CA2001269A1 - Apparatus for electroplating or chemically treating metallic parts - Google Patents
Apparatus for electroplating or chemically treating metallic partsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2001269A1 CA2001269A1 CA 2001269 CA2001269A CA2001269A1 CA 2001269 A1 CA2001269 A1 CA 2001269A1 CA 2001269 CA2001269 CA 2001269 CA 2001269 A CA2001269 A CA 2001269A CA 2001269 A1 CA2001269 A1 CA 2001269A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- liquid
- chain
- conveyor belt
- basin
- parts
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G49/00—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
- B65G49/02—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid
- B65G49/04—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction
- B65G49/0409—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length
- B65G49/0413—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath
- B65G49/0418—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath chain or belt conveyors
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
- C25D17/16—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk
- C25D17/28—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk with means for moving the objects individually through the apparatus during treatment
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
- Belt Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An apparatus is described for electroplating metal parts that pass through a number of stations in a horizontal direction.
These stations are made up of a large number of liquid basins. There is a circulating conveyor belt or chain in each liquid basin. This incorporates means to pick up, hold, and move the parts beneath the surface of the liquid. At the entrance and exit of each liquid basin the conveyor belt or chain is guided to a transfer point above the separator wall between two liquid basins that follow each other in the direction of movement of the conveyor system, the transfer of the parts being effected from one liquid basin to the next liquid basin in the direction of movement of the conveyor system.
An apparatus is described for electroplating metal parts that pass through a number of stations in a horizontal direction.
These stations are made up of a large number of liquid basins. There is a circulating conveyor belt or chain in each liquid basin. This incorporates means to pick up, hold, and move the parts beneath the surface of the liquid. At the entrance and exit of each liquid basin the conveyor belt or chain is guided to a transfer point above the separator wall between two liquid basins that follow each other in the direction of movement of the conveyor system, the transfer of the parts being effected from one liquid basin to the next liquid basin in the direction of movement of the conveyor system.
Description
20~31269 The present invention relates to an apparatus for electroplating or chemically treating metallic parts.
For reasons of completeness it should be understood that the terms "electroplating" or "chemically treating" refer to any kind of electroplating or chemical surface treatment or application that does not involve the use of external current of any kind, and which is used for bulky items and includes, for example, nickel plating. Such an apparatus, used for electroplating bulk items such as bolts, screws, nuts, and the like, is described in DE-PS 31 27 390. At the entry point of the system, these small items are moved through a hopper onto a conveyor belt moving in a bath, lifted out of the bath, and then moved through another hopper onto a drum that moves the small items to another bath. When the drum is rotated, these small items are moved from the entrance end to the exit end of the drum by means of spiral ribs that are incorporated in the drum, and from there are moved onto a conveyor belt that extends beyond the level of the liquid and ejects the small items into another bath, from which they are removed by means of another conveyor belt. Although this results in an on-going, continuous, movement of these objects in the manner of a skein, from the entry point to the exit point of the system, during simultaneous electroplating, this arrangement, known from DE-PS 31 27 390, is only useful for moving small items such as screws, nuts and bolts, and so on.
In addition, the referenced document is only concerned with processing small items in a single electroplating bath, namely the bath that accommodates the processing drum.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus such that even bulky items can be accommodated by it, and processed in larger electroplating plants that incorporate a greater number of liquid baths arranged one after the other, without any perceptible carry-over of the liquid contained in one bath into the liquid of the subsequent bath in the direction of movement.
:
200~26~
The invention is particularly concerned with parts that are bent to shape from wire and which are to be nickel plated.
Such wire bails are relatively bulky and for this reason cannot be processed in a rotary drum because they would become entangled with each other. A large variety of such wire bails and similar bulky items are used in the art. A
preferred but in no way exclusive use for wire bails is for securing correspondence files, where they are passed through holes punched in the sheets contained in the file.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for electroplating metal parts that are passed from an input station through a system of electroplating baths to an output station, of the type wherein parts are passed through said apparatus substantially horizontally and moved across a separating wall between adjacent basins filled with liquid, wherein in order to permit the electroplating of bulky items such as wire items with the aid of a large number of liquid electroplating baths, the apparatus comprises a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain circulating within each liquid basin, said belt or chain being fitted with means to pick up or hold and convey the individual bulky items beneath the level of the liquid, the conveyor belt or chain being guided up at the entrance and exit of each liquid basin to a transfer point above the separating wall between two adjacent liquid basins so that the transfer of the bulky items from one liquid basin to the next liquid basin is effected, this transfer being made onto the conveyor belt or chain in said subsequent liquid basin.
This makes it possible to both hold and move the bulky parts when, to the point that it is necessary, these bulky items can also be separated. The parts are guided along practically the whole length of the particular liquid container, in its bath or liquid, i.e., they are appropriately processed, this being understood to include not only the actual electroplating, but also all the other - ' ~...... . ' ' ~
.
ZOO~Z69 processes, such as hot degreasing, stationary rinsing, running rinsing, etching, pre-immersion, post-immersion, and so on. Each liquid is separated from the other liquids by appropriate separating walls (which can also be formed by the walls of the basins that contain the liquids). Since the bulky items are removed from each bath by the particular conveyor belt or chain, any liquid that is on them will drop off before they are transferred to the conveyor belt or chain that is associated with the next bath or liquid basin, this taking place above the particular separating wall.
Contamination of the bath that follows in the direction in which the conveyor system is moving, by liquid from the preceding bath, is thus kept to a minimum. In this regard, it is an advantage that, in contrast to other electroplating plants, in this plant it has been possible to eliminate costly passages for the material to be electroplated, which have to be made at the level of the liquid in a particular bath.
In addition, it is also important that the bulky items can also be picked up and held by the particular conveyor belt.
This is not only necessary for movement itself, but also provides for at least some separation of the items. The above-discussed measures solve the task in question when such bulky parts are to be electroplated. If, for purposes of simplicity, reference is made to conveyor belts or chains, this is to be understood in the sense of a system that operates with a plurality of conveyor belts or a plurality of conveyor chains within a bath or liquid basin.
This horizontal conveyor system for such bulky items saves considerable operating costs. Thus, up to now, it has been customary to have the wire bails for correspondence files, discussed heretofore, hung on frames manually. Then, the frames were passed through the electroplating plant.
Subsequently, the finished, processed wire bails had to be removed from the frames by hand. To these savings in 201~1Z69 personnel costs, one has to add the savings in manufacturing such a plant, the production costs of which are relatively low. In this connection, it should also be noted that in such an electroplating process, a large number of so-called modules (i.e., liquid basins containing various baths, rinsing liquids, etc.) have to be passed through. In this connection, continuous movement and simplification of the conveyor system, and prevention of the carry-over of bath liquid into the next module, are all decisive for achieving technical success at low production costs. Apart from some monitoring of the plant (which includes loading and removing the bulky items), there is no further requirement for operating personnel.
One preferred embodiment shown incorporates a conveyor belt or chain that circulates in the liquid in question, and on which lie the bulky items. This means that there is no requirement for separate guides or the like in the particular liquid basin.
In another preferred embodiment, there are appropriate conveyor chains, and these pick up the bulky items by means of drivers or hooks. This results in enhanced separation of the bulky items, since each such item is suspended on one of the drivers or hooks.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt or the conveyor chain does not circulate in the bath. This avoids any chemical attack on the material of the conveyor belt or the conveyor chain by the bath. In addition, the quantity of bath liquid that could be carried over into the subsequent bath is reduced, since only drops of the residual liquid that remain on the bulky items are involved.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a plant according to the present invention, in plan view;
Figure 2 shows the plant of Figure 1 in the associated side view;
Figure 3 shows, at enlarged scale, an example of a bulky wire bail of the sort that is to be transported in such an electroplating plant using the present invention;
Figure 4 shows at greater scale than in figures 1 and 2, a section of such a plant in side view, in partial cross-section;
Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line V-V in figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a section of a plant shown in figure 2, this being a longitudinal cross-section, at an enlarged scale Figure 7 is a cross-section taken on the line VII-VII in figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, also in cross-section from the plant as in figure 3 and in greater scale than this, and a side view in partial cross-section;
Figure 9 is a cross-section taken on the line IX-IX in figure 8;
Figure 10 shows the detail X in figure 8, at an enlarged scale; and Figure 11 is a plan view of figure 10.
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a horizontally oriented plant for chemical nickel plating. In this diagram, the reference numbers 1 to 16 refer to the various stations or modules: 1, loading module; 2, hot degreasing module; 3, static rinse module; 4, running rinse module; 5, etching module; 6, static rinse module; 7, running rinse module; 8, pre-immersion ~001269 module; 9, chemical nickel plating module; 10, static rinse module; 11, static rinse module; 12, running rinse module;
13, post-immersion module; 14, hot rinse module; 15, drying module; 16, unloading module.
In the present embodiment, wire clips or bails 17 for producing the closing and retaining devices for correspondence files are to be nickel plated by a chemical process. Such a clip is shown at enlarged scale in figure 3.
A series 18 of clips, arranged one after the other, enters a conveyor trough 19 from a wire-bending machine (not shown herein) and passes through the plant loading station 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20. In this example, there are five tracks with a corresponding number of conveyor belts or chains to which the bails 17 are passed, so that five such tracks pass through the plant. Removal is effected after processing has been completed, and takes place in the direction indicated by the arrow 21.
In Figure 2, the continuous line 22 indicates the path of the bulky elements, whereas the broken line 23 shows the level of liquid in the baths or the liquid in the individual modules 2 to 15. From this it can be seen that the path 23 of the goods within the modules runs beneath the surface 23 of the liquids. In contrast thereto, when moving from one module or liquid basin to the next, as at 22', the goods pass upwards to a point above the surface of the liquid, across the partition, and then into the next module or liquid basin, wherein they are once again moved beneath the surface 23 of the liquid, where they are processed.
The embodiment illustrated in figures 4 and 5 shows two modules or liquid basins 25, 26, with the liquid baths 27, 28, that are adjacent to each other; as a rule, the baths differ from each other. The adjacent walls 29 of these two liquid basins form the partition discussed heretofore.
Within each basin, an endless conveyor belt, or else a g..
conveyor chain 30, passes around rollers 31, at least one roller per bath being driven so as to rotate in the direction of rotation 33 that is indicated. The arrangement is such that the conveyor belt or chain 30 only extends above the surface of the liquid 32 at the beginning or the end of the liquid basin so that it can pass the bulky parts 17 to the next subsequent conveyor belt or conveyor chain 30 (here, that of the liquid basin 26) in the area above the separating wall 29. Any residue from the bath 27 that may still be adhering to the closing parts 17 drip off the closing parts 27 after they have left the bath, so that for all practical purposes, no bath liquid 27 is carried over into the bath liquid 28.
The cross-section in figure 5 shows guides 35 on the long side walls 34' of the liquid basin 25, these preferably being of smooth, slippery plastic. On their side that is closest to the bath, these guides in corporate guide grooves 36 in which the ends of the cross bars 38, which project outwards from the conveyor belt or chain, form a sliding fit. The particular conveyor belt or chain 30 is guided downwards and into the bath by this means from the junction points (separating walls) of the two modules or liquid basins. The parts 17 lie loosely on the conveyor belt, or are picked up by these. The bars 38 are secured to a belt 39, or pass through this. On the upper surface of the belt 39 there are projections 40, and the parts 17 come to rest against these.
The projections are matched to the shape of the parts that are to be electroplated. This cross-section also shows the five tracks already discussed in conjunction with figure 1.
Each module incorporates such a conveyor belt or chain (this also applies to the other embodiments). The conveyor belts can also be made up of individual sections that are connected to each other.
In the example shown in figures 4 and 5 both the upper run 40 and the lower run 41 of the conveyor belt or chain 30 lie in the particular bath, with the exception of those sections that are located close to the particular partition wall. If required, the bars 38 can be installed on the upper side of the belt 39, so that they become the drivers for the moving the closing parts 17 in place of the projections 40.
In the example shown in figures 6 and 7 the conveyor belt or chain, in this instance a notched belt 42 with teeth 43, is located above the surface of the liquid 32 and is turned by the drive roller 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow 33.
Figure 6 shows the exit end of the associated liquid basin 25. The entrance end of the liquid basin (not shown herein) is configured in the same way. Contact surfaces, here in the form of guides 44, 45, are provided to convey the parts 17 from the entrance to the exit end of the basin 25. The guide 44, which extends horizontally, merges at the exit end into a rising guide 45 that emerges from the liquid 32 into the transfer point 47 to the next basin 47. A similar, inclined trough is located at the entrance side to this basin. This leads from the corresponding transfer area of the separating wall 29 and is inclined downward as far as the guide 44. The guide 44 and the lower area of the rising guides are located beneath the level of the liquid 32. Drivers 46 are attached ~-to the outside of the notched belt 42 and these are of such a length that they engage with the parts 17 that are in the guides 44 and move them to the transfer point 47 that is located above the separator wall 29. They pass along the guide 45' that slopes downward into the next basin 26. Thus, only the drivers 46 of the conveyor belt come into contact with the liquid, which means that the quantity of liquid that is picked up from the basin 25 and carried into the basin 26 is further reduced. The belts can also be fitted with driver cups .
Figure 7 shows a possible variation in the configuration of the guides 44 or the corresponding contact surfaces or cross-sectional configurations on the bottom 48 of this basin 25.
The embodiment is matched to the cross-section of the parts 17, and these parts can incorporate bent sections 17' that are oriented outward, as is shown. Here, the guides consists of a projection 49 that is of rectangular or quadrilateral section, which extends upwards from the bottom 48 and fits over the part 17. Between these projections 49 there is a space 50 that accommodates the bent sections 17'. It is recommended that the projections 49 and the contact surfaces 51 beneath the spaces 50 be of a plastic that has good slip properties in order to make it easier to move the parts 17.
Two tracks are shown in this instance. However, a different number of tracks, for example 5, could be incorporated. The guides could also be configured differently, e.g., as grooves or troughs. Also, in this embodiment, a number of conveyor chains could be used in place of a conveyor belt, and these would then form tracks with each other.
The transfer points can be fitted with separating devices.
Finally, the embodiment shown in figures 8 to 11 shows chains 52 that are used as conveyor means; these are endless and circulate in a liquid basin 25 or 26, respectively, the path corresponding approximately to that shown in figures 4 and 5.
Either guides 35 or 37 as in figure 5, or rollers 53 as shown in this embodiment, ensure that the chains are guided by the upper roller in each instance, from the transition point 55 above the separator wall 29 beneath the level of the liquid 32, into the bath 27, so that the parts 17 that are moved with it are within the liquid within the associated basin for the greater part of the zone of movement. Here, too, more than two chains and a corresponding number of tracks can be provided next to each other. The principle modes of operation, in particular the transfer, are similar to those explained in connection with the foregoing examples. Drivers 54 extend between two associated chains 52, and these can engage with and move the parts 17 (see figures 9 to 11). The drivers 54 are U-shaped, with bent sections 54' that are oriented to the side and attached to the chains 52. There could be hooks (not shown herein) on the chains in place of the drivers 54, and these hooks would then pick up the parts that are to be electroplated. The parts 17 in the form of these bails can also be moved when upright, and are then picked up by the hooks. The drivers 54 also perform the function of keeping the chains apart from each other and thereby form a circulating conveyor system. Figure 8 shows that the chains of both liquid basins approach closely enough to the transition point 55 that at that point the parts 17 are switched from one chain onto the next chain and then conveyed further through the system.
For reasons of completeness it should be understood that the terms "electroplating" or "chemically treating" refer to any kind of electroplating or chemical surface treatment or application that does not involve the use of external current of any kind, and which is used for bulky items and includes, for example, nickel plating. Such an apparatus, used for electroplating bulk items such as bolts, screws, nuts, and the like, is described in DE-PS 31 27 390. At the entry point of the system, these small items are moved through a hopper onto a conveyor belt moving in a bath, lifted out of the bath, and then moved through another hopper onto a drum that moves the small items to another bath. When the drum is rotated, these small items are moved from the entrance end to the exit end of the drum by means of spiral ribs that are incorporated in the drum, and from there are moved onto a conveyor belt that extends beyond the level of the liquid and ejects the small items into another bath, from which they are removed by means of another conveyor belt. Although this results in an on-going, continuous, movement of these objects in the manner of a skein, from the entry point to the exit point of the system, during simultaneous electroplating, this arrangement, known from DE-PS 31 27 390, is only useful for moving small items such as screws, nuts and bolts, and so on.
In addition, the referenced document is only concerned with processing small items in a single electroplating bath, namely the bath that accommodates the processing drum.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus such that even bulky items can be accommodated by it, and processed in larger electroplating plants that incorporate a greater number of liquid baths arranged one after the other, without any perceptible carry-over of the liquid contained in one bath into the liquid of the subsequent bath in the direction of movement.
:
200~26~
The invention is particularly concerned with parts that are bent to shape from wire and which are to be nickel plated.
Such wire bails are relatively bulky and for this reason cannot be processed in a rotary drum because they would become entangled with each other. A large variety of such wire bails and similar bulky items are used in the art. A
preferred but in no way exclusive use for wire bails is for securing correspondence files, where they are passed through holes punched in the sheets contained in the file.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for electroplating metal parts that are passed from an input station through a system of electroplating baths to an output station, of the type wherein parts are passed through said apparatus substantially horizontally and moved across a separating wall between adjacent basins filled with liquid, wherein in order to permit the electroplating of bulky items such as wire items with the aid of a large number of liquid electroplating baths, the apparatus comprises a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain circulating within each liquid basin, said belt or chain being fitted with means to pick up or hold and convey the individual bulky items beneath the level of the liquid, the conveyor belt or chain being guided up at the entrance and exit of each liquid basin to a transfer point above the separating wall between two adjacent liquid basins so that the transfer of the bulky items from one liquid basin to the next liquid basin is effected, this transfer being made onto the conveyor belt or chain in said subsequent liquid basin.
This makes it possible to both hold and move the bulky parts when, to the point that it is necessary, these bulky items can also be separated. The parts are guided along practically the whole length of the particular liquid container, in its bath or liquid, i.e., they are appropriately processed, this being understood to include not only the actual electroplating, but also all the other - ' ~...... . ' ' ~
.
ZOO~Z69 processes, such as hot degreasing, stationary rinsing, running rinsing, etching, pre-immersion, post-immersion, and so on. Each liquid is separated from the other liquids by appropriate separating walls (which can also be formed by the walls of the basins that contain the liquids). Since the bulky items are removed from each bath by the particular conveyor belt or chain, any liquid that is on them will drop off before they are transferred to the conveyor belt or chain that is associated with the next bath or liquid basin, this taking place above the particular separating wall.
Contamination of the bath that follows in the direction in which the conveyor system is moving, by liquid from the preceding bath, is thus kept to a minimum. In this regard, it is an advantage that, in contrast to other electroplating plants, in this plant it has been possible to eliminate costly passages for the material to be electroplated, which have to be made at the level of the liquid in a particular bath.
In addition, it is also important that the bulky items can also be picked up and held by the particular conveyor belt.
This is not only necessary for movement itself, but also provides for at least some separation of the items. The above-discussed measures solve the task in question when such bulky parts are to be electroplated. If, for purposes of simplicity, reference is made to conveyor belts or chains, this is to be understood in the sense of a system that operates with a plurality of conveyor belts or a plurality of conveyor chains within a bath or liquid basin.
This horizontal conveyor system for such bulky items saves considerable operating costs. Thus, up to now, it has been customary to have the wire bails for correspondence files, discussed heretofore, hung on frames manually. Then, the frames were passed through the electroplating plant.
Subsequently, the finished, processed wire bails had to be removed from the frames by hand. To these savings in 201~1Z69 personnel costs, one has to add the savings in manufacturing such a plant, the production costs of which are relatively low. In this connection, it should also be noted that in such an electroplating process, a large number of so-called modules (i.e., liquid basins containing various baths, rinsing liquids, etc.) have to be passed through. In this connection, continuous movement and simplification of the conveyor system, and prevention of the carry-over of bath liquid into the next module, are all decisive for achieving technical success at low production costs. Apart from some monitoring of the plant (which includes loading and removing the bulky items), there is no further requirement for operating personnel.
One preferred embodiment shown incorporates a conveyor belt or chain that circulates in the liquid in question, and on which lie the bulky items. This means that there is no requirement for separate guides or the like in the particular liquid basin.
In another preferred embodiment, there are appropriate conveyor chains, and these pick up the bulky items by means of drivers or hooks. This results in enhanced separation of the bulky items, since each such item is suspended on one of the drivers or hooks.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt or the conveyor chain does not circulate in the bath. This avoids any chemical attack on the material of the conveyor belt or the conveyor chain by the bath. In addition, the quantity of bath liquid that could be carried over into the subsequent bath is reduced, since only drops of the residual liquid that remain on the bulky items are involved.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a plant according to the present invention, in plan view;
Figure 2 shows the plant of Figure 1 in the associated side view;
Figure 3 shows, at enlarged scale, an example of a bulky wire bail of the sort that is to be transported in such an electroplating plant using the present invention;
Figure 4 shows at greater scale than in figures 1 and 2, a section of such a plant in side view, in partial cross-section;
Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line V-V in figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in the form of a section of a plant shown in figure 2, this being a longitudinal cross-section, at an enlarged scale Figure 7 is a cross-section taken on the line VII-VII in figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, also in cross-section from the plant as in figure 3 and in greater scale than this, and a side view in partial cross-section;
Figure 9 is a cross-section taken on the line IX-IX in figure 8;
Figure 10 shows the detail X in figure 8, at an enlarged scale; and Figure 11 is a plan view of figure 10.
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a horizontally oriented plant for chemical nickel plating. In this diagram, the reference numbers 1 to 16 refer to the various stations or modules: 1, loading module; 2, hot degreasing module; 3, static rinse module; 4, running rinse module; 5, etching module; 6, static rinse module; 7, running rinse module; 8, pre-immersion ~001269 module; 9, chemical nickel plating module; 10, static rinse module; 11, static rinse module; 12, running rinse module;
13, post-immersion module; 14, hot rinse module; 15, drying module; 16, unloading module.
In the present embodiment, wire clips or bails 17 for producing the closing and retaining devices for correspondence files are to be nickel plated by a chemical process. Such a clip is shown at enlarged scale in figure 3.
A series 18 of clips, arranged one after the other, enters a conveyor trough 19 from a wire-bending machine (not shown herein) and passes through the plant loading station 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20. In this example, there are five tracks with a corresponding number of conveyor belts or chains to which the bails 17 are passed, so that five such tracks pass through the plant. Removal is effected after processing has been completed, and takes place in the direction indicated by the arrow 21.
In Figure 2, the continuous line 22 indicates the path of the bulky elements, whereas the broken line 23 shows the level of liquid in the baths or the liquid in the individual modules 2 to 15. From this it can be seen that the path 23 of the goods within the modules runs beneath the surface 23 of the liquids. In contrast thereto, when moving from one module or liquid basin to the next, as at 22', the goods pass upwards to a point above the surface of the liquid, across the partition, and then into the next module or liquid basin, wherein they are once again moved beneath the surface 23 of the liquid, where they are processed.
The embodiment illustrated in figures 4 and 5 shows two modules or liquid basins 25, 26, with the liquid baths 27, 28, that are adjacent to each other; as a rule, the baths differ from each other. The adjacent walls 29 of these two liquid basins form the partition discussed heretofore.
Within each basin, an endless conveyor belt, or else a g..
conveyor chain 30, passes around rollers 31, at least one roller per bath being driven so as to rotate in the direction of rotation 33 that is indicated. The arrangement is such that the conveyor belt or chain 30 only extends above the surface of the liquid 32 at the beginning or the end of the liquid basin so that it can pass the bulky parts 17 to the next subsequent conveyor belt or conveyor chain 30 (here, that of the liquid basin 26) in the area above the separating wall 29. Any residue from the bath 27 that may still be adhering to the closing parts 17 drip off the closing parts 27 after they have left the bath, so that for all practical purposes, no bath liquid 27 is carried over into the bath liquid 28.
The cross-section in figure 5 shows guides 35 on the long side walls 34' of the liquid basin 25, these preferably being of smooth, slippery plastic. On their side that is closest to the bath, these guides in corporate guide grooves 36 in which the ends of the cross bars 38, which project outwards from the conveyor belt or chain, form a sliding fit. The particular conveyor belt or chain 30 is guided downwards and into the bath by this means from the junction points (separating walls) of the two modules or liquid basins. The parts 17 lie loosely on the conveyor belt, or are picked up by these. The bars 38 are secured to a belt 39, or pass through this. On the upper surface of the belt 39 there are projections 40, and the parts 17 come to rest against these.
The projections are matched to the shape of the parts that are to be electroplated. This cross-section also shows the five tracks already discussed in conjunction with figure 1.
Each module incorporates such a conveyor belt or chain (this also applies to the other embodiments). The conveyor belts can also be made up of individual sections that are connected to each other.
In the example shown in figures 4 and 5 both the upper run 40 and the lower run 41 of the conveyor belt or chain 30 lie in the particular bath, with the exception of those sections that are located close to the particular partition wall. If required, the bars 38 can be installed on the upper side of the belt 39, so that they become the drivers for the moving the closing parts 17 in place of the projections 40.
In the example shown in figures 6 and 7 the conveyor belt or chain, in this instance a notched belt 42 with teeth 43, is located above the surface of the liquid 32 and is turned by the drive roller 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow 33.
Figure 6 shows the exit end of the associated liquid basin 25. The entrance end of the liquid basin (not shown herein) is configured in the same way. Contact surfaces, here in the form of guides 44, 45, are provided to convey the parts 17 from the entrance to the exit end of the basin 25. The guide 44, which extends horizontally, merges at the exit end into a rising guide 45 that emerges from the liquid 32 into the transfer point 47 to the next basin 47. A similar, inclined trough is located at the entrance side to this basin. This leads from the corresponding transfer area of the separating wall 29 and is inclined downward as far as the guide 44. The guide 44 and the lower area of the rising guides are located beneath the level of the liquid 32. Drivers 46 are attached ~-to the outside of the notched belt 42 and these are of such a length that they engage with the parts 17 that are in the guides 44 and move them to the transfer point 47 that is located above the separator wall 29. They pass along the guide 45' that slopes downward into the next basin 26. Thus, only the drivers 46 of the conveyor belt come into contact with the liquid, which means that the quantity of liquid that is picked up from the basin 25 and carried into the basin 26 is further reduced. The belts can also be fitted with driver cups .
Figure 7 shows a possible variation in the configuration of the guides 44 or the corresponding contact surfaces or cross-sectional configurations on the bottom 48 of this basin 25.
The embodiment is matched to the cross-section of the parts 17, and these parts can incorporate bent sections 17' that are oriented outward, as is shown. Here, the guides consists of a projection 49 that is of rectangular or quadrilateral section, which extends upwards from the bottom 48 and fits over the part 17. Between these projections 49 there is a space 50 that accommodates the bent sections 17'. It is recommended that the projections 49 and the contact surfaces 51 beneath the spaces 50 be of a plastic that has good slip properties in order to make it easier to move the parts 17.
Two tracks are shown in this instance. However, a different number of tracks, for example 5, could be incorporated. The guides could also be configured differently, e.g., as grooves or troughs. Also, in this embodiment, a number of conveyor chains could be used in place of a conveyor belt, and these would then form tracks with each other.
The transfer points can be fitted with separating devices.
Finally, the embodiment shown in figures 8 to 11 shows chains 52 that are used as conveyor means; these are endless and circulate in a liquid basin 25 or 26, respectively, the path corresponding approximately to that shown in figures 4 and 5.
Either guides 35 or 37 as in figure 5, or rollers 53 as shown in this embodiment, ensure that the chains are guided by the upper roller in each instance, from the transition point 55 above the separator wall 29 beneath the level of the liquid 32, into the bath 27, so that the parts 17 that are moved with it are within the liquid within the associated basin for the greater part of the zone of movement. Here, too, more than two chains and a corresponding number of tracks can be provided next to each other. The principle modes of operation, in particular the transfer, are similar to those explained in connection with the foregoing examples. Drivers 54 extend between two associated chains 52, and these can engage with and move the parts 17 (see figures 9 to 11). The drivers 54 are U-shaped, with bent sections 54' that are oriented to the side and attached to the chains 52. There could be hooks (not shown herein) on the chains in place of the drivers 54, and these hooks would then pick up the parts that are to be electroplated. The parts 17 in the form of these bails can also be moved when upright, and are then picked up by the hooks. The drivers 54 also perform the function of keeping the chains apart from each other and thereby form a circulating conveyor system. Figure 8 shows that the chains of both liquid basins approach closely enough to the transition point 55 that at that point the parts 17 are switched from one chain onto the next chain and then conveyed further through the system.
Claims (16)
1. An apparatus for electroplating metal parts that are passed from an input station through a system of electroplating baths to an output station, of the type wherein parts are passed through said apparatus substantially horizontally and moved across a separating wall between adjacent basins filled with liquid, wherein in order to permit the electroplating of bulky items such as wire items with the aid of a large number of liquid electroplating baths, the apparatus comprises a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain circulating within each liquid basin, said belt or chain being fitted with means to pick up or hold and convey the individual bulky items beneath the level of the liquid, the conveyor belt or chain being guided up at the entrance and exit of each liquid basin to a transfer point above the separating wall between two adjacent liquid basins so that the transfer of the bulky items from one liquid basin to the next liquid basin is effected, this transfer being made onto the conveyor belt or chain in said subsequent liquid basin.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt or chain is also fitted with means to separate the parts.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein except at the entrance and the exit zones of the liquid basins, the conveyor belt or chain runs beneath the surface of the liquid; and wherein the conveyor belt or chain is guided with its upper and its lower run beneath the surface of the liquid by means of rollers or by guides that extend from its sides.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conveyor belt or chain incorporates belts, bands, chains or the like as well as cross bars that are transverse thereto, the ends of these cross bars projecting outwards to form guide pins;
and wherein the inner wall of the liquid basin has guide elements with grooves that run according to the desired longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt or chain and serve as sliding guides for the ends of the bars that engage in them.
and wherein the inner wall of the liquid basin has guide elements with grooves that run according to the desired longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt or chain and serve as sliding guides for the ends of the bars that engage in them.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bars are situated on the upper side of the conveyor belt or chain, and thus serve simultaneously as drivers for the bulky items.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least two said chains running in the direction of circulation and which incorporate drivers or hooks that are spaced apart in the direction of circulation, said drivers or hooks these picking up the bulky items.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chains are held apart by the drivers.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drivers are U-shaped.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drivers further have bent sections that project outwards at the unattached ends of their arms.
10. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the shape and size of the drivers is matched to the shape and size of the bulky items that are to be picked up and moved.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid basins have contact surfaces for the bulky items in the liquid basins, said contact surfaces sloping at the entrance of the liquid basin from the upper edge of the associated separating wall to the bottom of the liquid basin, to run horizontally on the bottom of the liquid basin and then rising at the end of the liquid basin to the upper edge of the separating wall, the conveyor system for the parts being directed from the entrance to the exit of each basin.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the contact surfaces are configured as trough-like or groove-like guides.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the contact surfaces is matched to the shape of the parts to be electroplated.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the guides incorporate rectangular or quadrilateral projections that extend upwards from the bottom of the liquid basin, and wherein on both sides of these projections there is a space for sections that extend from the sides of the parts that are to be galvanized.
15. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the conveyor belts or chains above the separator walls are so close together that the bulky items can be transferred or thrown across from one conveyor belt or chain to the conveyor belt or chain of the subsequent liquid basin.
16. An apparatus as claimed in any claims 1 to 9, wherein a plurality, of tracks of conveyor belts or chains are arranged adjacent to each other and are connected to a common drive so as to circulate together.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3836256.2 | 1988-10-25 | ||
| DE19883836256 DE3836256A1 (en) | 1988-10-25 | 1988-10-25 | DEVICE FOR GALVANIZING OR CHEMICAL TREATING METAL PARTS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2001269A1 true CA2001269A1 (en) | 1990-04-25 |
Family
ID=6365841
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2001269 Abandoned CA2001269A1 (en) | 1988-10-25 | 1989-10-24 | Apparatus for electroplating or chemically treating metallic parts |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0379648A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH03111595A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2001269A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3836256A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7241366B2 (en) * | 2004-11-30 | 2007-07-10 | Metokote Corporation | Continuous coating process |
| CN101723179B (en) * | 2008-10-29 | 2012-07-25 | 英立联企业股份有限公司 | Automatic soaking device |
| CN111776627A (en) * | 2020-06-24 | 2020-10-16 | 河北铁科翼辰新材科技有限公司 | Railway fastener demolding continuous cooling device |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD20989A (en) * | ||||
| US1744273A (en) * | 1926-01-25 | 1930-01-21 | Line Material Co | Apparatus for handling articles subjected to a galvanic action |
| US1819603A (en) * | 1928-09-21 | 1931-08-18 | Budd Wheel Co | Electroplating apparatus |
| FR1189538A (en) * | 1958-01-06 | 1959-10-05 | Corbeletta & Cie Ets | Machine for the continuous electrolytic treatment of various metal parts |
| DE1086516B (en) * | 1958-09-25 | 1960-08-04 | Otto Saeurebau U Keramikwerke | Device for surface treatment of mass parts in liquids |
| DE1236408B (en) * | 1961-07-13 | 1967-03-09 | Gewerk Keramchemie | In-line walking beam conveyor of a pickling plant for pipes, bars and similar goods |
| DE3127390A1 (en) * | 1981-07-10 | 1983-02-10 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | GALVANIZING DEVICE |
-
1988
- 1988-10-25 DE DE19883836256 patent/DE3836256A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1989
- 1989-10-20 EP EP19890119451 patent/EP0379648A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1989-10-24 CA CA 2001269 patent/CA2001269A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-10-25 JP JP27620189A patent/JPH03111595A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0379648A3 (en) | 1991-07-31 |
| EP0379648A2 (en) | 1990-08-01 |
| DE3836256A1 (en) | 1990-04-26 |
| JPH03111595A (en) | 1991-05-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |