Electrochemical process apparatus and electrode clamp therefor

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of electrochemical equipment, and particularly relates to an electrochemical process equipment and an electrode clamp thereof. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment comprises a base plate provided with a first operation window, the base plate is abuttable with a slot opening of an electrolytic tank; an assembling assembly is installed on the base plate and is used for locking or unlocking the base plate on the electrolytic tank; and an electrode assembly is installed on the base plate and is used for being connected with a power supply and fixing a workpiece to be processed, the workpiece to be processed is adapted to extend into the electrolytic tank from the first operation window. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment provided by the present application can stably place the workpiece to be processed clamped by the electrode assembly in the electrolytic tank through the assembling assembly and the base plate, so as to ensure the stability of the electrochemical process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of electrochemical equipment, and more particularly to an electrochemical process device and its electrode clamp. Background Technology

[0002] This section provides only background information relevant to this disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] Currently, medical vascular stents are usually made of nickel-titanium alloy materials through laser cutting. Generally, during the laser cutting process, an oxide film is generated on the surface of the vascular stent, and burrs and residues are formed at the bottom, making the surface of the vascular stent relatively rough and unsuitable for direct use. Therefore, post-processing operations are usually required for the vascular stents obtained after laser cutting.

[0004] Electropolishing is a commonly used post-processing technique for vascular stents. It involves connecting the vascular stent to the anode of an electrolytic cell, allowing the stent to act as the anode in the polishing solution for electrolysis. This process dissolves and removes burrs and microscopic protrusions from the stent surface, reducing surface roughness and improving biocompatibility and corrosion resistance.

[0005] However, in current electropolishing of vascular stents, the anode clamp is usually an A-clamp structure. Therefore, the operator must hold the anode clamp of the vascular stent by hand and then immerse the vascular stent in the electrolyte for polishing. This polishing method has problems such as low stability and uneven polishing effect. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electrode fixture for an electrochemical process device that can stabilize the workpiece in an electrolytic cell.

[0007] Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an electrochemical process equipment with better electrolysis performance.

[0008] An electrode clamp for an electrochemical process device, comprising:

[0009] The substrate has a first operating window, and the substrate can abut against the opening of the electrolytic cell;

[0010] An assembly assembly is mounted on the substrate for locking or unlocking the substrate onto the electrolytic cell;

[0011] And an electrode assembly, mounted on the substrate, for connecting to a power source and fixing a workpiece to be processed, the workpiece being processed being adapted to extend from the first operating window into the electrolytic cell.

[0012] In one embodiment, the assembly component includes:

[0013] At least two mounting bases are installed on the side of the substrate opposite to the electrolytic cell, and the mounting bases are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the substrate.

[0014] At least two clamping members are provided, corresponding one-to-one with the mounting base, for abutting against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell;

[0015] In addition, a first driving member, one end of which is connected to the mounting base and the other end of which is connected to the clamping member, is used to drive the clamping members to move closer to each other to abut against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first driving element includes:

[0017] The first connecting rod is hinged at one end to the mounting base;

[0018] The second connecting rod has one end connected to the end of the first connecting rod away from the mounting base, and the other end connected to the clamping member;

[0019] In addition, an elastic element, one end of which is connected to the mounting base and the other end of which is connected to the first connecting rod, undergoes tensile deformation when the clamping member abuts against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell.

[0020] In one embodiment, the second link is detachably assembled with the first link, and / or the second link is detachably assembled with the clamp.

[0021] In one embodiment, the electrode assembly includes:

[0022] The mounting bracket is installed on the side of the substrate opposite to the electrolytic cell;

[0023] A movable rod extends along the height direction of the electrolytic cell and is movably assembled with the mounting bracket, allowing the movable rod to move closer to or away from the electrolytic cell;

[0024] In addition, an electrode connector is installed at one end of the movable rod near the base plate, for fixing the workpiece to be processed and for supplying power.

[0025] In one embodiment, the movable rod is slidably assembled with the mounting bracket along the extension direction of the movable rod. The electrode assembly further includes a second driving member, which is mounted on the mounting bracket and connected to the movable rod. The second driving member is used to drive the movable rod to slide along the mounting bracket to move closer to or away from the electrolytic cell.

[0026] In one embodiment, the second driving element includes:

[0027] The rocker wheel is mounted on the mounting bracket;

[0028] The first support rod has one end fixed to the rocker wheel, and the first support rod extends along the radial direction of the rocker wheel;

[0029] And, the second support rod, one end of which is hinged to the end of the first support rod away from the rocker wheel, and the other end of which is hinged to the movable rod.

[0030] In one embodiment, the electrode connector includes:

[0031] An electrode block is installed at one end of the movable rod near the substrate for connection to the power source;

[0032] In addition, a conductive bracket is connected to the electrode block and used to hang the workpiece to be processed.

[0033] An electrochemical process apparatus, comprising:

[0034] Electrolytic cell;

[0035] The cathode assembly is movably assembled with the electrolytic cell and provides an electrochemical cathode when connected to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0036] And, as described in any of the above embodiments, the electrode clamp is movably assembled with the electrolytic cell, and provides an electrochemical anode when the electrode clamp is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply.

[0037] In one embodiment, the cathode assembly includes:

[0038] The cathode mesh is at least partially housed within the electrolytic cell;

[0039] In addition, a connecting piece is connected to the cathode mesh groove, which is used to allow the cathode mesh groove to overlap on the electrolytic cell and to connect to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0040] In one embodiment, the shape of the cathode mesh groove is the same as the external shape of the workpiece to be processed.

[0041] In one embodiment, the electrochemical process equipment further includes an electrolysis indicator rod mounted on the electrode fixture for indicating the polishing progress.

[0042] In one embodiment, the electrolysis indicator rod includes a rod body and a coating applied to the rod body. The coating material is the same as the workpiece to be processed, the radial dimension of the electrolysis indicator rod is the same as the radial dimension of the workpiece to be processed, the thickness of the coating is the same as the pre-polished thickness of the workpiece to be processed, and the coating has a different color from the rod body.

[0043] Beneficial effects:

[0044] The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment provided in this disclosure, by setting up a substrate, an assembly assembly and an electrode assembly, can stabilize the electrode assembly in a predetermined position in the electrolytic cell through the assembly assembly and the substrate, thereby stably placing the workpiece to be processed held by the electrode assembly in the electrolytic cell and ensuring the stability of the electrochemical process.

[0045] The electrochemical process equipment provided in this disclosure, by using electrode clamps with good clamping stability, helps to improve the stability and uniformity of the electrochemical process. Attached Figure Description

[0046] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0047] in:

[0048] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the electrochemical process equipment in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the substrate and assembly assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the electrode assembly structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the electrode assembly, the electrolysis indicator rod, and the assembly structure of the workpiece to be processed in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of a conductive hanger and a workpiece to be processed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another assembly structure of a conductive hanger and a workpiece to be processed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cathode assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrochemical process device for clamping a workpiece in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another electrochemical process device used to clamp a workpiece in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 10 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section A;

[0058] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the electrode connector in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the electrolysis indicator rod in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] 1. Electrolytic cell; 2. Electrode clamp; 21. Substrate; 211. First operating window; 212. Mounting hole; 22. Assembly assembly; 221. Mounting base; 222. Fastening clamp; 2221. Anti-slip plate; 223. First driving component; 2231. First connecting rod; 2232. Second connecting rod; 2233. Elastic component; 23. Electrode assembly; 231. Mounting bracket; 2311. Support column; 2312. Support plate; 23121. Second operating window; 23122. Mounting ring; 2313. Slide rail; 23131. U-shaped frame; 23132. Slide rod; 232. Movable rod; 2321. Protrusion; 233 1. Electrode connector; 2331. Electrode block; 23311. First receiving groove; 23312. Second receiving groove; 2332. Conductive bracket; 23321. Assembly part; 23322. Hanging part; 233221. Connecting rod; 233222. Hanging rod; 2333. Mounting block; 23331. First mounting part; 23332. Second mounting part; 234. Second driving component; 2341. Rocker wheel; 2342. First support rod; 2343. Second support rod; 3. Cathode assembly; 31. Cathode mesh groove; 32. Connecting piece; 4. Electrolysis indicator rod; 41. Rod body; 42. Coating; 5. Workpiece to be processed. Detailed Implementation

[0061] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0063] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a replaceable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0064] In the field of interventional medical devices, the end of a medical device implanted in the human or animal body that is closer to the operator is generally called the "proximal end," and the end that is farther from the operator is called the "distal end." Based on this principle, the "proximal end" and "distal end" of any component of a medical device are defined. "Axial direction" generally refers to the length of the medical device during delivery, while "radial direction" generally refers to the direction of the medical device that is not parallel to its "axial direction." Based on this principle, the "axial direction" and "radial direction" of any component of a medical device are defined. "Circumferential direction" refers to the circumferential direction, that is, the axial direction surrounding a tubular structure or cylinder.

[0065] Please see Figure 1 This application provides an electrochemical process device for electrolytic polishing of a workpiece, which can be a metal workpiece such as a medical vascular stent or biliary stent.

[0066] In one embodiment, the electrochemical process equipment includes an electrolytic cell 1, an electrode clamp 2, and a cathode assembly 3. The electrode clamp 2 is movably assembled with the electrolytic cell 1. When the electrode clamp 2 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, it provides the electrolytic anode. The workpiece 5 to be processed (see...) Figure 4 The electrode is fixed by the electrode clamp 2. The cathode assembly 3 is also movably assembled with the electrolytic cell 1, and provides the electrolytic cathode when the cathode assembly 3 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0067] It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the electrode clamp 2 can also provide an electrolytic cathode by being connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. The electrochemical process can be electrolysis or electroplating.

[0068] Please see Figure 1-2 In one embodiment, the electrode clamp 2 includes a substrate 21, an assembly 22, and an electrode assembly 23.

[0069] A first operating window 211 is provided on the substrate 21, and the substrate 21 abuts against the opening of the electrolytic cell 1. An assembly assembly 22 is mounted on the substrate 21, and the assembly assembly 22 is used to lock or unlock the substrate 21 onto the electrolytic cell 1. An electrode assembly 23 is also mounted on the substrate 21, and the electrode assembly 23 is used to fix the workpiece 5 to be processed, and the workpiece 5 is adapted to extend into the electrolytic cell 1 through the first operating window 211 for electrolysis.

[0070] In one embodiment, the substrate 21 is circular, the first operation window 211 is also circular, and the axis of the center of the first operation window 211 coincides with the axis of the center of the substrate 21.

[0071] Assembly component 22 includes mounting bases 221, clamping members 222, and a first driving member 223. There are three mounting bases 221, which are installed on the side of the substrate 21 opposite to the electrolytic cell 1, and are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the substrate 21, i.e., the three mounting bases 221 are located at three equal points along the circumference of the substrate 21. There are also three clamping members 222, which correspond one-to-one with the mounting bases 221, and are used to abut against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell 1. There are also three sets of first driving members 223. One end of the first driving member 223 is connected to the mounting base 221, and the other end is connected to the clamping member 222. The first driving member 223 is used to drive the clamping members 222 to move closer to each other and press against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell 1. When the clamping member 222 presses against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell 1, the substrate 21 is covered on the slot of the electrolytic cell 1. The three clamping members 222 cooperate to clamp the electrolytic cell 1, thereby locking the substrate 21 on the slot of the electrolytic cell 1.

[0072] In one embodiment, the number of mounting base 221, clamping member 222 and first driving member 223 may also be two, four or five, or an integer greater than 2.

[0073] Please continue reading. Figure 2 In one embodiment, the first driving member 223 includes a first link 2231, a second link 2232, and an elastic member 2233.

[0074] One end of the first connecting rod 2231 is hinged to the mounting base 221, and the other end is a free assembly end. One end of the second connecting rod 2232 is connected to the free assembly end of the first connecting rod 2231, and the other end is connected to the clamping member 222. The second connecting rod 2232 and the first connecting rod 2231 form an angle. One end of the elastic member 2233 is connected to the mounting base 221, and the other end is connected to the first connecting rod 2231. When the clamping member 222 is pressed against the side wall of the electrolytic cell 1, the elastic member 2233 undergoes tensile deformation, thereby generating elastic force to drive the clamping member 222 to press against the outer side wall of the electrolytic cell 1.

