JP2009127120A - Barrel plating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a barrel plating apparatus in which each of workpieces is plated to have uniform film thickness and the variation in plating among the workpieces is suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: The barrel plating apparatus 1 comprises: a barrel 3 which is rotatably supported; an energizing unit 5 provided in the inside of the barrel and energizes an article to be plated; and a separation means 7 provided above the energizing unit and catching the floated article to be plated. The separation means has a magnet function and a floating body function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a barrel plating apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a barrel plating apparatus as an apparatus for performing plating on small electronic components such as plating formation of external electrodes in ceramic electronic components (see Patent Document 1). The barrel plating apparatus includes a barrel that is rotatably supported, and a cathode terminal extends inside the barrel.

  When performing plating, a workpiece and dummy pieces, which are a large number of objects to be plated, are placed inside the barrel, and the barrel is immersed in a plating solution. And while rotating a barrel in a plating solution, it supplies with electricity to a to-be-plated object via a cathode terminal, and it plates on the surface.

However, in the plating process, the workpiece may be plated in a state where the air in the barrel or the gas generated by the plating chemical reaction is included. When the embracing occurs in the plating process in this way, the workpiece floats in the barrel in the plating solution, and there is a problem that it is not sufficiently energized and cannot be properly plated. Furthermore, such a workpiece sinks again, and may be mixed into a good workpiece that has been plated continuously until then, resulting in a problem of variation in plating results between workpieces.
JP-A-8-239798

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can obtain plating with a uniform film thickness (improvement of plating quality) in each workpiece and suppress variation in plating between workpieces (plating). An object is to provide a barrel plating apparatus capable of improving accuracy.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a barrel plating apparatus according to the present invention includes a barrel that is rotatably supported, an energization unit that is provided in the barrel and energizes an object to be plated, and is located above the energization unit. And a separation unit that captures the object to be plated that has been levitated.

  The sorting means may have a magnet function.

  The barrel is closed by a constituent wall thereof, and the sorting means has a function of a floating body, and may be provided in a floating state in the barrel.

  The separation means may have a surface covered with a resin material.

  In this case, the resin material may be a plastic capsule, and a magnet may be accommodated in the capsule without being fixed.

  Alternatively, the separating means has a suction port provided above the energization portion in the barrel, and discharges the plating solution sucked from the suction port outside the barrel and into the plating solution. An exit may be provided.

  According to the present invention described above, it is possible to improve the plating quality and the plating accuracy.

  In the case where the sorting means has a magnet function, there is no compulsory facility such as a drive source for collecting or attracting the floating work.

  When the separation means is provided in a floatable state, it is not forced to install a mechanism for supporting the separation means, and the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. In addition, similarly, a floating work is easily synchronized with the floating movement of the sorting means, and the capture efficiency is improved. Further, for such capture efficiency, the preferred floating operation of the separating means is natural without being obstructed because there are no interfering objects such as cords and tubes that penetrate the inside and outside of the barrel to control the operation of the separating means. Floating operation.

  When the surface of the sorting means is covered with a resin material, the magnet is prevented from being exposed and affecting the plating solution. Furthermore, when the resin material is a plastic capsule and the magnet is accommodated in the capsule without being fixed, the magnet can be moved freely within the capsule, so that the position of the magnet can be spread over a wide range. Change. Therefore, the workpiece can be captured more widely than in the case where an equivalent magnet is fixed.

  When the separating means has a suction port provided above the current-carrying part in the barrel, and a discharge port for discharging the plating solution sucked from the suction port is provided outside the barrel and in the plating solution. The effect that the plating solution in a desired good state is replenished in the barrel can be obtained, and the deterioration of the state of the plating solution in the barrel can be prevented. Moreover, such an advantage can be obtained with the above-described facility for capturing a floating work without providing a dedicated circulation means, and is extremely efficient.

  The other features of the present invention and the operational effects thereof will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment. The barrel plating apparatus 1 includes at least a barrel 3, an energization unit 5, and a sorting unit 7.

