Modular apparatus and method for surface treatment of parts with liquid baths

Apparatus for plating parts comprising:

• a modular mechanical cleaning unit for cleaning said parts and mounted for reciprocal movement along a first path;
• a plurality of modular plating units mounted side by side alongside said first path and each having first conveying means transporting parts there through along parallel paths generally transverse to said first path, and a tank adapted to contain plating solution in which said parts are tumbled by said first conveying means;
• means aligning said modular mechanical cleaning unit along said first path for selectively transferring parts therefrom to each of said plurality of modular plating units;
• a modular transfer unit having second conveying means extending along a second path generally transverse to and intersecting each of said parallel paths for receiving parts discharged from said first conveying means of each of said modular plating units and transporting said parts along said second path;
• and
• at least one modular rinse unit comprising a rinse tank adapted to contain rinse water, and third conveying means, extending along a third path generally transverse to said second path and generally parallel to but opposite in direction to said parallel paths, said third conveying means having a receiving end section adapted to submersion in said rinse water on which parts discharged from said second conveying means of said modular transfer unit are deposited for travel through said rinse water, and a discharge end section adapted for rising above said rinse water and adapted for allowing rinse water to drain from said parts into said rinse tank.

A method of surface treatment of parts with liquid baths comprising the steps of:

• mechanically cleaning said parts;
• transferring said parts by first conveyor means to second conveyor means;
• immersing said parts on said second conveyor means in a treatment tank containing a bath of treatment solution and tumbling said parts on said second conveyor means in said treatment solution;
• transferring said parts out of said treatment tank by said second conveyor means;
• rinsing said parts in a rinse tank containing rinse water by transporting said parts through said rinse water on third conveyor means which then raises the parts above the rinse water for draining;
• and
• collecting parts discharged from said third conveyor means.