Electrolytic treatment of small parts

摘要

A process for the electrolytic treatment of small fragile articles, e.g. the electro-plating or electro-polishing thereof, comprises depositing a plurality of such articles on a substantially horizontal surface in an electrolytic bath, said surface having at least one conducting portion exposed thereon and connected to the anode or cathode of a direct current source and being continously vibrated to provide a driving force tending to move the parts over the surface, and providing a counter electrode within the bath and an additional fluid impelling force to drive said articles over the surface in a desired direction. The form shown comprises a tank 10, vibrator unit 20 connected via shaft 33 to pan 32 for holding the articles, counter-electrodes 31 and nozzles 53, 54 (55) for supplying jets of fluid upon the articles to be treated. Electrolyte is withdrawn via outlet 56 to maintain the electrolyte level constant, and may be recirculated via the nozzles 53, 54 (55). The pan 32 may be formed of a resin material having a wire mesh impressed in its surface Fig. 4 (not shown) such that only the cross-points of the wire mesh are exposed or may be formed of conductive material having portions of its surface coated with insulating material.