US2386079A - Automatic immersion apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 1945. E. c. wl-:lsKoPF AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l n NQN, m m H M w.\\ a www N M .n www oww QN m EN um f M m www .SN 5N am A QQN \\.l\ Sm. \\\ll vu u\\ \\m .s \\U l NSI N .PNI l J b O l xqvn am m SN 3v ww 3% @5% Oct. 2, 1945. E. c. wElsKoPF 2,385,079

AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS original Filed Feb. l2o, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 attorney oct. 2, 1945. E. C. wElsKoPF 2,386,079

AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIL-.Ei

:inventor DWLN C. welsmoPF Bg MM Oct. 2, 1945. E. c. wElsKoPF AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. EDwsN C. WransKoP)7 Patented Oct. 2, i945 AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS Edwin C. Weiskopf, New York, N. Y.

Original application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,800. Divided and this application December 4, 1942, Serial No. 467,828

(Cl. Sil-46) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic immersion apparatus of the type shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,157,875, granted to me May 9, 1939. This application is a division of my application, Ser. No. 379,800, led February 20, 1941. The present invention is concerned with improvements in and additions to the apparatus disclosed in said patent.

In using the apparatus, the times of the cycles of operation vary depending upon the particular treatments to which the tissue or other material is subjected. For example, the time of the cycle of operation of the machine may vary from one day or more to one hour or less. As the timing device is preferably a unitary device including an electric motor of the electric clock type, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of such timing devices selectively operable to control the time of the cycle of operation of the apparatus in such manner that the apparatus is operated under the sole control of the selected timing device. Thus, for example, one timing device designed to effect the cycle of operations in a period of one day is provided with an electric clock which is effective to rotate the disk of the timing device one revolution in a period of one day while a timing device designed for a different time cycle is provided with an electric clock which is effective to rotate the timing disk one revolution corresponding to the desired period of time, for example, one hour.

Provision is made in the apparatus of the above mentioned patent for immersing the tissue or other material in a paraiiln bath. For obtaining a more effective impregnation of the tissue with paraiiin or for otherwise improving the treatment of the tissue in the parailln bath a vacuum is provided in the paraffin-bath receptacle. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide the apparatus with means for automatically subjecting the paraffin bath to the action of a vacuum during the time the tissue is in the Darafiin-bath receptacle.

A further object is to relieve the vacuum automatically preliminary to the removal of the tissue from said receptacle whereby to facilitate removal of the cover from said receptacle.

The above objects of the invention and other objects which might hereinafter appear will be more fully understood from the followingdescription considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic immersion apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the timing devices, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of certain parts of the apparatus, the cabinet and other parts being omitted for the purpose of illustration, this figure corresponding to Fig. 6 of said Patent No. 2,157,875;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the timing device;

Fig. 5 is a` side View, partly in elevation and partly in section of the parafn-bath receptacle showing the tissue container positioned therein;

Fig. 6 is a view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and is similar to Fig. 9 of said Patent No. 2,157,875;

Fig. 7 is a, circuit diagram;

Fig. 8 is a front view, on a larger scale, of part of the timing device;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line ll-ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the automatic immersion apparatus of the present invention is constructed and operates substantially in the same way as the automatic immersion apparatus shown and described in the above mentioned Patent No. 2,157,875, with the. additions and modifications hereinafter described. In general, the apparatus comprises a receptacle table or support 32 mounted on top of the cabinet I0. A plurality of receptacles 38 and a receptacle 40 are supported on table 32 in equi-spaced circumferential relation, said receptacle 40 being a paraiin-bath receptacle. The rotary conveyor 42 is raised, turned and lowered by the shaft 44 at predetermined times by the mechanism described in said patent. Covers 48 are provided for the receptacles and are movable with conveyor 42 by rods 50, as described in said patent, for covering and uncovering said receptacles.

