Newcor, Inc.

Kenneth A Schmidt

Thomas J Geiermann

An electroplating apparatus having a tank containing a bath of an electrolytic solution, and a roll supported for immersion into the electrolytic bath for transporting a sheet material through the bath. The roll has a current collector rotatably supported on a shaft thereof for transmitting high amperage electricity to the roll. The current collector is supported on a part of the shaft which projects exteriorly of the tank side wall, and incorporates a sleevelike housing structure which surrounds and is rotatable relative to the shaft and mounts therein a plurality of conductive shoes which are of a highly electrically conductive material and are spring urged for snug radial contact with a conductive ring secured to a conductive sleeve arrangement which snugly axially and nonrotatably mounts to the shaft. The housing cooperates with the sleeve arrangement to define a generally sealed interior annular chamber in which the current-conducting shoes are positioned. A pressurized lubricating system is connected to the current collector for permitting substantially continuous supply of lubricant through the chamber.

Electroplating apparatus with improved current collector

A pair of sheetlike members are supported on a pair of support tables disposed on opposite sides of a movable splicing mechanism. The pair of sheets are advanced inwardly from opposite directions into a splicing position wherein the adjacent edge portions of the sheets overlap, and are suitably secured by side clamp mechanisms. The movable splicing mechanism is then linearly moved along the overlapping edges, and opposed weld rolls rollingly and clampingly engage the overlapping edges therebetween to effect welding thereof. A pair of planishing rolls rollingly and compressingly engage the seam weld and follow along behind the weld rolls to effect flattening of the seam weld. After the splicing mechanism moves along the entire length of the overlapping edges to create a mash seam weld between, a gripper mounted on the mechanism engages opposite sides of the sheet, and the mechanism then returns to its original position and simultaneously discharges the spliced sheet forwardly of the apparatus. The planish and weld rolls are maintained in a separated condition during this return movement of the splicing mechanism.

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Bay City, MI, United States of America

Kenneth A Schmidt