US3878062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroplating apparatus and method
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-28
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-06-28
Abstract
Abstract There is described an apparatus for electroplating preselected portions of individual articles. The apparatus comprises a track member adapted for having the articles travel therealong, a supply means for supplying the articles to the track member, a vibratory means engaged to the track member for effecting movement of said articles along the track member, a container adapted for containing a predetermined quantity of electolyte solution therein and positioned substantially below and related to the track member, means for controlling the elevation of the electrolyte solution within the container in order that the solution contacts the preselected areas on the articles as these articles travel along the track member, means for controlling the rate of travel of the articles, a first electrode means associated with the articles, and a second electrode means of opposite polarity than the first electrode means and associated with the electrolyte solution. A method for electroplating preselected areas on individual articles is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy M Grimaldi
- 👤 Thomas E Byler
- 👤 Charles D Seekings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:34
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D5/00; C25D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
AN APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A TRACK MEMBER ADAPTED FOR HAVING EACH OF SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL THEREALONG; SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SAID ARTICLES TO SAID TRACK MEMBER; VIBRATORY MEANS ENGAGED TO SAID TRACK MEMBER FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLES ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; A CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR CONTAINING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION THEREIN, SAID CONTAINER POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW AND RELATED TO SAID TRACK MEMBER; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ELEVATION OF SAID ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY SAID SOLUTION CONTACTS SAID PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID ARTICLES WHICH PROTRUDE BENEATH THE TRACK MEMBER AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RATE OF TRAVEL OF SAID ARTICLES ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ARTICLES AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; AND SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS OF OPPOSITE POLARITY THAN SAID FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS AND ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION, SAID SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS SPACEDLY POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID ARTICLES AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
AN APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A TRACK MEMBER ADAPTED FOR HAVING EACH OF SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL THEREALONG; SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SAID ARTICLES TO SAID TRACK MEMBER; VIBRATORY MEANS ENGAGED TO SAID TRACK MEMBER FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLES ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; A CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR CONTAINING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION THEREIN, SAID CONTAINER POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW AND RELATED TO SAID TRACK MEMBER; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ELEVATION OF SAID ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY SAID SOLUTION CONTACTS SAID PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID ARTICLES WHICH PROTRUDE BENEATH THE TRACK MEMBER AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RATE OF TRAVEL OF SAID ARTICLES ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ARTICLES AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER; AND SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS OF OPPOSITE POLARITY THAN SAID FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS AND ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION, SAID SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS SPACEDLY POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID PRESELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID ARTICLES AS SAID ARTICLES TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibratory means engaged to said track member for effecting movement of said articles along said track member comprises a plurality of individual vibratory members spacedly positioned along said track member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supply means for supplying said articles to said track member comprises a vibratory feed mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a rinse means for applying rinse solution to said preselected portions of said articles after said portions have contacted said electrolyte solution within said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
THe apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rinse means is positioned substantially within said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a recirculation means adapted for recirculating said electrolyte solution within said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recirculation means comprises a pump member and a filter member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 including a recirculation means adapted for recirculating said rinse solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said recirculation means comprises a pump member and a filter member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the elevation of said electrolyte solution within said container comprises an adjustable drain member positioned within the portion of said container having said electrolyte solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the rate of travel of said articles along said track member comprises a rotating disc member having a plurality of individual notches formed therein, each of said notches adapted for engaging one of said articles and thereafter removing said article from said track member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first electrode means associated with said articles comprises a cathode member and said second electrode means associated with said electrolyte solution comprises an anode member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for electroplating preselected portions of individual articles comprising: supplying said articles to a track member; effecting a vibratory movement to said articles along said track member while an electrolyte solution contacts preselected portions of said articles which protrude beneath the track member; and applying an electrical potential to said articles and an electrical potential of an opposite polarity to said electrolyte solution, thereby providing deposition of a metal on said preselected portions of said articles.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for electroplating preselected portions of individual articles comprising: supplying said articles to a track member; effecting a vibratory movement to said articles along said track member while an electrolyte solution contacts preselected portions of said articles which protrude beneath the track member; and applying an electrical potential to said articles and an electrical potential of an opposite polarity to said electrolyte solution, thereby providing deposition of a metal on said preselected portions of said articles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein said electrical potential applied to said articles is provided by a cathode member and said electrical potential of opposite polarity applied to said electrolyte solution is provided by an anode member.
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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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |