System and method for electropolishing or electroplating conveyor belts
AssigneeAshworth Bros., Inc.
InventorsJoseph M. LACKNER, Jonathan R. LASECKI, Paul STEINHOFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electropolishing or electroplating system and method for metal conveyor belts is described. In some embodiments, the system has a metal conveyor belt held in constant tension; a tank for holding an electrolytic fluid, the tank having an interior space suitable to contain the fluid, a metal plate and the metal conveyor belt; and an electrical current supply. In an electropolishing application, the current passes from the metal conveyor belt, through the fluid and into the metal plate. In an electroplating application, the current passes from the metal plate, through the fluid and into the metal conveyor belt.
Claims28
An electropolishing or electroplating system comprising:
- an inner tank configured to hold electrolytic fluid, the inner tank comprising a conductive plate;
- a tension device configured to maintain tension in a continuous assembly of interconnected components between a first roller and a second roller;
- and
- a system drive configured to move the continuous assembly of interconnected components from the first roller through the inner tank and onto the second roller.
A method for electropolishing or electroplating a continuous assembly of interconnected components, the method comprising:
- unrolling the continuous assembly of interconnected components from a first roller;
- guiding the continuous assembly of interconnected components into an electrolytic bath comprising at least one conductive plate;
- applying current to at least one of the continuous assembly of interconnected components and the at least one conductive plate;
- moving the continuous assembly of interconnected components out of the electrolytic bath;
- and
- rolling the continuous assembly of interconnected components onto a second roller,
- wherein tension is maintained in the continuous assembly of interconnected components between the first roller and the second roller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.