Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
  • C25D17/06—Suspending or supporting devices for articles to be coated

Definitions

• the invention relates to a component carrier for holding at least one component, in particular for galvanic surface coating, according to the preamble of claim 1.
• a holding device for the galvanic coating of components has become known.
• This device has a component carrier, which has two extending magnets in its cavity along a contact surface, the polar axis of which is transverse to the contact surface.
• the components are held on a contact surface of an electrically conductive component carrier via the magnetic strips extending along the device, the electrically conductive contact surface extending on an outer side of the hollow component carrier.
• the component carrier is designed as an elongated electrode for the galvanic surface coating of the components.
• the components are arranged in a row one behind the other on a contact surface, an aperture being provided which receives the components and positions them in relation to the contact surface.
• the individual holding devices are arranged on, for example, a circular frame in order to immerse themselves in the baths for the coating.
• Such holding devices have the disadvantage that a small number of components can be accommodated for surface coating.
• the device for example 1, 20 m long, is very heavy and complex to handle, so that complex equipment with an extremely small capacity is required to carry out the coating, which requires several successive process steps.
• this holding device has the disadvantage that after the surface coating of armatures for injection nozzles, highly precise and highly sensitive components of very low weight have to be removed from the holding device, this requiring considerable effort to increase the magnetic holding force acting on the respective component overcome. This can cause damage to the component surface or the coating on the components due to the increased mechanical attack to overcome the magnetic holding force, which means that this part must be removed from production as rejects.
• the disproportionately designed and very heavy holding devices in relation to the component size have the disadvantage that environmental problems can arise due to carryover of the bath fluids during the passage through the process steps for electroplating and, moreover, an increased need for bath fluid is required.
• the design of the component carrier according to the invention has the advantage that the adhesive force or holding force of the magnet acting on the respective component can be reduced at least during the removal process. This enables the component to be easily lifted off a contact surface without the risk of mechanical damage to the highly sensitive components, since extremely low attack or holding forces are required, at least for removing the component. Due to the at least slight displacement of the component, the holding magnet or due to a relative movement between the component and the holding magnet to a holding position, the resulting magnetic holding force decreases with respect to the component, as a result of which a lower lifting force is required for the component, at least for removal from the mold.
• the components are advantageously made of ferromagnetic material.
• the device according to the invention can advantageously be used for the galvanic surface coating of the components.
• An alternative embodiment of the component carrier according to the invention has the advantage that small masses are moved by at least one magnetic intermediate layer that can be arranged between the component and the holding magnet, which enables a reduction in the resulting adhesive force of the magnet on the component. Due to the arrangement of the magnetic intermediate layer, a shielding effect of the holding magnets to the component can be achieved, whereby the adhesive force of the component to the contact surface can be reduced, at least for removal from the mold, so that it is easy to lift off. The shielding can also be advantageous for the assembly, so that the components can be placed gently on the contact surface. This also applies to the construction of the component carrier according to the invention as described in claim 1.
• the component carrier has a plurality of holding positions to a contact surface of the housing, which are provided in a row and columnar arrangement.
• a holding magnet is provided for each holding position, which preferably consists of at least two magnetic poles facing the component with opposite polarity.
• This embodiment has the particular advantage that there is no magnetic material in the spaces between the individual components along a row of components, as is known, for example, from the holding device according to the prior art.
• indifferent zones can be formed between the individual holding magnets, which has an extremely lower holding effect on the component due to the resultant lines of the magnetic field. This allows the maximum magnetic holding force to be reduced to a minimum or zero.
• the resulting adhesive force of the individual holding magnet is preferably in a holding position.
• the individual holding magnets which consist of at least two magnetic poles and which have at least two magnetic poles facing the component with opposite polarity, are arranged in series with one another, so that when viewed along a row, the polarities are of identical design.
• This makes it possible, for example, to create an indifferent zone between these two individual magnets, in which both the one and the other individual magnet exert a barely perceptible holding force on the component.
• a slight displacement of the component from the indifferent zone which is advantageously in the middle of the two individual holding magnets adjacent to one another, can lead to an immediate removal align the individual holding magnets to the holding position, so that the resultant force of the individual holding magnets lies in the holding position.
• the individual holding magnets are arranged in alternating polarity to the contact surface.
• the component carrier has an electrically conductive housing in which a slide is provided which receives the holding magnets and is arranged displaceably to the holding position of the components. This can make it possible that the holding force acting on the components is reduced and, if necessary, canceled in all components simultaneously and to the same extent by the movement of the slide.
