Electroplating of the cut edges of sheet metal panels

Abstract

Electroplating of the unprotected cut edges of sheet metal panels coated with an electrically non-conductive protective coating as said edges are formed on cutting the panels to shape, is effected in a highly economical manner by forming a pile of said panels so that the cut edge portions of said panels are substantially aligned with the edge portion of the electrically non-conductive protective coating, bringing at least one side face of said pile with the cut edges in contact with the electroplating electrolyte, connecting each single panel to an electroplating current source, and electroplating the cut edges of each panel. Sheet metal panels without coating or with an electrically conductive coating are electroplated in the described manner by interposing electrically non-conductive layers between the sheet metal panels at least at their margins to prevent penetration of the electrolyte between the panels and conductive contact of the panels with each other.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. In a method of electroplating the cut edges of sheet metal panels, the improvement which consists in forming a pile of said panels, inserting one side of said pile through an opening in the wall of an electroplating container, said opening being sealed in a liquid-tight manner around said pile, introducing the electrolyte into said container so as to cause contact of the cut edges of said pile of sheet metal panels with the electrolyte, connecting each panel of said pile with an electroplating current source, performing electroplating of said cut edges, removing the electrolyte from said container, and withdrawing the pile with the electroplated cut edges from the container. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, in which the sheet metal panels are aluminum sheet panels and the cut edges thereof are oxidized by connecting each aluminum sheet panel of the pile to the positive pole of a direct current source. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, in which the sheet metal panels in the pile are separated from each other by the interposition of a non-conductive layer. 
     
     
       4. In a method of electroplating the cut edges of sheet metal panels, the improvement which comprises the steps of forming a pile of said panels,   each panel being separated from the adjacent panel by an electrically non-conductive layer,   its edge portions on at least one side of the panel being substantially aligned with the edge portions of the panels,   bringing at least one side face of cut edges of said pile in contact with the electroplating electrolyte,   connecting each panel to an electroplating current source, and   electroplating the cut edges of each panel.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, in which at least one side face of the pile of cut-edged sheet metal panels is brought in contact with a wall of the electrolyte container, said wall consisting of absorbent material having absorbed therein the electrolyte, connecting each panel to an electroplating current source, and electroplating the cut edges of each panel. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4, in which at least one side face of the pile of cut-edged sheet metal panels is brought in contact with the electroplating electrolyte by inserting said pile through an opening in a wall of an electroplating container, sealing said opening around said pile, filling the container with the electroplating electrolyte to contact the cut edges of the panels therewith, connecting each panel to an electroplating current source, electroplating the cut edges of each panel, removing the electrolyte from the container, and removing the pile of sheet metal panels with electroplated edges from the container. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4, in which the pile of cutedged sheet metal panels is placed into an electroplating container, movable insulating casings containing contact brushes are pressed in a liquid-tight manner on the side faces of said pile to connect each panel with an electroplating current source, filling the container with the electroplating electrolyte to contact the cut edges of the panels, electroplating the cut edges of each panel, removing the electrolyte from the container, and removing the pile of sheet metal panels with electroplated cut edges from the container. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, in which the insulating casings containing the contact brushes are moved along the side faces of the panel so as to expose the cut edges to the electroplating electrolyte and to completely electroplate said cut edges. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 4, in which the sheet metal panel is a panel coated with an electrically non-conductive layer. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 4, in which non-conductive layers are interposed between the sheet metal panels at least at their margins to prevent conductive contact of the panels with each other and penetration of the electrolyte between the panels. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 4 in which the sheet metal panels are aluminum sheet panels and the cut edges thereof are oxidized by connecting each aluminum sheet panel of the pile to the positive pole of a direct current source. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 7, in which the pile of cutedged sheet metal panels and the movable insulating casings containing contact brushes pressed on the side faces of said pile are placed into the electroplating container filled with the electroplating electrolyte and in which the electroplated pile with the insulating casings is removed from the electrolytefilled container after electroplating the cut edges. 
     
     
       13. In a method of electroplating the cut edges of sheet metal panels, the improvement which comprises the steps of forming a pile of said panels, the edge portions on at least one side of said panels being substantially aligned,   bringing said one side of said cut edges of said pile into contact with the electroplating electrolyte,   maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure above the electrolyte level, and   connecting each panel to an electroplating current source thereby electroplating the cut edges of each panel.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, in which said at least one side face of the pile of cut-edged sheet metal panels is brought in contact with a wall of the electrolyte container consisting of absorbent material having absorbed therein the electrolyte. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, in which said at least one side face of the pile of cut-edged sheet metal panels is brought in contact with the electroplating electrolyte by inserting said one side face of said pile through an opening in a wall of an electroplating container, and  sealing said opening around said pile. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, in which the entire pile of cut-edged sheet metal panels is placed into an electroplating container, and wherein movable contact brushes are pressed against the side faces of said pile to connect each panel with said electroplating current source.