LOOSE PIECE ELECTRICAL TERMINALS SELECTIVELY PLATED AND APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

In the apparatus, loose-piece terminals (15) are fed (114) to a rotating mandrel (3), and are releasably secured by retaining means (132). The mandrel (3) has a plurality of anode extentions (29) and associated nozzles (26) therein. Said anode extensions are mounted for reciprocation into receptacle portions (118) of secured terminals (15). A conduit (36) supplies pressurised plating fluid through the nozzles (26), to the anode extensions (29) and into the receptacle portions of the terminals to enable selective plating of internal surface portions. Retaining means (132) is an elongate resiliently mounted member surrounding a portion (126) of the mandrel (3) to hold terminals (15) against the mandrel (3) during the plating process. After plating the anode extension (29) are retracted from the terminals (15), said terminals are thereafter released when they pass the end of retaining means (132). A terminal so selectively plated has an internal plating of at least 3.81 x 10<-><7> meters with edge margins of tapered thickness covering at least portions of sheared edges of the terminal.