A special cover 48a is associated with the rod 50a, said cover and rod serving to support the timue container or carrier from `the rim of conveyor 42. Said carrier is -detachably connected to cover 48a by a bayonet-slot joint 6l (Fig. 5). The paraiiin-bath receptacle 40 is connected to a vacuum pump P operated by the electric motor PM, the conduit from said pump to said bath being indicated at 49 in Fig. 1, said conduit being in the form of a tube which is connected to the nipple 49a (Fig. 5) with which the paraffin bath is provided. The top of the receptacle 40 is provided with a packing ring 49b on which cover 48a is seated to provide a vacuum-tight joint or fluidsealing closure therewith. Said cover is provided with a central opening or port 48h which, when uncovered permits air to pass into the receptacle. Said port 48h is opened and closed by a valve 48c carried by the stem 50a by which the cover 48a is connected to conveyor 42. The lower end 50h of stern 50a is provided with the valve 48e which, upon the upward movement of conveyor 42, engages the chamber-forming part 48d fixed to said cover for moving the same pursuant to the movement of said conveyor. When cover 48a is seated on the paraffin-bath receptacle 40, valve 48e closes opening 48h. When the apparatus is actuated for removing the tissue from the paraffin bath valve 48e is raised from its scat on the cover thereby permitting air to enter the paraffin bath for breaking the vacuum therein in order to facilitate movement of cover 48a off of the paraffinbath receptacle, the air breaking the vacuum being supplied from chamber-forming part 48d into which the air enters in any suitable way as through the central opening 48e through which stem 50a projects. As hereinafter described the vacuum pump motor PM is actuated only at predetermined times automatically through the control of means provided for that purpose.

The means for actuating shaft 44 to move carrier 42 vertically and rotatably will now be described. vAs illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10, said shaft is mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement in a guide bearing 64 having a lower circular flange 68 secured by means of bolts 10 in spaced relation above the plate or top surface 12 of a standard 14 secured to and upstanding from the cabinet base I2. Said shaft has a reduced lower end portion 16 (Fig. 10) secured to and rotatably mounted in a cross head 18. The reduced shaft portion 16 provides a shoulder 80 which engages one end of said cross head, and the free end of said reduced shaft portion is threaded for engagement by a nut 8 2 which engages the other end of said cross head to fix the shaft longitudinally in relation to said cross head while permitting rotation of the shaft therein. Cross head 18 is guided for longitudinal movement on a guide bar 84 fixed to standard 14 by bolts and spacing members 36, said cross head being removably secured in relation to said guide bar by side straps 88 fixed thereto and overlapping guide bar 84 as illustrated in Fig. 12.

Cross head 18 and shaft 44 fixed thereto are reciprocated by a link or Connecting rod 90 pivotally secured at one end 92 thereof to said cross head and pivotally secured at its other end 94 to a crank rod 96 fixed to a rotary gear 91 in any suitable way, as by screws 99. Gear 91 meshes with and is rotated by a gear (Fig. 6) operated by motor M. Said motor is carried by a standard |04 fixed to and upstanding from cabinet base |2. Gear 91 is xed to and rotates a shaft |06 (Fig. 3) which is journalled in bearings |08 and ||0 on standard |04. A rotary shaft |2 is operated during the rotation of shaft |06 by gear 91 through bevelled gears ||.4 and ||6 fixed to shafts |06 and I2, respectively. Shaft ||2 is journalled for rotation adjacent its ends in a bearing ||8 carried by standard |04 and in a bearing opening |20 formed in plate 12. As here shown, shaft ||2 comprises sections |22 and |24 adjustably coupled together by a coupling sleeve |26.

It will be understood that the rotation of gear 91 is effective to move shaft 44 longitudinally and also, as will now be described, rotation of shaft I|2 is effective to cause the intermittent rotation of shaft 44. The mechanism provided for this purpose comprises a Geneva gear |28 (Figs. 10 and l1) which surrounds shaft 44 and through which said shaft is longitudinally movable. Said Geneva gear rests on the surface of standard plate 12 and has a bearing on said surface. Said gear is provided with a hub |30 which has a bearing in a depending ange |32 of plate 12 for rotation therein and is held against longitudinal movement by a pin |34 which is threaded in flange |32 and engages hub |30 in a peripheral groove |36. Gear |28 is provided with a plate |38 fixed thereto. Said plate has a projection |40 which engages shaft 44 in a longitudinal groove |42 provided in said shaft whereby rotation of gear |28 is effective to rotate shaft 44. Gear |28 is rotated by shaft I2 through a cooperating gear |44 of the Geneva gear movement. Said cooperating gear |44 is provided with a plate |46 fixed thereto and carrying a, pin |48 arranged to enter the radial slots |50 of gear 28, whereby upon continuous rotation of cooperating gear |44 Geneva gear |28 is caused to rotate intermittently for a part of a revolution thereby to similarly cause shaft 44 to rotate intermittently or to move for a corresponding part of a revolution. As here shown, gear 28 is provided with twelve radial slots |50 to accomplish twelve partial rotations of said shaft for moving carrier 42` to position the holder 60 in relation to twelve receptacles provided in the apparatus here shown, but it will be understood that the number of slots in said gear may be varied depending upon the number of different immersions or treatments to which the specimen is subjected or depending upon the intended use of the apparatus. It will be observed that cooperating gear |44 is rotatably mounted on plate 12 and is secured to the upper end of shaft ||2, more specifically to the upper shaft section |20, by a pin |52.

From the above description, it will be understood that when gear 91 is rotated for a complete revolution upon actuation of .motor M and motor gear |00, shaft 44 is moved longitudinally upwardly for the full longitudinal travel thereof and longitudinally downwardly for the full distance of its travel and that during the rotation of gear 91 for effecting thereciprocation of shaft 44 upwardly and downwardly, shaft ||2 makes one complete revolution. It will also be understood that the Geneva gear movement is such that during the initial upward movement of shaft 44 pin |48 does not engage any of the slots |50, and cooperating gear |44 is therefore ineffective to rotate Geneva gear and shaft 44. However, when shaft 44 has been moved upwardly a sufficient distance to move holder 60 completely out of the receptacle to clear the top of the latter, pin |48 engages Geneva gear |28 in a slot |50 causing said gear and shaft 44 to rotate whereby to move holder 60 over the next receptacle. During the rotation of shaft 44 as just described the upward movement of said shaft is continued to the end of its travel and at about the time the rotary movement of said shaft is completed to center the holder 60 over the next receptacle, the shaft is moved downwardly to position the holder 'within said next receptacle. Thus it will be seen that the gearing arrangement is such that shaftl 44 is actuated to raise holder 60 out of its receptacle, then to move said holder to position and center the same over the next receptacle by a partial rotation of said shaft and then to movesaid holder downwardly into the next receptacle whereupon the movement of the shaft isvinterrupted for the time being until the next operation thereof for moving the holder out of the last mentioned receptacle and into the next receptacle.

Provision is made for balancing the upward and downward movement of the shaft 44 whereby to obtain a more uniform longitudinal movement of said shaft in said up and down directions. For this purpose, there is provided a counter-weight |54 (Fig. 10) guided `for up and down movement on a rod |56 fixed in standard 14. Said counter-weight |54 is connected to one end of a chain or belt |50 which passes over a rotary pulley |60 and is connected at its other end to cross head 18. Pulley |60 is mounted for rotation on a shaft or rod |62 secured at its ends in the sides |64 of standard 14. arrangement of the parts is such that said counter-weight is raised to the limit of its upward movement when shaft 44 is at the limit of its downward movement. A set screw |65 is provided for securing weight |54 against movement during shipment of the apparatus. It will be understood that shaft 44 makes one revolution during each cycle of operation of the apparatus. The intermittent operation of shaft 44 for transferring the carrier 60 and the tissue or other material carried therein from one receptacle to another at predetermined times for subjecting the tissue to the action of the various liquids or other media in the several receptacles 38 and in the paraffin bath 40 is controlled by timing devices which will be described presently. The timing devices are, in general, of the type illustrated in said above mentioned patent and each includes a timing disk |10 as disclosed therein and a final-interruption device 260 which operates in substantially the same way as the device similarly numbered in said patent for stopping the operation of the apparatus at the end of the cycle.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of timing devices as indicated at TI and T2 so that the operation of the apparatus can be placed selectivelyunder the sole control of either of these timing devices. The devices have different timing characteristics, i. e., the time of one revolution is different in each device, for example, one day in the case of timer TI, and one hour in the case of timer T2. It will be understood that more than two timing devices can be provided, each having a different timing characteristic. One of the timing devices, here shown as the timing device TI, is positioned within the cabinet I of the apparatus, and can remain permanently in fixed position therein while the other timing device T2 is positioned externally of the cabinet, suitable means being provided for disconnecting one or the other of said timing devices from the companion switches The fixed relation to plate |12 by the central part of hub 280 of the interrupting device 260, the latter being adjustably clamped in position by the head 28| of screw 282 which is threaded into the central bore 283 of the hub.285 of plate |12 (Fig. 9).

The control part |84 of the arm |86 which engages successively in the notches in disk |10 and which is engaged by the cam 262 of the interrupting device 260 1s fixed to the front end of a pivot pin |03 mounted for turning movement in a bearing portion |05 provided in panel |0|. A switch operating arm |01 is fixed to the rear end of pin |03 at the back of the panel in position to actuate a double throw micro-switch |09 mounted at the back of said panel. At the end of the operation of the apparatus arm |66 is moved by cam 262 to a retracted position in which it is held by the arm 266 which is fixed to the sleeve 261 mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot pin 212. Said sleeve has a weighted arm 214 connected thereto and tending to rotate said arm 266 so that the notched end 264 of the latter is engageable with a pin 210 fixed to arm |86. Thus, when arm |66 is moved by cam 262 arm 266 engages pin 210 for holding switch operating arm |86 in retracted position. Panel |0| of the timer is also provided with a lamp socket positioned at the back of the panel for a telltale lamp ||3 contained Y within a protective member ||5 at the front of and for connecting the selected timing device to said switches. As both timing devices are or can be of the same construction it is necessary to describe only one of them in further detail. Accordingly, referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, 8 and 9 of the drawings it will be observed that the timing device comprises a supporting panel |0| at the back of which is mounted an electric clock C of the proper construction for rotating the timing disk |10 one revolution in a predetermined period of time. Said disk |10 is a cardboard disk, suitably calibrated as described in said patent, and is carried by a plate |12 fixed to the shaft |14 of the clock in 7any suitable way as by a set-screw |15. Said disk |10 is secured in the panel. Also an electrical receptacle ||1, having a plurality of terminals, is mounted at the front of the panel for engagement with the terminals |31 and |39 of wires |31 and |39" (shown in Fig. 7) of a `:able ||9 by which the electric circuit including the switches thereof are placed under the control either of timer T| or T2. In other words, the terminals of cable IIS are connected to the receptacle of either timer Tl or timer for placing the apparatus under the control of the selected Stimer. An opening |2| is provided in the side of the cabinet; to permit the vcable IIS to be projected therefrom for connection to timer T2 which, as explained above, can be connected to control the apparatus even though said timer is positioned externally of the cabinet. Opening 2| is provided so that the door 26 of the cabinet can be kept closed and locked during the operation of the apparatus. It will be understood that timer T2 may be kept in its own individual cabinet and sealed therein by providing the cabinet with a door which can be locked to prevent tampering with the timing device during the operation of the apparatus under its control. Thus, to place the apparatus under the control of timer T2, it is only necessary to disconnect cable ||9 from timer T| and connect said cable to timer T2 by plugging the terminal end of said cable into the terminal receptacle ||1 on the timer panel of the timer T2. The manner in which this is accomplished by means of cable ||9 will be subsequently described in detail with reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Switch |09 which is controlled-by the timer d evice on the panel of which said switch is mounted operates in conjunction with a switching mechanism |23 (Fig. 3) actuated by shaft |06. Said switching mechanism comprises a double throw switch |25 operated by a cam |21 fixed to and rotated by shaft |06, said double throw switch 25 and the relation thereof to operating cam 21 being illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 7. Switch |09 and switch |25 operate jointly to control the circuit of motor M for operating shaft 44. This joint operation will be understood from an inspection of the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 7. Assuming that the timer TI is connected to the circuit for controlling the operation of the apparatus, and assuming that the operation of the apparatus is started, the part |84 of arm |86 being in a notch of the timer disk |10, a circuit is completed through motor M from one side Ll of the line through the connection ||9a of the means which connects the circuit through the timer to switch |09 of said timer, the movable arm |09a of said switch being in engagement with the stationary terminal |09b which is connected to the stationary terminal |25a of switch |25. Said terminal |25a and a companion terminal |25b are bridged by a movable contact member |25a fixed to the rod |21a which is engaged and actuated by cam |21, Fromy movable contact member |25c from the stationary contact members |25a and |25b and at the same time moves the movable contact member |25d of the switch into engagement with the stationary contact members |25a for bridging the latter, and simultaneously breaking the circuit through the motor and interrupting the operation of the apparatus for the time being. It will be observed that one of the terminals |25e is connected to a terminal |09c of switch |09, but at this time movable switch member |09 is out of engagement with said terminal |09c, so that the circuit is not completed through said switch when cam |21 actuates switch |25 to interrupt the same at the contacts |25a and |2511. However, during this time part |84 of arm |86 is in the notch of the timing disk |10 which continues to rotate and shortly after the actuation of switch |25 by cam |21, part |84 of arm |86 is moved out of the notch and is engaged by the edge `of the disk and thereby actuates arm |86. Switch |09 is at this time actuated for disengagement of the movable contact |09a thereof vfrom contact |09b and the engagement thereof with contact |09c, thus completing the circuit of the motor through contacts |25a and said contact |09c. The motor is thus effective to actuate shaft |06 but only for a fractionl of a turn, i. e., only until cam |21 disengages the switch operating member |21a permitting the spring |29 to move switch |25 to its initial position for disengaging bridging member |25d from stationary contacts |25e, thus again interrupting the circuit of the motor M. While bridging contact |25c is engaged with stationary contacts |25a and |25b and the switch is thus conditioned for the next operation of the motor, the circuit through the motor is not completed since it is interrupted through the switch |09 which remains in engagement with contact |09c until subsequently operated by arm |06 when the part |84 of said arm enters into a notch brought into registry therewith when the timing disk |10 has rotated a predetermined distance. It will also be understood that only a small degree of rotation is necessary to disengage cam |21 from the switch operating mechanism to permit closing of contacts |25a and |25b by bridging member |250 thus placing the switching device in condition for completing the circuit through the motor when switch |09 is next actuated under the control of timing disk |10.

