Abstract: A coating system includes a plurality of liquid immersion workstations positioned along an arcuate path, the plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a single complete coating process for a sequence of objects. A plurality of curing workstations are configured to independently receive objects of the sequence of objects exiting the plurality of liquid immersion workstations. An articulated robotic arm has a base positioned inside the arcuate path in top plan view such that the robotic arm is operable to carry each object of the sequence of objects through each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations and to exactly one of the plurality of curing workstations. An articulated robotic hand is provided at a distal end of the robotic arm and configured to grasp and hold each of the objects and to oscillate the object while submerged in each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.

Abstract: A process for cleaning and beneficiating biomass is described which may allow removal of entrained salts and light volatiles from biomass materials. The process may also minimize energy use through capturing steam and flue gases for re-use. The process may generally comprise the following steps: prewashing and/or preheating a biomass, pressurizing the biomass in a steam explosion vessel, rapidly depressurizing the steam explosion vessel, releasing the steam from the steam explosion vessel entrained with fine lignin-enriched particles into a cyclone-type gas expansion vessel, routing the steam from the gas expansion vessel to the input hopper, subjecting the biomass to a second washing step, mechanically removing a portion of the water from the biomass, and evaporatively heating the biomass.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and method for electroplating an alpha emitting radionuclide, such as an actinide, for use in alpha spectroscopy. The electrodeposition system for electroplating an alpha emitting radionuclide can include an electroplating cell containing a solution of an electrolyte and the alpha emitting radionuclide, a metal target within the electroplating cell, and a metal anode at a distance from the metal target. The system also includes a platform for supporting the electroplating cell, coupling mechanism connected to the platform, an electric motor on the elastic cushion, and a flywheel with an uneven weight distribution operatively connected to the electric motor. Rotation of the unevenly distributed flywheel generates a vibration in the electroplating cell which dislodges gas bubbles that have formed between the metal target and the metal anode.

Abstract: A rotatable electroplating barrel for electroplating articles, the electroplating barrel having a proximal end with a centrally formed aperture and a distal end with at least one helical rib extending circumferentially along a longitudinal axis and between the proximal end and the distal end. The at least one helical rib, proximal end, and distal end of the electroplating barrel are formed integrally as a unitary piece and have a contiguous perforated outer wall configured to couple directly to the proximal and distal ends, extending therearound to enclose the at least one helical rib.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and method for electroplating an alpha emitting radionuclide, such as an actinide, for use in alpha spectroscopy. The electrodeposition system for electroplating an alpha emitting radionuclide can include an electroplating cell containing a solution of an electrolyte and the alpha emitting radionuclide, a metal target within the electroplating cell, and a metal anode at a distance from the metal target. The system also includes a platform for supporting the electroplating cell, coupling mechanism connected to the platform, an electric motor on the elastic cushion, and a flywheel with an uneven weight distribution operatively connected to the electric motor. Rotation of the unevenly distributed flywheel generates a vibration in the electroplating cell which dislodges gas bubbles that have formed between the metal target and the metal anode.

Abstract: A plating apparatus includes a plating tank and a plating unit that performs electrolytic plating on an object. The plating unit includes a workpiece passage region including a partition wall that allows passage of the plating solution but does not allow passage of the object, the workpiece passage region passing the object from above toward below, an injection unit that injects the plating solution from below toward above, a mixing unit that mixes the plating solution injected by the injection unit and the object to be plated passing through the workpiece passage region, an anode outside the workpiece passage region, a cathode inside the workpiece passage region including a hollow region through which a mixed fluid of the plating solution and the object to be plated passes from below toward above, and a guidance unit that guides the mixed fluid to the workpiece passage region.

