US2116430A - Conveying mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1938. R. H. GORDON 2,116,430

CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 0M Maia:

El E2 lad/in F001.

INVENTOR. fioierz ff. Gordan:

ATTORNEYS.

.Mgy 3, 1938. R. H. GORDON 2,116,430

CONVEYING MEGHANI SM Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORN E Y6.

May 3, 1938. GORDON 2,116,430

CONVEYING MECHANI SM Filed D'ec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Faker l1. Gordon.

ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1938. R. H. GORDON 2,116,430

commune MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 t INVENTOR. Faber! ff Gardazr.

A TTORNEYS,

May 3, 1938. R. H. GORDON 2,115,430

' CONVEYING MECHANISM v Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 7? 09821 Gara'brz ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1938.

R. GORDON CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l INVENTOR. fiohrz Gordon.

[ZMVM- ATTORNEYS.

Patented May3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE Parker Bust Proof Michigan Comp ny, a corporation of Application December 14, 1934, Serial No. 757,426

17 Claims.

This invention relates to conveying mechanism and particularly to that type thereof in which articles to be transported and treated or worked upon are adapted to travel at diiferent speeds during different phases of movement thereof, the

principal object being the provision of a simple, economical and eflicient mechanism of this type. Although the mechanism provided by the pres ent invention is applicable for use wherever it is desired to transfer and/or treat in any manner any type of articles, for the purpose of simplicity only reference hereafter will be made to its application to a rust proofing treatment only for articles such as parts of automobiles, its application for other uses such as plating, painting or the like and for other types of articles, and the modification of the illustrative embodiment sho wn to adapt it to such other uses and/ or articles, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon the disclosure herein.

The invention pertains to the provision of means particularly applicable for conveying articles to be rust-proofed through the various stages of a rust proofing process.

One oi the main objects of the invention is to provide a conveying system of this character which may be adapted to carry articles through Washing and rinsing devices preparatory to the rust proofing treatment in such a manner as to expose substantially all the portions of ,such articles to the washing and rinsing operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in conveying apparatus of this kind which automatically varies the manner of movement of the articles after being subjected to one treatment 'to facilitate the treatment thereof in a tank of comparatively small capacity and relatively short length so as to reduce the quantity of solution required to be employed in the tank and exposed to evaporation in the atmosphere.

Another object of'the invention is to further modify the manner of movement of the articles automatically at the end of the rust proofing treatment so as to reduce as far as possible the time of exposure of articles wet with rust proofing solution to the atmosphere during transferring of such articles from the rust proofing tank to a final rinsing tank and to thereby guard against drying of the solution on the articles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a completely automatic conveying system of this kind which has diverse portions constructed and arranged and driven in a predetermined timed relation to move the articles to be treated in that manner which is best suited for each particular stage of the accompanying process or treatment.

A still further objector the invention is to provide a completely automatic conveying system of this kind which has diverse portions constructed and arranged and driven ina predetermined timed relation to move the articles in that manner which is best suited for each particular stage of a rust proofing process respectively.

Other objects of the invention are to provide mono-rail sections in those portions of a conveyor system of this character which are not congested and where the articles travel a considerable distance without being worked upon so as to lessen the quantity of structural material required for the construction .of the system; to provide monorail sections of this kind where single file movement of the articles permits access to be had to all portions thereof for washing, rinsing, or other purposes; to provide a double rail section at that portion of a conveyor system which moves the articles through a rust proofing or other tank so as to facilitate multiple file movement of the articles through the bath and. to thereby allow a substantial reduction in the speed of travel of the conveyor of such portions of the system without necessitating the use of excessively long or large capacity rust proofing tanks or the employment of large quantities of liquid or solution at any one time; to provide mono-rail conveyor sections for carrying articles in single file to and from the stations where they are treated with rust proofing solution; to provide rapid acting automatically operable transfer means in the double rail section of the conveying mechanism which is adapted to remove a unit of a plurality of laterally aligned articles from the rust proofing bath and deposit the same in a final rinsing tank before the rust proofing solution on the surfaces of such articles has an opportunity to dry and become hardened thereon; to provide means for automatically transferring the articles from a single file relationship on the mono-rail sections of the system to a laterally aligned relationship on the double rail section of the system; to provide similar automatic means of this kind for transferring the articles from a laterally aligned relationship on the double rail section to a single file relationship on successive single rail sections of the system; and to provide transfer means of this character which is operable automatically by the movement of the units of articles in their normal course of travel.

The above being among the objects of the present invention; the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accomp nyin drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustrational plan view of a system for conveying articles through the various stages of a rust proofing process;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 31s a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating the mono-rail section of the conveying system as viewed from line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing an article holder by which a plurality of articles may be supported and moved in a unitary fashion;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating the double rail section of the conveying system, as viewed from line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view of that portion of the conveying system which is located at the junction of the mono-rail section of the system and the front end of the double rail section thereof, illustrating portions of the driving mechanism of the system and more particularly showing the means for transferring units of articles from the mono-rail section to the double rail sections of the system;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the automatic switch mechanism included in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 9-4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line llil0 of Fig.7;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line il ll of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of lifting apparatus for elevating units of articles from one tank and lowering them into another;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in plan view in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line l4ll of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line lS-IS of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the improved conveying mechanism in rust proofing apparatus which generally includes a preliminary washing station 20 at which articles to be rust proofed are subjected to an initial washing operation either by manual or by mechanical application thereto of water or other suitable cleaning agents. Located in related sequence with respect to the washing station 20 is a final washing and rinsing station 2| through which the articles are passed. The station 2| preferably includes a housing or casing diagrammatically illustrated at 22 in which suitable spray devices (not shown) are provided for forcefully applying water sprays on the articles. There are also diverse platforms 23 arranged longitudinally of the casing 22 for accommodating operators who may work upon the articles with brushes or other suitable tools and devices. The next successive unit of the rust proofing apparatus includes a rust proofing solution tank 24, and adjacent final rinsing tank and an adjacent drying chamber 26, best shown'in Fig. 2. The tanks 24 and 25 and the drying chamber 28 are arranged in longitudinal alignment and preferably enclosed within a casing or housing 21 having an tions generally designated by the numerals 3| and ii and an intermediate double rail section generally designated by'the numeral 12. The mono-rail section 30 extends in a loop shaped course from the loading dock to the left end of the double rail section 32, as viewedin Fig. 1, and the mono-rail section II extends in a reversely directed course from the right end of the double rail section 32 past the unloading dock and to the loading dock. It should be understood that those extremities of the mono-rail sections 3! and 32 which are located at the loading station are arranged in an aligned relationship so that there is no actual division therebetween but that the sections are designated differently merely for the purpose of convenience of description.

The mono-rail sections include rails 33' of 1- shaped cross section, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and the double rail section includes substantially identical rails 34 arranged in spaced relationship, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. These rails are supported in suspended relationship by spaced vertical supp rts 35 or other suitable means which are provided with laterally extending arms 38 to which the upper flanges of the rails are fixed.

Mounted on the vertical supports 35, directly above the laterally extending arms 36 are similar laterally extending arms 31 on which tracks 33 of I-shaped cross section are mounted directly above the rails 33 of the mono-rail sections. The rails 33 and tracks 38 extend throughout substantially the entire courses of such sections These tracks are provided for supporting a travelling driving member comprising a conveyor chain 39 having spaced substantially horizontal links 40 on which vertically extending chains supporting carriages H are mounted. Each carriage 4| includes a bifurcated end portion 42 on the opposite side arms of which arejournalled rollers 43, the rollers being engaged between the flanges of the tracks 38 and having rolling contact engagement with the opposite sides of the lower flange 38' thereof respectively.

Each carriage ll has an arm 44 extending downwardly from the chain 39, on which spaced cleats 45 are mounted. Pivotaily mounted on the outer end portions of the cleats l5 and disposed therebetween are triangular shaped latch plates 46 having substantially vertical adjacent side edges 41 and inclined outer side edges 48. Formed on the upper edge portion of the latch plates 46 are transversely extending stops 49 which are engageable with the upper edges of the cleats 45 for preventing outward rotation of the latch plates which are otherwise free to rotate inwardly towards each other. These latch plates are adapted to automatically couple with portions of carriages 50 of article holders movably mounted on the rails 33 of the mono-rail section.

Each carriage 50 includes a body portion ii on which are mounted vertically up-standing brackets 52 having rollers 53 rotatably secured to their upper extremities and engaged between the flanges of the rail 33, as illustrated in Fig. 4. 75

The rollers 53 are engaged in rolling contact with the lower flange 54 of the rail 38. Extending upwardly from the body portion 5| or each carriage 50 is a bracket 55 having a laterally extending flange 56 which is adapted to be received between the vertical edges 41 of the latch plates 46 in order to apply thedriving or translating force of the chain 39 to the carriage 58. Rotatably engaged in an aperture of a plate 51 secured to the lower extremity of the body portion 5! of each carriage 54 is a bolt 58 which is attached to an elongated tubular bar 59 of the article holder. The bar 59 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position during its movement throughout the mono-rail sections 3| and 32 by the carriage 50 and by a similar carriage, generally designated by the numeral 69, which also includes a body portion 5! and upstanding brackets 52 on which rollers 53 are rotatably mounted. The carriages 69 are substantially identical to the carriages 50 in all respects with the exception that they are not provided with the up-standing arm 55 and inwardly extending flange 56 for coupling the article supporting unit with the driving chain. Each carriage 50 is provided with an apertured plate 51 in which a bolt 58 is rotatably engaged, the latter being secured to the other end portion of the tube 59. If desired, the upper end portions of the bolt 58 may be'flxed to their respective supporting plates 51 and provision may be madeior pivotal movement of the lower end portions of the bolt with respect to the tube 59.

The conveyor chains 39 are supported in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and '4 throughout the entire course of movement of the article holders as defined by the mono-rail sections 38 and 3i. At the left end of the double rail section 32, as viewed in Figs..1 and 7, the supporting track 380i the driving chain 39 continues beyond the end of themono-rail section '39 in a U-shaped course, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and finally extends substantially parallel to the double rail section 32 along the side of the housing 21 in which the rust proofing solution tank 24, rinsing tank 25, and drying chamber 26 are disposed, thus forming a by-pass for the chain 39 to bring it fromthe discharging end of the mono-rail section 39 to the receiving end of the mono-rail section3l. Adjacent the receiving end of the mono-rail section 3|, the track 38 which supports the driving chain 39 takes a 'reversely curved course so asto bring it into tangential relationship with respect to the discharge end of the double rail section 32, as illustrated at IS in Fig. 1. The track 38 then follows the course of the monorail section 3| throughout a looped pathl8 and extends leitwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, insuper-imposed relation to the rail 33 of the mono-rail section 3| untilit ultimately becomes aligned with the rail of the mono-rail section 39 at the loading dock.