As explained above when the cycle of operation of the apparatus is oi' short duration the time consumed by the several actuations of the apparatus for transferring the tissue from one receptacle to another may constitute a substantial part of the total time of the complete cycle of operation, thus appreciably cutting down the periods during winch the tissue is subjected to treatment in the several receptacles. Accordingly, a feature of the present invention resides in eliminating this objection without, however, requiring more than one revolution of the timing disk |10. In the form of the invention herein disclosed this result is accomplished by interrupting the electric clock motor of the timing device during the several. actuations of the apparatus within the cycle of operation thereof. Accordingly, provision is made for interrupting the circuit through the electric clock of the timing device during the rotation of shaft |06. The means provided for this purpose comprises a micro or other suitable switch |3| mounted in stationary position in relation to shaft |06 and provided with an actuating pin |33 adapted to be operated by a cam |35 xed to and rotated by said shaft |06. Cam |35 is designed so that it holds switch |3| open except when shaft |06 is stationary during each of the several rest periods of the shaft actuating mechanism when the tissue is immersed in the several receptacles. Switch |3| comprises a movable spring contact member |3| a which is biased to circuit closing position but which is held open by cam |35'during the rotation of shaft |06. Cable ||9 which connects the apparatus for control optionally under timer TI or T2 consists of wires |31', |39', ||9', |0912 and |090'. As shown in Fig. 7, wire |39' is con- 40 nected to one side L1 of the line and wire |31 is connected to the other side L2 of the line through switch I3 Wires |31' and |39 terminate in plugin terminals shown as switches |31 and |39. respectively, in Fig. 7 and are connected optionally to the terminals |31a and |39a, respectively, of timer TI or to the terminals |31b and |39b, respectively, of timer T2. Thus, switch 3| is connected optionally to the circuit of clock TCI of timer T| or to the circuit of clock TG2 of timer T2. Wire ||9' terminates in a plug-in terminal shown as a switch ||9a in Fig. 7, and is connected optionally either to terminal ||9b of switch |09 of timer T or to a similar terminal ||9c of switch |09 of timer T2. plug-in terminal which is connected either to terminal |09b of timer T| or to the similar terminal |09b of timer T2, and wire |09c terminates in a plug-in terminal which is connected either to terminal |09c of timer TI or to the similar terminal |09c of timer T2 for connecting terminals |25aand I25e, respectively, of switch 25 to terminals |0912 and |09c, respectively, of either timer TI or timer T2. Wires |09b' and |090 leading to timer T2 are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, since as shown in -this gure of the drawings timer T2 is disconnected from the apparatus, the latter being at this time under the control of timer T|. It will be understood that receptacle ||1 of each timer is provided with terminals in which said plug-in terminals of cable ||9 are respectively received.

