Patent GB-793288-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to work processing apparatus
IPC: B65G49/04
Filed: 1956-06-22
Abstract: 793,288. Step-by-step conveyers. LISOWSKI, J. A., LISOWSKI, F. B., and LISOWSKI, L. E., [trading as NATURAL PRODUCTS CO.]. June 22, 1956 [Aug. 8, 1955], No. 19498/56. Class 78 (1). In work processing apparatus, e.g. for electroplating, of the kind in which individual carriers for suspended work units are advanced intermittently step-by-step through successive stations are lowered when at a station to engage the work with the processing means and are raised to withdraw the work from said means while passing from one station to another, means, is provided at a station for holding said carriers in raised position while still being advanced intermittently to by-pass the processing means at that station. The tanks A, Fig. 3, in which the process is carried out, are arranged in a straight line and preferably in two rows with a small space between them. A carriage B for advancing the work is supported by rollers C and runs on a track D extending the full length of the rows and arranged between them. An elevator E is mounted on the carriage opposite each tank and has a cantilever arm E<SP>1</SP> extending over it. Each elevator includes a rack bar E<SP>2</SP> which is engaged by a gear F on a shaft F<SP>1</SP> extending the length of the carriage. Each arm E<SP>1</SP> has depending therefrom a pair of spaced members E<SP>5</SP>, certain of which have an angle member E<SP>6</SP> attached to them. These angle members extend below plates G<SP>4</SP> on a work carrier G, when the latter is at one end of its reciprocating movement, and will lift the carrier as the elevator moves upwards and will keep it in the raised position as the carriage moves forwards. Each carrier G, Fig. 8, includes a bar G<SP>1</SP>, the bent ends G<SP>2</SP> of which embrace rails H extending longitudinally over each tank. The plates G<SP>4</SP> are attached to the ends G<SP>2</SP>. U-shaped members G<SP>6</SP> mounted on each bar G<SP>1</SP> have latches G<SP>5</SP> pivoted to them which can swing in one direction only from the vertical position. Hooks depending from the bar G<SP>1</SP> support the work units 1. A pair of cantilever arms B, Fig. 1, extend laterally from the carriage B and support a bar B4 centrally over the tanks. A pair of similar arms B<SP>2</SP> at a higher level support a bar B<SP>5</SP>. Inverted T-shaped members comprising stem portions B<SP>4</SP> and head portions B<SP>5</SP> depend from the bars B<SP>6</SP>, B<SP>7</SP>. The parts are so disposed that the head portions will pass through the U-shaped portions G<SP>6</SP> and displace the latches G<SP>5</SP> when the carriage is moved in one direction, but will engage the latches to move the carrier with the carriage when the motion is reversed. Columns J are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the tank to be by-passed. Arms J<SP>1</SP> mounted on these columns support longitudinally extending rails J<SP>2</SP> which are in the same vertical planes as the rails H. These rails do not interfere with the upward or downward movement of the elevator, but on the downward movement, the carrier will be deposited on the rails and will be advanced along them step-bystep by the parts B<SP>6</SP>. At the other end of the rails J<SP>2</SP>, the members E<SP>7</SP> extend in the opposite direction, so that as the elevator moves upwards, the carrier is lifted from the rails and advanced to a position in which it is free to be lowered on to the rails H. In a modification the upper rails are supported by columns at a side of the station and fluid-pressure actuated means is provided for raising the columns to remove the rails when not required from the path of the carriers.