Patent ID: 6939455

Claim:
Method for electrolytic treatment of electrically conductive structures ( 4 ) on surfaces of mutually isolated sheet and foil material pieces (LP), comprising the steps of: a) transporting the material pieces (LP) through a treatment unit and thereby bringing the material pieces in contact with treatment fluid ( 3 ); b) during the transporting, guiding the material pieces (LP) past at least one electrode arrangement, which comprises respectively at least one cathodically polarised electrode ( 6 ) and at least one anodically polarised electrode ( 7 ), the at least one cathodically polarised electrode ( 6 ) and the at least one anodically polarised electrode ( 7 ) being brought in contact with the treatment fluid ( 3 ) and being connected to a current/voltage source ( 8 ), flowing a current through the electrodes ( 6 , 7 ) and the electrically conductive structures ( 4 ) so that electrolytic treatment takes place at the electrically conductive structures ( 4 ) of the material pieces; c) providing the electrodes ( 6 , 7 ) of the at least one electrode arrangement in such a manner that they are orientated on one side of the material pieces (LP), and that at least one insulation wall ( 9 ) is disposed between the electrodes ( 6 , 7 ) wherein the guiding of the material pieces past the at least one electrode arrangement does not require electrical contact of the material pieces with any electrode in order to effect the electrolytic treatment; d) providing the material pieces comprising the electrically conductive structures; and e) arranging the at least one cathodically polarised electrode and the at least one anodically polarised electrode in the at least one electrode arrangement to match the size of electrically conductive structures on the surfaces of the material pieces, such that electric field lines emanating from the at least one cathodically polarised electrode and from the at least one anodically polarised electrode are effective to electrolytically treat a same one of the electrically conductive structures of one of the material pieces.