DE102005030546A1 - Device for the treatment of flat and flat objects - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of a galvanizing device (11) for printed circuit boards (16), contact wheels (28) for the electrical contacting are provided in the edge area (19). The contact wheels (28) rest in the edge region (19) only on the underside (17) of the printed circuit board (16). Only transport wheels (20) and counter pressure wheels (31) are provided on the upper side (18) of the printed circuit board (16) to ensure the electrical contact. By means of contact wheels (28) arranged exclusively at the bottom, copper flakes or the like can easily fall off and thus be removed when the printed circuit boards (16) are coated.

Description

field of use and state of the art

The The invention relates to a device for treating objects, in particular an electroplating device for Printed circuit boards. these can go through a treatment chamber on a continuous path, for what means of transport a treatment medium such as an electrolytic solution is provided. Of others are contacting means for electrical contacting and power supply provided by a power supply to the objects.

Task and solution

Of the Invention is based on the object, an aforementioned device to create, with which the problems of the state of the art avoided can be and in particular with less effort a reliable contact and power supply to the objects to be treated ensured can be.

Is solved this object by an apparatus having the features of the claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are Subject of further claims and will be closer in the following explained. The wording of the claims is by express Reference made to the content of the description.

For the transport of the objects through the treatment chamber transport means are provided. With these run the objects continuously or stepwise through the treatment chamber. In the treatment chamber is a treatment medium, for example an electrolyte solution at a galvanizer. Furthermore, contacting agents for the provided electrical contact with the objects and it takes place a power supply from an appropriate power supply. The objects exhibit two surfaces on, for example, a bottom and a top. According to the invention Contacting agent for the electrical contact on each side of the objects only on a surface provided, so either only on the top or only on the Bottom. There are the contacting on the objects and make the electrical contact and thus provide for the power supply. It Thus, for example, provided that on a left or a right side of the objects the contacting only on one surface or not on both sides opposite are provided, in particular only on the underside.

Consequently is in accordance with the invention in departure from the prior art no double-sided electrical Contacting the objects provided, but only a kind of one-sided electrical contact. In the context of the invention has been shown that even with Such a one-sided contact, for example, at a Electroplating device for PCBs satisfactory results can be achieved. A Power supply to the other surface of the objects takes place here through existing holes on the circuit boards, vias or the like ..

With The invention can on the one hand mechanical effort in the Kontaktiermitteln can be saved because only half the number of contacting needed becomes. Furthermore, you can the machine running times increased because there are fewer problems with the contacting agents can and thus less maintenance is necessary.

The contacting means are advantageously designed revolving or rotating. Particularly advantageous they are wheel or roller-like. Embodiments of such contacting are for example from the DE 103 23 660 A1 and EP 819 781 A1 to which reference is expressly made.

For example can be provided that seen in the direction of passage on the left Side and provided on the right side of the items contacting are, but only on one surface of the objects. Prefers they are on the same surface of the objects arranged or are due to it. Particularly preferred are the contacting so on a surface of the objects that precipitation such as metal flakes at a Electroplating apparatus with metal coating, located on this surface or also forms on the contacting, by gravity solve and can fall off. The objects are essentially lying transported, offers here an arrangement of contacting at the bottom of the objects at.

Of more is it for good electrical contact and power supply advantageous when in Seen in the direction of passage provided a plurality of contacting is and the objects is applied.

For this can For example, rows of consecutive contact wheels or may be provided.

For a good electrical contact can be advantageously provided that on the other surface of the objects, in particular exactly opposite, back pressure means are arranged. As a result, a good and steady contact of the contacting is guaranteed to the objects. These counter-pressure means are advantageously also rad- or roller-like as well as the contacting. Due to the wheel or roller-like design, it is above all also possible that contacting means and counter-pressure means do not grind on the surface of the objects along, but roll on it. This prevents mechanical damage or the like. reliable. For this purpose, contacting means and counter-pressure means advantageously rotate at the same speed or at the same circumferential speed, so that a clean rolling takes place on the objects. Furthermore, the contacting means and / or the counterpressure means can be driven, in particular in coupling with the transport means. Alternatively, they can also at least partially form or replace the means of transport or at least the task of the drive via means of transport, such as non-driven transport rollers or rollers.

The Contacting agents can made of metal, preferably made of copper, as well as those on the objects to the concern coming contact surfaces. The back pressure means can Made of non-conductive material. In particular, they exist made of plastic or are at least on their surface with Plastic coated. Thus they are not electrically active. This stores for example in a metal coating with a galvanizer no Metal on.

These and other features go out the claims also from the description and the drawings, wherein the individual features each for alone or in the form of subcombinations an embodiment of the Invention and other fields be realized and advantageous also for protectable versions can represent for the protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual Sections and intermediate headings restrict the not in its generality among these statements.

detailed Description of an embodiment

In the only drawing figure 1 is a schematic electroplating 11 represented with a treatment chamber 13 in which is an electrolyte 14 up to an upper liquid level. This electroplating device 11 corresponds to a conventional electroplating, as shown for example in the EP 819 781 A1 is described and illustrated, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In the treatment chamber 13 or in the electrolyte 14 there is a flat circuit board 16 with a bottom 17 and a top 18 , It can be seen that the circuit board 16 is transported horizontally, with direction in the plane of drawing. Furthermore, it has a right edge area 19 on. The truncated representation of the left edge of the circuit board 16 not shown. In essence, however, is the entire 1 to understand that on the left side, not shown, the mirror image training can be present on the right side.

