Apparatus Used in an Electroplating Process for Holding Workpieces

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated includes at least one container immersed in and rotatable relative to a plating solution. The container includes two end plates, and a surrounding plate cooperating with the end plates to define a receiving space adapted to receive the workpieces, and an opening adapted for entry and exit of the workpieces into and out of the receiving space. The surrounding plate includes a curved sliding section having two opposite first and second ends, a tumbling section that is adapted to allow the workpieces to tumble thereon when the container is rotated and that has a third end connected to the first end, and a fourth end opposite to the third end, and a plurality of through holes formed in the sliding and tumbling sections. The opening is disposed between the second and fourth ends.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus, more particularly to an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional barrel 1 used in an electroplating process is immersed in a plating solution 19 which is contained in a plating tank 18. The barrel 1 is formed with a plurality of through holes 14 to permit flow of the plating solution 19 there through, and includes a conductive piece 13 at the center of the barrel 1, a top opening 15, and a cover plate 16 to openably close the top opening 15. Two transmission gears 12 (only one is shown) are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the barrel 1. The barrel 1 has six flat surfaces 17. Each two adjacent ones of the flat surfaces 17 define therebetween a specific angle.

When electroplating of small workpieces 10, such as screws, is desired, the cover plate 16 is first opened, and the workpieces 10 are put into the barrel 1 via the opening 15. Afterwards, the opening 15 is closed by the cover plate 16. The barrel 1 is then immersed in the plating solution 19 in the plating tank 18. The transmission gears 12 are subsequently activated so as to rotate the barrel 1 about a horizontal axis, thereby plating the workpieces 3.

However, because the workpieces 10 undergo a vigorous tumbling action as they move from one flat surface 17 to another flat surface 17, and since the workpieces 10 are made of metal, when the workpieces 10 bump into each other, the surfaces thereof are easily damaged, thereby adversely affecting the final quality of the electroplated workpieces 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to this invention, an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated comprises a container unit including at least one container immersed in and rotatable relative to a plating solution. The container includes two spaced-apart end plates, and a surrounding plate connected between the end plates and cooperating with the same to define a receiving space adapted to receive the workpieces, and an opening in spatial communication with the receiving space and adapted for entry and exit of the workpieces into and out of the receiving space. The surrounding plate includes a curved sliding section that has two opposite first and second ends, a tumbling section that is adapted to allow the workpieces to tumble thereon when the container is rotated and that has a third end connected to the first end, and a fourth end opposite to the third end, and a plurality of through holes formed in the sliding and tumbling sections and adapted to permit flow of the plating solution therethrough. The opening is disposed between the second end and the fourth end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional barrel immersed in a plating solution which is contained in a plating tank;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a container of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how rotated plates of the container are in contact with friction wheels;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating the workpieces at a flat plate portion of a tumbling section of the container;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the workpieces at a sliding section of the container;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the workpieces being discharged from the container;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a container unit and two pairs of friction wheels 41 only one pair of the friction wheels 41 or one friction wheel 41 from each pair of the same is shown in the drawings).

The container unit includes a container 3 immersed in a plating solution 22 that is disposed in a plating tank 20. The container 3 is rotatable in this state immersed in the plating solution 22. The container 3 includes two spaced-apart flat end plates 32, a surrounding plate 31 connected between the end plates 32, and two flat rotated plates 33 connected respectively and fixedly to the end plates 32 such that the end plates 32 are disposed between the rotated plates 33.

The surrounding plate 31 and the end plates 32 cooperatively define a receiving space 35 (see FIG. 4) adapted to receive the workpieces 21, and an opening 30 in spatial communication with the receiving space 35 and adapted for entry and exit of the workpieces 21 into and out of the receiving space 35. The surrounding plate 31 includes a sliding section 341 and a tumbling section 342. The sliding section 341 is curved, and has two opposite first and second ends 343, 344. The tumbling section 342 has a third end 345 connected to the first end 343, and a fourth end 346 opposite to the third end 345. The opening 30 is disposed between the second end 344 and the fourth end 346. The tumbling section 342 is adapted to allow the workpieces 21 to tumble thereon when the container 3 is rotated, and includes a plurality of interconnected flat plate portions 3421, each two adjacent ones of which form an angle (a) therebetween. The angle (a) is greater than 90°. Alternatively, the tumbling section 342 may include a wave-like plate portion (not shown). As long as the workpieces 21 can undergo tumbling action when the container 3 is rotated, the configuration of the tumbling section 342 may be varied, and is not limited to the aforesaid disclosures.

A plurality of through holes 347 are formed in the sliding section 341 and the tumbling section 342, and are adapted to permit flow of the plating solution 22 therethrough.

Each pair of the friction wheels 41 is disposed under and in frictional contact with a respective one of the rotated plates 33, as best shown in FIG. 4. The friction wheels 41 are driven by a motor (not shown) so as to rotate the rotated plates 33. In this embodiment, the friction wheels 41 are used to rotate the container 3. Alternatively, gear wheels may be used to rotate the container 3.

