DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EVENING OUT THE THICKNESS OF METAL LAYERS ON ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINTS ON ITEMS TO BE TREATED

摘要

The invention relates to a device and a method for evening out the thickness of metal layers on electrical contact points on flat items to be treated 7, such as conductor foil and printed circuit boards, during the electrolytic treatment of the items to be treated, guided in a horizontal plane of conveyance in a continuous electroplating plant. The device has counter-electrodes 2, 3 located opposite the plane of conveyance and clamps 4, secured to a continuously revolving means of conveyance 5, for contacting the items to be treated 7. The clamps 4 have a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 13 which are electrically conductive, have a surface consisting of metal, are moveable in relation to one another and respectively have at least one contact point 6 for the items to be treated 7. In addition, at least one current source is provided to produce a flow of current between the counter-electrodes and the items to be treated.To avoid the pirate cathode effect of the contact clamps 4 during electrolytic metallisation, there are disposed between the anodes 2, 3 and the clamps 4 upper and lower shields 15, 16 for the electrical field, which extend so close to the plane of conveyance that the items to be treated, guided in the plane of conveyance, and the clamp portions 13, 14 do not quite come into contact with the shields.