Anodizing apparatus

Abstract

An anodizing apparatus includes a first electrode member electrically connected to a processing subject formed with a circumferential groove at an outer circumferential surface thereof, a second electrode member including an inner circumferential surface, facing each of the outer circumferential surface and the circumferential groove of so as to include an interval, elastic seal members for sealing a clearance generated between the outer circumferential surface of and the inner circumferential surface, and a thrusting mechanism thrusting the elastic seal members to the second electrode member, and thereby elastically deforming the elastic seal members so as to seal the clearance. The thrusting mechanism is switchable between a thrusting state and a released state. A fluid supplying passage, through which an electrolytic solution is supplied to the circumferential groove, and a fluid discharging passage, through which the electrolytic solution is discharged, are formed so as to open at the inner circumferential surface.

1 . An anodizing apparatus comprising:
 a first electrode member electrically connected to a processing subject, made of metal and formed with a circumferential groove at an outer circumferential surface thereof;   a second electrode member including an inner circumferential surface, formed into an annular shape and facing each of the outer circumferential surface of the processing subject and the circumferential groove of the processing subject so as to include an interval between the second electrode member and each of the outer circumferential surface of the processing subject and the circumferential groove of the processing subject;   elastic seal members being nonconductive, respectively formed into an annular shape, and respectively provided at both sides of the circumferential groove in a width direction thereof for sealing a clearance generated between the outer circumferential surface of the processing subject and the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode member; and   a thrusting mechanism thrusting each of the elastic seal members relative to the second electrode member in the width direction of the circumferential groove of the processing subject, and thereby elastically deforming each of the elastic seal members so as to seal the clearance, wherein   
     the thrusting mechanism is switchable between a thrusting state for thrusting the elastic seal members and a released state for releasing the thrusting of the elastic seal members, and wherein 
     a fluid supplying passage, through which an electrolytic solution is supplied to the circumferential groove of the processing subject, and a fluid discharging passage, through which the electrolytic solution, supplied to the circumferential groove of the processing subject, is discharged, are formed so as to open at the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode member. 
   
   
       2 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage include a plurality of fluid supplying passages and a plurality of fluid discharging passages, respectively,   each of the plurality of fluid supplying passages and each of the plurality of fluid discharging passages are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction so as to include an interval therebetween, and wherein   the plurality of fluid supplying passages and the plurality of fluid discharging passages are formed so as to open at the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode member.   
   
   
       3 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cross-sectional area of the fluid discharging passage is set to be larger than a cross-sectional area of the fluid supplying passage.   
   
   
       4 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the cross-sectional area of the fluid discharging passage is set to be larger than a cross-sectional area of the fluid supplying passage.   
   
   
       5 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage are formed at the second electrode member.   
   
   
       6 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage are formed at the second electrode member.   
   
   
       7 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage are formed at the second electrode member.   
   
   
       8 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage are formed at the second electrode member.   
   
   
       9 . The anodizing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the fluid supplying passage and the fluid discharging passage are arranged so as to extend radially outwardly from a center of the second electrode member toward an outer circumferential surface of the second electrode member.