Abstract: An indexing conveyor system including a work station skipping device. The conveyor system has a rail situated above a plurality of same-length work stations along a path of conveyance. The work station skipping device is operable to engage a load and transfer the load from a first conveyor carriage to a second, further downstream carriage for advancing more than one work station length so that the load skips over a predetermined one of the plurality of work stations.

Abstract: Providing a holding device which can hold a plurality of types of workpieces and can reliably prevent a liquid in a liquid tank from leaking. The holding device includes a holding member configured to hold an article (workpiece) to be plated in a holding chamber. The article is disposed over a liquid tank in which a plating solution (liquid) flows and the holding chamber communicating with the liquid tank. The holding member has a plurality of abutting parts which closely abut against portions of an outer periphery of the article at a same level thereby to hold the article therebetween. The abutting parts are formed of a sponge sheet (elastic body) with chemical resistance. The holding device includes a pressurizing unit configured to supply air into the holding chamber to pressurize an atmosphere in the holding chamber while the article is held by the holding member.

Abstract: In a method of electrolytically reducing a solid feedstock, for example a solid metal oxide feedstock, an electrode module is positioned in a first position to be loaded with the feedstock. The loaded module is then transferred from the first position and engaged with an electrolysis chamber containing a molten salt. A voltage is applied to the electrode module to reduce the solid feedstock. The loaded module may be transferred within a transfer module.

Abstract: An electrorefiner system according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a vessel configured to maintain a molten salt electrolyte and configured to receive a plurality of alternately arranged cathode and anode assemblies. The anode assemblies are configured to hold an impure nuclear feed material. Upon application of the power system, the impure nuclear feed material is anodically dissolved and a purified metal is deposited on the cathode rods of the cathode assemblies. A scraper is configured to dislodge the purified metal deposited on the cathode rods. A conveyor system is disposed at a bottom of the vessel and configured to remove the dislodged purified metal from the vessel.

Abstract: A method of production and a method of polishing a semiconductor device and a polishing apparatus, capable of easily flattening an initial unevenness of a metal film, excellent in efficiency of removal of an excess metal film, and capable of suppressing damage to an interlayer insulation film below the metal film when flattening the metal film by polishing, the polishing method including the steps of interposing an electrolytic solution including a chelating agent between a cathode member and the copper film, applying a voltage between the cathode member used as a cathode and the copper film used as an anode to oxidize the surface of the copper film and forming a chelate film of the oxidized copper, selectively removing a projecting portion of the chelate film corresponding to the shape of the copper film to expose the projecting portion of the copper film at its surface, and repeating the above chelate film forming step and the above chelate film removing step until the projecting portion of the copper film

Abstract: A method and apparatus of anodizing a component, preferably aluminum, is disclosed. The component is placed in an electrolyte solution. A number of pulses are applied to the solution and component. Each pulse is formed by a pattern including having three magnitudes. The third magnitude is less, preferably substantially less, than the first and second magnitudes, and all three magnitudes are of the same polarity. The pulse pattern may include alternations between the first and second magnitudes, and following the alternations, the third magnitude. Other patterns may be provided. The solution is in a reaction chamber, along with at least a portion of the component. The fluid enters the reaction chamber from a transport chamber through a plurality of inlets directed toward the component, preferably at an angle of between 60 and 70 degrees. The inlet is preferably the cathode, and the component is the anode, whereby current flows between the cathode and the anode in another embodiment.

Abstract: (a) supplying a capacitor element manufacturing apparatus, in which the capacitor element manufacturing apparatus includes a polymerization tank, a polymerization solution contained in the polymerization tank, and a negative electrode put in the polymerization solution in the polymerization tank, (b) supplying a core material having a plurality of capacitor elements, in which each capacitor element of the plurality of capacitor elements has an anode lead-out portion and a cathode lead-out portion, (c) forming a formation film on the surface of the core material, (d) installing a conductive substance on the formation film, (e) adhering each anode lead-out portion of the plurality of capacitor elements having the conductive substance to a conductive tape, (f) immersing the core material having the anode lead-out portion adhered to the adhesive tape in the polymerization solution, and (g) forming a polymerization film on the cathode lead-out portion of the capacitor element by applying a voltage to the conductiv

Abstract: In a device, rod-shaped objects 10 (rods of various length and diameter) are electrochemically partially processed in dip plants (galvanized, pickled). Stationary tubular electrodes 30, into which the rods 10 are centrically entered, are provided in the plating tank of the plant. The surfaces to be plated are each axially limited by an adjustable membrane carrier 26, in which elastic shielding membranes 9 for delimiting the field lines are arranged. The membranes 9 are held by membrane holders 5. The membrane holders 5 are arranged in a cage where they are free to move radially and are provided with inner centering springs 7 and with outer centering springs 19 so that the membrane holder 5 and the membranes 9 are held in such a way as to be self-centering.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plating apparatus comprising: a plating bath filled with a plating solution; at least an anode in the plating solution; at least a plating object which serves as a cathode in the plating solution, so that the at least plating object is distanced from the at least anode; and at least a dummy cathode in the plating solution, so that the at least dummy cathode is applied with voltage to suppress a substitute-deposition of metal ions in the plating solution.

Abstract: The electrodes have jet openings which jet the electrolyte to the steel strip, that is to say, the electrode is integrated with the nozzle which jets an electrolyte.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of anodizing a component, which is placed in an electrolyte solution. A number of pulses are applied to the solution and component. Each pulse is formed by a pattern having three magnitudes. The third magnitude is less than the first and second magnitudes, and all three magnitudes have the same polarity. The pulse pattern may include alternations between the first and second magnitudes, and following the alternations, the third magnitude. The fluid enters the reaction chamber from a transport chamber through a plurality of inlets directed toward the component, at an angle of between 60 and 70 degrees. The inlet is the cathode, and the component is the anode. Current flows between the cathode and the anode. The inlets are in a side wall where the fluid enters the reaction chamber substantially horizontally. The reaction chamber has at least one outlet beneath the inlets. Which may be in a bottom wall. The fluid follows a return path.

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 method and apparatus of anodizing a component, preferably aluminum, is disclosed. The component is placed in an electrolyte solution. A number of pulses are applied to the solution and component. Each pulse is formed by a pattern including having three magnitudes. The third magnitude is less, preferably substantially less, than the first and second magnitudes, and all three magnitudes are of the same polarity. The pulse pattern may include alternations between the first and second magnitudes, and following the alternations, the third magnitude. Other patterns may be provided. The solution is in a reaction chamber, along with at least a portion of the component. The fluid enters the reaction chamber from a transport chamber through a plurality of inlets directed toward the component, preferably at an angle of between 60 and 70 degrees. The inlet is preferably the cathode, and the component is the anode, whereby current flows between the cathode and the anode in another embodiment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the electrochemical treatment of electrically mutually insulated, electrically conductive areas on an item to be treated by means of a treatment liquid. Insulated, for example etched structures on circuit boards cannot be treated electrochemically with known methods since there exists no electrical connection to the bath current source from individual areas. According to the invention, this connection is produced by brushes which touch the structured surfaces to be treated with their electrically conductive and thin fibres. A large number of brushes which are arranged transversely to the direction of transportation take care of the fact that all the electrically conductive areas on the item to be treated which are arranged in an insulated manner from one another are contacted electrically at least one after another and that the achieved contact time is sufficiently long.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing high speed chemical treatment of v type cylinder blocks. First the cylinder bores of one bank are treated. Then those of the other bank are treated. This permits a simple but compact treating plant.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for removing zinc particle deposits from substantially the entire face of a major surface of an electrode in an electrochemical bath, the apparatus comprising a plate attached to actuating means for affecting relative movement between the plate and the major surface of the electrode, the plate being provided with a scraper blade-retaining slot along one of its edges, and further comprising a scraper blade removably inter-engaged with the slot, the blade extending from the slot towards the surface of the electrode, and extending substantially along the entire length of the major surface of the electrode, the actuating means being arranged to move the scraper from a first position to a second position in a first downward stroke to affect scraping of individual zinc particle deposits from substantially the entire face of the major surface of an adjacent electrode and then to return the blade from the second position to the first position in a second upward stroke.

Abstract: For the purification of heavy metal-containing wastewater, a process according to the invention deposits heavy metal deposits on a cathode or cathodes which are mechanically removed. For this purpose the invention provides an apparatus having a device for the mechanical removal of the heavy metal deposits on the cathode or cathodes.

Abstract: A procedure and machine for cleaning the anodes of electrolytic tanks, said procedure comprising the operations of mechanically breaking the deposits on the surfaces of the anodes, detaching and separating the deposits, once broken, and then subjecting the plate of the anodes to a flattening operation. The procedure is carried out with a machine which includes at least one pair of cutting rollers (1), nozzles for supplying jets of water under pressure (2) situated above said rollers (1), two flattening plates (3) with flat opposing surfaces, and means of suspending and raising the anodes (13) between the rollers (1), nozzles (2) and plates (3). The plates (3) may be provided on their opposing surfaces with cutting grooves.

Abstract: A device for electrolytically recovering metal, in particular silver, from a photographic processing solution, said device having an anode located in a recovery chamber and a movably arranged cathode as well as a scraper for removing metal, in particular silver, deposited on said cathode. For the purpose of electrolytically depositing metal (17), cathode (12, 32, 42) is held stationary in its operating position within the solution (16). For removal of the metal, the metal-loaded cathode (12,32, 42) is moved out of its operating position within the solution (16) and is brought into engagement with the scraper (14, 20, 34, 44) arranged outside the solution (16). Subsequently, the cathode (12,32, 42) freed from metal (17) returns to its operating position within the solution (16) for a repeated electrolytic deposition of metal (17).

Abstract: An optical fine processing apparatus for forming a structure having a high aspect ratio even on a workpiece having high heat conductivity. Light, such as a laser beam, is irradiated onto the workpiece in an electrolytic solution through a light guide to deposit a substance such as a metal or a polymer. A plurality of removal electrodes are allowed to have an electric potential for removing a part of the deposited substance. The removal electrodes are disposed in a rotation ring which is rotatable about the optical axis of the irradiating light onto the sample so as to adjust the width of a predetermined pattern to be scraped by changing the rotation angle of the removal electrodes with respect to the optical axis. By scanning the light guide and the removing electrodes above the workpiece surface, it is possible to form any desired pattern on the workpiece.

Abstract: Installation for removing zinc deposited by electrolysis aluminum plates. The installation includes a storage zone for zinc cathode (1), a zinc scraping zone (2) and a storage zone (3) for zinc-free cathodes, the cathodes being displaced consecutively from one zone to another. The scraping zone (2) has a horizontally acting lateral piercer (22) that separates the upper edge of the sheets of deposited zinc from the cathodes, and a vertically acting scraping device (23) for removing all the zinc sheets.On one of their vertical sides, the cathodes have an upper zone of lesser thickness to which is fixed coatings (76) of dielectric material, whose surface is coplanar with that of the cathode plate (70).

Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line electrolytic deflash system and method for removing resin bleed and other materials from the leads of an encapsulated electronic component. An encapsulated electronic component is carried on a continuous belt through the system. The component first passes through an electrolytic deflash station which includes tanks filled with a deflash solution for loosening the resin bleed. The component is then rinsed in a low pressure rinse station, and then carried through a high pressure rinse station where the loosened resin bleed is removed from the component. The component is then further rinsed with both tap water and a deionized water. Once the component has been sufficiently rinsed any remaining moisture is blown off the part in an air knife station and the component is then passed through a dryer which completely removes any moisture remaining on the component.

Abstract: The internal quality of continuously cast and other steel samples in the form of ingots, billets, blooms, slabs and bars is determined in rapid manner to enable potentially problem-causing casting conditions to be identified and corrected in timely manner. A steel sample from the casting, after grinding to remove any heat-affected zone and to provide a desired degree of surface roughness, is anodically etched using dilute hydrochloric acid at ambient temperature to etch away metal from the surface to reveal the internal quality. After removal of the sample from the etching apparatus, the sample is washed, dried, and visually examined to determine the internal quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating electrolytic deposits from both sides of a generally vertically suspended cathode includes sets of suction cups which are attached to the deposits on both sides of the cathode. The sets of suction cups are configured and arranged so as to be capable of moving from a first position wherein the sets of suction cups are attached to the deposits to a second position wherein the sets of suction cups are positioned away from the cathode. Arms which are pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis are connected to the lower edge of a respective set of suction cups by a first jointed coupling which is also connected to the arms. A second jointed coupling is connected to the set of suction cups so as to permit the set of suction cups to pivot about the first jointed coupling. Mechanisms are provided for pivoting the arms about the first horizontal axis and additional mechanisms being pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis located at a lower level than the first horizontal axis.

Abstract: A method for plating only the outer circumferential surface of a hollow roller which includes the steps of mounting the roller in a cassette, conveying the cassette to and mounting the cassette on a plating tank such that at least a part of the roller is immersed in the plating solution in the plating tank, rotating the roller while applying a plating current to the roller, dismounting the cassette from the plating tank, conveying the cassette to a roller removal location, and removing the roller from the cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrodepositing aluminum in which an electroplating trough, which contains aprotic oxygen-free and water-free organo-aluminum electrolyte, is closed off in an airtight manner and is accessible only via a lock chamber disposed thereabove and which uses, for inserting and removing the work pieces, a detachable coupling rod carrying a frame with the articles to be electroplated permitting a strongly adhering aluminum layer to be deposited onto work pieces of any design desired with the exclusion of air.

Abstract: Electrolytically precipitated metal sheets, such as copper, nickel or zinc sheets, are detached from a base plate having worked as a cathode during precipitation and being rigidly held in a vertical position. Firstly, the upper edge of the metal sheet is detached entirely or locally by the aid of a blade system and, thereafter, said detached edge portion is grabbed with gripping means and pulled outwards essentially in a horizontal direction until the entire metal sheet is detached from the base plate. To facilitate the initial detachment an insulating tape or similar may be glued to the base plate at the solution level before precipitation. The gripping means may be connected to essentially horizontal guide means provided with driving members for creating the pulling force.