Patent EP-2246460-A1 (EP)
Inventor: VACHERON FREDERIC
IPC: C25D17/00
Filed: 2009-04-28
Abstract: The treatment machine comprises oxidation treatment tanks (101, 102, 103) containing electrolytic processing liquid and arranged in series, a device for transferring parts between the tanks, a rinse tank to contain a rinsing liquid, and a steaming bowl to feed hot air. The tanks comprise a rotating structure (802, 803) mounted on an axis of rotation (810, 820) and hold the parts. The parts are immersed in the treatment liquid by rotation of the rotating structure of the treatment tank so that air bubbles are created by immersing the parts. The treatment machine comprises oxidation treatment tanks (101, 102, 103) containing electrolytic processing liquid and arranged in series, a device for transferring parts between the tanks, a rinse tank to contain a rinsing liquid, and a steaming bowl to feed hot air. The tanks comprise a rotating structure (802, 803) mounted on an axis of rotation (810, 820) and hold the parts. The parts are immersed in the treatment liquid by rotation of the rotating structure of the treatment tank so that air bubbles are created by immersing the parts and the bubbles are driven away from the surfaces of the parts. The axes of rotation of the rotating structures of the series of tanks are integral in rotation by a common rotating device and form a common axis of rotation through the entire machine. The common rotating device comprises an electric motor carrying out direct rotation of the axes of rotation, where the motor is fitted to a first end of the series of tanks. A rotating connector (806) is arranged at a second end of the series of tanks. The rotating structures carry holding device (814, 815, 816) to retain temporarily the supports of parts having dimensions adapted to holding device during rotation of the rotating structures and for movement of support transfer between two rotations under the action of the transfer device. The supports carry a fastening unit to retain the metal parts during surface treatment. The holding device comprises rails parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating structures. Each of the rails of a tank is aligned with a rail of tanks located in upstream and downstream respectively for transferring the supports from a tank to the next under the action of the transfer device by sliding along the rails. A part of the sliding door of elastic contact devices holds the supports at a predetermined position on the rails for rotating movements and sliding the supports under the action of the transfer device. A transfer device is arranged above the tanks, and synchronized with the rotating device of the machine. The transfer device comprises gripping bodies temporarily located in a high position on the rotating structures, a unit for disengaging the gripping body, and a unit for upstream and downstream movement of the gripping body. Stroke of the alternate movement is equal to the distance between two distances between two successive locations in high position. The transfer device performs a movement of simultaneous transfer of the supports in high position. The gripping members include a shaft extending above the series tank and a set of arms mounted on the shaft. Each arm carries free two pins at its end. The distance between the two pins of a single arm corresponds to the distance between two successive supports in the high position. The distance between two arms corresponds to the length of a support. The transfer device further includes a set consisting of a pinion gear and a rack. The pinion is secured to a chassis, a slide and a mesh with the rack secured to a slider. A set of connecting rod is used for operating the motor shaft to simultaneously identify the prehension bodies of all media in a high position. The tank further comprises two cathodes arranged on both sides of the rotating structure of the treatment tank. The rinse tank is compartmentalized between its upstream and downstream by a partition section traversed by the axis of rotation of a flushing vessel. An independent claim is included for an installation for treating surfaces of metal parts.