The circuit board 16 lies on lower transport wheels 20 on which of a lower transport shaft 21 are driven to transport the circuit board through the treatment chamber 13 , At the top 18 the circuit board 16 are upper transport wheels 20 on an upper transport shaft 22 on. The transport shafts are each driven by a lower drive 24 and an upper drive 26 provide and thereby move the circuit board 16 through the treatment chamber 13 ,

At the lower transport shaft 21 there is also a contact wheel 28 , which in the middle region slightly protruding contact segments 29 having. contact wheel 28 and contact segments 29 advantageously consist essentially of copper. They may in particular be designed as in the DE 103 23 660 A1 and or EP 819 781 which is expressly referred to in this regard. The contact wheel 28 or the contact segments 29 lie at the bottom 17 the circuit board 16 on, in the right border area 19 ,

The contact wheel 28 opposite is at the top 18 the circuit board 16 a counter-pressure wheel 31 with a slightly elevated middle tread 32 , Similar to what is otherwise an opposing contact wheel in the prior art, the back pressure wheel provides 31 for a good contact wheel installation 28 on the circuit board 16 or its underside 17 , The counter pressure wheel 31 However, for example, consists of plastic or is in any case not electrically conductive and is not used to supply power to the circuit board 16 , Thus, at least in this border area 19 the circuit board 16 the lower contact wheel 28 the only contact to the circuit board 16 , In particular, along the entire right side of the circuit board 16 only at the bottom 17 the circuit board 16 Contact wheels similar to the contact wheel 28 intended. On a left side of the printed circuit board, not shown 16 can also be at the bottom 17 be provided similar contact wheels.

For electrical contact is the lower contact wheel 28 with an electrical connection 25 to a lower voltage source 34 and an upper voltage source 35 connected. These sources of voltage 34 and 35 are also with their plus pole with anodes 37 connected, wel che above and below the circuit board 16 are provided, advantageously numerous and as cross-standing rods or the like .. About contact wheel 28 and the anodes 37 is over the electrolyte 14 the necessary for a galvanization current to the surfaces of the circuit board 16 generated.

As explained above, by the contact wheel 28 during operation of the galvanizer 11 in any case a direct electrical contact to the bottom 17 the circuit board 16 generated. As a result, for example, a copper coating in any case, starting with the bottom 17 the circuit board 16 , About on the circuit board 16 existing holes, breakthroughs or the like A copper layer forms and thus an electrical contact to the top 18 the circuit board 16 out. Thus, this is also the top 18 electrically contacted and also galvanically coated with copper.

Thus, it is thus apparent that an electrical contact via the contact wheel 28 to the bottom 17 the circuit board 16 sufficient for the bilateral galvanization or coating, including the not directly contacted top 18 , In this respect, it is possible to dispense with half of the contacting means, in particular the contacting means resting on top of the printed circuit board, compared to known electroplating devices.

Of another may be a contact wheel, if the aforementioned Kupferflitter is easily removable, easier to be trained. especially then extends a training of copper or copper surfaces. Otherwise usual expensive Platinum coatings can omitted, what the manufacturing cost and especially the production cost can diminish.

One Another advantage of the invention is that, for example in the case of an aforementioned copper coating of so-called copper baubles, which exudes from the electrolyte, at the contact wheel or a attaches corresponding contact agent. At one from below a printed circuit board adjacent contact wheel, however, this tinsel easily solved and be removed by, namely just falls down. In an overhead contact wheel of a known electroplating There is often the problem that such a bauble just not can fall down and thus accumulate in larger quantities or under circumstances from an overhead contact wheel or overhead transport wheels the circuit board is pressed or causes contamination or damage. These especially with overhead contact wheels existing problem can be avoided with the invention. Previous solutions with one Scavenging of such Kupferflitter are considerably more expensive and can to be saved.

Claims (9)

Device for treating flat and flat objects in a continuous path ( 20 ) through a treatment chamber ( 13 ), in particular electroplating device ( 11 ) for printed circuit boards ( 16 ), with means of transport ( 20 . 21 . 22 ) for transporting the articles through the treatment chamber containing a treatment medium such as an electrolyte solution ( 14 ), and contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) for electrical contacting and power supply from a power supply ( 34 . 35 ) to the objects, characterized in that only on one of the two surfaces ( 17 . 18 ) or sides of the objects ( 16 ) Contacting means are arranged and abut the objects there and contact them electrically. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) are formed revolving or rotating, wherein they are preferably wheel or roller-like. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) on the left side and on the right side ( 19 ) of the objects ( 16 ) are provided in the passage direction, wherein preferably the contacting on both sides of the surface only at the top ( 18 ) or only at the bottom ( 17 ) are provided, in particular only on the underside. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) is arranged one behind the other, preferably along a large part of the length of the treatment chamber ( 13 ). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) opposite each other on the other two-dimensional side of the objects ( 16 ), in particular exactly opposite, back pressure means ( 31 . 32 ) are arranged, wherein preferably the counter-pressure means are also formed wheel or roller-like. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the counter-pressure means ( 31 . 32 ) consist of electrically non-conductive material, in particular of plastic. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that both the contacting means ( 28 . 29 ) as well as the counter-pressure means ( 31 . 32 ) are driven at the same peripheral speed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contacting means ( 28 ) consist of copper and those on the objects ( 16 ) contact surfaces ( 29 ) of the contacting also consist of copper. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the objects ( 16 ) lying on the conveyor track ( 20 ) are transported and contacted.