Device for Surface Treatment of Workpieces

Abstract

A device for surface treatment, in particular galvanic surface treatment, of workpieces, including at least one reactor housing, having at least one process chamber and being coverable by a cover, and a screen element which is spatially connected to the process chamber, and which has at least one receptacle for a workpiece to be treated, a fixing element having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient being situated between the reactor housing and the screen element, which defines their relationship relative to each other.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A device for galvanic surface treatment of a workpiece, comprising:
 at least one reactor housing having at least one process chamber and being coverable by a cover;   a screen element which is spatially connected to the process chamber and which has at least one receptacle for the workpiece to be treated; and   a fixing element, having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient, situated between the reactor housing and the screen element, which defines their arrangement relative to each other.   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing element is fixedly mounted. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the screen element and the reactor housing are at least essentially made of plastic. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing element is at least essentially made of metal. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the reactor housing is accommodated by the fixing element so that the fixing element includes an end face facing the screen element and a peripheral area, adjacent thereto, of the reactor housing, the fixing element having an opening, into which the screen element is placed positively in the peripheral direction. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing element forms a base for the screen element on its side facing away from an end face of the reactor housing. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing element has a U-shaped design, and U-shaped legs of the fixing element encompass a peripheral area of the reactor housing. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fixing element has a plurality of openings for accommodating a plurality of reactor housings. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a cover holder having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the cover, and accommodating the cover of the reactor housing and fixing its position with respect to the reactor housing.   
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the cover holder includes an end face facing the screen element and a peripheral area of the cover, adjacent thereto, and the cover holder has a recess into which the cover is placed positively in the peripheral direction. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the fixing element and the cover holder have a same construction. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein an anode, which cooperates with the workpiece, acts as a cathode and is situated in the process chamber. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an automated gripper device for positioning the workpiece in the screen element.   
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the reactor housing is accommodated by the fixing element so that the fixing element includes an end face facing the screen element and a peripheral area, adjacent thereto, of the reactor housing, the fixing element having a round opening, into which the screen element is placed positively in the peripheral direction. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the cover holder includes an end face facing the screen element and a peripheral area of the cover, adjacent thereto, and the cover holder has a round recess into which the cover is placed positively in the peripheral direction.