Patent ID: 6585865
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: C25D,H05K,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for the electrolytic metallization of a workpiece; said apparatus comprising:(a) means for imparting an electrolyte to said workpiece; (b) means for conveying said workpiece past said electrolyte; said workpiece conveying means comprise cooperating pairs of wheels drivingly contacting opposite side edges of said workpiece; a drive motor being connected to at least one of said pairs of wheels to advance said workpiece through said apparatus (c) means connected to an electrical power supply for maintaining electrical contact with said workpiece being conveyed while avoiding exposure of said electrical contact means to said electrolyte; (d) a plurality of anode electrodes spaced across said workpiece proximate said electrolyte, said anode electrodes each being connected to said electrical power supply; and (e) means for individually controlling an electrical potential across each said anode electrode so as to provide a specified electrical field strength at different anode electrode positions across said workpiece and along the direction of conveyance of said workpiece during transport of said workpiece past said electrolyte imparting means; said anode electrodes extending in linear arrays above and below said workpiece; and power control switch means being connected to each of said anode electrodes for variably and selectively controlling the electrical potential of each of said anode electrodes in any direction over the area of the workpiece and along the direction of conveyance of the workpiece.