US2965110A - Electroplating machine - Google Patents

Description

D. J. BORODIN ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Dec. 20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 1e, 195? Dec. 20, 1960 D. J BORODlN 2,965,110

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Filed sept. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm www Dec. 20,` 1960 D, J, BQRODlN 2,965,110

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Eil- IN VENTOR. @HN/Z J. @GRO/N Dec. 20, 1960 D. J. BoRoDlN ELECTROPLATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 16, 1957 INV ENTOR. @4W/Z d. BORGO/N ELECTROPLATING MACHINE Daniel J. Borodin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Wagner Brothers, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 684,150

v 24 Claims. (Cl. 134-76) -to accommodate the new plating cycle.

:The present invention has for its object the provision of a plating machine of the automatic type that is constructed so that the machine is adapted to accommodate diiferent plating cycles. For example, one plating cycle might require a series of single station tanks or perhaps a single tank with four or five stations in the tank. Another plating cycle might require less single station plating tanks or less stations within a multiple station tank.

The machine of the present invention is constructed so that one or more stations along the path of travel of the work pieces may be selectively skipped by rendering certain components of the machine either operative or inoperative.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an electroplating machine of the automatic type wherein work pieces are transferred in an elevated position from not shown. In Figures 1 and 2, one side of the machine one tank to another and wherein the work pieces are con? v eyed through a tank on cathode rails, the arrangement being such that the transfer distance between the adjacent stations of adjacent tanks is the same as the spacing between successive stations in a multiple station tank.

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a plating machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

4Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figu re 2 and showing the components of the machine at a different point in the cycle of the machine.

,f Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing the pusher arms in the inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the means for suspending the work pieces above the tanks at one station.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6 6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 isla perspective view'of the arrangement .shown in Figure V5.

a sectional view alongrthe' line 8- 8 in Fig- Figurel9 'isa side'elevaltional viewovfl'a portion of the machine as seen in thel direction fth arrow 9 in yFigf;

ure 2.

Figure isa fragi'nfentary*i thea'djustable- -l'ift angles onthe 'elevator mechansr'n'of the'inchine.

' detail in myco-pending 2,965,116 Patenfedpec. 2o, 1960` is shown. The other side of the machine, not illustrated,; may be constructed substantially the same as the side illustrated in these figures.

Along the longitudinal center line of the base 16, there is arranged an upright carriage 18 which is mounted on rollers 20 for reciprocation lengthwise of the machine. The carriage 18 is driven by a hydromotor 19. Carriage 18 is supported in an upright position by means of stationary panel members 22 mounted on base 16 and extending lengthwise along each side of carriage 18. At predetermined locations along carriage 18 there are mounted elevator housings 24 in which vertical elevator columns 26 are arranged for vertical movement. Each column 26 is formed with a gear rack portion 28 which meshes with a drive gear 29 on a shaft 30 driven by a motor 32,. 'This general arrangement of the base 16, carriage 18 with elevators 26 and the supporting panels 22 is shown and described in detail in my application Serial No. 596,712,. tiled July 9, 1956.

Carriage 18 has mounted thereon a plurality of hori zontally extending fixed brackets 34 provided with sup-- port blocks 36 at the free ends thereof. A shaft 38 ex tends through support blocks 36 and is supported thereby.. Arms 40 are pivotally supported on shaft 38 by means of' bearing blocks 42. Arms 40 are spaced along shaft 381 a distance corresponding generally to the spacing between. successive stations of the machine.

lt will be noted that the spacing between the station A at the end of tank 10 and the rst station B in the tank' 12 is equal to the spacing between the rst station B im tank 12 and the second station C in tank 12. Likewise, the spacing between stations C and D and between D and- E is equal to the spacing between stations A and B. v

At the free end of each pusher arm 40 there is adjustably supported by means of a clamp l44 a short I-beam: section 46 on which a pusher member 48 is mounted.A Pusher member 48 includes a strap 50 extending transversely of the I-beam section 46 having depending plates 52 fixed at the opposite ends thereof. Each plate 52 is fashioned with a downwardly opening V-shaped notch 54 (Figure 9). The notches 54 terminate in a slot 55 arranged to interengage with work carriers 56 that are slidably supported on the cathode rails 58 that extend horizontally over and lengthwise of the plating tanks.

