Dip coat process material handling system

US5334246A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Xerox Corporation · US

Inventors

• Stanley J. Pietrzykowski, Jr. · Rochester, US
• Alexander A. Antonelli · Rochester, US
• John Darcy · Webster, US
• Richard C. Petralia · Rochester, US
• Mark C. Petropoulos · Ontario, US
• Peter Schmitt · Erlangen, DE
• Patrick R. Shane · East Rochester, US
• Eugene A. Swain · Webster, US
• Mark S. Thomas · Williamson, US
• Alan D. Smith · Henrietta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 1992
• Grant date: Aug 2, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S118/12
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A dip coat process material handling system and method for coating multiple layers of material on a plurality of workpieces, in particular for producing a multi-layer optical photoconductive drum, wherein a plurality of pipes are suspended from a carrier pallet which transports the workpieces through a dip coat cell housing various dip coating stations. The system includes a load/unload station, vertical and horizontal transport systems for transporting the carrier pallet having workpieces loaded thereon to the various dip coating stations, a drying/cooling booth, and a return conveyor system. The invention allows complete dip coat processing to be completed in an in-line configuration while the workpieces are attached to the carrier pallet, thereby eliminating load/unload steps at each dip coating station to provide efficient and flexible processing of materials.