US3870068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dry replenishment of electroless plating solutions
Assignee: Shipley Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-07
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1992-12-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention is for an apparatus useful for replenishment of an aqueous electroless or electrolytic plating solution. The apparatus permits addition of replenishers to an electroless plating solution in essentially dry form in a manner that avoids spontaneous decomposition of the solution. The apparatus comprises an inlet means for the plating solution, means for imparting a swirling motion to the solution as it passes through the apparatus in contact with dry replenisher constituents, a porous filter container for said dry replenisher constituents and outlet means for said solution downstream from said porous filter container. By use of the apparatus of this invention, essentially dry materials are used for replenishment of a plating solution rather than liquid replenishers as in the prior art thereby avoiding volume growth of the plating solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Oleh Borys Dutkewych
- 👤 Lebert Arthur Hofmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:28
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D21/00; C25D21/16; C25D21/18; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1617; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of the plating solution and to avoid the introduction of essentially dry replenisher directly into a tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus comprising a first chamber positioned above a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means for supporting said essentially dry replenisher in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said supporting means being adapted to permit particles of replenisher which have been wetted by said plating solution to pass through said first chamber and to rain down into said porous container in said second chamber, and said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of the plating solution and to avoid the introduction of essentially dry replenisher directly into a tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus comprising a first chamber positioned above a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means for supporting said essentially dry replenisher in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said supporting means being adapted to permit particles of replenisher which have been wetted by said plating solution to pass through said first chamber and to rain down into said porous container in said second chamber, and said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of the plating solution and to avoid the introduction of essentially dry replenisher directly into a tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus comprising a first chamber positioned above a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means for supporting said essentially dry replenisher in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said supporting means being adapted to permit particles of replenisher which have been wetted by said plating solution to pass through said first chamber and to rain down into said porous container in said second chamber, and said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of the plating solution and to avoid the introduction of essentially dry replenisher directly into a tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus comprising a first chamber positioned above a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means for supporting said essentially dry replenisher in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said supporting means being adapted to permit particles of replenisher which have been wetted by said plating solution to pass through said first chamber and to rain down into said porous container in said second chamber, and said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where means are provided in said first chamber for imparting a swirling motion to said plating solution as it pases through said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said porous container in said second chamber is of a synthetic plastic felt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said synthetic plastic is polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
228 words
In combination, a tank for plating metal on a substrate and an apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of a plating solution and to avoid introduction of replenisher powders directly into said tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus for replenshing said plating solution comprising a first chamber positioned aboVe a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means to place replenisher powder in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said first and second chambers being separated by a plate having holes therein providing open communication between said chambers whereby powders of replenisher are placed on said plate which powders are wetted with plating solution passing through said first chamber and said wetted powders are rained into said porous container in said second chamber, said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship, said plating tank having inlet and outlet means where the inlet means of the plating tank is connected to the outlet means of the replenisher apparatus and where the outlet means of the plating tank is connected to the inlet means of the replenisher apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
228 words
In combination, a tank for plating metal on a substrate and an apparatus for replenishing a metal plating solution with replenishers in essentially dry form to thereby avoid volume growth of a plating solution and to avoid introduction of replenisher powders directly into said tank holding said plating solution, said apparatus for replenshing said plating solution comprising a first chamber positioned aboVe a second chamber, said first chamber having inlet means for entry of plating solution and means to place replenisher powder in said chamber, said second chamber having outlet means for exit of plating solution and a porous container placed therein such that the plating solution must pass through said porous container before exiting from said second chamber, said first and second chambers being separated by a plate having holes therein providing open communication between said chambers whereby powders of replenisher are placed on said plate which powders are wetted with plating solution passing through said first chamber and said wetted powders are rained into said porous container in said second chamber, said first and second chambers being in pressure seal relationship, said plating tank having inlet and outlet means where the inlet means of the plating tank is connected to the outlet means of the replenisher apparatus and where the outlet means of the plating tank is connected to the inlet means of the replenisher apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 5 where the outlet means of the plating tank has means for dividing a solution passing there through into two streams such that a portion of the solution passes to the inlet means of the replenisher apparatus and the other portion returns to the plating tank through additional inlet means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 6 where the means for dividing the solution is such that a major portion of the solution is returned to the plating tank and a minor portion enters the replenisher apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 6 where the additional inlet means in said plating tank is a solution sparger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 5 where the replenisher apparatus has means provided in said first chamber for imparting a swirling motion to the plating solution as it passes through said first chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 5 where the porous container in the second chamber of the replenisher apparatus is of a synthetic plastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 10 where said synthetic plastic material is a polypropylene felt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 5 where said plating tank is divided into a plating chamber and an overflow chamber and said inlet and outlet means are connected to said overflow chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 12 where said overflow chamber has heat exchange means to maintain a predetermined temperature in said plating tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 13 where said inlet means discharges into a porous container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |