Abstract: A method of coating the glass envelope of a photoflash lamp with a thermoplastic material, the method comprising: preheating the glass envelope at a predetermined temperature for approximately one minute; immersing the heated envelope into a fluidized bed of powdered thermoplastic material from 1 to 5 seconds; removing the coated lamp from the fluidized bed; and postheating the coated envelope at a predetermined temperature for about 1 minute. To assist in preventing inadvertent flashing during these steps, the lamp can be held by a heat sink structure gripping the ignition leads or primer tube.

Abstract: The following specification describes a contact electroplating process and apparatus in which a web carrying the contacts is attached to a plastic carrier strip formed of modules in end to end relationship and then wound on a plating reel. Projections on the strip register with pilot holes in the web to attach the strip to the web. Teeth on the strip enable the strip to be properly indexed for attachment to the web and the projections and a rib on one surface of the strip are nestingly received between the teeth on adjacent turns of the strip and web as they are wound in a stack on the plating reel. The plating reel has a bushing for establishing an electrical connection to the contacts which is easily sealed by a simple nut mounting the reel on an arm or beam for immersion in a plating bath. After plating, the stacked contacts and strip are easily separated and wound on separate reels permitting reuse of the strip, and plating reel, while the contacts are in condition for subsequent operations.