Abstract:
Drive mechanism suitable for a parts treating machine comprises a housing defining a chamber containing a rotatable carriage wheel with a fixture journalled for rotation thereon. A carriage wheel drive is provided for indexing the carriage wheel and a fixture drive for rotating fixtures carried by the carriage wheel at a predetermined position. The carriage wheel drive includes a motor and a gear reducer operatively connected to the carriage wheel. The fixture drive includes a motor and a gear reducer operatively connected to a gear on a shaft extending upwardly from the fixture by an endless belt. The carriage wheel may be moved from a load station to a treating station, where spray nozzles or the like may spray treating material onto the parts to be treated as they are rotated together with the fixture at the treating station. Thereafter, the carriage wheel is indexed to move the fixture to an optional blow-off station, where blow-off nozzles can blow air against the parts to remove treating material and to dry the treated parts, and subsequently to return the fixture to a load station where the treated parts can be removed from the fixture and parts to be treated can be placed into the fixture to begin the next cycle of operation. The carriage wheel and the fixture can be driven either by a single motor or by separate motors, as desired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a parts transport mechanism suitable for a compact, multi-stage, rotary style parts treating machine. The mechanism includes a carriage wheel rotatable about a generally vertical axis and at least one rotatable fixture on the carriage wheel intermittently rotatable about a generally vertical axis spaced from the rotational axis of the carriage wheel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of parts treating machines are known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,791 to Sadwith shows a parts cleaning machine that includes a platform rotatable in a housing, with parts to be cleaned supported on the platform and with a plurality of nozzles positioned in the housing for spraying streams of water on the articles to produce a scrubbing, scouring, or lifting effect on dirt and foreign matter present on the articles or parts being washed. Since the parts to be cleaned are stationary on the platform, cleaning of irregular shaped parts is sometimes difficult and a relatively large number of spray nozzles and a relatively large volume of cleaning solution or wash solution is need to try to reach and clean all surfaces of the parts to be cleaned. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,500 to Diamond shows a combustion chamber cleaning machine including a revolvable main turntable having a plurality of individual minor turntables for supporting the combustion cylinders and rotating them. The drives and controls for the main turntable and the minor turntables are relatively complex and costly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,985 to Smith shows a programmable apparatus for cleaning semiconductor parts which includes a chuck mounted on a rotation mechanism rotatable around a first axis and the element to be cleaned rotates around a second axis spaced from the first axis in a planetary member. The drives for the main turntable and the minor turntables are subject to contamination because of their location in the cleaning chamber. 
     In multi-stage rotary washers, parts are transported along a circular path. After a part is loaded in the housing of the rotary washer, the parts transfer mechanism indexes the part into the first station of the rotary washer. Each successive index transports the part to the next station. Eventually, after passing through each of the processing stages, the part arrives at the unload station, where it is removed from the rotary washer. The transfer mechanism rotates about a single axis. Because of this, spray and blow-off nozzles, which are used to clean, rinse and dry, respectively, have to be positioned in numerous locations throughout the processing stages. 
     The known multi-stage rotary washers have several drawbacks. The equipment footprint is large, that is, the rotary washer occupies considerable floor space, and the parts transport mechanisms are complex. 
     The present invention provides an improved parts transfer mechanism which obviates deficiencies and disadvantages of prior art parts treating machines. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent in the description which follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A parts transport mechanism for a rotary parts treating machine includes a carriage wheel on a generally vertically oriented shaft journalled for rotation in a housing, at least one fixture carried by the carriage wheel and adapted to support at least one part to be treated, a carriage wheel drive for rotating the carriage wheel, and a fixture drive intermittently engageable with the fixture to rotate the fixture about its own axis. The carriage wheel is situated in a housing that defines a treatment chamber having an inlet opening and a plurality of stations, including a load station. The carriage wheel drive rotates the carriage wheel to transport a fixture from station to station, and the fixture drive rotates the fixture at a station other than the load station. 
