Strip line plating cell
AssigneeBell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
InventorDennis R. Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gold plating cell and process are described which are particularly useful for continuous gold plating procedures. Advantages of the use of this gold plating cell is the rapid plating possible without degradation of the quality of the plated gold. Rapid plating is desirable economically because of greater product throughput. Also, the cell and process is such as to concentrate the gold plating in areas of the strip where it is most needed. This is also economically advantageous since it reduces the amount of gold used.
Claims17
An apparatus for continuous gold electroplating a strip including a gold plating cell, said gold plating cell comprising a container containing plating elements CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plating elements comprise
- (a) means of conveying electrolyte from a reservoir to an electrolyte conduit, said electrolyte conduit having a passageway opening in the upper rear of the passageway;
- (b) a mounting wall joined to the rear of the conduit;
- (c) an anode electrode with a first portion contoured to conform to shape of conduit spaced from and extended over the conduit, the contoured portion serving simultaneously to direct the flow of the electrolyte exiting from the passageway of the conduit and to perform the electrochemical function of the anode;
- and
- (d) an electrode positioning mounting member mounted above the contoured portion of the anode electrode, the electrode positioning mounting member including means for deflecting the contoured portion of the anode electrode to control the direction of flow of the electrolyte.
A process for making electrical connectors comprising the step of carrying out a chemical procedure on a strip comprising pins for the electrical connector using an apparatus for continuous gold plating including a gold plating cell, said gold plating cell comprising a container containing plating elements characterized in that the plating elements comprise
- (a) means of conveying electrolyte from a reservoir to an electrolyte conduit, said electrolyte conduit having a passageway opening in the upper rear of the passageway;
- (b) a mounting wall joined to the rear of the conduit;
- (c) an anode electrode with a first portion contoured to conform to the shape of conduit spaced from and extended over the conduit, the contoured portion serving simultaneously to direct the flow of the electrolyte exiting from the passageway of the conduit and to perform the electrochemical function of the anode;
- and
- (d) an electrode positioning mounting member mounted above the contoured portion of the anode electrode, the electrode positioning mounting member including means for deflecting the contoured portion of the anode electrode to control the direction of flow of the electrolyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.