US3649507A - Apparatus for continuous electroplating - Google Patents

Apparatus for continuous electroplating Download PDF

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Publication number
US3649507A
US3649507A US54494A US3649507DA US3649507A US 3649507 A US3649507 A US 3649507A US 54494 A US54494 A US 54494A US 3649507D A US3649507D A US 3649507DA US 3649507 A US3649507 A US 3649507A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
conveyor
trough
spring clip
yoke
bar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US54494A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gary D Welter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oregon Tool Inc
Original Assignee
Omark Industries Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3649507A publication Critical patent/US3649507A/en
Assigned to BLOUNT, INC. reassignment BLOUNT, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: OMARK INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF OR
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G49/00—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
    • B65G49/02—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid
    • B65G49/04—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction
    • B65G49/0409—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length
    • B65G49/0413—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath
    • B65G49/0418—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath chain or belt conveyors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S204/00—Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
    • Y10S204/07—Current distribution within the bath

Definitions

  • Chrome plating is done by the process of electroplating.
  • Very generally a conductive bar and the item to be plated are immersed in a solution containing chromium.
  • the bar and the item are connected to an electrical source establishing the bar as the anode and the item the cathode.
  • Current fiow from the bar to the item causes chromium from the solution to be deposited onto the item.
  • the solution or electrolyte must be controlled to maintain the proper balance of chromium in solution, it must be kept at the proper temperature, the current flow must be carefully regulated, the spacing between the anode and item must be accurately maintained and the process must be carefully timed.
  • chrome plating is desired for the cutting links of saw chain.
  • the chrome plating process involved manually placing the individual cutting links in special racks.
  • the holders in which the cutters are placed cover the portion that is not to be plated.
  • the racks are then lowered into a vat of the electrolyte solution which is controlled to retain the proper solution balance and temperature. After the proper time span the racks are removed from the vat and rinsed. The cutters are then manually removed from the racks.
  • the present invention is believed to provide the first successful fully automatic chrome plating apparatus capable of discriminate plating.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention includes an end less conveyor having spring clip means for holding the cutter links. At one point along the conveyor pathway means are provided to open the spring clip and automatically insert a cutter link. With the spring clip closed only the portion of the cutter link to be plated is exposed. The conveyor then carries the links down into a trough which contains the electrolyte, carefully controlled in both temperature and solution strength at a remote vat from which the electrolyte is continuously circulated to the trough.
  • a bar in the trough is carefully positioned relative to the conveyor path and constitutes the anode.
  • a bar above the conveyor path and over the trough carries the cathode current.
  • a leaf spring carried by the conveyor for each spring clip establishes a sliding contest with the overhead bar and a conductor between the leaf spring and the spring clip conducts the current from the bar to the spring clip and to the cutter link held therein.
  • the desired current is steadily maintained between the anode bar and cutter link.
  • the links are then carried by the conveyor through a bath and then dumped from the conveyor.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a saw chain cutter link chrome plating apparatus embodying the invention, portions of which are removed for clarity.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a section view taken on section lines 33 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a section view taken on lines 44 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a section view taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a view taken on lines 66 of FIG. 2.
  • the conveyor 10 includes interconnected roller chain links 12 with a top plate 14 carried by each link, see FIGS. 3-5.
  • a yoke 16 of non-conductive material is fastened to each plate 14.
  • a conductive leaf spring 18 is connected by conductive screw 20 to the top of the yoke 16.
  • a conductive spring clip 22 is fastened to each end of the yoke 16 by a conductive screw 24.
  • An electrical conductor 26 interconnects screws 20 and 24 to thereby ggnductively interconnect leaf spring 18 with spring clip
  • conveyor 10 is formed into an endless loop that is driven by a drive sprocket 28 that in turn is driven by motor 30.
  • a pair of troughs 36 supported by brace 48 are positioned to receive the yoke arms 16a.
  • a conductive bar 50 is mounted in the trough and extends substantially along the trough adjacent the path of the yoke arms 16a while maintaining the appropriate spacing from the pathway. Although not shown it will be understood that the bar is appropriately mounted with electrical connections to establish the anode for the electrolytic process.
  • the braces 48 extend over the trough and conveyor as shown in FIG. 3.
  • a channel member 54 is carried by the braces 48.
  • a bus bar 56 is fastened by screws 58 to the channel member.