Each carrier 56 comprises a pair of end castings 6l) having a central web portion 62 over which the V-shaped notches 54, 55 of pusher 48 are adapted to engage (Figure 2). The end castings 60 are connected by a cross bar 64, which in turn supports a hooked member 66, from which a work rack 68 is arranged to be suspended.

Carrier 56 is also provided with outwardly extending flanges 70 at opposite ends thereof and with inwardly projecting flanges 72. l The,carriersare adjustable lengthwise of carriage 18 by shifting the I-beam sections 46 within clamps 44. The .Construction of clamps 44 is shownin. plication Serial No. {647,522}'1 Thus, the arms 40 4are'cansecl to travel with the carriage` 18: Thesearms, as'pointedl-out previously, are journaled `onshaft 38; andI in thesoperativeposition shown in Figure 2, each arm 40 is maintained in a position extending horizontally over the tank by means of an adjustablefstopv screw 76, which engages a lug 78 on a plate 80, which mounts thebearing-blo'cksAZ onarm 40.

`It will be observed thatk adjusting fscrew. 76 -is disposed on the opposite Vside yoff` shaft `38 :from pusher 48and that Y screw 76 is arranged to abut against the top side=of-lug 78. Each arm-40-is adaptedto be 'swung'V about the shaft 38 from the p ositionshowninFigure 2 to the inoperative 'position shown in Figurefia4 'Phe-arms are adaptedl to be locked to-thecarriage -18 inf-the inoperative` position by meansfof alpin 80gpassing through' alignedopenings yin co-operatingdugs 821and 841on the carriage andarms respectively` (Figure -4) `In the'portion of the machinedllustrated in Figure: l,A

two elevator columns 26 are shown. ends these two elevator columns areinterconnected by a torque tube 86. Torquetube 8 6 isfixedly` connectedto short arms S8 at the upper ends of elevator columns 26. The elevator structure for liftingv the carriers 56 from Attheir upperv rails S'Sris in turn mounted on the'torque tube 86. Thisl elevator structure includes a pairof arms `90Y projecting horizontallyY over--the-tanks from theY oppositeV ends of Y torque tube 86.'

Atl the outer end -of `eacharm 90; thereis adjustably mounted, as by meansof aclamp 92,'a vertical strut 94.4 Clamps 92 are constructed lsimilarly to clamps 44. The lowerpendsof struts 94 are interconnected byahorizontally extending boom'comprising rectangular tubes 96.

At points `along boom 96 corresponding,V to-v the stations- A-, B,f C, D-'and -E,f there are-mountedlift plates 98 and- 100. The lift plates 98 adjacentwopposite vendsof theV boom 96 are iixed whilev the lift plates 100 at the intermediate stations are pivotally supported, asat 102,v so as to be swungf'from anoperative position shown in solidi lines in Figure l0, wherein theplates are horizontally` disposed to an inoperative position shown Vin broken lines, where the plates extend-generally vertically. Similar lift plates'98, 100' are mounted on the torque tube 86 at pointsdiametrically, opposite the liftplateson theV boom 96 by means of vertical struts 104.

As is shown in Figure 2, eachpusher arm 40 is provided at its inner end with a cylindrical lug 106. Above each lug 106 there is mounted on torquetube. 86, by

means of brackets, 107, a vertically adjustable dependaY ing stop member 108; When therelevator structure'` descends, the stopsV 108 engagethe lugs 106 to pivot arms 40 upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, wherein the pusher members 48Y are elevated to aposition above.v

the carriers 56.

The skip station feature of lthepresent invention is il-v lustrated in Figuresl, 2, and 6. Adjacent the outer4 side of tank 12, there is lixedly mounted a pair ofrupright columns 110, each of which has an inwardly eX- tending arm 112at its upper end. i The free ends of armsv 112 support a boom 114, which extends longitudinally over tank 12 generally along the center line of this` tank.

At the stationsV B, C andA D, there is mounted on boom 114 a shuttle plate assembly 1,16. Thisshuttle plate. as-

sembly includes support members 118 and 120, dependingfromv boom 114, which support a slide plate 1 22 having gibs 124 thereon forming a guide-way 126. Within guide-way 126 there isarranged a slide. block 128.V which supports a shuttle plate 130. At the opposite ends of guide-way 12,6 there are arrangedstops 132 forl limiting the sliding movement off'shuttle1 plate 13,0. This arf rangement enables,v each shuttle` plate, 130. to be shifted from anperatiyepositicn.in vertcljalsumeut with thev corresponding station to aninoperative` position out, of nieuwe .,Qqrrespcnqing Station.

einem,

Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the outer anges -70.of carrier 56are. arranged tobeengaged.`

by the lift plates 98 or 100 while the inner flanges 72 are arranged to be engaged by the shuttle plates 130. It will also be observed that in the uppermost position of the elevator the flanges 72 of the carriers engaged by the lift plates 98 or 100arerspaced above the plane of the lift plates 130.

The cycleof 1the machineis -shown digrammatically in Figure l2. The rectangle shown here represents the path of travel ofeachof 'thev elevator lift plates. The.

the point O. The distance vb-frepresents the verticaltravela of the lift plates. Thev carriage. then moves forwardly through the distance c, which is equal to the-distance a,` to move the lift plates to the point P. Thereafter, the

elevator structure is` actuated to lower the. lift plates through the distance d, which is equal to the distance `b, and thereby again position the liftplatesA at thestarting position M. trated at thepositionO inzits cycle.-v

In describing the operationl ofV this machine, let usF assume that it-'is desired` to transfer each work carrier and theY rack supportedvthereby, fromvthe station Afin.y tank 10 to the station B in tankf12 yand' that it is .desiredf to lower each .carrier into tank 12rat'the stationD and); thereafter push the work rack through the tanklZ-t'o'! the station E and then transfer the-work raclcfromtanlcV 12 to tank 14. Withthis cycle of operation, and' withVv the carriage in the positionillustrated, the lift plates`" at stations-BY and:C arepivoted to the-operative posi; tion. shifted to. the operative position, andthe pusher arms 40 adjacent stations B and C-are swung tothe inoperaf tive position shown in Figure 4.

Now, assuming, aspointed out previously, that the carriage and elevator are at the point O in thecyclev illustrated in'F-igure l2, then a carrier 56 elevatedl from the end of tank` v10 is--supported by the-lift plates 98-in an elevated position at station A.` As the 'carriagemoves forwardly to the point P, the carrier 56, supported by' stationary lift plates 98, is shifted to the station B. Now,

when the elevator is lowered, the carrier 56, by reason of the anges 72, hangs on the shuttle plate at sitation B while the lift plates 98 lower totheposition M. The carriage then retracts to the positionN` sothatthe lift plates98 are again located at station A.`

If another work carrier has advanced to s tationA, this latterl'work carrier Willbe elevated when thelelevator structure is again raised. At the same time, the lift plates 100b are located atthe-station B; Whenthe:

elevator structure is raised, these lift plates 100b engage the angesf70 of the worlecarrier hung on'` shuttle plate 130 at station B and lift the carrier off the shuttle plate; Then, when the carriage advances, this carrier is' moved to a position in alignment with the shuttle plate 130 at`V the station C. The carrier is deposited on this shuttlei:

plate when the elevator structure is lowered.

1n the next cycle of the machine, the carrier hung:

fromthe shuttle. plate 130 atstation C Vis transferred by the Ylit plates 100C over the tank 12 to. thestation.D.`

Since the .Shuttle Plate.-` 130. at station!) iS .iltlthsyiueueiative position, when the elevator structure is loweredJj. that is, during travel 0f .the lftiplateslv frgatthe n'oint l? t0- thep9int-.M,tl1e. cartier Smmtedthueby,

is depositedA on the Acathode ra1ls':-58.

- 'n.be--fealiadrhaifhe InFiguresl and-.2, the carriage is illus# The shuttleV plates 130. at'stations B- and- C are n @fansite the elevator structure is lowered, the adjustable stop 108 engages the lug 106 on pusher arm 40d to pivot the pusher arm 40d to the position shown in Figure 3.

Thereafter, when the carriage retracts from the point M to the point N in its cycle, the pusher member 48 on arm 40d is shifted to a position directly above the carrier4 at station D that is supported on the rails 58. The elevator structure then raises to the elevated position and in so doing the stop 108 moves upwardly out of engagement with lug 106 so that the V-shaped notches 54, 55

on the end plates 52 of the pusher 48 engage over the web portions 62 of the carriers 56. Then, as the carriage moves from the point O to the point P in its cycle, the carrier at station D is pushed along the rails 58 from the station D to the station E.

lt will be observed that since the lift plates 100d areA pivoted to the inoperative position there will be no interference between these lift plates and the outer anges 70 on the carrier 56.

In the next cycle of the machine, the carrier located on the rails at the station E will be picked up by the stationary lift plates 98 at the other end of the elevator boom and transferred to the rst station in the next adjacent tank 14.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a plating machine which is designed to accommodate different plating cycles. With the arrangement described, any station or any group of stations can be skipped or rendered operative, that is, at any station or at any group of stations the carriers can be retained in an elevated position or lowered onto the cathode rails. In addition, the machine of the present invention, by utilizing the' form of pushers 48 illustrated, insures that `the work will be moved through the same distance whether being pushed from one station within a tank to another station within' the tank or whether being transferred in an elevated position from one station to the next station.l

The V-shaped notches 54 inthe end plates 52 *serveto accurately locate the carriers at each station.' In addition, since there is no lost motion between the push ers 48 and the carriers 56 moved thereby, that is, since the carriers 56 move as a unit with the pushers 48, there is no impact between the pushers and thecarriers which: would tend to jar pieces loose from the work racks'68. v The pushers and the carriers move forwardly at the same instance, thus the velocity* of the pusher 52 can be-3 relatively high without much danger of pieces being jarred oil the work rack. Y

I claim: 1 I

1. In a machine for conveying work pieces withfan intermittent motion along a generally straight path by means of rail supported carriers, the combination com?vl prising, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage in a direction generally parallel to said pathv of travelofy tle work pieces, said carriage having a plurality of latr` ally extending arms thereon and movable with the ca'r'-" riage, pushers mounted on and movable with'said a'rfms; said arms being journaled on the carriagefor pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane so that the push? ers are shifted vertically when the arms are pivoted, said pushers having carrier engaging means thereon movable into and out of engagement with the rail supported 'carriers in response to vertical movement of the pushers, said carrier engaging means when engaged with said carriers providing a direct driving connection between the pushers and the carriers whereby to advance 'the carriers along the rails when the carriage moves through its stroke in one direction, and displaceable means op-` eratively connected with said arms for actuating the same, said displaceable means being timed with the reciprocation of the carriage for swinging said arms in one direc-A tion to engage the pushers with the carriers at one end of the carriage stroke and for swinging said arms 'in the, opposite direction to disengage the pushersfrom the carriers at the other end of the carriage stroke.

, 6 2. .A machine as called for in claim 1 wherein 'said' arms are pivoted on said carriage for movement in a'v plane extending transversely of the line of reciprocation of the carriage.

3. A machine as called for in claim- 1 whereinsaidA carrier engaging means and the portions of the carriers engaged thereby comprise generally vertically extending lug and socket members which interlit one into the other when the pushers are moved downwardly toward the carriers.

4. A machine as called for in claim 1 wherein said carrier engaging means comprises a member on said pusher having a downwardly opening V-shaped notch therein, said carriers having web portions engageable in said V-shaped notches.

5. A machine as called for in claim 4 wherein said V-shaped notches are disposed in a plane' generally parallel to said path of travel of the work pieces.

6. In a machine for conveying work pieces withan intermittent motion along a generally straight path by means of rail supported carriers, the combination comprising, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage in a direction generally parallel to said path of travel of the work pieces, a plurality of laterally extending, arms on the carriage and movable with the carriage, pusher .members connected to and movable with said arms, said arms being journaled for pivotal movement and said pushers being shifted vertically when said arms are pivoted, said pushers having carrier, engaging means thereon movableinto and out of engagement with 'the railsuppo'rted'carriers in response to vertical movement of the pusl 1ers, said carrier engaging means when engaged with said carriers providing a driving connection between the pushers and the carriersl whereby tol advance the carriers along the rails when the carriage moves through its stroke in one direction, and displaceable meansoperatively connected with said arms for actuating the same, said displaceable means being timed with the reciprocation of the carriage for pivoting said arms 40" in one direction to engage the pushers with the carriers at one end of the carriage stroke and for pivoting said' arms in the opposite direction to disengage the pushers from the carriers at the other end of the carriage stroke.