Abstract: In a processing system for electroplating semiconductor wafers and similar substrates, the contact ring of the electroplating processor is removed from the rotor of the processor and replaced with a previously deplated contact ring. This allows the contact ring to be deplated in ring service module of the system, while the processor continues to operate. Wafer throughput is improved. The contact ring may be attached to a chuck for moving the contact ring between the processors and the ring service module, with the chuck quickly attachable and releasable to the rotor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a barrel plating apparatus. The barrel plating apparatus includes a barrel plating tank filled with an electrolytic solution, a barrel container immersed in the electrolytic solution of the barrel plating tank and filled with chip parts and media, a power supply unit for supplying current to an anode part and a cathode part which transfer the current to the barrel container and the electrolytic solution of the barrel plating tank, a driving motor for rotating the barrel container, and a hall current sensor formed in at least one cathode rod of the cathode part, coming into direct contact with the chip parts, the hall current sensor measuring the current. Accordingly, in the barrel plating apparatus, the currents of respective cathode rods are measured by hall current sensors, and thus variations in plating thickness can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating surfaces of hollow parts, this method being a conversion treatment such as an anodizing, and to a method according to which the hollow pieces are completely immersed inside at least one treatment tank containing a liquid, characterized in that each hollow piece is immersed while making it execute at least one rotational movement so that air bubbles likely to be created inside the tank are removed from the inner wall of the hollow part.

Abstract: A new device is provided for the electrorefining of uranium in spent metallic nuclear fuels by the separation of unreacted zirconium, noble metal fission products, transuranic elements, and uranium from spent fuel rods. The process comprises an electrorefiner cell. The cell includes a drum-shaped cathode horizontally immersed about half-way into an electrolyte salt bath. A conveyor belt comprising segmented perforated metal plates transports spent fuel into the salt bath. The anode comprises the conveyor belt, the containment vessel, and the spent fuel. Uranium and transuranic elements such as plutonium (Pu) are oxidized at the anode, and, subsequently, the uranium is reduced to uranium metal at the cathode. A mechanical cutter above the surface of the salt bath removes the deposited uranium metal from the cathode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating or treating powdered material, particularly ultra-fine powders in the nanometer or submicron range of mean diameters, by electrolytic processes. A platen is mounted for rotation upon a fixed shaft, and a rotary flow-through electrolytic cell is mounted upon a platen for rotation thereon, the cell's axis of rotation being offset from the platen's axis of rotation. The cells axis of rotation revolves around the platen's axis as the platen rotates. The electrolytic cell accordingly undergoes a planetary rotation, as the cell revolves around the platen's axis of rotation. The planetary rotation of the cell allows the powdered material to be collected by centrifugal force and constantly agitated to promote uniform electroplating.

Abstract: A method for making conductive particles that efficiently permit a plated layer of uniform thickness to be formed over each of the particles without aggregating the particles in a plating liquid.

Abstract: A multi-rate speech codec supports a plurality of encoding bit rate modes by adaptively selecting encoding bit rate modes to match communication channel restrictions. In higher bit rate encoding modes, an accurate representation of speech through CELP (code excited linear prediction) and other associated modeling parameters are generated for higher quality decoding and reproduction. For each bit rate mode selected, pluralities of fixed or innovation subcodebooks are selected for use in generating innovation vectors. The speech coder distinguishes various voice signals as a function of their voice content. For example, a Voice Activity Detection (VAD) algorithm selects an appropriate coding scheme depending on whether the speech signal comprises active or inactive speech. The encoder may consider varying characteristics of the speech signal including sharpness, a delay correlation, a zero-crossing rate, and a residual energy.

Abstract: A circuit board surface treatment equipment, which includes an upper solution chamber and a bottom solution chamber defined within a machine base at different elevations, a set of conveying rollers and upper and lower bumper rollers arranged in the upper solution chamber and controlled to deliver circuit boards through the upper solution chamber for treatment, upper and lower pressure-balanced water knives respectively mounted in gaps in between the conveying rollers and controlled to eject a surface treatment solution onto the circuit boards, and water level control switch means which open the passage between the upper solution chamber and the bottom solution chamber for letting the surface treatment solution flow from the upper solution chamber to the bottom solution chamber when the level of surface treatment solution in the upper solution chamber surpasses a predetermined high level.

Abstract: In order in a continuous electroplating plant to avoid the problem of undesired metal application or metallization on contact faces (25), which e.g. occur in the case of rolling contacting of the article (13) to be plated, e.g. a printed circuit board, on contact rollers or disks (15) are provided individual contact sectors (24), which are alternately anodically and cathodically supplied with power via a commutator (27) located outside the treatment chamber (11). The contact sectors (24) are mutually overlapping and are staggered e.g. in sloping, arrow-like or step-like manner, so that a continuous contacting with respect to the article (13) is possible.Contacting takes place in a lateral portion (45) of the treatment chamber (11), which is admittedly filled with treatment fluid (40), but is largely shielded with respect thereto, so that the metal application tendency is reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and process for electroplating that has plating drums whereby the plating drums are filled, and emptied of parts at each individual plating cell and the parts are cleansed by spraying, wiping and/or drying and whereby only cleansed parts are transported from plating cell to plating cell. This results in less contamination and higher efficiencies in plating.

Abstract: Known large vibrating conveyors are not readily suitable as such for conveying bulk materials or small articles into or out of a liquid bath, because the liquid transmits the vibrations to other structural parts, for example a vessel for the liquid, as a result of the incompressibility of the liquid. In order to remedy this, the vibrating conveyor device according to the invention has a compressible space or chamber underneath the vibrating part which damps the vibrations, when suitably coordinated with the liquid bath. The space is preferably gas-filled and its damping properties can be varied by feeding additional gas through a line which can be shut off by a member, or by bleeding some of the filling through a further line which can likewise be shut off by a member.

Abstract: An electroplating apparatus of small articles comprising: a horizontal circular bottom disk fixed on a top of a vertical drive shaft concentrically, a cover having a bottom fixing flange extending outwardly, upper opening and forming between the bottom disk a treatment room the height of the room changing gradually low as the radius increases or simply cylindrical, a minus contact ring or intermittent minus contact ring disposed between the bottom disk and flange, porous ring being disposed near the contact ring allowing only to pass an electroplating liquid in the cover by centrifugal force, supply pipes supplying electroplating liquid etc. from the opening, a cellar receiving electroplating liquid etc. scattered from the porous ring, a pump feeding the liquid gathered in the cellar to the supply pipe, an anode inserted from the opening and contacting electroplating liquid, and during the electroplating, the bottom disk and cover repeat rotation and stopping or rotation and decelerating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for electroplating that has an electrolyte continually circulating through a rotating plating barrel along with its parts to be plated by having a elongated perforated tube that is positioned above the center of a barrel, whereby the barrel is provided with recirculated electrolyte by means of a pump recirculating electrolyte from a plating tank to the elongated perforations while the barrel is rotating, so that the parts are agitated and greater speed and efficiency of the plating process can be achieved.

Abstract: The bulk material is transportable in an electrolyte in the conveying trough of a vibrator conveyor. The perforated conveying trough constitutes one of the two electrodes. According to the invention, the polarity of the conveying trough (21) and of the other electrodes (36 to 39) is reversible. The conveying trough (21) and the other electrodes (36 to 39) may be fastened preferably on common supporting stringpieces (22 to 27), which serve at the same time as power lead for one of the two electrodes and are connected with the central pipe (2). With this design the life of the other electrodes (36 to 39) is lengthened.

Abstract: The conveying trough of the vibrator conveyor is disposed spirally around a central pipe and is surrounded by a gasproof vessel. This vessel contains a treatment medium, preferably an electrolyte free of oxygen and water, into which the vibrator conveyor with thee central pipe dips partially. According to the invention, a gas cushion (10) is provided between the bottom (3) or the cover (4) of the central pipe (2) and the bottom (8) of the vessel (6). In this form of realization bulk material can be transported over great differences in height.

Abstract: The bulk material is transportable in an electrolyte in the conveying trough of a vibrator conveyor. The conveying trough forms a cathodic track for the bulk material. According to the invention, a granulate anode (40) is provided which consists of a granulate of the material provided for deposition, which is transportable with the vibration in an anodic track (44) associated with the cathodic track (22). This form of realization of the apparatus with a large-surface anode of movable granulate results in a simple design solution for supplying and for replacing the anodes and in a better material utilization of the anode. In addition, the necessary down times are reduced.

Abstract: For electrodeposition of metal from an electrolyte with a vibrator conveyor the bulk material is transported in a conveying trough which is connected as cathode. According to the invention, the conveying trough (18) is provided with supporting stringpieces (22 to 29) which are intended for the mechanical attachment of the conveying trough (18) on the central pipe (2) as well as for current transmission to the cathode and furthermore serve as electric lead-through through the sidewall (5) of the central pipe (2). The supporting stringpieces (22 to 29) comprise an electrically conducting contact shaft (52) which is electrically insulated from the electrolyte (12) and the central pipe (2). For the attachment of the conveying trough (18) on the stringpieces (22 to 29) contact bolts (56 to 58) are provided which serve at the same time for current transmission from the contact shaft (52) to the bulk material (20). In this form realization one obtains a simple current supply to the cathode.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for obtaining an intensive and continuous exchange of electrolyte on the surfaces of workpieces (11, 21) subjected to chemical or electrolytical treatments wherein the exchange is achieved by subjecting the workpieces (11, 21) to strong pulsating oscillations of a frequency of at least 1 Hz and of an amplitude of less than 10 mm, when immersed in the electrolyte. The vibrations are transmitted from an oscillation generator (3) mounted on a workpiece carrier, such as a rack (1, 4) or a rotating dipping drum 92). These high frequency low amplitude oscillations may be combined with low frequency, relatively long oscillations (7, 9, 10, 18), occurring simultaneously. The oscillation generator (3) is arranged on the individual transportable workpiece carriers (1, 2, 14). The workpieces may be boards (11) for printed circuits having through holes (12) or a pourable mass of parts (21).

Abstract: In arrangement of high speed plating system, a number of sequential treatment bath units are arranged side by side along an arcuate path at equal intervals, a rotatable transfer unit of workpieces is arranged at the center of the arcuate path to concurrently allocate different workpieces to different treatment bath units for different but concurrent treatments and loading and unloading units are annexed to the transfer unit as interfaces to adjacent systems in a continuous line of production. Arcuate arrangement of the treatment bath units well minimized space demand in a mill and use of the loading and unloading units assure easy and smooth combination of the plating system with adjacent systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting agitatable material through a liquid treatment bath, comprising a spiral conveyor trough mounted around a central tube in a gas-tight tank which contains a liquid into which a portion of the trough is submerged. The conveyor trough is provided with at least one product mixer mounted radially beneath the trough which is provided with openings which serve to guide the flow of the liquid. The device is especially effective as an electroplater.

Abstract: An apparatus for immersing a plurality of workpieces adapted to be raised and lowered in response to control commands. The apparatus includes a support structure having a plurality of work carrier units rotationally supported thereon. The apparatus further includes means for linking the plurality of work carrier units so that they may be rotated in unison.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytic surface treatment of bulk goods includes a tank for the acceptance of the treatment bath, an arrangement for connecting the goods to be treated to at least one pole of an electrical source, an electrode disposed in the bath connected to the other pole opposite the one pole, a vibratory conveyor having a helically ascending conveyor track and an arrangement for receiving the goods from the end of the conveyor track and returning them to the beginning of the track by a return device so that they will pass through the bath at least one more time. The arrangement for receiving includes a switch arrangement for selectively shifting the goods discharged from the end of the track between the return device and a discharge station. The apparatus is particularly suitable for electro-deposition of aluminum from an aprotic, oxygen-free and water-free, aluminum-organic electrolyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytic surface treatment of goods comprises a tank for the acceptance of a treatment bath, an arrangement for contacting the goods with one pole of an electrical source, at least one electrode arranged in the treatment bath having an opposite polarity to the polarity of the one pole which is contacting the goods being treated, a vibratory conveyor having a helically ascending conveyor track for transporting the goods through the tank, characterized by the electrode being a helically shaped electrode being positioned to be equally spaced from the surface of the conveyor track. The apparatus is particularly useful for the electro-deposition of aluminum from aprotic, oxygen-free and water-free, aluminum-organic electrolyte.

Abstract: A container basin adapted to contain the workpieces to be electroplated is carried at the lower end of a tubular element, to the opposite upper end of which is screwed a power take-off stem of a vibrator. A body of the vibrator is provided with a hook enabling the apparatus to be hung up above the treatment vessel of an electroplating installation. The basin contains a helical ramp in such manner that, when the basin is submitted to a vibratory movement produced by the vibrator, the contained workpieces ascend along said ramp and fall down at the upper end of this latter when they have travelled along its complete length. The apparatus is portable and can be passed from one treatment vessel to another.

Abstract: A continuous-cycle electroplating plant for a plating loose metal items, the plant including a multiplicity of sequentially arranged processing units which comprise at least one pre-treating unit, one or more electroplating units and at least one passivating or coloring unit. Each processing unit comprises a barrel mounted for rotation on a support structure, a spiral rigid with, and extending along and around, the inner side wall of the barrel. Thus, the spiral acts, in use, as a spiral conveyor for moving the metal items from an inlet end of the barrel to its outlet end, and treating means such as a liquid solution for processing the metal items while being moved in the barrel.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning, plating and/or coating articles comprising a container adapted to contain a liquid cleaning, plating or coating material. A barrel is at least partially submerged in the container and supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A novel support for the barrel comprises a pair of rings concentric with the barrel and suspended by a plurality of rollers. Laterally spaced stationary end walls are mounted in fixed positions covering the ends of the barrel. The barrel has end openings and the stationary end walls fit within the end openings. A novel discharge chute extends from inside the barrel to the exterior thereof.

Abstract: A device for continuously processing an article such as by electroplating including a tank equipped with a horizontally disposed rotating electroplating drum, an entry station disposed for introducing an article to one end of the drum and an exit station for removing the processed article from the drum. The electroplating tank as well as the entrance and exit stations are provided with gas-tight seals so that the device may be utilized for an oxygen-free and water-free aluminum-organic electrolyte for the electrodeposition of aluminum. Preferably, the entrance and exit stations contain liquid locks to prevent the controlled atmosphere above the electrolyte from being contaminated.

Abstract: Apparatus for the electrolytic deposition of metal onto metallic or appropriately pre-treated non-metallic objects and cleaning these objects of adhering surface treatment agents after further treatment as well as recovery of these treatment agents, with treatment station, drum installation, anodes, work container, supply bin, rotating arrangement, dosing and measuring arrangements, electrical attachments as well as connected conduit tubes, thereby characterized in that in the work container with overflow arrangement, two anodes are semicircularly arranged around the drum aggregate, whereby the work container is connected across an opening with fractionating arrangement, to a supply container with vacuum space for the surface treatment agent, which can be adjusted to a reduced pressure by means of a vacuum arrangement, and whereby the supply container is connected across a recirculation conduit to the work container, as well as a method using this apparatus. With current density up to 20.0 A/dm.sup.

Abstract: A cleaning and plating method and apparatus comprising a plurality of tank assemblies arranged in series through which a batch of articles to be cleaned and plated is moved successively. Each tank assembly comprises a tank containing liquid treating or plating material. A barrel is at least partly submerged in each tank and is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The ends of the barrel are open and the barrel is formed with baffles on the interior thereof. When the barrel is rotated in one direction, the articles are agitated through the liquid and when the barrel is rotated in the other direction, the articles are elevated and deposited on a chute for transfer to the next succeeding tank assembly.

