US784617A - Electroplating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 784,617. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. H. & G. H. FLBISCHER.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a fag w ow f Z6 Mb maul W NITED STATEs Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN FLEISCHER AND CHARLES H. FLEISCHER, OF NE BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE STANLEY WORKS, OF NEW BRIT- AIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,617, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,294.

To all 1071/0777, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HERMAN FLEIsoHER and CHARLES H. FLEISCHER, citizens of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electroplating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to electroplating apparatus, and has for its object the saving of time, labor, and material and the production of work of uniformlyhigh grade.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a plating apparatus constructed to embody our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the tank, the carriers, and conveying-chains. Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged cross-section of the tank, showing the carriers and the parts carried thereby in place. Fig. 4 is a relatively enlarged detail view. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a further development of our invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain driving-sprockets, detached and relatively enlarged.

1 is a'water-tight tank of usual form, open at the top. The tank 1 receives and holds the plating solution. 2, 2 are anodes. 3, 3 are articles to beplated, which will hereinafter be termed the cathodes. In the preferred form of our invention both the anodes and cathodes are mechanically conveyed into, through, and out of said plating solution; but it is not absolutely essential to certain fundamental features of the invention that the cathodes themselves be moved through said solution.

l, 4 are bars, which we term anode-carriers, the same being formed ofsuitable conducting material. Both ends of each of the anode-carriers A are connected to drive chains or belts 5, 5, arranged to traverse on opposite sides of the tank, each chain 5 traversing over a series of independent guide-sprockets arranged on opposite sides of the machine.

6, 6 are cathode-carriers, from which are suspended the cathodes 3, 3. Both ends of each cathode-carrier are attached to chains 7, 7, which are arranged to traverse the opposite sides of the tank and are guided by suitable independent sprockets, also located on opposite sides of the machine.

The chains 5 and 7 are driven at a corresponding rate of speed. Any suitable driving means may be provided. For example, the guide-sprockets 8, 8 (see Fig. .6) may be mounted upon a shaft 8, so that when rotary motion is imparted to one of said sprockets it will be transmitted through one shaft to the other sprocket. One of the sprockets 9, traversed by chain 7, may act as the drive-sprocket for one of the chains 7. The corresponding guide-sprocket on the other side of the machine (not shown) may be mounted on a shaft with the guide-sprocket 9, so that when one turns the other will turn. The driving-sprock- ,ets 8, 9 may be connected by means of achain 8 so that power applied to either of the sprockets 8 or 9 will be transmitted to the other. In the preferred construction the sprockets 8, 9 are rotated intermittently by means of a ratchet 10, pawl 11, and rocking arm 12.

The anode-carriers 4 are spaced apart at equal intervals, and the cathode-carriers are spaced apart atlike intervals. \Vhen the anodes and the cathodes are being conveyed through the solution in the tank 1 it is preferred that said anodes and cathodes be spaced apart alternately and at equal intervals.

13, 13 are tracks along the upper opposite edges of the tank I and arranged to support the anodecarriers 4 while the anodes are llllmersed in the solution in tank 1. 14:, 1% are tracks also arranged along the edges of the tank 1, their function being to support the cathode-carriers 6 when the cathodes are immersed in the solution. To prevent interference, the tracks 14, 14 are preferably spaced apart a less width and are at a lower elevation than the tracks 13. The length of the cathode-carriers 6 is correspondingly less than the length of the anode-carriers A. One or both of the tracks 13 constitutes electrical contact for the carrier 4. The same is true of one or both of the tracks 14:, the same being an electrical contact'for the cathode-carrier 6. The signs plus ('I) and minus represent the respective electrical connections. The track 13 being the anode connection is positive, while the track 1 being the cathode connection is negative.

The chains 5 and 7 are preferably insulated from the carriers 4: and 6.

15 is a bushing of insulating material pro vided at each end of the carriers. Pins 5, carried by the chain 5, project into these insulating-bushings 15.

The guide-sprockets over which the anodechains 5 run are so arranged that the anodes will be lowered into the plating solution at one end of the tank, whereupon the anodecarrier will make electrical connction with the track 13. The anodes are then conveyed through the solution and removed from the other end of the tank. The guide-sprockets over which the cathode-chains 7 run are so arranged that the cathodes will be lowered into the solution alternately with the anodes, whereupon the cathode-carriers will make an electrical connection with the track 14:. The cathodes are then conveyed through the plating solution and removed from the other end of the tank. hile in the solution the cathodes and anodes are preferably spaced apart at equal intervals. While in the plating solution the surfaces of the anodes will become fouled by a scum-like deposit, which if allowed to accumulate will impair the free plating action and dissolution of the metal. By making the anodes automatically removable they may be readily cleanedfor example, by causing them to be immersed in an anodecleansing bath, which may be provided in tank15. The guide- sprockets 16, 16, 17 are so arranged that each anode will be lifted up over the edges of the tank 15 and immersed for a short time in the cleansing solution therein. There are many advantages in keeping the anodes clean, among which are rapidity of dissolution of the metal, relatively rapid speed, and uniformity of deposit, saving in electric current and chemicals. The balance of the guide-sprockets for the anode-chain not already numbered are indicated at 18, 18. Obviously the particular arrangement of the guide-sprockets and the method of supporting them is entirely immaterial.

The movement of the chains 5, 7 is so comparatively slow that an operator standing at either end of the tank may remove the plated articles from the cathode-carriers 6 and substitute unplatcd articles which in due course will be conveyed through the plating solution, as previously described.

