Plating Method and Apparatus, and Strip Obtained by this Method

Abstract

A method for plating strips including providing a strip of material, providing a masking belt including patterned windows, providing a tank with a plating solution, generating a continuous movement in the cell of an assembly of the strip and masking belt, whereby the structure of the masking belt masks portions of the strip in the tank.

1 . A method for plating of strips comprising:
 providing a strip of material,   providing a masking belt comprising patterned windows,   providing a tank with a plating solution, generating a continuous movement in the cell of an assembly of the strip and masking belt, whereby the structure of the masking belt masks portions of the strip in the tank.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the belt comprises a first and a second belt portions, each one of which masking a respective face of the strip. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second belt portions are provided with inter-digital features, so that the movement applied to the belt is transferred to the strip, and applying the continuous movement to the belt. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tank is an electroplating cell comprising an electrode,   the plating solution is an electroplating solution comprising an electrical conductor,   the method comprising electroplating the electrical conductor on the metallic strip in the solution by applying an electrical field between the strip and the electrode during the continuous movement.   
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising
 providing a metallic strip comprising a top band, a bottom band, a structure joining together the top and bottom bands, and leads disposed between the top band and the bottom band, the leads being designed to form electrical terminals of electrical connectors,   providing masking belt portions comprising a top band, a bottom band, a structure joining together the top and bottom bands, and wherein, in the tank, the top band of the masking belt masks the top band of the strip and the bottom band of the masking belt masks the bottom band of the strip.   
     
     
         6 . A method for the manufacture of electrical terminals for electrical connectors, wherein the method comprises:
 providing a metallic strip comprising a top band, a bottom band, a structure joining together the top and bottom bands, and leads disposed between the top band and the bottom band, the leads designed to form electrical terminals of electrical connectors,   providing a masking belt comprising a top band, a bottom band, a structure joining together the top and bottom bands, wherein the belt comprises a first belt portion, a second belt portion,   providing a metallisation cell having a chamber receiving a solution of an electrical conductor, and an electrode,   generating a continuous movement in the cell of an assembly of the metallic strip and masking belt, wherein the metallic strip is held between the first and second belt portions, and whereby the structure of the masking belt masks the structure of the strip in the cell,   electroplating the electrical conductor on the metallic strip in the solution by applying an electrical field between the strip and the electrode during the continuous movement.   
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the belt portions comprises a top band, a bottom band, and a structure joining together the top and bottom bands, wherein, in the cell:
 the top band of the first belt portion faces the top band of the second belt portion,   the bottom band of the first belt portion faces the bottom band of the second belt portion,   the structure of the first belt portion faces the structure of the second belt portion.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for the plating of strips, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a feeding station adapted to provide a strip,   a masking belt comprising patterned windows   a tank for receiving a plating solution, a driver adapted to generate a continuous movement in the tank of an assembly of the strip and masking belt, whereby the masking belt masks part of the strip in the tank.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  further comprising a generator to apply an electrical field between the strip and an electrode placed in the tank, during the continuous movement so as to electroplate an electrical conductor on the strip in the solution