Abstract: Apparatus for pickling metal sheet as it moves along a generally flat horizontal path, comprises elongated shallow and sequentially arranged electrolytic pickling and mixed acid pickling tanks each having input and output ends and through which metal sheet to be pickled is continuously fed along a linear, flat path through the use of support rolls underlying the metal sheet at spaced locations between the input and output ends of the tanks. Pickling liquid is maintained in each of the tanks at a given level above the support rolls, whereby the sheet material is immersed in the pickling liquid between the input and output ends of the corresponding tank. Each tank has guide rolls at the input and output ends thereof for guiding the sheet material therethrough, and the support rolls are driven at the speed of the sheet material to minimize the tension on the sheet as it is being pickled.

Abstract: An improvement in a device for plating a thin layer of a first metal onto the surface of a generally flat metal strip formed of a second metal as the strip is moving in a selected direction along a given path, wherein the device includes an anode in the chamber and means for supplying electrolyte containing ions of the first metal between the anode and the moving strip. The improvement involves providing the anode as an electrically conductive, non-consumable, anode element having an outer surface with a transverse width substantially as great as the width of the strip. A plenum chamber is formed behind the anode element and generally coextensive with the outer surface of the element so that apertures in the anode element direct jets of electrolyte through the anode element and directly against the surface being plated to provide a uniformly turbulent flow of electrolyte at the surface of the strip.