Method and apparatus for the moving interface processing of materials

Abstract

A method of moving interface processing of materials, the method comprising: providing a working material; providing an energy source adjacent to the working material; providing for relative controlled movement between the working material and the energy source; activating the energy source such that the energy processes the working material; moving the energy source and / or the working material relative to the other to control the amount of processing of the working material achieved by the energy. An apparatus for the moving interface processing of materials, the apparatus comprising: working material; an energy source adjacent to the working material; a means for providing for relative controlled movement between the working material and the energy source such that the amount of processing of the working material achieved by the energy from the energy source is controlled. An apparatus for the moving interface processing of materials, the apparatus comprising: an anodizing bath; a cathode located in the anodizing bath; a power supply in communication with the cathode, and the power supply configured to be in communication with a working material at an anode connection such that a portion of the working material acts as an anode; a motor configured to accurately and methodically move the a working material into the anodizing bath such that anodization of the working material begins at the edge of the working material furthest from the anode connection and just below the anodization bath, and the motor is further configured to immerse the working material into the bath such that the anodization is moved up the working material towards the edge nearest the anode connection, resulting in generally complete conversion to oxide, except for a vanishingly small or insignificant metal or conductive edge adjacent or at the anode connection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 278,104 by inventor David Roberts Winn entitled “MOVING INTERFACE PROCESSING OF MATERIALS,” filed on Jan. 13, 2016, and which provisional application is fully incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a method of processing materials and more specifically to a moving interface processing of materials.BACKGROUND[0003]Below are two general examples of processing a workpiece or part to change its material properties, but that are limited to surface layers or are not able to completely convert the entire workpiece or bulk of the material to the processed material, at all, or in a timely fashion. (1.) Anodizing: The conventional anodizing by total immersion of a conducting workpiece (normally metals) connected to an anode into an anodizing fluid equipped with inert conducting cathodes (often Pb or graphite) usually produces an insulat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a method and apparatus for processing materials by moving them relative to an energy source, which can be activated to process the material. The invention allows for controlled movement between the material and energy source to achieve desired levels of processing. This can involve anodizing the material using a cathode in an anodizing bath, with a power supply providing current to the material. The apparatus includes a motor to accurately move the material into the bath and ensure complete conversion to oxide, except for any small metal or conductive edge near the anode connection. The technical effects of this invention include improved precision and control over material processing, as well as greater efficiency and accuracy in the anodization process.

Problems solved by technology

Below are two general examples of processing a workpiece or part to change its material properties, but that are limited to surface layers or are not able to completely convert the entire workpiece or bulk of the material to the processed material, at all, or in a timely fashion.

Using the standard anodizing technique, it would be impossible to anodize a metal foil or plate, or a metal film on an insulator completely—i.e. leaving no unanodized metal.

Even if a through-insulator connection to the back side of the metal were provided, isolated islands of unanodized metal would result.

If the part is thick enough or the process energy limited in time, the interior can remain unprocessed.

Many material property modifications on the surface of a workpiece may also inhibit the process from proceeding fully or as rapidly into the bulk of the workpiece.

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