JPS6272466A - Apparatus for treating article by liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating articles with liquids or gases, and has been specifically developed for handling porous articles during impregnation processes using liquid impregnating agents.

Although the invention is applicable to the treatment of porous articles such as wood, it is also applicable to metal castings, particularly in the automotive industry, to seal the pores of the casting to prevent liquid leakage during use of the casting. It was developed primarily for impregnating cylinder blocks J5 and other castings used. The invention is also particularly useful in processing sintered metal articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various shapes of Vt locations have been proposed for impregnating porous articles, some of which are described in my UK Patent Application No. 2049751M, m2072231. In order to ensure good penetration of the liquid impregnating agent into the pores of the article, after the article is exposed to vacuum, it is immersed in the impregnating agent while still under vacuum, and then the impregnating agent is forced into the pores by atmospheric pressure. It is desirable to release the vacuum so that the The article is then removed from the impregnant and rinsed to remove excess impregnant (in the case of hot vulcanizable acrylic resin impregnators of the type to which this invention is primarily concerned). undergoes heat treatment to vulcanize. Due to the difficulty of moving articles within a closed vacuum chamber, conventional methods generally operated on the principle of introducing an impregnating agent into the vacuum chamber after the vacuum was drawn. The applicant has invented an improved method for loading and unloading articles to be impregnated into a vacuum chamber and for allowing the articles to be moved up and down into and out of a reservoir of impregnating agent within the vacuum chamber. . In the form of the invention described in detail below, the article is rotatable about a horizontal axis while still in the upper position within the vacuum chamber so as to remove excess impregnating agent by gravity and centrifugal forces. It is. This not only cleans the article, but also reduces the loss of impregnating agent, with excess impregnating agent dripping directly back into the tank. Although a single item may be processed, more commonly several small items are packed into wire mesh baskets for simultaneous processing. The term "article" is intended to encompass such simultaneous processing of several articles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,986 (Judei) describes an apparatus for impregnating metal castings in which a carrier of the casting is placed in a vacuum chamber such that the casting is lowered into the impregnating agent after a vacuum is drawn. It is movable vertically in the interior and rotatable about a vertical axis after returning to the upper position in order to remove excess impregnating agent by centrifugal force. However, rotation about a vertical axis is more effective at removing air entrapment and over-impregnation during soaking than rotation about a horizontal axis as in the present invention because the direction of the action of gravity on the article changes as the article rotates. It is not very effective in removing the agent. Furthermore, it is easier to balance loads symmetrically about the axis of rotation using the present invention.

Another advantage of the apparatus of the invention, as described in detail below, is that it includes multiple processing stations from which articles to be processed can be indexed. As the articles are processed within the closed chamber of each station, the indexing rock structure must be withdrawn from the chamber when the chamber is closed. Hydraulic pushers aligned with the article path, such as those used by Judei, simultaneously eject the articles from the chamber and into the chamber, since they are in the middle of unprocessed articles to be loaded while discharging the processed articles. The article cannot be used to install equipment. In Judei's device, Ml.
(Well, it has to be reciprocated twice, once for 1.t, to push out the treated article from the key-glue A7, and once for 1.t.
The purpose is to push the unprocessed articles.

In the apparatus described in Section 3, the problem is that the ability to move laterally into the path of the articles directly behind each article is +u J from the path.
i] Using the retractable pusher arm available in J, υ
The problem is solved by providing a pusher arm that passes through the longitudinal axis of the A7 rear for better alignment during the extension movement.

UK 15 r, 'F Application No. 2015601:H Please describe the horizontal cylindrical pressure volume for impregnating timber (Fig. 3),
The eight vessels house a longitudinal support structure capable of rotation 1M about its axis. This structure has three parallel passages arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation to accommodate the timber, which is loaded and discharged through the end 1 of the container. However, no device is provided to rotate the 14-tree about its own longitudinal line.

