AT10524U1 - DEVICE FOR TREATING SUBSTRATES, IN PARTICULAR FOR GALVANIZING PCB TILES, AND METHOD - Google Patents

Description

2 AT010 524U1

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to a device for the treatment of substrates, in particular a galvanizing, according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method for detaching electrodeposited metal coatings on rotating contacting means in a galvanizing.

It is known from DE-A-10323660, that on contacting such as contact rollers, which rest against to be plated or coated substrates or objects such as printed circuit boards or solar modules, the coating is replaced again for certain times by changing the polarity because it has a disturbing effect with respect to the Kontaktierfunktion the contacting. For this purpose, for example, the outside can be subdivided into individual sections, so that in each case sections which do not rest against the substrates at a specific time can be freed from the coating by reversing the polarization. Here, however, the cost of the subdivision is large, especially because it makes the production of the contacting is complex. These are considered wearing parts and must be replaced frequently for various reasons.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide an aforementioned device and a method mentioned above, with which problems of the prior art can be eliminated and in particular a removal of an unwanted coating of contacting is easily possible with the simplest possible structure of contacting.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 15. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated herein by express reference. In the following, some of the features that can apply to both the device and the procedure are listed only once. However, independently of each other, they can apply to both the facility and the procedure.

It is provided that the device has a passage path for the substrates through a treatment chamber, wherein a treatment medium is located in the treatment chamber, for example an electrolyte solution. For transporting the substrates through the treatment chamber means of transport are provided. For electrical contacting contacting means are provided which come into contact with the substrates or abut against these. The transport means have at least one rotating shaft on which transport wheels, rollers or rollers are arranged for transporting the substrates known per se. The contacting means are arranged or mounted on the shaft. The contacting means have a circle or. ring-like outside, with which they abut the substrates and contact them. In particular, the contacting means are in the form of wheels or rollers. According to the invention, the contacting means are mounted on the shaft such that their outer side can be moved or deflected in a direction away from the substrates with respect to the central axis of the shaft in the transport and contacting state. Thus, the outside of the substrates removed and thus the contact can be interrupted. This makes it possible for the contact means or their outer sides to be removed from the substrates for specific time intervals or at specific times. At these times, then, for example, by an already described reversal of the polarity of the power supply to the contact means deposited coating material can be removed again, without the need for an elaborate segmentation of the outside or the like would be necessary. 3 AT 010 524 U1

In an advantageous embodiment, the outside of the contacting is formed as a circular ring, preferably with a certain width to ensure good contact. Furthermore, the outer side or the circular ring can be dimensionally stable, that is, for example, completely rigid and non-deformable. It can have a continuous contact surface or metal surface, that is to say be a continuous, wide and preferably flat metal ring for a good contact.

According to a fundamentally first embodiment of the invention, the shaft is rigid and continuous. A contacting means or its outer side or its outer ring can be movably mounted on the shaft in such a way that a radial mobility or a movement away from the substrates is possible while the position of the shaft remains the same. Thus, a shaft can be fixed in a known manner and stored immutable their position. To interrupt the contacting only the contacting need to be lifted and thus moved relative to the shaft. This allows a relatively simple mounting of the shaft, wherein the mobility of the contacting is achieved by the structural design.

For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that the bearing of the contacting means or its outer side is designed to be yielding or resilient on the shaft. In a basic position of the contacting means on the shaft, the two are concentric with each other. In the moved or deflected position, they are no longer concentric with one another and the outside is lifted off the substrate and thus the contacting is interrupted. Such a design is known from the German patent application filed on the same day by our patent P 45565 DE, the content of which is hereby incorporated by express reference into the content of the description, in particular with respect to the training possibilities for the shaft and the contacting.

In order to lift the contacting means in a controlled manner from the substrates, a displacement device can act on them, in which case they can engage in particular on the outside or in the region of the outside. For example, the outer side can act on a section protruding parallel to the direction of rotation in the manner of an outer ring or engage behind in the radial direction. To move away, they can pull the outer ring form-fitting, and it is quite possible that he continues to rotate so as not to interrupt the transmission of torque. With such a design, it is possible to rigidly and thus very simply to make the shaft rigidly or at least between the transport means and the contacting.

