US 4,772,374 AGranted

Electrodeposition system and method therefor

AssigneePrime-Coat Technology, Inc.

InventorsThomas N. Urquhart, Gordon T. Urquhart

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Abstract

A work processing system comprising: a plurality of work processing stations or tanks arranged in a predefined manner; superstructure means suspended above the process stations; a programmable controller situated remote from said processing stations for generating command signals; crane means suspended on and translatable relative to the superstructure and to the processing stations in response to said command signals; work carrier means carried by the crane means and adapted to be suspended and supported by a respective one of the processing stations; the work carrier unit comprising a work carrier member or platform adapted to support a workpiece and further including means for rotating the work carrier member or platform about a predetermined axis thereof in response to command signals.

Claims25

Dependent claims

In a deposition system for applying a coating to workpieces such as, for example, car bodies, and where said system includes a plurality of sequentially disposed process tanks into which the workpieces are placed, apparatus for transporting said workpieces from one process tank to another and for lowering and lifting said workpieces into and out of said tanks, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a superstructure over said tanks;
(b) at least one crane supported by said superstructure;
(c) drive means for translating said crane along said superstructure;
(d) at least one work carrier unit having means for supporting at least one workpiece, said crane having means for engaging and supporting said work carrier unit;
(e) selected ones of said tanks having means for supporting said work carrier unit and workpiece supported thereby;
(f) a motor drive carried by said work carrier unit for rotating said workpiece supported thereby, said motor drive further comprising a motor and drive train;
(g) means for supplying power to said motor for rotating said workpiece in a selected tank;
and
(h) means for supplying power to said motor for rotating said workpiece above said selected tank;
(i) whereby the work carrier unit and workpiece are transported from one tank to another and lowered and lifted into and out of selected ones of said tanks, and said work carrier unit may be rotated in and above a selected tank.

7 more elements

In a deposition system for applying a coating to workpieces such as, for example, car bodies, and where said system includes a plurality of sequentially disposed process tanks into which the workpieces are placed, apparatus for transporting said workpieces from one process tank to another, and for lowering and lifting said workpieces into and out of said tanks, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a superstructure over said tanks;
(b) at least one crane supported by said superstructure;
(c) first drive means for translating said crane along said superstructure;
(d) at least one work carrier unit having means for supporting at least one workpiece, said crane further comprising a carriage engageable with said work carrier unit;
(e) said selected ones of said tanks having means for supporting said work carrier unit and workpiece supported thereby;
(f) means for disengaging said carriage means from said work carrier unit whereby said crane is free from said work carrier unit when said work carrier unit is supported by a tank;
(g) second drive means for lowering and raising said carriage;
(h) third drive means carried by said work carrier unit for rotating said work piece supported thereby, said third drive means further comprising a motor and drive train;
(i) means for supplying power to said third drive means for rotating said workpiece in a selected tank;
and
(j) means for supplying power to said third drive means for rotating said workpiece above said selected tank;
(k) whereby the work carrier unit and workpiece are transported from one tank to another and lowered and lifted into and out of selected ones of said tanks, and said work carrier unit may be rotated in and above a selected tank.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/900,271Filed 26 Aug 1986 · continuation
Priority: 14 Nov 1983
Granted: 20 Sep 1988
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

C25D 13/22
Electrophoretic coating characterised by the process: servicing or operating apparatus or multistep processes
B65G 49/0459
By means of containers -or workpieces- carriers: movement in a vertical direction is caused by self-contained means
C25D
Processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings
B65G
Transport or storage devices