Abstract: A metal plating process and apparatus is disclosed and includes a plurality of pre-plating stations comprising tanks or reservoirs containing various cleaning and rinsing solutions. A pulse plating or gold flash station including a plating tank is provided after the pre-plating stations, and a plurality of post-plating stations or tanks are provided after the pulse-plating station. Rotatable barrels for containing work loads are carried along a path of travel from station to station along the process. Differential speed mechanisms are provided along the process so that the work load containers rotate at a slower rate of rotation while traveling through air than while the containers are disposed within the various tanks or stations along the process.

Abstract: An automatic electroplating apparatus which comprises a power-driven larger rotary drum containing plating solution therein, a plurality of power-driven smaller rotary drums disposed within the larger drum and immersed in the plating solution, and a plurality of through holes formed in each of the smaller drums for permitting the plating solution to interflow between insides of the larger and the smaller drums, each of the smaller drums being arranged so as to rotate on its own axis and synchronously to revolve orbitally around a vertical axis of the larger drum.

Abstract: Method for treating metal containing waste water employing a vessel containing the waste water in which there is provided at least one anode and a cathode comprised of a plurality of electrically conductive elements and in which the waste water is subjected to electrolysis during which the cathode elements are being moved. The cathode elements are provided in the form of rods which are arranged in the vessel by means of at least two holding devices so that the rods extend parallel to one another and can be moved in the holding devices relative to one another. The holding devices are moved during the electrolysis process so that the rods strike one another again and again at spaced intervals. An apparatus is provided for practicing the method.

Abstract: Method for treating metal containing waste water employing a vessel containing the waste water in which there is provided at least one anode and a cathode consisting essentially of electrically conductive particles and in which the waste water is subjected to electrolysis during which the waste water and the particles of the cathode are being moved. The particles of the cathode are arranged in a cage closed on all sides whose walls are perforated. The cage is moved by an external force during the electrolysis in order to move the particles. The waste water is simultaneously moved by producing a forced flow through the particles. An apparatus is provided for practicing the method.

Abstract: Metal is electrodeposited on conductive granules in apparatus comprising a helical channel with a cathode at its radially outer side and an anode at its radially inner side. A suspension of the granules in an electrolysis solution is fed tangentially into an end of the channel so that the granules are urged by centrifugal force against the cathode and form a mass moving along the channel to its outlet. The emerging granules are separated from the used solution in a cyclone and the solution is recirculated along the axis of the helix.

Abstract: There is provided a plating system comprising a series of plating and/or processing tanks with spiral grooved plating and processing barrels. The spiral groove is located interally of the barrels which are substantially hollow. The spiral groove or channel is arranged to automatically translate the material to be plated through the barrels. In addition, each barrel includes a chute at the end of the spiral groove. The chute is arranged such that the plated material from one barrel is automatically transferred into the adjacent barrel or the like wherein no manual labor is required. Internally of at least one of the barrels is disposed a plating unit comprising a plurality of individual, flexible strips which contact material to be plated thereby determining the polarity of the material and assisting in the plating process.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of tin as tin metal from tin plate scrap on a continuous basis comprising continuously advancing shredded scrap through an electrically anodic rotating perforated drum partially but not completely immersed in a caustic solution containing no oxidizing agents, plating the tin content of said tin plate scrap upon cathodes disposed obversely and externally to said electrically anodic rotating drum arranged in a longitudinal row on the inside wall of a tank containing said caustic solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively plating the die-attach area of a semiconductor chip header are described. The apparatus comprises a rotary disc assembly. In the assembly there is provided a plurality of cavities for removably receiving individual headers. In each cavity there is provided an annular masking member for masking a header situated therein. Associated with each cavity, there is provided a cam-operated clamping means for clamping a header against the masking member and for coupling a source of potential to the header. Also associated with each cavity is a fluid jet for jetting a plating fluid against the header through a hole in the center of the sealing member. Plating fluid is selectively pumped, by means of a pumping means, to each of the jets along a plurality of fluid passageways from a fluid manifold. The fluid manifold is adapted to couple a predetermined number of the fluid passageways and jets to the pumping means as the disc assembly is rotated.