US1449744A - Dipping machine - Google Patents

Description

1. R. CALDWELL.

Mar. 27, 1923.

DIPPING MACHINE.

FILED JUNE 16. 1921.

3 SHEET SHEET l.

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Mar. 27, 1923.

1,449,744. J. R. CALDWELL. DIPPING MACHINE.

FILED JUNE 16,1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,449,444 earn-Ni otter-ca.

JAMES R. CALDWELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THESEAJELESS RUBBER COMPANY, INC, OF -NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

DIPPING MACHINE.

Application filed June 16, 1921. Serial No. 478,116.

State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Dipping Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. 4

This invent-ion relates to a machine for applying coating to objects by dipping them oneor more times in a bath of suitable material. This process is utilized in forming small rubber objects such as the nipples of nursing bottles, finger cots toy balloons and the bulbs of medicine droppers, suitable forms being repeatedly dipped into a solution of rubber cement which, drying on the forms, builds up the desired article. The

embodiment of the invention here shown is particularly designed for this use and the purpose is to provide an eflicient and rapidly operating machine which will be of great flexibility to meet the varying conditions of use met in practice, 7

My invention will best be understood by reference to the following description of the Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 1 is a detail of a portion of Fig. 3 on a still larger scale;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the machine as seen from the right of Fig. 1; I

Fg. dis a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine embodies a dipping tank 9 and a form carrier 11, the two :being movable toward and from one another in a vertical direction so that forms on the carrier may be dipped into the liquid in the tank and in the presentembodiment of the invention the tank is stationary and the carrier movable up and down. To move the carrier 11 up and down it is mounted as a whole in the vertically reciprocable frame comprising the cross bar 13 and the depending side bars 15, the latter as best shown in Fig. 7 being provided with channeled guides which receive the flangesof the vertical T irons 17. The frame guided on the T irons 17 may be moved vertically bymeans of a suitable hoist comprising the .cables 19 secured to the members 15 and wrapped about drums 21 on the overhead shaft 23 which is adapted to be driven by suitable power in the manner hereafter described.

The form carrier 11 is preferably designed to accommodate several sets of forms and may take the form clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of a skeletonized prism, conveniently square in section as indicated, and supported by a shaft 25 journalled in the depending members 15. Referring to Fig. 3, the forms 27 for the articles to be dipped may be mounted .on suitable boards 29 which are clamped to the faces of .the rismatic form. 11 and for this purpose eac face maybe. provided at one end with the overhanging flange 31 to receive one edge of the board and along the opposite edge there is hinged an angle iron 33 which may be swung clownwardly on its hinge to permit the board to bein serted under the flange 31 with a button-holing motion and then closed to the position shown in Fig. 3 to retain the board in position. To hold the hinged angle iron 33 in position latches 35 may be provided. adapted to swing up behind the same to the position shown in Fig. 4, the latches 35 closing in behind the keepers 37.

When any single set of forms is being dipped, that face of the form carrier is substantially horizontal, paralleling the surface of the liquid in the tank 9. To insure this parallel position and consequent even immersion of the forms and to hold the form carrier in this position, suitable locking means may be provided, preferably effective only when the carrier is near dipping position. Herein I have shown mounted on the shaft 25 at one end of the carrier 11 the enlarged polygonal wheel 39 considerably greater in size than the carrier and,

side of the tank and permit forms on the carrier 11 to enter the tank in spite of the larger size of the wheel 39. The wheel 39 is preferably polygonal as shown and may have twice as many sides as the base of the prism which forms the carrier, that is, being octagonal in the present instance and certain of these sides are parallel with the sides of the carrier, thus providing a guide and indicator of the position of the carrier itself since a horizontal position of the side of the wheel 39 will indicate a corresponding horizontal position of the carrier 11. At the same time the fact that the polygon has more sides than the base of the prism gives the wheel 39 a finished wheel-like form and while providing an adequate mechanical advantage when the wheel is used as a turning member as hereafter described, restricts the area through which the wheel sweeps.

Suitable means cooperating with the wheel 39 are provided for locking the carrier in position and, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 1, those sides of the wheel parallel with the faces of the carrier 11 may be provided on the outer side with guides, each preferably formed of a pair of springs 41 secured at one end and thence inclining outwardly and toward each other and having inturned ends passing through suitable slots in the wheel, these inturned ends defining between them aradial opening which is adapted to receive a stationary guide 43 disposed beside the tank, and provided with a bevelled end facing the wheel asshown in Fig. 1.

If the wheel 39 approaches the guide 43 in a position somewhat displaced circumferentially from that illustrated in Fig. 2, the bevelled end of the guide 43 will strike a spring 41 and wedge it inwardly permitting the continuing descent of the wheel. The operator may seize the wheel 39, which provides a powerful leverage, and bring it into the proper position and the guide will slide along the incline provided by the spring until it snaps into the slot between the two springs. The edge of the guide 43 below the bevelled end substantially coincides with the face of wheel 39 as shown in Fig. 1 and as the forms reach dipping position the wheel is necessarily locked by the engagement of the guide in the slot and the form carrying board disposed parallel with the surface of the liquid in the tank 9.

I will next describe the mechanism here shown for raising and lowering the form carrier which preferably provides for a slow speed and a high speed in raising and lowering. Herein (see Fig. 1) the drum shaft 23 is adapted to be driven by the worm shaft 45, the worm acting as an effective locking means for the shaft when no power is applied, and the worm shaft takes motion a reversible electric motor 55, conveniently secured to the ceiling, which is adapted to drive in one direction or another the shaft 57 mounted on hangers on the ceiling and carrying the small loose pulley 59 and the large loose pulley 61 which may be relatively clutched to the shaft by motion of the clutch 63 which also has a neutral position in which both pulleys are loose. 1n the neutral position of the clutch, of course, no power is transmitted to the hoist shaft 23. The small pulley 59 is belted to the large pulley 51 on shaft 49 and drives that shaft with a relatively slow speed in such a way as either to wind up the cables 19 on their drums or unwind them in accordance with the direction of rotation of the reversible motor. The large pulley 61 is belted to the small pulley 53 on the shaft 49 and provides for driving that shaft at a relatively high speed.

Means are provided whereby the form carrier 11 may be rotated, preferably forward and back, at an elevated position thereof in order to facilitate the drying of the coating on the forms. For this purpose the shaft 25 of the carrier may support at its outer end agear 65 which, as best shown in Fig. 2, is

adapted to roll into contact with the later-- ally disposed pinion 67 when the carrier rises to the position shown in that figure. The pinion 67 (see Figs. 1 and 3) takes its motion from an electric motor 69 connected thereto by an automatic reversing mechanism 71. This mechanism may be substantially like that illustrated in the patent to .Henrici, 1,316,093, September 16, 1919, and it is therefore unnecessary to illustrate it in detail in this place. Suflice it to say that it provides for periodically reversing the motion of the shaft carrying the pinion 67. This may be effected as in the patent referred to by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 69. The form carrier 11 may thus be rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, say for example four, in a counterclockwise direction, will then rotate the same number of revolutions in a clockwise direction and so on until the motor is shut off or the gear 65 moved out of engagement with the pinion 67.

The operation of the device is as follows. The tank 9 is filled to a suitable level with a rubber solution. The operator fills the sides of the carrier 11 with boards 29, (see Fig. 3) on which are mounted the forms to be dipped, locking them in place by folding the angle iron 33 over the edge of the board and looking it by the latch 35 which enters behind the keeper 37. The parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor 55 (see Fig. 5) is started, the clutch 63 (Fig. 6) is thrown into engagement'with the a slightly by hand until the guide 43 properly engagesbetween the springs 41 (see F ig. 2). Itwillbenoted that while theframe is being lowered itis entirely free to rotate and is notconnected in any way with anydriving mechanism and may be turned by hand on .its horizontal axis without any dilhculty. I

When the forms have entered thesolut on I in the tank to the proper depth the operator reverses the motor and causes theframe 11 to rise at the slow speed. Immediately when the forms are withdrawn from the viscous cement it tends-to run down on the the wheel 39 and reverses the; frame ll so that the board just dipped will beat the top.

The hoistingv motion of the frame n ay beavailed of toassist in this operation. ...At about the same time the clutch 63 is: thrown and the frame rapidly elevatedto the position shown inFig. 2 where the gear 65' will engage pinion-67 and,when the frame has neutral andthe vertical motion of the frame halted. I I I I The operator then energizes motor 69 and the frame .11 will be rotated "a desired numsired number of times in the other direction until thecoating is sufficiently set '.'Ihe rotation of the carrier facilitates the congealing of the coating and the periodical reversal of thisrotation prevents the viscous cement from flowing over toward one side of the form due to its inertia during the rotation thereof'and the reaction of the air against it and insures the coating being dried in a layer of uniform thickness.

After the coating is set the motion of the motor 69 is halted and the frame lowered again to dip a new set of forms, the operator turning the'frame by means of the. enlarged operating wheel 39 to present an undipped set to the tank'if such a set is not already so presented and the cycle of operations is repeated until all the forms are coated and if necessary or desired repeated for each set of forms until a proper thickness of material is built up. The boards 33 may then be removed and new forms substituted.

