Abstract: A film formation apparatus includes an anode, a solid electrolyte membrane between the anode and a substrate, a power supply that applies voltage between the anode and the substrate as a cathode, and a liquid reservoir that holds the anode and the solid electrolyte membrane while separating them apart from each other, the liquid reservoir storing electrolyte solution including metal ions between the anode and the solid electrolyte membrane. The solid electrolyte membrane includes a central portion that comes in contact with the substrate and the electrolyte solution, and an outer edge portion outside the central portion. The apparatus includes a membrane tensioning mechanism to apply a tensile force to the central portion toward the outer edge portion while storing the heated electrolyte solution in the liquid reservoir, to elongate the central portion.

Abstract: A mask structure includes a screen mask having a penetrating portion with a predetermined pattern. The screen mask includes a mesh portion having an opening formed in a grid pattern, and a mask portion having the penetrating portion and being fixed to the mesh portion so as to face the substrate. The mask portion includes a core portion that retains the shape of the mask portion, and a seal portion made of an elastic material softer than the material of the core portion and contacting the substrate.

Abstract: It is determined whether an imaginary component at a predetermined frequency of an alternating current impedance is equal to or more than a preliminarily set film-formable value or not. The metallic coating is formed in a state where the substrate is pressed by the solid electrolyte membrane when the imaginary component is equal to or more than the film-formable value in the determining. The metallic coating is formed in a state where the pressing of the substrate by the solid electrolyte membrane is released to separate the solid electrolyte membrane from the substrate, the solid electrolyte membrane is re-tensioned with a constant tensile force, and subsequently, the substrate is pressed by the re-tensioned solid electrolyte membrane when the imaginary component is smaller than the film-formable value in the determining.

Abstract: An automatic sipe forming machine for forming sipes on a tread face of a tire, including a tire supporting apparatus and a sipe forming apparatus. The tire supporting apparatus further includes a tire bearing mechanism and an intermittent rotary mechanism for intermittently rotating the tire. The sipe forming apparatus further includes at least one disc cutter, a sliding beam, a cutter holder, a carriage for reciprocatingly guiding the cutter holder, and a guide member for reciprocatingly guiding the carriage. The sipe forming apparatus can further include an angle changing mechanism for changing a sipe forming angle of the disc cutter.