Richard K Hooper

US Patent:

59721120, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Oct 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/943701

Inventors:

Christopher A. Wood - Livonia MI
Richard G. Hooper - Southfield MI

Assignee:

Acco Systems, Inc. - Warren MI

International Classification:

B05C 300

US Classification:

118423

Abstract:

A system for dipping workpieces into a coating tank that includes a conveyor disposed above the tank and a workpiece carrier movable on the conveyor along a path above the tank. The carrier includes a box frame having pivotal corner connections and vertically spaced guide rollers disposed on laterally opposed sides of the frame. Longitudinally spaced cables suspend the carrier frame from winches on the conveyor for selectively raising and lowering the carrier with respect to the conveyor. The winches and cables are also selectively operable for rocking the carrier frame about a horizontal axis lateral to the path of travel along the conveyor. A pair of track rails are disposed in fixed position on laterally opposed sides of the conveyor for engaging the guide rollers on laterally opposed sides of the carrier frame during lowering of the frame into the tank and maintaining horizontal position of the carrier frame during rocking thereof within the tank.

US Patent:

61744239, Jan 16, 2001

Filed:

Dec 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/203456

Inventors:

Christopher A. Wood - Livonia MI
Richard G. Hooper - Southfield MI

Assignee:

Acco Systems, Inc. - Warren MI

International Classification:

C25D 1300

US Classification:

204512

Abstract:

A system for dipping workpieces into a coating tank that includes a conveyor disposed above the tank and a workpiece carrier movable on the conveyor along a path above the tank The carrier includes a box frame having pivotal corner connections and vertically spaced guide rollers disposed on lateraly opposed sides of the frame. Longing spaced cables suspend the carrier frame from winces on the conveyor for selectively raising and lowering the carrier with respect to the conveyor. The winches and cables are also selectively operable for rocking the carrier frame about a horizontal axis lateral to the path of travel along the conveyor. A pair of track rails are disposed in fixed position on laterally opposed sides of the conveyor for engaging the guide rollers on laterally opposed sides of the carrier frame during lowering of the frame into the tank and maintaining horizontal position of the carrier frame during rocking thereof within the tank. The method of this invention then includes lowering the vehicle body into an electrostatic dip tank, preferably at an angle, then rocking the forward and rearward ends of the vehicle upwardly and downwardly about a lateral axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, then raising the vehicle body out of the dip tank preferably at an angle relative to horizontal.