Patent GB-941003-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to work handling apparatus
IPC: B65G49/04
Filed: 1960-03-17
Abstract: 941,003. Conveyers for electrolytic baths. UDYLITE RESEARCH CORPORATION. March 17, 1960 [March 30, 1959], No. 44082/62. Divided out of 941,001. Heading B8A. The work material is progressed through a series of electrolytic baths along unit 1 and therealong unit 2 on a carrier 42. The carrier in its progress assumes either an elevated position on tracks 52 or a lower position on bus-bars 50 in which latter position the work material is immersed in a bath. The carrier is elevated or lowered on a chassis 48 which is carried by chains 458a operated by cylinders 458. The carrier is pushed horizontally along unit 1 by pusher dogs 88 and by pusher dogs 100, 102 as shown in Fig. 6 and is pushed along unit 2 by pusher dogs 88 and by pusher dogs 174a to 174e, as shown in Fig. 16. Carrier 42, Fig. 15.-The carrier is provided with double fingers 66 at each end thereof and with openings 70 in one of which a rod 72 is placed. The carrier carries slide plates 71 adjustable by screws 77 and the side plates 71 carry plates 72a and legs 81 for pushing purposes. The pusher devices of unit 1, Figs. 6, 9.-The pusher dogs 88 which progress the carriers along unit 1 in the lower position are described in Specification 941,004. The pusher dogs 100 and 102 which progress the carriers along unit 1 in the upper position are shown pivoted to a pusher bar 94 and there are two such pusher bars 94 which are connected by rack and pinion, so that the pusher dogs on both bars 94 operate as one. Each pair of dogs 100 and 102 is pivoted at 101 to move individually and engagement is made with the carrier either by dogs 100 or by dogs 102. The choice of dogs determines the distance that a carrier is stepped forward and therefore the horizontal position to which the carrier is displaced, and this in turn determines whether a carrier is immersed or not at a given position (see later). The choice of pusher dog 100 or 102 is made by a gate 114, Fig. 9. If it is desired that the work material on a carrier should be immersed at a particular station then rod 72 carried by a carrier is positioned appropriately so that it engages a lever 122 positioned at the station to raise gate 132. The effect of this is to permit the longer pusher dog 102 to fall into operative position, otherwise the smaller dog 100 operates. The pusher devices of unit 2, Fig. 16.-Pusher dogs 88 are as described in Specification 941,004. The pusher dogs 174a-174e which progress carriers along unit 2 in the elevated position are fixedly carried by rod 170 which is reciprocated by cylinder 172. There are two such rods one at each side of the unit and the two rods are coupled by a rack and pinion to move as one. The pusher dogs 174a-174e are of different lengths and are positioned to engage the carrier 42 by means of abutment plate 76 on said carrier. The carrier is engaged by the appropriate pusher dog 174 so as to be displaced the required distance, the different pusher dogs operating to displace the carrier to a different position above the bath. Chassis 48, Fig. 5.-The carrier 42 is carried by chassis 48 so that in the lower position the carrier rests upon bus-bars 50 and in the elevated position rests upon tracks 52. The tracks 52 are formed discontinuously of sections 56 having gaps 54 (not shown) therebetween, and the track of chassis 48 is made correspondingly discontinuously of sections 57 and 57a (not shown), so that in the upper position the two sets of track co-extend on the same horizontal plane to form a continuous track whilst in the lower position the carrier 42 rests on the continuous bus-bars 50, the track of chassis 48 being unused. The upper and lower tracks of unit 2 of Fig. 5 and the chassis thereof are similarly made.