Patent ID: 8992746
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: C25D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An anodizing apparatus for causing an anodizing reaction on substrates immersed in an electrolyte solution, comprising: a storage tank for storing the electrolyte solution; a substrate holder mounted in the storage tank, and including a first support unit having a plurality of first support elements arranged in a direction of arrangement of the substrates for contacting and supporting, in a liquid-tight condition, only lower portions of circumferential surfaces of the substrates, and a second support unit attachable to and detachable from the first support unit and having a plurality of second support elements arranged in the direction of arrangement of the substrates for contacting and supporting, in a liquid-tight condition, remaining portions of the circumferential surfaces of the substrates other than the lower portions supported by the first support elements; a drive mechanism for separating the first support unit and the second support unit when placing the plurality of substrates in the substrate holder and when unloading the plurality of substrates from the substrate holder, and for connecting the first support unit and the second support unit after the plurality of substrates are placed in the substrate holder; wherein the second support unit includes a left second support unit having left second support elements as the second support elements for supporting left sides of the remaining portions of the circumferential surfaces of the substrates, and a right second support unit having right second support elements as the second support elements for supporting right sides of the remaining portions of the circumferential surfaces of the substrates; and wherein the left second support unit and the right second support unit have fulcrums, respectively, have the first support unit in between, and are rockable away from each other in a plane defined by said first and second support units when separating from the first support unit.