Apparatus for the electrolytic deposition of a metal on a weakly conductive flexible substrate electrolytic deposition process and product obtained by this process
First Claim
1. Apparatus for electrolytic semi-continuous deposition of a metal on a weakly conductive, flexible substrate characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic cell having a first and second planar electrodes placed in said electrolytic cell and a t least one element forming a mask placed between and spaced from the two electrodes where the substrate is placed between one of the electrodes and the mask, said mask is rigid and made from an electrically insulating material having at least one opening with the shape of the deposit which it is to produce on said substrate and is provided with motor means permitting the displacement thereof in a direction normal to plan of the substrate between a first position where it is remote from the substrate to be treated and a second position where it is engaged on said substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for the electrolytic deposition of a metal on a weakly conductive, flexible substrate such as a textile or a paper sheet for the manufacture of flexible heating elements such as heated gloves, heated car seats, panels used in construction for the heating of rooms, etc. Metallic circuits of varying shapes can be formed on the weakly conductive, flexible substrate.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for electrolytic semi-continuous deposition of a metal on a weakly conductive, flexible substrate characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic cell having a first and second planar electrodes placed in said electrolytic cell and a t least one element forming a mask placed between and spaced from the two electrodes where the substrate is placed between one of the electrodes and the mask, said mask is rigid and made from an electrically insulating material having at least one opening with the shape of the deposit which it is to produce on said substrate and is provided with motor means permitting the displacement thereof in a direction normal to plan of the substrate between a first position where it is remote from the substrate to be treated and a second position where it is engaged on said substrate.
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12. Process for the electrolytic semi-continuous deposition of a metal on a weakly conductive, flexible substrate in the form of a continuous strip, characterized in that it comprises the following stages:
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a) immersing said substrate in an electrolytic cell filled with an electrolyte, said weakly conductive, flexible substrate is positioned between a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode which are also placed in said electrolytic cell, at least one of the said two electrodes is made from the metal which is to be deposited and constituting an anode; b) maintaining one face of said substrate in contact with said first electrode; c) placing between an opposite face of said substrate and the second electrode, an element made from an electrically insulating material and forming a mask, said mask is rigid and having at least one opening corresponding to the shape of the deposit which it is to produce on said substrate; d) moving said mask in a direction normal to the plan of the substrate to engage it against said opposite face of the substrate by motor means so that there is no electrolyte between the mask and the substrate; e) applying a low voltage between the first and second electrodes to produce the deposit; f) removing the mask in a direction normal to the plan of the substrate using said motor means to obtain the substrate covered with the deposit; g) passing the substrate semicontinuously between the first electrode and the mask and repeating stages d) to f) on successive portions of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification