EP0178542B1 - Process and apparatus for "wet discharging" a transportable plating barrel - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for wet emptying of a portable electroplating drum, in particular in a rotatable mounting and with an openwork surface and a hinged jacket part which can be placed in a container under the surface of a washing liquid. After the galvanic surface treatment, the coated objects are lifted out of the electroplating bath with a portable electroplating drum and suitably placed in the centrifuge basket of an industrial centrifuge, where they are subjected to a centrifuging process in which excess parts of the electroplating bath are thrown off.

Since the coated parts tend to adhere to the surface of the electroplating drum to be emptied, as a result of which the emptying process remains imperfect, it is known to bring the electroplating drum at least partially under a bath surface in a so-called wet emptying process and to open it there for emptying. In a known device for this purpose, a liquid container is provided in which there is an inner trough with a perforated surface, into which the electroplating drum is introduced and emptied. The inner trough is designed in the form of a chute and can be tilted over an edge of the container after the emptied Gatvaniktrommet has been lifted out, the coated objects sliding into an adjacent transport container, with which they are transported further to an industrial centrifuge.

In addition to the described device for wet emptying, industrial centrifuges with a removable, portable centrifuge drum with a vertical axis have also become known.

The described device for wet emptying has proven to be disadvantageous in that when the inner trough designed as a chute is emptied, some of the metal parts treated remain stuck in the chute, since the chute is lifted out of the liquid bath during the emptying process and thus no wet emptying takes place during this second refilling process . The known shortcomings in the further transport of galvanically treated metal parts thus reappear here. In addition, it must appear cumbersome that the metal parts on their way from the electroplating bath to the industrial centrifuge have to be decanted several times, including at least one or even two intermediate containers. Another disadvantage of the device described arises from the fact that, due to the closed design of the container, the bath liquid is rapidly contaminated during use.

The object of the invention is to propose a device and a method with which the transport of treated metal parts from a galvanizing bath into an industrial washing machine or centrifuge can be improved and simplified in a suitable manner and the disadvantages of known devices can be at least partially overcome. The solution to this is a device of the type mentioned above, which is characterized by an unlockable opening in the bottom of the container, a means of transport that can be moved under the container with a liquid-tight tub, a receiving device for a portable centrifuge basket in the tub, movable and / or changeable Sealing means for the liquid-tight connection of the container to the trough in the area of the opening and means for filling and emptying the container connected to the trough and in a method for wet emptying of a device of the type mentioned, in which the emptying of the electroplating drum directly into a transportable one underneath Centrifuge basket takes place under a common bath surface of a washing liquid.

The invention has the effect that the galvanically treated metal objects are transferred directly from the electroplating drum, which is used for lifting out of the electroplating bath and for further transport, into a centrifuge drum, and remain below the surface of a water bath or a washing liquid during decanting and are thus problem-free detach from the electroplating drum, be subjected to a first rinsing process which takes place during the sinking and are not subject to the risk of sticking or re-sticking to the container walls during their transport from the electroplating bath into the centrifuge or washing machine for further treatment. The device according to the invention is simple in construction and requires relatively few moving parts. The device works in such a way that the horizontally movable trough for receiving a washing or centrifuge drum or basket is transported under the container into which the horizontally lying electroplating drum has been suspended before or at the same time. A watertight connection is then made between the container and the tub, and both are then filled with water or a suitable washing liquid. As soon as this has happened so far that all the galvanically treated metal parts in the electroplating drum are below the bath surface, the electroplating drum can be emptied by turning and / or opening, whereby the metal parts can be easily detached from it and sink into the centrifuge basket. At least the container and preferably also the tub are subsequently emptied by draining or pumping off the washing liquid. The container and tub are then ver against each other horizontally pushed so that there is access to the centrifuge drum for a suitable means of transport, which is lifted out of the tub and inserted into the centrifuge or washing machine. At the same time or in chronological order, the electroplating drum can be lifted out of the container, refilled and inserted in an electroplating bath. The same means of transport as for the centrifuge drum can be used for this, which only requires a similar design of the points of attack on the electroplating drum and the centrifuge baskets. Preferred details of the invention are described below with explanation of their function.

The electroplating drum, the cross-section of which is generally designed as a polygon and which can be rotated about a horizontal axis, can be transported alone, as previously indicated, but it is also possible to combine the drum with a bearing arrangement which has an approximately fork-shaped stub at the ends the Gaivaniktrommel detected to carry out transportable together, the bearing arrangement can also have a drive that is also transportable, with which the drum can be rotated through 180 ° in particular for emptying within the container. One of the side surfaces of the electroplating drum can be open or can be closed with a hinged or removable cover part, this side being turned down to empty the electroplating drum and then opened if necessary. In order to achieve a compact design and to save the washing liquid required, the container is adapted to the shape of the electroplating drum and is preferably funnel-shaped in the lower region.

Various options are proposed for the design of the connection to the tub underneath. In the simplest embodiment, the sealing means can have conventional sealing lips or sealing beads made of elastic material, which come into contact with counter surfaces on the other of the parts to be sealed by lowering the container onto the trough. Alternatively, the container can be provided with a flat, horizontal connecting plate, against which movable sealing means contact from below. As a particularly simple and functionally reliable sealant, one or more hoses expandable by compressed air are proposed, which can be inserted into an open profile on the tub. This has the advantage that minor errors in the positioning of the tub cannot impair the function.

Basically, it is contemplated to arrange the container for receiving the electroplating drum and to make the trough portable for the centrifuge drum, which can in particular be mounted on a rail-guided carriage. Modifications are also conceivable in such a way that the tub is guided directly on a roller or slideway. In addition, however, the invention also includes devices in which the tub is arranged in a fixed manner, for example in the region of the portal of a treatment line with several centrifuges and / or washing machines, and the container can be moved over the tub by means of special transport means. A rail-guided configuration of the container is also possible for this purpose, whereby the container can be constructed standing or hanging with respect to the guide means. In this connection it should be added that it appears to be advantageous for the control if the sealing means are each arranged on a fixed part of the device.

When designing a single or two water connection lines, it must also be taken into account that the trough or, if applicable, the container are portable, so that the connections to the movable of the two containers in the connection area must be flexible or detachable. Flexible connections or transition pieces represent an uncomplicated solution, for which corresponding materials of extraordinary durability are available. In the case of larger transport paths for the tub or the container, which may lead to obstacles, detachable connections are preferred. Quick couplings can be provided for this purpose, which at the same time close a shut-off device when the connection is disconnected.

Usually, a water inlet on the container and a water outlet at the lowest point of the movable tub will be provided. If only the first of the two lines mentioned is to be provided and used for filling and emptying, it is necessary for the end of the line to be lowered into the tub in order to be completely emptied on the tub. In principle, it would also be possible, for simplification, to dispense with this and to keep the trough constantly filled with water, so that the transport of the trough and the removal of the centrifuge drum itself are not hindered. In the event that only one water connection line is to be provided, however, it seems more favorable to use the second-mentioned line at the lowest point of the tub, since this ensures complete emptying and prevents contaminated liquid from settling in the tub.

In the preferred embodiment with two water connection lines, ie a water inlet in the upper area of the tank and a water outlet in the lower area of the tub, it is particularly favorable to provide a circulation system with a special collecting tank, which, for economic reasons, only the same amount of water is used only to replace leakage losses can be used again. Depending on the arrangement of the collecting container above the container or below the trough, pumps can either be in the water inlet or in the water outlet line arrangement can be dispensed with and in this way the device can be simplified.

The method according to the invention has essentially already been described with reference to the functions explained above. However, it is not limited to the device according to the invention, but also encompasses other forms of containers, other temporal sequences and other types of transport and movement of the two drums used, insofar as the direct transfer from a galvanic drum into the centrifuge drum is realized below a common bath surface.

• Fig. 1 die Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht mit Teilschitt durch Behälter und Wanne,
• Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung in Vorderansicht mit Teilschnitt durch den Behälter,
• Fig. 3 die Einzelheit X aus Fig. 1,

An embodiment of the invention is described in the figures. The individual representations have the following subject:

• 1 shows the device in side view with partial section through the container and tub,
• 2 the device in front view with partial section through the container,
• 3 shows the detail X from FIG. 1,

Corresponding parts are designated with the same numbers in the figures. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container 1 with a rectangular cross section for receiving an electroplating drum 2, which runs in a funnel shape at the bottom and has an opening 3. The electroplating drum is suspended with a bow-shaped bearing arrangement 4 in the upper edge 5 of the container 1. Lateral arms 6 receive the shaft journals of the electroplating drum and at the same time comprise parts of a rotary drive for rotating the drum. Below the container 1 there is a transportable trough 8 for receiving a centrifuge basket or a centrifuge drum 9. This is held in a basket holder 10 within the trough. The tub 8 is fixedly mounted on a mobile carriage 11 with its own drive 12, which is guided on rails 13. A water inlet 14 with a control valve 15 is shown on the container 1, while a water outlet 16 with a control valve 17 is shown on the tub 8. The container 1 is provided with a connection plate 7 which interacts with the sealing means according to the detail X.

These are shown in FIG. 3, in which a part of the connection plate 7 of the container (not shown further) and the upper edge of the tub 8 can be seen. In the area of the upper edge, a circumferential profile 18 open at the top is provided, in which an expandable tube 19 is inserted. The hose is provided with a compressed air connection with a control valve 20. Only when pressure is applied does the tube expand to the shape shown, thereby bridging the distance between the container 8 and the connecting plate 7, so that a liquid-tight connection is created.

Claims (18)

1. An apparatus for wet discharging a transportable plating barrel removably connected to a plating trough, especially in a rotatably supported design, with a perforated surface an openable circumferential part, with the barrel being suitable for being introduced into a container below the surface of a washing liquid, characterised by an unclosable aperture (3) in the bottom of the container (1), transport means (11) with a leak- proof tub (8) suitable for being moved underneath the container (1), a receiving device (10) for a tansportable centrifugal basket (9) which is positioned in the tub (8) and removably connected to a centrifugal drive, movable and/or variable sealing means for providing a leak-proof connection between the container (1) and the tub (8) in the region of the aperture (3), and means for filling and discharging the container (1) connected to the tub (8).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by a transportable bearing assembly intended for the plating barrel (2) and insertable into the container (1).

3. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised by a driving assembly for rotating the plating barrel (2) around its horizontal central axis, with the driving assembly being connected to the transportable bearing assembly.

4. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by a planar, horizontal connecting plate (18) at the container (1), in which the aperture (3) is provided.

5. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the sealing means have been arranged at the upper edge of the tub (8).

6. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sealing means comprise a hose (19) which is inserted into a continuous profile (18) open at its upper end and which is expandable by compressed air.

7. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the transport means have been designed as a carriage (11) guided on rails.

8. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least one water connecting pipeline (14, 16) is connected or connectable to the container (1) and/or the tub (8).

9. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the water connecting pipelines (14, 16) have been provided with valves (15, 17) and are connected to a collector tank via at least one motor operated pump.

10. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a water supply pipe (14) is connected to the container (1) and a water discharge pipe (16) is connected to the tub (8).

11. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the water connecting pipe at the container end can be pulled up into the container (1) and lowered into the tub (8).

12. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the water connecting pipe at the tub end is flexibly connected to the tub (8).

13. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the centrifugal basket (9) has been provided with an upper edge profile which can be held by gripping means independently of the rotational position and that the bearing assembly of the plating barrel (2) has been provited with holding means which can be held by gripping means independently of the rotational position.

14. A process for wet discharging a transportable plating barrel which may be introduced into a liquid holding container underneath a bath surface, characterised in that the plating barrel (2) discharges below a joint washing liquid surface directly into a transportable centrifugal basket (2) positioned underneath the plating barrel (2).

15. A process according to claim 14, characterised in that a container (1) for receiving the plating barrel (2) and a tub (8) for receiving the centrifugal basket (9) are connected to each other one above the other in a leak-proof way, that subsequently the tub (8) and the container (1) are filled with water or a suitable washing liquid, with the plating barrel (2) being introduced into the container (1), and that then the plating barrel (2), by being turned or opened, discharges into the centrifugal basket (9), and finally, the container (1) and, if applicable, the tub (8) discharge and are moved relative to each other into a position for removing the centrifugal basket (9).

16. A process according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the container (1) and the tub (8) are filled and discharged by pumping the washing liquid into the collector tank and pumping it back out of the collector tank.

17. A process according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterised in that the leakproof connection of the container (1) for receiving the plating barrel (2) to the tub (8) for receiving the centrifugal basket (9) is effected by lowering the container (1) and positioning it on the edge of the tub (8) with contact being established with the sealing means.

18. A process according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterised in that the leak-proof connection between the container (1) for receiving the plating barrel (2) and the tub (8) for receiving the centrifugal basket (9) is effected by increasing the size fo the sealing means with variable cross- sections, especially by means of compressed air, until contact is established with the container (1) and the edge of the tub (8).

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