US2958639A - Automatic installation for use in an electrolytic process or the like - Google Patents

Description

iml b w Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 G. JEANMARIE LANEYRIE AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE a Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1960 cs. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,

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AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,958,639

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 1, 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE} IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 1, 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,953,639

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AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE I N ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE AUTOMATIC INSTALLATIGN FQR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE Georges Jean-Marie Laneyrie, Noyon, France, assignor to Socit Anonyme dite: Laminoirs a Froid de 'I'hionville, Thionville (Moselle), France, a corporation of France Filed Oct. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 689,853

Claims priority, application France Nov. 13, 1956 5 Claims. (Cl. 204-198) This invention relates to a new article of manufacture which consists of an automatically operating installation characterized by the fact that it comprises a series of work stations at which one or more mechanical, chemical, electro-chemical, or other operations are carried out which form part of a compelte predetermined sequence or manufacturing cycle. These stations are associated with individually regulable transfer means or robots mechanically and electrically arranged to carry out the operations required by the manufacturing or treatment of the given work pieces, in such manner as to automatically assure, at the desired tempo, between suitably disposed entrance and discharge stations, all the movements necessary to transfer from one station to another the partially or completely manufactured or treated workpieces which have been partially or entirely manufactured or treated at each of these stations.

In one embodiment of this installation, especially designed for use in the electrolytic treatment of any suitable metallic workpieces, and comprising the conventional electrolyzing and rinsing tanks or vats, the automatic transfer means or robots are interposed between the tanks and comprise one or more arms provided with prehensile means pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis in such manner as to permit a forward and return motion of the desired amplitude to be efliected.

An automatic installation of this type is controlled by a geared down motor which is itself controlled by a reversing switch, controlled in turn by a series of rolling contractors which control the starting, reversing of the direction of movement, slowing down, stopping, or any other actions required by the operating cycle. Each robot transfer means is so controlled by the one which precedes it that it can start up only when the carrier on which the workpiece or workpieces are placed has arrived at the end of its path of travel, and the overall organization of the apparatus is such that when a workp1ece carrier is positioned in each tank, a pushing device controlled by the transfer robot associated therewith imparts to it a forward motion for a predetermined distance dependent upon the size of the workpieces.

Thus, at the start of the cycle of operations, the first tank of the installation progressively fills up, the workpiece carriers pushing one another along, and when the first carrier reaches the output end of the tank it is seized by a robot which lifts it and transfers it to the next tank, and so on until it reaches the terminal station at which finished workpieces are delivered.

In most cases, and in the particular case of nickel or chrome plating, it is desirable to shake the workpieces while they are in the electrolytic bath. For this purpose, the following devices may be added to the installation hereinbefore described, either separately or in combination:

(1) The one or more tanks in which the workpieces must be treated are provided at their input ends with means for advancing the workpiece carriers comprising atent O fixed toothed racks cooperating with alternately moving electrically conductive rails, connected by flexible conductors to the DC. current source of the installation, these rails resting on rollers mounted on supports which are fixed to the upper edges of the longitudinal walls of the tank or tanks.

(2) The alternating movement of the conductive rails is brought about by means of pivoted arms actuated by a suitable transmission of the eccentric and connecting rod type driven by an electric motor.

(3) At the output end of the tank or tanks through which the workpieces pass means for catching the workpiece carriers is mounted which seizes and immobilizes each workpiece carrier upon its arrival at this end so as to permit it to be lifted by the prehensile means of the associated robot while permitting the alternating movement of the conducive rails and the workpieces which they support to continue.

(4) At the output end of the last tank of the installation, a robot is positioned which transfers the finished workpieces to a pusher distributor which brings the finished workpieces successively with reach of the transfer means positioned at the discharge station.

In order that the object of the invention may be better understood one specific embodiment thereof will now be described, purely by way of illustration, and without limiting the scope of the invention thereto. This is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the installation;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail showing one of the flexible connections which connect the source of DC. current to the movable rails;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figures 6 and 7 are partial views on an enlarged scale of the upper part of Figure 2, showing the details of the mechanism for advancing articles to be treated through the tank of electrolyte;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are detail views showing the construction and functioning of the automatic gripping means for momentarily immobilizing the carriers for the workpieces at the end of the tank of electrolyte;

Figure 11 is a detail View of a carrier for the workpieces to be treated;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a robot or automatic transfer means; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the control mechanism of a robot.

