US2078381A - Semiautomatic electroplating machine - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1937.

A. H. HANNON SEMIAUTOMATIC ELECTROPLAT ING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 14! FEB T H 40- A TTORNEYS April 27, 1937. A. H. HANNON SEMIAUTOMATIC ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flLBfET 1"!- HH/ /VOAK ATTORNEYS April 27, 1937.;- A. 'H. HANNON 2,078,381

I I SEMIAUTOMATIC ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sh'et 3 11v VENTOR flL 195/2 7 H. bWIV/VO 1v.

Patented Apr. 27', 1 937 UNITED STATES aoi'assi sEMIAUTIGM TIC ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Albert i1. li annon, Springfield, Ohio Application April 11, 1934, Serial No. 720,086

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electroplating ma,- chines and, in particular, tov semi-automatic electroplating machines, where the Workbeing plated moves through the plating tanks and is attached and detached manually.

One object of my invention is to provide a a semi-automatic electroplating machine having an endless conveyor chain, the drive for which is adjustable as a unit to adjust the tension in said chain.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the work is suspended from carriers attached to the conveyor chain, which carriers make contact with and receive current from a conductor rail along which they slide.

Another object is to provide an electroplating machine having an endless conveyorchain wherein the motor drive unit is self-contained upon its own base and is supported upon cross members,

0 the drive unit being adaptable to tanks of different widths, merely by substituting cross members of difierent widths for supporting the drive unit.

Another object is to provide an electroplatin tank having anode rods of adjustable height and adapted to support anodes hung therefrom in various parts of the solution.

Another object is to provide an electroplating machine wherein the cross brackets which support the driving unit of the machine are mounted upon wooden members which in turn are supported upon the metal tank and its side uprights.

Another object is to provide an electroplating machine having a drive unit which is adjustable as a whole upon its own base to take up slack in the conveyor chain, the action of the conveyor chain being intermittent, so that the conveyor chain will be moving during the times the articles being plated are submerged in the tanks, and will be at rest while the articles are being loaded or unloaded.

Another object is to provide an electroplating machine having a single tank wherein the conveyor chain and drive unit are electrically interconnected, and wherein the machine is provided with a conductor insulated therefrom and adapted to support the articles connected to a source of electricity. Longitudinally extending rails '50, provided with guiding grooves 50', are bolted or otherwise secured to the under surfaces of the transverse bridging members. Within the grooves 50' the rollers 39 run freely, and normally out of contact with the side Walls of the grooves. This relationship between the grooves and rollers is accurately maintained by the adjustment afforded through the slots 3'! and screw 38. 23y this construction there will be no deflection of the chain to cause the rollers to engage the walls of the. grooves 50,,a',n d a nicely balanced relationship between the parts may be maintained, the result being that the rollers run in the guide grooves without friction, and at the same time are so positioned'that anyabnormal tilting of the hooks will befprevented' through engagement, at'that time, between the rollers and the walls ofthe grooves 50'. A In the drawingszv Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the electroplating machine of my inventicn; 1

Figure-24s a side elevation of the electroplating machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3is a vertical section through the drive shaft of the driven conveyor sprocket, along th line 3'3 o'f-Figure 1; t

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the details of the conveyor chain and anode and cathode supports;

' Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connection of the anode rods and catho'de' rails;

'Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view, partly in section, of the motor drive unit of my machine;

Figure 7 is avertical section on the line 11 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical'and mechanical apparatus for causing the machine to operate intermittently.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show the electroplating machine of my invention. The machine is provided with a tank I havinga flanged member 2 around its top edge; and likewise having flanged uprights 3 on opposite sides thereof, these uprights being interconnected by the strain .rods 4. To the flanged member 2 are attached brackets -5 which serve to support conductor rods 6 extending around the tank I near the top edge thereof. The conductor rods 6 are generally anode rods, and are hereinafter designated as such, although itwill be .understood that for electro-cleaning operations, the conductor rods 6 may be given a negative charge instead of the usual positive a charge common in electroplating practice. Suspended from the anode rod 6 at intervals around the tank are anodes l5 attached thereto by the hook portionsalfi. These anodes l5 may be distributed through the tank in any desired manner and in such number as may be necessary for the particular conditions under which the machine is being operated.

The tank is additionally provided with a middle anode rod I! which runs along the mid-portion of the tank (Figure 4) and is suspended above the tank by hangers similar to those previously described, and similarly designated. These hangers are likewise secured to the cross members I.

The anode rods 6 are likewise supported by hangers I which are connected to the insulating member 8 (Figure 3), above which rises the bracket portion 9. The latter is in turn attached to the bracket I9 and the cross member II, it being held thereagainst by means of the nut |2 threaded thereon. Each cross member H is supplied at its opposite ends with the brackets I0, these being secured to longitudinal channel members l3 resting upon wooden beams l4. The wooden beams l4 rest upon and are supported by the metal flanged members 2 which extend around the tank at its top edge.

' On one. of the cross members (Figures 1 and 2) near one end of the machine is mounted a bracket i3 which supports the vertical shaft 19. Loosely mounted upon the shaft l9, so as to rotate freely thereon, is the sprocket 20, commonly known as the tail sprocket. This sprocket supports the conveyor chain 2|, the opposite end of which is supported by the head sprocket 22 keyed to the vertical shaft 23 and driven thereby.

The mechanism for driving the vertical shaft 23 which actuates the head srpocket 22 is supported as a unit upon the base 24 (Figures 1, 2 and 6). On this base is mounted a motor 25, insulated therefrom by the insulating layer 26. The motor 25 has a drive shaft 21 which is connected to the drive shaft 28 of the variable speed unit 29 by the insulated coupling 30. The variable speed unit 29 does not in itself constitute a feature of the present invention, hence is not described in detail. Its speed is governed by the setting of the hand wheel 3|, the turning of which will vary the speed as may be desired. The opposite end of the variable speed unit 29 is provided with a drive shaft 32 connected to the drive shaft 33 of the speed reduction unit 34. The drive shaft 33 is equipped with a worm 35 which meshes with the worm gear 36. The latter is in turn keyed to the vertical shaft 23, which it drives at a'greatly reduced speed, compared with the speed of the drive shaft 33 (Figure 1).

The drive motor 25, the variable speed unit 29 and the speed reduction unit 34 are thus mounted as a single piece of mechanism upon the base 24 and are adjustable as a whole when the base 24 is moved. To this end the base 24 is provided with slots 31 (Figure 1), whereby it may be moved longitudinally by turning the screw 38 mounted in the bracket 39 secured to the middle cross member (Figures 2 and 6). In this manner any slack existing in the conveyor chain 2| may be immediately taken up and the proper tension thereof obtained.

The conveyor chain 2| is of the roller type. At intervals (Figures 3 and 4), the pins 4|) of the rollers 39 are extended downwardly as at 4 I, and to these extensions are attached the hooks 42. The latter are preferably of brass and serve to support the articles being plated. The hooks 42 are provided with flattened portions 43 midway between their connections 4| and their lower ends. These flattened portions 43 bear against the conductor rails 44 and receive current therefrom. The conductor rails 44 in electroplating practice are generally provided with current of a negative polarity, hence will be hereinafter designated as the cathode rails 44. It will be understood, however, that in electro-cleaning processes the conductor rails 44 may be given a positive charge of electricity, without exceeding the scope of my invention. The cathode rails 44 are secured to and supported by brackets 45 which in turn are bolted to the cross members H of the machine (Figure 4). It will also be seen that the hooks 42 are of such shape that their horizontally flattened portions 46 rest upon and slide along the upper surface of the cathode rails 44, thus providing additional support for the work articles and improved electrical contact for the transmission of electricity therebetween. The cathode rails 44 are arranged in an endless form having parallel linear runs with circular ends. The circular ends of the cathode rails 44 are additionally supported by diametral cross brackets 41 (Figure 3) which are attached to the end cross member The opposite curved end of the cathode rail 44 is supported by a similar bracket adjacent to the tail sprocket 2!). Immediately beneath the cross brackets 41, which are held by the bolts 48 are mounted the splash guards 49. The latter are attached to the middle anode rod [1.

The tanks for the solutions which may be used in connection with the machine are made of different substances according to the nature of the solution being used. The tank I may be of steel for cyanide solutions or for alkaline solutions in general. Tanks of wood or ofsteel lined with rubber or lead, are used for acid solutions. The machine shown employs a single tank, hence it is unnecessary to insulate the conveyor chain 2| from the cathode rail 44.

In operation, the machine is set in motion by starting the driving motor 25. This motor communicates power to the variable speed unit 29, the speed thereof being controlled by turning the wheel 3|. The speed of the shaft 32 emerging from the variable speed unit 29 is further reduced by the speed reduction unit 34 so that the sprocket 22, which it drives, rotates at a comparatively slow speed compared with the motor shaft 21. Any slack existing in the conveyor chain 2| is taken up by adjusting the screw 38 which moves the motor drive unit base 24 bodily in a longitudinal direction.

As the sprocket 22 rotates, it causes the conveyor chain to travel in an orbital path, carrying with it the hooks 42. The tank is filled with the proper solution up to a suitable level, the work articles loaded on to the hooks 42, and current supplied to the anode rods 6 and cathode rails 44. The work articles thus move through the tank in an orbital path while they are being plated (in the case of electroplating) or cleaned (in the case of electro-cleaning). It will be understood that in electro-cleaning, the polarity is reversed relative to that existing in electroplating.

