Apparatus for treating articles with a liquid

Claim 2

In apparatus for treating an article with a liquid in a bath, the apparatus including a moving conveyor advancing the article across the top surface of the liquid in the bath while the article contacts the liquid and conveyor path defining means continuously engaging a portion of the conveyor and from which the conveyor is moved to a fixed location to remove the article from the top surface of the liquid at an angle of exit therewith; a support carrying the conveyor path defining means and mounted for movement to alter the position of said means so as to vary said angle of exit; and means incrementally adjustable for selectively moving said support between incrementally spaced positions to adjust said angle of exit.

Claim 3

In apparatus for treating an article with liquid in a bath, as set forth in claim 6, the apparatus including a second conveyor path defining means continuously engaging another portion of the conveyor and toward which the conveyor is moved from another fixed location to advance the article into initial contact with the top surface of the liquid at an angle of contact therewith; a second support carrying the second conveyor path defining means and mounted for movement to alter the position of said second means so as to vary said angle of contact; and means incrementally adjustable for selectively moving said second support between incrementally spaced positions to adjust said angle of contact.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for applying solder to an article that floats on a solder bath; tank means for holding a supply of molten solder; a conveyor having a depending carrier for supporting an article; means suspending the conveyor over the tank in arcuate fashion for driving the conveyor to follow an arcuate path; first means for engaging the conveyor and establishing a linear path of movement of the conveyor to move the carrier a first predetermined angle of approach to said supply of molten solder to float said article on said solder; second means remote from said first engaging means for engaging the conveyor and imparting a linear path of movement to the conveyor between said first and second engaging means for establishing a linear path of movement of the conveyor to move the carrier at a second predetermined angle of exit from said supply of molten solder; and means for moving the second engaging means towards and away from said first engaging means to vary said predetermined exit angle.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for applying solder to an article that floats on a solder bath; tank means for holding a supply of molten solder; a conveyor having a depending carrier for supporting an article; means suspending the conveyor over the tank in arcuate fashion for driving the conveyor to follow an arcuate path; first means for engaging the conveyor and establishing a linear path of movement of the conveyor to move the carrier a first predetermined angle of approach to said supply of molten solder to float said article on said solder; second means remote from said first engaging means for engaging the conveyor and imparting a linear path of movement to the conveyor between said first and second engaging means for establishing a linear path of movement of the conveyor to move the carrier at a second predetermined angle of exit from said supply of molten solder; and means for moving the second engaging means towards and away from said first engaging means to vary said predetermined exit angle.

Claim 6

In apparatus for treating an article with molten solder upon which the article is capable of floatation; a container for the solder; a carrier for the article; a first sprocket wheel above and adjacent said container; an endless chain mounting said carrier thereon and engaging said first sprocket wheel; means engaging said chain and including a second sprocket wheel fixed adjacent said container for advancing said carrier across a top surface of the molten solder in said container toward said first sprocket wheel and then from said first sprocket wheel toward said fixed second sprocket wheel at an angle of exit from said top surface of the solder; means mounting the article on said carrier for floatation on said top surface of the molten solder; and means adjustably supporting said first sprocket wheel for selectively positioning the first sprocket wheel to adjust said angle of exit.

Claim 7

In apparatus for treating an article with molten solder upon which the article is capable of floatation; a container for the solder; a carrier for the article; a first sprocket wheel above and adjacent said container; an endless chain mounting said carrier thereon and engaging said first sprocket wheel; means engaging said chain and including a second sprocket wheel fixed adjacent said container for advancing said carrier across a top surface of the molten solder in said container toward said first sprocket wheel and then from said first sprocket wheel toward said fixed second sprocket wheel at an angle of exit from said top surface of the solder; means mounting the article on said carrier for floatation on said top surface of the molten solder; and means adjustably supporting said first sprocket wheel for selectively positioning the first sprocket wheel to adjust said angle of exit.

Claim 8

In apparatus for treating an article, as set forth in claim 4, said means mounting the article on said carrier comprising: a mask having at least one window and engaging the article to shield selected portions of the article from contact with the molten solder while exposing other portions of the article to contact with the solder through said window.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for treating an article with molten solder upon which the article is capable of floatation; a container for the solder; a carrier for the article; a sprocket wheel above and adjacent said container; an endless chain mounting said carrier thereon and engaging said sprocket wheel; means engaging said chain for advancing said carrier first from a fixed location toward said sprocket wheel so as to contact with a top surface of the molten solder in said container at an angle of contact with the solder and then across said top surface of the solder; means mounting the article on said carrier for floatation on said top surface of the molten solder; and means adjustably supporting said sprocket wheel for selectively positioning said sprocket wheel to adjust said angle of contact.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for treating an article with molten solder upon which the article is capable of floatation; a container for the solder; a carrier for the article; a sprocket wheel above and adjacent said container; an endless chain mounting said carrier thereon and engaging said sprocket wheel; means engaging said chain for advancing said carrier first from a fixed location toward said sprocket wheel so as to contact with a top surface of the molten solder in said container at an angle of contact with the solder and then across said top surface of the solder; means mounting the article on said carrier for floatation on said top surface of the molten solder; and means adjustably supporting said sprocket wheel for selectively positioning said sprocket wheel to adjust said angle of contact.

Claim 11

In apparatus for treating an article with molten solder, as set forth in claim 6; wherein: said carrier advancing means includes a second sprocket wheel engaging said chain for moving said carrier across said top surface of the solder in said container prior to exit at an angle from said top surface of the solder; and means adjustably supporting said second sprocket wheel for selectively positioning the second sprocket wheel to adjust said angle of exit.

Claim 12

In apparatus for treating with molten solder an article capable of floatation upon the solder; a tank for the solder; a first pair of spaced sprocket wheels mounted above and adjacent said tank; a second pair of spaced sprocket wheels positioned substantially between said first pair of sprocket wheels and above and adjacent said tank; a conveyor chain suspended arcuately from top portions of said first pair of sprocket wheels and engaging bottom portions of said second pair of sprocket wheels; means for advancing said arcuately suspended conveyor chain while engaging said pairs of sprocket wheels; a carrier depending from said conveyor chain and including means mounting the article to contact and float upon the top surface of the solder in said tank; and means mounting a first sprocket wheel of one of said pairs for movement relative to the nearest sprocket wheel of the other of said pairs to vary the attitude of said carrier in moving with said conveyor chain between said first sprocket wheel and said nearest sprocket wheel.

Claim 13

In apparatus for treating with molten solder an article capable of floatation upon the solder; a tank for the solder; a first pair of spaced sprocket wheels mounted above and adjacent said tank; a second pair of spaced sprocket wheels positioned substantially between said first pair of sprocket wheels and above and adjacent said tank; a conveyor chain suspended arcuately from top portions of said first pair of sprocket wheels and engaging bottom portions of said second pair of sprocket wheels; means for advancing said arcuately suspended conveyor chain while engaging said pairs of sprocket wheels; a carrier depending from said conveyor chain and including means mounting the article to contact and float upon the top surface of the solder in said tank; and means mounting a first sprocket wheel of one of said pairs for movement relative to the nearest sprocket wheel of the other of said pairs to vary the attitude of said carrier in moving with said conveyor chain between said first sprocket wheel and said nearest sprocket wheel.

Claim 14

In apparatus for treating an article, as set forth in claim 8; said mounting means movably mounting at least one of said second pair of sprocket wheels.

Claim 15

In apparatus for treating an article, as set forth in claim 8; said mounting means movably mounting both of said second pair of sprocket wheels.