High efficiency plating apparatus and method
AssigneeModular Components National, Inc.
InventorSteven P. Glassman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved apparatus for treating plate-like workpieces with a designated chemical solution, including printed circuit boards, includes: (1) a tray for holding the chemical solution, with the tray having an open top which is configured to receive a horizontally-oriented workpiece, with the tray having a top edge with a portion of the edge forming a dam over which the solution may flow and an opening in its lower portion where the solution can enter the tray, (2) a reservoir tank situated below the tray, (3) a feed line connecting the reservoir tank and tray opening, (4) a drain that returns the solution that overflows the tray top edge to the reservoir tank, and (5) a pump that circulates the solution from the tank to the tray and over the horizontally situated workpiece.
Claims17
An apparatus for treating plate-like workpieces with a designated chemical solution, including printed circuit boards, said apparatus comprising:
- a tray for holding said chemical solution, said tray having an open top which is configured to receive said workpiece when said workpiece is oriented so that its largest-surface-area surface is oriented horizontally, said tray having a top edge with a portion of said edge forming a dam over which said solution flows, an opening in the lower portion of said tray where said solution enters said tray at a point that is below the bottom of where said workpiece sits when said workpiece is horizontally situated in said tray,
- a reservoir tank situated below said tray,
- a feed line connecting said reservoir tank and said tray opening, and
- a drain that returns said solution that overflows said tray top edge to said reservoir tank.
A method for treating plate-like workpieces with a designated chemical solution, including printed circuit boards, said method comprising the steps:
- assembling a tray for holding said chemical solution, said tray having an open top which is configured to receive said workpiece when said workpiece is oriented so that its largest surface area surface is oriented horizontally, said tray having a top edge with a portion of said edge forming a dam over which said solution may flow, an opening in the lower portion of said tray where said solution can enter said tray at a point that is below the bottom of where said workpiece sits when said workpiece is horizontally situated in said tray,
- placing a reservoir tank below said tray,
- connecting with a feed line said reservoir tank and said tray opening
- returning with a drain said solution that overflows said tray top edge to said reservoir tank,
- circulating with a pump said solution from said tank to said tray, and
- immersing said workpiece in said tray while said solution flows from said reservoir to said tray and over said workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.