  The barrel 3 is a parallel barrel, that is, a closed type barrel that rotates substantially horizontally. The barrel 3 is a hexagonal cylindrical body in the present embodiment, and is closed by its constituent walls. That is, the constituent wall is composed of a pair of hexagonal plate members 3a and six rectangular plate members 3b. The pair of plate members 3 a are provided in a direction parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 1, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis CL of the barrel 3 with a space between each other. The six rectangular plate members 3b are arranged between the pair of plate members 3a, and each of them is bridged between corresponding ones of the six sides of the pair of plate members 3a. . Further, the six plate members 3b have a porous portion having a size enough to restrict leakage of the workpiece 9 and the dummy ball 11 as the objects to be plated in the barrel 3. Thereby, when the barrel 3 is disposed in the plating solution tank 13, the inflow of the plating solution into the barrel 3 is ensured. In addition, the above is an example as a parallel barrel, For example, you may be comprised with the rectangular cylindrical body other than a hexagon, and a porous aspect, its formation area, etc. are considered variously.

  In the present embodiment, the current-carrying part 5 functions as a cathode terminal, and the outer periphery thereof is continuously insulated and coated except for the tip part. Only the tip of the current-carrying part 5 is not covered and the conductive part is exposed. Various configurations of the energization unit 5 are also conceivable. For example, a configuration including a trunk portion extending straight in the lateral direction and a plurality of branch portions extending downward therefrom, or a conductive portion is positioned below. One rod-like configuration that is curved in a straight line. Further, the support mode may have various modes such as a cantilever mode and a both-side mode. The energization unit 5 is connected to one end side of the power supply 15, and the anode terminal 17 is connected to the other end side of the power supply 15. The anode terminal 17 is disposed inside the plating solution tank 13 and outside the barrel 3.

  The sorting means 7 is provided above the energization section 5 and is for catching the floated work 9. The sorting means 7 has a magnet function and a floating body function. Moreover, it is suitable that the surface of the classification means 7 is covered with a resin material. As a specific configuration example of the sorting means 7, a mode in which a magnet is housed in a plastic capsule whose inside is hollow can be cited. The magnet is accommodated so that it can move freely without being fixed to the inner wall of the capsule. Such a separating means 7 literally exhibits the function of a magnet by a magnet accommodated therein, and has a function of a floating body by an aspect of a capsule in which a fluid such as air is enclosed. Further, since the capsule is made of plastic, the capsule itself is a resin material. In addition, the magnet as used in the specification and claims of the present application refers to a magnet having a property of attracting metal.

  Next, the operation of the barrel plating apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, the workpiece 9, the dummy balls 11, and the sorting means 7 are accommodated in the barrel 3 and immersed in the plating solution in the plating solution tank 13. And while rotating the barrel 3 in a plating solution, it supplies with electricity to a to-be-plated object via the electricity supply part 5, and performs plating on the surface.

  Here, during plating, when the workpiece is plated with air in the barrel or gas generated by a plating chemical reaction, the workpiece floats in the plating solution in the barrel. . The surfacing work may not be sufficiently energized and may not be properly plated, or may sink again and be mixed into a good work that has been plated continuously. That is, the plating quality deteriorates as a result of non-uniform plating film thickness, and the plating accuracy decreases as the plating accuracy decreases. However, in the present invention, since the separating means 7 is provided at a position above the energizing portion 5 in the barrel 3, the floated workpiece is captured by the separating means 7. Therefore, the floated workpiece sinks again and does not mix into a good workpiece that has been continuously plated. Therefore, for workpieces that have been plated without floating, plating with a uniform film thickness is obtained for each workpiece, and as a result, the plating results are uniform between workpieces, that is, the plating quality is improved. In addition, the plating accuracy can be improved.

  Further, since the separating means 7 has a function of a magnet, it is not compelled to be equipped with a drive source for collecting or attracting the floating workpiece 9, for example, a drive source for creating a negative pressure.

  Further, utilizing the fact that the barrel 3 is closed, the separating means 7 is provided in a state of floating freely in the barrel 3 by having a function of a floating body. Thereby, it is not forced to install a mechanism for supporting the separating means 7 at a position above the energizing portion 5 and without flowing out of the barrel 3, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs. it can. Furthermore, since the separating means 7 is merely floating in the barrel 3, the work 9 that is similarly floating and floating is easily synchronized with the floating movement of the separating means 7, and the capturing efficiency is improved. In addition, for such capture efficiency, the preferred floating operation of the separating means 7 is hindered because there are no interfering substances such as cords and tubes that penetrate the inside and outside of the barrel 3 to control the operation of the separating means 7. Natural floating operation.

  Further, since the surface of the sorting means 7 is covered with a resin material, the magnet is prevented from being exposed and affecting the plating solution.

  Further, when the sorting means 7 accommodates the magnet without being fixed in the capsule, the magnet can be freely moved within the capsule, so that the position of the magnet changes over a wide range. Therefore, the workpiece can be captured more widely than in the case where an equivalent magnet is fixed.

  Next, a modified embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment. The barrel plating apparatus 101 includes at least a barrel 103, an energization unit 105, and a sorting unit 7.

  The barrel 103 is an inclined barrel, that is, a barrel rotated around a rotation axis inclined both vertically and horizontally. Moreover, it is an opening type barrel, Comprising: The rotation support shaft 104 is connected to the one end side of the barrel 103, and the other end side is opening. In the wall of the barrel 103, a porous portion that functions in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1 is formed.

  The energizing portion 105 is provided at the tip of the cathode terminal. The cathode terminal is inserted from the opening at the top of the barrel 103 and is provided so that the energizing portion 105 at the tip is located near the bottom of the barrel 103.

  The sorting means 7 is configured in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and is disposed above the energization unit 105. Note that the sorting means 7 in the present embodiment is supported at the position as described above by the dedicated support means 119.

  Also in the barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the sorting means 7 is provided at a position above the energizing portion 105 in the barrel 3 as in the barrel plating apparatus of FIG. The floated work is captured by the sorting means 7. Therefore, it is possible to improve the plating quality and the plating accuracy.

  This is also the case with the present modified embodiment, in which the driving source for collecting or attracting the floating workpiece 9 is not forced and the magnet is prevented from being exposed and affecting the plating solution.

  Next, a further modified embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment. The barrel plating apparatus 201 includes at least the barrel 3, the energization unit 5, and the sorting unit 207.

  The barrel 3 and the energization unit 5 are the same as those in the embodiment of FIG.

  The sorting means 207 has a suction port 207a. The suction port 207 a is disposed above the energization unit 5 in the barrel 3. The suction port 207a is connected to the drive source 221 through an appropriate tube. An upstream end of another tube is connected to the drive source 221, and a discharge port 223 is provided at the downstream end. The discharge port 223 is submerged in the plating solution tank 13 and outside the barrel 3.

  In the barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the plating solution in the barrel 3 is sucked through the suction port 207a during the plating by the operation of the drive source 221, and the plating solution is It is discharged into the plating solution outside the barrel 3 through the discharge port 223. Therefore, like the barrel plating apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, the floated workpiece is captured and sucked by the sorting means 207, that is, the suction port 207a. Therefore, it is possible to improve the plating quality and the plating accuracy.

  In addition, the plating solution outside the barrel 3 passes through the perforations formed on the constituent walls of the barrel 3 by the suction of the plating solution inside the barrel 3 and the discharge of the plating solution outside the barrel 3 as described above. Is encouraged to flow into. Therefore, the effect that the plating solution in a desired good state is replenished in the barrel 3 is obtained, and the state of the plating solution in the barrel 3 is deteriorated (for example, concentration change) as the plating is continued. Can be prevented. Moreover, such an advantage can be obtained with the above-described equipment for capturing a floating work without providing a dedicated circulation means, and is an extremely efficient advantage.

  Although the contents of the present invention have been specifically described with reference to the preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on the basic technical idea and teachings of the present invention. It is self-explanatory.

  For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the separating means is not necessarily limited to being fixedly provided by the support means, but is fixed by adjusting the form of the barrel, the inclined state, or some other condition. It may be provided in a floating state instead of a state.

  3 is not limited to being combined with a parallel barrel as shown in FIG. 3, but can be implemented in combination with an inclined barrel as shown in FIG.

  In the above, the plating process of the external electrode in the ceramic electronic component is exemplified as the application of the barrel plating, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it does not matter whether the object to be plated is a ceramic part, and the plating process may be a plating process for forming any part as long as it is a conductive part.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the barrel plating apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the barrel plating apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the barrel plating apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,201 Barrel plating apparatus 3,103 Barrel 5,105 Current supply part 7,207 Sorting means 207a Suction port 223 Discharge port

Claims (6)

A rotatably supported barrel;
An energization part provided in the barrel for energizing the object to be plated;
A barrel plating apparatus provided with a separating means that is provided above the current-carrying portion and captures the floating object to be plated.   The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting unit has a function of a magnet. The barrel is closed by its constituent walls;
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sorting unit has a function of a floating body and is provided in a floating state in the barrel. 4. The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the sorting unit is covered with a resin material. 5. The resin material is a plastic capsule,
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a magnet is accommodated in the capsule without being fixed. The separation means has a suction port provided above the energization part in the barrel,
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge port for discharging the plating solution sucked from the suction port is provided outside the barrel and in the plating solution.

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