The installation shown is one for chrome plating, ar ranged in a closed circuit, so that the workpieces may be started in and taken out at a single station by a single operator. This double station comprises a zone 1 (Fig. 1) at which the workpieces are started in and a zone 1a from which they are withdrawn. It comprises a support shown vertically on Figure 5 and in plan on Figure 1, provided with two vertical columns 2 and two horizontal rails 3 and 4, having a V-shaped cross-section designed to receive the carriers for the articles to be treated, for example, the bicycle rims 5. These carriers comprise, in the present instance, a frame formed of two longitudinal members 6 and 7 (Figure 11) connected near their centers by a crossbar 8 and provided at their ends with skids or runners 9 having the same section as the two above-mentioned rails 3 and 4. Two arms 10 are mounted on the cross-bar 8 and are adjustable as to length and spacing. To the end of each arm is fixed suitable attaching means 11 for holding the workpieces to be treated.

Opposite this input and discharge station is a tank 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) containing the electrolytic bath, for example, a bath having a chromic acid base, connected to a pumping tank 13 associated with a heater not shown. The tank 12 is provided with the conventional electric equipment ordinarily provided for such processes, which it is unnecessary to describe in detail, since it forms no part of the invention. Reference numeral 15 (Fig. 1) indicates the control box for the electric equipment, 16 the rectifier thereof, and 17, 18 and 19 the conductive bars longitudinally positioned on the tank 12 and supporting three rows of anodes 14, suitably spaced to permit the articles which are being treated to pass freely between them. The bars 17, 18 and 19 are connected by a conductor 20 to the positive pole of the rectifier 16 (Figure 1).

On the upper edges of the longitudinal walls of the tank 12 are mounted the brackets 21 (Fig. 2) carrying the rollers 22 on which rest the two rails 23 and 24, similar to the rails 3 and 4 of the input and discharge station 11a.

The rails 23 and 24 are connected to the negative pole of the rectifier 16 by means of flexible terminals 23a-24a (Figures 1 and 4) which are connected to eachother by a conductor 24b positionedbeneath the tank 12. These rails are provided with projections 25 which are engaged in the forked ends 26 of two arms 27 pivotally mounted at 28 (Figure 2) on the longitudinal walls of the tank 12. These arms 27 are connected at their lower ends by a cross member 29 (Figures 1 and 2) passing below the said tank and to which is.articulated a connecting rod 30 driven by an eccentric 31 controlled by an electric motor 32. As will be readilyunderstood, the arms 27 may thus be given alternating pivoting movement about the axes 28, a pivoting which is converted into rectilinear alternating movement of the rails 23 and 24 on their supporting rollers 22.

In alignment with the tank 12 (Figure l) is a tank 33 in which the treated articles are rinsed and the chromic acid which these articles brought with them when they left the electrolytic bath is removed. This tank 33 is associated with a running water rinsing tank 34, followed by a hot water rinsing tank 35, parallel to the tank 12, close to the input and discharge station 1--1a.

Two symmetrically disposed racks 36 (Figures 6 and 7) are positioned on the longitudinal walls of the tank 12 near its input end. These racks rest freely on two rollers 42 carried by two arms 40 provided with an ad justable counter weight 43 and mounted topivot at 41 in a box 37 in which the racks are retained by means of flanges 3838a. This arrangement permits the partial withdrawal of the racks 36 into the box 37, as will be hereinafter explained.

On the other hand (as shown in Figs. 8-10), at the output end of the tank, that is to say, at the end remote from the racks hereinbefore described, are two catches consisting of arms 45 mounted to pivot at 46 and provided at one end with a counterweight 47, their other ends being provided with a notch 48 shaped to receive the cross member 8 of the workpiece carriers.

Reference numeral 49 designates a transfer robot associated with the discharge station 1 and the tank 12. The other robots ofthe installation are designated respectively by members 51, 52 and 53. The robot 50 is interposed between the output end of the tank 12 and the first rinsing tank 33, while the robot 51 serves the tanks 33 and 34, the robot 52 serves the tanks 34 and 35, and the robot 53 serves the tank 35 and the discharge station 111.

The transfer robots may'obviously be of any suitable type. In the embodiment illustrated on the drawings, and particularly on Figures 12 and 13, these robots (the electrical equipment and connections for which are enclosed in a suitable casing) comprise transfer means proper consisting of two arms 54 connected by a cross member 56 and provided at their free ends with prehen- 4 sive means 55 formed from two fingers of unequal length which constitute a fork of sorts.

This transfer means proper is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 57 actuated by a geared down motor 58 controlled through the contacts 59, which, as indicated at the beginning of this specification. bring about the different operations necessary to complete the normal working cycle (starting, reversing, slowing down, stopping, etc.).

Each robot being suitably controlled by 'the one which precedes it, the operation of the installation is as follows: The workpieces 5 to be treated are picked up at 1 by the operator and placed, in the manner indicated in Figure 11, on the suspending means 11 of a carrier supported by its skids 9 on the rails 3 and 4. The main electric circuit for the installation having been energized, the fingers 55 of the arms 54 of the robot 49 seize by its crossbar 8 the carrier loaded with the workpieces 5, and transfer them to the entrance to the tank 121, where they drop the crossbar 8 into the first notch of the racks 36 (Figures 1, 2 and 6), the skids 9 resting on the conductive rails 23 and 24. Immediately after this operation, the transfer arms 54 of the robot 49 automatically return to loading position in front of station 1.

It should be noted that the back and forth course of the rails 23 and 24 under the control of the arms 27, corresponds to the pitch of the teeth 36. These racks permit the carriers drawn toward by the rails 23 and 24 to advance freely. In the course of this forward movement, the crossbar 8 climbs the slopes of the next teeth, thus forcing the racks part way down into their box 37, and becomes engaged in the next notches, the rack then returning to its normal position. The carrier is thus'prevented from following the rails in their backward course.

It advances with respect to them by sliding forward on the impetus of each oscillation back and forth.

The racks have a length equal to the reach of the carriers. Under these conditions, when a carrier has cleared all the teeth of the racks, it rests freely on the rails which carry it along in their continuous backward and forward motion, thus subjecting the workpieces '5 to the effects of the desired agitation in the bath 12. At the same time, this first carrier is progressively pushed toward the discharge end of the tank 12 by the new carriers successively brought forward to the racks 36 by the robot 49 and driven forward, each in its turn, by these racks.

Upon arrival at the discharge end of the tank 12, each carrier loaded with workpieces 5 is automatically caught in the notches 43 of the catches 45 (Figures 8, 9 and'lO). At this moment the skid 9 at the end of the carrier touches a contact 67 which starts the robot 50, the arms 54 of which seize the carrier to bring it into the tank 33. From this tank the arms of the robot 51 in their turn pick up the carrier and bring'it to the tank 34 whence the arms of the robot 52 catch it up to transport it to and dip it in the last tank 35. Then the robot 53 lifts the carrier out and places it on a conveyor located near the discharge station 1a.

The conveyor to which reference has just been made comprises (Figures 1 and 5) a pusher 60 fixed to a nut 61 screwed onto a threaded rod 62 housed in a tubular guide 63 mounted on the supports 63a positioned between the supports 2 for the rails 3 and 4. The nut 61carries a contactor 64 which cooperates with a reversing switch 65 positioned at the end of the tubular guide 63.

When the carrier loaded with treated and rinsed workpieces has been placed on the rails 3 and 4 by the arms 54 of the robot 53, the pusher 60 presses against the crossbar 8 of the carrier and moves ittoward the discharge station 1a where the operator need only remove the treated articles 5 and replace them with articles to be treated. At this moment the contactor 64-engages the reversing switch 65 and the device returns to its initial position. The operating cycle recommences' and proceeds as hereinbefore described.

It will of course be appreciated that this embodiment has been described purely by Way of illustration without in any way limiting the scope of the invention to the specific details thereof, which may be modified without thereby departing from the spirit of the invention.

