Surface treatment apparatus

• US 5,531,830 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hara, Hirofumi, Ochiai, Hiroshi, Ichinose, Kiyohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamb, Brenda A.
• Application Number:
  US08/354,040
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 198/346.3, 198/465.4, 198/378, 134/135, 134/165, 118/416, 118/409, 118/423, 118/425, 118/426, 118/428
• US Class Current: 118/423
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/0459 movement in a vertical direction is caused by self-contained means
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/12 Slings comprising chains, wires, ropes, or bands; Nets article side grippers suspended by ropes or chains from crane hooks B66C1/42
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/16 Slings with load-engaging platforms or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 13/22 Servicing or operating apparatus or multistep processes

Abstract

A surface treatment apparatus having a treatment bath for immersing and treating a workpiece therein with the workpiece being put into and taken out of said treatment bath by the lifting and lowering thereof and with the workpiece being rotated about a horizontal axial line while in the bath. A jig is provided for holding the workpiece having a pair of suspending points at each end thereof in symmetrical relationship about a horizontal axial line. Ropes suspend the jig with each one connected to one of the suspending points at each end of said jig. In a first embodiment, a pair of hoisting apparatuses are provided with upper ends of the ropes connected to suspending points on one side at both ends of the jig being connected to one of the hoisting apparatuses and upper ends of the ropes connected to suspending points on the other side at both ends of the jig being connected to the other of the hoisting apparatuses. In a second embodiment, a pair of jig-rotating wheels are fixed on the same horizontal axial line at both ends of the jig. The ropes for suspending the jig are respectively wound around the jig-rotating wheels. A pair of hoisting apparatuses are provided with one end of each of the ropes being connected to one of the hoisting apparatuses and the other end of each of the ropes being connected to the other of the hoisting apparatuses. In a third embodiment four ropes are used, and in a fourth embodiment a pair of shaft extension portions are used instead of wheels.

Claims

1. A surface treatment apparatus having a treatment bath for immersing and treating a workpiece therein with the workpiece being put into and taken out of said treatment bath by the lifting and lowering thereof and with the workpiece being rotatable about a horizontal axial line while in the bath, said apparatus comprising:

a jig for holding the workpiece;

a pair of jig-rotating wheels fixed on the same horizontal axial line at both ends of said jig, each of said jig-rotating wheels having a shaft extension portion extending axially along said horizontal axial line;

suspending means for suspending said jig respectively wound around said jig-rotating wheels;

a pair of hoisting apparatuses;

one end of each of said suspending means being connected to one of said hoisting apparatuses and the other end of each of said suspending means being connected to the other of said hoisting apparatuses; and

a pair of guide frames vertically provided in said treatment bath, said guide frames engaging with said shaft extension portions for guiding the lifting and lowering of said jig.

2. A surface treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suspending means comprises chains and said jig-rotating wheels are sprockets.

3. A surface treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a hanger conveyor for transporting the workpiece;

a hanger on said hanger conveyor; and

a supporting frame having guide wheels for guiding each of said suspending means, fixed to said hanger of said conveyor; and

wherein both of said hoisting apparatuses are mounted on said hanger.

4. A surface treatment apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising guide rails engaging with said guide wheels of said supporting frame for guiding a movement of said hanger.

5. A surface treatment apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising engaging members for positioning said jig, said engaging members engaging with said supporting frame upon lifting of said jig, said engaging members being provided on each of said jig-rotating wheels.

6. A surface treatment apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising guide rails engaging with said guide wheels of said supporting frame for guiding a movement of said hanger.