Apparatus for automatically feeding the silver wire into the solution

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,299.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Description of Prior Art

U.S. Pat. no. 6,214,299 issued to Robert J. Holladay, Herbert Christensen, and William Moeller, and assigned to American Silver LLC. Issued on Apr. 10, 2001. In this invention, referenced above, the silver electrode must be positioned very near the surface of the solution to prevent it from drawing an electric arc. If an arc is generated the quality of the silver in solution is greatly diminished. It requires constant attention by the operator, manually turning a plastic extension on the male threaded member to keep it positioned just right in the solution. With many hundreds of male threaded members in the production it becomes a very labor intensive operation.

2. The Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to the positioning of the silver electrode near the surface of the solution automatically rather than by hand through the use of an electric eye, electric gear head motor and pressure rollers.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention will automatically position the silver wire at the precise position above the solution so that arcing will not occur. No operator is required to be in attendance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the electric eye detecting the light from the spark when the silver wire comes out of the solution. The electric gear head motor and the pressure rollers that grip and move the silver wire down into the solution. The electric gear head motor turns these pressure rollers and moves the silver wire down.

FIG. 2 is a detailed description of the pressure rollers and how they hold the silver wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an apparatus 10 for lowering a silver wire 11 down into the solution 12. The electric eye 14 detects the light coming from the spark 13 caused by electric current passing between the solution 12 and the silver wire 11. This sends an electrical signal via wires 16 to the control box 18 which in turn sends a signal through wires 17 to the electric gear head motor 9. This electric gear head motor 9 turns a shaft 8 which in turn turns a roller 7. This roller 7, made of a non conducting material like plastic, is pressed tightly against roller 6 which is made out of a non conducting material. Roller 7 has a core of hard rubber 5 which presses against the silver wire 11. The other roller 6 is made of a non conductive material and presses the silver wire 11 against the hard rubber of roller 7. This friction holds the silver wire 11 tightly and the electric gear head motor 9 lowers it into the solution 12 until the spark 13 stops.