Dip coat process material handling system

A material handling system for dip coating a plurality of workpiece to deposit a layer of coating material thereon, comprising:

• carrier means for receiving the plurality of workpieces;
• means for elevating the workpieces in a single plane to load the workpieces onto said carrier means;
• a dip station for depositing a layer of coating material onto each of the plurality of workpieces;
• first transport means including a horizontal transport for transporting said carrier means in a substantially horizontal plane to position the workpieces over said dip station, said horizontal transport including
• a first horizontal transport cart for transporting said carrying means to said vertical transport means;
• and
• a second horizontal transport cart for transporting said carrying means away from said vertical transport means;
• second transport means including a vertical transport for transporting said carrier means in a substantially vertical plane to transport the workpieces into and out of said dip station with the workpieces attached to said carrier means;
• and
• means for returning said carrier means to said first horizontal transport cart so as to permit subsequent processing of the workpieces, said returning means including
• a return conveyor for transporting said carrier means to said first horizontal transport cart;
• an input elevator for lifting said carrier means to said return conveyor;
• and
• an output elevator for lowering said carrier means onto said horizontal transport means.