Patent US4490218A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4490218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for producing surface treated metal foil
Assignee: Gould Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1983-11-07
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Granted: 1984-12-25
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Expires: 2003-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for producing surface treated metal foil is described. The process comprises plating a relatively smooth metal foil onto a cathodic surface and thereafter forming a dendritic layer on the foil and firmly bonding it thereto while the foil is still on the cathodic surface. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte, a rotating drum cathode at least partially immersed in the electrolyte, at least two primary anodes and a plurality of treatment anodes embedded in one of the primary anodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Igor V. Kadija
- 👤 James E. Oxley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:46
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/04; C25D5/00; C25D5/60; C25D5/605; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/38; H05K3/382; H05K3/384; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/0332; H05K2201/0335; H05K2201/0355; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/03; H05K2203/0307; H05K2203/07; H05K2203/0703; H05K2203/0723; H05K3/02; H05K3/022; H05K3/025; H05K3/22; H05K3/24; H05K3/241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A process for producing surface treated metal foil, said process comprising: providing an electrolytic cell having an electrolyte and a cathodic surface immersed in said electrolyte, said electrolyte containing a concentration of metal ions; applying a first current density in a first zone for plating a relatively smooth metal foil deposit on said cathodic surface; and superimposing a second current density having a magnitude greater than the limiting current density over said first current density in a second zone, said second current density forming a plurality of dendrites on said metal deposit and said first current density plating an additional metal deposit on said metal foil for firmly bonding said dendrites to said metal foil in said second zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for producing surface treated metal foil, said process comprising: providing an electrolytic cell having an electrolyte and a cathodic surface immersed in said electrolyte, said electrolyte containing a concentration of metal ions; applying a first current density in a first zone for plating a relatively smooth metal foil deposit on said cathodic surface; and superimposing a second current density having a magnitude greater than the limiting current density over said first current density in a second zone, said second current density forming a plurality of dendrites on said metal deposit and said first current density plating an additional metal deposit on said metal foil for firmly bonding said dendrites to said metal foil in said second zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising: providing at least one insoluble primary anode in said cell; and said superimposing step comprising: (a) embedding at least one treatment anode in said at least one primary anode; (b) applying a first current to said at least one primary anode; and (c) simultaneously applying a second current to said at least one treatment anode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 2 further comprising: embedding a plurality of treatment anodes in said at least one primary anode; and applying said second current to each said treatment anode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 further comprising: agitating said electrolyte in said first and second zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The process of claim 4 further comprising: providing at least two primary anodes in said cell; spacing said primary anodes from said cathodic surface and from each other so as to form a space between each said primary anode and said cathodic surface and at least one fluid passageway; and said agitating step comprising flowing said electrolyte at a desired rate through said at least one fluid passageway and said space between each said primary anode and said cathodic surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 5 further comprising: said flow rate being from about 1 m/sec to about 4 m/sec.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 6 further comprising: said flow rate being from about 1 m/sec to about 2.5 m/sec.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 2 further comprising: applying said first current density in a third zone for depositing a metallic encapsulation layer over said dendrites.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The process of claim 2 further comprising: said electrolyte comprising a copper sulfate-sulfuric acid solution; said first current density applying step comprising applying a first current density in the range of about 0.4 A/cm 2 to about 2 A/cm 2 ; and said superimposing step further comprising applying a second current density in the range of about 1.1 A/cm 2 to about 6 A/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 9 further comprising: said first current density being in the range of about 0.75 A/cm 2 to about 1.5 A/cm 2 ; and said second current density being in the range of about 2 A/cm 2 to about 3 A/cm 2 .
Claim 12
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for producing surface treated metal foil, said apparatus comprising: an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte having a concentration of metal ions: a cathodic surface at least partially immersed in said electrolyte; means for applying a first current density in a first zone for plating a relatively smooth metal foil deposit on said cathodic surface; and means for superimposing a second current density having a magnitude greater than the limiting current density over said first current density in a second zone, said second current density superimposing means forming a plurality of dendrites on said metal deposit and said first current density applying means plating an additional metal deposit on said metal foil in said second zone for firmly bonding said dendrites to said metal foil.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for producing surface treated metal foil, said apparatus comprising: an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte having a concentration of metal ions: a cathodic surface at least partially immersed in said electrolyte; means for applying a first current density in a first zone for plating a relatively smooth metal foil deposit on said cathodic surface; and means for superimposing a second current density having a magnitude greater than the limiting current density over said first current density in a second zone, said second current density superimposing means forming a plurality of dendrites on said metal deposit and said first current density applying means plating an additional metal deposit on said metal foil in said second zone for firmly bonding said dendrites to said metal foil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: said first current density applying means comprising at least one insoluble primary anode in said cell and means for applying a first current to each said primary anode; and said superimposing means comprising at least one treatment anode embedded in said at least one primary anode and means for applying a second current to said at least one treatment anode simultaneous with the application of said first current to each said primary anode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a plurality of treatment anodes embedded in said at least one primary anode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: means for agitating said electrolyte in said first and second zones.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: at least two primary anodes in said cell, said primary anodes being spaced from said cathodic surface and from each other so as to form at least one fluid passageway; and said agitating means comprising means for causing said electrolyte to flow at a desired rate through said passageway and said space between each said primary anode and said cathodic surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: said at least one primary anode extending beyond said second zone into a third zone; and said first current applying means causing deposition in said third zone of a metallic encapsulation layer over said dendrites.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said cathodic surface comprises a rotating drum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: each said primary anode having an arcuate configuration; and each said treatment anode being embedded in said at least one primary anode so as to form a substantially continuous surface that does not impede electrolyte flow between the surface of said drum and said substantially continuous surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first and second current applying means comprise first and second power supplies, said first power supply being separate from said second power supply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: each said primary anode being spaced from said cathodic surface; and each said treatment anode being spaced from each adjacent treatment anode by a distance substantially equal to about 1 to about 3 times the spacing between each said primary anode and said cathodic surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: said distance being from about 1.0 to about 2.5 times said spacing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-25 | 1988-06-25 | 1988-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-25 | 1992-06-25 | 1992-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-06-25 | 1996-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |