Method and apparatus for electroplating on a plastic web having a high resistance cobalt alloy coating

Claim 1

A METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING A PLASTIC WEB HAVING A HIGH RESISTANCE COBALT ALLOY COATING WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: ADVANCING SAID WEB FROM A FIRST ELECTROPLATING BATH INTO A CONTACTING BODY OF LIQUID MERCURY, ADVANCING SAID WEB FROM SAID BODY OF LIQUID MERCURY INTO A SECOND ELECTROPLATING BATH, INSULATING ONE SIDE OF SAID WEB FROM SAID BODY OF LIQUID MERCURY BY PASSING SAID ONE SIDE IN CONTACT WITH AN INSULATING ROLL IN SAID BODY OF LIQUID MERCURY TO FORCE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ELECTROPLATING CURRENT TO PASS THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID WEB AS IT IS ADVANCED BETWEEN EACH BATH AND THE CONTACTING BODY OF MERCURY, CONNECTING SAID MERCURY TO A NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF A POWER SOURCE HAVING ITS POSITIVE TERMINAL CONNECTED TO EACH ELECTROPLATING BATH, FLOATING A LAYER OF WATER OVER SAID MERCURY BODY, AND PASSING SAID WEB OVER A NON-EVAPORATING DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID LAYER OF WATER AND SAID PLATING BATHS.