Selective plating apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for continuous electroplating of selected portions of discrete electronic components of the type comprising an electrically conductive body terminating in a die-receiving face; a lip portion formed about said body above said face, said lip portion being of greater diameter than said face; and a plurality of electrical contacts formed as insulated islands at said die-receiving face, with flexible wire leads being connected to at least some of said contacts and extending oppositely from said die-receiving face beyond the body of said component, but said leads being electrically insulated from said body; said selected portions to be electroplated being said die-receiving face and said electrical contacts; and said apparatus comprising: an electroplating station; moveable applicator means adapted for carrying electroplating solution on a surface thereof; means for continuously moving at least a portion of said applicator means surface through said electroplating station; means for applying electroplating solution to said applicator means surface; an electrically conductive conveyor belt means, having spaced openings therein for receiving said component bodies in nesting relationship, the periphery of said openings supporting said bodies at said lip portions so that said leads extend through said openings and said die-receiving faces project beyond the plane of said belt means; lead contact means electrically continuous with said conveyor belt means, abounding each said opening, for surrounding the group of said leads extending from the component nested in said opening, and effecting a ring-like contact with said group, to provide electrical continuity between said leads and conveyor belt means; said spaced openings of said conveyor belt being defined by formed out cups in said conveying belt, said cups being open at the bottom to define a rim portion electrically continuous with said conveyor belt means and of diameter less than the diameter of said openings, said rim portion being spaced from the periphery of said openings, said rim portion being spaced from the periphery of said openings on the side of said belt means opposite that supporting said lip portions, whereby said rim portion may surround and engage said extending group of wire leads to provide said ring-like contact with said group and thereby constitute said lead contact means; means for maintaining said components in said nested positions in contact with said belt means and lead contact means; said means including a keeper belt, and means for bringing said keeper belt into contact with a portion of said component non-adjacent said conveying belt to sandwich said component; a stationary conveyor belt guide means being mounted in fixed spaced relationship with respect to said moveable applicator means, and having a channel therethrough, through which said conveyor belt means passes, said guide means restraining the movement of said components other than in the direction of conveyance of said belt means, the said components being thereby conveyed across the surface of said applicator means with said projecting die-receiving face and said electrical contacts in contact with said electroplating solution on said applicator means; means for moving said conveyor belt, keeper belt and sandwiched components together through said guide means at said electroplating station; the direction of movement of said conveyed components through said guide means being such in relationship to said movement of said applicator means that the trace of each said component on the surface of said applicator means continuously overlies fresh electroplating solution; and means for applying a D.C. electrical potential between said conveyor belt means, and electrically continuous component leads, and the side of said applicator means surface opposite said components, whereby to enable plating of said die-receiving faces and said contact present at said faces.