7. In a plating machine of the vtype wherein work pieces are conveyed with an intermittent motion through a'Y series of stations in a plating tank by means of rail supported carriers, a combination of a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage in a direction longitudinally of the-tank, a plurality of pusher members on the carriage vland movable therewith, said pusher members extending over the tank and being movable in a generally verticalI direction on the carriage, said pusher members having means thereon which are engageable and disengageable with the rail supported carriers in response to vertical "-rnovement of the pusher members, said carrier engaging means when engaged with said carriers forming a'driving connection between the pusher members and the carriers whereby the carriers are moved along said rails when the carriage moves through its stroke in one direction, and displaceable means operatively connected with said arms for actuating the same, said displaceable means being timed with the movement of the carriage for lifting said pusher members to disengage the pusher membersv from the carriers at one end of the carriage stroke andv` for lowering said pusher members at the other end of the carriage stroke to reengage Athe pusher members with the carriers.

i8. In a plating machine of the type wherein work pieces are conveyed with anlintermittent motion through a series of stations in a'plating tankbymeans of rail supported carriers, the combination of `aj carriage positioned alongside' the tank, means for reciprocating-r the!" carriage in a vdirection longitudinally v'f the f'tan'k, a( plurality of laterally extending arms on the carriage: movable therewith and extending over said tanks; push# awarded to ,antlfmovabls with Sad. arms, Sad-arms being journaled Afor pivotal movementV and thepushers beingV connected y'theretoso that'thepushers areA shifted in a generally vertical direction inlre'spon'seto pivotal movement of said arms, said pushers having means thereont-which areengageable and disengageable'withfthe rail supported carriers in response to verticalhmove'ment ofl thespnshers, said carrier engaging means when engaged with said carriersforming a driving connection betweeny the pushers and the carriers whereby the carriers are moved l.along ,saidrailsy when the carriage moves through its, stroke in'one direction, and displaceable means operatively connected with. said arms. for actuating the same, said displaceablemeans beinggtimedlwith the move-1Vj in a generally vertical plane extending transverselyof the direction of travel of the carriage.

' l1.V A machine. asl called for in claim 8. wherein said carrier engagingmeans comprise memberson said push? ertsyhaving downwardly opening V-shaped notches therein, said carriers having upstandingportions engageable by saidN-shaped notches` whengthetpushers are movedl downwardly toward said carriers.y

l2. A machinetascalledfor in claim ll wherein the plane of each. V-shaped notch extendsv generally vertically and in a kdirection generally parallel to the path'of travel .ofthe carriers.

I3. A machinel as called forin claim 12 wherein said V-shaped notches are provided withan upwardly extend'- ing socket at theapex thereof, said carriershaving" portions thereof shaped to intert with said sockets to positively locate the carriers relative to the pushers when the pushers aremoved downwardly toward the carriers.k

121.. In a plating machine for conveying work piecesA withv an intermittent motion through a series of stations in a` plating tank by means of rail supported carriers,. the, combination of a carriage. positioned alongside .the

tank, means forreciprocating the carriage inra direction longitudinally of the tank, a plurality of arms mounted onr` the carriage for movement therewith and 'extendingV over said tanks, pushers connected to and movable with said arms, said arms being journaled on said carriage for pivotal movement in argenerally vertical plane ex tending transversely of 'the direction of travel of4 the carriers, said pushers having means thereon which are:

engageable and disengageable with the carriers in respouse to vertical movementof the pushers, `Said carrier engaging means when engagedI with said carriers form# ing a direct driving, connectionbetween the pushers and the carriers whereby the carriersfare moved alongsaid rails when the carriagemoves through its stroke. in one direction2 a vertically movable elevator structure on said carriage, means for lowering the elevator structureat theforwardend ofthe, carriagetstroke and for raising saidelevator structure at the. rear end ofthe carriage stroke, and* means on said elevator structure engageable withsaidarms. for; swingingthe armsupwardly to causeVA the pushers to disengage the carriers at the forward end` ofthe carriagev stroke and forA swinging thea'rms *down-l wardly at thrrearfeti. aft fha-ravag, .Stroke t9 wie tllepashefaw. ea'gagefth arrierel5?. In machine ofthe. clas'stdescribed which includes essere. @matias twefaftangad. in few, the aiifef' tig Left. @fait extedias-la1igti14aal1v over' 'th' tasks; Workarrie dini' rs sli'tlably arranged on said`v rail, a carri-agef eem-.1a

carriage ,longitudinally of the rowof tanks, pusher member/s movabl'with the carriage and selectively eng able withlthecarriersto advance them along the'rail,` an

being movable tolan operative position wherein it engages and vsuspends a carrier being lowered'by the lift members I at the forward end of the carriage stroke and to an inoperative position wherein it is out of the vertical path` of travel `of thek last-mentioned carrier.

