Device for treating a band-shaped substrate with a liquid

Abstract

A device for treating a band-shaped substrate with a liquid, including: a conveying system including a winding system guiding the band-shaped substrate in a spiral path around the winding system with at least one winding; a first pulley rotatable about a first axis of rotation guiding the at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a first angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the first pulley, and a second pulley guiding the at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a second angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the second pulley, which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, for each winding; and a bath of the liquid. The band-shaped substrate extends through the liquid over at least part of the length of the at least one winding. The second axis of rotation of each second pulley makes an angle alpha with the first axis of rotation.

1 . A device for treating a band-shaped substrate with a liquid, said device comprising:
 a conveying system for conveying the band-shaped substrate, which conveying system comprises a winding system for guiding the band-shaped substrate in a spiral path around the winding system with at least one winding, which winding system comprises first pulley means being rotatable about a first axis of rotation for guiding said at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a first angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the first pulley means, and second pulley means for guiding said at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a second angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the second pulley means, which second pulley means comprises a second pulley, which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, for each winding; and   a bath of the liquid, wherein the band-shaped substrate extends through the liquid in the bath over at least part of the length of said at least one winding,   wherein the second axis of rotation of each second pulley makes an angle α with the first axis of rotation.   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second pulley means have a number of second pulleys. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the second pulleys have equal diameters. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axes of rotation associated with the respective second pulleys extend parallel to each other. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pulley means has a first diameter D 1  at the location where said at least one winding is guided by the first pulley means and each second pulley has a second diameter D 2  at the associated location where a winding is guided by the second pulley, wherein the second diameter D 2  is larger than the first diameter D 1 . 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the dimension of the second diameter D 2  is equal to that of the first diameter D 1  divided by cos(α). 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein both the first angle of deflection and the second angle of deflection equal 180 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the winding system comprises third pulley means for guiding said at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a third angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the third pulley means, said third pulley means comprising a third pulley for each winding, which is rotatable about a third axis of rotation, each third pulley extending parallel to an associated second pulley. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the sum of the second angle of deflection and the third angle of deflection equals 180 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second pulley means and the third pulley means are spaced from the first pulley means by the same distance. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said bath is provided between the first pulley means and the second pulley means. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bath extends along part of the first angle of deflection on the outer side of the first pulley means. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first pulley means forms a mask in the bath for the side of the band-shaped substrate that faces towards the first pulley means so that the band-shaped substrate will be treated with the liquid only on the side remote from the first pulley means. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first pulley means comprises a contact surface for each winding, which contact surface slopes upwards at the longitudinal edges of the band-shaped substrate. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first pulley means comprises a groove having a bottom and two upright edges joining said bottom for each winding, wherein the band-shaped substrate abuts against the bottom and wherein the longitudinal edges of the band-shaped substrate preferably do not make contact with the upright edges. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein a clearance of maximally 1 mm is present between the longitudinal edges of the band-shaped substrate and the upright edges of the groove. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation has a vertical orientation or an orientation which deviates maximally 10 degrees therefrom. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation has a horizontal orientation. 
   
   
       19 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one passage through which the band-shaped substrate can pass is provided in at least one wall of the bath. 
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein said passage is arranged for allowing the band-shaped substrate to pass without making contact therewith. 
   
   
       21 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein a drip tray is provided on the side of the passage remote from the interior of the bath. 
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 21 , wherein circulation means are provided, by which liquid that has found its way into the drip tray via a passage can be returned to the bath. 
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the winding system is arranged for guiding the band-shaped substrate in a spiral path around the winding system with a number of windings, wherein the first pulley means and the second pulley means are arranged for guiding a number of windings spaced a pitch distance apart at a number of adjacent positions. 
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle α ranges between 2 degrees and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       25 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pulley means comprises a first pulley being rotatable about a first axis of rotation for each winding, wherein the respective first axes of rotation are coaxial. 
   
   
       26 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein the conveying means comprise drive means for rotatably driving a single first pulley. 
   
   
       27 . A device according to  claim 26 , wherein said single first pulley is an outermost first pulley. 
   
   
       28 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the band-shaped substrate makes contact with pulley means forming part of the winding system on only one side within the winding system. 
   
   
       29 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said bath is a galvanic bath. 
   
   
       30 . A combination of two successive devices according to  claim 1 , wherein the band-shaped substrate moves in opposite directions, seen in the direction parallel to the first axes of rotation associated with the respective devices. 
   
   
       31 . A method for treating a band-shaped substrate with a liquid, comprising:
 conveying the band-shaped substrate through a bath by means of a conveying system, which conveying system comprises a winding system for guiding the band-shaped substrate in a spiral path around the winding system with at least one winding, which winding system comprises first pulley means being rotatable about a first axis of rotation for guiding said at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a first angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the first pulley means, and second pulley means for guiding said at least one winding of the band-shaped substrate through a second angle of deflection around part of the circumference of the second pulley means, which second pulley means comprises a second pulley, which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, for each winding, wherein the band-shaped substrate extends through the liquid in the bath over at least part of the length of a number of windings,   wherein the second axis of rotation of each second pulley makes an angle α with the first axis of rotation.   
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the band-shaped substrate is guided in a spiral path around the winding system with a number of windings. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the band-shaped substrate is treated galvanically. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the band-shaped substrate is made of stainless steel or copper, 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein indium, selenium or gallium is deposited on the band-shaped substrate in the bath. 
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the band-shaped substrate moves through the bath at a velocity of at least 2 metres per minute.