• one or more holding magnets can be shifted in rows or columns to the holding positions as required.
• a plurality of parallel strips arranged next to one another are provided on the slide which accommodate at least two magnetic poles to the left and right of the strip and spaced apart from one another along the strip. This enables a high density of the holding positions on a small contact area of the component carrier, the distance between the individual magnets being related to the component size. It is advantageously provided that an internal dimension, that is to say the distance between the central axis of two components, is at least 1.5 times the component diameter.
• twice is provided, the displacement path being half the gauge.
• the strips for receiving the individual magnets are provided in recesses in a support frame of the housing, which receives the contact surface on its opposite surface.
• the contact surface can be adequately supported, since the holding position of the components lies in the recesses or between the webs of the support plate.
• the holding magnets are advantageously provided with a small air gap below the contact surface, so that a contactless and therefore low-friction arrangement voltage of the carriage to the contact surface can be given. Due to the acting magnetic force, the configuration of the support surface can make it possible for the contact surface to be arranged and held flat on the component carrier.
• the component carrier is arranged on a bracket which has magnetic elements on two opposite end faces, each of which has an opposite polarity in the direction of the component carrier.
• the slide which can be displaced in the component carrier has magnetic elements on its end edges which are configured with the same polarity and point to the magnets of the console. Immediately after insertion, a repelling effect can be achieved on one end face by the same polarity and an attractive effect on the opposite side, whereby the slide with the individual holding magnets is guided out of a holding position.
• the amount of the displacement can advantageously be determined by means of an adjustable stop, so that the holding magnets are arranged in an indifferent zone for loading and demounting the components. It is advantageously provided that the carriage can be moved in both directions regardless of the orientation with which it is used in the console. Alternatively, it can be provided that the component carrier is aligned with the console. This could be the case, for example, if a slight attraction force is desired for the assembly so that the components are to be positioned flat and in full contact with the contact surface and to be slightly tightened during the positioning process. In such an application, the amount of the displacement in one direction is less than the amount for the removal.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of individual parts of a
• Figure 3 is a schematic partial sectional view along the
• FIG. 4a shows a schematic detailed illustration of a plurality of individual holding magnets
• FIG. 4b shows a schematic detailed illustration of a support frame of the housing
• Figure 4c is a schematic detailed view from below of the
• FIG. 4d shows a schematic detailed illustration of a hole in an aperture for a component holder
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view along the section line II-II and II-II according to FIG. 2,
• 6a to c show a schematic representation of the principle of action with the individual holding magnets oriented in the same direction
• FIGS. 7a to c show a schematic representation of the principle of action with an alternative orientation of the individual holding magnets to FIGS. 6a and b,
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment to Figure 1 and
• FIG. 9a and b show a schematic representation of the principle of action of the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 8.
• a component carrier 11 according to the invention is shown in perspective, which can be arranged as required on a console 13 for the loading and demounting of components 12 (FIG. 3).
• the component carrier 11 serves to accommodate a large number of components 12, the surface of which is at least partially surface-treated or coated.
• the components 12 are anchors for injection nozzles in internal combustion engines, which are manufactured with high precision and whose surface is extremely sensitive. These components 12 are very light and weigh 1g, for example.
• At least one The end face 15 of the components 12 is to be electroplated, preferably with a chrome layer or a layer made of a chrome alloy. It is essential for these components 12 that mechanical or other damage to the component surface and its coating is avoided during handling before and after coating, since this would mean rejects for production.
• the component carrier described below can also be used and adapted for other applications and other component sizes and weights.
• the component carrier 11 has a housing 14, on which a panel 16 is fastened exchangeably. At least one clamping pin 18 and a contact pin 19 are provided on a frame 17 of the housing 14, so that the component carrier 11 can be fastened to a device in order to go through the individual process steps for coating the surface, for example for hard chrome plating in a galvanic bath. The successive process steps include, for example, rinsing, roughening, coating and drying the components.
• the contact pin 19 is used to apply a cathode voltage to the holder so that the chromium ions, for example, can be deposited on the component 12.
• FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the housing 14.
• a base plate 21 is provided which closes the housing 14 at the bottom.
• a support frame 22 is inserted, which is shown in more detail in Figure 3 and is releasably attached to the frame 17 by a screw connection.
• a carriage 23 is provided between the base plate 21 and the support frame 22 and can be moved back and forth in the frame 17 according to the direction of arrow A.
• strips 26 are provided, which are arranged parallel next to one another, so that there is an arrangement of, for example, three fields 27, 28 and 29. These strips 26 hold holding magnets 31, which are designed as individual holding magnets 32 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4a.
• the individual holding magnets 32 have left and right magnets 33 and 34, which are spaced apart from one another by the strip 26 as a non-magnetic intermediate layer, as a result of which there is a neutral zone between the magnets 33, 34.
• the magnetic poles of the magnets 33 and 34, which form a single holding magnet 32, are positioned relative to component 12 (see FIG. 3) in such a way that the polarity is oriented in the opposite direction.
• an adhesive force can be formed on the components 12, the resultant of which lies in a holding position 38 relative to the component 12.
• the individual magnets 32 have a pole axis 35 which extends transversely to a contact surface 36 which is arranged on the support frame 22 and the frame 17.
• the pole axis 35 of the individual magnet 32 is advantageously congruent with a central axis 37 of the component 12.
• the arrangement of the left and right magnets 33, 34 to form an individual magnet 32 also has the result that a resulting magnetic holding force is provided, which occurs when a component 12 is arranged in a holding position 38, as shown in FIG. 3, lies congruent with the central axis 37 of the component 12.
• a maximum magnetic holding force can act on the component 12, which is made of ferromagnetic material.
• the holding position 38 for a component 12 is determined, on the one hand, by a hole pattern 39 in the fields 27, 28 and 29, and, correspondingly, by the individual holding magnets 32. It is provided that the resulting magnetic holding force of the individual holding magnets 32 in the central axis 37 of the component 12 lies, whereby the holding position 38 is determined.
• the component 12 is held by a bore 41 of the hole pattern 39 to the holding position 38, which is provided in an aperture 16.
• the bore 41 advantageously has guide segments 42 which lie on a diameter which is only slightly larger than the diameter of the component 12.
• a cylindrical component 12 is provided, the diameter on which the guide segments 42 lie can be made larger in the range between 1/10 and 1/100 mm.
• the bore 41 has, in addition to the guide segments 42, rinsing channels 43 which enable the respective liquids to drain off quickly during the individual process steps for coating the surface of the component 12.
• the diaphragm 16 is spaced apart from the contact surface 36 by spacers 44. Flushing channels can also be provided on an underside 48 of the orifice 16 facing the contact surface 36 in order to promote the outflow of the liquids.
• the Aperture 16 is advantageously formed from a non-conductive acid-resistant material.
• an aperture 16 made of ceramic is provided, which has a plastic coating.
• a coated halogen metal can also be provided.
• the bore 41 has insertion bevels 46 for better insertion of the components 12.
• the support plate 22 has, in accordance with the arrangement of the strips 26 on the slide 23, slot-shaped recesses 51, in which the strips 26 with the individual magnets 32 are positioned.
• Support webs 52 on which the contact surface 36 rests, are provided between the recesses 51. This can make it possible for the contact surface 36 to have the largest possible support or support surface which can be used to ensure that the contact surface 36 does not experience any deformation despite the resulting magnetic holding force of the individual holding magnets 32 on the component 12.
• Small depressions 53 for receiving an adhesive on the contact surface 36 are advantageously incorporated on the support webs 52.
• the contact surface 36 consists of a foil 49, preferably a nickel-iron foil, which preferably has a rhodium-plating surface.
• the strips 26 with the individual holding magnets 32 are provided without contact in the recesses 51 of the support frame 22 and to the contact surface 36.
• a small air gap is provided between the individual holding magnets 32 and the contact surface 36.
• the plate 24 is spaced apart from the support frame 22, a roller bearing 54, preferably a ball bearing, being provided between the support frame and plate 24 in order to keep the friction work for the movement of the carriage 23 low.
• a sliding coating or the like can also be provided on the plate 24 and the surface of the support frame 22 which is adjacent thereto.
• FIG. 4c shows a view from below of the support frame 22.
• a ball bearing which is about an axis of rotation, is positioned in an elongated bore 55 56 rotates, which is arranged in a groove 57.
• the axis of rotation 56 can only be inserted into the groove 57, since due to the magnetic force of the individual holding magnets 32, which acts on the contact surface 36, the slide 23 is pressed against the roller bearing 54.
• roller bearings are provided on the underside of the support frame 22, which engage in recesses in the plate 24 in order to enable a controlled longitudinal movement of the slide 23 along the arrow direction A.
• the housing 14 is completely closed.
• An inert atmosphere can be created in the interior of the housing 14 via a valve, so that the components located inside the component 12 can remain corrosion-free.
