Apparatus for electroplating particles of small dimension

Claim 2

In an apparatus (10) electroplating particles of small dimension where the difference between the density of the particles and the plating solution is large or the mass of the particles is very small, the apparatus (10) including a source (12) of plating solution, and a source (24) of electrical power, the improvement comprising: a cathode cell (20) having a cell chamber (22) for receiving the particles to be plated and the plating solution; a cathode (23) connected to the power source (24) and comprising a resilient wire screen having a dome-shaped section; means (27, 28, 29, 30) for vibrating the cathode (23) to maintain the particles to be plated in random free motion and including means positioned adjacent to and adopted for registration with said dome-shaped section of said cathode; and an anode (26) connected to the power source (24) and electrically isolated from the cathode (23) establishing a reducing potential therebetween.

Claim 3

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 including means (78) for collecting the particles in the cell chamber (22).

Claim 4

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the particle collecting means (78) comprises a screen (78) having a preselected mesh size which is smaller than the size of the particles.

Claim 5

The apparatus (10) of claim 2 wherein the cell chamber (22) comprises the portion of the cathode cell (20) intermediate the cathode (23) and the particle collecting means (78).

Claim 6

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the anode (26) comprises a wire suspended in the cell chamber (22).

Claim 7

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the anode (26) comprises an annular ring (26) extending circumferentially around the cell chamber (22).

Claim 8

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 including means (24) for controllably pulsing the reducing potential between the anode (26) and the cathode (23).

Claim 9

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the vibrating means (27,28,29,30) comprises: a source (27,28) of vibrating motion; a protective screen (29) positioned adjacent the cathode (23) and adapted for registration therewith; and a rod (30) extending between the source (27,28) of vibrating motion and the protective screen (29), the rod (30) having a first end (31) secured to the source (28) and a second end (32) secured to the screen (29).

Claim 10

The apparatus (10) of claim 1 including means (40,42,44,45) for controllably pulsing the plating solution within the cell chamber (22).

Claim 11

The apparatus (10) of claim 9 wherein the plating solution pulsing means (40,42,44,45) comprises means (40,42,44,45) for controllably interrupting egress of plating solution from the cathode cell (20).

Claim 12

The apparatus (10) of claim 10 wherein the interrupting means (40,42,44,45) includes a valve (40), a signal generator (45), a relay (44) connected to the signal generator (45) and movable to a plurality of preselected positions in response to signals from the generator (45), and switch means (42) connected to the relay (44) for opening and closing valve (40) in response to movement of the relay (44).

Claim 13

A vibrating cathode cell (20) for electroplating particles of small dimension where the difference between the density of the particles and the plating solution is large or the mass of the particles is very small, comprising: a cell chamber (22) adapted to receive the plating solution and the particles to be plated; a cathode (23) having a dome-shaped section connected to a source (24) of electrical power: means (27, 28, 29,30) for vibrating the cathode (23) to maintain the particles to be plated in random free motion and comprising a source (27, 28) of vibrating motion, a protective screen (29) positioned adjacent to the dome-shaped section of the cathode (23) and adapted for registration therewith, and a rod (30) extending between the source (27, 28) of vibrating motion and the protective screen (29), the rod (30) having a first end (31) secured to the source (28) and a second end (32) secured to the screen (29); and an anode (26) connected to the power source (24) and electrically isolated from the cathode (23) establishing a reducing potential therebetween.

Claim 14

A vibrating cathode cell (20) for electroplating particles of small dimension where the difference between the density of the particles and the plating solution is large or the mass of the particles is very small, comprising: a cell chamber (22) adapted to receive the plating solution and the particles to be plated; a cathode (23) having a dome-shaped section connected to a source (24) of electrical power: means (27, 28, 29,30) for vibrating the cathode (23) to maintain the particles to be plated in random free motion and comprising a source (27, 28) of vibrating motion, a protective screen (29) positioned adjacent to the dome-shaped section of the cathode (23) and adapted for registration therewith, and a rod (30) extending between the source (27, 28) of vibrating motion and the protective screen (29), the rod (30) having a first end (31) secured to the source (28) and a second end (32) secured to the screen (29); and an anode (26) connected to the power source (24) and electrically isolated from the cathode (23) establishing a reducing potential therebetween.

Claim 15

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 including means (78) for collecting the particles in the cell chamber (22).

Claim 16

The cathode cell (20) of claim 13 wherein the particle collecting means (78) comprises a screen (78) having a preselected mesh size which is smaller than the size of the particles.

Claim 17

The cathode cell (20) of claim 13 wherein the cell chamber (22) comprises the portion of the cathode cell (20) intermediate the cathode (23) and the particle collecting means (78).

Claim 18

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 wherein the cathode (23) comprises a resilient wire screen (23).

Claim 19

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 wherein the anode (26) comprises a wire suspended in the cell chamber (22).

Claim 20

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 wherein the anode (26) comprises an annular ring (26) extending circumferentially around the cell chamber (22).

Claim 21

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 including means (24) for controllably pulsing the reducing potential between the anode (26) and the cathode (23).

Claim 22

The cathode cell (20) of claim 12 including means (40,42,44,45) for controllably pulsing the plating solution within the cell chamber (22).

Claim 23

The cathode cell (20) of claim 20 wherein the plating solution pulsing means (40,42,44,45) comprises means (40,42,44,45) for controllably interrupting egress of plating solution from the cathode cell (20).

Claim 24

The cathode cell (20) of claim 21 wherein the interrupting means (40,42,44,45) includes a valve (40) a signal generator (45) a relay (44) connected to the signal generator (45) and movable to a plurality of preselected positions in response to signals from the generator (45) and switch means (42) connected to the relay (44) for opening and closing the valve (40) in response to movement of the relay (44).