In use, initially, the workpieces 21 are fed into the container 3 via the opening 30, and are immersed in the plating solution 22. Afterwards, the motor is activated so as to drive the friction wheels 41 to rotate the container 3. When the container 3 is rotated from a position shown in FIG. 2 to a position shown in FIG. 5, the workpieces 21 in the container 3 tumble from one flat plate portion 3421 to another flat plate portion 3421 due to gravity. Because the workpieces 21 undergo a significant tumbling action from one flat plate portion 3421 to another, the surfaces of the workpieces 21 are uniformly electroplated.

When the container 3 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 5 to a position shown in FIG. 6, the workpieces 21 fall slidingly from the flat plate portion 3421, which is immediately adjacent to the sliding section 341, to the sliding section 341. Since the sliding section 341 is curved, the bumping forces among the workpieces 21 are weakened. Finally, when the container 3 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 6 to a position shown in FIG. 7, the workpieces 21 are completely electroplated, and are discharged via the opening 30 to a conveyor belt 42.

From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that through the flat plate portions 3421 of the tumbling section 342, the workpieces 21 can undergo significant tumbling during rotation of the container 3 so that the surface of each workpiece 21 may be in contact with the plating solution 22. As such, the surfaces of the workpieces 21 may be electroplated uniformly. Further, through the curved configuration of the sliding section 341, the work pieces 21 undergo a dampened tumbling action at the sliding section 341, thereby minimizing the bumping forces and frictional impact among the workpieces 21. Hence, the quality of the electroplated workpieces 21 can be enhanced.

Referring to FIG. 8, an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the two rotated plates 33 (see FIG. 3) of the container 3′ are replaced by two shafts 37, which are connected respectively and fixedly to the end plates 32. The shafts 37 are driven by a motor (not shown) to rotate so that the container 3′ rotates along with the shafts 37.

Since the shafts 37 are used to rotate the container 3′ in this embodiment, the friction wheels 41 used in the first preferred embodiment are dispensed herein, thereby minimizing the overall cost of the present invention. Alternatively, rotation of the container 3′ may be achieved through other means, and is not limited to the present disclosures.

Referring to FIG. 9, an apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the second preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a rotatable frame 5 adapted to be rotatable while at least partially immersed in the plating solution 22. The container unit includes a plurality of containers 3′ connected pivotally to the rotatable frame 5, and are angularly spaced apart from each other. Four containers 3′ are exemplified in this embodiment. The rotatable frame 5 rotates about its center. Each of the containers 3′ is rotatable relative to the rotatable frame 5 by the corresponding shafts 37. In this embodiment, when the rotatable frame 5 rotates one revolution about its center, each container 3′ also rotates one revolution along with the corresponding shafts 37. That is, from the initial feeding of the workpieces 21 into one of the containers 3′ to the second feeding of the workpieces 21 into the one of the containers 3′, the one of the containers 3′ rotates one revolution along with the corresponding shafts 37, and the rotatable frame 5 also rotates one revolution about its center. During one revolution of the rotatable frame 5, each container 3′ is brought to immerse in the plating solution 22, so that the workpieces 21 can be uniformly electroplated, and can be discharged from the corresponding container 3′ prior to subsequent feeding of the workpieces 21. Hence, not only can the workpieces 21 be uniformly electroplated, but the quantity of the workpieces 21 to be electroplated can be increased as well.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a plurality of workpieces to be electroplated, said apparatus comprising a container unit including at least one container immersed in and rotatable relative to a plating solution, said container including two spaced-apart end plates, and a surrounding plate connected between said end plates and cooperating with said end plates to define a receiving space adapted to receive the workpieces, and an opening in spatial communication with said receiving space and adapted for entry and exit of the workpieces into and out of said receiving space, said surrounding plate including a curved sliding section that has two opposite first and second ends, a tumbling section that is adapted to allow the workpieces to tumble thereon when said container is rotated and that has a third end connected to said first end, and a fourth end opposite to said third end, and a plurality of through holes formed in said sliding and tumbling sections and adapted to permit flow of the plating solution therethrough, said opening being disposed between said second end and said fourth end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container further includes two rotated plates connected respectively and fixedly to said end plates such that said end plates are disposed between said rotated plates, said apparatus further comprising two pairs of friction wheels, each pair of said friction wheels being disposed under and in frictional contact with a respective one of said rotated plates and being driven to rotate the respective one of said rotated plates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container further includes two shafts connected respectively and fixedly to said end plates such that said container is rotatable along with said shafts.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a rotatable frame adapted to be rotatable relative to the plating solution, said container unit including a plurality of said containers connected pivotally to said rotatable frame and angularly spaced apart from each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tumbling section includes a plurality of interconnected flat plate portions, each two adjacent ones of which form an angle therebetween, said angle being greater than 90°.