Apparatus for in line plating

A plating apparatus for moving a flat work piece with through holes through an electrolyte solution to electroplate a metal onto the planer surfaces and the surfaces of the through holes of the work piece comprising:

• conveyor means adapted to carry the work piece through the electrolyte solution;
• flood cell means for containing the electrolyte solution and having ends located in the path of the work piece such that the entire width of the work piece is immersed in the electrolyte solution;
• anode means positioned on each side of the work piece in the flood cell means such the electrolyte solution covers the anode means and work piece;
• distribution means to distribute the electrolyte solution onto the planer surfaces and through the through holes of the work piece as same moves through the flood cell means;
• a first and second pair of electrified rollers, said first pair of rollers having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other and each roller oriented on opposite sides of the work piece across the entire width of the work piece transverse to the path of and in rolling contact with the planer surfaces of the work piece, said first pair of rollers being spaced apart from one end of the flood cell means along the path of the work piece such that the rollers remain dry of electrolyte solution, said second pair of rollers having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other and each roller oriented on opposite sides of the work piece across the entire width of the work piece transverse to the path of and in rolling contact with the planer surfaces of the work piece, said second pair of rollers being spaced apart from the other end of flood cell means along the path of the work piece such that the rollers remain dry of electrolyte solution;
• and power means adapted to provide direct current to each of the electrified rollers and anode means.

A plating apparatus for moving a flat work piece with through holes through an electrolyte solution to electroplate a metal onto the planer surfaces and the surfaces of the through holes of the work piece comprising:

• conveyor means adapted to carry the work piece through the electrolyte solution;
• flood cell means for containing the electrolyte solution and located in the path of the work piece such that the entire width of the work piece is immersed in the electrolyte solution, said flood cell means having a pair of pinch rollers located at each end of the flood cell means which form the ends of the flood cell means, each pair of pinch rollers having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other and oriented transverse to and across the path of the work piece and in rolling contact with the opposite planer surfaces of the work piece such that the work piece passes between each roller of the pair to form the ends of the flood cell means to contain the electrolyte solution as the work piece moves through the flood cell means;
• anode means positioned on each side of the work piece in the flood cell means such the electrolyte solution covers the anode means and work piece;
• distribution means to distribute the electrolyte solution onto the planer surfaces and through the through holes of the work piece as same moves through the flood cell means;
• a first and second pair of electrified rollers, said first pair of electrified rollers having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other and each electrified roller oriented on opposite sides of the work piece across the entire width of the work piece transverse to the path of and in rolling contact with the work piece, said first pair of electrified rollers being spaced apart from one end of the flood cell means along the path of the work piece such that the electrified rollers remain dry of electrolyte solution, said second pair of electrified rollers having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other and each electrified roller oriented on opposite sides of the work piece across the entire width of the work piece transverse to the path of and in rolling contact with the work piece, said second pair of electrified rollers being spaced apart from the other end of flood cell means along the path of the work piece such that the electrified rollers remain dry of electrolyte solution and further first and second pair of electrified rollers are spaced apart such at least one pair of electrified rollers is in rolling contact with the planer surface of the work piece at all times as the work piece moves between the first and second pair of electrified rollers;
• and power means adapted to provide direct current to each of the electrified rollers and anode means.