Connecting and alignment means for modular chemical treatment system

An apparatus for use in the treatment of articles as part of an overall etching or other chemical treatment operation, said apparatus including a pluraity of serially connected modules, each such module comprising a module body having spaced parallel sidewalls, means for conveying articles through the module body and for defining a longitudinal path of movement of articles through the module body, drive means for said conveying means in driving engagement therewith, and sidewall connecting and alignment means carried by at least one end of each of said spaced parallel sidewalls of said module bodies for connection of said spaced, parallel sidewalls of said module to and for transversely aligning said module with the spaced parallel sidewalls of a longitudinally adjacent module, said connecting and alignment means of at least one of said spaced, parallel sidewalls comprising a connecting means carried by a sidewall of said module and by a mating and abutting sidewall of said longitudinally adjacent module, said connecting means comprising at least one planar surface overlying and held in intimate contact with at least a portion of a longitudinal, vertical planar surface of at least one of said longitudinally adjacent sidewalls, by fastening means penetrating at least one of said parallel sidewalls normally to said longitudinally path, wherein said means for conveying articles includes transversely disposed rotatable shaft members with driven gear means carried at one end thereof, along one side of said module, and with said drive means including drive gear means carried on drive rod means that extends along said one side of said module, with the drive gear means being in driving engagement with said driven gear means, and with said drive gear means comprising a plurality of individual gears having gear spacer means disposed therebetween and disposed end-to-end over said drive rod means, with adjacent said gears being longitudinally spaced from each other by said gear means an amount corresponding to the longitudinal spacing of adjacent said driven gear means.