It should bewunderst od that the chain 39 is endless and that ity is continuously, driven during operation of the apparatus by suitable driving mechanism which in'the form shown includes an electric'motor El and transmission mechanism 52,. both shown, in Fig. 7'. The transmission mechanism 62, includes a shaft 63 on which a sprocket wheel 84 is mounted and operatively connected by a' chain 65with'aSD1fQcket wheel 66 b: "ashaft s1 which. extends-transversely of the irame structure 58 bywhich the motor. GI and transmission 52 are supported. Fixed on the Qshaft 6lis'a bevel gear 59 which is meshed with the teeth of a bevel gear Ill mounted ona vertically up-standing shaft H which is journalled in suitable bearings provided on the frame structure 68. Fixed on the lower end of the shaft II is a sprocket wheel I2 over which the-driving chain 39 of the conveying mechanism extends. The sprocket wheel 12 propels the endless chain 39 throughout its course of movement as defined by its supporting tracks 38, the slack in the chain being taken up at I] in Fig. 1 by suitable apparatus (not shown).

The left end portions 13 of the rails 34 of the double rail section 32 are disposed in converging relationship as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 and they terminate in close proximity to the adjacent extremity of the rails 33 of the mono-rail section 39. At the junction of the converging end portions 13 of the rails of the double rail section and one of the spaced extremities of the rail 33 of the mono-rail section 39 is provided a switching mechanism for transferring one carriage of each article supporting unit to each of the rails 34 of the double rail section respectively. This switching mechanism includes a substantially straight rail portion 14 which is pivotally attached at I5 to the extremity of the rail 33 of the mono-rail-section 39. The rail portion 14 is adapted to swing about the axis of the pivot 15 into alignment witheach of the converging end portions I3 of the double rail section.

The switching operation is automatically performed by apparatus including a pneumaticcylinder 16 having a piston 11 therein to which is attached a piston rod 18. Theouter end of the piston rod 18 is pivotally secured at 19 to the free end portion of the pivotally mounted rail porend portions 13 of the double rail section 32. The

valve 82 is connected by a conduit83 with a suitable source (not'shown) of fluid medium and it is provided with a control member including angularly disposed lever arms and 85. The

lever arm 84 extends intothe path of the upstanding bracket 55 of the leading carriage of the article supporting unit by which it is engaged after the leading carriage 50 has passed over the pivoted rail portion 14 and onto the end portion of the upper rail 34 of i the double rail section 32, it being-understood that the switch control apparatus normally retains the pivoted rail portion 14 in-the full line position shown in. Figs. 7 and 8. When the leading'carriage 50 of the article supporting unit engages the arm 84 of the valve mechanism 82 it rotates the arm 84 and the associated'arin 85 in aclockwis'edirection as viewed in "Fig. 8 so as-tobring the arm 85 into a 'transverselyextending relationship withrespect tothe converging end portion 13 of the lower rail 34*of the double rail section, as viewed in Fig: 7,-and simultaneouslypermits the escape of the fluid medium from the righthand end of the cylinder 16 a'ndalso admits'fluid medium to the left end of thecylinder, thereby projecting the piston l1 and'its'rod Hi-' rightwardly, as viewed 8,1 s6 as "to rotate the pivotally mounted 'railfportion 114 fin a clockwise 'di rection. Thisv movement or therail portion l4 14 occurs after the leading carriage 50 of the article support has been engaged upon the end portion of the upper rail 34 and before the trailing carriage 60 has reached the end of the pivotally mounted rail portion I3 and, therefore, as the article holder is propelled along by the conveyor chain. the carriage 50 is disposed on one rail of the double rail section 32 and the carriage 33 is disposed on the other rail thereof. During movement of the carriage 60 past the valve 32, the lower arm 35 of the latter is engaged and returned to its normal full line position shown in Fig. 8. This operation of the control of the valve 33 causes the pivotally mounted rail portion I4 to be restored to its normal position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, where it remains until the next successive article holder reaches the junction of the mono-rail section 33 and the double rail section 32, whereupon the foregoing cycle of operation again takes place.

After the carriages I3 and 33 of the article holder have been disposed upon their respective tracks of the double rail section 32, the path of the chain 3! begins to depart from the course of the rails of the double rail section, causing the flange 33 of the bracket 55 of the leading carriage ill to be ,withdrawn from between the latch plates 36.

The article holder is then temporarily propelled along the rails of the double rail section 32 by vane-like members 33 which are rotated about substantially vertical'axes' in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor chain 3!. Each vane-like propelling member 36 is fixed to a vertically extending shaft 31 which is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame structure 33 and which is provided with a bevel gear 33 that is meshed with the teeth of a bevel gear I! mounted on a shaft 33 extending transversely of the length of the double rail section 32. The shaft 33 is also journalled in suitable bearings and it is provided with a sprocket gear II which is operatively connected by a sprocket chain 92 with a sprocket gear 33 mounted on the shaft 31. As the vane-like propelling members 33 are turned about the axes of their shaft 31, each one thereof engages one of the carriages of the article supporting unit so as to move the latter to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1, 7 and 11.

The double rail section 32 has an upwardly inclined intermediate portion I 3 and an adjacent downwardly inclined portion i by means of which the article holders and the articles supported thereon are lifted to a sufficiently high elevation to clear the left end of the rust proofing tank 24 and allow the articles to be deposited therein, the maximum elevation of the inclined portions II and it of the double rail sections being located substantially directly above the left edge portion of the rust proofing solution tank. The double rail section 32 then continues substantially horizontally from the lower extremity of the downwardly inclined portion i5 thereof to a location substantially adjacent the right extremity of the rust proofing tank, or slightly in advance of the latter.

Vertically movable lengths of rails 34 are disposed in alignment with the rails of the double rail section 32 and located directly above the adjacent end portions of the rust proofing solutiontank andtherinsingtankZS. These vertically movable lengths -of rails 33 are supported by lifting apparatus to be hereinafter more fully described. Extending to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, from the vertically movable lmgthsofrails3l.thedoublerailsection32is inclined upwardly to a maximum elevation substantially directly above the right extremity of the rinsing tank 25 and then downwardly to within close proximity ofthe outlet 29 of the casing 21.

After the propelling members 86 part contact with the carriages of the article holder, the latter is moved throughout its entire remaining length of the double rail section 32, with the exception of that portion thereof provided by the vertically movable length of rails 94, by a pair of endless chains 95 supported on suitable tracks 36 and extending around sprocket wheels 91 which together with the tracks 96 are so constructed and arranged as to cause one side of each endless chain to follow the course of the double rail section 32, and the other side of each chain to return from one right end of the double rail section 32 to-the' left end thereof.

The conveyor chains 95 and associated supporting tracks 36 and sprocket wheels 31 are located on each side of the double rail section 32 in outwardly spaced relation to the rails thereof respectively, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7. Each sprocket wheel 31 is fixed on a shaft 93 journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame structure 63 of the apparatus. Mounted on each shaft 33 is a sprocket gear 39 which is operatively connected by a chain I00 to a sprocket gear ilil mounted on the transversely extending shaft which, as previously set forth, is driven by the sprocket gears 33 and Si and interconnecting chain 32.

The conveyor driving chains 95 are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the reception of the respectively opposite end portions of the bars 53 between alternate links thereof which have outwardly extending side plates I02 for providing spaced recesses for the reception of the end portions of the bars 33. The links of the chains are provided with rollers 35' which are disposed in rolling contact engagement with the tracks 33.

The vane-like propelling elements 33 which move the article holders from the converging end portions 13 of the tracks of the double rail section 32 are operated in timed relation to the conveyor driving chains 33 through the medium of the shaft 33 and they position the article holders substantially directly over the left hand extremity of the path of the conveyor driving chain 33 in position to be picked up by the latter chains and moved to the right, as viewed in Figs. '7 and 11, and up the inclined adjacent portion I 6 of the double rail section 32. The articles, illustrated at H in Fig. 2, carried by the article holders are in this way lifted over the left end wall of the rust proofing solution tank 23 and lowered thereinto as the conveyor driving chains 35 carry the article holders downwardly along the next adjacent portions ll of the double rail section 32. The chains 85 move the article holders to the right over the horizontal portion of the double rail section until they approach the right end portion of the rust proofing solution tank 24. At this location, the chains 35 move the article holders onto the vertically movable lengths of rails 34 by which they are lifted by suitable elevating mechanism to remove the articles thereon vertically from the tank.

The elevating mechanism for lifting the article holders vertically, illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, include a stationary mainframe structure having rectangularly spaced upright posts I33 and connecting horizontal beams I I4 and this structure is preferably confined in a housing I05, shown in Fig. 2. Vertically movabiy mounted within the frame structure formed by the vertical posts I00 and horizontal beams I04 is a rectangular frame I05 on which the length of rails 04 are rigidly fixed. The frame I00 is confined to movement in a vertical course by spaced vertically extending guide members I01, which are fixed to the horizontal beams. I04 of respectively opposite sides of the main frame structure and located substantially midway between the vertical posts I00 thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 14. Each guide member includes a pair of angle bars, having inwardly extending flanges which are received in a channel of an elongated bracket I08 carried by the frame I00, as shown in Fig. 12.

Fixed to the opposite sides of the frame I00, adjacent the guide members I01, are trusses I00 to each of which is secured a chain H0. The chains I I0 extend over sprocket gears III mounted on a shaft II2 which is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the main frame structure and disposed substantially parallel to the lengths of rails 04. The chains IIO extend laterally of the double rail section 02 and downwardly over the sprocket gears IIO which are fixed on respectively opposite ends of a shaft II4 journalled in suitable bearings carried by the main frame structure. Mounted on the shaft 4, intermediate the end thereof, is a pinion II5 which is meshed with the teeth N0 of a rack II1 carried by a piston rod H0. The piston rod IIO has a piston II9 thereon slidably mounted in'a pneumatic cylinder I20, which is preferably located adjacent one side of the double rail section 02.

The respectively opposite ends of the pneumatic cylinder I20 are connected by conduits I2I, I22 and valve mechanism I20 with a source of fluid pressure (not shown) by a conduit I24, by means of which the piston IIO, piston rod H0 and rack I I1 are reciprocated in a predetermined manner for the purpose of raising and lowering the frame I00 and the lengths of rails 04 carried thereby.

