Apparatus in electro deposition plants, particularly for use in making master phonograph records

Claim 2

Apparatus including: a tub (1) intended for plating electrolyte and having an overflow pipe (25) having an open end within the tub (1) for discharging electrolyte that exceeds a predetermined level (36), at least one receptacle (12) for anode material participating in the electro deposition process, and means (24-30) for circulating and maintaining the level of the electrolyte in the tub, the receptacle (12) having one or more openings (18) situated under the liquid level (36) in the tub, characterized in the receptacle communicates with an outlet (35) arranged at a level between said opening (18) and the liquid level (36) in the tub (1), said outlet being in communication with return piping (32,33) for the electrolyte (2), whereby the liquid level (37) in the receptacle will be below that (36) prevailing in the bath (1), so that the liquid (2) circulating in the tub (1) partially departs through said opening (18), subsequently to flow through the anode material (16) and to the outlet (35) in said receptacle.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outlet of the receptacle (12) is formed as a pipe connection (35) arranged between the respective opening (18) and the liquid level (36) in the tub (1) and in communication with a reservoir (26) via conduits (32, 33 and 34).

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the position of the pipe connection (35) between the opening (18) and the bath level (36) is variable for regulating the flow of liquid through the opening (19).

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hose (34) is connectable to the connection (35), the hose being in communication with a pipe extending straight through the tub (1), and thus enabling connection of corresponding pipes in tub (1) arranged side-by-side, said pipes being commonly connected (33) to a reservoir.

Claim 6

An electro-deposition apparatus, comprising: a tank for containing a liquid electrolyte used for electroplating, said tank having an outlet for discharging liquid electrolyte therefrom when liquid electrolyte within said tank exceeds a certain predetermined level; a receptacle for anode material, said receptacle having a side with an opening therethrough opening into the interior of said tank for providing communication between the interior of said tank and the interior of said receptacle; and discharge means for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said receptacle below the predetermined level of liquid electrolyte to the exterior of said tank without communicating with the interior of said tank, wherein liquid electrolyte within said tank having a level greater than liquid electrolyte within said receptacle flows through the opening into said receptacle under the influence of gravity and is discharged from said receptacle by said discharge means.

Claim 7

An electro-deposition apparatus, comprising: a tank for containing a liquid electrolyte used for electroplating, said tank having an outlet for discharging liquid electrolyte therefrom when liquid electrolyte within said tank exceeds a certain predetermined level; a receptacle for anode material, said receptacle having a side with an opening therethrough opening into the interior of said tank for providing communication between the interior of said tank and the interior of said receptacle; and discharge means for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said receptacle below the predetermined level of liquid electrolyte to the exterior of said tank without communicating with the interior of said tank, wherein liquid electrolyte within said tank having a level greater than liquid electrolyte within said receptacle flows through the opening into said receptacle under the influence of gravity and is discharged from said receptacle by said discharge means.

Claim 8

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a reservoir for liquid electrolyte; means comprised of a conduit for delivering liquid electrolyte discharged from said tank outlet to said reservoir; said discharge means discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said receptacle into said reservoir; and means for supplying liquid electrolyte from said reservoir into said tank in sufficient amounts to maintain the level of liquid electrolyte within said tank at said predetermined level.

Claim 9

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: said tank outlet is comprised of a conduit within said tank having an open end at said predetermined level, said conduit extending through a wall of said tank for discharging externally of said tank liquid electrolyte which exceeds said predetermined level and flows into said open end of said conduit.

Claim 10

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said conduit comprising said tank outlet is comprised of a section of conduit within said tank and oriented generally vertical with the opening in said conduit open end substantially horizontal and in the plane of said predetermined level.

Claim 11

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tank outlet is comprised of a conduit within said tank having an open end at said predetermined level and extending through a wall of said tank for discharging externally of said tank liquid electrolyte which exceeds said predetermined level and flows into said open end of said conduit.

Claim 12

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said conduit comprising said tank outlet is comprised of a section of conduit within said tank and oriented generally vertical with the opening in said conduit open end substantially horizontal and in the plane of said predetermined level.

Claim 13

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said receptacle is a box having a major side wall having said opening therethrough, said opening providing the only communication between the interior of said box and the interior of said tank, whereby liquid electrolyte within said tank maintained at said predetermined level higher than the liquid electrolyte within said receptacle flows through said opening only in the direction from said tank into said receptacle.

Claim 14

An electro-deposition apparatus, comprising: a tank for liquid electrolyte; a container for anode material, said container having an opening therethrough opening into the interior of said tank for providing the only communication between the interior of said tank and the interior of said container; means comprised of a conduit for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said tank, said conduit having an intake opening within said tank for defining an intake through which liquid electrolyte within said tank enters said conduit and is discharged from said tank, and said conduit being oriented to position said intake opening within said tank for discharging liquid electrolyte from said tank that exceeds a certain predetermined level within said tank; electrolyte supply means for supplying liquid electrolyte into said tank as electrolyte is being discharged from said tank; and discharge means for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said container below the predetermined level of liquid electrolyte to the exterior of said tank without communicating with the interior of said tank, wherein liquid electrolyte within said tank having a level greater than liquid electrolyte within said container flows through the opening into said container under the influence of gravity and is discharged from said receptacle by said discharge means while the level of electrolyte within said tank is simultaneously maintained at said predetermined level.

Claim 15

An electro-deposition apparatus, comprising: a tank for liquid electrolyte; a container for anode material, said container having an opening therethrough opening into the interior of said tank for providing the only communication between the interior of said tank and the interior of said container; means comprised of a conduit for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said tank, said conduit having an intake opening within said tank for defining an intake through which liquid electrolyte within said tank enters said conduit and is discharged from said tank, and said conduit being oriented to position said intake opening within said tank for discharging liquid electrolyte from said tank that exceeds a certain predetermined level within said tank; electrolyte supply means for supplying liquid electrolyte into said tank as electrolyte is being discharged from said tank; and discharge means for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said container below the predetermined level of liquid electrolyte to the exterior of said tank without communicating with the interior of said tank, wherein liquid electrolyte within said tank having a level greater than liquid electrolyte within said container flows through the opening into said container under the influence of gravity and is discharged from said receptacle by said discharge means while the level of electrolyte within said tank is simultaneously maintained at said predetermined level.

Claim 16

An electro-deposition apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said discharge means is comprised of a conduit from said container to the exterior of said tank for providing communication between the interior of said container and the exterior of said tank and opening into said container at an elevation higher than the opening through said container and lower than said intake opening of said means for discharging liquid electrolyte from the interior of said tank.