GB582014A - Improvements relating to apparatus for handling and treating flexible metallic sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

582,014. Endless-chain conveyers. BRASSERT & CO., Ltd., H. A., UDALL, W., and FRENKEL, C. April 13, 1944, No. 6864. [Class 78 (i)] Apparatus for treating magnetisable articles such as steel sheets, comprises a plurality of trolleys linked together to form an endless chain, a facing plate on the outer face of each trolley upon which the articles to be treated are carried, an electro-magnet within each trolley, a continuous track around which the trolleys are driven, means for loading an article to be treated on to each trolley in succession at a loading station located at one position along the track, means for unloading the articles at an unloading station at another position along the track, means for treating the articles at a treating section located intermediate of the loading and unloading stations and means for energising and de-energising said electromagnets before and after treatment respectively at predetermined points along the track so that each article is magnetically held upon its trolley whilst it passes through the treating section. The Figures show the application to the electro-deposition of tin upon steel sheets in which the sheets secured magnetically on trolleys 12 linked together to form an endless chain, are passed through a bath 13 containing electrolyte and anodes 37 for the plating current. The sheets are fed one by one on to the trolleys as they pass the loading station 14 by suction cups 31 mounted on a frame 32 reciprocating in slides between the trolleys and the stack of sheets to be plated, and after passing through the bath are removed by similar apparatus 33 at the unloading station 15. Each trolley is provided with a magnetisable facing plate 21, Fig. 6, framed by a rubber strip 22, 22a on which the metal sheet is secured by eight electro-magnets 23 with windings 24 connected to terminals 25, 26 provided with collectors 27, 28 engaging resiliently with conductor rails 29, 30. Just before the trolley arrives at the unloading station 15, these collectors leave the rails whereby the coated plate may be removed by the unloading mechanism at 33. The facing plate 21 is connected to a terminal 34 provided with a collector 35 running on a conductor rail 36 whereby the sheet being treated serves as the cathode in the electrolytic cell, the rail 36 extending over the same portion of the track as the rails 29, 30. The trolleys are driven by an electric motor driving through gearing and sprockets 42, 43, a chain 44 carrying fingers engaging rods 46 co-axial with the wheels 17 of the trolleys running in channels 18. Immediately after being loaded on the trolley, the metal sheet is forced against the facing plate by a spring-pressed roller 50 with its edges resting on the rubber 22 which lies flush with the facing plate to form a substantially liquid-tight seal. Jacking mechanism 47, 48 is provided for raising and lowering the trolley track.