Patent ID: 8940137
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: C25D,H05K

Abstract:
1. A continuous plating apparatus capable of continuously plating workpieces transferred through a plating tank while continuously supplying power to the workpieces, the continuous plating apparatus comprising: a computer system coupled to the continuous plating apparatus to control operation of the continuous plating apparatus; one or more workpieces, a plurality of cathode relay members, and a plurality of power supply units, wherein, when a maximum number of the one or more workpieces simultaneously transferred in the plating tank in a completely immersed state is N, (N+1) cathode relay members that extend in a workpiece transfer direction, wherein each workpiece is electrically connected to one of the cathode relay members, and (N+1) power supply units are provided outside the plating tank; a set of opposing anodes that extend in the workpiece transfer direction, the set of the opposing anodes being provided in the plating tank; a plurality of anode terminals of the power supply units connected to the set of opposing anodes; a plurality of cathode terminals of the power supply units connected to the plurality of cathode relay members; a sensor that identifies the workpiece using a workpiece identifying component; and a memory that stores a length L of the workpiece being extended in the workpiece transfer direction and corresponding to the workpiece identified by the sensor prior to the identification of the component by the sensor, wherein the computer system includes a period calculation portion that calculates a partially immersed period L/V based on the length L being read from the memory a constant transferring speed V of the workpiece, wherein power is supplied to each of the one or more workpieces transferred in the plating tank from a corresponding power supply unit among the plurality of power supply units through a corresponding cathode relay member among the plurality of cathode relay members, wherein each of the power supply units controls a current to be supplied to the workpiece under constant current control at a constant current Is when being transferred in the plating tank in a completely immersed state, under current gradual increase control to gradually increase up to the constant current Is within a partially immersed period when the workpiece is carried into a first end of the plating tank in a partially immersed state, and under current gradual decrease control to gradually decrease from the constant current Is within a partially immersed period when the workpiece is carried out from a second end of the plating tank in a partially immersed state.