' reversal of therot'ation of' the 'formcarrier In a machine of the class described, in combination with a "tank, a form carrier movable, upwardly and downwardly from her of times in onedirection and their a de-.

I fllhe inebhanism:described'is'very' efiicient it s joperation mt ery, flexible in abilities I as" it; provides adequate mechanical means for carryin foutthe operations.

without; preventing proper variations and .adjustments to be made 'to" i11eet th'e' varying" requirements of practice. As an example of suchl'fiexibility will benoted the mounting'if offthe"form carrier ll so' that I after itIs tiartslowering it isfentir'ely free to be revolved by; hand in a manner con- ;ven'ie'n'tly' provided f o'rby the enlarged wheel 39 to adjust-or position the form carriers relatively to the tank without any resistance of attached mechanism 'OppOSingfsuch moti -{Th6 .r ietiqnq f he terrier y, means. ff? "cable" hoist with; 'atwo speed drive ipieffiiits a"variable dipping and enablesi'the operator to change from high to low speed I at the; best point as dictated by rti'cula'r-work at hand: The automatic in I cooling position the most efficient methodjfor providinga smooth and uniform tthefsame time caus ng' rapjid coating and con ealing-thereof?' I I I I aving',thus' described indetail the particular embodiment of "my invention shown byway of" example in .the accompanying I drawings, what I' claim as" new, and desire to 1 Secure Letters Patent I shall express infthe followingclaimsf; j a x 11. ,machineof the class described-comprising, in combination with a tank, a verdeally movable form carrier freely rotatable about a; horizontal axisandfm'ean's for a i connect-ing said carrier with power driven reached this position, clutch 63 is throwngto,

rotating jmeansz' in an" elevated position andto. the tank and-freely rotatable on a horizontal axis, power driven rotatingmeans I cooperatingwith-the carrier in an elevated position; thereof; 3 and locking, means .coop- ..era'ting. .with. the carrier solely inthe lower II part of: its-path tO holdit against rotation combination with a tank, a form carrier movable upwardly and downwardly from and to the tank and freely rotatableon a horizontal axis, power driven rotating means cooperating with the carrier in an elevated position thereof, an enlarged wheel on the axis of the carrier disposed laterally of the tank and a locking member cooperating with said wheel to hold the carrier against rotation in the lower part of its path.

5. A' machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tank, a

form carrier, means for moving one to and from the other and automatically reversing means for revolving the form carrier.

6. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tank, a rotatable form carrier, means for moving one to and from the other and power means for rotating the carrier arranged to permit reversal of the direction of rotation.

7 A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tank, a rotatable form carrier, means for moving one to and from the other and means for revolving the carrier a determined number of revolutions in one direction and thereafter in the opposite direction.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tank, a form carrier, a hoist for raising and lowering one of them comprising a drum shaft, a power shaft and alternatively operable driving connections of different speed ratios between said shafts.

9. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with. a tank, a freely rotatable form carrier, means for raising and lowering the carrier having two speeds effective alt will and means for connecting the carrier with rotating mechanism in an elevated position thereof.

10. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with a tank, a prismatic form carrier freely rotatable about a horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering the carrier having two speeds effective at will and means for connecting the carrier with rotating mechanism in an elevated posit-ion thereof.

11. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination with a. tank, a prismatic form carrier freely rotatable about a horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering the carrier having two speeds effective at will, means for connecting the carrier with rotating mechanism in an elevated position thereof and locking means. holding it against rotation with a face thereof horizontal in the lower part of its path.

12. In a machine of the class described, a prismatic form carrier rotatable on a horizontal axis and a hand wheel associated there-with comprising a. polygon larger than the base of the prism, the number of sides of the polygon being a whole multiple of the number of sides of said base, certain of the former sides being parallel to the latter.

1.3. In a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tank and a form carrier, one being movable toward and from the other, means for positioning the carrier when near the tank comrisin ieldabl mounted inclines on one element defining an opening between them and a guide adapted to enter the opening havin a bevelled end.

14. in a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a. dipping tank and a form'carrier, one being movable toward and from the other, means for positioning the carrier when near the tank comprising a. plate on one element, springs thereon having inturned ends and presenting a pair of inclines defining ;an opening between them and a guide adapted to; enter the opening having a bevelled end.

15. In a machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a dipping tanlr In testimony whereof, I have signed my I name to this specification.

JAMES R. CALDWVELL.

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