US 4,376,017 A · Methods of electrolytically treating portions of digitated strips and treating cell

Abstract

A pair of opposite surfaces (17 and 18) of shaped, digitated edge features (12) of a metal strip (11) are selectively treated in an electrolytic treating cell (32) while adjacent edge surfaces (22 and 23) of such features are shielded from exposure to the treatment. The desired treatment, such as a gold plating process, is accomplished on two opposite, outwardly facing surfaces of a strip of center carried pins by engaging the strip with lateral masking belts having complementary edge features. The strip and the masking belts are passed through a treating cell between paired off electrodes (40 and 41). An electric field between each electrode and the respective, adjacent surface of the strip (11) accomplishes the treatment. Slotted openings through the masking belts relieve pressure differentials in the electrolyte on either side of the strip to minimize fluid flow through gaps between the digitated strip and the masking belts.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of electrolytically treating portions of a laterally digitated strip, wherein the strip is electrically coupled to an electrical circuit, which comprises:

engaging edge features of the strip with complementary edge features of a coplanarly positioned masking belt;
and
moving the strip with the engaged belt through an electrolytic bath in a treating chamber and through a gap formed by spaced treating electrodes, such that each of two oppositely outward facing surfaces of the strip are exposed to an adjacent one of the electrodes, while edge surfaces of the strip are masked by complementary edge surfaces of the masking belt.

Apparatus for electrolytically treating outwardly directed surface portions of a conductive, digitated strip, wherein the strip, coupled into an electric treating circuit, is movably positioned to pass through an electrolytic treating cell having a treating cavity, at least one pair of spaced treating electrodes located in the treating cavity, and means for filling the treating cavity with an electrolytic treating fluid, which comprises:

at least one lateral masking belt, such belt having edge features complementary to edge features of said digitated strip;
means for engaging said complementary edge features of said at least one masking belt with the edge features of said digitated strip;
means for guiding said digitated strip in its movement through the cell to pass through said treating cavity and through a space between said at least one pair of treating electrodes to expose oppositely outwardly directed surfaces of said digitated strip to an electrolytic treating action, while the edge features of said strip remain protected from such electrolytic treating action by said complementary edge features of said at least one masking belt;
and
means for disengaging said at least one masking belt from said digitated strip after the strip has emerged from said treating cell.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods of electrolytically treating portions of digitated strips and treating cell

Life of this patent

Methods of electrolytically treating portions of digitated strips and treating cell

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10