Patent ID: 8287714

Claim:
A method for plating a portion of each of a plurality of serially arranged parts of a lead frame with a plating solution, the lead frame having a plurality of guide holes, the method comprising: providing a tank containing the plating solution; providing a masking belt having a longitudinally extending opening and a plurality of guide holes; providing a drive wheel having a plurality of pins, the drive wheel being at least partially submerged in the plating solution; providing a plurality of tracking rollers each having a plurality of pins; sequentially engaging the plurality of pins of the drive wheel with the plurality of guide holes of the masking belt, and positioning the lead frame in the groove of the drive wheel to sequentially register each of the portions of the plurality of serially arranged parts of a lead frame with the opening of the masking belt; sequentially passing the plurality of serially arranged parts through the plating solution in the tank; and sequentially engaging the plurality of pins of each of the plurality of tracking rollers with the plurality of guide holes of the masking belt to assist in maintaining alignment of the masking belt and the registration of the opening with the portions of the plurality of serially arranged parts.