The operation of the cylinder I20 and its piston IIO of the structure associated therewith is automatically controlled by apparatus which is responsive to movement of the article holders so as to individually lift each successive article holder as the latter is disposed upon the vertically movable lengths of rails 04 by the conveyor driving chain 05. This apparatus includes a relay I25 mounted on the valve I20 and electrically connected with a switch I20 lo-,

cated on or in advance of one of the horizontal beams I04 of the frame structure of the housing 21, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The switch I20 has a downwardly extending control arm I21 provided with a laterally extending finger I20 which projects into the path of travel of the brackets 55 mounted on the side of the leading carriages 50 of the article holders. When the control arm I21 is actuated by engagement with an article holder, the valve mechanism I20 is operated, through the relay I25, to admit air to the lower end of the cylinder I20, and the track sections 04 and the holder thereon is rapidly lifted vertieally by the elevating mechanism. The air that is admitted to cylinder I20 forces the piston IIO, piston rod H0 and rack II1 upwardly so as to rotate the shaft 4 and sprocket gears I I0 thereon in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 14. This rotation of the sprocket gears IIO moves the chain IIO to the right, as viewed in Fig. 14, thereby pulling the elevator frame I00 and lengths of rails 04 carried thereby, upwardly. The free ends of the chains IIO are each provided with a weight I00, by which the chain is maintained under tension. The control arm I 21 of the switch I20 is returned to its normal position by a spring (not shown) after the contacting article holder moves out of engagement therewith, but the valve mechanism remains in its aforesaid condition until altered in the manner hereinafter set forth.

During upward and downward movement of the article holders by the elevating mechanism, the ends of the tubular bar 00 are engaged between pairs of guide bars III and I02 respectively. The pairs of guide bars III are mounted on the main frame structure of the elevating mechanism and the space between their lower end portions is so located as to accommodate upward movement of the bar 00 when the switch I20 is closed. The upper .end portions of the guide bars IOI are inclined slightly in the direction of movement of the article holders over the double rail section 02 so as to shift the article holders on the lengths of rails 04 somewhat in the direction of their desired travel and to bring the end portions of the bar 00 into driving engagement with conveyor driving chains I00 mounted on the main frame structure of the elevator mechanism substantially at the upper elevation of the vertical path of movement of the lengths of rails 04.

Each chain I00 is endless and is disposed around sprocket gears I04 and I00. The sprocket gears I04 are fixed on a transversely extending shaft I00 having one end portion which protrudes beyond the side of the double rail section on which is mounted a sprocket gear I01. The sprocket gear I01 may be operatively connected by a chain I00 with any desired prime mover or it may be driven by the driving mechanism of the conveyor system in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the chain I00 passes around the sprocket gear I00, which is fixed to a shaft I0 journalled on the frame structure and provided with a sprocket gear I2 that is so constructed and arranged as to be driven by one of the conveyor driving chains 00 of the double rail section 02. The sprocket gears I00 are carried by separate idler shafts I40, which are journalled in suitable bearings carried by the main frame structure of the elevator mechanism. Regardless of the source of power applied to the conveyor chains I00, they are preferably driven at a relatively high rate of speed so as to rapidly move the article holders to the right, as viewed in Fig. 13, and both the upward and downward movements of the elevating apparatus are rapid so as to reduce, as far as possible, the period of time during which the articles are exposed to the atmosphere while they are being transferred from the rust proofing solution tank 24 to the final rinsing tank 25. This precaution is taken to prevent drying and hardening of the rust proofing solution on the article. I,

As the article holders are moved to the right, as viewed in Figs. 12 and 10, by the chains I00, the bracket 05 of the leading carriage 00 thereof, engages a control arm I of an electric switch I42 which is also electrically connected with the relay I25 of the pneumatic control valve I20. The switch I42 is so constructed and arranged as to close its circuit when the ends of one of the tubular bars 00 of the article holder are in return the pneumatic valve I23, through the medium of the relay I25, to its previous position and to condition it to admit fluid pressure to the upper end' portion of the cylinder I20 and to thereby force the piston Ill, piston rod H3 and rack Ill downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 14. This movement of the rack I ll causes the chain ill to be moved to the left. as viewed in Fig. 14, thereby permitting the frame IIS of the elevator and lengths of rails 0| carried thereby, as well as the article holders, to be lowered. The downward movement of the article holders is guided by the guide bars I32 which are located relatively close together, so as to hold the bar 53 in substantially accurate transverse relationship with respect to the movement of the main conveyor driving chains 35 of the double rail section 32.

When the article holder reaches its lowermost position it is deposited on the conveyor driving chains 95 between the upstanding side plates I02 of alternate links thereof, and these conveyor chains then move the article holders through the rinse tank 25 and then upwardly over the last inclined portion of the double rail section 32, so as to remove the articles carried by the holders from the rinsing tank 25. The conveyor driving chains 98 then move the article holders and the articles thereon downwardly over the final right hand downwardlyinclined portion of the double rail section 32 and through the drying chamber 38 which is heated by burners M3 to remove the rinse water carried by the articles.

