Conductive device and electroplating equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a conductive device and horizontal electroplating equipment, and belongs to the technical field of electroplating and conduction. The provided conductive device comprises a conductive roller, a conductive assembly and an electrode assembly, the conductive roller comprises a roller cylinder, a plurality of conductive parts and a plurality of roller brushes, the plurality of roller brushes are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the roller cylinder and are respectively arranged along the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the roller cylinder, the plurality of conductive parts are arranged in the side wall of the roller cylinder along the circumferential direction of the roller cylinder, and each conductive part is electrically connected with at least one roller brush; sealing substances are respectively arranged in a roller cavity of the roller and between each roller brush and the roller; the conductive assembly is connected to one end of the conductive roller and can rotate along with the conductive roller, the conductive assembly comprises a plurality of conductive contacts, and the plurality of conductive contacts are correspondingly and electrically connected with the conductive parts; the electrode assembly comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, any one conductive contact is in contact with the first electrode, and any other conductive contact is in contact with the second electrode. The conductive device can at least solve the problem that a current conductive device is poor in sealing performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of electroplating and conductive technology, and specifically relates to a conductive device and electroplating equipment. Background Art

[0002] Horizontal electroplating technology is an electroplating method in which the workpiece to be plated is placed parallel to the surface of the electroplating solution. It is easy to operate, adaptable to a wide range of workpiece sizes, and convenient for large-scale automated operations and closed operations. It has developed rapidly in recent years. In the field of solar cell manufacturing, electroplating processes on cell wafers are involved. For example, in the metallization process of cell wafers, electroplating such as horizontal electroplating technology is used. In recent years, with the optimization and upgrading of solar cell manufacturing processes, it is often necessary to electroplate the surface of the coated cell through the cathode assembly and the anode assembly. Among them, optimizing the cathode conductive method has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0003] In the related art, during the metallization process of solar cells, for horizontal plating, some cathode conductive methods are connected through the conductive wire on the plating brush. Usually, the plating brush is fixed, and the cell slides over the end of the conductive wire away from the conductive plate to electroplate the cell. Some cathode conductive methods use rollers or conductive rollers for conduction, which is convenient to operate and can avoid damage to the coating on the cell surface. However, the structure of the existing cathode conductive roller still has certain shortcomings. For example, the sealing of the existing cathode conductive roller is poor, which makes it easy for liquid to enter the interior of the conductive roller, which can easily cause internal short circuits and corrosion, affecting the plating effect and reducing the service life of the conductive roller. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, the present invention provides a conductive device and electroplating equipment that can at least alleviate the problem of poor sealing of current conductive devices, improve the sealing performance of the conductive device, or even improve the replaceability of the conductive device.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a conductive device, which includes: a conductive roller, a conductive assembly, and an electrode assembly;

[0007] The conductive roller includes a roller, a plurality of conductive members, and a plurality of roller brushes, wherein the plurality of roller brushes are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the roller and are respectively arranged along the circumferential direction of the roller and the axial direction of the roller, and the plurality of conductive members are arranged inside the side wall of the roller along the circumferential direction of the roller, and each of the conductive members is electrically connected to at least one of the roller brushes;

[0008] A sealing material is provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller and / or between each roller brush and the roller;

[0009] The conductive component is connected to one end of the conductive roller and is rotatable with the conductive roller. The conductive component includes a plurality of conductive contacts, and the plurality of conductive contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive members in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0010] The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode, any one of the conductive contacts contacts the first electrode, and any other of the conductive contacts contacts the second electrode.

[0011] In addition, the conductive device according to the present application may also have the following additional technical features:

[0012] In some embodiments, the outer wall of the roller is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves, the plurality of roller brushes are disposed in the mounting grooves in a one-to-one correspondence, and one end of each roller brush protrudes from the outer wall of the roller.

[0013] In some embodiments, a through hole is formed on the bottom wall of the mounting groove, and the roller brush passes through the through hole and is connected to the conductive member.

[0014] In some embodiments, one end of the roller brush is threadably connected to the conductive member.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sealing material is provided between each roller brush and at least a portion of the groove wall of the corresponding installation groove.

[0016] In some embodiments, the conductive member is disposed in a cylinder cavity of the roller and is fastened to the roller via a fastener.

[0017] In some embodiments, the sealing material is an insulating sealant to seal the gap between the roller brush and the mounting groove.

[0018] In some embodiments, a fixing groove is provided in the side wall of each mounting groove, and each fixing groove extends along the axial direction of the roller; the fixing groove is connected to the mounting groove through the through hole, and the fixing groove is connected to the cylinder cavity of the roller through an opening; the two ends of the conductive member are correspondingly arranged in the fixing groove so that the cylinder cavity of the roller is isolated from the roller brush to form a seal.

[0019] In some embodiments, an annular groove is provided on the surface of the roller brush facing the bottom wall of the mounting groove; the sealing material is a sealing ring, which is provided in the annular groove to form a seal between the mounting groove and the through hole.

[0020] In some embodiments, the conductive device further includes a barrier connected between the conductive roller and the conductive component to separate the conductive roller from the conductive component.

[0021] In some embodiments, the conductive component further includes a plurality of conductive connectors, and the plurality of conductive connectors are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive contacts respectively; and the plurality of conductive connectors are connected to the plurality of conductive members respectively through wires.

[0022] In some embodiments, an insulating sleeve is provided on the outer side of the roller brush.

[0023] In some embodiments, the roller brush is made of a flexible conductive material, and the flexible conductive material includes metal fiber or carbon fiber.

[0024] In some embodiments, the conductive device further includes a first support plate, a second support plate and a third support plate; the two ends of the roller are rotatably connected to the first support plate and the second support plate respectively through bearings; the third support plate is arranged between the first support plate and the second support plate, and the barrier member is arranged on the third support plate.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present application, an embodiment of the present application further provides an electroplating device, which includes an electroplating tank and the aforementioned conductive device arranged in the electroplating tank.

[0026] The implementation of the technical solution of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0027] In an embodiment of the present application, the conductive device provided includes a conductive roller, a conductive assembly and an electrode assembly. The conductive roller includes a roller, a conductive member and a roller brush. The conductive assembly is arranged at one end of the conductive roller. The conductive member in the conductive roller is electrically connected to the roller brush correspondingly. The conductive contacts in the conductive assembly are electrically connected to the conductive member correspondingly. Thus, the corresponding electrical connection between the roller brush and the conductive contact can be achieved through the conductive member. Furthermore, any one of the conductive contacts can be in contact with the first electrode, and any other conductive contact can be in contact with the second electrode. Thus, the roller brush can be electrically connected to an external power source. For example, the roller brush can be made into a cathode roller brush and cooperate with an external anode to achieve electroplating of the workpiece to be plated. Among them, multiple roller brushes are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the roller and are respectively arranged along the circumference and axial direction of the roller. The distribution of the roller brushes helps to make the roller brush fully contact the workpiece to be plated and improve the quality of the plating layer. In particular, in the conductive device of the present application, a sealing material is provided between each roller brush and the roller in the roller cavity of the conductive roller. The provision of the sealing material can prevent liquid from entering the interior of the roller, ensure the sealing and insulation of the interior of the roller, and thus avoid internal short circuits and corrosion caused by liquid entering the interior of the roller. It can also reduce or avoid corrosion or conduction of internal conductive parts caused by liquid entering between the roller brush and the roller. Thus, the sealing of the conductive device is improved, the occurrence of short circuits or corrosion is reduced, and it helps to extend the service life of the conductive device and ensure the coating effect and efficiency.

[0028] The electroplating apparatus of the present application includes the above-mentioned conductive device, and thus has at least all the features and advantages of the conductive device, which are not described in detail here. Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a conductive device provided for some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0030] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the conductive roller, the first support plate, the second support plate and the third support plate provided in some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a conductive device provided for some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a conductive device provided in another perspective for some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a roller brush provided in some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0034] Figure 6 A partial schematic diagram of another conductive roller and a conductive assembly provided for some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0035] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of another roller brush provided for some exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0036] Description of reference numerals:

[0037] 10-conductive roller; 11-roller; 111-mounting slot; 112-through hole; 113-fixing slot; 114-opening; 12-conductive member; 13-roller brush; 131-insulating sleeve; 132-conductive brush; 133-conductive metal structure;

[0038] 20-conductive component; 21-conductive contact; 22-conductive connector; 23-conductive wire;

[0039] 30-electrode assembly; 31-first electrode; 32-second electrode;

[0040] 40-sealing ring;

[0041] 50-fasteners;

[0042] 60- barrier;

[0043] 71-first support plate; 72-second support plate; 73-third support plate;

[0044] 81-first bearing; 82-second bearing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present application, a conductive device is provided, which can be used in the field of electroplating, such as in horizontal electroplating equipment to achieve conductivity, such as achieving cathode conductivity. In addition, it can also be used in other equipment. The embodiments of the present application do not impose specific restrictions on the specific usage scenarios and working conditions of the conductive device.

[0047] See also Figures 1 to 7As shown, in some embodiments, a conductive device is provided, which includes: a conductive roller 10, a conductive component 20 and an electrode component 30; wherein the conductive roller 10 can be rotated under the drive of a driving mechanism and can be used to contact and conduct electricity with the workpiece to be plated. The conductive component 20 can be electrically connected to the conductive roller 10 and the electrode component 30 respectively, and can play the role of an intermediate conductor of electrical energy. The electrode component 30 can be used to electrically connect to an external power source. The electrode component 30 can be electrically connected to the conductive roller 10 through the conductive component 20. The electrode component 30 is used to electrically connect to the external power source and conduct electrical energy to the conductive component 20. The electricity is then conducted to the conductive roller 10 through the conductive component 20. The conductive roller 10 is used to contact the workpiece to be plated, so that the conducted electricity, especially the negative electrode electricity, acts on the electroplated workpiece.

[0048] The conductive roller 10 specifically includes a roller 11, multiple conductive members 12, and multiple roller brushes 13. The multiple roller brushes 13 are disposed on the outer wall of the roller 11 and arranged circumferentially and axially. The multiple conductive members 12 are disposed within the sidewall of the roller 11 along the circumference of the roller 11, and each conductive member 12 is electrically connected to at least one roller brush 13. The roller 11 can serve as a support and mounting mechanism. For example, the conductive members 12 and roller brushes 13 can be mounted on the roller 11, and a conductive component 20 can be disposed at one end of the roller 11. The multiple roller brushes 13 can be divided into multiple groups of roller brushes 13, that is, multiple groups of roller brushes 13 can be provided. The multiple groups of roller brushes 13 can be arranged circumferentially of the roller 11, with the roller brushes 13 in each group arranged axially of the roller 11. This arrangement of the roller brushes 13 helps ensure that the roller brushes 13 fully contact the workpiece to be plated, thereby improving the quality of the coating. The conductive member 12 can be used to electrically connect with the roller brush 13, thus playing the role of conductive connection.

[0049] In this embodiment, a sealing material is provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller 11, and / or between each roller brush 13 and the roller 11; that is, a sealing material may be provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller 11, or a sealing material may also be provided between each roller brush 13 and the roller 11, or a sealing material may be provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 and between each roller brush 13 and the roller 11, thereby improving the sealing performance of the conductive device.

[0050] The conductive assembly 20 is connected to one end of the conductive roller 10 and can rotate with the conductive roller 10. The conductive assembly 20 includes a plurality of conductive contacts 21, and the plurality of conductive contacts 21 are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive members 12 in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, the conductive assembly 20 is connected to one end, such as the right end, of the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10 in the longitudinal direction. When the conductive roller 10 rotates, the conductive assembly 20 can rotate with the conductive roller 10. The conductive assembly 20 includes a plurality of conductive contacts 21. Optionally, the plurality of conductive contacts 21 can be annular contacts, which can also be called annular contacts. The plurality of conductive contacts 21 can be electrically connected to the plurality of conductive members 12 in a one-to-one correspondence, and the plurality of conductive members 12 are electrically connected to the plurality of roller brushes 13. Therefore, each conductive contact 21 has its corresponding roller brush 13 connected thereto. In this way, the electrical connection between the conductive contacts 21 and the roller brush 13 can be achieved.

[0051] It should be understood that to avoid mutual influence between multiple conductive members 12 or multiple conductive contacts 21, each adjacent conductive contact 21 should be insulated and separated, each adjacent conductive member 12 should also be separated, and further each row of roller brushes 13 should also be insulated and separated.

[0052] The electrode assembly 30 includes a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 32 with opposite polarities. Any one of the conductive contacts 21 is in contact with the first electrode 31, and any other conductive contact 21 is in contact with the second electrode 32. For example, the first electrode 31 can be a cathode, and the second electrode 32 can be an anode, or the first electrode 31 can be an anode, and the second electrode 32 can be a cathode. One of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 is used to connect to the negative pole of the power supply, and the other is used to connect to the positive pole of the power supply. The first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 can be used to make electrical contact with the conductive contact 21 in the conductive assembly 20, respectively, to achieve electrical connection between the roller brush 13 and an external power supply. For example, the roller brush 13 can be made into a cathode roller brush and cooperate with an external anode to achieve electroplating of the workpiece to be plated.

[0053] It should be noted that the specific number of the roller brush 13, the conductive member 12, or the conductive contacts 21 is selected and set according to actual needs and is not limited in this embodiment. As an example, the number of the conductive contacts 21 can be four or more, six or more, or ten or more, etc.

[0054] Thus, based on the above arrangement, the conductive device is provided with a sealing material, such as an insulating sealant, in the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10, between each roller brush 13 and the roller 11. This can prevent liquid from entering the interior of the roller 1, ensure the sealing and insulation of the roller 11, and further avoid internal short circuits and corrosion caused by liquid entering the roller 11. It can also reduce or avoid the phenomenon of corrosion or conduction of the internal conductive member 12 caused by liquid entering between the roller brush 13 and the roller 11. Thus, the sealing performance of the conductive device is improved, the occurrence of short circuits or corrosion is reduced, and the service life of the conductive device is extended, ensuring the coating effect and efficiency. In addition, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, by providing different sealing forms, while ensuring the sealing performance of the conductive device, the replaceability of the conductive device can be further improved. For example, by using a sealing ring, a single damaged or repaired roller brush can be replaced without replacing the entire conductive roller. This improves the replaceability and maintainability of the entire conductive device, which is conducive to reducing maintenance costs.

[0055] Furthermore, the arrangement of multiple roller brushes 13 within this conductive device ensures sufficient contact between the brushes 13 and the workpiece being plated, improving the quality of the coating. The arrangement of the conductive assembly 20 and the conductive member 12 enhances electrical connection and improves the stability and reliability of the electrical connection between the brushes 13 and the external power source. The overall conductive device boasts a simple structure, eases maintenance, and offers excellent sealing, reducing repair and maintenance costs. The stable and reliable conductive connection contributes to improved electroplating efficiency and production yield.

[0056] Optional, in some cases, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the above-mentioned sealing material can be an insulating glue (insulating sealant), which can not only play a sealing role, but also play an insulating role. Therefore, by pouring insulating glue into the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 and arranging insulating sealant between the roller 11 and the roller brush 13, the gap between the roller brush 13 and the roller 11 can be sealed, which can ensure internal insulation and sealing, and reduce or avoid the phenomenon of liquid entering the roller 11 and causing internal short circuit or corrosion. At the same time, in this solution, by arranging insulating glue, the conductive member 12 can connect and fix all the roller brushes 13 from the inside of the roller 11. After the insulating glue is poured into the roller 11, the roller brush 13 is also fixed to the insulating glue, so that the entire conductive roller can be integrated, with good structural integrity, stable structure, reliable connection and good sealing. This solution will be further described in detail below.

[0057] Optional, in other cases, such as Figures 6 and 7As shown, the sealing material can also be a sealing ring 40. Using the sealing ring 40 to seal the gap between the roller brush 13 and the roller 11 not only improves sealing performance and prevents short circuits and corrosion, but also enhances the replaceability and maintainability of the conductive roller 10. For example, in this embodiment, the structure formed by the conductive member 12 and the roller 11 separates the roller brush 13 from the roller 11. After the insulating adhesive is injected into the cylindrical cavity of the roller 11, the roller brush 13 is not directly connected to the insulating adhesive. Instead, the roller brush 13 can be connected to the conductive member 12 using a threaded connection or other method. This ensures sealing performance while also enhancing the replaceability of the conductive roller 10. If a single roller brush 13 is damaged or requires repair, it can be replaced individually without having to replace the entire conductive roller 10. This reduces maintenance costs and significantly improves repair convenience. This embodiment will be described in further detail below.

[0058] Therefore, the sealing material between the roller brush 13 and the roller 11 can be an insulating glue, or other sealing materials such as a sealing ring or a sealing ring. This improves the sealing performance of the conductive device, prevents liquid from entering the interior of the conductive roller 10, and thus reduces or avoids corrosion or conduction of the internal conductive member 12 caused by liquid ingress. It also improves the replaceability of the conductive roller 10 and reduces maintenance costs.

[0059] To facilitate the installation and fixing of the roller brush 13, a sealing material is preferably provided between the roller brush 13 and the roller 11. In some embodiments, the outer wall of the roller 11 is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves 111. For example, the number of mounting grooves 111 may correspond to the number of roller brushes 13. The roller brushes 13 are disposed in a one-to-one correspondence within the mounting grooves 111, with one end of each roller brush 13 protruding from the outer wall of the roller 11. A sealing material is provided between each roller brush 13 and at least a portion of the wall of the corresponding mounting groove 111.

[0060] By installing the roller brush 13 in the mounting groove 111 and exposing one end of the roller brush 13 to the outer wall of the roller 11 as described above, the exposed roller brush 13 can be used to electrically contact the workpiece to be plated, and the above-mentioned sealing material is provided between the roller brush 13 and at least part of the groove wall of the mounting groove 111, which can effectively seal the connection between the roller brush 13 and the mounting groove 111, improve the sealing performance, and thereby reduce or prevent liquid from entering the interior of the conductive roller 10, thereby reducing or avoiding corrosion or conduction of the internal conductive part 12 due to the entry of liquid.

[0061] In some embodiments, a through hole 112 is defined on the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111 , and the roller brush 13 passes through the through hole 112 and is connected to the conductive member 12 .

[0062] In order to facilitate the connection between the roller brush 13 and the conductive member 12, and to facilitate the connection and arrangement of the roller brush 13 and the conductive member 12, a through hole 112 is provided on the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111, that is, the mounting groove 111 and the through hole 112 are provided on the side wall of the roller 11 so as to communicate with each other. Optionally, according to the structural characteristics of the roller brush 13, the mounting groove 111 and the through hole 112 can be arranged in a stepped manner. One end of the roller brush 13, such as the upper end, protrudes from the outer wall of the roller 11, and the other end of the roller brush 13, such as the lower end, passes through the through hole 112 and is connected to the conductive member 12; a portion of the roller brush 13 can be disposed in the mounting groove 111, and a portion can be disposed in the through hole 112, and at least the portion of the roller brush 13 disposed in the through hole 112 can be connected to the conductive member 12.

[0063] In some embodiments, one end of the roller brush 13 is threadedly connected to the conductive member 12. Optionally, the conductive member 12 is provided with a threaded hole, and one end of the roller brush 13, namely the conductive metal structure 133 of the roller brush 13, can be threadedly connected to the threaded hole of the conductive member 12. Thus, the threaded connection method provides a simple structure, a stable and reliable connection, and is convenient for processing and manufacturing. Furthermore, the threaded connection between the conductive member 12 and the roller brush 13 can also improve the replaceability of the roller brush 13, such as allowing individual roller brushes 13 to be replaced, improving maintenance convenience.

[0064] In some embodiments, a sealing material is provided between each roller brush 13 and at least a portion of the wall of the corresponding mounting groove 111 .

[0065] Optionally, in some embodiments, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the sealing material is an insulating sealant, which can seal the gap between the roller brush 13 and the mounting groove 111. The insulating sealant used in the sealing material can provide both sealing and insulation. Of course, other types of sealing materials can also be used as long as they do not limit the purpose of this application.

[0066] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the conductive member 12 is disposed within the cylinder cavity of the roller 11, and the conductive member 12 is fastened to the roller 11 via a fastener 50. Optionally, the fastener 50 may be a screw. Of course, other types of fasteners 50 may also be used, and this embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0067] By providing a plurality of fasteners 50 such as a plurality of screws in the conductive roller 10, the screws can be used to firmly and reliably connect the conductive member 12 to the roller 11, thereby improving the connection reliability of the conductive member 12 and ensuring the conductive connection effect.

[0068] Therefore, in this case, the gap between the roller brush 13 and the mounting groove 111 of the roller 11 is sealed by sealing with insulating sealant. In this solution, the conductive member 12 can connect and fix all the roller brushes 13 from the inside of the roller 11. After the insulating sealant is poured into the roller 11, the roller brushes 13 are also fixed to the insulating sealant, thereby making the entire conductive roller become one.