[0075] In one embodiment, the mounting base 221 is a U-shaped base, and a hinge shaft is provided between the two side plates of the mounting base 221. A hinge hole is provided on the first connecting rod 2231, and the hinge shaft passes through the hinge hole to make the first connecting rod 2231 hinged to the mounting base 221.

[0076] In one embodiment, both the first connecting rod 2231 and the second connecting rod 2232 have through holes. By passing a bolt through the through holes of both the first connecting rod 2231 and the second connecting rod 2232 simultaneously and then screwing it into a nut, the free assembly ends of the second connecting rod 2232 and the first connecting rod 2231 can be detachably assembled, thereby allowing the assembly assembly 22 to adapt to more electrolytic cells 1 of different specifications. In other embodiments, the free assembly ends of the second connecting rod 2232 and the first connecting rod 2231 can also be integrally formed or welded together.

[0077] In one embodiment, the second connecting rod 2232 and the clamping member 222 are also configured to be detachably assembled, thereby facilitating a better fit between the clamping member 222 and the sidewall of the electrolytic cell 1. The second connecting rod 2232 and the clamping member 222 are also detachably assembled by bolt and nut engagement. In other embodiments, the second connecting rod 2232 and the clamping member 222 may also be integrally formed or welded together.

[0078] In one embodiment, the clamping member 222 has a groove on the side that contacts the electrolytic cell 1, which has a curvature consistent with that of the side wall of the electrolytic cell 1. This allows the clamping member 222 to fit completely against the electrolytic cell 1, increasing the contact area between the clamping member 222 and the electrolytic cell 1 and increasing the clamping force.

[0079] In one embodiment, an anti-slip plate 2221 is also provided on the side of the clamping member 222 that contacts the electrolytic cell 1. The anti-slip plate 2221 can be a rubber sheet. The rubber sheet has high friction and elasticity, which can increase the clamping force of the clamping member 222 on the electrolytic cell 1.

[0080] In one embodiment, the elastic element 2233 is a tension spring. It is understood that a tension spring with a large restoring force is selected to provide a sufficiently large driving force.

[0081] Please see Figure 3In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 23 includes a mounting bracket 231, a movable rod 232, and an electrode connector 233.

[0082] Mounting bracket 231 is mounted on the side of substrate 21 opposite to electrolytic cell 1. Movable rod 232 is movably assembled with mounting bracket 231, and the movable rod 232 extends along the height direction of electrolytic cell 1. Electrode connector 233 is mounted on the end of movable rod 232 near substrate 21, and electrode connector 233 is used to fix workpiece 5 to be processed and to connect the positive terminal of power supply.

[0083] In one embodiment, the mounting bracket 231 includes support columns 2311 and a support plate 2312. The support columns 2311 are mounted on the base plate 21, and there are three support columns 2311. The support plate 2312 is mounted on the support columns 2311 and faces the base plate 21. A second operating window 23121 is provided on the support plate 2312, and a movable rod 232 is mounted on the support plate 2312 and adapted to pass through the second operating window 23121. In other embodiments, the number of support columns 2311 may also be two, four, or other integers greater than two.

[0084] In one embodiment, the substrate 21 has a mounting hole 212, the support plate 2312 has a mounting ring 23122, one end of the support column 2311 is accommodated in the mounting hole 212, and the other end is accommodated in the mounting ring 23122, so as to realize the detachable installation with the substrate 21 and the support plate 2312, thereby facilitating the replacement of the support column 2311 so that the support plate 2312 can be raised to different heights.

[0085] Please see Figure 3-4 In one embodiment, the movable rod 232 is slidably assembled with the mounting bracket 231 along the extension direction of the movable rod 232. The electrode assembly 23 further includes a second driving member 234, which is mounted on the mounting bracket 231 and connected to the movable rod 232. The second driving member 234 is used to drive the movable rod 232 to slide along the mounting bracket 231.

[0086] In one embodiment, a slide rail 2313 is installed on the support plate 2312. The slide rail 2313 consists of a U-shaped frame 23131 and a slide rod 23132. The U-shaped frame 23131 is fixedly mounted on the support plate 2312. The slide rod 23132 is located in the middle of the U-shaped frame 23131 and is fixedly connected to the U-shaped frame 23131. The slide rod 23132 extends along the height direction of the electrolytic cell 1. A sliding groove is provided on the slide rod 23132. The movable rod 232 is accommodated in the sliding groove to be slidably assembled with the mounting bracket 231.

[0087] The second drive component 234 includes a rocker wheel 2341, a first support rod 2342, and a second support rod 2343.

[0088] The rocker wheel 2341 is mounted on the mounting bracket 231. One end of the first support rod 2342 is fixed to the rocker wheel 2341, and the other end is a free end. The first support rod 2342 extends along the radial direction of the rocker wheel 2341. One end of the second support rod 2343 is hinged to the free end of the first support rod 2342, and the other end is hinged to the movable rod 232.

[0089] In one embodiment, the rocker wheel 2341 is supported on a support plate 2312 by several pillars. A protrusion 2321 is fixedly provided on the movable rod 232, with the protrusion 2321 at least partially protruding from the slide rod 23132. The non-hinged end of the first support rod 2342 is fixed to the axis of the rocker wheel 2341, and the non-hinged end of the second support rod 2343 is fixed to the protrusion 2321. As the rocker wheel 2341 rotates, the hinged end of the first support rod 2342 rotates accordingly, thereby driving the second support rod 2343 to move, which in turn drives the movable rod 232 to move along the slide groove so that the electrode connector 233 installed at the end of the movable rod 232 moves away from or closer to the electrolytic cell 1. In one embodiment, the protrusion 2321 and the movable rod 232 are welded together. In other embodiments, the protrusion 2321 and the movable rod 232 can also be bonded together, snapped together, or screwed together. The method of fixing the protrusion 2321 and the movable rod 232 is not limited.

[0090] In one embodiment, the surface of the slide bar 23132 is also provided with a scale (not shown) to help determine the moving distance of the electrode connector 233.

[0091] It is understandable that, in order to make the polishing effect of the workpiece 5 more uniform, the central axis of the movable rod 232 is set to coincide with the central axis of the electrolytic cell 1, so that the workpiece 5 can be placed in the center of the electrolytic cell 1.

[0092] Please continue reading. Figure 4 In one embodiment, the electrode connector 233 includes an electrode block 2331 and a conductive bracket 2332.

[0093] Electrode block 2331 is installed at one end of movable rod 232 near base plate 21, and electrode block 2331 is used to connect to the positive terminal of power supply.

[0094] Understandably, the assembly method between electrode block 2331 and movable rod 232 is unrestricted; it can be welding or threaded connection. Furthermore, grooves for power lines to pass through can be provided on movable rod 232, thereby enhancing the overall integrity of the electrochemical process equipment and making the wiring more organized.

[0095] The conductive bracket 2332 is mounted on the electrode block 2331 and is used to hang the workpiece 5 to be processed. Compared with the clamping method of A-clamp, using the conductive bracket 2332 to hold the workpiece 5 to be processed can reduce the contact area between the electrode connector 233 and the workpiece 5 to be processed, thereby avoiding the occurrence of blind corners that cannot be polished due to excessive contact between the workpiece 5 and the electrode connector 233, and the occurrence of insufficient polishing.

[0096] It is understandable that the electrode block 2331 is made of conductive material, and it can form an electrical connection with the conductive bracket 2332 while being mechanically connected.

[0097] Please see Figure 5 In one embodiment, the conductive bracket 2332 includes an assembly part 23321 and a holding part 23322. The assembly part 23321 is a ring that can be fitted onto the electrode block 2331 to complete the assembly of the conductive bracket 2332 and the electrode block 2331. The holding part 23322 includes a connecting rod 233221 and three hanging rods 233222. The connecting rod 233221 is a straight rod extending from the assembly part 23321. The extension direction of the connecting rod 233221 is parallel to the extension direction of the movable rod 232. The three hanging rods 233222 are three straight rods evenly distributed from the ends of the connecting rod 233221. The connection between the three hanging rods 233222 and the connecting rod 233221 has slight elasticity so that the three hanging rods 233222 can move closer to each other under external force to insert into the gap of the workpiece 5 to be processed, such as a medical vascular stent, or return to their original shape to support the workpiece 5 to be processed when the external force is removed. It can be understood that the slight elasticity at the connection between the hanging rods 233222 and the connecting rod 233221 satisfies the condition that the hanging rods 233222 will not undergo elastic deformation under the gravity of the workpiece 5 to be processed.

[0098] Please see Figure 6 In another embodiment, the conductive hanger 2332 is a thin metal wire. One end of the thin metal wire is tied to the electrode block 2331, and the other end is twisted and bent through several gaps in the workpiece 5 to be processed, such as a medical vascular stent, to hold the workpiece 5. It is understood that the thin metal wire has a certain degree of hardness, such as aluminum wire or iron wire, to meet the supporting force of the workpiece 5 to ensure that when it is bent through the workpiece 5, it will not bend and deform due to the gravity of the workpiece 5, causing the workpiece 5 to slip off.

[0099] Please see Figure 7In one embodiment, the cathode assembly 3 includes a cathode mesh 31 and a connecting piece 32. The cathode mesh 31 is at least partially housed within the electrolytic cell 1, and the connecting piece 32 is connected to the cathode mesh 31. The connecting piece 32 overlaps the electrolytic cell 1, thereby allowing the cathode mesh 31 to overlap the electrolytic cell 1. Simultaneously, the connecting piece 32 is used for connecting to the negative terminal of the power supply, so that the cathode mesh 31 forms an electrolytic cathode.

[0100] To achieve more uniform polishing, the shape of the cathode mesh groove 31 is set to match the external shape of the workpiece 5 to be processed. For example, please refer to... Figure 8 In one embodiment, the workpiece 5 to be processed is a cylindrical vascular stent, and the cathode mesh groove 31 is configured as a cylindrical mesh groove. Please refer to [link to previous document]. Figure 9 In one embodiment, the workpiece 5 to be processed is a conical vascular stent, and the sidewall of the cathode mesh groove 31 is also correspondingly set to a conical shape. That is, the shape of the cathode mesh groove 31 is equivalent to a proportionally enlarged version of the outer contour shape of the workpiece 5 to be processed. This setting allows the electrode spacing ( ) between any point on the side surface of the workpiece 5 to be processed and the cathode mesh groove 31 to be equal when the workpiece 5 is placed in the polishing tank. Figure 8 The distance (as shown in λ) is consistent, which can increase the uniformity of polishing.

[0101] Please continue reading. Figure 9 When the workpiece 5 to be processed is a conical vascular stent, the scale on the slide bar 23132 can be used to transport the conical vascular stent to the optimal position. Specifically, when the electrode block 2331 abuts against the slide rail 2313, the distance from the electrode block 2331 to the opening of the polishing groove is L, and the distance from the opening of the cathode mesh groove 31 to the recessed part of the cathode mesh groove 31 is X. At this time, it is only necessary to measure the distance N from the electrode block 2331 to the recessed part of the conical vascular stent. Then, A can be calculated according to A=(L+X)—N. A is the distance that the conical vascular stent needs to move. After calculating A, it is only necessary to move the conical vascular stent by the corresponding distance according to the scale on the slide bar 23132. This will make the recessed part of the conical vascular stent aligned with the recessed part of the cathode mesh groove 31, thereby ensuring that the electrode spacing between the conical vascular stent and the cathode mesh groove 31 is the same and ensuring polishing uniformity.

[0102] Please return Figure 4 In one embodiment, to prevent the workpiece 5 from breaking due to excessive polishing time, an electrolysis indicator 4 is also provided in the electrochemical process equipment. The electrolysis indicator 4 is installed on the electrode fixture 2 and is used to indicate the polishing progress.

[0103] Please see Figure 10-11The electrode block 2331 has a first receiving groove 23311 on its bottom wall, the extension direction of which is parallel to the extension direction of the movable rod 232. A second receiving groove 23312 is provided on the side wall adjacent to the bottom wall, the extension direction of which is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first receiving groove 23311, and the second receiving groove 23312 is connected to the first receiving groove 23311. Along the extension direction of the second receiving groove 23312, its diameter gradually decreases from the opening to the bottom. The electrochemical process equipment also includes a mounting block 2333, which has a first mounting portion 23331 and a second mounting portion 23332 that are parallel to each other, with a gap between the first mounting portion 23331 and the second mounting portion 23332.

[0104] When the electrolysis indicator rod 4 is to be installed on the electrode block 2331, simply insert the electrolysis indicator rod 4 into the first receiving groove 23311, and then insert the mounting block 2333 into the second receiving groove 23312, so that the electrolysis indicator rod 4 is accommodated in the gap between the first mounting part 23331 and the second mounting part 23332. Then, continue to push the mounting block 2333 into the second receiving groove 23312. Since the second receiving groove 23312 is a conical groove, the gap at the end of the first mounting part 23331 and the second mounting part 23332 will gradually narrow. Finally, the first mounting part 23331 and the second mounting part 23332 can cooperate to clamp the electrolysis indicator rod 4.

[0105] Please see Figure 12 In one embodiment, the electrolytic indicator rod 4 includes a rod body 41 and a coating 42 applied to the rod body 41. The material of the coating 42 is the same as that of the workpiece 5 to be processed. The radial dimension (e.g., diameter) of the rod body 41 is smaller than the radial dimension (e.g., outer diameter or thickness of the support rod) of the workpiece 5. The thickness of the coating 42 is the same as the pre-polishing thickness of the workpiece 5. The total radial dimension of the electrolytic indicator rod 4 is the same as the radial dimension of the workpiece 5. With this configuration, during the electrolytic polishing process of the workpiece 5, the coating 42 on the electrolytic indicator rod 4 is electrolyzed simultaneously. When the coating 42 is completely dissolved, it indicates that the workpiece 5 has reached the required polishing degree, and polishing can be stopped. It is understood that the rod body 41 serves as a carrier for the coating 42, and the rod body 41 is made of a material with high corrosion resistance to facilitate reuse.

[0106] In one embodiment, the rod body 41 and the coating 42 have different colors; for example, the rod body 41 is black and the coating 42 is silver-white, making it easier to observe whether the coating 42 has completely dissolved. It is understood that in other embodiments, the rod body 41 can be red and the coating 42 can be blue. The specific colors of the rod body 41 and the coating 42 are not limited, but the greater the difference in color between the two, the easier it is to observe. Furthermore, to facilitate observation of whether the coating 42 has completely dissolved, the electrolytic cell 1 can also be made of a transparent material or an observation window can be provided on the electrolytic cell 1.

[0107] The electrochemical process equipment provided in the above embodiments can be used to polish vascular stents according to the following steps:

[0108] S1. Polishing preparation: Place the cathode mesh 31 in the electrolytic cell 1 and connect the connecting piece 32 to the negative terminal of the power supply. At the same time, add a certain amount of polishing liquid into the electrolytic cell 1.

[0109] S2. Installation and alignment: Pull out the three clamping parts 222 of the assembly component 22, place the substrate 21 on the slot of the electrolytic cell 1, and then loosen the clamping parts 222. Under the action of the first driving part 223, the three clamping parts 222 cooperate to clamp the side wall of the electrolytic cell 1, so that the central axis of the movable rod 232 coincides with the central axis of the electrolytic cell 1.

[0110] S3. Fixing the workpiece: Hang the workpiece 5 to be processed on the conductive bracket 2332, and at the same time install the electrolysis indicator rod 4 on the electrode block 2331.

[0111] S4. Polishing and positioning: Rotate the rocker wheel 2341 to immerse the workpiece 5 in the electrolyte and move it to a position where the electrode spacing is equal.

[0112] S5. Electrolytic polishing: Turn on the power switch to perform electrolytic polishing. Stop polishing when the coating 42 of the electrolytic indicator rod 4 is completely dissolved.

[0113] Among them, the electrode clamp 2 can stably place the workpiece 5 to be processed in the electrolytic cell 1 to ensure polishing stability. By using the electrode clamp 2 with good polishing stability, the electrochemical process equipment can improve the stability and uniformity of polishing.

[0114] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0115] The above description discloses only preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrode clamp for an electrochemical process device, characterized in that, include: The substrate has a first operating window, and the substrate can abut against the opening of the electrolytic cell; An assembly assembly is mounted on the substrate for locking or unlocking the substrate onto the electrolytic cell; And an electrode assembly, mounted on the substrate, for connecting to a power source and fixing the workpiece to be processed, the workpiece being processed being adapted to extend from the first operating window into the electrolytic cell; The assembly components include: At least two mounting bases are installed on the side of the substrate opposite to the electrolytic cell, and the mounting bases are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the substrate. At least two clamping members are provided, corresponding one-to-one with the mounting base, for abutting against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell; In addition, a first driving member, one end of which is connected to the mounting base and the other end of which is connected to the clamping member, is used to drive the clamping members to move closer to each other to abut against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell.

2. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first driving element includes: The first connecting rod is hinged at one end to the mounting base; The second connecting rod has one end connected to the end of the first connecting rod away from the mounting base, and the other end connected to the clamping member; In addition, an elastic element, one end of which is connected to the mounting base and the other end of which is connected to the first connecting rod, undergoes tensile deformation when the clamping member abuts against the outer wall of the electrolytic cell.

3. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second link is detachably assembled with the first link, and / or the second link is detachably assembled with the clamp.

4. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode assembly includes: The mounting bracket is installed on the side of the substrate opposite to the electrolytic cell; A movable rod extends along the height direction of the electrolytic cell and is movably assembled with the mounting bracket, allowing the movable rod to move closer to or away from the electrolytic cell; In addition, an electrode connector is installed at one end of the movable rod near the base plate, for fixing the workpiece to be processed and for supplying power.

5. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, Along the extension direction of the movable rod, the movable rod is slidably assembled with the mounting bracket. The electrode assembly further includes a second driving member, which is mounted on the mounting bracket and connected to the movable rod. The second driving member is used to drive the movable rod to slide along the mounting bracket to move closer to or away from the electrolytic cell.

6. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second driving element includes: The rocker wheel is mounted on the mounting bracket; The first support rod has one end fixed to the rocker wheel, and the first support rod extends along the radial direction of the rocker wheel; In addition, the second support rod has one end hinged to the end of the first support rod away from the rocker wheel, and the other end hinged to the movable rod.

7. The electrode clamp of the electrochemical process equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The electrode connector includes: An electrode block is installed at one end of the movable rod near the base plate for connection to the power source; In addition, a conductive bracket is connected to the electrode block and used to hang the workpiece to be processed.

8. An electrochemical process device, characterized in that, include: Electrolytic cell; The cathode assembly is movably assembled with the electrolytic cell and provides an electrochemical cathode when connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. And, the electrode clamp as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the electrode clamp is movably assembled with the electrolytic cell, and the electrode clamp provides an electrochemical anode when connected to the positive terminal of the power supply.

9. The electrochemical process equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cathode assembly includes: The cathode mesh is at least partially housed within the electrolytic cell; In addition, a connecting piece is connected to the cathode mesh groove, which is used to allow the cathode mesh groove to overlap on the electrolytic cell and to connect to the negative terminal of the power supply.

10. The electrochemical process equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The shape of the cathode mesh groove is the same as the external shape of the workpiece to be processed.

11. The electrochemical process equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electrochemical process equipment also includes an electrolysis indicator rod, which is mounted on the electrode fixture and used to indicate the polishing progress.

12. The electrochemical process equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrolysis indicator rod includes a rod body and a coating applied to the rod body. The coating material is the same as the workpiece to be processed. The radial dimension of the electrolysis indicator rod is the same as the radial dimension of the workpiece to be processed. The thickness of the coating is the same as the pre-polished thickness of the workpiece to be processed. The coating and the rod body have different colors.

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