Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1996-11-12
1998-11-10
Valentine, Donald R.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204202, 204237, 204269, 204270, 204273, 204278, 118429, C25D 1700, C25D 1702, C25D 2110
Patent
active
058338160
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
European reference EP-A-0 254 962 discloses an apparatus for the through-contacting and electroplating of printed circuit boards wherein the individual printed circuit boards are continuously conducted through successively arranged treatment baths in horizontal attitude on a horizontal conveying path. The transport of the printed circuit boards through the treatment baths accommodated in treatment cells ensues via horizontally arranged conveyor rollers or via clamps arranged at endlessly circulating drives that seize the lateral edges of the printed circuit boards. In the case of an electroplating treatment, the clamps also simultaneously assume the cathodic contacting of the printed circuit boards. Horizontal slots for the passage of the printed circuit boards are located in the end walls of the treatment cells, whereby roller pairs that are horizontally arranged and that are drive with a speed matched to the speed of the traversing printed circuit boards are allocated to these horizontal slots as seals. The bath liquid emerging from the individual treatment cells is collected in allocated collecting tanks and is continuously returned into the allocated bath cells with the assistance of appropriate pumps. Maintaining a constant level in the individual treatment cells is enabled by the continuous return of the bath liquid.
European reference EP-A-0 421 127 discloses an apparatus for the treatment of printed circuit boards wherein the individual printed circuit boards are continuously conducted through successively arranged treatment baths in a vertically suspended attitude on a horizontal conveying path. The transport of the printed circuit boards through the baths accommodated in treatment cells ensues via clamps arranged at endlessly circulating drives that, in the case of an electroplating treatment, also simultaneously assume the cathodic contacting of the printed circuit boards. Vertical slots for the passage of the printed circuit boards are located and the end walls of the treatment cells, whereby seals fashioned as brush seals or strip brush seals are provided in the passage region. The individual treatment cells are arranged in collecting tanks from which the collected bath liquid is continuously returned into the allocated treatment cells with the assistance of appropriate pumps. Here, too, the continuous return of the bath liquid enables the maintaining of a constant level in the individual treatment cells.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,522 discloses a similarly constructed apparatus for the electrolytic treatment of printed circuit boards wherein vertically arranged roller pairs are allocated as seals to the vertical slots in the end walls of the treatment cells. The rollers of these roller pairs composed of elastic material are resiliently pressed against one another and driven with a speed that is matched to the conveying speed of the traversing printed circuit boards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the treatment of printed circuit boards in successively arranged treatment baths wherein a clear increase of the throughput can be achieved with relatively little added outlay. In general terms the present invention is an apparatus for treating printed circuit boards. The conveyor system continuously conducts the printed circuit boards through successively arranged treatment baths in vertical attitude on at least two horizontal conveying paths proceeding next to one another. Treatments cells are arranged successively and next to one another for the acceptance of the treatment baths. The end walls of the treatment cells have vertical slots for the passage of the printed circuit boards. Seals are allocated to the slots. Common collecting tanks are provided for the bath liquid emerging from treatment cells arranged next to one another. Pumps are provided for the continuous return of bath liquid from the collecting tanks into the allocated treatment cells.
In general terms the present invention is also an apparatus fo
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patent: 4372825 (1983-02-01), Eidschun
patent: 4394241 (1983-07-01), Scanlon
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patent: 4595451 (1986-06-01), Holzer
patent: 5417828 (1995-05-01), Sergio
Heermann Marcel
Hosten Daniel
Siemens S.A.
Valentine Donald R.
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