Bulk finishing system and method
AssigneeSST Systems, Inc.
InventorsChad Martin Andreae, Robert G. Rock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bulk finishing system including a plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a finishing process for a plurality of metal work pieces processed therethrough. Each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations includes a tank, and the plurality of metal work pieces are conveyed through a group of one or more of the respective tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations by non-contact magnetic conveyance provided by an inclined downstream tank end wall forming a work piece exit slide, with a magnetic conveyor extending along an exterior side of the inclined downstream tank end wall. The plurality of work pieces are introduced loosely in bulk to each one of the group of tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.
Claims23
A bulk finishing system comprising:
- a plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a finishing process for a plurality of metal work pieces processed therethrough,
- wherein each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations includes a tank, and the plurality of metal work pieces are conveyed through a group of one or more of the respective tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations by non-contact magnetic conveyance provided by an inclined downstream tank end wall forming a work piece slide, with a magnetic conveyor extending along an exterior side of the inclined downstream tank end wall, and wherein the plurality of work pieces are introduced loosely in bulk to each one of the group of tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.
A bulk e-coat system comprising:
- a plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a single complete e-coat process, including at least one pre-treatment workstation with a tank, an e-coat bath workstation with a tank, and at least one post-rinse workstation with a tank;
- a pair of electrodes arranged in the tank of the e-coat bath workstation, a first of the pair of electrodes configured to provide a slide along which work pieces are conveyed, and a second of the pair of electrodes positioned in an e-coat process liquid spaced from the slide;
- a curing workstation provided in a downstream direction from the plurality of liquid immersion workstations and configured to receive the plurality of work pieces exiting a final one of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations;
- and
- a plurality of magnetic conveyors configured to run upward along respective inclined downstream end walls of the respective tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations, wherein, throughout the plurality of liquid immersion workstations and into the curing workstation, the work pieces are conveyed solely by the plurality of magnetic conveyors, without any conveyor passing over or through the respective tanks of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.
A method of carrying out a finishing process on a plurality of work pieces, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of liquid immersion workstations, each having a liquid immersion tank associated with the finishing process;
- providing a plurality of work pieces in loose bulk form into a tank of one of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations;
- conveying the plurality of work pieces along a work piece slide at an inclined downstream end wall of the tank with a magnetic conveyor extending along an exterior side of the inclined downstream end wall;
- and
- dumping the plurality of work pieces in loose bulk form from the tank at a top outlet end of the work piece slide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.