US4898657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroplating apparatus for plate-shaped workpieces
Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
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Filing: 1989-06-26
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Granted: 1990-02-06
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Expires: 2009-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An electroplating apparatus, which has the workpieces, such as printed circuit boards, being conducted through an electrolyte solution in a horizontal path, has cathodic contacting by contact clamps, which move with the workpiece through the device. In order to guarantee a reliable supply of cathode current with a low thermal heating and a low wear of the contacts, which are also simultaneously resistant to the corrosion of the conducting parts, a live rail is provided that comprises a core composed of a material of high electrical conductivity, such as copper, and is covered by an envelope composed of a material having a high resistance to corrosion, such as titanium. Contact springs, preferably composed of titanium, are connected to the live rail in a mechanical and electrical conductive fashion, such as by spot welding, and engage each of the contact clamps as they move along the path.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Hosten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:39
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/24; H05K3/241; C; C25; C25D; C25D17/00; C25D17/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In an electroplating apparatus for plate-shaped workpieces which are being transported in a horizontal path through an electroplating cell of the apparatus, said apparatus comprising a plurality of contact clamps arranged at a distance from one another and laterally displaced outside of the cell for gripping an edge of the workpiece for cathodic contacting of the workpiece, a cathode current being supplied to the contact clamps by at least one live rail and by contact springs on the basis of a wiping contact, the improvements comprising said live rail comprising a core composed of a material having electrical conductivity and being provided with an envelope composed of a material having a high resistance to corrosion, each contact spring being composed of a material having a high resistance to corrosion, and said contact springs being connected to the live rail mechanically in an electrically conductive fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In an electroplating apparatus for plate-shaped workpieces which are being transported in a horizontal path through an electroplating cell of the apparatus, said apparatus comprising a plurality of contact clamps arranged at a distance from one another and laterally displaced outside of the cell for gripping an edge of the workpiece for cathodic contacting of the workpiece, a cathode current being supplied to the contact clamps by at least one live rail and by contact springs on the basis of a wiping contact, the improvements comprising said live rail comprising a core composed of a material having electrical conductivity and being provided with an envelope composed of a material having a high resistance to corrosion, each contact spring being composed of a material having a high resistance to corrosion, and said contact springs being connected to the live rail mechanically in an electrically conductive fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the contact springs is provided with at least one slot extending in the direction of the movement of the clamps through the apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact springs are joined to the envelope by welding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the welds is a spot weld.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the contact springs has at least one slot extending in the direction of movement of the clamps through the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the contact springs is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the envelope is a material selected from a group consisting of titanium and titanium alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the core of the live rail is of a material selected from a group consisting of copper and copper alloys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the envelope is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the contact springs is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the contact springs is joined to the envelope by spot welds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an electroplating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the contact springs has a slot extending in the direction of movement of the workpiece through the apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4752371A
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EP0254030A1
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Cited
US4755271A
Cited
EP0254962B1
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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) | 1993-02-05 | 1993-08-07 | 1994-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-05 | 1997-08-07 | 1998-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-05 | 2001-08-07 | 2002-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |