Electroplating apparatus

Abstract

An electroplating apparatus includes an electroplating tank, a first anode plate, a first cathode plate, a second cathode plate, a number of first and second elastic elements, a number of pairs of clamping assemblies, a first drive member, and a second drive member. The electroplating tank holds an electrolyte solution. The first elastic elements are interconnected between the first anode plate and the first cathode plate. The second elastic elements are interconnected between the first anode plate and the second cathode plate. Each pair of clamping assemblies are used to clamp opposite ends of a plated-shaped workpiece. The first drive member and the second drive member are used to cooperatively move the clamping assemblies.

1 . An electroplating apparatus, comprising:
 an electroplating tank for containing an electrolyte solution;   a first anode plate arranged in the electrolyte solution;   a first cathode plate and a second cathode plate opposite to the first cathode plate;   a plurality of first elastic elements interconnected between the first anode plate and the first cathode plate;   a plurality of second elastic elements interconnected between the first anode plate and the second cathode plate;   a plurality of pairs of clamping assemblies, each pair of the clamping assemblies configured for clamping opposite ends of a plated-shaped workpiece; and   a first drive member and a second drive member arranged at opposite ends of each clamping assembly, the first drive member and the second drive member configured for cooperatively moving the clamped workpieces in the electrolyte solution, the first and the second elastic elements configured for elastically pressing the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate toward at least one of the clamping assemblies such that the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate electrically contact opposite ends of the at least one of the clamping assemblies, and the workpiece clamped by the at least one of the clamping assemblies is oriented toward the first anode plate.   
     
     
         2 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the clamping assemblies comprises:
 a first clamping board;   a shaft; and   a second clamping board, the second clamping board pivotedly connected to the first clamping board via the shaft, the first clamping board and the second clamping board configured for sandwiching the workpiece therebetween.   
     
     
         3 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first clamping board and the second clamping board comprises:
 a first conductive layer;   a second conductive layer; and   a magnetic layer sandwiched between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the magnetic layers of the first clamping board and the second clamping board configured for generating an electromagnetic force to pull the first clamping board and the second clamping board toward each other, such that the workpiece is clamped by and between the first conductive layer of the first clamping board and the first conductive layer of the second clamping board.   
     
     
         4 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first clamping board and the second clamping board is cuboid-shaped, and the first clamping board is longer than the second clamping board along a direction parallel to the shaft, the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate respectively contact opposite ends of the first conductive layer of the first clamping board. 
     
     
         5 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer is made of titanium. 
     
     
         6 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second anode plate arranged in the electrolyte solution opposite to the first anode plate. 
     
     
         7 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first anode plate and the second anode plate is made of titanium. 
     
     
         8 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first drive member and the second drive member includes a conveyor belt, the first drive member and the second drive member are arranged at opposite sides of the clamping assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second drive members are configured to move the at least one of clamping assemblies in a direction parallel with the first anode plate. 
     
     
         10 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a first support member supporting the first drive member and a second support member supporting the second drive member, wherein each of the first support member and the second support member comprises:
 a first end and an opposite second end, the first end and the second end being horizontally oriented and protruding out from the solution; and   a recessed portion located between and connected to the first end and the second end, the recessed portion being immersed in the solution, the recessed portion facing toward the first anode plate.   
     
     
         11 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed portion includes a horizontally oriented part, which is generally parallel to the first anode plate. 
     
     
         12 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is made of polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         13 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate is made of graphite. 
     
     
         14 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first support bar and a second support bar substantially parallel to the respective first and second cathode plates, the first elastic elements being connected between the first cathode plate and the first support bar, the second elastic elements connected between the second cathode plate and the second support bar; and   a plurality of holding bars connected between the first and second support bars, and the first anode plate.   
     
     
         15 . The electroplating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each of the elastic elements is a metal spring, each of the support bars and the holding bars is made of polyvinylchloride.