Electroplating device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the electrolytic coating of at least one electrically conductive substrate or a structured or full-surface electrically conductive surface on a nonconductive substrate, which comprises at least one bath, one anode and one cathode, the bath containing an electrolyte solution containing at least one metal salt, from which metal ions are deposited on electrically conductive surfaces of the substrate to form a metal layer while the cathode is brought in contact with the substrate's surface to be coated and the substrate is transported through the bath, wherein the cathode comprises at least two disks ( 2, 4, 10 ) mounted on a respective shaft ( 1, 5, 14 ) so that they can rotate, the disks ( 2, 4, 10 ) engaging in one another. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the electrolytic coating of at least one substrate, which is carried out in a device according to the invention. Lastly, the invention also relates to a use of the device according to the invention for the electrolytic coating of electrically conductive structures on an electrically nonconductive support.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A device for the electrolytic coating an electrically conductive surface, the device comprising:
 a bath of an electrolyte solution containing at least one metal salt;   an anode in contact with the bath; and   a cathode comprising at least two disks, each mounted on respective shafts, the disks being rotatable on the shafts and engaging one another, wherein while the electrically conductive surface is transported through the bath and the cathode is brought in contact with the electrically conductive surface, metal ions from the metal salt are deposited on the electrically conductive surface.   
   
   
       26 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the cathode further comprises a plurality of disks, with several of the disks being arranged next to one another on each shaft. 
   
   
       27 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the distance between adjacent disks on one of the shafts is at least to the width of one of the disks. 
   
   
       28 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the shafts include conductors to supply the disks with voltage. 
   
   
       29 . The device as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the shaft and the disks are made at least partly of an electrically conductive material which does not pass into the electrolyte solution during operation. 
   
   
       30 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein recesses are formed in the disks. 
   
   
       31 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least one disk comprises a ring which is fastened on the respective axle by spokes. 
   
   
       32 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least one disk includes a plurality of sections, electrically insulated from one another, distributed over the circumference. 
   
   
       33 . The device as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the sections are adapted to be connected both cathodically and anodically. 
   
   
       34 . The device as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the shafts are constructed from a plurality of electrically conductive segments which are respectively separated from one another by nonconductive segments, the electrically conductive segments being adapted to be connected both cathodically and anodically and the conductive segments of the shaft respectively contacting one of the sections of at least one of the disks. 
   
   
       35 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the disks are adapted to be raised from the electrically conductive surface and lowered onto it. 
   
   
       36 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising an apparatus adapted to rotate the electrically conductive surface, the apparatus being disposed either inside or outside the bath. 
   
   
       37 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising a second cathode a cathode comprising at least two disks, each mounted on respective shafts, the disks being rotatable on the shafts and engaging one another, wherein the electrically conductive surface is passed between the two cathodes to deposit metal ions on both sides of the electrically conductive surface. 
   
   
       38 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein in order to coat flexible supports which are unwound from a first roll and wound onto a second roll, a plurality of devices, respectively having at least two shafts with inter-engaged disks arranged thereon, are arranged above one another or next to one another, the flexible support passing through the devices in a meandering fashion. 
   
   
       39 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises a substrate. 
   
   
       40 . The device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises at least one of a structured or full-surface electrically conductive surface on a non-conductive substrate. 
   
   
       41 . A method for the electrolytic coating of an electrically conductive surface, the method comprising:
 transporting the electrically conductive surface through a bath of an electrolyte solution containing at least one metal salt;   placing an anode in contact with the bath;   placing a cathode in contact with the electrically conductive surface, wherein the cathode comprises at least two disks, each mounted on respective shafts, the disks engaging one another and rotating while at least one of the disks contacts the electrically conductive surface to deposit metal ions from the metal salt onto the electrically conductive surface.   
   
   
       42 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising cathodically connecting disks which touch the electrically conductive surface and anodically connecting disks which are not in contact with the electrically conductive surface. 
   
   
       43 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising cathodically connecting sections of the disks which are in contact with the electrically conductive surface and anodically connecting sections of the disks which are not in contact with the electrically conductive surface. 
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising supplying the disks with voltage via the shafts. 
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising connecting the shafts anodically for demetallization.