By causing the articles to be passed through the solution alternately with the anodes each line of articles suspended from a cathode-carrier is moving into a sphere of solution which has been enriched by the dissolution of the 'anode immediately in front of it, the said anode practically recharging the solution which has been partially impoverished by the cathode immediately preceding said anode.

\Vhile to those features of the invention already described it is not essential that the apparatus shall have the capacity of preparing the articles to receive the plating deposit, a further development of our invention contemplates the continuation of the cathode- chains 7, 7 so that they will cause the cathode- carriers 6, 6 and articles suspended therefrom to traverse a washing-tank 19, Fig. 5, in which tank various baths may be provided in separate compartments into which the articles to be plated may be successively immersed in order to prepare the surfaces thereof to receive the plating solution. We have found that great economies are attained by this arrangement. Not only is the danger of possible contamination of the surface of the articles rendered practically impossible, because the articles are not manually handled after being cleaned and until they are plated, but a decided saving in chemicals results. The chains 7, as shown in Fig. 5,.traverse in the direc tion of the arrows, so that an operator standing at the left-hand end of the tank may attach to the carriers mounted on the chain 7 the articles to be plated. These articles are conveyed into the several preparatory baths successively, and the movement is so comparatively slow that ample opportunity is given for the chemicals to drip from the articles into the baths from which they are removed before being immersed in another bath which may be, for example, of a different chemical nature. This drip occurs directly over thebath from which the article is removed, and hence the particular chemicals therein are saved.

The danger of injury to operatives by contact with the chemicals incidental to the cleansing of the articles is entirely eliminated.

20 is a final washing-tank at the opposite end of the plating-tank into which the plated articles are immersed after being removed from the plating solution.

21, 21 represent the sprockets for the chain 7, whereby said chain is moved in such a course that the cathode-carriers supported by said .chain will be conveyed in such a direc tion to move the articles to be plated over each of the partitions in the tanks 19 and 20, so that the said articles will be washed or immersed in the aforesaid baths. The particular arrangement of these sprockets 21 is of course immaterial so long as they permit of the use of endless bands or belts 7.

\Vhat we claim is- 1. In an electroplating apparatus, a series of anodes, an endless conveyer for said anodes, a plating-tank arranged in the path of travel of said anodes said conveyors immersing each of said anodes successively into and removing the same from said plating-tank.

2. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, endless chains arranged at opposite sides of the tank, anode-carriers connected with said chains and conveyed thereby, said carriers extending transversely of the path of travel ofsaid conveyers, and anodes suspended from said carriers and arranged to be mechanically immersed in, moved through and removed irom said tank.

3. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a series of anodes, a series of cathodes, independent supports for said anodes and cathodes, means for conveying said anodes and cathodes into, through and out of said plating-tank.

4. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a series of anodes, a series of cathodes and independent conveyers for said anodes and cathodes said conveyers being arranged to move said anodes and cathodes into, through and out of said plating-tank.

5. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, an anode-cleansing tank, an anode, a conveyor for said anode arranged to move said anode into, through and out of each of said tanks alternately.

6. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, an anode-cleansingtank, an anode, a conveyer for said anode arranged to move said anode into, through and out of each of said tanks alternately, and a cathode and means for conveying said cathode into, through and out of said plating-tank simultaneously with said anode.

7. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, a movable anode, a movable cathode and means for alternately immersing said anode and cathode in said plating-tank and independent supports and conveyers for said anodes and cathodes.

8. In an electroplating apparatus, a platingtank, movable anodes, movable cathodes, means for alternately immersing said anodes and cathodes in said tank and conveying them therethrough at substantially equal intervals apart and independent sup ports and conveyers for said anodes and cathodes.

9. In an electroplating apparatus, a tank, movable anodes, movable cathodes and means for inimersingsaid anodes and cathodes in said tank and for conveying them therethrongh at equal intervals apart and independent supports and conveyers therefor.

10. In an electroplating apparatus, a plating-tank, a movable anode, a movable cathode and independent means for immersing said anodes and cathodes in said plating-tank and for moving the same therethrough at the same rate of speed.

11. In an electroplatingapparatus, a series of anodes, a series of cathodes, movable conveyers therefor, a plating-tank, electrical contacts and independent means for conveying said anodes and cathodes into and through said tank and bringing them into electrical connection with said contacts only while said anodes and cathodes are immersed in said tank.

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for holding aplating solution, tracks along the upper edge thereof and constituting one of the poles of an electric circuit, an anode-carrier arranged to be supported by and in electrical contact with said tracks, means for moving said anode-carrier along said tracks and an anode suspended. from said carrier and in electrical contact therewith and immersed in said solution.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing a plating solution, anode and cathode tracks at opposite sides thereof, anode-carriers supported on said anode-tracks, cathode-carriers supported on said cathode-tracks, means for moving both of said carriers along said tracks and for keeping said carriers and articles suspended therefrom from contact with each other.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing a plating solution, anode carriers, cathode carriers and means for moving both of said carriers along the upper part of said tank whereby articles suspended therefrom may be immersed in a solution contained within said tank and means for elevating said carriers before the same reach the end of the tank.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank for containing a plating solution,an anode-cleansing tank,a movable anodecarrier, means for moving said anode-carrier over each of said tanks alternately whereby an anode suspended from said carrier may be immersed in a plating solution in the firstmentioned tank and subsequently immersed in a washing solution contained in said secondmentioned tank and so on.

Signed at New Britain, Connecticut, this 20th day of May, 1904:.

HERMAN FLEISCHER. CHARLES H. FLEISGHER. IVitnesses:

O. E. BENTLEY, GEO. I. HART.

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