  • rails 60 with self lubricating slides 62. These slides are adapted to engage the shoulder portion 16b of the yokes 16 to force the yoke arms 16a to the proper depth within the troughs 36.
  • the entire structure including channel member, rails and slides have an inclined end portion with which the conveyor is received and then guided down to the trough.
  • the leaf spring 18 slidingly engages the bus bar 56.
  • the bus bar 56 is insulated from the channel member by layer 64 and the appropriate electrical connections are provided to establish the bus bar with'the cathode current for electrolyte process. It may be desired to mount a cover over the troughs to protect workers, etc. Such a cover is not shown herein for purposes of clarity.
  • a hopper 66 is provided on each side of the conveyor. Such hoppers are in common use for chain manufacturing. They receive a quantity of cutter links and by using gravity and centrifugal forces spin the links onto a track 68 which receives the links oriented in one position only.
  • the track guides the links to a loader shown in FIG. 6.
  • the loader is also a common item used in saw chain manufacturing. It is adapted to receive a cutter link from the track.
  • the spring clip 22 is opened by a pin 70.
  • the pin 70 is slidably held in the yoke 16 with its end protruding through the yoke arm 16a when the spring clip is closed. As shown in FIG.
  • the yoke is passed under a cam arm 72 (note the yoke is inverted on its return to the drive sprocket) whereupon the pin 70 is pushed through the yoke. arm.
  • the head of the pin engages the spring clip and opens it for receiving a cutter link.
  • a micro switch shown schematically at 74 is tripped by the yoke 16 when properly positioned to trigger the loader. As air operated piston 76 in the loader pushes the cutter between the opened spring clip and yoke arm.
  • the pin 70 then passes the cam arm 72 and the spring clip 22 securely grips the cutter link.
  • FIGS. 2 and 5 Unloading the cutter links from the conveyor is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.
  • a second cam arm 78 is positioned as the conveyor leaves the second idler sprocket to release the spring clip and drop the cutter links into the wash tank 42.
  • a conveyor 82 carries the cutter links from the wash tank and deposits them in a receiving tray 84.
  • a source of the electrolyte is provided from a vat where temperature and solution are automatically controlled.
  • the electrolyte solution is circulated through the trough by tubes 86 and 88 thereby maintaining close control over temperature and strength.
  • a quantity of unplated cutters is dumped into the hopper 66.
  • the cutters are properly oriented automatically and fed through the track 68 to the loader 46.
  • As a yoke 16 passes the loader it is engaged by cam arm 72 to release the spring clip 22. Then the yoke trips the micro switch 74 and a cutter link is inserted under the spring clip.
  • the configuration of the spring clip is such that the areas that are not to be chrome plated are appropriately masked by the spring clip.
  • the cutter link After the proper time interval the cutter link reaches the end of the trough where the rail permits the yoke to be drawnfrom the trough.
  • a second cam arm is engaged by the pin 70 and the spring clip is opened.
  • the cutter link then falls by gravity into a wash tank and as previously described conveyed to a receiving tray 84.
  • the conveyor then also passes through the wash tank and toward the loader to receive further cutters.
  • An apparatus for electroplating comprising; an endless conveyor defining a pathway, an elongated trough containing an electrolyte solution along a portion of the pathway, mounting means for mounting a series of Work pieces to the conveyor, insulating means between the work pieces in the series of work pieces, drive means for continuous driving of the conveyor along said pathway, guide means for guiding the work pieces carried by the conveyor through the trough, a bar mounted in the trough adjacent and spaced from the path of the workpiece guided through the trough, means electrically connecting the bar to a power source to establish the bar as an anode, and means independently and selectively connecting each work piece to a power source to establish the work piece as a cathode while being guided through the trough and to disconnect the work piece from the power source while out of the trough.
  • said mounting means includes masking means to mask portions of the work piece for exposing selected areas only to the electrolyte contained in the trough.
  • mounting means and masking means comprises a spring clip for gripping and covering the work piece at the portions to be masked.
  • the conveyor is comprised of interconnected chain links, a number of non conductive yoke members are afiixed to the chain links, a spring clip on the arm of the yoke for clamping a work piece to the yoke member, a bus bar carrying electrical current fixed over the path of the conveyor as it passes through the trough, a leaf spring connected to each yoke member and adapted to slidingly engage the bar bar for drawing electrical current therefrom, and an electrical conductor electrically connecting the leaf spring and spring clip to conduct electrical current to the work piece.
  • a release means is provided along the pathwayat a position following the trough to open the spring clip, automatic loading means positioned along the pathway following the release means for positioning a work piece under the opened spring clip, and actuating means to actuate the release means when passing the loading means, and a switch for the loading means activated as the opened spring clip is positioned for receiving the work piece.
  • An apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a second actuating means to actuate the release means after passing through the trough for releasing the work piece and permitting it to be dropped from the conveyor.
  • An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a source of electrolyte having a controlled temperature and mixture, and circulatory means for circulating electrolyte from the source through the trough.

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  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
US54494A 1970-07-13 1970-07-13 Apparatus for continuous electroplating Expired - Lifetime US3649507A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5449470A 1970-07-13 1970-07-13

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US3649507A true US3649507A (en) 1972-03-14

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US (1) US3649507A (de)
CA (1) CA933487A (de)
DE (1) DE2134923A1 (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3853733A (en) * 1973-02-20 1974-12-10 J Jacobs Apparatus for electrolytically treating articles
US3951772A (en) * 1974-05-31 1976-04-20 Auric Corporation Selective plating apparatus
US4001100A (en) * 1975-01-03 1977-01-04 James Livesey Haydock Treatment of suspensions and slurries by electrophoresis and electro-osmosis
US4027054A (en) * 1975-10-20 1977-05-31 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apertured belt conveying
US4132617A (en) * 1973-10-04 1979-01-02 Galentan, A.G. Apparatus for continuous application of strip-, ribbon- or patch-shaped coatings to a metal tape
US4321124A (en) * 1981-02-02 1982-03-23 Select Technology Corporation Loose parts plating apparatus
US4385967A (en) * 1981-10-07 1983-05-31 Chemcut Corporation Electroplating apparatus and method
US4402800A (en) * 1981-10-02 1983-09-06 Ash James J Apparatus and method of treating tabs of printed circuit boards and the like
US4402799A (en) * 1981-10-02 1983-09-06 Chemcut Corporation Apparatus and method of treating tabs of printed circuit boards and the like

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4755271A (en) * 1986-07-28 1988-07-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electroplating apparatus for plate-shaped workpieces, particularly printed circuit boards
DE19930306C2 (de) * 1999-07-01 2003-10-16 Tyco Electronics Logistics Ag Vorrichtung zum galvanischen Abscheiden und Abtragen von Metall

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3853733A (en) * 1973-02-20 1974-12-10 J Jacobs Apparatus for electrolytically treating articles
US4132617A (en) * 1973-10-04 1979-01-02 Galentan, A.G. Apparatus for continuous application of strip-, ribbon- or patch-shaped coatings to a metal tape
US3951772A (en) * 1974-05-31 1976-04-20 Auric Corporation Selective plating apparatus
US4001100A (en) * 1975-01-03 1977-01-04 James Livesey Haydock Treatment of suspensions and slurries by electrophoresis and electro-osmosis
US4027054A (en) * 1975-10-20 1977-05-31 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apertured belt conveying
US4321124A (en) * 1981-02-02 1982-03-23 Select Technology Corporation Loose parts plating apparatus
US4402800A (en) * 1981-10-02 1983-09-06 Ash James J Apparatus and method of treating tabs of printed circuit boards and the like
US4402799A (en) * 1981-10-02 1983-09-06 Chemcut Corporation Apparatus and method of treating tabs of printed circuit boards and the like
US4385967A (en) * 1981-10-07 1983-05-31 Chemcut Corporation Electroplating apparatus and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA933487A (en) 1973-09-11
DE2134923A1 (de) 1972-01-27

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BLOUNT, INC.,ALABAMA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:OMARK INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF OR;REEL/FRAME:004760/0333

Effective date: 19870623

Owner name: BLOUNT, INC., 4520 EXECUTIVE PARK DR., P.O. BOX 94

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:OMARK INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF OR;REEL/FRAME:004760/0333

Effective date: 19870623