When the article holder reaches-a position over the extreme right hand sprocket gear 91 of the main double rail conveyor driving chain 95, it is disconnected from the driving chain and moved downwardly under its own weight until it is en gaged by a yieldable stop I shown in Figs. 2 and 15, which is pivotally mounted on the upper wall of the discharge end of the housing 21 and yieldably held against counter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 2, by coil springs I45, each attached at one end to the housing 21 and at its other end to the pivotally mounted stop. The stop I includes a pair of downwardly extending arms I46, each located adjacent one of the outer sides of the right end portion of the rails of the double rail section 32. These arms engage the carriages of the article holder and retain the same at rest until the flange 56 of the bracket 55 of the leading carriage 50 of the article holder is again coupled with the conveyor driving chain 38 of the mono- rail sections 30 and 3| by engagement of the flange 56 between the pivotally mounted latch plates 46 of one of the carriages 4i by which the chain 39 is supported from its track 38.

When the leading carriage of the article holdor is again coupled with the driving chain 39, it is propelled thereby over a pivotally mounted rail portion 14 corresponding to the pivotally mounted rail portion 14, heretofore described. The leading carriage 50 is, in this manner, engaged upon the rail 33 of the mono-rail section 3|. The pivotally mounted rail portion 14' is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, to bring the free end thereof into registration with the end portion of the rail of the double rail section upon which the other carriage 60 of the article holder has been supported. This operation is automatically accomplished by a pneumatic cylinder 16' and associated control mechanism, which is also responsive to movement of the article holder throughout its course and which is substantially identical to the corresponding apparatus shown in Fig. 8.

The conveyor driving chain 33 then moves the article holder throughout the remaining portion of the mono-rail section 3|, past the unloading dock, where the treated articles are removed by attendants. Then the unloaded article holders are moved along their course by the chain 3! until they reach the loading dock, at which location attendants place thereon other articles to be treated.

Throughout the foregoing description of the construction and apparatus of the improved conveying mechanism and rust proofing system, the progress of only one article holder has been outlined, but it should be understood that, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l, a plurality of such article holders are arranged in relatively close proximity on the conveying apparatus, so as to enable the convenient handling of a vast number of articles.

No manual movement of the article or article holders is required throughout theentire course of travel thereof, for all the changes in the manner of movement of the article holders are brought about automatically by control mechanism which is responsive to movement of the articles at the diverse locations at which these changes in the manner of movement occur. The articles are conveyed in a single file relationship through the preliminary washing station and through the next successive washing and rinsing stations in such an arrangement that enables them to be conveniently worked upon. The article holders are moved in a multiple file relationship through the rust proofing solution tank by conveyor driving chains which may be operated at a slower rate of speed than the conveyor driving chain 39, which delivers the article and article holders to the rust proofing unit and carries the same away from the latter, so as to subject the article to the action of the rust proofing solution for a predetermined length of time without requiring the use of excessively long rust proofing solution tanks and rinsing tanks, and without exposing a relatively large surface of rust proofing solution to the evaporating action of the atmosphere. Removal of the articles from the rust proofing solution tank and placement thereof in the rinsing tank is rapidly accomplished in a relatively short interval of time by the automatic elevating and transferring mechanism, which, as heretofore set forth, is operated at a relatively higher rate of speed than that of the main driving chains of the double rail section 32 and the mono-rail sections 3|! and 3!. The automatic operation of the switching apparatus by which the article holders are transferred to and from the double rail section 32 and the rapid acting elevating and transferring devices by which the articles are removed from the rust proofing tank and placed in the rinsing tank predetermines the interval of time required in which to accomplish these operations.

Inasmuch as the time required in which to accomplish a satisfactory final rinsing operation is dependent more or less directly upon the extent to which the rust proofing solution has dried upon the article during this transfer period, the fixing of the transfer period renders it possible for the length of the treatment of the articles in the rinsing tank to be accurately predetermined. The uniformity of the condition of the resulting product greatly facilitates the finishing thereof I ably supporting said article holder on"said 'i'nono-' in any subsequent treatment to which it is sub-" jected, such as plating, painting or enameling treatment.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for conveying articles throughout a predetermined substantially closed circuit course including an elongated support adapted to carry a plurality of aligned articles, means for movably supporting said support and confining the movement thereof to said predetermined course including a system of rails having a mono-rail section and a doublerall section included in series therein, apparatus for automatically switching said article support from said mono-rail section to one end of said double rail section and from the opposite end of said double rail section back to said mono-rail section including control mechanism operable by engagement with said article support during movement thereof toward and away from the opposite ends of said double rail section respectively, and apparatus for driving said article support throughout said predetermined course including driving members associated with said mono-rail section and said double rail section respectively and including a driving member at the junction of one end of said double rail section and said mono-rail section for drivingly transferring said article supports from said mono-rail section to said double rail section.

2. Apparatus for conveying articles throughout a predetermined substantially closed circuit course including an elongated support adapted to carry a plurality of aligned articles, means for movably supporting said support and confining the movement thereof to said predetermined course including a system of rails having an intermediate double rail section and mono-rail sections associated with ends thereof, apparatus for automatically switching, said article support from a longitudinally extending relationship with respect to one of said mono-rail sectionsto a transversely extending relationship with respect to said double rail section and back to a longitudinally extending relationship with respect to the other mono rail section, and apparatus for driving said article support throughout said predetermined course including driving members'associated with each of said rail sections respectively and a driving member at'the junction of one end of said double rail section and said mono-rail section for transferring said article support to said double rail section. 3. In apparatus for treating articles including spaced article treating stations; apparatus for conveying articles through asubstantially closed circuit course and through said stations including an elongated article holder adapted to support a plurality of articles to be treated inlongitu'dinal alignment thereon, a system of rails including a mono-railsection in related proximity to one of said stations and a double railsection in related proximity to another station, said double rail section being included in series betwen'end portions of said mono-rail section, means for mov rail section in lengthwise extending relationship with respect to its direction of movement through one of said stations',-said'meansbeing adapted to mtvably 'supirort said article'holder in said double rail section in transversely extending relationship with respect to its direction of movement through said other station, and apparatus for automatically transferring said article holder from one end of each rail section to the adjacent end of the other including control members responsive to movement of said article holder as the latter approaches the adjacent extremities of said rail sections and including driving means intermediate adjacent ends of said rail sections for propelling said article holder from one to the other thereof.

