FR2729092A1 - IMPROVEMENT FOR A SURFACE TREATMENT INSTALLATION OF METAL PARTS - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape intended to undergo a surface treatment of the chemical or electrolytic type, characterized in that it consists of at least one support (7) which comprises two substantially parallel deformable tabs and which are urged apart by elastic means, said support being intended to be placed in the cavity (4) of said tubular part to be treated.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS FOR TREATMENT PLANT

SURFACE OF METAL PARTS

  The present invention relates to improvements for installations for treating the surface of metal parts. It relates more particularly to supports for cylindrical parts intended to be immersed in phosphating, brightening, satin-finishing, anodizing or other baths. It also concerns the installation

using the supports.

  In the surface treatment of metal parts, whether chemical or electrolytic, such as the polishing or anodizing of aluminum parts, these must be immersed in a liquid treatment bath such as phosphoric acid or acid

  sulfuric and then immersed in a rinsing bath.

  The problem of retaining parts when they are transported from one treatment station to another, and of retaining them in the treatment and rinsing baths arises. Indeed, the parts must be securely retained so as not to fall during their handling. Furthermore, in the case of electrolytic type treatment, the electrical contact between the

  support and the workpiece must be reliably secured.

  Thus, the device for retaining metal parts of tubular shape intended to undergo a surface treatment of the chemical or electrolytic type, according to the invention, is characterized in that it is constituted by at least one support which comprises two tabs deformable substantially parallel and which are biased apart by elastic means, said support being intended to be arranged in

  the cavity of said tubular part to be treated.

  According to an additional characteristic, the support is a piece of titanium having the shape of a "U", while the end of each of the legs comprises a central clearance to form two retaining points. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a succession of supports mounted in a peripheral titanium frame to constitute a handling cassette. Thus, the peripheral frame comprises a succession of support holder retaining assemblies, and each retaining assembly is monobloc and is made of titanium to be formed by a base having the shape of a profile in the shape of "One, each of which longitudinal walls has a succession of projections to form two by two the retaining tabs of a succession of supports The invention also relates to the installation for using the device, the latter comprising a frame carrying means for moving the means of supply, means for positioning the parts and means for bringing together the

  simultaneous approximation of the retaining tabs.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge

  of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not

  given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

  Figures 1 to 3 illustrate an example of a part to be treated and

  intended to be retained by the device of the invention.

  Figure 1 is a side exterior view.

  Figure 2 is a sectional view along II-IL.

  Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 1.

  Figures 4 to 6 show a support according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a side view.

  Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top view.

  Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate how the installation is done

of a part on its support.

  Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show an arrangement of several

  supports on the same retaining cassette.

Figure 10 is a top view.

  Figures 11 and 12 are views respectively in section along XI-XI and along XII-XII. Figure 13 is a partial perspective view illustrating a detail. Figure 14 is a schematic illustration of an installation

  using the cassettes of the invention.

  Figure 15 is a detailed view of one of the means of the installation. Figures 16a, 16b and 16c illustrate how the

  approximation of the legs of the supports.

  The parts intended to undergo the polishing treatment are, for example, aluminum caps intended to be used in the

  cosmetics or perfumes.

  Figures 1 to 3 illustrate such a cap bearing the reference (1) of generally tubular shape and comprising a peripheral wall (2) and a transverse wall (3) to form a cylindrical cavity (4) limited laterally and peripherally by the internal surface (5) of the peripheral wall (2) and the internal transverse surface (6) of the wall

transverse (3).

  This part (1) thus defined is intended to be retained for its surface treatment by a part support (7) which according to the invention comprises two substantially parallel deformable legs (8a, 8b) which are urged apart by elastic means and which can be compared against the action of these elastic means. In a preferred embodiment, each piece support (7) has the shape of a "U" shaped piece made of elastic metallic material. According to a characteristic of the invention, the U-shaped support is produced in a flat titanium profile and constitutes in itself its elastic means

by its own deformation.

  Thus, the support (7) is configured so that in its free position (see Figure 4) the two retaining tabs (8a, 8b) are spaced so that the distance (dl) between the two ends (9a, 9b ) is greater than the internal diameter (d2) of the part (1) to be retained, while they can be brought closer to each other by elastic deformation of the support,

  as illustrated in thin mixed lines.

  Furthermore, note that the end of each of the retaining tabs includes a central clearance (10) in the form, for example, of "V" thus forming two retaining points (11a, 11 lb) intended to grip on the internal surface (5) of the cylindrical cavity (4) of the

piece to remember (1).

  Thus (see Figures 7, 8 and 9), to set up the part (1) on its support (7), it suffices to bring the two retaining tabs (8a, 8b) closer together by urging them, by elastic deformation of the " U ", towards each other, by an action F, and place the two ends (9a, 9b) at a distance (d3) less than the initial distance (dl), sufficiently small so that the two legs (8a , 8b) can be engaged in the cylindrical cavity (4) of the part (1), as shown in FIG. 8. The part (1) is then fully engaged on the support until the internal transverse surface (6) either resting on the retaining pins (11a, 11b) of the two ends (9a, 9b) of the retaining tabs (8a, 8b), as illustrated in FIG. 9. It goes without saying that it the part (7) need not be fully engaged as it may, in fact, only be partially. In an industrial context, there is, of course, no question of treating each part chemically or electrolytically in a unitary and independent manner. Also, according to another characteristic of the invention, an assembly is provided comprising several supports making it possible to

  process multiple parts simultaneously.

  Thus, the retaining device according to the invention consists of a chassis having the form of a frame (20) carrying a succession of

  supports for forming a handling cassette (21).

  Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate such an arrangement therefore constituted by a peripheral frame (20) advantageously shaped

  rectangular comprising a succession of retaining restraint systems

  support (22) deposited parallel to each other as, for example, thirteen sets (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22g, 22h, 22i, 22j, 22k, 221, 22m). The peripheral frame (20) is produced by means of an assembly of four titanium profiles having the shape of an "L" to give it its rigidity and in particular its mechanical resistance in torsion, namely,

  two longitudinal sections (23, 24) and two end sections (25, 26).

  All the support holder retaining assemblies (22) are fixed to the end profiles (25, 26) to extend parallel to each other and to the two longitudinal profiles (23, 24). Each of the retaining assemblies (22) is in one piece, made of titanium, and is formed by a base (27) having the shape of a "UW" shaped profile open at the ends (32a, 32b) each of which has vertical longitudinal walls (29, 30) has a succession of projections to form two by two the retaining tabs (8a,

  8b) of a succession of part supports (7).

  Note that each retaining assembly (22) is fixed by the ends of its horizontal wall (290) to the end sections (25, 26) by means of wall elements (32) projecting from the horizontal wall

  (33) of each end profile.

  Each cassette can, for example, include thirteen sets

  retainer (22) each comprising twenty-five workpiece supports (7).

  With such a cassette it is therefore possible to carry out various displacements of the simultaneous treatment (s) of several pieces, and in the example given, of the three hundred and twenty-five pieces of retentions on the cassette. Indeed, the outward elasticity of the ends of each of the supports allows the retention of all the parts and the chassis can then be moved, manipulated, turned over, stored and immersed both horizontally and vertically in the treatment baths, without

that no coin falls.

  The invention also relates to the means used for placing the parts on the cassette and the means used to

  their removal and the installation comprising these means.

  Thus, the installation (100) comprises a station for placing the parts on the cassette (40), which station comprising displacement means (41) allowing the cassettes (21) to move step by step in the supply means (42) in parts, means for positioning the parts (43) and approximation means (44) allowing the approximation of the retaining tabs, all of these means being

carried by a frame (45).

  The displacement means (41) consist, for example, of two continuous lateral bands (46a, 46b) on which the cassettes (21) rest, said bands being driven in displacement by a

electric motor (47).

  The parts supply means (42) are, for example, constituted by a vibrating bowl (48) supplying an inclined distribution assembly (49) comprising two parallel walls (49a, 49b) between which accumulate and organize the parts to be treated in successive rows and lines, the first of which is in abutment against a transverse stop S) (49c), and this, parallel to the retaining assemblies which are

  move step by step under the feeding means.

  The positioning means (43) consist of an automaton (50) pivotally mounted on a support (51) in order to be able to take two positions, a position for gripping the parts (P1) in which it is inclined facing the line waiting pieces arranged in abutment in the supply means, and a position for placing and engaging the pieces (P2) on the corresponding supports, position in which the automaton is substantially vertical in line with the row of supports to be fitted with parts. The automaton comprises at its end a movable support (53) comprising a row of gripping fingers (52) equal in number to the number of parts to be put in place. Each of the fingers (52) comprises suction means allowing the parts to be retained by suction in order to take them from the line of waiting parts.

  and to move and engage them on the corresponding supports.

  Prior to the positioning of the parts on the supports, the approximation means (44) of the legs of the supports are used to bring the components closer together. These means consist of two jaws made by cylindrical profiles (55a, 55b) mounted at the end of

  swivel bicycles (56a, 56b) on a chassis (57) movable vertically.

  The approximation of the jaws being controlled, for example, by a

ramp system (58).

  The frame (45) with its displacement means (41) is extended upstream to receive the cassettes with the parts already treated, said cassettes therefore being upstream placed on the conveyor belts (46a, 46b) to be moved step by step and emptied of their parts. To this end, the cassettes (21) are placed upside down on the strips and between the guide and positioning tabs, and approximation means (44) identical to those already described are provided for bringing the retaining tabs of the retainers and thus release the falling parts

  by their own weights in a storage container (59).

  The cassettes thus progressively emptied are then lifted and turned over by turning means (60) to then be rested on the conveyor belts and be again supplied in

parts to be treated.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it includes

  also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (7)

  1. Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape intended to undergo a surface treatment of the chemical or electrolytic type, characterized in that it consists of at least one support (7) which comprises two tabs ( 8a, 8b) deformable substantially parallel and which are biased apart by elastic means, said support being intended to be disposed in the   cavity (4) of said tubular part to be treated.   2. Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (7) is   a titanium part in the shape of an "IU.   3. Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape according to claim 2, characterized in that the end (9a, 9b) of each of the legs (8a, 8b) comprises a central clearance (10)   to form two retaining points (lia, l1b).   4. Device for retaining shaped metal parts (1)   tubular according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises a succession of supports (7) mounted in a peripheral frame (20) of titanium to constitute a cassette of handling (21).   5. Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape according to claim 4, characterized in that the peripheral frame (20) comprises a succession of retaining assemblies support holder (22).   6. Device for retaining metal parts (1) of tubular shape according to claim 5, characterized in that each retaining assembly (22) is in one piece and is made of titanium to be formed by a base (27) having the form of 'A U-shaped profile, each of the longitudinal walls (29, 30) has a succession of projections to form two by two the retaining tabs (8a, 8b) of a succession of supports (7).   7. Installation (100) intended to use the device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it   comprises a frame (45) carrying displacement means (41) supply means (42), means for positioning the parts (43)   and approximation means (44) allowing the simultaneous approximation of the retaining tabs (8a, 8b).