a tankarranged to receive said work-pieces, a mo- 4 tor for driving said chain, a reverser for reverstrical means for operating said reverser, a current distributor connected to said reverser, a synchronous motor for operating said current dis-' tributor, said current distributor having a plua contact member arranged to engage said conductors, and means for moving said conductors and said contact member into alternate engagement with one another whereby to operate said 0 chain alternately'in'opposite directions.

less work-conveying chain having means associated therewith for supporting work-pieces, a tank arranged to receive said work-pieces, a mo-v torfor driving said chain, a reverser for revers- I ing the direction of-motion of said chain, electri- ;cal means for operating said reverser, a timing drum having segments of unequal peripheral extent electrically connected to 7 said reverser, an electrical con'tactmember arranged to engage said segments, and means for rotating said timing drum whereby to bring said segments alternately into engagement with said contact member.

4.. In an electro-processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain having means asso ing the direction of motion of said chain, elect-1 rality of conductors insulated from one another;

5. In an electro-processing machine, an end-- work-conveying chain.

6. In an electro-processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain having means associated therewith for supporting work-pieces, a tank arranged to receive said workpieces, a motor for driving said chain, a reverser for reversing the direction of motion of said chain, electrical means for operating saidreverser, a timing drum having segments of unequal peripheral extent electrically connected to said reverser, an electrical contact member arranged-to engage said segments, and means for rotating said timing drum to bring said segments alternately into engagement with said contact member, said timing drum and said electrical contact member being adjustable axially with respect to one another whereby to vary the proportionate periods of contact 01 said segments with said electrical contact member. a

7. In anelectro-processing machine, an endles work-carrying chain having means associated therewith-for supporting work-pieces, a tank arranged to receive said work-pieces, a motor for driving said chain, a reverser for reversing the direction of motion of said chain, electrical means including a circuit for operating said reverser, a double-throw switch in said circuit and arranged to contrqlthe-actuation of said electrical means, mechanism to close said switch alternately in its two positions, and means to adjust said switch-closing mechanism whereby to vary the relative period of closure in each position.

8. In an electro-processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain,a motorior driving said chain, a reverser forreversing the direction of motion of said chain, electrical means for op erating said reverser for difierent distances of alternate reciprocation, a plurality of tank portions arranged along the path of said chain, worktransfer devices at the partitions between said tanks, and means for driving said work-transfer devices. independently of said alternately reeiprocable chain but in timed relationship therewith. 9. In an electro-processing machine, an endless work-conveying chain, a motor for driving said chain, a' reverser for reversing the direction of motion of said chain, electrical means for operating said reverser for difierent distances of alternate reciprocation, a plurality of tank portions arranged along the path of said chain, work-transfer devices at -the partitions between said tanks, and means for driving said work- 'transier devices independently of said alternate:

lyreciprocablechain but in timed relationship therewith, said work-transier devices being arranged to engage the 'work-pieces'conveyed by said chain when said work-pieces arrive at the partition between successive tanks.

10. In an electro-processingfmachine, an endless work-conveying chain, a motor for driving said chain, a reverser for reversing the direction of motion of said chain, electrical means for operating said reverser for diiierent distances of alternate reciprocation, a plurality of tank portionsqarranaged along the path of said chain,

,work-transier devices at the partitions between said tanks, and means for driving said, worktransfer devices independently of said alternately reciprocable chain but in timed relationship therewith,'said work-transfer devices being arranged to operate at" a higher speed than said GUERIN TODD.

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