Amp LLC

Mark L Smith

Richard M Wagner

A selective plating apparatus (20) for zone plating is comprised of a contained supply (22) of plating solution having an elongated avenue of escape or nozzle (32) and anode means (42) mounted along the length of the avenue of escape (32) at a spaced location therefrom such that the plating solution leaving the supply (22) is charged by the anode means (42). The apparatus (20) further includes means (80, 94) for guiding a workpiece (120) having a zone (128) to be selectively plated through the apparatus (20) such that the zone (128) is proximate the avenue of escape (32), the workpiece (120) comprising a cathode means. The apparatus (20) includes means for maintaining a desired rate of plating solution through the avenue of escape (32) whereby the solution wets the selected zone (128) of the workpiece (120) and deposits a layer of plating in the desired zone (128) on the surface of the workpiece as it passes through the apparatus (20). The apparatus (20) is preferably comprised of two such contained supplies (22, 52) of plating solution having the respective avenues of escape (32, 68) on opposite sides (130, 132) of the workpiece (120) thus depositing plating on the selected zone (128) on both sides of the workpiece simultaneously.

Selective plating apparatus for zone plating

An apparatus for plating interior surfaces of electrical terminals that are attached to a carrier strip comprises a mandrel having first and second portions, the first portion being comprised of dielectric members which are mounted for rotation on a shaft as strip fed terminals are continuously fed to the first portion; wrapped against it and exited therefrom; and a second conductive portion mounted in a stationary portion on the same shaft. First dielectric portion includes a plurality of nozzles distributed about its axis of rotation. A plurality of anode members are mounted within the nozzles, the anode members being movable into and out of interiors of terminals that are wrapped against the dielectric portion. A conduit supplies plating solution under pressure through the nozzles and upon anode members. A source of electrical potential supplies electrical current flow from anode members through plating solution and into interiors of terminals thus forming a plurality of plating cells about the dielectric portion. The apparatus includes means for assuring electrical engagement between the anode assemblies and the conductive portion so that an essentially uniform current is suppled to each plating cell. The apparatus further includes camming means which cooperates with a camming engagement member on each anode assembly to ensure retraction of each assembly from its corresponding terminal.

Selective plating apparatus

An anode assembly for plating contact areas within socket terminals is comprised of a conductive body member having an anode means extending forwardly from a body section, and a dielectric shroud having a profiled passageway extending axially therethrough, the dielectric shroud being removable mounted to said body section that said shroud extends coaxially around said anode means. The profiled passageway of the shroud includes a terminal receiving section which is disposed around the anode means, extends forwardly thereof, and has an inner diameter selected to be just greater than the outside diameter of a terminal to be plated. The terminal receiving section further includes lead-in means whereby a terminal members is relatively received into the terminal receiving section and locatable concentrically about the anode member.

Anode assembly for selectively plating electrical terminals

An apparatus for plating interior surfaces of essentially flat electrical terminals that are spaced apart and attached to a carrier strip is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of strip feeding means which feeds the strip (120) of terminals (122) to a rotating mandrel (10) which guides the terminals (122) through a plating zone while they are plated, a source of electrolytic plating solution, and a source of electrical potential for applying electrical current flow from the anode (42) through the solution to a cathode. The mandrel (10) has a plurality of nozzles (62) located about its axis of rotation, and a plurality of anode extensions (64), each anode extension (64) being mounted in an associated nozzle (62), such that one end of the anode extension (64) protrudes outwardly from the end of the nozzle (62). The strip (120) of terminals is fed to the mandrel (10) so that the interior contact zone (128) of the terminals (122) are aligned with and mounted over the protruding end of the corresponding anode extensions (64). A conduit (56) supplies electrolyte solution under pressure through the nozzles (62) and into the terminals (122) in which the associated anode extensions (64) have been received. The terminals (122) are removed from the anode extensions (64) as the strip (120) exits the mandrel (10).

Apparatus for selectively plating electrical terminals

An apparatus for continuously plating interior surfaces of loose piece electrical terminals is characterized in that loose piece terminals are continuously fed to a continuously rotating mandrel, are held against the mandrel during the plating process by retaining means and are released from the mandrel, the mandrel having a plurality of anode containing nozzles therein, the anodes being mounted for reciprocation into and out of the interior of the terminals that are against the mandrel. A conduit supplies plating solution under pressure through the nozzles and upon the anodes and into the interiors of the terminals in which the anodes are received. The retaining means is an elongated resiliently mounted member which surrounds a portion of a rotating mandrel whereby the loose pieces are held against the mandrel during the plating process wherein the anodes move into the interiors of the terminals, plating solution is injected over the anodes and the anodes are retracted from the terminals, the terminals being released from the mandrel after the anodes have been retracted and the terminals have passed the end of the retaining means.

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Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Mark L Smith