Vanguard Research Associates, Inc.

Gilbert S Messing

Jean A Lochet

Thomas R Stanford

Rajendra B Patel

Grennady Volkov

Apparatus is disclosed for selectively electroplating continuous longitudinally extending stripes or lines onto continuous metal base strip. The apparatus comprises an electroplating station including a rotatable wheel and means for driving said wheel; means for passing said metal strip through said electroplating station by passing said strip about said wheel and moving said strip commonly with said wheel during travel through said station; a stationary flexible electrically insulating mask provided with one or more series of aligned discrete spaced perforate openings, being tensioned against the circumference of said wheel in an arced zone at said electroplating station; said strip passing through said arced zone with the side thereof nonadjacent the wheel being in sliding face-to-face fluid-tight contact with said tensioned stationary mask; means for rendering said base strip cathodic with respect to a spaced anode; and means for supplying electroplating solution to the side of said mask nonadjacent said base strip as said strip continues to slide in contact with said mask, whereby said solution passes through said mask openings to effect contact and electroplating at stripes extending longitudinally along said base strip, said stripes having a width corresponding to said mask openings.

Selective electroplating apparatus

An electrolytic cell for recovering from electrolytes metals, the ionic species of which are present at relatively low concentration. The cell comprises a container for the electrolyte, and and an electrode assembly in the container comprising (1) a tub-tubular sparger, having a central axial cavity bounded by an electrolyte-permeable cylindrical wall, and having an opening for receiving flow of the electrolyte into the central cavity and being otherwise closed, whereby the electrolyte flows radially from the sparger through the cylindrical wall; (2) a first electrolyte-permeable, high surface area electrode, coaxially surrounding the sparger to receive the flow therefrom; (3) an electrically insulating electrolyte-permeable spacer being coaxial with and surrounding the first electrode; and (4) a second electrolyte-permeable electrode being coaxial with the first electrode and contacting the insulating spacer at the side opposed to the first electrode, for receiving and passing the continuing radial flow. Electrical potential means are connected across the first and second electrodes to establish a electrolyzing potential therebetween. Pump means having an inlet for the electrolyte and an outlet connected to the central cavity of the electrode assembly, supplies electrolyte under pressure to the cavity, to thereby enable radial flow from the sparger through the cylindrical wall thereof, and thereupon through the coaxial electrodes and intervening spacer and back to the body of electrolyte within the container. The electrode assembly per se is also claimed.

Growing community of inventors

Palm Beach, FL, United States of America

Gilbert S Messing