The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 17, 1996
Alfred T Poliquin, Dover, NH (US);
Paul Hagenow, Dover, NH (US);
Textron Automotive Interiors, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A metallizing apparatus for vacuum-metallizing both recessed and non-recessed surfaces of relatively massive articles such as automotive wheels includes a vacuum chamber and a linear array of electron beam-type metal particle emitters. The emitter array is positioned in the chamber to thermally evaporate metal onto each article. A rack is supported within the chamber and rotates about a horizontal rack axis between two vertical end braces. Two or more identical articles are supported to rotate on the rack about respective second and third axes as the rack rotates about the horizontal rack axis. The articles both rotate around the rack axis and each simultaneously rotate around their respective second and third rotational axes while being held in the path of metal particles emanating from the emitters. The articles are mounted on the rack so that their respective second and third rotational axes are positioned at an angle to the rack axis. Adjustable pivot mechanisms allow an operator to vary these angles.