Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-08-21
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
C204S271000, C248S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277252
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for electroplating on a master for obtaining a matrix. Such a matrix may be used for replication of optical discs.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
A manufacturer of optical discs having an amount of information-to-be-replicated, such as for example a music recording or computer data, needs to obtain a stamper with a pattern corresponding to that information. The pattern of the stamper is a model for information to be transferred to the optical discs. A stamper is manufactured in the following way: A master having a pattern corresponding to the pattern to be on the Optical Discs is manufactured. The patterned, i.e. structured, surface of the master plate is metallized, by depositing a thin conductive layer thereon e.g. by vacuum deposition or sputtering. The step of generating a stamper matrix with the use of the master involves deposition of nickel by electroplating in an electroplating apparatus.
After electroplating, the resulting nickel plate is removed from the master plate. The removal of the nickel plate from the master plate results in a nickel plate having a patterned surface, the pattern being the mirror image of the pattern on the master. That nickel plate constitutes a matrix. The matrix may be used as a stamper matrix in an injection moulding machine for moulding optical discs.
FIG. 1B
illustrates a work station according to prior art, including an electroplating bath unit. The electroplating bath, during operation, contains aggressive chemicals and may emit hazardous gases when opening, the lid of the bath unit.
FIG. 1C
illustrates a cupboard according to the prior art, for use together with the work station shown in FIG.
1
B. The cupboard includes control circuitry for the electroplating process, and it is too bulky and too heavy to be lifted by only a few people, e.g by two persons on their own. The prior art work station of
FIG. 1B
can be used together with the cupboard of
FIG. 1C
as an electroplating apparatus. Such a prior art electroplating apparatus is illustrated in FIG.
1
D. The electroplating apparatus according to the prior art is higher than it is wide. The geometry of the plating apparatus according to the prior art is such that during operation it is a bit over 2 meters high. A display unit is provided in the cupboard. The electroplating bath unit provided in the work station includes parts which are not rigidly attached to the frame of the plating apparatus, but which are movable in the horizontal direction and which are not restrained in the upward direction. These freely movable parts are kept in place by gravitation and are already placed in the work station when delivered from the manufacturer. For these reasons the work station should be kept in an upright position during transport. The work station is too bulky and too heavy to be lifted by a single person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the problem of reducing the time duration from the placement of a purchase order to successful operation of a new plating apparatus at the premises of a manufacturer of optical discs.
The above mentioned problem is solved by providing an electroplating apparatus comprising a frame having a first frame portion supporting an electroplating bath unit and a second frame portion for supporting electrically operated units including a display unit, the frame forming a vertically extended construction in an operational state. The first frame portion and the second frame portion are interconnected such that the apparatus is foldable to a transport state for reducing said vertical extension of the apparatus, the first frame portion and the second frame portion forming a single frame in the transport state as well as in the operating state.
This solution has the advantageous effect of enabling delivery of the plating apparatus with any standard freighter aeroplane, while enabling an easier set up procedure of the plating apparatus after delivery, thereby minimizing the time and work required by service assembly personnel, since the machine can be assembled to a larger extent at the manufacture plant before delivery to the end user. Freighter cargo aeroplanes have restrictions for the height of a piece of cargo. The most frequent cargo aeroplanes require that the cargo has a maximum height of about 1.6 meters, whereas cargo aeroplanes allowing higher pieces of cargo are quite infrequent at many airline routes. The apparatus according to the invention enables the manufacturer/distributor of plating apparatuses to provide fast response to an order, that is fast delivery of a plating construction after receiving an order. This is because in its folded state the plating construction complies with these cargo aeroplane requirements, and hence one of the frequently flying cargo aeroplanes can be used for delivery of the plating construction.
The first portion of the frame is adapted to support the weight of the whole apparatus, since it forms a lower part of the plating apparatus in the operational state.
Additionally the top frame portion of the apparatus acts like a lever during the process of transforming the apparatus from its folded state to its operational state. This significantly reduces the physical effort needed for transforming the plating apparatus from the transport state to the operational state. This advantageously enables a single person to transform the plating apparatus from the transport state to the operational state in a short time.
According to an embodiment the apparatus further comprises electrical conductor connections for connecting electrically operated units in the second frame portion with electrically operated units in the first frame portion. The provision of electrical conductor connections in the apparatus already at the delivery eliminates the need to engage an operator for setting up electrical connections between internal units in the apparatus after delivery, at the premises of a manufacturer of optical discs. Hence, the time duration from delivery to successful operation of a new plating apparatus is reduced.
According to a preferred embodiment the conductor connections include cables which, in the proximity of the axis of rotation around which the apparatus is foldable, are arranged substantially parallel to said axis of rotation. This cable arrangement advantageously reduces stretching or slacking of the cables during folding or unfolding, hence contributing to reducing the probability of electric wiring errors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4187154 (1980-02-01), Dewallens
patent: 4391694 (1983-07-01), Runsten
patent: 4619749 (1986-10-01), Nusbaum
patent: 5489076 (1996-02-01), Thomas
patent: 5676809 (1997-10-01), Billman
patent: WO 97/37061 (1997-10-01), None
Gorgos Kathryn
Nicolas Wesley A.
Toolex Alpha AB
Young & Thompson
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