Electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging device

The movable track of the automatic exchanging device is moved outward by hydraulic cylinders, letting the hanging bracket thereon, which is carried from a preceding process cycle, to be moved onto the rail of the conveying system of a proximate process cycle, so that another hanging bracket, which is carried on the rail of said proximate process cycle, is moved onto the movable track for shifting to the rail of said preceding process cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an electroplating workpiece hanging 
bracket automatic exchanging device which automatically exchange an 
electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from one process cycle to 
another. 
The process of electroplating is widely accepted in various industries, 
which covers mechanical parts or products thinly with silver by 
electrolysis. While electroplating, a workpiece must be treated through 
several process cycles. Automatic conveying systems are known and widely 
used in carrying workpieces in each process cycle by an electroplating 
workpiece hanging brackets. However, manual operation is still required in 
moving an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from one process cycle 
to another. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been accomplished to eliminate the aforesaid 
problem. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an 
electroplating workpiece automatic exchanging device which automatically 
moves an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from one process cycle 
to another. According to the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic 
exchanging device is generally comprised of a movable track fastened to a 
frame assembly and controlled to move forwards or backwards by hydraulic 
cylinders. When the movable track was extended out, the hanging bracket on 
the movable track, which is carried from a preceding process cycle, is 
moved onto the rail of the conveying system of a proximate process cycle, 
so that another hanging bracket, which is carried on the rail of the 
proximate process cycle, is moved onto the movable track for shifting to 
the rail of the preceding process cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, in the process of electroplating, a workpiece is 
treated through three process cycles A,B and C. Two electroplating 
workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging devices 1 are provided 
among the three process cycles so that an electroplating workpiece is 
automatically carried by an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from 
one process cycle to another. The circulation of an electroplating 
workpiece through the three process cycles, is outlined hereinafter. 
1. A workpiece is carried by an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket 
through entrance D into the first process cycle A for treatment; 
2. The workpiece is carried by the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket 
and moved in counter-clockwise direction toward the first electroplating 
workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging device; 
3. The first electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging 
device moves the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from the 
conveying system in the first process cycle A to the conveying system in 
the second process cycle B; 
4. After the process through the second process cycle B, the electroplating 
workpiece hanging bracket is moved by the second automatic exchanging 
device to the third process cycle C for treatment; 
5. After the process through the third process cycle C, the electroplating 
workpiece hanging bracket is moved to an exchanging spot F and shifted to 
the exchanging spot G between the second process cycle B and the first 
process cycle A; 
6. At the final, the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket is shifted 
from the second process cycle B to the first process cycle by the first 
automatic exchanging device, and then, carried out of the first process 
cycle A through an exit E. 
Referring to FIG. 2, an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic 
exchanging device 1 is generally comprised of a first hydraulic cylinder 
10, a second hydraulic cylinder 11, a frame assembly 20, and a track 28. 
The first and second hydraulic cylinders 10,11 are respectively fastened 
inside top channel mating frame 210, and bottom mating frame 211 of the 
frame assembly 20. A roller 21 is secured to the frame assembly 20 at the 
bottom by an axle 22. Therefore, the frame assembly 20 is stably supported 
on the roller 21 during its operation. The frame assembly 20 comprises two 
opposite channel steels 25 at the top respectively hung on two opposed 
channel steels 27 above a supporting frame 26 (see FIG. 2A). By means of 
the channel steels 25, the frame assembly 20 is stably moved forwards or 
backwards along the channel steels 27. The second hydraulic cylinder 11 
has an internally threaded axle 110 at one end fixedly secured in a round 
hole 112 on the bottom mating frame 211 by a screw 111. The track 28 is 
made from a trapezoidal plate having a narrower top side and wider bottom 
side, and provided for hanging an electroplating workpiece hanging 
bracket. The first hydraulic cylinder 10 has an internally threaded axle 
12 at one end fixedly secured in a hole 282 on the track 28 by a screw 
281. An angle bar 283 is connected to the track 28 at one side by screws 
284. The angle bar 283 has a bottom edge (not shown) welded to the top 
channel mating frame 210 of the frame assembly 20 at the top, permitting 
the track 28 to be stopped at an end edge 212 of the channel frame 20. 
Referring to FIG. 3, an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket as 
constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally 
comprised of a hanging bracket 40 and two guide plates 41. The hanging 
bracket 40 comprises a T-shaped head 42,43 at the top, a transverse 
hanging bar 46 at the bottom, and a stepped vertical wall 40,44 connected 
therebetween. The transverse hanging bar 46 has spaced grooves 46 for 
hanging electroplating workpiece hangers. The guide plates 41 are 
respectively fastened to the transverse wall portion 43 of the T-shaped 
head of the hanging bracket 40 at two opposite sides by screws 47. 
Therefore, two channels 48 are formed between the upper wall portion 44 of 
the stepped vertical wall and the two guide plates 41 (see FIG. 3A). By 
means of the channels 48, the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket is 
hung to slide on the rail 30 of the mechanical conveying system in either 
process cycle. 
The operation of the present invention is outlined hereinafter with 
reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D. Either channel 48 of the 
electroplating workpiece hanging bracket is hung on the rail 30 of the 
conveying system in one process cycle and pushed to move thereon by the 
pusher rods 31 of a transmission belt (see FIG. 4A). When a process cycle 
finished, the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket is moved to the 
track 28 of the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket of an automatic 
exchanging device for shifting to the rail of the conveying system in 
another process cycle. After having been treated by the electroplating 
solution 51 in the electroplating bath 50, the conveying system is moved 
upwards to lift the electroplating workpiece hanging bracket (see FIG. 
4B). When lifted, the first and second hydraulic cylinders 10,11 are 
operated to extend out the frame assembly 20 (see FIG. 4C). When the frame 
assembly 20 has been extended out, the electroplating workpiece hanging 
bracket on the track 28 is moved onto the rail, and thereafter another 
electroplating workpiece hanging bracket is moved from the rail 30 onto 
the track 28 of the frame assembly 20. The first and second hydraulic 
cylinders 10,11 are then moved back to their original positions to return 
the frame assembly 20, so as to complete an exchanging operation.