The conveyor chain preferably moves in an intermittent manner according to the operation of the apparatus hereinafter described. While the work is being plated, it moves through the solution, but the mechanism stops and the conveyor chain becomes stationary at intermittent periods while the work articles are being loaded and unloaded.

Controlling apparatus for intermittent movement of machine The machine may be operated continuously if desired, without any special arrangements. If intermittent motion is to be provided, however, the apparatus and circuit shown in Figure 8, or its equivalent, is employed.

The control circuit for intermittent movement comprises .a solenoidally operated switch assembly I49, a mechanically-operated limit switch I94 actuated by the motion of the machine through a predetermined distance, a stop switch having contacts I65 and I68, a start switch having contacts I58 and I60, and an automatic switch having contacts I64, I69, I10 and I15 interconnected with a hand switch having contacts I62 and I12. (Figure 8). These pieces of apparatus are connected to a timing switch assembly I99 comprising a timing motor I81, a pair of solenoids I18 and I19, operating an armature I95 which is linked to a pivoted switch arm I91, and a cam member drivingly connected to the timing motor I 81 and operating a pawl I96 which determines whether or not the switch arm I91 is operable.

By the use of this apparatus connected in the manner shown in Figure 8, the conveyor chain will alternately come to rest, remain at rest for a predetermined time, start in motion, remain in motion for a predetermined time, and again come to rest. It will be understood, however, that mechanical indexing mechanism could be employed to accomplish the same result as the electrical apparatus shown.

The operation of the intermittent motion control apparatus is as follows: the manually operated switches I48 are first closed. If continuous motion of the machine is desired, this motion is obtained by depressing the switch marked Hand, which opens its contacts I62 and I12, and through the action of the interconnecting lever also opens the contacts I10 and I15 of the automatic switch and closes the contacts I64 and I69 thereof. The operation just described disconnects the automatic timing mechanism, hereinafter described, from the circuit, and the machine is then free to be started by depressing the start switch I46, thus closing the contacts I58 and I60. The main driving motor then starts rotating by receiving current at its terminals I I I, H2 and I [3 from the power lines IOI, I02 and I03. This circuit is completed from the power line IOI along the wire I54 through the solenoid I53, along the wire I51 through the start switch contacts I58 and I60, along the wire I6I, through the hand switch contact I62, and along the wire I59 to the power line I02. The closing of this circuit energizes the coil of the solenoid I53, closing the switches I49 actuated thereby, and thus connecting the power lines IOI, I02 and I03 with the terminals III, H2 and I I3 of the main driving motor 25. The same action also closes the switch I92 which maintains the energization of the solenoid coil I53 when the starting switch I46 is released, the energization thereof taking place through the circuit comprising the power line IOI, the wire I54, the solenoid coil I53, the wire I93, the switch I92, the wire I66, the stop switch contacts I65 and I68, the wire I1 I, the automatic switch contacts I69 and I64, the wire I63, the hand switch contact I62 and the wire I59 connected to the power line I02.

When it is desired to stop the motor and thus cause the machine to cease operating continuously, the stop switch is depressed, thereby opening its contacts I65 and [68. This tie-energizes the solenoid coil I53 and permits the spring I50 to open the switches I49 and I92.

When it is desired to cause the machine to operate intermittently by automatic means, the automatic switch of the switch assembly I41 is depressed, this switch locking in either position.- The machine is then started by pressing the start switch I46. The main drive motor 25 is then energized through the circuit comprising the power line IOI, the wire I54, the solenoid. coil I53, the wire I51, the start switch contacts I58 and I60, the wire I6I, the hand switch contact I62, and the wire I59 to the power line I02. This circuit energizes the solenoid coil I53 and the latter closes the switches I49 and I92 by attracting the solenoid armature I52 connected therewith. The closing of the switches I49 and I92 in this manner connects the power lines IOI, I02 and I03 to the terminals I I I, I I2 and I I3 of the main drive motor 25. This circuit is maintained in energization by the closing of the switch I92 through the circuit comprising the power line IOI, the wire I54, the solenoid coil I53, the wire I93, the switch I92, the wire I66, the stop switch contacts I65 and I68, the wire I1I, the automatic switch contacts I10 and I15 of the switch assembly I41, the wire I16, the contact I11 of the timing switch assembly I99, the contact spring I98 thereof, the

wire I13, the contacts I12 and I62 of the hand switch in the switch assembly I41, and the'wire I59 to the power line I02.

