US1555891A - Holder for articles to be electroplated - Google Patents

Description

F. T. TAYLOR l HOLDER FOR ARTICLES TO BE ELECTROPLATED FlegvJuly '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet in f" 1g MTL Oct. 6, 1925;

F. T. TAYLOR HOLDER Fon'ARjrIcLEs To BE nLEcTRoPL-ATED 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed July 7, 1925 5 nvefntoz loaw( T Tnffd 3.5% @Howe/13A Patented Oct. 6, 1925. Y I

- UNITED'STA'TES Y A '1,555,891 PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. TAYLOE, OE MATAWAN, NEW JEEs-EY, AssIoNOE To A. P. MUNNING a cof., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OT NEW JERSEY.

' HOLDEE EOE ARTICLES TO BE ELEOTEOPLATED.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, FLOYD T. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Matawan, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Holder for Articles to' be Electroplated, of which the following is a. specification.

The invention relates to the art of subjecting articles tO bath treatments and to the agitation or tumbling of articles during such treatments, and, although capable of other uses, is particularlyY applicable for use 1n electroplating and analogous processes as carried out upon small articles desired to be subjected en masse to one or more baths, usually while contained in barrels Or in porous or perforated baskets.

One Object of the invention is to simplify the operation of conveying articles of the above nature through successive baths or tanks, to enable the articles to be treated to remain in the same basket or the like throughout the entire process, thus avoiding the extra labor incident to the transfer of the' articles from one basket to another during treatment.

The invention also aims to provide a holder for the baskets or containers for articles as above-mentioned, which will agitate or tumble the articles to be treated andsubject them effectively to the action of the bath in which they are immersed, and which will enable the baskets and articles to be readily connected to and disengaged from the work holder.

Another object is to provide a work holder of the above nature .which may readily be manipulated as may be necessary to obtain eiicient electrical circuit conduction to the articles carried thereby, when the latter are to be subjected to electric treatment.

Also vit is an Object of the invention to enable the motion of the work holder to be quickly and easily stopped when desired, for example, when a work-receiving basket is to be connected thereto or disengaged therefrom.

Further Objects and advantages of the invention will`be-in part obvious and in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinaftercontained, which, taken in connection 'with' the accompanying drawings,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof;

,such embodiment, however, is to be consid- 1923. Serial No. 650,017.

ered merely as illustrative of its principle. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side View, partly in section, of a work holder constructed in accordance with the invention showing the same in operative relation to a tank.

Fig. 2 is an end view'taken from the upper end ofthe apparatus as the same appears in Fig. 1, and with certain parts cut away. L

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing detached certain portions of a pair of arms, which in the present embodiment of the invention constitute a clamp for detachably engaging the work-receiving basket.

In the .electrolytic treatment of articles of such size or shape as to render it undesirable to support the articles individually, it is usual to place a large number of such articles in a basket or container made of porous or perforated material, and to immerse such basket in the bath to which the articles are to be subjected. It is also preferable to rotate the basket While in the bath, in order to agitate or'tumble the articles, and bring them in eiicient contact with the bath.

The electrolytic treatment furthermore requires that the articles be subjected successively to the action of a large number of baths such as the following (l) -Alkali cleaning and grease removing treatment;

(2) Cold water rinse;

(3) Deoxidizing treatment;

(4) Rinsing;

(5) Electroplating treatment.;

(6) Rinsing;

(7) Hot rinse for vdrying purposes, the first treatments of which may be considered preliminary as preparing'the articles for the electroplating step, and the last treatments of which may be considered final since they effect the necessary Operations upon the articles to put them in proper condition, after having been electroplated. Thus if the articles'have to be transferred from one basketor container to another during the above treatments, the extra labor entailed thereby becomes a substantial factor of eX- pense.

In accordance with the present invention,' I provide a work holder of such naturethat the articles being treated, or baskets or containers for the articles to be treated, may be readily attached and disengaged therefrom, and by the use of which the articles may remain in the same basket throughout the entire treatment.

In the present instance the basket for receiving the articles to be treated is shown. as having a body portion 1 of porous or perforated material, and a bail 2 for the usual purpose.

The apparatus as a whole is suitably positioned over a tank having side walls 3, as for example by a main support or bracket 4, having jaws 5 adapted to fit over a side wall of the tank, and to be secured thereto by means of a clamping bolt 6.

The work holder, denoted generally by the numeral 7, (Fig. 1) is supported by bracket 4, and is rotatable as regards its active parts which carry and thus rotate the basket 1, although in the illustrated embodiment the work holder also includes a housing 8 which is not rotatable, and is connected to the bracket 4, preferably, as will be later described in detail. The work holder 7 includes a spindle 9, which is journaled in the housing 8, and is provided adjacent its lower or inner 4end with a supporting member for the basket 1; in the present instance this supporting member is constituted by a hook member 10 adapted to engage under bail 2 of the work-receiving basket 1.

A suitable driving mechanism is provided for the spindle 9 for rotating the same, this being efected preferably by driving and driven elements mounted respectively upon the support 4 and the spindle;as shown, a shaft 11 (Fig. 3) is journaled in the support 4 and provided with a worm 12 ywhich engages al worm gear 13 fixed to spindle 9, the shaft 11 being provided with a pulley 14 or the like if a belt drive is used.

I prefer to so construct the apparatus that the rotation of the Work holder may be.

readily stopped as may be desired, for example when the basket 1 is to be removed or a new basket placed in position; in the present embodiment'of the invention, the work holder may be moved relative to its support 4 to disengage the worm gear 13 from worm 12. As shown, the housing 8 of the work holder is pivotally mounted on the support 4 by means of a pin 15 (Fig. 1) extending through ears16 on the sides of the support and a longitudinal rib 17 on housing 8. Thus the housing is normally urged by gravity into position wherev worm 12 and worm gear 13 engage, but if desired the work holder may be elevated to separate these elements. Preferably a lever 18 is mounted on the support 4 to elevate the Work holder; in the present instance this lever is pivoted on the shaft 11, and is provide-d with a cam-shaped lug 19 engaging an ear 20 on housing 8. In the position of the handle Shown in Fig. 1 the work holder is operatively connected to drive shaft 11, but if the handle is moved to the right, the work holder will swing about its pivot 15 to disengage it from drive shaft 11 and also elevate the work-receiving basket 1 in the tank.

Preferably the Work holder is provided with a detachable clamp for holding basket 1 in proper position during rotation, the clamp also preferably being used in conjunction with the basket supporting member 10. It is preferred furthermore to hold the basket in such position that, as the work holder rotates, the motion of the basket will be eccentric, thus tending to agitate the articles being treated, and bring them into more efficient contact with the bath. In thel present form of the invention the clamp is made up of a pair of arms 21 pivoted'upon the shaft 9, or the hook 10 attached thereto, and provided with forked fingers 22 adapted to bear against the sides of work-receiving basket 1. As shown, each of the arms 21 is formed by two parallel levers, and the clamp is so arranged thatthe weight of the basket 1 and its contents pressing upon the lower arm 21 will cause the clamp to grip the basket more firmly; as shown in Fig. 4, the meeting ends of two of the levers above-mentioned are provided respectively with a'pin 23 and a cooperating slot 24, with the result that if the lower arm 21 tends toshift under the weight of basket 1, the upper arm will be forced more firmly against the basket. Likewise if the upper arm 21 be raised to release the basket, the pin 23 and slot 24 will cause the remaining arm to swing outwardly.

It will be noted that the basket is held in a position oblique to the axis of rotation of spindle 9, to obtain the eccentric motion above referred to.

The clamp may also be readily held in any desired position, as by means of a dog -25 slidably mounted upon supporting member 10 between shoulders 26 on the adjacent ends of the tworemaining levers which make up the arms 21, the dog being urged as by a spring 27 into engagement with one or both of shoulders 26 to hold the clamping arms 21 against movement. The dog 25, however, may'be withdrawn from its above-mentioned position, as for example by pressing upon a thump piece 28 to slide the dog away from shouders 26 against the pressure of spring 27. At this .time the clamping arms 21 may be adjusted to any position desired, and said arms will remain in suchadjusted position above nature may be employed for each of the tanks, and baskets such as basket 1 above described may be progressively moved along the tanks and attached to the successive work holders, thus enabling thel complete cycle of treatment of the articles in each basket to be carried out without requiring the transfer of such articles from one basket to an-` other.

In cases where a work holder of the above character is employed for subjecting articles to an electroplating bath, I employ a cathode rod in connection with spindle 9 preferably in such manner that the position of the rod may be shifted as may be necessary at different times to enable the bath to actmost effectively upon the articles to be plated. In thepresent form of the invention the cathode rod 30 is slidably mounted Within spindle 9, and provided at its lower end with a conducting disc 31 of extended surface adapted to contact with the articles being rotated and agitated in basket l. The rod 30 isprovided at its upper or outer end with a handle 32 for shifting the rod as aforesaid. Thus the electrical connection is made `to the articles, independent of the basket in which they are contained, and in many instances a basket constructed entirely of insulating materiall will be employed. However, the cathode rod 30 preferably is exposed on the inner surface of hook member 10, whereby if desired current may be led to the cathode rod at this point from a member engaging the hook.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the cathode rod is entirely insulated from the work holder as a whole, by means of an insulating bushing 33 within spindle 9, which bushing is extended out to the end of hook member 10. The cathode rod 30 is also provided with a contact ring 34, which engages a fixed contact finger 35 (Fig. 4) suitably supported in position, as by post 36 clamped toa ledge 37 extending-out wardly from bracket 4. In the present instance the contact ring 34 is held in position between the upperend of spindle 9 and a hub 38 enclosing the Icathode rod 30 and connected to the housing 8 by webs 39 (Fig. 2) on opposite sides of the housing. Thus collector ring 24 rotates with the active parts of the work holder, but cathode rodl 30 slides along the same when being shifted.

Where the invention is used in connection with electrolytic treatment, the work holder preferably is so related to the electrical conductingparts that the latter are automat-ically adjusted to break circuit when the work holder is moved from normal position,

' or when its drive -is released. In the illusvcollector ring 34 from. its cooperating fixed Contact 35.

Although the invention has been disclosed as constructed for electroplating, .it will be understood that the same is useful for many other purposes where articles are desired to be agitated and tumbled during bath treatments, or subjected to successive baths while carried by baskets or containers.

Furthermore, in case of larger articles of suitable shape, the use of t-he basket or container may be dispensed with.

While a specific embodiment of the in-vention has been described, it will be obvious that many changes may be made therein without departing from its principles, as deined in the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. A tumbling apparatus of the class described'comprismg a rotatable work holder, a workreceiving basket hung therefrom, means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, and-means whereby said basket may be detached from said holder while the latter is in operative position relative to its supporting means.

2. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable work holder,

means for supporting said work holder in position'over a tank, a work-receiving basket hung from said work holder, said basket and work holder having quick detachable engaging parts whereby the basket is removably hung from the work holder.

3. A tumbling apparatus of the class de-I scribed comprismg a rotatable work holder having a hook thereon, means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, a work-receiving basket hung from said hook, and a cathode rod projecting into said basket.

4- A tumbling apparatus of the class rescribed comprising a rotatable work holder,

means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, a work-receiving b asket, said basket and work holder having detachable engaging parts whereby the basket is removably supported from the work holder, and a clamping device carried by said Work holder for holding the basket in position, said clamping device comprlsing arms pivoted to the work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of the bask-et.

5. A tumbling apparat-us of the class described comprising a rotatable work holder, means for supporting said work holder in osition over a tank, a work-receiving baset, said' basket and Work holder having detachable engaging parts whereby the bas-v ket is removably supportedy from the work holder, and a clamping' device carried by said work holder for holding the basket in position, said clamping device comprising arms pivoted to the work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of the basket,

fio

position over a tank, a Work-receiving bas.

ket, said basket and work holder having detachable engaging parts whereby the basket is removably supported from the Work holder, and a clamping device carried by said work holder for holding the basketin position, said clamping device comprising arms pivoted to the Work holder and adapted .to bear against the sides of the basket, and a releasable catch for holding said arms in clamping position.

7 A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable Work holder, means for supporting said Work holder in postition over a tank, a Work-receiving basket and a clamp carried by said Work holder adapted to detachably engage the basket.

8. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable Work holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over a tank, a Work-receiving basket and a clamp carried by said Work holder adapted to detachably engage the basket, said clamp comprising arms pivoted to the work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of the basket.

9. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable Work holder, a -ixed support therefor adapted to position the Work holder over a tank, a fixedly supported driving element for the Work holder, and means whereby said Work holder may be moved relative to its support to disengage the Work holder from said driving element. 10. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a work holder having a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said Work holder in position over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carried respectively by said support and said spindle, and means whereby said spindle may be moved relative to said support to disengage its driven element from the drip'iiig element.

11. A tumbling apparatus eti the class described comprising a Work holder having a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carried respectively by said support and said spindle,

said Work holder being pivoted to its support on an axis spaced from the driving and driven elements to permit the Work holder i to be tilted to separate the said elements.

l2. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Work holder having a rotatable spindle, means Jfor supporting said Work holder' in position over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carried respectively bysaid support and said spindle,

said work holder being pivoted to its support on an axis spaced from the driving and driven elements to permit the Work holder to be tilted to separate the said elements, and a device mounted on the support for moving said work holder to disengage said elements.

13. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable Work holder, a fixed support therefor adapted to position the Work holder over a tank, means for r0- tating said Work holder comprising driving and driven elements carried respectively by the support and work holder, and means carried by said support for moving the Work holder to disengage said elements.

14. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable Work holder, a work-receiving basket carried thereby, and a cathode rod carried by said work holder and projecting into said basket, means being provided whereby the' position of said cathode rod may be shifted With respect to the basket.

rod slidably supported Within said spindle and projecting into said basket.

16. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Work holderv having a rotatable spindle, a Work receiving basket supported from said s indle, a cathode rod slidably supported Wiiiliin said spindle and projecting into said basket.

17. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Work holder having a rotatable spindle, a Work-receiving basket supported from said spindle, a cathode rod sidably supported Within said spindle and projecting into saidbasket, said cathode rod being insulated from the spindle, and an electrical contact device supported in fixed position to conducty current from said cathode.

18.'A tumbling apparatus of the class described compri-sing a Work holder having a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said Work holder in position over a tank, means for rotating said spindle and a hook member carried by said spindle adapted to support a Work receiving basket.

vsaid cathode rod projecting rearwardly beyond the spindle and a iixed contact in conductive relation to the rearwardly'projecting portion of such cathode rod. I

20. The method. of supporting and conveying articles to be subjected to electroplating treatment, through the preliminary,

electroplating and final tanks, which lcomprises providing rotary work holders for the above-mentioned tanks, placing the articles to be treated in a'basket and attaching said basket successively to the work holders respectively associated with the successive tanks, whereby the articles remain in the same basket while being carried through all of `said tanks.

21. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable work holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over a tank, and means for having a work-receiving basket from said work holder in an eccentric position'with regard to the axis of rotation of the work holder.

22. A tumbling apparatus, of .the class described comprising a rotatable work holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over a tank and a clamping device carried by said work holder adapted to engage a Work-receiving basket, said clamping device actingto hold the basket in an eccentric position with regard to the axis of rotation of the work holder.

23. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable work holder, a fixed support therefor adapted to position the work holder over a tank, means whereby the position of the Work holder relative to its support may be adjusted, circuit making devices affording electrical connection to said work holder and said devices including means whereby the circuit 4 June, 1923.

is changed when the position of the work.

and means whereby said work holder may be moved relative to its support to disengage the work holder from the driving element and said fixed contact member.

26. A tumbling apparatus of the-class described comprising a Work holder, means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carried respectively by said support and said spindle, a fixed contact member carried by said support adapted to make electrical connection to said work holder, and a device mounted on said support for moving said work holder to disengage said driving and driven elements and shift the work holderrelative' to the fixed contact member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of FLOYD T. TAYLOR.

Images