According to one aspect, the invention provides at least one processing station having a holder for an article and a position Vi for three rotations of the holder and two loading of the article into the holder in a direction C along the axis of rotation. Alternatively, there is provided an article handling device comprising a device for IIk unloading of articles from a holder, and the article loading and unloading device has a companion member that engages with the article from the side, and the companion 81 (U is , one or more -F predetermined rotational positions d3 and can enter the holder 6j.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a cage having a perforated end plate that is open at least at one end and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis; a longitudinal support device and a longitudinal support device arranged to pass through at least one Em slot for loading and/or loading articles;
Matokoha! 11, the member preferably being radially retractable.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for laterally entraining an article.
One or more predetermined rotational positions of the holder 1. : Accessible 111: Provides a method of indexing and sizing an article between loe stations in which the article is rotated within the holder about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of indexing, including the use of a entrainment member.

According to another aspect of the history, the present invention provides methods for loading and/or
or a substantially horizontal cage opening at least at one end for evacuation, a device for rotating the cage about a first substantially horizontal axis extending axially through the cage, and a device for rotating the cage about a second substantially horizontal axis. and a device for moving the cage up and down. Preferably, the device comprises a liquid container device in which the cage is immersed in its lower position.

According to another aspect, the invention provides an enclosure for carrying out processing and a holder for articles mounted within the enclosure in a rotational manner relative to the enclosure (about a substantially horizontal axis).

rotating a holder in the enclosure and stopping the rotation of the holder at a predetermined rotational position; and the article rotates with the holder so that the article can be loaded through one end of the passageway and the narrow end of the passageway. The holder defines a generally horizontal path for receiving the article so that it can be ejected via the pusher A71! ! l! and the pusher arm is movable along the path to remove the processed article from the holder.

The holder has a longitudinal opening at one location.

The position corresponds to the position of the pusher arm in the predetermined rotational position, such that the pusher arm is enterable into the holder to eject the processed article and the longitudinal opening is in the holder. An apparatus for treating articles with a liquid extending from said one end of the passageway along at least a substantial υ1 of the path.

More generally, the invention relates to a processing enclosure.

A holder for an article mounted in the enclosure so as to rotate relative to the enclosure about a substantially horizontal axis, and a device for rotating the similar holder, the article rotating together with the holder and the axis of rotation passing through the passageway. When the holder is at least at one end [! il IIi, and further comprising means for moving the holder between an upper and a lower position, the holder being rotatable in both positions, and the holder being rotatable in both positions; The enclosure provides a means for treating the article with the liquid that is formed so that the article can be immersed in the liquid when at 71 .

The present invention also provides an openable and closable container for processing;
a carrier device in the container for transporting a holder of articles and rotating relative to the container about a substantially central, generally horizontal axis, the carrier device being in an upward position about another substantially horizontal axis; Provided is an apparatus for treating articles with liquid that is swingable between a lower position and a lower position.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, the GI apparatus of the present invention has an autoclave station A, a washing station B, and a vulcanization station C connected by a carriage path, and the castings or the baskets containing the castings are connected to each other by a carriage path. , is moved along the carriage path by the indexing mechanism E in a manner described in detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, autoclave station A comprises an autoclave 1 having a lower member 2 and an upper member 3, the upper member 3 being shown in the open position in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be done. The lower member 2 has a horizontal rectangular 7 flange 5 which is fixed and attaches a semi-circular channel-shaped IJ 16 and two vertical end walls, one of which is indicated at 7. 7. The flange 5 has a groove into which the elastic sealing strip 11 is fitted. The upper member 3 has a similar structure with a flange 5', l1i6' and an end wall 7', but with a mating flange 5.5', the shaft is closed so as to provide a closed autoclave as shown in phantom. 9, it can be pivoted downward. A pair of arms 12, 13 are fixed to the shaft 9, one arm 12 being in the form of a bell crank lever. The other arm 13 is similar to the upper part 15 of the lever 12, but without the lower part 8IX16. The shaft 9 is supported on suitable bearings and extends almost the entire length of the device. A pair of brackets 17 extend from the end wall 7' of the upper member 3 and extend from the arm 12.
The upper end of 13 holds fixedly a shaft 19 about which it can pivot. The eight arms also have lugs 21 welded on the inside between the shafts 19 and 9. A bolt 22 passes through a threaded bore in each lug 21 and engages the wall 6' of the upper member 3 at the position shown in solid line in FIG. As shown by the chain line,
The bolts 22 are spaced from the wall 6' to allow the seven flange 5' to properly seat in the seal 11 when the autoclave is closed. The lower portion 16 of the arm 12 is pivotally connected at 24 to a clevis 25 of a piston rod 26 of a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 28, which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the frame of the device.

Extension of assembly 28 therefore closes the autoclave and
Shrink open the autoclave. Vacuum line (not shown)
may provide a vacuum in the upper part of the autoclave and the lower part vi2 so that, in use, the level of liquid is above the casting to be impregnated when the casting is in the lowered position.
Almost filled with liquid impregnating agent.

The basket 30 containing the castings is shown schematically in phantom in FIG. 3 and has a frame that is square in end view and rectangular in plan and side elevation, the remainder of the walls being surrounded by mesh be completed. The basket 30 has four tie rods 3
4 and a pair of rails 35 at the two upper corners of the central square charging and discharging opening 37 of the plate 33, respectively.
A cage 32 formed by two circular seven-flange end plates 33 is housed for impregnation purposes, and a corresponding pair of rails 3
6 are installed in the two upper corners. Eight pairs of rails 35
．． 36, one on each side of the square opening 37 adjacent to the corner.
It consists of two rails connected to a tree. Each plate 33 has a radial slot 38 extending from its periphery to the upper corner of the opening 37 to aid in loading and unloading as described below. Each plate 33 is rotatably supported by a respective C-shaped yoke 40 which is fitted with six symmetrically arranged freely rotatable rollers 41 which engage the periphery of the respective plate 33. The yoke 40 engages the inside of the plate 33 to position the cage 32 axially, and the use of six rollers ensures proper centering even when the rollers are opposed to the slots 38. a gear ring 43 having a radial slot therethrough at a position corresponding to the slot 38;
is fixed at the root 33 to the lever in FIG. 2 which is attached to the il shaft 45 of the left side]-ri 40 so as to freely rotate.
The two j'-i' 44 mesh with the one earring 43,
These drive shafts 45 also have lower rollers 41 mounted inside the I-:jj44. The gear 744 permanently meshes with the gear 42 of the drive shaft 46. The driving IJ shaft 46 is connected to the yoke 4°J3 and the end! Pass through both W7 and rotate the cage 32.
The yoke 40 is connected by tie rods 47, and also serves to attach the cage 32 (not only in the form of a beam in the autoclave) to the yoke 40 and the cage 32. be done. Therefore, the pivoting movement of the yoke 40 from the upper solid line position to the lower chain line position is independent of the rotation of the cage 32, and the drive IF@46 t,i,2
It has a sleeve (FIG. 7) which is fixed to one yoke and is relatively rotatable through both end walls 7 (t1). The sleeve t is operated by an arm 48 coupled to a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly similar to piston assembly 28. The shaft 46 is selectively connected to the high speed motor, 6 and 7 low speed motors via a double V-belt pulley 49 to the electric machine. Driven.

The purpose of IjJ of two I'i744 is ~'X7
When the thrower of the ring 43 is opposed to one V-shape 44, there is an I-shape which provides both drive and 1'' tooth alignment.

Basket 30/ along the carriage path! - Push the water to the V and load the baskets 30 at the same time in the three stations 8, B, and C. The assembly 50 is equipped with an assembly 50 capable of turning +iJ between the Ii8 working position and the retracted position indicated by the chain line. Each of the plurality of brackets i-51 is attached to the lumen by a pivot 52 at its lower end, and the bracket 51 may be moved between two positions by a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 53, with the assembly 530 The rod 54 is attached to one lug of the bracket 51. The brackets 511 are connected by beams 55 that fit into tunnels 56 provided at the ends of each bracket. y-
Is Jannel 56 the bracket 51? '4 (57 treated as melted by J2 and 1g melted on all brackets 51)
and a plate 58 bolted to the beam 55 to hold the beam 55 more firmly in the longitudinal direction.

The beam 55 is fitted with a pair of longitudinal circular rails 59 and welded to the free end! 1! Face board et al. 2' = 4j
The four pusher plates 61 are movable along the rail 59 by a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 63.

Each plate 61 has three grooved rollers 65 on its underside, which rollers 65 engage the outside of the rails 59 and the roots 61
The inverse 1-) (which is welded to the 1-) ('&) is held by the beam 67 on the 1st side.