     The fixture may comprise a foraminous or wire mesh basket for holding parts to be treated, for example, washed, or a support such as a hook for retaining a part to be painted or cleaned by an abrasive material. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the present drawings, like numerals in the various views refer to like elements, and 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view, in section, of a parts treating machine embodying the transport mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the parts treating machine of FIG.  1  and taken along plane  2 — 2  to show an illustrative arrangement of drive components; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the parts treating machine similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified parts treating machine having a carriage wheel carrying three fixtures; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified parts treating machine having a carriage wheel carrying ten fixtures, and including a drain position in the housing; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified parts treating machine having a carriage wheel carrying ten fixtures, and including both a rinse position and a drain position; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified parts treating machine having a widened inlet opening in the housing to accommodate both a load station and an unload station; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified parts treating machine having a carriage wheel carrying eleven fixtures, with a widened inlet opening for accommodating both a load position and an unload position and including both a rinse position and a drain position in the housing; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation view of a modified carriage wheel drive and fixture drive, wherein only a single drive motor is used; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of another modified carriage wheel drive and fixture drive, wherein only a single drive motor is used; and 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic elevation view of the carriage wheel drive and fixture drive of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a parts treating machine  10  equipped with a parts transport mechanism of the present invention. The parts treating machine  10  comprises a housing  12  which defines a cleaning chamber and contains the operating components. The parts treating machine utilizing the present parts transport mechanism may be used for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, parts cleaning, paint spraying, ultraviolet radiation curing, abrasive cleaning, and the like procedures. 
     A carriage wheel  32  is positioned in the housing  12 . The carriage wheel  32 , which may be provided with one or more optional pockets  33  that depend from top plate  31 , is carried on shaft  34  journalled in housing  12  for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The carriage wheel  32  is accessible through the inlet opening  13  in the housing  12 . The shaft  34  is carried in a bearing  35  at its lower end on support  38  in housing  12 . At its upper end the shaft  34  is journalled in a bearing  37  on top plate  31  of the carriage wheel  32 . The carriage wheel  32  is rotated by a carriage wheel drive, which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 utilizes an electric drive motor  44  connected to a shaft  34  via a gear reducer  46 . Other types of motors, for example, hydraulic, pneumatic, and the like can be utilized as well. The top plate  31  cooperates with the housing  12  to define a drive compartment  39  above treatment chamber  15 . 
     Rotatably carried on the carriage wheel  32  and within the pocket  33  is a downwardly depending fixture  50 , which in the shown embodiment is a foraminous or wire mesh basket for holding parts to be treated. The fixture  50  comprised of a foraminous basket is employed when it is desired to wash the parts. For painting or for certain other cleaning or parts treating purposes, the fixture  50  may comprise a base having a clamp or like holder for the part to be treated, for example, painted or cleaned by a fluidized abrasive under air pressure. The fixture  50  is carried in the pocket  33  on a bearing for rotation about a generally vertical axis which is offset from the generally vertical axis of the carriage wheel  32 . The fixture  50  is moved from the loading position shown in FIG. 2 to a treating position proximate to the spray nozzles  24  and then to a blow-off position proximate the blow-off nozzles  25 . At the treating station, the fixture  50  is rotated about a generally vertical axis spaced from the rotational axis of shaft  34  in order to facilitate the cleaning of the parts in the foraminous basket or the painting, or other treatment of the part on the fixture. The fixture  50  includes a shaft  52  which is driven rotatably by a fixture drive which includes a drive gear  54  on the shaft  52 , a driven endless chain, band, or belt  56  which is adapted to engage the gear  54 , and a drive motor  58  connected to the shaft  52  via a gear reducer  60 . The drive motor  58  will drive the endless belt  56  via the gear reducer  60  and the associated gear  54 . The drive motor can be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor, and the like. 
     As seen in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the endless belt  56  is trained over five idler gears  57  carried on shafts  59  depending from and secured to the top  11  of the housing  12  in order to desirably position the belt  56  for selective, intermittent engagement with drive gear  54 . At the blow-off station, the fixture  50  is rotated to facilitate removal of the wash solution from the parts to be washed or contamination resulting from an abrasive cleaning. 
     The drive mechanisms in drive compartment  39  are separated from the treating materials and contaminants in the parts treating chamber  15  defined in the housing below the top plate  31 . Preferably, the top plate  31  is part of the carriage wheel  32  and is rotated together with the carriage wheel  32 . The drive motor  44  for the carriage wheel drive and the drive motor  58  for the fixture drive preferably are mounted to the top of the housing  11 . The carriage wheel drive and the fixture drive can be actuated by separate motors, as shown in FIG. 2, or by a single motor, as desired. 
     For parts washing purposes, positioned in the bottom of the housing  12  and accessible through an access door  14  in the housing  12  is a tank  16  for a treating fluid, which can be a wash solution, paint, or compressed air for a fluidized abrasive material borne by air under pressure. In order to heat the contents of the tank  16 , if needed or desired, a heater  20  is provided. 
     Spray nozzles  24  in the housing  12  are operatively connected to the tank  16  via pump  26 , filter  28  and conduit  30 . At the rear, the housing  12  is provided with a hinged access door to facilitate cleaning or change out of the filter  28 . 