It was explained labove that when the tissue is immersed in the parailln-bath receptacle 40 the interior of said receptacle has a. vacuum produced therein, for which purpose a vacuum pump Wire |09b terminates in a i P is connected to said parafiin-bath receptacle. The electric motor PM for operating the vacuum pump is started and stopped automatically at predetermined times, that is, at the time the,r tissue is immersed in the paraffin bath and at the time said tissue is removed therefrom. For accomplishing this result an automatically operated switch Ml is provided in the circuit of the pump motor PM for controlling the latter. Said switch I4! is mounted in stationary position on the fixed guide bearing 84 of shaft M and is provided with an operating pin lilla in position to be actuated by a member lllb xed toand movable with the spider 42a of conveyor 42. Thus, when the conveyor is lowered for bringing the tissue into receptacle 40 switch Ill is closed and completes the circuit through the vacuum pump motor PM. Said switch I4i is biased to open position so that when the conveyor is raised for removing the tissue from the parailin bath the circuit through the vacuum pump motor is broken thus interrupting the action of the vacuum pump. As explained above in order to facilitate removal of cover 48a from the paraffin bath-receptacle when the conveyor moves upwardly provision is made for breaking the vacuum, this being accomplished by the movement of valve 48o upwardly in chamber-forming part 48d, as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the conveyor starts to move upwardly. It will be understood that the time during which the vacuum pump motor PM operates is controlled by the timing disk |10, which is provided for this purpose with a peripheral notch, for example, the notch I1l (Fig. 8). The heater for the parailin-bath receptacle is indicated at |43 in Fig. 7. v

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein shown or described, and it will be also understood that in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed certain changes may be made and will occur to skilled artisans particularly in view of my disclosure herein. Therefore, I do not Wish to be limited to the invention as herein specically illustrated or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic immersion apparatus including a stationary receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a carrier mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle, means for sealing said receptacle when said carrier is in said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for creating a vacuum therein, means for actuating said pump and means operable in response to the movement of said carrier into said container for controlling the operation of said pump-actuating means.

2. In an automatic immersion apparatus including an open-top receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle, a carrier mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle through the open top thereof, a sealing cover for said receptacle moved on and off the top thereof when said carrier enters and leaves said receptacle, respectively, whereby said receptacle is sealed when said carrier enters the same and is opened when said carrier leaves the receptacle, means for actuatingsaid pump and means actuated in response to the movement of said carrier into the receptacle for controlling the operation of said pump-actuating means.

3. In an automatic immersion apparatus including an open-top receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle, a carrier mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle through the open top thereof, a sealing cover for said receptacle moved on and oi the top thereof when said carrier enters and leaves said receptacle, respectively, whereby said receptacle is sealed when said carrier enters the same and is opened when said carrier leaves the receptacle, means for actuating said pump means actuated in response to the movement of said carrier into the receptacle for controlling the operation of said pump-actuating means, and timing means for stopping the operation of said pump-actuating means.

4. In an automatic immersion apparatus including a stationary receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a carrier mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle, intermittently operable means for creating a vacuum in said receptacle, means actuated in response to the movement of said carrier into said receptacle for initiating the operation of said `vacuum-creating means, means automatically operable after a predetermined period of operation of said vacuum creating means for terminating said operation and for withdrawing said carrier from said receptacle, and means operable under the control of said carrier withdrawing means for admitting air into said receptacle for breaking the vacuum therein preliminary to the removal of said carrier from said receptacle.

5. In an automatic immersion apparatus including a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a carrier mounted for movement into and out of said receptacle, means for sealing said receptacle when said carrier is in said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for creating a vacuum therein, means operable in response to the movement of said carrier into said container for controlling the operation of said vacuum pump, a conveyor for said carrier, and means operable under the control of said conveyor for admitting air into said receptacle for breaking the vacuum therein.

6. In an automatic immersion apparatus comprising a liquid-receptacle, a vertically movable conveyor, a carrier supported by said conveyor and movable by the latter into and out of said receptacle, and a cover for said receptacle also supported by said conveyor and movable therewith and as a unit with said carrier for covering the receptacle into which said carrier is moved, said receptacle having provision for connection to a source of vacuum, said cover having means to provide an airtight closure for said receptacle, said cover having a port for the passage of air into said receptacle, a valve for opening and closing said port, and means operable under the control of said conveyor for actuating said valve to close said port when said container is moved into said receptacle and thereafter to open said port to break the vacuum in said receptacle preliminary to the movement of said cover off said receptacle. g

7. In an automatic immersion apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a carrier movable into and out of said receptacle, and a conveyor for said carrier, said carrier comprising a cover for said receptacle, said cover having an opening, a valve for said opening, said valve being moved to closed position when the carrier is'moved into said receptacle, and a connection between said conveyor and said valve for moving the latter to open position at the start of the operation of said conveyor preliminary to moving said carrier out of said receptacle.

8. In an automatic immersion apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a carrier movable into and out of said receptacle, and a conveyor for said carrier, said carrier comprising a cover for said receptacle, said cover having an opening, a rod for supporting said cover and carrier as a unit from said conveyor, said rod having a lost motion connection with said cover, a valve on' said rod for controlling said opening in the cover, said valve being moved to closed position by the movement of said conveyor in one direction when the cover is seated on said receptacle and moved to open position at the start of the movement of said conveyor in the opposite direction whereby to uncover said opening before the cover is unseated from said receptacle.

9. In apparatus of the character described which comprises a receptacle for a uid, closure means movable to position for respectively closing and opening said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for producing reduced gaseous pressure therein when said receptacle is closed by said closure means, and means for actuating said vacuum pump, means for operating said closure means to close and open said receptacle, and means operable under the control of said closure-operating means to control the operation of said pump-actuating means.

l0. In apparatus of the character described which comprises a receptacle for a iiuid, closure means movable to positions for respectively closing and opening said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for producing reduced gaseous pressure therein when said receptacle is closed by said closure means, and means for actuating said vacuum pump, means for operating said closure means to close and open said receptacle, means operable under the control of said closure-operating means to control the operation of said pump-actuatin-g means, and time-controlled means for controlling the operation of said closure-operating means.

11. In apparatus of the character described which comprises a receptacle for a fluid, closure means movable to positions for respectively closing and opening said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for producing reduced gaseous pressure therein when said revceptacle is closed by said closure means, and

means for actuating said vacuum pump, means for operating said closure means to close and' open said receptacle, means operable under the control of said closure-operating means to control the operation of said pump-actuating means, and means for actuating said closure-operating means.

12. In apparatus of the character described which comprises a receptacle for a fluid, closure means movable to positions for respectively closing and opening said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for producing reduced gaseous pressure therein when said receptacle is closed by said closure means, an electric motor for actuating said pump, and a switch for starting and stopping said motor, means for operating said closure means to close and open said receptacle, and means operable under the control of said closure-operating means to operate said switch to starrl said motor when said closure means is in receptacle-closing position control of said closure-operating means to oper` ate said switch to start said motor when said closure means is in receptacle-closing position and to stop said motor when said closure means is in receptacle-opening position, and supplementary means associated with said closure means for breaking the vacuum in said receptacle preliminary to the movement of said closure means from said receptacle-closing position thereof to said receptacle-opening position thereof.

14. In apparatus of the character described Which comprises a receptacle for a uid, closure means movable to positions for respectively closing and opening said receptacle, a vacuum pump connected to said receptacle for producing reduced gaseous pressure therein when said receptacle is closed by said closure means, and means for actuating said vacuum pump, means for operating said closure means to close and open said receptacle, and means operable under the control of said closure-operating means to control the operation of said pump-actuating means, and supplementary means associated with said closure means for breaking the vacuum in said receptacle preliminary to the movement of said closure means from saidA receptacle-closing position thereof to said receptacle-opening position thereof.

15. In apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of open-top receptacles for uids, said receptacles being arranged in a circle, a cover for said receptacles mounted for movement in a circle above said receptacles to positions in which said cover registers with the tops of said receptacles, respectively, said cover being also mounted for movement toward and away from the tops of said receptacles, respectively, for closing and opening the receptacle when said cover is in registry therewith, means for producing a vacuum in one of said receptacles, means for moving said cover in said circle and toward and away from said receptacles, and means operable under the control of said cover-moving means only when said cover is in closing relation to said one receptacle to initiate the operation of said vacuum producing means to produce a vacuum in said one receptacle.

16. In apparatus of the character described, a receptacle for a fluid, a cover mounted for movement topositiostoopen and close said receptacle, means operable to create a vacuum in said receptacle when said cover is moved into said receptacle closing position, a conveyor for said cover, and means operable under the control of said conveyor for admitting air into said receptacle to break the vacuum therein preliminary to the movement of said cover from said receptacleclosing position to said receptacle-opening position.

EDWIN C. WEISKOPF.

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