Continuous electroplating device

A device for plating selected first portions of a selected item including an electroplating bath means, a conveyor disposed for movement above the electroplating bath, retainer devices provided to be carried by the conveyor in spaced relation above the electroplating bath, where the retainer devices include a base having a connector to connect the base to the conveyor so that the retainer is disposed between the conveyor and the electroplating bath;

• cover means provided to be positioned in facing relation to and hingedly connected to said base at the upper edge thereof to receive said item therebetween, and cover second portions of the item which are not to be electroplated;
• bias means carried by said cover means to urge said item against said base means so a portion of the item to be electroplated extends downwardly from the bottom of the base to be received in the electroplating bath and so said item is releasably retained between said cover means and said base means;
• and elastomeric base mask means covering a portion of the face of said base facing said cover and elastomeric cover mask means covering a portion of said cover facing said base means so said item to be electroplated is engaged by said base mask and said cover mask when said cover is in said normal position.