US 3,945,901 AGranted

Method for electrocoating conductive articles

AssigneeDiamond Shamrock Corporation

InventorJoseph D. Nessar

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Abstract

A method is provided for obtaining the deposition of a protective electrocoating film onto the surface of electrically conductive, magnetically-attractable metal articles. With the method, a multitude of various articles, e.g., screws, clips, bolts, nails and the like, which may be in mixture, can be readily and efficiently electrocoated in batch or continuous operation. The method provides for establishing a magnetic field in close proximity to a coating bath, with the field having sufficient magnetic strength to affect the location of coated parts in at least a zone of the coating bath. The magnetic field cooperates with an assembly that is rotatable, e.g., a drum member. The means for rotation has a face element at least partly immersed in the bath. In rotation, articles are moved within the bath while they are under the influence of the magnetic field.

Claims9

Dependent claims

The method of electrocoating a plurality of discrete, magnetically-attractable and electrically-conductive metallic articles of manufacture by establishing contact between said articles and a bath of electrocoating composition, which method comprises:

A. feeding coating composition to said bath and to a coating zone therein;
B. establishing a magnetic field with magnet means in close proximity to said coating zone and having sufficient field strength to attract coated articles located in at least a portion of the zone;
C. providing a rotatable member proximate to, but spaced apart from, said magnet means and offering in rotation a face element in continuous surface-wetting contact with coating composition in the bath;
D. establishing electrically conductive means for providing a flow of electrical energy through the coating zone and through electrically conductive articles located therein, and impressing a flow of electrical energy through said means;
while,
E. feeding articles into said coating zone, into contact with said impressed flow of electrical energy and into the influence of said magnetic field, whereby said articles are coated and attracted onto the face element of said intervening rotatable member;
and
F. rotating said member and moving on said face element the wet, coated articles within the bath while said articles are under the influence of said magnetic field.

5 more elements

The method of electrodepositing a coating on a plurality of discrete, magnetically-attractable and electrically-conductive metallic articles of manufacture by first pre-treating the surface of the articles for receiving the deposition of said coating and thereafter establishing contact between the pretreated articles and a bath of coating composition, which method comprises;

A. pretreating said articles in a contact zone of liquid treating composition wherein articles are wetted and surface treated;
B. establishing a magnetic field with magnet means in close proximity to said contact zone and having sufficient field strength to thereby attract articles located in at least a portion of the contact zone;
C. providing a rotatable member proximate to, but spaced apart from, said magnet means and offering in rotation a face element in continuous surface-wetting contact with liquid composition in said contact zone;
D. rotating said member and conveying on said face element and out of said contact zone, treated articles attracted onto the face element under the influence of said magnetic field;
E. transporting treated articles from the face element to a coating zone of a coating bath;
F. establishing a magnetic field with magnet means in close proximity to said coating zone and having sufficient field strength to attract coated articles located in at least a portion of the zone;
G. providing a rotatable member proximate to, but spaced apart from, said magnet means and offering in rotation a face element in continuous surface-wetting contact with coating composition in the bath;
H. establishing electrically conductive means for providing a flow of electrical energy through the coating zone and through electrically conductive articles located therein, and impressing a flow of electrical energy through said means;
while,
I. feeding treated articles into said coating zone, into contact with said impressed flow of electrical energy and into the influence of said magnetic field, whereby said articles are coated and attracted onto the face element of said rotatable member;
and
J. rotating said member and moving on said face element the pretreated and coated articles within the bath while said articles are under the influence of said magnetic field.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/532,392Filed 13 Dec 1974 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Jun 1973
Granted: 23 Mar 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

C25D 13/04
Electrophoretic coating characterised by the process: with organic material
B65G 39/08
Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor: the rollers being magnetic
B65G 49/0413
Specially adapted for workpieces of definite length: arrangements for conveyance through the bath
C25D 17/28
Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk: with means for moving the objects individually through the apparatus during treatment