According to a basically second embodiment of the invention, the shaft is not rigid, but movable in the region of the contacting, in particular in the direction away from the substrates deflected. This can be realized for example by a movable shaft portion which is movably connected in this respect with the rest of the shaft, in particular with that part of the shaft on which sit the transport means and which is so far rigid and are not clearly moved away from the substrates in its storage should. The movable shaft portion is connected by a torque-transmitting joint with the rest of the shaft, so that in normal operation when creating the means of transport and contacting the substrates, the contacting are not only rotated by the investment in the substrates, but run to the best possible contact itself and to are driven. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, it may also be advantageous to continue rotating the contacting means by means of such a torque-transmitting joint in the lifted state. By such a movable shaft portion, the various shaft sections are no longer aligned with their longitudinal central axes after lifting off each other.

The torque-transmitting joint may for example be a universal joint, which makes it possible to move the movable shaft portion by a parallel displacement away from the substrates. Among other things, it may also be provided that between two shaft sections which are rigidly mounted on their own, such a movably mounted shaft section is provided between them which, so to speak, is movable parallel to the substrates away from them. In conjunction with a universal joint, it is possible to form the movable shaft portion per se as a rigid shaft part. On this then a contacting agent in the form of an aforementioned role or the like. sit, the outside of which always rotates in a predetermined assignment to the movable shaft portion.

Instead of providing an inherently rigid, but movably mounted shaft section, the shaft can be designed to be flexible overall in the area of the contacting means with at the same time possible torque transmission. This can be done by elastic or rubbery as well as by spring-like or helical spring-like shaft sections. In this case, there is no articulation with defined articulation points, but mobility over certain sections.

In order to move the movable shaft section away from the substrates, a traversing device may be provided which either acts on the outside of the contacting means as described above. Alternatively, the movable shaft portion may be supported in a movable device. By such a whole of the movable shaft portion can be lifted, which is particularly simple in an attack on a bearing of the movable shaft portion. In particular, this does not affect the continued rotation of the contacting.

In principle, provision may be made for movable contacting means to be provided only once on a single shaft. For many applications, this is sufficient for contacting, in particular because in the direction of passage of the substrates such waves are provided several times in succession. They can certainly be offset in a lateral direction to each other. Movable contacting means are preferably provided at an end region of the shaft or an edge or outer region of the substrates in the direction of passage. This is particularly advantageous when moving shaft sections are present. It is generally possible to provide a drive only at one end of a shaft. This shaft end preferably projects out of the treatment chamber. At the other end then the movable contacting means may be provided.

Finally, in a third embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the entire shaft, together with means of transport and contacting means, to be lifted off the substrates. Although this requires a somewhat more complex storage of the entire shaft, on the other hand can be dispensed with movable shaft sections or in moving contacting or rolling.

The transport means may be electrically insulating without influence on an electrical contact with the substrates. For this they may for example consist of plastic, whereby it is preferably possible, the deposition of coatings or the like. from the treatment medium on them to avoid.

In the method according to the invention, the contacting means are in normal operation or in Kontaktierbetrieb to the substrates to be treated or coated, whereby the electrical contact takes place. If it is desired to remove a coating deposited on the contacting means during this process, which is necessary at certain time intervals, then a contacting agent is lifted off the substrates, thereby interrupting the electrical contacting. Then, the contacting agent is supplied with current of opposite polarity for detaching the coating. By this lifting of the contacting of the substrates without fundamentally removing the contacting of the device, the detachment of coatings can be done easily on the one hand. On the other hand, the contacting means can be easily formed, in particular simple contacting rollers in one-piece construction made of metal, in particular with a continuous outer side without 5 AT 010 524 U1

Subdivision into differently acted segments or the like, as is known from the prior art. Advantageously, the method is characterized by features that are described above. In particular, it is carried out particularly advantageously with a device described above.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawings shows:

1 is a schematic sectional view through an electroplating device with movable shaft sections and contacting rollers thereon, which are applied to substrates,

2 shows the electroplating device from FIG. 1 with contacting rollers lifted off from the substrates, FIG.

3 is a modification of the illustration of FIG. 2 with a spring joint instead of a universal joint,

4 shows a modification of the electroplating apparatus from FIG. 1 with rigid and continuous shaft and contacting roller mounted thereon, and FIG. 5 shows a side view of an electroplating apparatus showing the different lifting of the contacting rollers from the substrates.

Detailed description of the embodiments

FIG. 1 shows, as a detailed view of the electroplating device 11 according to FIG. 5, a section transverse to the passage direction of substrates 16 through a treatment chamber 12. The substrates 16 are transported by upper transport rollers 20 and lower transport rollers 20 '. The transport rollers 20 and 20 'are each mounted on fixed shafts 22 and 22'. The lower shafts 22 'are mounted in rigid bearings 24' and are left over the treatment chamber 12, where they are connected to a drive 28. The drive 28 is also coupled to the upper rigid shafts 22. These upper shafts 22 are mounted in bearings 24, which allow a certain mobility of the shafts 22 upwards. This certain mobility in the bearings 24, however, only serves to make the transport rollers 20 movable in the event of unevenness on the substrates 16 while at the same time being permanently attached to the substrates. As well, it is possible here to make the upper bearings 24 immovable as the lower bearings 24 ', for example, if the transport rollers 20 are somewhat flexible. Both printed circuit boards and, for example, solar modules with carriers made of thin glass can be provided as substrates. The advantages of the electroplating device 11 according to the invention can be used in both cases.

On the shafts 22 and 22 'sit two transport rollers 20 and 20', each with a storage 24 and 24 'right next to it. Again to the right of the bearings 24 and 24 ', shaft portions 32 and 32' are connected via hinges 38 and 38 '. The joints 38 and 38 'are here designed as a torque transmitting universal joints, which may also allow a certain change in length to compensate between the waves 22 and 22' and 32 and 32 'when lifting the shaft sections 32 and 32'. On the shafts 32 and 32 'is in each case a contacting roller 30 or 30'. This is in Fig. 1 in each case on one side of the substrate 16 at. Furthermore, the shafts 32 and 32 'are connected via a schematically illustrated conductor arrangement 18 to the current source 13 as an electrical contact.

The shafts 32 and 32 'are designed as movable shaft sections relative to the substantially immovably mounted shafts 22 and 22'. For this they are stored in the bearings 34 and 34 '. These are evidently designed to allow considerable mobility in one direction away from the substrates 16, as will be explained in more detail below. For this movement, the displacement devices 36 and 36 'are provided. By the arrows shown illustrates how by driving away the displacement devices 36 from the plane of the substrates 16, the shaft portions 32 and 32 'are also moved and thus the contact rollers 30 and 30' are lifted from the surface of the substrates 16. This is shown in FIG. 2.

From Fig. 2, in turn, it can be seen how after lifting the contacting rollers 30 and 30 ', the electrical contact to the substrates 16 is interrupted. In this time, a reversal of the current application take place, which will be explained later in the time sequence in more detail. At the same time it can be seen from FIG. 2 that in this state the transport rollers 20 and 20 'continue to rest unchanged on the substrates 16 and thus their passage is not impaired. The possibility shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the connection of the fixed shafts 22 with the movable shaft portions 32 by the universal joints 38 is a possibility that can be advantageously realized. Above all, given by the universal joints illustrated the torque transmission without speed differences between the shaft sections 22 and 32 or 22 'and 32'.

As an alternative articulation is shown in Fig. 3 is a kind of coil spring joint shown enlarged with a coil spring 138. This consists of individual helical spring coils 139, each of which is firmly seated on the right end of the rigidly mounted shaft 122 and the left end of the slidably mounted shaft 132. In particular, this is possible because the corresponding helical spring windings 139 sit tightly and frictionally and force-lockingly on the shaft ends. Depending on the nature of the embodiment of the coil spring 138 and the thickness of the wire or the individual turns, a torque transmission is very well possible here as well. In contrast to a universal joint described above, a certain speed difference can not necessarily be avoided. On the one hand, however, this may not be disturbing. On the other hand, the torques to be transmitted are not particularly great for the contact rollers 130 or 130 ', which in any case serve essentially only for contacting, so that in most cases this should be considered sufficient.

The other details of the modification of FIG. 3 with respect to storage of the rigidly mounted fixed shaft 122 and bearing 134 and displacement device 136 in the movably mounted shaft portion 132 correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2. So need not be discussed in detail here.

In a modification of the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be provided that in each case from a contacting roller a transport roller rests against the substrate, which is not moved or moved or is displaceable. Thus, it is possible to lift off a contact roller on one side of the substrate, while it still rests on the other side. As a result, the power supply to the substrate can be maintained by a contact roller resting against one side, while the other contacting roller is freed of the interfering coating.

Another variation, not shown, provides that they are similar to bearings 24 as the bearing 34 for the movable shaft portion. Instead of a two-part and articulated interconnected shaft a single continuous and rigid shaft is provided, and by a displacement device similar to the displacement device 36 of FIG. 1, the entire shaft is moved away from the substrates 16, so both the transport rollers and the contacting rollers removed. However, this is easily imaginable with reference to FIG. 1 bar AT010 524U1 bar.

Instead of the coil spring hinge 138 of FIG. 3 could also be provided an elastic plastic element or a kind of flexible metal hose. For example, instead of the coil spring 138, although a flexible, but reasonably suitable for the transmission of torque plastic hose can be mounted and secured to the two ends of the waves. This also allows a tilting or parallel displacement of the shaft sections 1322 and 132 to each other. Advantageously, care should be taken that no or only low Abhebekräfte be generated when lifting the movable shaft portion on the hinge connection to the rigidly mounted shaft portion. Otherwise, the transport roller provided here as the next would be impaired in its abutment with the substrate or even the shaft, which is rigidly attached to it, would be moved away from the substrate in the somewhat yielding bearings 134, which adversely affects the transport of the substrates.

Yet another alternative is shown in FIG. The contact roller 230 shown there sits on a previously mentioned continuous solid and substantially according to FIG. 1 rigidly mounted shaft 232. The contact roller 230 consists of a sleeve portion 241. In this sleeve 241 is an inner opening 242, through which the shaft 232 extends , Since the clear width of the inner opening 242 is significantly higher than that of the shaft 232, the gap 248 is formed. Inner opening 242 and shaft 232 are each circular, so that the sleeve 241 of the contact roller 230 by the amount of the gap 248, for example, upwards or even after can be moved down, for example, to compensate for unevenness on the substrates 216.

From the central region of the sleeve 241 is approximately at right angles from a flange 243. It goes outside in the outer ring 245 with a widened flat outside. As can be seen from Fig. 4, here the contacting roller 230 is integrally formed, for example, metal such as copper or the like .. This is also advantageous for the rest of the illustrated contact rollers. Due to the length of the sleeve 241, a tilting security is guaranteed to some extent despite the so-called floating mounting on the shaft 232.

Both ends of the sleeve portion 241 are engaged by coil springs 250. The coil springs 250 are each with a remote narrow end 251 directly on the shaft 232, advantageous force and friction and immovable. This connection can for example be improved by a circumferential groove in the shaft 232. Toward the contact roller 230 or the protruding flange 243, the turns of the coil springs 250 continue to engage over the outer regions of the sleeve 241. As shown, this can be flattened on its outer side to allow a continuous increase in the width of the turns of the coil springs 250 , With a wide end 252, turns of the coil spring are directly on the sleeve 241, close to the flange 243. The width of the turns 252 may also be formed as previously described for the tight turns 251. Instead of the externally applied coil springs 250, it is conceivable that a spring device is arranged in the inner opening 242, for example with a radially resilient effect. This can also be a kind of very elastic foam or the like. be, for example in tube or sleeve shape. An electrical contact between contacting roller 230 and conductor arrangement or shaft 232 can take place in FIG. 4 via the turns of the coil springs 250. In an alternative spring either a freely connected conductor between Kontaktierrad and shaft or conductor arrangement can be provided. Alternatively, the introduced into the inner opening 242 spring means may be electrically conductive, for example, also consist of an electrically conductive plastic.

In order to lift the contact roller 230 from the top of the substrates 216, a displacement device 236 is provided. This engages with a hook-like portion at least from one side, preferably opposite from both sides, under the outer ring 245 and can cause a lifting of the contact roller 230 of the substrates 216. Instead of a

Claims (15)

