GB987338A - New or improved transfer devices for articles - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0987338/C6-C7/1> <PICT:0987338/C6-C7/2> <PICT:0987338/C6-C7/3> For transferring articles 10 through a quenching bath 14 of oil an elevator comprises article-supporting members 12 carried on diametrically opposed sides of a tubular shaft 23. Each member 12 comprises a perforated platform or grid 25 having a back wall 26 and side walls 27 extending above and below the platform or grid. The shaft 23 is mounted coaxially on a shaft 20 which is of square cross-section over most of its length and mounted in bearings 21. The elevator may be raised and lowered along the shaft 20 by a fluid pressure operated cylinder 33 connected to a bearing assembly 30 of the shaft 23 by chains 31. The tubular shaft 23 has bushes 29 having square internal cross-section so that the elevator is prevented from rotating relatively to the shaft 20. For rotating the elevator, together with the shaft 20, through 180 degrees, a pinion 34 on the shaft is rotatable by a rack 35 operated by a fluid pressure device 36. Limit switches or mechanical linkages (not shown) ensure that the rack and pinion can be operated only when the article supporting member is in the bath and the elevator is at or near the lower end of its travel. The tank 14 is closed by a top wall 18 provided with an entrance aperture 16 and an exit aperture 17 provided with ducts 19, 15 respectively. Evaporation and deterioration of the liquid is thus minimized. An impeller 37 and a conduit 39 cause the liquid to circulate and to flow through the article-supporting member 12 when the latter is at a station C, Fig. 2. In operation, an article 10 is moved by a pusher 11 from a furnace on to the member 12 which is situated at a station B. The elevator is then lowered until the member 12 is in register with the end of the conduit 39 at station C. The impeller 37 is then operated and after the treatment has been completed, the elevator is rotated through 180 degrees so that the member 12 carrying the article 10 is at station D. The elevator is then raised to bring the article into a delivery station E from which it is removed. A drain tray 40 is provided and a tunnel similar to the tunnel 19a formed on the entrance duct 19 may be provided. Such an exit tunnel may be supplied with a reducing atmosphere. The entrance tunnel 19a may be provided with a prepared atmosphere such as one produced by endothermic or exothermic reaction between air and a fuel; cracked ammonia or nitrogen &c. The elevator may be made to rotate through 360 degrees and there may be four or more article supporting members. The invention is applicable to other operations such as spraying, washing or cleaning.