The first piston cylinder assembly 63 is fixed at one end to the left side bracket 51 by a pivot joint 66 as shown in FIG. 14 holes in the heavy F extension part 69
It is threaded through and fixed by a C-lock nut 63 at the threaded end. A compression spring 71 is arranged around the rod 68 between an extension 69 and a slidable collar 72, the collar 72 being able to abut the end of the cylinder of the assembly 63. When E is operated to move the A7 plate 61 to the left, the spring 71 is compressed by 1t, and the operable end of the root 61 is moved so that the bases 1 to 8 are properly arranged. It's a short distance to the processing station controller.
It is possible to enter. During sap removal, the spring 71 moves the pusher plate a short distance l! so that the pusher plate 61 is lifted away from the processing station and into the retracted position. 11 Move backwards
It is useful for J. [-l When the rad 68 is extended with the mechanism in the retracted position, the pusher plate 61 and the roller 65
and push the xyl ridge 73 containing the connecting beam 67 to the right by a distance corresponding to the distance between the numbers 61 and 1°. To support and guide the
7. Vertical guide flange on the side of Tsutsuji road! However, the basket 30 is dimensioned to cover the flange. 1.4-1--When the crepe is spaced, the basket is in trouble. It can be slid into and out of the autoclave in the same way.

Washing station 8 is similar to autoclave station 8 except that, in operation, the lower member is filled with cold water instead of impregnating agent. Alternatively or additionally, a cold water spray may be provided on the upper member. Although independent controls may be provided for raising, lowering and rotating the car, it is convenient to control the car at station B by extending the shaft and sleeve at station A to station 8. Vulcanization station C is also similar, but here the yoke is fixed, so the cage is not raised or lowered. However, the car is rotated by an axis as in stations A, B.

In station C, the fixed lower member of the chamber has an upwardly directed hot air artificial duct at its end and a downwardly directed hot air outlet duct in the middle, the hot air being normal air. Heater and fan V
Supplied by the device.

Alternatively, a hot water jet may be used.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG.
is aligned with the operating position of the pusher plate 61. The fixture 80 has a temporary 82 mounted on each of the three brackets 51 facing the center of the processing station. Plate 82 has a horizontal pin 84 on which a lever 86 is pivotally mounted. The lever 86 has a jaw 87 at one end, and the jaw 87 has a
Abutment block 88 welded to plate 82 as shown in FIG.
held against. At the other end 85, the lever 86 at the respective end of its pivoting movement closes the proximity switch 89.9.
0 can be manipulated. The lever 86 is connected to a pair of compression springs 92.9 on a rod 95 which is pivotally connected at 96 to the plate 82.
3 towards its central position. rod 9
A collar 98 slidable over the collar 98 is pivoted to the lever 86, the end 85 of the lever 86 being in the form of two parallel plates to accommodate the collar 98. In operation, the cage 32 initially stops at a random position, the upper member of each station is raised, and the indexing mechanism is moved to its operating position. The cage 32 is then moved until the extension 99 attached to the rod 34 engages the jaw 87 and pushes the jaw toward the abutment 88, thus ensuring that the cage 32 is positioned in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. rotated in the direction of When the indexing mechanism returns to the retracted position, the direction of movement of the jaws 87 is such that the jaws 87 move away from the abutment 88 until the jaws are free to release from the extension 99. is allowed.

When the lower members of all three stations are opened and the baskets of all three stations and another basket waiting to be loaded into the impregnating station are activated, the cylinder 63 is moved against the pusher plate 61 1 and the indexing mechanism 50 is pivoted by the cylinder 53 into an active position with a pusher plate 61 directly behind the basket. The cylinders 63 are then actuated to move the pusher plate 61 forward a distance such that it moves each basketball player 1- to the position previously occupied by the previous one. Cylinder 53 then pivots indexing mechanism 50 back to the retracted position, the three upper members are closed, and the three station operations proceed. Vacuum is drawn into the autoclave at station A and the cage is then lowered into the impregnating agent. For example, 2
It is desirable to rotate the cage at rpm.

The vacuum is then broken and, after a short soaking time, the cage is returned to the upper position and rotated, for example at 100 rpm, to remove excess impregnating agent.

The rotation is then stopped, the autoclave is opened, and the indexing mechanism is moved to its working position.

The motor is then reversed to secure the cage in the correct position as described above. Alternatively, the car may be stopped in the correct position by the installation of a proximity switch on the bracket that detects a particular tie bar.

The cycle may then be repeated. In the example shown, the rotation of the cage is the same in all three stations, the movement of the upper part +4 is the same in all three stations, and the vertical movement of the cage is the same in all three stations. are the same (however,
station C are not the same). In this case, a single item, such as an engine cylinder block, is impregnated and the shape of the cage and the arrangement of the rails within the cage are changed accordingly.

The ease of rotating the articles around a horizontal axis in the liquid to minimize air flow, the ease of removing excess liquid in the upper position by rotating around the horizontal axis, and the spacers between the articles. Among the advantages of the above-mentioned arrangement, the arrangement of the pusher A7, which allows each article to be placed accurately on the production line without having to press the pusher A7, is one of the advantages of the above-mentioned arrangement.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is basically similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but with a soft center line.

There is also an autoclave station △, a washing station B, and a vulcanization station C, but there is a carriage path and an indexing station I! 1 structure is omitted.Instead,
Loading and unloading is performed by means of an overhead chair (not shown). The hoist runs on rails and moves down and down a chain 300 that has a hook 301 attached to its lower end.

A cage 232, which is essentially similar to the cage 32 described above, has a ring 303 and a hook 3011 is engageable with the cage 232 through the ring 303 for loading and unloading and transporting the basket 30 (the third 5, not shown in FIG. 6) are left in the cage for the rest period. The i-tclave station, best shown in FIG. 6, has four side moons 202, an upper member 203, and a cooperating cylinder 205 similar to those described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the portions of each bar 240 are pivotable outwardly over a limited arc between the solid lines shown. This is upper i1
The hoist allows the cage 232 to be lowered into the cage 240 such that the gear ring of the cage 232 engages the drive gear. ]-9240 is 1 downward to the position of the chain line
! Autoclave wall bracket 311 when moved
The roller 310 is fixed so that it can freely rotate φ71.
] - Press each yoke portion 305 into a position where ribs 240 firmly hold scene 232. Preferably, yokes 81-305 are spring biased to the solid line position shown in FIG. Next, the cage 232 may be rotated as shown in FIG. The cage 232 is moved by gravity to the yoke 240.
When held in the upper position, it may be rotated in the upper position. When the cage 232 is to be transferred to the next station, the upper member 203 is opened and the cage 232 is lifted out by the engagement of the ring 303 and the hook 301. The hoist then transports the cage 232 to the next processing station.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), II
The II station is modified in such a way that the cage is open only at one end and is therefore loaded and unloaded via this open end. Loading may be carried out by a pusher member operated by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder outside the processing station, and discharge is carried out through the container wall corresponding to the closed end of the cage. This may be done by means of a liquid 11 cylinder or an air cylinder, through which the pusher member can be extended through a small opening in the chamber. The container must not be of the bivalve shell type, but it is sufficient to provide a closed container with sides -h for loading and unloading the basket.

The present invention is not limited to impregnation processes, but has application to processes such as washing, oxidation, and oxidation.

1) Although certain features have been highlighted above, the invention extends to any novel combinations of the features illustrated herein.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a schematic plan view of an impregnating apparatus according to the invention with the support frame member omitted for clarity; FIG. Equipment A - Toclave Station A
3 is an elevational view taken along the line ■-■ of the autoclave station in FIG. 2 with the v1 exit and the mechanism in the working position R; FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 shows a rear elevational view of a second embodiment of the impregnating device according to the invention, and FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along the line Vl--Vl of FIG. 1...Autoclave 2.202...Lower member 3.203...Upper member 32.232...Cage 37...Charging/discharging opening 38...Slot 40.240...C Yoke 42.44...Gear 43...Gear A7 ring 46...Drive shaft 49
・・・Double belt pulley

Claims (22)

[Claims] (1) an enclosure for carrying out processing, a holder for an article mounted within the enclosure so as to rotate relative to the enclosure about a substantially horizontal axis, and a device for rotating the holder within the enclosure; , a device for stopping rotation of the holder at a predetermined rotational position, such that the article rotates with the holder;
The holder defines a generally horizontal passageway for receiving the article such that it is loadable through one end of the passageway and unloadable through the other end of the passageway; an extending pusher arm, the pusher arm being simultaneously movable along the path to remove treated articles from the holder and supply untreated articles to the holder; a longitudinal opening at a position corresponding to the position of the pusher arm at a predetermined rotational position;
An apparatus for processing articles with liquids, wherein two pusher arms are insertable into the holder for ejecting the treated articles. (2) A device for moving the pusher arm between an operating position within the passageway and a retracted position outside the passageway, and moving the pusher arm longitudinally between a forward position and a rearward position; A processing device according to claim 1. (3) The processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis passes through the passage. (4) The processing device according to claim 3, wherein the passage is symmetrical with respect to the axis. (5) Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holder is movable between an upper position where the article can be loaded and discharged and a lower position where the article can be immersed in liquid. Processing equipment according to paragraph 1. (6) The processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a device for rotating the holder at different speeds such that the holder can rotate at a faster speed in its upper position than in its lower position. (7) The holder is rotatably supported by a generally C-shaped member, and the C-shaped opening corresponds to the longitudinal opening when the holder is in the predetermined position. The processing device according to item 6. (8) Claim 7, wherein the C-shaped member is rotatably mounted so as to be swingable between an upper position and a lower position.
Processing equipment as described in Section. 9. A processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the C-shaped member is supported by an axis also arranged to rotate the holder therein. 10. The processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shaft has a gear thereon and the holder has a gear ring thereon interrupted by the longitudinal opening. (11) The gearing according to claim 10, wherein the gear on the shaft drives the gearing via two gears of the C-shaped member such that the gear on the shaft maintains reliable drive despite the interruption. Processing equipment. (12) The processing device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the C-shaped member is swingable by a sleeve on the shaft. (13) According to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the enclosure includes an openable and closable container, and the device for rotating the holder is operable from outside the container. Processing equipment as described. (14) The processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the container is an autoclave, and the treatment is an impregnation treatment. 15. The processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the autoclave has a lid that is movable upwardly to open it and provide lateral access to the holder. (16) The method of any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a plurality of enclosures, the article being sequentially indexed through the enclosures, and at least one of the enclosures being as defined. Processing equipment as described in Section. (17) comprising an openable and closable container for carrying out processing and a carrier device within the container for transporting a holder of articles and rotating the holder relative to the container about a substantially central, substantially horizontal axis; , wherein the carrier device is swingable between an upper position and a lower position about another substantially horizontal axis. (18) there is a shaft on the other axis, and the carrier device is swingable about the shaft from outside the container when the container is closed; 17. The processing device of claim 16, wherein rotation of the shaft is configured to rotate the holder. (19) The carrier device has two C-shaped members supporting respective ends of the holder, and the carrier device is brought into its upper position such that the holder can be lowered into the C-shaped members. 19. The processing device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the opening of the C-shaped member faces upward when swung. (20) the C-shaped member is in an open position upon swinging of the carrier device to the upper position to accommodate the holder; and when swinging the carrier device to the lower position, the C-shaped member 20. A processing device as claimed in claim 19, having a pivoted portion in a closed position for gripping. (21) comprising an enclosure for carrying out a process, a holder for an article mounted within the enclosure for rotation relative to the enclosure about a substantially horizontal axis, and a device for rotating the holder; The holder defines a generally horizontal passageway open at at least one end for receiving the article such that the article rotates with the holder and the axis of rotation passes through the passageway, and further defines an upper position and a lower position. a device for moving the holder between the holder and the holder, the holder being rotatable in both positions, and configured such that the enclosure is capable of immersing the article in a liquid when the holder is in a lower position; Equipment for processing articles using liquids. (22) an enclosure for carrying out a process; a holder for an article mounted within the enclosure for rotation relative to the enclosure about a substantially horizontal axis; and rotating the holder within the enclosure. , a device for stopping rotation of the holder at a predetermined rotational position, such that the article rotates with the holder;
The holder defines a generally horizontal passage for receiving the article such that the article can be loaded through one end of the passage and ejected through the other end of the passage; a pusher arm extending therein, the pusher arm being movable along the path for removing a processed article from the holder, the holder being in the position of the pusher arm at the predetermined rotational position; a longitudinal opening in a corresponding position, whereby the pusher arm is enterable into the holder to eject the processed article, the longitudinal opening extending over the length of the holder; Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid extending from said one end of a passageway along at least a substantial portion.