Plating rack for plating procedures and processes for making and using same

Abstract

Plating rack for releasably holding parts in a plating process, as well as processes for fabricating and using such a rack, including spring members mounted to a frame which releasably hold plate-shaped parts from the opposite side edges of the parts in a manner permitting the part to move sufficiently, without disengagement, when immersed in an agitated plating fluid such that plating occurs on all the exterior surface regions of the plate and scarring is avoided.

1 . A plating rack, comprising: 
 a rack comprising a frame including at least first and second spaced-apart brackets;    spring members associated with each of the brackets and adapted to hold plate-shaped parts having first and second major surfaces and first and second opposite side edges extending generally perpendicular to said first and second major surfaces and forming corners where the side edges intersect with the first and second major surfaces, and at least one of the spring members extends from each of the brackets to each of the opposite side edges of a plate-shaped part when the plate-shaped part is located between the brackets, and wherein the spring members each include a first portion attached to a bracket and a free end spring biased toward a nearest one of the side edges of the plate-shaped part when positioned between the brackets, wherein the spring members include retaining means for exerting a spring biasing force against the respective corners of the plate-shaped part effective to permit the plate-shaped part to be retained by the spring members from the opposite side edges of the part while permitting the part to move when immersed in an agitated electroplating fluid bath such that plating occurs on the first and second major surfaces and the opposite side edges of the part.    
     
     
         2 . The plating rack according to  claim 1 , wherein said retaining means being located proximate a free end of each spring member and includes a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch and adapted to bear against a corner of the plate-shaped part when the part is positioned between the brackets.  
     
     
         3 . The plating rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved portions of the free ends of the spring members are adapted to revolve around, while in contact with, the contacted corners, and move transversely along the corners in a direction parallel to the brackets, when the part is immersed in an agitated electroplating fluid bath.  
     
     
         4 . The plating rack according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said spring members extend from each of the first and second brackets to the respective nearest sides of the plate-shaped part located therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . The plating rack according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plate-shaped parts retained on the rack.  
     
     
         6 . The plating rack according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third bracket in which the first, second and third brackets are spaced apart in that order, and including a plurality of spring members each of which include (a) an intermediate portion along a longitudinal length of the respective spring members and the intermediate portion is attached to said second bracket, and (b) first and second opposite free ends extending in opposite directions from the intermediate portion towards the respective first and third brackets, wherein the spring members attached to the second bracket being adapted to be both (i) spring biased toward a nearest side edge of a first plate-shaped part when positioned between the first and second brackets wherein the first free end of each spring member includes a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch and being adapted to bear against a corner of the first plate-shaped part when positioned between the first and second brackets, and (ii) spring biased toward a nearest side edge of a second plate-shaped part when positioned between the third and second brackets wherein the second free end of each spring member includes a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch and being adapted to bear against a corner of the second plate-shaped part when positioned between the third and second brackets.  
     
     
         7 . A process for plating plate-shaped parts, comprising: 
 providing a rack comprising a frame including at least first and second spaced-apart brackets, and at least one spring member extending from each of the brackets such that spring members are extending to opposite side edges of a plate-shaped part located between the brackets, wherein the plate-shaped part has first and second major surfaces and first and second opposite side edges extending generally perpendicular to said first and second major surfaces and forming corners where intersecting with the first and second major surfaces, in which the spring members include a portion adapted to be attachable to a bracket and a free end adapted to be spring biased toward a nearest side edge of a plate-shaped part located between the brackets wherein the free end of each spring member includes a retaining means for bearing against a corner of the plate-shaped part;    providing a spring biasing force for the spring members that is effective to permit the plate-shaped part to be retained by the spring members from the opposite side edges of the part while additionally permitting limited movement of the part in an agitated electroplating fluid bath to permit plating to occur on the first and second major surfaces and the opposite side edges of the part;    attaching the attachable end of at least one spring member having said spring biasing force to each of the frame brackets of the frame;    holding each said part from the opposite side edges thereof with the curved portions of the free ends of the spring members having the spring biasing force;    immersing the frame and retained parts into a plating fluid provided in a fluid holding container;    agitating the plating fluid including where located adjacent the plate-shaped part, wherein said plating fluid flows over the major surfaces, side edges and corners of the plate.    
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein, during the agitating, the curved portions of the free ends of the spring members revolve around, while in contact with, the contacted corners without disengaging the part from the retaining means.  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein, during the agitating, the curved portions of the free ends of the spring members, move transversely along the corners in a direction parallel to the brackets without disengaging the part from the retaining means.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein said retaining means being selected as including a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch and adapted to bear against a corner of the plate-shaped part when positioned between the brackets.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the agitating comprises mechanically agitating the plating fluid.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the agitating comprises creating turbulence by sparging the plating fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising agitating plating fluid at a position adjacent the plate-shaped part by pumping plating fluid out of the fluid holding container and through a recirculation means including in-line filtering means before reintroducing the filtered plating fluid back into the container.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising providing the plating fluid as a solution containing electroplating fluid.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising providing the plating fluid as a solution containing electroplating fluid comprising an electrolyte.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising providing the plating fluid as a solution containing electroless plating fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein at least two of said spring members extend from each of the brackets to each of the opposite sides of the plate-shaped part.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the plate-shaped part being selected as a metal plate having a square or rectangular shape.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising providing a third bracket in which the first, second and third brackets are spaced apart in that order, and including a plurality of spring members each of which include (a) an intermediate portion along a longitudinal length of the respective spring members and the intermediate portion is attached to said second bracket and (b) first and second opposite free ends extending in opposite directions from the intermediate portion towards the respective first and third brackets, wherein the spring members attached to the second bracket are both (i) spring biased toward a nearest side edge of a first plate-shaped part positioned between the first and second brackets wherein the first free end of each spring member includes a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch that bears against a corner of the first plate-shaped part positioned between the first and second brackets, and (ii) spring biased toward a nearest side edge of a second plate-shaped part positioned between the third and second brackets wherein the second free end of each spring member includes a curved portion having an inner surface defining a notch that bears against a corner of the second plate-shaped part positioned between the third and second brackets.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 7 , further comprising retaining a plurality of plate-shaped parts on the rack.