     For ease of transport, the machine  10  may be on casters or wheels  18 . 
     Situated within a control panel  62  are suitable controls for controlling the carriage wheel drive so as to turn or index the carriage wheel  32  from station to station, and for controlling the fixture drive to rotate the fixture within the cell or pocket  33  in the carriage wheel  32 . 
     Partitions  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  can be provided in housing  12  in order to divide the interior of the housing  12  into operating zones or stations where various treating activities take place. The partitions  64  and  66  define the initial treating station, where the washing or the painting of the parts takes place. Partitions  68  and  70  define a blow-off station where liquid or particles are removed from the cleaned parts, and drying of the part or parts may occur. The blower  72  in the housing  12  is operatively connected to the blow-off nozzles  25  in the blow-off station via suitable conduit  29  in the housing  12 . Air from the blower  72  is discharged under pressure from the nozzles  25  and forces liquid or particles from the surfaces of the cleaned parts to aid in drying the cleaned parts. Other treatment stations can be provided as well, for example, for applying a corrosion inhibitor onto the cleaned parts. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, the fixture  50  is accessible through the inlet opening  13 . The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes only a single fixture  50  on the carriage wheel  32 ; however, any number of fixtures can be carried on the carriage wheel, depending on its size. The endless belt  56  will be driven by the drive motor  58  via the gear reducer  60  and the gear  54  associated therewith. At the load position, the gear  54  on the shaft  52  is not engaged with the endless belt  56 . The carriage wheel  32  is actuated by the carriage wheel drive, and the fixture  50  is moved from the load station to a preselected station or position proximate the spray nozzles  24 . At this location, the gear  54 , which may be a spur gear, is engaged with the endless chain, band or belt  56 , driven by the fixture drive, to rotate the fixture  50  about its axis. Thus, at the initial treatment station, which may be for example, a wash station, between the partitions  64  and  66 , the fixture  50  is rotated about its axis. The gear  54  is also operatively engaged with the endless belt  56  while the fixture  50  is in the blow-off station, so that the fixture  50  is rotated. Inasmuch as drive gear  54  does not engage the belt  56  when the fixture  50  is at the load station, the fixture  50  is not rotating when it is in the load and/or unload position. 
     Because the parts to be treated are rotating within the confines of a pocket  33  of the carriage wheel  32 , the number of spray nozzles  24  and blow off nozzles  25  can be reduced significantly in a cleaning embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that though a single spray nozzle  24  and a single blow-off nozzle  25  is shown in FIG. 2, each of these nozzles may be an array suitably arranged to maximize the spray of treating solution or treating material and air, respectively. The unique arrangement of the components of the parts transport mechanism of the present invention has considerable impact upon the resulting parts treating machine, namely, the machine can be more compact, the pumps for liquids and the blower for air can be smaller, thereby reducing horsepower requirements and kilowatt usage. The liquid tanks or reservoirs also can be smaller, reducing the overall footprint or floor space required. The net effect is a compact parts treating machine with appreciably reduced operating costs. The same is true if the parts treating machine were used for applications other than parts cleaning, for example, paint spraying. Overall, the present parts transport mechanism having a carriage wheel and the drives associated therewith affords a considerable advantage over existing parts treating equipment. 
     A modified parts treating machine  110  is shown in FIG.  3 . Machine  110  includes a carriage wheel  132  with three optional pockets  133 , and having a fixture  150  in each pocket. The housing  112  is constructed and the components thereof are arranged basically in the same manner as the housing  12  discussed hereinabove. The modified parts treating machine  100  operates much the same as the parts treating machine  10 , except that capacity is increased through the use of three fixtures on the carriage wheel rather than one. 
     The drive mechanism for the machine  110  is substantially the same as that previously described, except that five idler gears  157  are employed to define fixture drive gear engagement regions. The spur gears  154  on the fixtures  150  are engaged with the endless chain or belt  156  at the first treating station and at the blow-off station, so as to rotate the fixtures  150  when positioned at these locations. The spur gear  154  is disengaged from the chain  156  when the carriage wheel  132  is indexed with a fixture  150  at the loading station. Hence, the fixture  150  at the loading station will not be rotated while fixtures at other stations around the carriage wheel are rotated. The spur drive gear  154  can also be disengaged while the pocketed wheel  132  is indexed from station to station. 
     Initially, parts to be treated can be loaded into the fixture  150  on the wheel  132  aligned with the inlet opening  113 . The fixture  150  at the load station is not rotating since the spur drive gear  154  at the upper end thereof is disengaged from the endless belt  156 . The controls in the control panel  162  are operated to actuate the carriage wheel drive comprising drive motor  144  and to index the carriage wheel  132  from the load station to the first treating station. 
     At the first treating station the spur drive gear  154  on the fixture  150  is engaged with the endless belt  156 , which is driven by drive motor  158  and associated drive gear  154 , and the fixture  150  is rotated so as to enhance treating of the parts. When the carriage wheel  132  is turned to present a fixture to the blow-off station, the fixture gear  154  is engaged with the endless belt  156 , and the fixture  150  is rotated at the blow-off station. Air (or like drying fluid) may be blown through the spray nozzles  125  to remove any treating material present, for example, wash solution, and to dry the parts. The carriage wheel  132  is indexed to the load station, where the gear  154  is disengaged from the endless belt  156 , and the fixture  150  is not rotated to enable removal of the treated parts from the fixture  150 . As the carriage wheel  132  is indexed from station to station, the parts in each fixture  150  will be treated, for example, cleaned or sprayed and dried. 
     Another embodiment of parts treating machine is shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . Ten pockets are provided in the carriage wheel  232  equipped with pockets  233  and with a downwardly depending fixture  250  situated in each of the pockets. The drive mechanism is substantially the same as that previously described, except that the endless belt  256  is trained over seven fixture drive gears  254  and one idler gears  257 . As shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , three fixtures  250  are disengaged from the belt  256  at any given point in time and seven fixtures are driven by the belt  256  at their respective stations. The belt  256  is driven by fixture drive motor  258 , gear reducer  260 , and associated drive gear  254 . A belt tensioner may be used, if desired. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 4, there are two arrays of spray nozzles  224  to spray treating material into two fixtures  250  at the same time. Provided in the housing  212  are removable partition walls  266  and  268 . In the region of the partition wall  266  treating material can drain from the parts. One or more arrays of blow-off nozzles  225  are provided in the housing  212  to remove any material remaining on the parts after draining. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the partitions  264  and  270  are arranged somewhat differently from the partitions in the embodiment of FIG. 4 and a rinse nozzle  280  is provided between the partitions  264  and  270 . The rinse nozzle  280  may comprise an array of spray nozzles operatively connected to a tank of rinse solution in the housing  212 . The single spray nozzle or array of spray nozzles  224  spray treating material, for example, wash solution, into one fixture at the first treating station. As the carriage wheel  232  is indexed, the fixture  250  carrying the treated parts moves from the first treating station to the next station, and the treating material still on the treated parts, for example, a wash solution, can drain from the treated parts. At the rinse station, spray nozzles  280  can spray a rinse liquid onto the treated, for example, cleaned parts. The blow-off nozzles  225  are adapted to blow off the remaining material, for example, liquid, from the cleaned parts in two cells or pockets  233  of the carriage wheel  232 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the inlet opening  213  in the housing  212  is widened to permit access to two adjacent cells or pockets  233  of the wheel  232 , thereby providing separate load and unload stations at the same access opening. The carriage wheel  232  is indexed by the carriage wheel drive mechanism including drive motor  244  from the load station to the first treating station, for example, the wash station, where the spray nozzle  224  are positioned to spray a wash solution onto the part or parts on the fixture  250 . The carriage wheel  232  is indexed to position a single fixture  250  at the blow-off station, where liquid remaining on the treated parts can be blown from the cleaned parts by spray nozzles  225 . The drive mechanism in FIG. 6 is basically the same as the drive mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, except that the idler gears  257  are located so that at the load station the gears  254  of the two fixtures  250  are disengaged from the endless belt  256  and the indexing sequence is different to accomodate the shown configuration, for example, triple indexing. In this manner, the fixtures  250  at the load station do not rotate to permit loading and unloading of parts to be treated into and out of the fixtures  250 . For example, parts to be treated can be loaded into the right fixture  250  at the load station as viewed in FIG.  6  and treated parts can be removed from the left fixture  250  at the load station as viewed in FIG.  6 . The endless belt  256  is driven by the fixture drive motor  258 , gear reducer  260 , and associated drive gear  254 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a modified parts treating machine  310  having eleven pockets  333  in the carriage wheel  332 . The configuration is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6 in that the inlet opening  313  in the housing  312  is widened to permit access to two fixtures  350  at the load station. As in FIG. 6, the right fixture  350  in FIG. 7 may be used to load parts to be treated while treated parts can be removed from the left fixture  350  at the unloading station. The parts treating machine  310  incorporates a first treating station, for example, a wash station, having spray nozzles  324  for spraying wash solution into a single cell or pocket  333  of the carriage wheel  332 , a rinse station where spray nozzles  380  can spray rinse solution onto a single fixture  350  of the carriage wheel  332 , and a blow-off station, where blow-off spray nozzles are positioned to remove liquid from the cleaned parts in or on a single fixture  350  to dry same. 
     The drive mechanism for the treating machine  210  with the ten pocket wheel as shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as the drive mechanism for the eleven pocket parts treating machine  310  of FIG. 7. A gear  354  associated with each fixture  350  is adapted to engage the endless belt  356 . The idler gear  357  is positioned so that the gear  354  for the two fixtures  350  at the load station are not engaged with the endless belt  356 . Thus, the two fixtures  350  at the load station are stationary while at the load station. The carriage wheel  332  is rotated by the drive motor  344  while the endless belt  356  is driven by the drive motor  358 , gear reducer  360 , and associated drive gear  354 . 
     Turning to FIG. 8, there is shown schematically a drive mechanism for the carriage drive and the fixture drive which is actuated by a single motor. The motor  440 , which may be an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, and the like, is operatively connected to a gear box  446  which drives an output shaft  441 . Carried on the output shaft  441  and rotatable therewith is a gear or pulley  454  that is operatively connected to a chain or belt  456  adapted to drive the fixture or fixtures. A clutch brake  447  selectively cooperates with the gear box  446  to drive the carriage wheel. The shaft  434  is the carriage wheel shaft or is on the centerline of the carriage wheel shaft. In use, the drive motor  440  is operated continuously when the parts treating machine is operating. 
     The gear box  446  operates continuously to drive the gear or pulley  454  and the endless chain or belt  456  operatively connected thereto for actuating the fixture or fixtures. When the clutch brake  447  is disengaged from the gear box  446 , the shaft  434  is not actuated, and the carriage wheel is not rotated. When the clutch brake  447  is engaged with the gear box  446 , the shaft  434  is rotated to move the carriage wheel. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 there is shown another embodiment of a single motor drive mechanism for a parts treating machine. The drive mechanism is actuated by a drive motor  540  operatively connected to a gear box  545  which drives an output shaft  541 . Carried on the output shaft  541  and rotatable therewith is a gear or pulley  539  that is operatively connected to a chain or belt  542 . The endless chain or belt  542  is trained over a fixture drive gear or pulley  557  for driving the endless belt or chain  556  to rotate the fixtures  550  that are operatively engaged with the endless chain or belt  556 . At the load station the gear  554  associated with the fixture  550  is not engaged with the chain or belt  556  and the fixture  550  at the load station does not rotate. 
     A clutch brake  543  selectively cooperates with the gear box  545  to drive the carriage wheel. The shaft  551  is operatively connected to the clutch brake  543  and is driven thereby when the clutch brake  543  is engaged with the gear box  545 . The lower end of the shaft  551  may be journalled in a bearing  553  on the parts treating machine. Secured to the shaft  551  is a gear or pulley  549  which is operatively connected to a chain or belt  547  for rotating the carriage wheel drive shaft  534  and the carriage wheel carried therewith. 
     In use, the drive motor  540  may be operated continuously when the parts treating machine is operating. The gear box  545  operates together with the drive motor  540  to drive the gear or pulley  539  on the shaft  541  and thereby drive the chain or belt  542 , which is connected to and drives the fixture drive pulley  557 . Rotation of the gear  557  causes rotation of the endless belt  556  and rotation of the fixtures  550  engaged with the endless belt  556 . When the clutch brake  543  is disengaged from the gear box  545 , the shaft  551  will not be actuated and the carriage wheel will not be rotated. When the clutch brake  543  is engaged with the gear box  545 , the shaft  551 , via gear or pulley  549 , drives the endless belt  547  and the wheel drive shaft  534  operatively connected thereto to rotate or index the carriage wheel. 
     The parts treating machine of the present invention is readily adaptable for a variety of configurations to suit the needs of selected users. The parts treating machine is compact, requires a minimum of floor space, and is relatively inexpensive to build and to operate. The drive mechanism is positioned above the treatment chamber and is separated from the contaminants in the treatment chamber. The drive mechanism may incorporate a single drive motor to drive both the carriage wheel and the fixtures or the carriage wheel drive and the fixture drive may each have a separate drive motor. 
     While presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described hereinabove, it will be apparent to persons of skill in the art that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.