[0069] Optionally, an opening 114 is provided on the inner wall of the roller 11 , and the above-mentioned sealing material such as insulating sealant can seal the opening 114 .

[0070] In this embodiment, during the manufacturing process, after the conductive member 12 is inserted into the roller 11, the roller brush 13 can be locked from the outside, pulling on the conductive member 12 to provide a seal. After all parts are installed, insulating glue can be poured into the roller 11. After the insulating glue solidifies, the conductive member 12 and the conductive roller become one, and the insulating glue can seal the opening 114 and cover the conductive member 12. If the roller brush 13 is damaged or needs to be replaced during subsequent use, it can be removed and replaced externally using professional tools.

[0071] In some embodiments, the conductive assembly 20 further includes a plurality of conductive connectors 22 , which are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive contacts 21 , respectively; and the plurality of conductive connectors 22 are connected to the plurality of conductive members 12 via wires 23 , respectively.

[0072] Optionally, the conductive connecting member 22 may be a conductive screw.

[0073] The number of the conductive connectors 22 can correspond to the number of the conductive contacts 21. The conductive member 12 can be electrically connected to the conductive connector 22, such as a conductive screw, via a wire 23. Multiple conductive connectors 22, such as conductive screws, can be electrically connected to corresponding conductive contacts 21. That is, the conductive contacts 21 can be connected to the conductive member 12 via the conductive connectors 22, such as conductive screws, thereby forming a connection between the roller brush 13 and the conductive contacts 21. Furthermore, the conductive contacts 21 at the ends, i.e., the annular contacts, contact the electrode assembly 30 mounted on a fixed plate, such as the second support plate 72, to form an external circuit.

[0074] Optionally, the conductive contacts 21 may be made of a material that is corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, and has good conductivity, so that the surface friction coefficient in contact with the first electrode 31 or the second electrode 32 is low, thereby ensuring that the conductive roller 10 rotates smoothly without jamming.

[0075] Optionally, in other embodiments, such as Figures 6 and 7As shown, a plurality of fixing grooves 113 are provided in the side wall of the roller 11, that is, a plurality of fixing grooves 113 are provided in the side wall of each mounting groove 111, and the plurality of fixing grooves 113 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the roller 11, and each fixing groove 113 extends along the axial direction of the roller 11; the fixing grooves 113 are connected to the mounting grooves 111 through the through holes 112, and the fixing grooves 113 are connected to the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 through the openings 114; the two ends of the conductive member 12 are correspondingly arranged in the fixing grooves 113 so that the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 is isolated from the roller brush 13 to form a seal.

[0076] In this embodiment, a plurality of fixing grooves 113 are provided on the side wall of the roller 11. The number of the fixing grooves 113 may correspond to the number of the conductive members 12 and may be used to install and fix the conductive members 12. For example, a plurality of conductive members 12 are respectively provided in the corresponding fixing grooves 113. In order to cooperate with the arrangement of the conductive members 12 or the roller brushes 13, a plurality of fixing grooves 113 are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the roller 11, and each fixing groove 113 extends along the axial direction of the roller 11.

[0077] The above-mentioned fixing groove 113 can also be called a limiting groove, which can not only install the conductive part 12, but also limit the conductive part 12. The fixing groove 113 can separate two adjacent conductive parts 12 and accurately position the conductive part 12.

[0078] The fixing groove 113 can be located at the side of the through hole 112, and the fixing groove 113 can be connected to the installation groove 111 through the through hole 112. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the connection between the conductive member 12 and the conductive contact 21 of the conductive assembly 20, an opening 114 can be provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller 11, and the fixing groove 113 can be connected to the cylinder cavity of the roller 11 through the through hole 112, thereby facilitating the electrical connection between the conductive member 12 in the fixing groove 113 and the conductive contact 21 via components such as the connecting wire 23.

[0079] Optionally, at least one of the surface of the roller brush 13 facing the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111 and the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111 is provided with an annular groove; the sealing material includes a sealing ring 40, which is disposed in the annular groove. The sealing ring 40 is disposed in the annular groove to form a seal between the mounting groove 111 and the through hole 112.

[0080] The sealing material can be a sealing ring 40, such as a sealing ring 40 made of a flexible material. To facilitate the installation of the sealing ring 40 and ensure the sealing effect, an annular groove can be provided on at least one of the roller brush 13 or the mounting groove 111. For example, an annular groove can be provided on the bottom wall surface of the roller brush 13 facing the mounting groove 111, and the sealing ring 40 can be installed in the annular groove; or an annular groove can be provided on the bottom wall surface of the mounting groove 111, and the sealing ring 40 can be installed in the annular groove; or annular grooves can be provided on both the bottom wall surface of the roller brush 13 facing the mounting groove 111 and the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111, and the sealing ring 40 can be installed in the annular grooves. In this way, the sealing connection between the roller brush 13 and the mounting groove 111 can be fully ensured, and the sealing effect can be improved.

[0081] Thus, by setting the above-mentioned sealing ring 40, while ensuring the sealing performance, the replaceability of the conductive roller 10 can also be improved. When a single roller brush 13 is damaged or needs to be repaired, it can be replaced individually without replacing the conductive roller 10 as a whole, which is conducive to reducing maintenance costs and greatly improving the convenience of maintenance.

[0082] In some embodiments, the conductive device further includes a barrier 60 , which is connected between the conductive roller 10 and the conductive assembly 20 to separate the conductive roller 10 from the conductive assembly 20 .

[0083] The above-mentioned barrier 60 is connected between the conductive roller 10 and the conductive component 20, and can be used to separate the conductive roller 10 from the conductive component 20. For example, if the barrier 60 is set in the mounting plate of the electroplating tank, or the barrier 60 is set in the third support plate 73, the electroplating liquid can be isolated, thereby preventing the conductive component 20 from contacting the conductive liquid, ensuring the dryness of the conductive contact 21 at one end of the conductive roller 10, and ensuring the conductive effect.

[0084] In some embodiments, the conductive device also includes a first support plate 71, a second support plate 72 and a third support plate 73 arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the roller 11; the two ends of the roller 11 are rotatably connected to the first support plate 71 and the second support plate 72 through bearings respectively; the third support plate 73 is arranged between the first support plate 71 and the second support plate 72, and the barrier member is arranged on the third support plate 73.

[0085] Optionally, the bearing includes a first bearing 81 and a second bearing 82. The first support plate 71 and the second support plate 72 can be used to fix the first bearing 81 and the second bearing 82, respectively. For example, one end of the roller 11 can be connected to the first support plate 71 via the first bearing 81, and the other end of the roller 11 can be connected to the second support plate 72 via the second bearing 82. A third support plate 73 is provided between the first support plate 71 and the second support plate 72, and the barrier 60 is installed in the third support plate 73. The conductive roller 10 and the electroplating solution can be arranged between the first support plate 71 and the third support plate 73, the conductive assembly 20 can be arranged between the third support plate 73 and the second support plate 72, and the electrode assembly 30 can be installed in the second support plate 72.

[0086] In this embodiment, the first support plate 71 and the third support plate 73 can be used as part of the side wall of the tank body in the electroplating tank to isolate the electroplating liquid so that the electroplating liquid is located between the first support plate 71 and the third support plate 73; at the same time, the first support plate 71 and the third support plate 73 can also play a supporting and mounting role, such as serving as the mounting surface of the conductive roller 10 or various shafts, for mounting the conductive roller 10, the barrier 60, the electrode assembly 30, or can also be used to mount various shafts or drive rollers, etc.

[0087] In some embodiments, an insulating sleeve 131 is provided on the outside of the roller brush 13. Providing the insulating sleeve 131 on the outside of the roller brush 13 can play an insulating role, forming a structure insulated from the outside, and avoiding or reducing excessive current consumption and copper.

[0088] Optionally, the roller brush 13 includes a conductive brush 132, an insulating sleeve 131 and a conductive metal structure 133; at least part of the conductive brush 132 protrudes from the outer wall of the roller 11 for contacting the workpiece to be plated, and the conductive brush 132 is mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive part 12 through the conductive metal structure 133; the insulating sleeve 131 is arranged on the outside of the conductive brush 132, and at least part of the insulating sleeve 131 is embedded in the mounting groove 111.

[0089] In this embodiment, after the conductive brush 132 is connected to the conductive metal structure 133 through a certain process technology, it can be injection molded to form an external insulating part, that is, an insulating sleeve 131, to avoid or reduce excessive current consumption and copper coating. Furthermore, the conductive brush 132 is installed and connected to the internal conductive part 12 of the conductive roller 10 (the conductive brush 132 cannot be replaced separately) and is arranged on the conductive roller 10. It can be connected to the conductive component 20 through a wire 23, thereby forming a connection between the conductive brush 132 and the conductive contact 21. Among them, each adjacent two conductive contacts 21 are insulated and separated, and then each row of conductive brushes 132 is also insulated and separated. By providing a sealing material such as insulating glue inside the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10, internal insulation and sealing can be guaranteed, reducing or avoiding the entry of liquids, which may cause internal short circuits and corrosion.

[0090] In some embodiments, the roller brush 13 is made of a flexible conductive material, such as metal fiber or carbon fiber. In other words, the conductive brush 132 in the roller brush 13 is made of a flexible conductive material, such as metal fiber or carbon fiber.

[0091] By distributing a certain number of roller brushes 13 on the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10, and using a flexible conductive material for the conductive brushes 132 in the roller brushes 13, such as a material that is flexible, can return to its original state when not subjected to force, and is resistant to corrosion from electroplating solutions, such as metal fiber, carbon fiber, or other materials with similar properties, the conductive brushes 132 can be in flexible contact with the workpiece to be plated, thereby reducing or preventing damage to the workpiece.

[0092] Optionally, the roller brushes 13 may be divided into multiple groups, with the multiple groups of roller brushes 13 arranged along the circumference of the roller 11, and the roller brushes 13 in each group arranged along the axial direction of the roller 11. The multiple groups of roller brushes 13 may be arranged in various ways. For example, in some cases, two adjacent groups of roller brushes 13 may be aligned in the circumferential direction of the roller 11 and in the axial direction of the roller 11.

[0093] In other cases, two adjacent groups of roller brushes 13 are staggered in the axial direction of the roller 11. Compared with the method of aligning the roller brushes 13, staggering the roller brushes 13 on the roller 11 helps to ensure that at least one roller brush 13 appears on each longitudinal section. Therefore, during the electroplating process, every part of the workpiece to be plated, such as each trough part, will be passed by the brush, ensuring the uniformity of the electroplating process, thereby improving the uniformity of the plating layer and improving the quality of the plating layer.

[0094] In some cases, multiple roller brushes 13 are arranged in a spiral staggered pattern on the outer wall of the roller 11. Thus, the spiral staggered pattern can further expand the coverage area of ​​the roller brushes 13, further ensuring that at least one roller brush 13 appears on each longitudinal section. Therefore, during the electroplating process, every part of the workpiece to be plated, such as each trough, will be passed by the brush. Since the thickness uniformity of the entire workpiece to be plated changes with the coverage area of ​​the roller brushes 13, uniformity during the electroplating process can be further ensured, further improving the uniformity of the plating layer and improving the quality of the plating layer.

[0095] In summary, the conductive device provided includes a conductive roller 10, a conductive component 20, an electrode component 30, a barrier 60, a first support plate 71, a second support plate 72 and a third support plate 73, and also includes a roller shaft (arranged in the roller 11), bearings, gears and other components. Among them, the conductive roller 10 includes a roller 11, multiple conductive members 12 and multiple roller brushes 13, the conductive component 20 includes multiple conductive contacts 21, and the electrode component 30 includes a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 32 with opposite polarities; the barrier 60 is connected between the conductive roller 10 and the conductive component 20, and can be used to separate the conductive roller 10 and the conductive component 20, and can play a role in blocking liquid. The above-mentioned roller brush 13 includes a flexible conductive brush 132, such as a material that is flexible and can return to its original state after being free of force, and has excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance to electroplating solutions, such as metal fiber, carbon fiber, or other materials with similar properties, so as to avoid damage to the workpiece to be plated. The roller 11 of the conductive roller 10 is provided with support plates on both sides of its axial end, such as a first support plate 71 and a second support plate 72, which are used to secure the bearing. A third support plate 73 is provided between the first support plate 71 and the second support plate 72. A barrier 60 can be placed in the third support plate 73 to isolate the electroplating solution and ensure the drying of the conductive component 20 at one end of the conductive roller 10. Conductive contacts 21 are mounted on one axial end of the conductive roller 10. The conductive contacts 21 rotate with the conductive roller 10, and each conductive contact 21 has a corresponding roller brush 13 connected thereto. First and second electrodes 31, 32, or positive and negative electrodes, are provided on either side of the conductive contacts 21. The first and second electrodes 31, 32 are mounted on a support plate on one side, such as the second support plate 72. Therefore, the first and second electrodes 31, 32 remain relatively inactive. As the conductive roller 10 rotates, the conductive contacts 21 sequentially make electrical contact with the first and second electrodes 31, 32. In addition, upper and lower anodes are provided in the electroplating solution, which are located on the upper and lower outer sides of the conductive roller 10 in the vertical direction, sandwiching the conductive roller 10 and other transmission mechanisms. During electroplating, the conductive brush is completely immersed in the electroplating solution.

[0096] Furthermore, the conductive brush 132 is installed and connected to the conductive part 12 inside the conductive roller 10 (the conductive brush 132 cannot be replaced separately) and is arranged on the conductive roller 10. It can be connected to the conductive component 20 through a wire 23, thereby forming a connection between the conductive brush 132 and the conductive contact 21. The conductive contact 21 at the end, that is, the annular contact, contacts the electrode assembly 30 installed on a fixed plate such as the second support plate 72 to form an external circuit. Among them, each two adjacent conductive contacts 21 are insulated and separated, and then each row of conductive brushes 132 is also insulated and separated. And by arranging a sealing material such as insulating glue inside the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10, internal insulation and sealing can be guaranteed, reducing or avoiding liquid entry, resulting in internal short circuit and corrosion.

[0097] After the conductive brush 132 and the conductive metal structure 133 are connected through a specific process and injection molded, an external insulating portion, namely the insulating sleeve 131, is formed. This reduces or avoids excessive current consumption and copper buildup. A sealing material, such as a sealing ring 40, is installed on the surface of the roller brush 13 facing the bottom wall of the mounting groove 111, or on the contact surface between the roller brush 13 and the conductive member 12. This prevents liquids from entering the conductive roller 10, potentially causing corrosion or preventing the conductive member 12 from conducting.

[0098] It should be understood that during operation of the conductive device, the conductive roller 10 will rotate under the drive of the drive mechanism, and the conductive assembly 20 will also rotate with the rotation of the conductive roller 10, while the electrode assembly 30 can remain relatively stationary. As an example, a roller shaft can be provided within the roller 11 of the conductive roller 10, one end of which can be connected to the drive mechanism via a transmission mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the transmission mechanism to rotate, which in turn drives the roller shaft to rotate, thereby driving the roller 11 and the roller brush 13 connected to the roller 11, the conductive assembly 20, and the like to rotate. Optionally, the drive mechanism can be a drive motor, and the transmission mechanism can be a gear transmission mechanism. Of course, other drive mechanisms and transmission mechanisms can also be used, as long as they can drive the conductive roller 10 to rotate, and this embodiment is not limited to this.

[0099] In some embodiments, an electroplating device is further provided, which includes an electroplating tank and the aforementioned conductive device disposed in the electroplating tank.

[0100] Optionally, the electroplating equipment may be a horizontal electroplating equipment.

[0101] The electroplating equipment of this embodiment includes the above-mentioned conductive device, and thus has at least all the features and advantages of the conductive device, which will not be described in detail here.

[0102] In the electroplating apparatus described above, the rollers 11 of the conductive rollers 10 are rotatable, thereby guiding the workpiece to be plated within the electroplating tank. In other words, the conductive rollers 10 can simultaneously function as a horizontal transmission mechanism and a cathode conductive mechanism, providing both transmission and cathode conductive functions for the workpiece to be plated. Furthermore, the conductive rollers 10 of this embodiment can be arranged in pairs within a horizontal electroplating apparatus to sandwich the workpiece to be plated, thereby enabling double-sided electroplating of the workpiece.

[0103] In the above-mentioned electroplating equipment, the electroplating tank may include a tank body, a conductive device disposed therein, and a plating solution. Other structures, such as a drive device, may also be disposed therein. The drive device may be used to drive the workpiece to be plated to move horizontally within the electroplating tank. The specific configuration and operating principles of the drive device and other components of the electroplating tank may be referenced to prior art and are not limited in this embodiment.

[0104] Optionally, an anode assembly is provided in the electroplating solution, comprising a first anode and a second anode spaced apart from each other, the first anode and the second anode being located above and below the conductive roller 10, respectively, and connected to the positive electrode of a power supply. The first anode and the second anode can sandwich the conductive rollers 10 and other transmission mechanisms, such as transmission rollers, between them.

[0105] During electroplating, the first anode and the second anode are connected to the positive pole of the electroplating power supply as electroplating anodes, one of the first electrode and the second electrode in the electrode assembly is connected to the negative pole of the power supply, and the roller brush connected to it is used as the cathode of electroplating, and the electroplating liquid is used as the electroplating medium to form an electroplating circuit. Under the action of the generated electric field, the workpiece to be plated is electroplated, that is, a coating film is formed on the surface of the workpiece to be plated.

[0106] Parts not described in detail in the specification of the present invention are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0107] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0108] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0109] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0110] In the present invention, the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "examples", "specific examples" or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0111] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A conductive device, characterized in that: include: Conductive roller, conductive assembly and electrode assembly; The conductive roller includes a roller, a plurality of conductive members, and a plurality of roller brushes, wherein the plurality of roller brushes are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the roller and are respectively arranged along the circumferential direction of the roller and the axial direction of the roller, and the plurality of conductive members are arranged inside the side wall of the roller along the circumferential direction of the roller, and each of the conductive members is electrically connected to at least one of the roller brushes; A sealing material is provided in the cylinder cavity of the roller and / or between each roller brush and the roller; The conductive component is connected to one end of the conductive roller and is rotatable with the conductive roller. The conductive component includes a plurality of conductive contacts, and the plurality of conductive contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive members in a one-to-one correspondence. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode, any one of the conductive contacts contacts the first electrode, and any other of the conductive contacts contacts the second electrode.

2. The conductive device according to claim 1, characterized in that The outer wall of the roller is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves, and the plurality of roller brushes are arranged in the mounting grooves in a one-to-one correspondence, and one end of each roller brush protrudes from the outer wall of the roller.

3. The conductive device according to claim 2, characterized in that A through hole is formed on the bottom wall of the mounting groove, and the roller brush passes through the through hole and is connected to the conductive member.

4. The conductive device according to claim 3, characterized in that One end of the roller brush is threadedly connected to the conductive member.

5. The conductive device according to claim 4, characterized in that The sealing material is arranged between each roller brush and at least a portion of the groove wall of the corresponding installation groove.

6. The conductive device according to claim 5, characterized in that The conductive member is arranged in the cylinder cavity of the roller and is fastened to the roller via a fastener.

7. The conductive device according to claim 6, characterized in that The sealing material is an insulating sealant to seal the gap between the roller brush and the installation groove.

8. The conductive device according to claim 5, characterized in that A fixing groove is provided in the side wall of each mounting groove, and each fixing groove extends along the axial direction of the roller; The fixing groove is connected to the mounting groove through the through hole, and the fixing groove is connected to the cylinder cavity of the roller through the opening; The two ends of the conductive member are correspondingly arranged in the fixing groove so that the cylinder cavity of the roller is isolated from the roller brush to form a seal.

9. The conductive device according to claim 8, characterized in that An annular groove is provided on the surface of the roller brush facing the bottom wall of the mounting groove; the sealing material is a sealing ring, which is provided in the annular groove to form a seal between the mounting groove and the through hole.

10. The conductive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The conductive device further includes a barrier connected between the conductive roller and the conductive component, and used to separate the conductive roller and the conductive component.

11. The conductive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The conductive assembly further includes a plurality of conductive connecting members, wherein the plurality of conductive connecting members are electrically connected to the plurality of conductive contacts respectively; The plurality of conductive connecting members are connected to the plurality of conductive members through wires respectively.

12. The conductive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: An insulating sleeve is provided on the outer side of the roller brush.

13. The conductive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The roller brush is made of a flexible conductive material, and the flexible conductive material includes metal fiber or carbon fiber.

14. The conductive device according to claim 10, characterized in that The conductive device further comprises a first support plate, a second support plate and a third support plate; Both ends of the roller are rotatably connected to the first support plate and the second support plate through bearings respectively; The third support plate is arranged between the first support plate and the second support plate, and the barrier member is arranged on the third support plate.

15. An electroplating device, characterized in that: A conductive device comprising the conductive device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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