Electroplating apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in electroplating cylindrically shaped objects which comprises a reservoir for an electroplating solution, said reservoir having a bottom, side walls and a substantially open upper end opposite said bottom, an electrically conductive member permanently mounted at the open upper end of said reservoir above the electroplating solution therein, said member being adapted for rotational movement around the vertical axis of the reservoir, means for effecting the rotational movement of said member, said rotation effecting means being electrically insulated from said electrically conductive member, a transportable support member adapted to hold a cylindrically shaped object to be electroplated within the reservoir in a substantially vertical electroplating position below the level of the electroplating solution in the reservoir, said support member having means by which it is removably supported by and in electrical contact with the electrically conductive member on the reservoir so as to be rotated with said electrically conductive member, said support member further having oppositely disposed, adjustable engaging members adapted to engage the end portions of a cylindrically shaped object to be electroplated and hold it in a substantially vertiCal position, said engaging members being in contact with the said object to be plated and electrically connected to the means by which the support member is supported by the electrically conductive member on the reservoir, means for providing electrical insulation between the electroplating solution in the reservoir and the outer surfaces of the support member in contact therewith, means for preventing plating on that portion of the cylindrically shaped object at and contiguous to the point of electrical contact with the engaging means and anode means disposed within the reservoir at least partially below the level of the electroplating solution therein, and positioned between the reservoir sidewalls and the cylindrically shaped object to be electroplated which is held in the support member.