US1712674A

US1712674A - Electroplating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1712674A
Application number: US125841A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mujica Jose Luis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-07-30
Filing date: 1926-07-30
Publication date: 1929-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1946-05-14

Description

May 14, 1929. 1, L, MUJICA 1,712,674

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l :MEM l fi' N hill W i T N E S5 INVENTOR @www ATTORNEYS May 14, 1929. J, L, vWHJJKA 1,712,674

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wl TN ESS INVENTOR Jasf ws MaJ/CA Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOS LUIS MUJICA, F EAST GRANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTBOPLATING APPARATUS.

Application led July 30,

This invention relates to that class of electroplating apparatus known as the barrel type, in which the articles to be plated are dumped loosely into a perforated container which is caused to revolve in a tank containing the electroplating solution. Cathode contacts in the container are connected electrically with a source of current and the articles to be plated make contact with them and with each other, which contacts are continually shifting from one point to another ot the articles, as the container, in its rotation, produces a tumbling movement of the articles, with the result that a uniform deposit is Secured.

According to the illustrated embodiment of my present inventionythe container is supported byf a carrier which is permanently mounted on trunnions at one side ot the electroplating tank so that the container may 20 either rest in an oblique position in the tank or he tipped up for the purpose of discharg ing the articles. A throat piece at one end ot the container serves as a means of charging and discharging the articles without danger of the articles being projected against the driving mechanism. The throat piece serves also as a support for the containerand is journaled in the carrier and rotated by mechanism connecting it with a driving shait coaxial with carrier trunnions, so that by rocking the carrier on its trunnions it, together with the container7 may be tipped up to dump the work into a receptacle outside the tank. The driving mechanism is such that all the parts remain in gear at all positions of the container.

The following is a detailed description of my invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a vertical axial section ot the electroplating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, partially sectioned.

At 1 is shown an electroplating tank in which are hung anodes 2. At one side ot the tank and either supported on it as shown. or adjacent to it, is a support 3. .Tournaled in the support is a horizontal driving shaft. 4, having at one end tight and loose pulleys 5. A carrier 6 has trunnions 7 journaled on the horizontal shaft 4 in such a manner that the carrier can be rocked to and fro thereon. The carrier comprises a large annular journal bearing. divided into a lower half 6 and upper half 6, the two being secured together by bolts 8. The permeable container 9 has a 1926. Serial No. 125,841.

tubular throat piece 10 provided with an annular ]ournal 11 on its outside,'which journal has an annular rib or collar 12 running in a centraly groove 6 in the journal bearing 6', 6". The throat piece 10 also has an annular gear 13. on its outer periphery, which gear meshes with another gear 14; carried by a shaft 15, journaled in the carrier. The shaft 15 carries aiworm wheel 16, which is driven by`a worm or screw 17 on the sh aft 4. The throat piece 10 serves not only as a support for the container 9, hut also provides an opening through which the work may be introduced to and discharged from the container. The throat piece may have a flaring mouth at its outer rim and suitable flanges for attachment to the container. The axis of the container is substantrally perpendicular to a plane through the pivotal point ot the container, being the axis et shaft 4 as illustrated, whereby the container may be inserted into and removed from the tank in the plane of said axis.

It will be seen that the mechanism just described furnishes a means for rotating the container from a horizontal shaft runnin'gin fixed bearings, and that this rotative operatlon of the container permits the tipping of the container to raise it from an operating position in the electrolyte in the tank to draining and discharging positions alcove and without the tank. and conversely. A handle 18, attached to carrier (i. enables the operator to raise and lower the container without stopping the rotation thereof. At 19 is shown a cathode support attached to the carrier 6, and extending through the throat piece 10 to the interior of the container where cathodes 20 depend from said support into the lower part of the container so as to make contact with the work therein. The container 9 may be made, as shown in Figure l, of a double conoidal shape, one of the conoidal sections 21 being perforated and longer than the other and forming the main body of the container. The other conoidal part 22 is shorter and is made sufficiently rugged to form a strong base for attachment to the supporting throat piece l0. With a container so shaped there is a tendency for the work to drift from the small end to the large end, especially as the container is held in such a position while plating as to have its lower part inclined downwardly from the small end. The work after being thus moved rearwardly is then carried up on the sides ot the container and tumbled forward toward the smaller end. In this way a longitudinal as Well as a circumferential circulation of the work is maintained, which is an advantage in getting a uniform deposit of metal. To hold the container in its propel' position in the electrolyte in the tank, I provide a stop which may consist of a lug 23, on

A the carrier 6, which comes to rest against the top of tlie abutment formed by an adjusting screw 24, which is mounted on the tank or other stationary support. At is shown a latch pivoted at 26 on the carrier ,6, and

stop the rotation of the container during 25 charging, draining or discharging. In fact, it is desirable to keep the same in motion during these operations. It is also an advantage to keep the container rotating with its axis near the horizontal for a short while, to

cause the drainage from the container and work to fall into the tank.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container, a carrier for saine suspended on trunnions at one side of said tank, mechanism for rotating the container, and a throat piece at one end of the `container extending beyond the rotative mechanism, whereby the carrier with the container and its throat piece may be tipped on said trunnions from a receiving position in the tank to a position without the tank to discharge its contents clear of the rotating mechanism. Y

2. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container, a carrier for same, a driving shaft upon which said carrier is journaled, a throat piece at one end of the container opening through and beyond said carrier, means for tipping the carrier with the container and its throat piece on said drivin shaft from a receiving position in the tarigk to a discharge angle without the tank, and mechanism on the carrier for rotating the container from the driving shaft.

l3. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container, a carrier for same trunnioned on a horizontal driving shaft at one'side of said tank, means on the carrier connected with said drivin shaft for rotating the container in the tan on an axis at an angle to the horizontal, a throat piece at one end of the container opening through said carrier and 'ournaled therein, and means for tipping t e carrier with the container and its throat piece about the axis of the said shaft from a receiving .'ition in the tank to a discharge angle witldiit the tank.

' 4. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container having a throat piece at one end, a carrier through which the throat piece projects and in which it is journalcd, a horizontal driving shaft at one side of said tank on which said carrier is journaled, an annular driving gear on the outside of the throat piece, means for driving said gear from said shaft, and means for tipping the carrier with the container about the axis of the said shaft from a receiving position in the tank to a discharge angle without the tank.

5. An electroplating apparatus comprisin a stationary' tank, a horizontal drivin sha t on one side of said tank, a carrier gor the container journaled on said shaft, a throat piece attached to and supportin the container, an annular journal on the t roat piece rotative in an annular journal bearing on the carrier, and mechanism on the carrier for rotating the container, the said throat extend ing through said mechanism and said annular bearing whereby the contents of the container may be discharged clear of the'mechanism.

6. An electroplating apparatus comprisin astationary tank, a horizontal dri sha on one side of said tank, a permeab e container, a carrier for the container journaled on said shaft, a throat piece at one end of the container attached to and supporting the container, the said throat piece extendin through the carrier and being journal therein, mechanism on the carrier for rotating the container, and a cathode supported on said carrier and extending through the throat and into the container in position to make contact with objects being plated, the container being rotative around the cathode.

7. An clectroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container, a carrier for same suspended on trunnions at one side of said tank, mechanism for rotating the container, a throat piece at one end of the container extending through the cari'ier and beyond the rotative mechanism, means for tipping the carrier with the container and its throat piece on said trunnions from a receiving ition in the tank to a discharge angle wit out the tank, a stationary abutment, and a stop on said carrier adapted to rest on said abutment and hold the container at the proper angle in the tank.

8. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, a permeable container, a carrier for same suspended on trunnions at one side of said tank mechanism for rotating the container, a throat piece at one end Aio of the container extending through the carrier and beyond the rotative mechanism, means for tipping the carrier with the container and its throat piece on said trunnions from a receiving position in the tank to a discharge angle without the tank, and an adjustable stop for the carrier adapted to hold the container at the proper position in the tank.

9. An electroplating apparatus comprising a stationary tank, 'a permeable containera carrier for same suspended on trunnions at one side of said tank, mechanism for rotating the container, a throat piece at the upper end of the container extending through the carrier and beyond the rotative mechanism, means for tipping the carrier with the'container on said trunnions from a receiving position in the tank to a discharge angle without the tank, and a latch engaging the earrier to hold the same in the dischargeposition.

10. An electroplating apparatus comprising a tank, a permeab e container rotatable therein on an axis "inclined to the horizontal, and means at its upper end for driving the container, the said container consisting essentially of two conoidal portions joined at their bases. p

11. An electroplating apparatus comprising a tank, a'perlneable container rotatable therein on an axis inclined to the horizontal, and means at its upper end for driving the container, the said container comprising essentially two conoidal portions joined at their bases, the lower conoidal portion being longer axially than the upper portion.

12. An electroplating apparatus comprising a tank, a permeable container rotatable therein on an axis inclined to the horizontal, means at its upper endv for driving the container, the said container comprising essentially two conoidal portions joined at their bases, the lower conoidal portion being longer n axially than the upper portion, and a stop for holding the container with the lower surface inclined downward from the small end.

JOS Luis MUJIGA.