US 5,705,043 AGranted

Electroplating apparatus

AssigneeSuntec Trading AG

InventorsEric Zwerner, Mariano Aparicio

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Abstract

There is disclosed apparatus for selectively electrolytically treating defined regions of a continuously moving conductive workpiece. The apparatus comprises means for conveying the workpiece through an electrolytic treatment zone of the apparatus where it is contacted with a treatment electrolyte; the conveying means affording masking means to mask the workpiece so that electrolyte contacts only the defined regions; the conveying means comprising an endless chain affording indexing means by which the workpiece is located in register with the masking means; means for supplying electrolyte to the masked workpiece; and means for passing a current between the workpiece as one electrode and another electrode; the means for conveying the workpiece comprising two endless chain conveyors made of articulated links of electrically non-conductive material between which the workpiece is held whilst it is passed through the treatment zone. Indexing means may be provided for ensuring that the two endless chain conveyors remain in register with each other at least in the treatment zone.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An apparatus for selectively electrolytically treating defined regions of a continuously moving conductive workpiece, when present in the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

means for conveying the workpiece through an electrolytic treatment zone of the apparatus where it may be contacted with a treatment electrolyte, said conveying means having masking means to mask the workpiece such that the electrolyte contacts only the defined regions of the workpiece;
said conveying means comprising an endless chain assembly having indexing means which are operative to locate the workpiece in registry with said masking means;
means for supplying the electrolyte to the masked workpiece;
means for passing a current between the workpiece as one electrode and another electrode;
said chain assembly comprising two endless chain conveyors made of articulated links of electrically non-conductive material between which the workpiece is held while it is passed through the treatment zone, each of said conveyors being provided with indexing means which cooperate with one another to ensure that said conveyors remain in registry with each other at least in the treatment zone;
adjacent links in each of said conveyors being articulated to one another to allow relative movement between adjacent links longitudinally of the conveyor;
a first one of said conveyors extending upstream of the treatment zone beyond the other one of said conveyors, said first conveyor having said indexing means for locating the workpiece in registry with said masking means;
and
roller means for pressing the workpiece into engagement with said first conveyor prior to the conveyors being indexed to each other.

6 more elements

An apparatus for selectively electrolytically treating defined regions of a continuously moving conductive workpiece, when present in the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

means for conveying the workpiece through an electrolytic treatment zone of the apparatus where it may be contacted with a treatment electrolyte, said conveying means having masking means to mask the workpiece such that the electrolyte contacts only the defined regions of the workpiece;
said conveying means comprising an endless chain assembly having indexing means which are operative to locate the workpiece in registry with said masking means;
means for supplying the electrolyte to the masked workpiece;
means for passing a current between the workpiece as one electrode and another electrode;
said chain assembly comprising two endless chain conveyors made of articulated links of electrically non-conductive material between which the workpiece is held while it is passed through the treatment zone, each of said conveyors being provided with indexing means which cooperate with one another to ensure that said conveyors remain in registry with each other at least in the treatment zone;
adjacent links in each of said conveyors being articulated to one another to allow relative movement between adjacent links longitudinally of the conveyor;
each of said conveyors being further provided with a support structure at least in the treatment zone, the support structures and the their respective conveyors being movable relative to each other so as to be capable of being brought together to engage the workpiece between them and to be brought apart;
said support structures being provided with indexing means and clamping means for holding them in fixed mutually opposed relationship to permit said conveyors to slide freely therebetween in registry with one another;
said conveyors being keyed to their respective support structures at least in the treatment zone in such a way as to permit each conveyor to slide along its associated support structure;
belt means on at least one of said support structures adapted to frictionally engage the conveyor associated with said support structure to drive said conveyor;
a first one of said conveyors extending upstream of the treatment zone beyond the other one of said conveyors, said first conveyor having said indexing means for locating the workpiece in registry with said masking means;
and
roller means for pressing the workpiece into engagement with said first conveyor prior to the conveyors being indexed to each other.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.