Apparatus for electrodepositing metal

An apparatus for producing metal foil, comprising:

• a cathode drum having an outer plating surface, said drum being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;
• an anode cradle having a semi-cylindrical upper surface of electrically non-conducting material facing said cathode drum and a lower surface facing away from said cathode drum, said cradle dimensioned to be spaced from the plating surface of said cathode drum so as to define a generally uniform gap therebetween;
• a plurality of thin, generally deformable titanium anodes,
• mounting means extending through said anode cradle for mounting said anodes to said upper surface wherein said anodes conform to the contour of said upper surface and form a fluid-tight seal therewith, said mounting means being connectable to one or more separate sources of power;
• an inlet port formed between two of said anodes;
• and,
• means for forcing an electrolytic fluid through said inlet port into said gap.

An apparatus for electrodeposition of metal comprising:

• an anode and a moving cathode having a plating surface, said anode and said cathode being spaced apart and defining an interelectrode gap therebetween;
• said anode comprised of:
• an anode cradle having a non-conductive surface of predetermined contour facing said cathode;
• a plurality of deformable metal elements of generally uniform thickness, said elements having a configuration in near conformance to said contour of said anode cradle surface;
• means for connecting said metal elements to a source of power;
• and,
• means for securing said elements to said cradle wherein said elements are drawn into mating engagement with said non-conductive surface and conforms to the predetermined contour thereof.

An apparatus for electrodeposition of metal comprising:

• a cell containing an electrolyte having a concentration of metal ions to be deposited;
• a cathode at least partially immersed in said electrolyte;
• and,
• an anode essentially comprised of:
• an anode carrier having an electrically non-conductive surface facing said cathode and said electrolytic fluid, and forming at least a portion of said cell, said carrier including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough into said cell,
• at least one deformable, generally flat metal anode having connector means extending to one side thereof, said connector means connectable to a source of power and dimensioned to be in registry with said apertures and to extend therethrough;
• and,
• fastener means operable to secure said anode to said cradle and to deform said anodes wherein said anodes assume the contour of said non-conductive surface and forms a fluid-tight seal therewith.

An anode assembly for use with a cylindrical drum which is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis for electrodeposition of metal onto a surface, said anode assembly comprising:

• an anode cradle having a semi-cylindrical, electrically non-conductive surface facing said drum, said cradle dimensioned to be positioned a predetermined distance below said drum to form an annular gap between said drum and said non-conductive surface;
• a plurality of elongated, generally rectangular anode plates disposed, completely within said gap about the periphery of said drum, said anode plates oriented lengthwise generally parallel to the axis of said drum;
• means extending through said anode cradle for mounting said anode plates to said non-conductive surface of said anode cradle said mounting means causing said anode plates to conform to the shape of said conductive surface and to form a fluid-tight seal therewith;
• and,
• connecting means external to said anode cradle for connecting said anode plates to sources of power.