8 AT 010 524 U1 shown displacement device 236 can also other devices pull the contact roller 230 upwards. 5, it can be seen how in the treatment chamber 12 of the electroplating apparatus 11 light pipes 17 can also be provided, for example for illuminating solar modules as substrates 16 for improving the treatment. By means of the illustrated thick arrows, it is illustrated in FIG. 5 how, under certain circumstances, individual contacting rollers 30 can be lifted off the substrates 16 in a change along the passage direction of the substrates 16. To simplify the illustration, only transport rollers 20 on the underside and contacting rollers 30 on the upper side of the substrates 16 are shown here. It is thus possible, for example, for one contacting roller 30 to be alternately lifted and freed from a coating, while the next and the preceding contacting roller abut the substrates for coating. For this purpose, a controller, not shown, is provided, which can lift off a contact roller 30 via the displacement device 36. This control then causes in each case via the connection with the conductor arrangement 18, the reversal of the polarity of the power supply to the corresponding contacting roller 30 for removing the coating. Claims 1. Apparatus for treating substrates (16, 116, 216), in particular electroplating apparatus (11) for printed circuit boards or solar modules, on a passage path through a treatment chamber (12), with a treatment medium, such as an electrolyte solution (14), with transport means for the transport of the substrates through the treatment chamber and with contacting means (30, 30 ', 130, 230) for electrical contacting to the substrates, wherein the transport means comprise at least one rotating shaft (22, 22', 122, 222) on the transport wheels (20, 20 ', 120, 120') are arranged for transporting the substrates and wherein the contacting means (30, 30 ', 130, 230) are arranged and mounted on the shaft and have a circular or ring-like outer side for contacting the substrates (16, 116, 216) by conditioning, characterized in that the bearing is designed such that the outer side relative to the central axis of the shaft in the contacting operation movable or out is steerable in the radial direction for lifting the outside of the substrates. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer side (245) is a circular ring, preferably with a wide outer surface. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer side (245) is dimensionally stable and preferably has a continuous contact surface or metal surface, in particular with a continuous metal ring. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (222) is rigid and continuous, wherein a contacting means (230) and its outer side (245) are mounted so movably on the shaft, that they are radially deflectable for lifting the outer side (245) from the substrates (216) while the shaft (222) remains in the same position. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the bearing of the contacting means (230) or the outer side (245) on the shaft (222 ') is resiliently formed with a basic position, in the shaft and outer side are concentric with each other, wherein the deflected position has the concentricity removed and the outside is lifted off the substrate (216). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that on the contacting means (230), in particular on the outer side (245), a displacement device (236) engages, preferably with permanent engagement, which is displaceable for moving away the contacting of the surface of the substrates (216). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the region of the contacting means (30, 30 ', 130) and the outer lying shaft portion (32, 32', 132) movable with the remaining shaft (22, 22 ', 122), in particular with the rest of the shaft in the region of the transport means (20, 20', 120), wherein the movable shaft portion (32, 32 '132) by a torque transmitting joint (38, 38', 138) the remaining shaft (22, 22 ', 122) is connected to move the movable shaft portion away from the substrates (16, 116) upon further abutment of the transport means (20, 20', 120) on the substrates, so that the various shaft portions ( 22, 22 ', 32, 32', 132, 132 ') are no longer aligned with their longitudinal central axes. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the joint is a universal joint (38) for parallel displacement of the movable shaft portion (32, 32 ') away from the substrates (16). 9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the movable shaft portion (32, 32 ', 132) in a movable bearing (34, 34', 134) is mounted, which with a traversing device (36, 36 '136) is movable to move the shaft portion. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire shaft, including transport means and contacting means of the substrates is formed liftable. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable contacting means (30, 30 ', 130, 230) along a shaft (22, 22', 32, 32 ', 122, 132, 222) are provided only once , preferably at an end region of the shaft or an edge region or an outer side of the substrates (16, 116, 216) in the direction of the passage path. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that at one end of the shaft (22, 22 ') a drive (28) is provided, preferably at an out of the treatment chamber (12) lying end of the shaft, wherein at the lower end of the shaft the movable contacting means (30, 30 ') are provided. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport means (20, 20 ', 120) are electrically insulating without electrical contact with the substrates (16, 116, 216) and preferably made of plastic. 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of shafts (22, 22 ', 32, 32', 122, 132, 222) with transport means (20, 20 ', 120) and contacting means (30, 30', 130, 230) are arranged so close to each other in succession in the direction of the passage path that one of the shafts or shaft sections can be lifted without interrupting the contacting and / or the transport drive. 15. A method for detaching galvanically deposited metal coatings on rotating contacting means or contact rollers (30, 30 ', 130, 230) in an electroplating apparatus (11), characterized in that in normal contact operation, the contacting rollers to be coated substrates (16, 116, 216) and for removal of the coating from the contacting means at least one contacting agent is lifted off the substrates and current (13) of opposite polarity is applied, the method comprising a device according to one of claims 1 to 14 is carried out. For this purpose 3 sheets of drawings