`16.WAv machine as called for in claim l5 wherein` said carriers are fashioned with ange portions engageable by said-lift members and wherein at least some of vsaid lift membersV are movable to a position wherein the lift members by-pass said anges of said carriers.

91.7.The combination called for in claim l5v wherein said pusher members are movably mounted on'said carria'ge for movement to an inoperative position wherein the pushers do not engage thelcarriers.

n1th In a machine ofthe class described which includes l arow of .-treatingf'tank's divided into successive stationst the combination of a rail extending longitudinally over said row of tanks, work kcarriers slidably arranged'on rai1,'v a carriage extending along said row of tanks,

means.. for reciprocating. the carriage longitudinally of' saidlrow'of'tanks, ay plurality of pusher arms onA said vjv carriage. extending over said railfand supporting pusher members,l said arms. being pivoted about a generally" horizontal axis tora'isel'and lower the pusher members. whenft'he arms arepivotally actuated, saidpushermem bersnhaving means thereon engageable and disengageable. with the carriers in' response to vertical movement ofv the pusher (members, said carrier engaging means when engagedmwith said carriers forming .a direct driving connection between lthe/pusher members and `the carriers, an elevator structure vertically movable on said carriage andincludinglift members engageable with therail sup-y ported carriers to elevate them, means for raising theVV elevator Astructnrev'at the rear end of lthecarriage stroke and for lowering the elevator structure at the forwardl ofnthe carriage stroke, eachliftmerrrbers and'eachy pusher member moving from one stationfto. the next sta-V tion and then yback to said one station'during a com` plete cycleof the carriage, means for raising. the pusher members out of engagement with the carriers at the forwardend of the carriage` stroke andfor'lowering them intogengagement-with the carriers a'tf't'h'e rear end'of the Carriage Vstraks,.rifa/ate.d Supper@ members. t S'mof Said" Stations. Seid. Support members -beftamovablawf al1-.011.'- erative .position-wherein a carrier `being lowered ,by said lift membersis engaged and' suspendedl above the'ftanksl by the. supportmembersV and to an inoperativev position.

whereink the.. support member is out'roflthefverticalpath of'travel of 'a carrier` on- thelift membersf 1,9. A machine as calledvfor in` claim 18y wherein said means forraising andloweringY said' pusher are" carriedy by` said elevator structure. t

20. Almachine as called for in claim wheremlsaid arms are journaled for pivotal movementon said carriage from a generally horizontal operativelpositionover-l lying the rail to kan inoperative position swungupwardly away .from the :'ral.

251g A machine asy called for in claim 18 wherein` said Banff" position wherein the lift members engage the carriers on the rail when the elevator structure is raised to an inoperative position wherein the lift members by-pass the carriers on the rail when the elevator structure is raised.

23. A machine as called for in claim 18 wherein said carriers include a pair of opposed, generally horizontally disposed and spaced apart flanges, said support members comprising shuttle plates movable in a direction longitudinally of said row of tanks, said elevator structure being arranged to locate the carriers supported by said lift members at the forward end of the carriage stroke so that the said ilanges on the carrier overlie the shuttle plate when in operative position, where-by upon lowering of the elevator structure said flanges of the carriers are engaged by the shuttle plates in operative position to sus- 10 pend the engaged carriers in an elevated the tanks.

24. A machine as called for in claim 22 wherein said carriers are provided with a second pair of opposed flanges, said second pair of opposed flanges being disposed in a plane above the plane of said lift members when the elevator structure is in lowered position.

position abov References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,760 Fickinger Dec. 7, 1915 2,591,681 Davis Apr. 8, 1952 2,650,600 Davis Sept. l, 1953 2,736,441 Hauck Feb. 28, 1956 2,738,888 Todd Mar. 20, 1956

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