The installation may thus, for example, be positioned in a line instead of a closed circuit and the number and arrangement of the tanks, robots and related devices may be varied to suit the particular type of work which is to be automatically carried out.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic installation for advancing workpieces through a succession of work stations comprising an input station, at least one intermediate station and a discharge station, at least some of said stations comprising tanks in which said workpieces are to be dipped and at least one of said tanks having an input end and an output end, said at least one tank being provided with a pair of toothed racks on its longitudinal walls together with a pair of movable rails parallel to said racks, a plurality of independently movable workpiece carriers adapted to hold workpieces in a desired manner at any of said stations, said workpiece carriers being adapted to rest and be guided on said rails and extend transversely across said rack between the teeth thereof, and means for reciprocating said rails parallel to said racks, said racks being provided with teeth which slope gently upward on the side nearest the input end of said tank, but extend sharply up on the side nearest its output end and being mounted to yield downwardly under pressure, so that when said rails move forward, said workpiece carrier rides over the gently sloping sides of said teeth by depressing said racks, but when said rails move backward, the opposite sides of said teeth prevent the carriers from moving backward therewith, individually movable automatic transfer means between each intermediate station and the adjacent stations, said transfer means being adapted to advance an individual workpiece carrier from a transfer-out position in one station to the next station, and control means for each transfer means actuated by the arrival of a workpiece carrier in the transfer-out position of the preceding station.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said rails are electrically conductive and connected by a flexible conductor to a source of electric current, the bath in said at least one tank being an electrolyte which is also connected to a source of electric current.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which said rack terminates short of the output end of said electrolyte containing tank and said output end is provided with biassed means for automatically engaging a workpiece carrier when it reaches said output end and retaining it in position beyond said rack to be picked up by said transfer means.

4. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which said electrolyte containing tank carries an electrical contact which is actuated by a workpiece carrier upon its arrival at the output end thereof and closes an electric circuit which energizes the transfer means between said electrolyte containing tank and the next tank.

5. An automatic installation for electrolytically treating metallic workpieces comprising in combination a series of electrolytic and rinsing tanks, provided with means for supporting workpiece carriers movable along said tanks, interchangeable automatic transfer means positioned between said tanks and carrying a pair of pivotally mounted arms rigidly connected to each other by a tie bar, arcuate fingers at the ends of said arms, means for turning said arms about a horizontal axis through an arc suflicient to swing said fingers from a carrier engaging position above one of the adjacent tanks to a carrier releasing position above the other adjacent tank, a geared down motor connected to turn the arms of each transfer means, control means for said motor comprising means for starting, stopping, reversing and slowing down the movement of said arm, and a switch at one end of each tank which is automatically closed by the arrival of a carrier at said tank end, and the closing of which initiates the cycle of operation of the adjacent transfer means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,124 Oertli July 5, 1932 2,650,600 Davis Sept. 1, 1953 2,696,122 Clark Dec. 7, 1954 2,789,569 Davis Apr. 23, 1957 2,851,044 Davis Sept. 9, 8

FOREIGN PATENTS 690,619 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1953 731,268 Germany Feb. 3, 1943 819,031 Germany Oct. 29, 1951 939,603 Germany Feb. 23, 1956

Claims (1)

1. AN AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR ADVANCING WORKPIECES THROUGH A SUCCESSION OF WORK STATIONS COMPRISING AN INPUT STATION, AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE STATION AND A DISCHARGE STATION, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID STATIONS COMPRISING TANKS IN WHICH SAID WORKPIECES ARE TO BE DIPPED AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TANKS HAVING AN INPUT END AND AN OUTPUE END, SAID AT LEAST ONE TANK BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF TOOTHED RACKS ON ITS LONGITUDINAL WALLS TOGETHER WITH A PAIR OF MOVABLE RAILS PARALLEL TO SAID RACKS, A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE WORKPIECE CARRIERS ADAPTED TO HOLD WORKPIECES IN A DESIRED MANNER AT ANY OF SAID STATIONS, SAID WORKPIECE CARRIERS BEING ADAPTED TO REST AND BE GUIDED ON SAID RAILS AND EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID RACK BETWEEN THE TEETH THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID RAILS PARALLEL TO SAID RACKS, SAID RACKS BEING PROVIDED WITH TEETH WHICH SLOPE GENTLY UPWARD ON THE SIDE NEAREST THE INPUT END OF SAID TANK, BUT EXTEND SHARPLY UP ON THE SIDE NEAREST ITS OUTPUT END AND BEING MOUNTED TO YIELD DOWNWARDLY UNDER PRESSURE, SO THAT WHEN SAID RAILS MOVE FORWARD, SAID WORKPIECE CARRIER RIDES OVER THE GENTLY SLOPING SIDES OF SAID TEETH BY DEPRESSING SAID RACKS, BUT WHEN SAID RAILS MOVE BACK-

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