The starting of the main drive motor 25 in this manner causes the conveyor chain 2I to pursue an orbital path until the limit switch I94 is mechanically tripped by a projection on the conveyor chain I2I, closing the limit switch contacts I8I and I83. The main drive motor 25 is then de-energized through the circuit comprising the power line IOI, the wire I84, thelimit switch contacts I83 and I8I, the wire I82, the armature coils I19 and I18 of the timing switch assembly I99, the wire I80, the switch contact spring I14, the wire I13, the hand switch contacts I12 and I62 of the switch assembly I41, and the wire I59 to the power line I02. The closing of this circuit energizes the armature coils I18 and I19 .01? the timing switch assembly I99, attracting the armature I95 and withdrawing the switch arm I98 from the switch contact I11. The opening of the latter circuit tie-energizes the solenoid coil I53 and allows the spring I50 to withdraw the solenoid plunger I52, thereby opening the solenoidal switches I49 and I92, thus stopping the machine.

The energization of the armature coils I18 and I19 also energizes the timing switch motor I81, which is shunted around these coils. The time switch motor I81 rotates and causes its cam to turn, lifting the pawl I96 after a predetermined time. The lifting of the pawl I96 permits the flexed spring switch arm I91 to engage the switch contact I56. The main drive motor 25 is then energized by the closing of the circuit comprising the power line IN, the wire I54, the coil I53, the wire I55, the contact I56, the spring switch arm I 91, the wire I13, the contacts I12 and I62 of the hand switch in the switch assembly I41, and the wire I59 to the power line I02. The continued rotation of the cam operated by the timing switch motor I81 eventually allows the pawl I96 to spring back into its normal position, thus releasing the spring switch arm I91, also operating the spring switch arm I14 and opening its contact with the switch contact I85. The

latter tie-energizes the timing motor I 81 and stops it.

When the pawl I96 is in its normal position, it prevents the spring switch arm I91 from engaging the switch contact H59, even despite the attracting of the armature I95 to the armature coils I19 and H8 but the energization of the latter causes the spring switch arm E9! to be flexed. When the pawl I99 is raised through the action of the timing motor I81 and its cam, this interference ceases, and the spring switch arm !9l' is permitted to engage the switch contact I56. This energizes the solenoid coil I53 and the latter closes the switches E99 and I92, re-energizing the terminals Mi, H2 and H9 of the main drive motor 25 from the power lines IBI, I92 and IE3. The above energization of the solenoid coil I53 takes place through the circuit comprising the power line till, the wire I54, the solenoid coil 553, the wire 555, the timing switch contact I56, the timing switch arm I9'i, the timing switch contact I'M, the wire N3, the hand switch contacts I12 and M2 of the switch assembly M3, the wire I59 and the power line I92.

The energization of the main drive motor 25 again starts the machine and the conveyor chain 2I again starts traveling in its orbital path. As it starts to move, it mechanically releases the limit switch H94, thus opening the circuit between the contacts 58! and I 83. This de-energizes the armature coils H9 and I78, releases the armature I95, allows the contacts I and IT! to become connected to their respective switch arms 698 and H45, and disconnects the switch arm 59? from the switch contact E56. The ioregoing cycle of operations is then in a condition to repeat itself intermittently so long as the autornatic switch on the switch assembly Ml is closed.

The spring arms 29'? and I 98 of the timing switch assembly I99 and their contacts ill and let are so arranged and adjusted that the contact ill is engaged by its spring arm I98 before the spring arm E9? is permitted to disengage itself from the switch contact I56. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent the holding circuit through the solenoid coil I53 from being awash momentarily interrupted and. the switch I92 allowed to open before the switch contact I'I'I would be engaged by its spring arm I98 and the circuit accordingly closed.

In the circuit shown in Figure 8, the wires I and I9I are shunted around the armature coils I I9 and I78 to connect up a pilot light I89. The burning of this pilot light I89 indicates when the timing switch assembly I99 is in operation.

it will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

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

In an electroprocessing machine, a tank, a plurality of transverse bridging members, a sprocket suspended beneath one of said bridging members, a conveyor chain of the roller type engaging said sprocket, a driving unit support mounted on others of said bridging members, a self-contained, motor-operated driving unit mounted on said support, a driven sprocket engaging said chain suspended from said driving unit in alignment with the first sprocket, and means for bodily moving said driving unit and said support relatively to said bridging members whereby to adjust said chain at the point of application of power thereto, horizontally disposed anode and cathode bus bars, a cathode rail having flat top and sides connected to the cathode bus bar and suspended beneath said bridging members, parallel guiding members having longitudinal grooves therein carried by said bridging members, hooks provided with horizontal and vertical portions for suspension from an engagement with the flat top and sides of the cathode rail, pins projecting upwardly from said hooks and axially supporting rollers of the conveyor chain, said rollers being located in the grooves of the guiding members and freely movable without normal engagement with the walls in said grooves, and an anode rail connected to the anode bus bar.

ALBERT H. HAN'NON.

Images