US3397126A - Plating of small parts - Google Patents
Plating of small parts Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3397126A US3397126A US495823A US49582365A US3397126A US 3397126 A US3397126 A US 3397126A US 495823 A US495823 A US 495823A US 49582365 A US49582365 A US 49582365A US 3397126 A US3397126 A US 3397126A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- parts
- plating
- holder
- pan
- cathode
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
- C25D17/16—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk
- C25D17/28—Apparatus for electrolytic coating of small objects in bulk with means for moving the objects individually through the apparatus during treatment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G49/00—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
- B65G49/02—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid
- B65G49/04—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction
- B65G49/0409—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length
- B65G49/0413—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath
- B65G49/0427—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for conveying workpieces through baths of liquid the workpieces being immersed and withdrawn by movement in a vertical direction specially adapted for workpieces of definite length arrangements for conveyance through the bath jigging conveyors
Definitions
- the best method for electroplating of small parts is by barrel plating.
- the parts are fed to a rotatable barrel or similar container which can be dipped into an electroplating bath which includes an anode, a cathode connection is provided to the interior of the barrel, and the barrel is rotated to continuously move the parts and agitate the solution during the electroplating operation.
- the barrel plating eliminates the necessity of establishing a separate cathode connection for each part, continuously moves the parts to provide agitation and renewal of the cathode film, etc.
- barrel plating is not feasible because the thin wire and strip portions are bent or curled and the glass or ceramic parts get cracked or broken during rotation of the barrel.
- such parts are to be plated in one or more smaller localized areas, constant contact with the electrode areas of the barrel cannot be maintained so that all areas are not plated to an equal thickness. Since there is a trend toward miniaturization, this has become a real problem and in some cases it has been necessary to individually rack such small parts on a conveyor means and plate by that process. In the plating by racking, a higher speed of plating can be obtained than by the barrel process but the handling problem is great.
- Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a process and apparatus for plating parts without injuring them and Without requiring the racking and cathodically connecting of each part individually.
- Among other objects of the invention is to provide a process and apparatus for rapidly and uniformly plating miniaturized parts to any predetermined thickness of plating without individually racking each part.
- the parts are distributed on a substantially horizontal vibratable holder containing a multiplicity of small exposed electrode contacts and disposed in an electrolytic bath.
- the holder is continuously vibrated at a relatively slow speed in one direction to tend to carry the parts therewith and at a relatively fast speed in the opposite direction so as to move the holder relatively to the parts by reason of the inertia of the parts, the movement of the parts with respect to the vibrator holder is promoted by directing fluid in the forward and downward direction with respect to the desired movement of the parts, and the parts are electrolytically treated as they move along their predetermined path on said vibrator holder.
- the holder may be dish shaped in which case the vibration will be torsional or it may be rectangular in which case the vibration will be a back and forth or rocking one.
- the vibratable holder is substantially horizontal, this does not exclude the possibility that the holder be purposely tilted by an amount insufficient to prevent the parts from moving to all parts of the surface of the holder. In some cases a slight tilt from the true horizontal may be desirable to feed the parts into or out of the bath or to prevent parts from accumulating at the rim of a dish-type holder.
- the device of the invention may be employed with any type of electrolytic solution. Since it is in connection with the electroplating of such small parts with precious metals that the problem most often occurs, the invention will be described in detail with respect to electroplating processes in which the work parts are made cathodic. However, it will readily be recognized that the process and apparatus are advantageous for electropolishing, and similar processes in which the work is connected to the anode, except where non-conducting anodic films are formed which will stop current flow to the parts.
- the entire plate-like holder may have sufiicient conductivity and be cathodically connected to a source of electroplating current.
- portions of the surface area may be coated, by a layer of oxide of the metal of the holder, by an insulating enamel paint, lacquer, etc., or by insulating tape, etc., to prevent deposition of the plating metal on such parts.
- Numerous but relatively small cathode contact areas are required to provide connection to the parts being plated.
- the plate-like holder may be made of insulating material and with a metal mesh or a multiplicity of other contact buttons, strips, etc., set into the surface of the insulator to convey current to the parts.
- FIG. 1 is a side view partly in cross section of one device for carrying out the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is a detail cross sectional view of the holding device of FIGS. 1-3.
- FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a modified form of apparatus for carrying out the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 5.
- the tank 10 rests on base 27 and the work holding pan 32 is held and vibrated by vibrator 20 through shaft 33.
- the anodes 31, 31' are supported from brackets 34, 35 attached to the sides of tank 10.
- the entire shaft 33 and pan 32 may be made of conductive metal with the cathode connection 35 at the upper portion thereof.
- the lower portion of the shaft 33 may be covered with tape 36 to prevent deposition thereon.
- any form of vibrator may be employed with the apparatus.
- the vibrators shown are those familiarily used in conveyor devices which are available commercially.
- Pipes 50, 51, 52 which extend into the tank to a region between the electrodes 31, 31' and the holder 32.
- Pipes 50, 51, 52 end in spargers or nozzles 53, 54, 55, respectively which are positioned to direct a fluid spray downward and in the direction of movement of the parts (which is counter clockwise as shown in FIG. 2).
- Nozzles 53, 54 and 55 are preferably adjustable to direct the fluid thereof at various angles with respect to the holder 32.
- the pressure of fluid in the spargers may also be varied.
- Tank 10 is provided with an overflow pipe 56 to maintain the level 37 of the bath substantially constant.
- the vessel to which pipe 56 leads may be connected to the pump supplying pipes 50, 51 and 52 so as to provide for circulation of the electroplating liquid.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a device having a multiplicity of contacts. These contacts are provided by embedding a conductive wire mesh 62 into a molded resinous bottom 61 of the vibratable holder 32'. After the wire mesh 62 is molded into bottom 61 to a very shallow depth, the interior surface is ground off to expose the upper surface of the hills of the wire mesh, or about one half of the total cross points of the wire mesh. Contact of the wire mesh to make it anodic or cathodic is made by wire 47 in the center of shaft 33. In this way by choosing a coarser or finer screen, almost any number of equally-spaced contacts may be provided.
- the tank .10 is filled to level 37 with electroplating solution, pipes 50, 51 and 52 are connected to a source of fluid under pressure, preferably the same electrolyte as in tank 10.
- the holder 32 is connected to a cathodic source of current and plates 31, 31' are connected to provide the anode.
- Vibrator 20 is put in operation and the parts to be plated are supplied to the holder 32. After a certain predetermined time, the parts are removed and will be found to be uniformly plated over the conducting areas thereof. After plating, the holder and its vibrator can be transferred to other tanks 10 containing rinsing, polishing, and additional plating solution, etc.
- the process and apparatus plates the small parts without rolling the parts upon each other or Without pressing them against a highly curved surface, the parts are plated without injury while at the same time, the advantages of barrel plating processes such as uniform plating of all surfaces, replenishment of the cathode film to permit high current densities, ready connection to a cathodic (or anodic) current, etc. are obtained.
- the parts need not travel in a closed circuit as shown in FIGS. 14 but may also be fed onto a straight through pan means as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, parts may be fed to the lower end of vibrator pan 70 which is partially submerged in the rectangular tank 10'.
- Fan 70 is also provided with a plurality of exposed electrode contacts 71 which may be exposed portions of an embedded wire mesh similar to that shown in FIG. 4.
- Sparger supply pipes 72 and 73 are provided along the sides of pan 71 and the spargers 51-1 to 51-6 and 52-1 to 52-6 are provided along the sides of the pan 70.
- the pan 70 is vibratably supported from the fixed beam 73 by the links 74 and 75 and an eccentric or other vibrator means 76 vibrates the pan 70 through a yoke device 77.
- An electrode 78 (anode in FIG. 5), is provided below the pan 70.
- the parts to be plated are fed in at the lower end of pan 70 and out at the upper end 79.
- the parts could be fed in the opposite direction and if desired the pan 70 can be substantially parallel to the bottom of tank 10'. It can be seen that a vertical series of such tanks can be provided to continuously feed the parts through an entire sequence of operations.
- An advantage of this method of plating is the fact that the constant vibration of the part prevents the adherence of gas (some hydrogen is normally released at the cathode when plating work pieces) to the parts.
- this adds to the resistance of the system and contributes to the need to use relatively low plating current densities that is lower than the current densities available for still plating.
- Using vibratory means this does not occur and the current densities possible are of the order normally used in still plating solutions.
- the plating time is therefore shortened.
- the electrodeposit is denser and of higher quality.
- anode may be dissolved anodically, carbon or similarly inert anode strips, rods, buttons, etc., are preferred.
- An apparatus for electroplating small parts comprising:
- a pan means for holding a multiplicity of small parts, means for supporting said pan means so that it can be vibrated in a substantially horizontal position, vibrator means connected to said means for supporting the pan means adapted to vibrate said pan means so as to move the contents in a predetermined path along the surface thereof, an electrode connection extending to a multiplicity of spaced portions of the upper surface of said pan means whereby to make contact with parts placed in said pan means, means adapted to form a container for electrolyte surrounding said pan means, a second electrode means positioned to contact the electrolyte of said container means, and means to supply fluid downward and forward with respect to the direction of motion of said contents of said pan means to overcome the resistance toward motion of the parts supplied by said electrolyte.
Description
Claims (1)
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US495823A US3397126A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1965-10-14 | Plating of small parts |
GB44081/66A GB1102879A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1966-10-03 | Electrolytic treatment of small parts |
CH1466466A CH456291A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1966-10-10 | Process for the electrolytic treatment of parts and installation for the implementation of this process |
FR973A FR1497806A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1966-10-13 | Process for the electrolytic treatment of parts and installation for the implementation of this process |
DE19661521011 DE1521011A1 (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1966-10-13 | Method and device for electroplating small parts or objects |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US495823A US3397126A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1965-10-14 | Plating of small parts |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3397126A true US3397126A (en) | 1968-08-13 |
Family
ID=23970126
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US495823A Expired - Lifetime US3397126A (en) | 1965-10-14 | 1965-10-14 | Plating of small parts |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3397126A (en) |
CH (1) | CH456291A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1521011A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR1497806A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1102879A (en) |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4229276A (en) * | 1979-02-28 | 1980-10-21 | Shikishima Tipton Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | Vibratory plating apparatus |
US4253916A (en) * | 1979-09-19 | 1981-03-03 | Shikishima Tipton Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Vibratory plating method |
US4316786A (en) * | 1980-09-19 | 1982-02-23 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Apparatus for electroplating particles of small dimension |
JPS60208499A (en) * | 1984-03-20 | 1985-10-21 | オスシ・ガルヴァノ・エス・アー | Electroplating apparatus |
US4658953A (en) * | 1984-03-05 | 1987-04-21 | Schopfer Pierre Andre | Device for moving workpieces by means of electromagnetic oscillations |
EP0424590A1 (en) * | 1989-10-23 | 1991-05-02 | Elga Sa | Electroplating apparatus |
EP0427900A1 (en) * | 1989-10-23 | 1991-05-22 | Elga Sa | Process for joining the shaft and the basket of an electroplating apparatus |
US5419823A (en) * | 1993-11-09 | 1995-05-30 | Hardwood Line Manufacturing Co. | Electroplating device and process |
US5503726A (en) * | 1994-06-15 | 1996-04-02 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Plating apparatus |
US5603815A (en) * | 1994-10-04 | 1997-02-18 | Lashmore; David S. | Electrochemical fluidized bed coating of powders |
US5656139A (en) * | 1995-02-13 | 1997-08-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Electroplating apparatus |
US6036837A (en) * | 1998-11-02 | 2000-03-14 | Celex, Incorporated | Process and machine for partially plating test probes |
US6228230B1 (en) * | 1999-04-19 | 2001-05-08 | Aem, Inc. | Electroplating apparatus |
CN112553676A (en) * | 2020-11-16 | 2021-03-26 | 李明祥 | Drying machine is electroplated to circulating miniature part |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1865767A (en) * | 1929-10-18 | 1932-07-05 | United Chromium Inc | Electroplating equipment |
US2721834A (en) * | 1951-05-23 | 1955-10-25 | Sylvania Electric Prod | Electroplating method and apparatus |
US2841547A (en) * | 1956-12-31 | 1958-07-01 | Belke Mfg Co | Apparatus for electroplating |
US3000806A (en) * | 1959-04-02 | 1961-09-19 | Western Electric Co | Electroplating basket and carrier assembly |
US3275542A (en) * | 1962-10-26 | 1966-09-27 | Gen Instrument Corp | Apparatus for electroplating leads of small electronic components |
-
1965
- 1965-10-14 US US495823A patent/US3397126A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1966
- 1966-10-03 GB GB44081/66A patent/GB1102879A/en not_active Expired
- 1966-10-10 CH CH1466466A patent/CH456291A/en unknown
- 1966-10-13 FR FR973A patent/FR1497806A/en not_active Expired
- 1966-10-13 DE DE19661521011 patent/DE1521011A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1865767A (en) * | 1929-10-18 | 1932-07-05 | United Chromium Inc | Electroplating equipment |
US2721834A (en) * | 1951-05-23 | 1955-10-25 | Sylvania Electric Prod | Electroplating method and apparatus |
US2841547A (en) * | 1956-12-31 | 1958-07-01 | Belke Mfg Co | Apparatus for electroplating |
US3000806A (en) * | 1959-04-02 | 1961-09-19 | Western Electric Co | Electroplating basket and carrier assembly |
US3275542A (en) * | 1962-10-26 | 1966-09-27 | Gen Instrument Corp | Apparatus for electroplating leads of small electronic components |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4229276A (en) * | 1979-02-28 | 1980-10-21 | Shikishima Tipton Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | Vibratory plating apparatus |
US4253916A (en) * | 1979-09-19 | 1981-03-03 | Shikishima Tipton Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Vibratory plating method |
US4316786A (en) * | 1980-09-19 | 1982-02-23 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Apparatus for electroplating particles of small dimension |
US4658953A (en) * | 1984-03-05 | 1987-04-21 | Schopfer Pierre Andre | Device for moving workpieces by means of electromagnetic oscillations |
JPS60208499A (en) * | 1984-03-20 | 1985-10-21 | オスシ・ガルヴァノ・エス・アー | Electroplating apparatus |
US4572773A (en) * | 1984-03-20 | 1986-02-25 | Egatec S.A. | Electroplating apparatus |
US5124016A (en) * | 1989-10-23 | 1992-06-23 | Elga Sa | Electroplating apparatus |
EP0427900A1 (en) * | 1989-10-23 | 1991-05-22 | Elga Sa | Process for joining the shaft and the basket of an electroplating apparatus |
EP0424590A1 (en) * | 1989-10-23 | 1991-05-02 | Elga Sa | Electroplating apparatus |
US5419823A (en) * | 1993-11-09 | 1995-05-30 | Hardwood Line Manufacturing Co. | Electroplating device and process |
US5503726A (en) * | 1994-06-15 | 1996-04-02 | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Plating apparatus |
US5603815A (en) * | 1994-10-04 | 1997-02-18 | Lashmore; David S. | Electrochemical fluidized bed coating of powders |
US5656139A (en) * | 1995-02-13 | 1997-08-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Electroplating apparatus |
US6036837A (en) * | 1998-11-02 | 2000-03-14 | Celex, Incorporated | Process and machine for partially plating test probes |
US6228230B1 (en) * | 1999-04-19 | 2001-05-08 | Aem, Inc. | Electroplating apparatus |
CN112553676A (en) * | 2020-11-16 | 2021-03-26 | 李明祥 | Drying machine is electroplated to circulating miniature part |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE1521011A1 (en) | 1969-08-14 |
CH456291A (en) | 1968-05-15 |
GB1102879A (en) | 1968-02-14 |
FR1497806A (en) | 1967-10-13 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: OXY METAL INDUSTRIES CORPORATION Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:OXY METAL FINISHING CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003967/0084 Effective date: 19741220 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HOOKER CHEMICALS & PLASTICS CORP. Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:OXY METAL INDUSTRIES CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004075/0885 Effective date: 19801222 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:HOOKER CHEMICAS & PLASTICS CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004126/0054 Effective date: 19820330 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: OMI INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, 21441 HOOVER ROAD, Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004190/0827 Effective date: 19830915 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MANUFACTURERS HANOVER TRUST COMPANY, A CORP OF NY Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004201/0733 Effective date: 19830930 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CABOT SAFETY INTERMEDIATE CORPORATION, DELAWARE Free format text: RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 19520/0001;ASSIGNOR:BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:020733/0440 Effective date: 20080401 Owner name: CABOT SAFETY INTERMEDIATE CORPORATION,DELAWARE Free format text: RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 19520/0001;ASSIGNOR:BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:020733/0440 Effective date: 20080401 |