Electrode and apparatus for electrolytically treating a workpiece, assembly for forming a cell of the apparatus and method and computer program

An electrode component of an apparatus (1) for electrolytically treating a workpiece (3), comprising:

• the apparatus (1) holds the electrode and is arranged to convey the workpiece (3) with a surface to be treated through an electrolyte vertically or horizontally past and directed towards a surface of the electrode,
• wherein the electrode is divided into segments (23a-e) on at least the surface of the electrode directed towards the surface to be treated,
• wherein the segments (23a-e) are arranged next to each other in a first direction (x),
• wherein adjacent segments (23a-e) are separated from each other along respective segment edges (24a-f) such as to allow adjacent segments (23a-e) to be maintained at different respective voltages, and
• wherein the segment edges (24a-f) extend at least partly in a second direction (y) from a common value (y0) of a coordinate in the second direction (y) to an edge (25,26) of at least an electrically conducting part of the electrode surface, the second direction (y) being transverse to the first direction (x) and the second direction (y) being direction of movement of the workpiece,
• wherein the segment edges (24a-f) between at least one pair of adjacent segments (23a-e) extend along respective paths of which an angle to the electrode surface edge (25,26) decreases from the common value (y0) of the coordinate to the electrode surface edge (25,26),
• and wherein shape of at least one pair of the segment edges (24a-f) are determined by coefficients of a second-order polynomial, and the segment edges (24a-f) between at least one pair of adjacent segments (23a-e) include curved segment edges and segment edges (24a-f) between at least one pair of adjacent segments include straight segment edges,
• wherein the paths of the segment edges (24a-f) are comprised of two sections that are mirror images of each other, and
• wherein, at least within each half of the electrode seen in the first direction (x), the paths extend in a same one or opposite manner in the first direction (x) from the common value (y0) of the coordinate to the electrode surface edge (25,26), so that the paths are all inclined in the same direction, at least within each half of the electrode viewed in the first direction (x).