Abstract A method of selective or ''''spot'''' plating, particularly electroplating, of articles including the steps of masking predetermined portions of the article to be plated so that those portions will not be contacted by the plating solution, establishing an electrical connection to conductive portions of the article and then contacting the unmasked portions of the article with plating solution, for sufficient length of time to plate those portions. The apparatus includes means for feeding the article into an apertured conveyor belt which forms the mask between the portions of the article to be plated and those portions which are not to be plated. The masked portion of the article is then contacted by a conductive liquid and the unmasked portion of the article contacted by the plating solution, through means of a reciprocating plating head which travels with the conveyor for a sufficient length of time to affect the plating of the unmasked portions of the article.
Inventors
👤 Roy Schlotthauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-01 10:58
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D5/00; C25D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE PLATING OFARTICLES HAVING CONDUCTIVE PORTIONS TO BE PLATED AND CONDUCTIVE PORTIONS EXTENDING THEREFROM NOT TO BE PLATED COMPRISING A CONVEYOR BELT HAVING APERTURES, MEANS FOR FEEDING THE ARTICLES INTO THE APERTURES WITH THE PORTIONS NOT TO BE PLATED EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, THEREBY MASKING THOSE PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLE FROM CONTACT BY THE PLATING SOLUTION, MEANS FOR MOVING THE CONVEYOR BELT SO THAT CONDUCTIVE LIQUID MEANS ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THOSE PORTIONS OF THE ARTCLE EXTENDING THROUGH THE BELT, AND, PLATING HEADER MEANS FOR CONTACTING THE UNMASKED PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLE WITH PLATING SOLUTION FOR A SUFFICIENT LENGT OF TIME TO PLATE THOSE PORTIONS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE PLATING OFARTICLES HAVING CONDUCTIVE PORTIONS TO BE PLATED AND CONDUCTIVE PORTIONS EXTENDING THEREFROM NOT TO BE PLATED COMPRISING A CONVEYOR BELT HAVING APERTURES, MEANS FOR FEEDING THE ARTICLES INTO THE APERTURES WITH THE PORTIONS NOT TO BE PLATED EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, THEREBY MASKING THOSE PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLE FROM CONTACT BY THE PLATING SOLUTION, MEANS FOR MOVING THE CONVEYOR BELT SO THAT CONDUCTIVE LIQUID MEANS ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THOSE PORTIONS OF THE ARTCLE EXTENDING THROUGH THE BELT, AND, PLATING HEADER MEANS FOR CONTACTING THE UNMASKED PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLE WITH PLATING SOLUTION FOR A SUFFICIENT LENGT OF TIME TO PLATE THOSE PORTIONS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including means for reciprocating the plating head means in a rectilinear travel pattern whereby the plating header means travels with the conveyor belt for said time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including means for effecting the flow of plating solution to and through said plating head and whereby said conveyor belt is configured to drain the excess plating solution away from contact with the conductive liquid means.