4. In apparatus for rust proofing articles including a washing station and a spaced station comprising a rust proofing solution tank; apparatus for conveying articles through a substantially closed circuit course and through said stations including a system of rails having a monorail section associated with said washing station and a double rail section associated with said rust proofing station, said mono and double rail sections having their respectively opposite end portions associated with each other for completing said course, an elongated article holder movably mounted on said system of rails and adapted to support a plurality of articles to be treated in longitudinal alignment thereon, said article holder being movable in the direction of itslength through said washing station while supported on said mono-rail section and being movable in a direction transverse to its length through said tank while supported on said double rail section, and transfer means including propeller apparatus for drivingly moving said article holders from said mono-rail section to the adjacent end of said double rail section and including means responsive to movement of said article holder toward a double rail section between portions of said mono-rail section and associated with said rust proofing station, said mono-rail section having an endless continuously driven' conveyor extending along both portions thereof and by-passing said double rail section, an elongated article holder movably mounted on said system of rails and adapted to support-a plurality of articles to be treated inlongitudinal alignment thereon. said article holder being movable inthe direction of its length through said washing station while supported on said mono-rail section and beingm'ovable in a direction transverse to its length through said tank while supported on said double rail section, means for movi ng said article holder while articles supported thereon are immersed in said tank, means for lifting said article holder on stantially verticallyout of said tank when it reaches a predetermined position therein. and

means for propelling said articleholderswhilein said lifted position awayfrom saidtank. *6. Conveying apparatusincluding a system of rails'having aidjacentmondrail and double rail sections, an article holder including longitudinally spaced supports engageable on said rail sections, said double raiisection having ap'ainof com verging rail portions adjacent said mono-rail sections and said mono-rail section having a pivoted rail portion 'registerable with each of said converging rail portions, apparatus for automatically controlling said pivoted rail portion having a control member responsive to movement said article holder relative thereto and adapted to move said pivoted rail portion from a registering relationship with respect to one of said converging rail portions to a registering relationship with respect to other of said converging rail portions after movement of each of the supports oi. said article holder respectively beyond said pivoted rail portion, and mechanism for propelling said article holder including a driving member associated with each of said rail sections respectively and an intermediate driving member at the Junction of said rail sections for removing said article holder from engagement with the driving member of one of said rail sections and bringing the same into engagement with the driving member 01' the other rail section.

7. Conveying apparatus including a system of rails having adjacent mono-rail and double rail sections, an article holder including longitudinally spaced supports engageable on said rail sections, said double rail section having a pair of converging rail portions adjacent said mono-rail sections and said mono-rail section having a pivoted rail portion registerable with each of said converging rail portions, apparatus for automatically controlling said pivoted rail portion having a control member responsive to movement of said article holder relative thereto and adapted to move said pivoted rail portion from a registering relationship with respect to one of said converging rail portions to a registering relationship with respect to the other oi said converging rail portions alter movement 01 each of the supports of said article holder respectively beyond said pivoted rail portion, mechanism for propelling said article holder including a driving member associated with each 01' said-rail sections respectively and an intermediate driving member at the junction 0! said rail sections for removing said article holder from engagement with the driving member of one of said rail sections and bringing the same into engagement with the driving member of the other A rail section, and a system of operating members proofing solution tank and an adjacent rinsing tank, apparatus for conveying articles through said tanks including a fixed rail section extending over each of said tanks, a vertically movable intermediate rail section extending over the adjacent end portions of said tanks and aligned with said first mentioned rail sections, an article holder movable longitudinally oi said rail sections, means located at the upper limit of movement of said intermediate rail section for moving said article holder from a position directly above said rust proofing solution tank to aposition' directly above said rinsing tank, and apparatus for automatically elevating said intermediate rail section when said article holder is disposed thereon.

' 9. In apparatus for subjecting an article to successive treatments including a pair of adjacent receptacles, each having an open upper extremity, apparatus for conveying articles thmughsaid receptacles including a pair of spaced rail sections, each extending over one foi said receptacles respectively, an intermediate vertically shiitable rail section disposed over the adjacent end portions of said receptacle and normally aligned with said first mentioned rail sections. an article holder movable on said rail sections,

mechanism for automatically elevating said intermediate rail section when said article holder is disposed thereon and located at the end oi one oi. said receptacles, apparatus for actuating said mechanism to automatically lower said intermediate rail section when-said article holder is directly above the other receptacle, and an intermediate propelling member operable while said intermediate rail section is elevated for bringing said article over. the latter receptacle.

10. In apparatus for subjecting an article to successive treatments including a pair of adjacent receptacles, each having an open upper extremity, apparatus for conveying articles through said receptacles including a pair of spaced aligned rail sections, each extending over one of said receptacles respectively, an intermediate vertically shiitable rail section disposed over the adjacent end portions 0! said receptacles and normally aligned with said first mentioned rail sections, an article holder movable on said rail sections, mechanism for automatically elevating said intermediate rail section when said article holder is disposed thereon and located at the end of one of said receptacles, apparatus for actuating said mechanism to automatically lower said intermediate rail section when said article holder is directly above the other receptacle, an intermediate propelling member operable while said intermediate rail section is elevated for bringing said article over the latter receptacle, spaced propelling members for moving said article holder over said first mentioned rail sections and through the main portions 0! the lengths of said receptacles, and driving mechanism including driving members associated with said propelling means and said elevating mechanism, said members being so constructed and arranged as to move said article holders slowly through said receptacles and at a faster rate during movement thereof from a position above one receptacle to a position above the other.

11. In rust proofing apparatim including a rust proofing solution tank and an adjacent rinsing tank, apparatus for conveying articlm through saidtanksincludingafixedrailsection extending over each of said tanks, a vertically movable intermediate rail section extending over the adjacent end portions of said tanks and aligned with said first mentioned rail sections, article holders movable longitudinally oi said rail sections, and apparatus for automatically lifting and lowering said intermediate rail sections when an article holder is disposed thereon including a control member remote from said rust proofing solution tank and responsive to movement 0! an article holder located rearwardly oi the article holder disposed on said intermediate rail section for lifting the latter and including a control member responsive to movement of an article holder on said intermediate rail section when the latter is in its elevated position for lowering said intermediate rail section.

12. In rust proofing apparatus including a rust proofing solution tank and an adjacent rinsing tank, apparatus for conveying articles through said tanks including a fixed rail section extending over each oi said tanks, a vertically movable intermediate rail section extending over the adjacent end portions of said tanks and aligned with said first mentioned rail sections, article holders movable longitudinally of said rail sections, and apparatus for automatically lifting and lowering lowering control members respectively arranged in sequence at a location rearwardly oi the rust proofing solutionvtank and operable by engagement with an article holder spaced rearwardly from the holder disposed in said intermediate rail section.

13. in rust proofing apparatus including a rust proofing solution tank and an adjacent rinsing tank, apparatus for conveying articles through said tanks including a fixed rail section extending over each oi. said tanks, a vertically movable intermediate rail section extending over the adapparatus for automatically lifting and lowering said intermediate rail sections when an article holder is disposed thereon including a control t member remote from said rust proofing solution tank and responsive to movement of an article holder located rearwardly of the article holder disposed on said intermediate rail section for opcrating said lifting and lowering apparatus to lift said intermediate rail section and including a second control member responsive to movement, of an article holder by said means for operating said lifting and lowering apparatus to lower said intermediate rail section when an article holder thereon is in a predetermined position.

14. Conveying apparatus including a fixed rail section, a vertically movable rail section aligned with said fixed rail section and movable between upper and lower limits, a member movable longitudinally of said rail sections, means for moving said member along said fixed rail section and over a portion of said movable rail section when .the latter is at its lower limit; means located in proximity to the upper limit of said vertically movable rail section for eflecting movement of said member over only a portion of the length thereof when said movable rail section is at said upper limit-apparatus tor automatically elevating said movable rail section when said member is disposed in predetermined position thereon, and apparatus 101' automatically lowering said movable rail section when said member is in a difierent predetermined position thereon.

15. In apparatus for subjecting an article to treatment in a receptacle having an open upper extremity, a. conveyor section substantially fixed in elevation for moving articles through said receptacie toward one extremity thee-coda vertically shlitable conveyor section disposed over said extremity of said receptacle for receiving articles delivered thereto by said first conveyor section.

mechanism for elevating and lowering said shiftable conveyor section, mechanism located in proximity to said shiitable conveyor section for moving articles onthe latter away from said extremity of said receptacle when said shiitable conveyor section is at its upper limit, and automatic control means responsive to movement oi. an ar t-cle to a predetermined position on mid vertically shiftable conveyor section for actuating said lifting and lowering mechanism to lift said article, said control means being responsive to subse quent movement of said article to a diflerent predetermined position on said vertically shiitable conveyor section for lowering said article.

16. In apparatus for subjecting an article to treatment in a receptacle having an open extremity, a fixed conveyor section for moving articles through said receptacle transversely ofsaid open extremity toward an end wall thereof, a movable conveyor section shiftable toward and away from said open extremity for receiving articles delivered thereto by said fixed conveyor section and extending over said end wall, mechanism ior automatically moving said shiftable conveyor section toward and away from said open extremity including control means operable when an article is deposited in a predetermined position on said shiftable conveyor section for moving said article away from said open extremity, and a propelling member operable while said shiftable conveyor section is remote from said open extremity for moving said article out of registration with said receptacle, said mechanism including automatic control means operable when saidarticle is disposed in a second predetermined position for moving said shiftable conveyor section toward said open extremity..

1' Conveying apparatus including a fixed rail section, a vertically movable rail section interposed between portions of said fixed rail section and movable between a lower position substantially aligned with said fixed rail section and an upper portion spaced therefrom, a member movable longitudinally of said rail sections, means for moving said member along said fixed rail section and along opposite end portions or said movable rail section when the latter is in its lower position, means located in proximity to the upper portion oi! said movable rail section for moving said member along the intermediate portions of said movable rail section when the latter is in its upper position, and apparatus for reciprocating said movable rail section intermittently between said upper and lower positions.

ROBERT E. GORDON.

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