• the atmosphere can be created by sulfur hexafluoride or argon.
• the housing 14 is also surrounded by an acid-resistant coating 47.
• a plastic coating called ECTFE can be provided. This plastic is sealed and compressed pore-tight and forms a protection against aggressive acid.
• the division of the bores 41 in the panel 16 to form the holding position 38 in the fields 27, 28 and 29 depends on the size of the component 12 and the type and configuration of the holding magnets 31.
• the components in question are very small and sensitive components that only weigh a few grams. For this reason, an arrangement in rows and columns for a hole pattern was chosen to form a field 27, 28, 29, the number of rows and columns being selected taking into account a binary code. This can facilitate the loading and unloading as well as the checking of the occupied stop positions by computer programs.
• the number of fields 27, 28, 29 on the one hand and the rows and columns on the other hand can be selected on an application-specific basis.
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional illustration along the line II and II-II in FIG. 2.
• the carriage 23 has been transferred from a holding position 38 of the components 12 to a loading or dismounting position according to arrow B.
• the carriage 23 has an abutment on two opposite end faces. cut 61 for receiving magnetic elements 62.
• These magnetic elements 62 are aligned such that the opposite polarity is given to the opposite side of the frame 17.
• the frame 17 has depressions 64 on the corresponding end face 63, as a result of which a reduction in the remaining wall thickness of the frame 17 is achieved.
• An increase in the acting magnetic force can thereby be achieved, which act on the slide 23 of the component carrier 11 by magnets 66, 67 in the bracket 13.
• the magnet 67 facing the frame 17 is polarized opposite to the magnetic element 62 of the slide 23 and the magnetic element 66 of the bracket 13 has the same polarity to the magnetic element 62 of the slide 23.
• the component carrier 11 has markings in order to insert it into the console 13 in a certain way. This can also be made possible by a tongue and groove system or the like.
• the displacement of the carriage 23 with the individual holding magnets 32 from a holding position 38 into a mounting or dismounting position has the advantage that the resulting magnet holding force is reduced. This is to be discussed in more detail, for example, with reference to FIGS. 6a to c.
• the resulting magnetic adhesive force can be reduced can be achieved according to the diagram shown in Figure 6c.
• a so-called indifferent zone can be formed between the individual holding magnets 32, which is significantly weaker with respect to the force effect than in the holding position 38.
• An additional individual holding magnet 32 is advantageously provided at the end of each strip 26, so that the direction of displacement can take place on both sides.
• the holding magnets are displaced
• FIG. 4a an arrangement according to FIG. 4a is selected in FIGS. 6a and b.
• the polarity of the magnets 33 and 34 is alternating with the component 12, so that the same effect can occur when the component 12 or the individual holding magnets 32 are moved in the direction of the arrow D.
• An alternative embodiment of the invention can be given in that 32 magnetic strips are provided instead of the magnets 33 and 34 to form an individual holding magnet, the length of which corresponds in sections or completely to the fields 27, 28 and 29.
• the direction of displacement in the direction of arrow E to the holding positions 38 would be required.
• the direction of displacement of the carriage 23 according to arrow A can be maintained if the strips 26 are rotated through 90 ° within the fields 26, 27 and 28.
• the individual holding magnets 32 which are formed from the magnet 33 and 34, further alternative arrangements are used, such as a cylindrical magnet, a cube, a ring magnet or a plurality of magnetic elements which are designed to be associated with one another as a holding magnet.
• the pitch dimension A that is to say the distance between the central axes 37 of two mutually spaced components 12, is twice the component diameter.
• the displacement path corresponds to the component diameter. This enables a high packing density to be achieved. It is advantageous if the size of the holding magnets 31, in particular with the end face facing the component 12, is equal to or smaller than the circumferential surface of the component 12 or the contact surface of the component 12 on the contact surface 36. Due to the high packing density, the cycle time of the components can be reduced considerably.
• the design of the magnets 66, 67 for the displacement work of the slide 23 for loading and demounting the components 12 depends on the number of components 12 and the size of the individual holding magnets 32 which hold the respective component 12 against the contact surface 36.
• a component carrier 11 accommodates 384 components 12 with 16 x 24 rows and columns, for example.
• an adhesive force of approximately 200 g / magnet which corresponds to approximately 200 times the weight of the component 12
• an effective magnetic force of 76 kg occurs.
• This force also acts between the carriage 23 on the support frame 22.
• a resulting frictional force has to be overcome for the displacement of the carriage 23 in order to transfer the carriage 23 from a holding position to a loading and unloading position.
• FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a component carrier 11 to FIG. 1, the principle of which is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 9a and b.
• the moving parts are interchanged.
• the components 12 are moved out of the holding position 38 with respect to the individual magnets 32, as a result of which the operating principles described in FIGS. 6 and 7 can also occur.
• the aperture 16 can be displaced by an eccentric mechanism 71 or the like.
• the aperture 16 advantageously has a C- shaped profile, which at least partially encompasses the contact surface 36 and is guided thereon at the same time.
• the housing 14 can be simplified so that the support frame 22 only has receptacles for positioning the holding magnets 31.
• the component carrier 11 according to the invention is advantageously used in a coating process as follows:
• the components 12 to be coated are conveyed out of a glow station via a plate conveyor and fed to an assembly station.
• the component carrier 11 is placed on the console 13 in this assembly station. Due to the orientation of the magnets 66 and 67 and the correct position of the component carrier 11, the carriage 23 can be transferred to an assembly position.
• This placement position of the carriage 23 can be such that the individual holding magnets 32 are not completely transferred into the indifferent zone, but are only partially led out of the holding position 38.
• a slight magnetic force effect can act on the components 12, whereby it can be achieved that they lie flat against the contact surface 36 during the fitting process.
• the developer 11 is removed from the console 13, as a result of which the carriage 23 is automatically transferred into a holding position 38 due to the magnetic force effect of the holding magnets 31.
• the maximum resulting magnetic holding force lies in the central axis 37 of the component 12.
• the component carrier 11 is fastened to the clamping bolt 18 and the contact bolt 19 on a frame and fed to the electroplating.
• the component carrier 11 is again positioned on a bracket 13. This position can, for example, be rotated by 180 ° relative to the placement position, so that the carriage 23 is positioned in an opposite direction to the holding magnets 31 or Arrange components 12 in the indifferent zone to the holding magnets 31.
• the components 12 can be removed easily without or with only a slight pull-off force, as a result of which the risk of mechanical damage can be avoided.
• the component carrier 11 is returned and made available for the subsequent assembly process.
• An alternative embodiment of a component carrier provides that an intermediate layer is slidably arranged between the contact surface 36 and the holding magnet 31.
• This magnetic intermediate layer which has a high permeability, has fields and free spaces arranged in rows and columns, as a result of which the intermediate layer can serve as a shield depending on its positioning between the component 12 and the individual holding magnet 32.
• the intermediate layer is shifted flat parallel to the contact surface 36 in such a way that the fields, which are at least highly permeable, cover the end face of the individual holding magnet facing the component, so that the adhesive force resulting on the component is reduced can be. This provides for easier loading and unloading.
• the intermediate layer is transferred into a position in which the free spaces provided between the fields are positioned between the individual holding magnet and the component.
• the resulting adhesive force of the individual holding magnet can act on the component 12 with maximum adhesive force and fix it to the contact surface 36.
• the displacement path and the displacement mechanism can be carried out analogously to the previously described embodiments.
• the embodiments specifically designed for this also apply, which can be transferred to such an intermediate layer, its displacement technology and also with regard to the displacement path.
• the intermediate layer can, for example, consist entirely of a magnetic material with high permeability, which for example has punched-outs for the free spaces. It can also be provided that a conventional material is used which has punched-out free spaces and the which consist of magnetic material of high permeability, which are used in the intermediate layer.
• FIGS. 1 to 7 or FIGS. 8 and 9 a combination of the configuration of a component carrier with an intermediate layer is provided with an embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7 or FIGS. 8 and 9.
• the adhesive force required to fix the component during the machining, treatment or coating process it can be advantageous if, on the one hand, by shifting the holding magnet or the component or by means of a relative movement, the reduction of the adhesive force by positioning an intermediate layer below the component is supported. Further advantageous combinations of the previously described embodiments are also possible.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
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• 1999
  • 1999-01-18 DE DE19901624A patent/DE19901624A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2000
  • 2000-01-14 CN CNB008028923A patent/CN1250778C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-01-14 EP EP00901102A patent/EP1177325B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-01-14 US US09/889,704 patent/US6824657B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-01-14 DE DE50011641T patent/DE50011641D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-01-14 WO PCT/EP2000/000258 patent/WO2000041475A2/de not_active Ceased
  • 2000-01-14 BR BR0007575-2A patent/BR0007575A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 2000-01-14 JP JP2000593099A patent/JP2002534609A/ja active Pending

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