| 摘要 |
<p>A "hands-free" apparatus for loading and unloading piece parts from baskets (41) containing a plurality of such parts on a ferris wheel (13) or other type carrier for submersion into plating or cleaning tanks. The preferred embodiment is adapted for handling a plurality of metallic disks (62) to be plated for the purpose of magnetic recording of data. The system accepts a plurality of baskets (41) transported to it on a conveyor mechanism (39). The baskets (41) are simultaneously lifted up to a load/unload position at which a mandrel (77) is threaded through the aperture in each metallic disk (62). The baskets (41) are lowered back down to the conveyor (39). The mandrel (77) carrying the disks (62) is swung onto a slot on the ferris wheel (70) which is adapted to carry approximately twelve such disk carrying mandrels. The ferris wheel (70) is stepped to the next slot which is loaded the same way.After all slots (66) on the ferris wheel (70) are loaded, the entire ferris wheel (70) is removed from engagement with the loader and transported through the fabrication cycle. Each disk is worked on while resting in its notch on its mandrel in a specific slot on a particular ferris wheel. During the manufacturing process, the mandrel (77) is rotated, causing each disk (62) to rotate, at the same time that the entire ferris wheel (70) is being rotated. After the manufacturing cycle is complete, the ferris wheel (70) is brought back into engagement with the loader/unloader (31). The completed disks are placed back into their baskets (41) in a sequence that is the reverse of the loading sequence. The loaded baskets (41) are transported away by the conveyor system (39).</p> |
