Electroplating machine table

Abstract

The utility model relates to an electroplating machine table. The electroplating machine table comprises an electroplating bath body, a hanging tool used for hanging and fixing a workpiece to be electroplated, a conductive assembly and an electric brush assembly used for being connected with a cathode. The electroplating bath body is used for containing electroplating liquid. The hanging tool is movably arranged above the electroplating bath body in the first direction. And the hanger is provided with a conductive part which is positioned outside the electroplating bath body. The conductive component is in relatively static connection with the conductive part and is in conductive connection with the conductive part. The electric brush assembly is in sliding connection with the conductive assembly and is in conductive connection with the conductive assembly. The conductive part and the conductive assembly are in relative static connection and conductive connection, so that relative sliding between the conductive part and the conductive assembly can be avoided, abrasion of the conductive part is avoided, and the workload of replacing the conductive part of the hanger is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of solar cell manufacturing, and particularly to an electroplating machine. Background Art

[0002] Electroplating is an important process for metallization of solar cells, which is to grow conductive grid lines on the surface of the cells by electroplating. In related technologies, the conductive contact mode between the fixture of the electroplating machine and the cathode wire during movement is a hard contact mode using copper blocks and copper rails, that is, the cathode conductive copper blocks of each fixture slide on the copper rails. There are many moving contact points, and it is not easy to control the contact resistance. The contact resistance of each contact point fluctuates greatly during operation, which easily makes the thickness of the electroplating layer uneven and affects the electroplating effect. At the same time, the sliding friction is large, the cathode conductive copper blocks wear quickly, and because there are many fixtures, it is necessary to frequently replace the cathode conductive copper blocks of the fixtures, with frequent maintenance and heavy workload. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] This application provides an electroplating machine to solve at least some of the problems in the related technologies.

[0004] This application provides an electroplating machine, including:

[0005] An electroplating tank for placing electroplating solution;

[0006] A fixture for hanging and fixing the workpiece to be electroplated, movably arranged above the electroplating tank along a first direction; the fixture is provided with a conductive part, and the conductive part is located outside the electroplating tank;

[0007] A conductive component, relatively stationary and conductively connected to the conductive part; and

[0008] A brush assembly for connecting to the cathode, slidably connected to the conductive component and conductively connected to the conductive component.

[0009] Optionally, the conductive component includes a conductive belt and a conductive seat, the conductive seat is arranged on the conductive belt and conductively connected to the conductive belt, and the conductive seat is relatively stationary and conductively connected to the conductive part.

[0010] Optionally, the conductive part and the conductive seat are abutted in the first direction.

[0011] Optionally, one of the conductive part and the conductive seat is provided with a groove, and the other of the conductive part and the conductive seat is provided with a convex block adapted to the groove.

[0012] Optionally, the opening at the bottom of the groove is smaller than the opening at the top of the groove, and the size of the top of the convex block is smaller than the size of the bottom of the convex block.

[0013] Optionally, a plurality of the fixtures are provided and are arranged at intervals along the first direction; a plurality of the conductive seats are provided and are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and the number of the conductive seats corresponds to the number of the fixtures.

[0014] Optionally, the conductive assembly further includes two rollers and a support block located between the two rollers. The conductive belt is an annular belt and is sleeved on the two rollers, and the rollers are insulating rollers;

[0015] A plurality of support wheels are rotatably provided on the support block, and the plurality of support wheels are located between the support block and the conductive belt and are used for supporting the conductive belt. The support wheels are insulating support wheels.

[0016] Optionally, the roller can rotate around the axis of the roller; and / or

[0017] The support wheel can rotate around the axis of the support wheel; and / or

[0018] The plurality of support wheels are uniformly arranged on the support block along the first direction.

[0019] Optionally, the brush assembly includes a brush, and the brush is slidably connected to the conductive assembly and is electrically connected to the conductive assembly.

[0020] Optionally, the brush assembly further includes a brush connecting rod and an elastic member. The middle of the brush connecting rod is hinged to the conductive assembly. One end of the brush connecting rod is hinged to the brush, and the other end is connected to the elastic member.

[0021] The electroplating machine provided in this application includes an electroplating tank body, a fixture for hanging and fixing a workpiece to be electroplated, a conductive assembly, and a brush assembly for connecting to a cathode. By movably arranging the fixture above the electroplating tank body along the first direction, it is convenient to improve the uniformity of electroplating and the electroplating efficiency. By providing the conductive assembly and the brush assembly, and making the conductive assembly relatively stationary with respect to the conductive part and electrically connected to the conductive part, and making the brush assembly slidably connected to the conductive assembly and electrically connected to the conductive assembly, the cathode is connected to the fixture through the brush assembly, the conductive assembly slidably connected to the brush assembly, and the conductive part relatively stationary connected to the conductive assembly, and the workpiece to be electroplated is connected through the fixture. The metal cations in the electroplating solution are reduced to metal and adhered to the workpiece to be electroplated to complete electroplating.

[0022] Compared with the related art in which the conductive part of the fixture slides on the conductive assembly connecting the cathode to achieve the electrical connection between the fixture and the cathode, in this patent application, the conductive part is relatively stationary and electrically connected to the conductive assembly, which can avoid the relative sliding between the conductive part and the conductive assembly, thereby avoiding the wear of the conductive part and saving the workload of replacing the conductive part of the fixture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a perspective of an electroplating machine shown in an embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 FIG. 2 Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of another perspective of the fixture and the conductive strip in the electroplating machine shown in FIG. 1;

[0025] Figure 3 FIG. 3 Figure 2 is a schematic enlarged view of a partial area shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] Reference numerals: electroplating machine 10, electroplating tank body 20, fixture 30, conductive part 31, convex block 311, fixture driving part 32, accommodating groove 33, conductive assembly 40, conductive strip 41, conductive seat 42, groove 421, roller 43, support block 44, support wheel 441, brush assembly 50, brush 51, brush connecting rod 52, elastic part 53, cathode 60. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Please refer to Figures 1-3 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a perspective of an electroplating machine 10 shown in an embodiment, and this view is a schematic structural view seen from the z direction. Figure 2 FIG. 2 Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of another perspective of the fixture 30 and the conductive strip 41 in the electroplating machine 10 shown in FIG. 1, and it is also Figure 1 a partial enlarged view of I in FIG. 1, and this view is a schematic structural view seen from the x direction. Figure 3 FIG. 3 Figure 2 is a schematic enlarged view of a partial area of II shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] In Figures 1-3 the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the z direction may be the length direction of the electroplating machine 10, the x direction may be the width direction of the electroplating machine 10, and the y direction may be the height direction of the electroplating machine 10. The electroplating machine 10 includes an electroplating tank body 20, a fixture 30 for hanging and fixing a workpiece to be plated, a conductive assembly 40, and a brush assembly 50 for connecting to a cathode 60.

[0029] The electroplating tank body 20 is used to hold the electroplating solution. There are metal ions in the electroplating solution. Through the action of the electrodes, the metal ions undergo electrochemical deposition on the surface of the workpiece to be plated to form a metal coating. The fixture 30 for hanging and fixing the workpiece to be plated is movably arranged above the electroplating tank body 20 along the first direction (z direction). The fixture 30 moves above the electroplating tank body 20, so that the workpiece to be plated suspended and fixed on the fixture 30 moves in the electroplating solution. In this way, the uniform distribution of current and metal ions can be promoted, so as to obtain a more uniform and smooth coating, the contact area between the metal ions and the cathode 60 can be increased, the reduction rate of metal ions can be improved, the electroplating efficiency can be improved, and the attachment of bubbles during the electroplating process can be reduced, improving the quality of electroplating. In this embodiment, fixture driving members 32 are respectively arranged outside the left and right ends of the electroplating tank body 20, and the fixture driving members 32 drive the fixture 30 to move above the electroplating tank body 20 along the first direction (z direction). In this embodiment, the fixture 30 includes a plurality of accommodating grooves 33, and the workpiece to be plated can be placed in the accommodating grooves 33.

[0030] The fixture 30 is provided with a conductive part 31, and the conductive part 31 is located outside the electroplating tank body 20. In this embodiment, the fixture 30 is provided with two conductive parts 31, which are respectively located at both ends of the fixture 30. The conductive part 31 can be an independent structure, fixedly connected to the fixture 30 and electrically connected to the fixture 30. The conductive part 31 can also be a part of the fixture 30, and is integrally formed with the fixture 30. The conductive component 40 is relatively statically connected to the conductive part 31 and electrically connected to the conductive part 31, so that when the fixture 30 moves, the conductive component 40 can be driven to move synchronously through the conductive part 31. The brush assembly 50 for connecting to the cathode 60 is slidably connected to the conductive component 40 and electrically connected to the conductive component 40, and the cathode 60 can be connected to the conductive component 40 through the brush assembly 50.

[0031] By arranging the conductive component 40 and the brush assembly 50, and making the conductive component 40 relatively static with respect to the conductive part 31 and electrically connected to the conductive part 31, and making the brush assembly 50 slidably connected to the conductive component 40 and electrically connected to the conductive component 40, the cathode 60 is connected to the fixture 30 through the brush assembly 50, the conductive component 40 slidably connected to the brush assembly 50, and the conductive part 31 relatively statically connected to the conductive component 40, and the workpiece to be plated is connected through the fixture 30, and the metal cations in the electroplating solution are reduced to metal and attached to the workpiece to be plated to complete electroplating.

[0032] Compared with the related art in which the conductive part 31 of the fixture 30 slides on the conductive component 40 connected to the cathode 60 to realize the electrical connection between the fixture 30 and the cathode 60, in this patent application, the conductive part 31 is relatively statically connected and electrically connected to the conductive component 40, which can avoid the relative sliding between the conductive part 31 and the conductive component 40, thereby avoiding the wear of the conductive part 31 and saving the workload of replacing the conductive part 31 of the fixture 30.

[0033] The conductive component 40 includes a conductive strip 41 and a conductive seat 42. The conductive seat 42 is disposed on the conductive strip 41 and is electrically connected to the conductive strip 41. The conductive seat 42 is relatively stationary and electrically connected to the conductive part 31. In this embodiment, the brush assembly 50 is slidably connected to the conductive strip 41 and is electrically connected to the conductive strip 41. In this way, the cathode 60 can be connected to the fixture 30 through the brush assembly 50, the conductive strip 41 slidably connected to the brush assembly 50, and the conductive part 31 relatively stationary connected to the conductive strip 41, and the workpiece to be plated can be connected through the fixture 30.

[0034] The conductive seat 42 is relatively stationary and connected to the conductive part 31. It can be that the conductive seat 42 is magnetically connected to the conductive part 31, or the conductive seat 42 is threadedly fastened to the conductive part 31. This application does not limit this. The conductive seat 42 being relatively stationary and connected to the conductive part 31 can enable the conductive strip 41 to move synchronously through the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42 when the fixture 30 moves, and then enable the conductive strip 41 to be slidably connected and electrically connected to the brush assembly 50.

[0035] In Figures 1-3 In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42 are abutted in the first direction, which facilitates the conductive part 31 to drive the conductive strip 41 to move in the first direction and facilitates the detachable connection between the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42.

[0036] A groove 421 is provided on one of the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42, and a convex block 311 adapted to the groove 421 is provided on the other of the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42. It can be understood that the groove 421 can be provided on the conductive part 31 and the convex block 311 can be provided on the conductive strip 41. It is also possible to provide the convex block 311 on the conductive part 31 and the groove 421 on the conductive strip 41, and the convex block 311 is adapted to the groove 421.

[0037] In this embodiment, the groove 421 is provided on the conductive strip 41 and the convex block 311 is provided on the conductive part 31. Since the conductive strip 41 is located below the fixture 30, the groove 421 is provided on the lower conductive strip 41 and the convex block 311 is provided on the upper conductive part 31, which facilitates using the groove 421 to accommodate the convex block 311, inserting the convex block 311 into the groove 421 to complete the insertion connection between the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42, and is convenient for fixing and disassembling.

[0038] To facilitate the insertion of the bump 311 into the groove 421, the opening at the bottom of the groove 421 is smaller than the opening at the top of the groove 421, so that the opening of the groove 421 is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, which can guide the bump 311 to be inserted into the groove 421. The size of the top of the bump 311 is smaller than the size of the bottom of the bump 311, which is convenient for matching the shape of the groove 421. In this way, the connection between the conductive part 31 and the conductive base 42 is stable, and the conductive base 42 and the conductive part 31 are in contact in the first direction.

[0039] Please refer to again Figure 2 , the number of the fixtures 30 is multiple, and they are arranged at intervals in the first direction (z direction). Arranging multiple fixtures 30 can increase the number of workpieces to be plated suspended, improve the electroplating efficiency. Making the multiple fixtures 30 arranged at intervals in the first direction, that is, the multiple fixtures 30 are arranged at intervals in the direction of movement of the fixture 30, can enable the multiple fixtures 30 to move synchronously when moving, and avoid interference between the multiple fixtures 30.

[0040] When the number of the fixtures 30 is multiple, each fixture 30 is provided with a conductive part 31, and the number of the conductive bases 42 is also multiple and arranged at intervals in the first direction. The number of the conductive bases 42 corresponds to the number of the fixtures 30, which is convenient for the multiple conductive bases 42 to be relatively statically connected and conductively connected to the corresponding conductive parts 31 respectively. It can be understood that the number of the conductive bases 42 can also be greater than the number of the fixtures 30. At this time, some of the conductive bases 42 are in an idle state and not connected to the conductive part 31.

[0041] When the number of the fixtures 30 is multiple, in the related art, the conductive part 31 of each fixture 30 needs to be slidably and conductively connected to the conductive component 40, which makes the conductive parts 31 of the multiple fixtures 30 wear quickly, and the conductive parts 31 of the fixtures 30 need to be frequently replaced, with frequent maintenance and large workload. Moreover, the conductive blocks of the multiple fixtures 30 all slide on the conductive component 40, with many moving contact points, and the contact resistance is not easy to control. The contact resistance of each contact point fluctuates greatly during the electroplating process, affecting the electroplating effect.

[0042] In this embodiment, the conductive parts 31 of the multiple fixtures 30 are all relatively static with respect to the conductive belt 41, ensuring the stability of the conductive contact. During the movement of the fixture 30, the fluctuation of the contact resistance is small, reducing the difficulty of controlling the contact resistance. Moreover, the consistency of the contact resistance between the fixtures 30 is good, improving the consistency of the electroplating operation effect between the fixtures 30.

[0043] The conductive assembly 40 further includes two rollers 43 and a support block 44 located between the two rollers 43. The conductive belt 41 is an annular belt and is sleeved on the two rollers 43. The rollers 43 are insulating rollers 43. The support block 44 is rotatably provided with a plurality of support wheels 441, and the plurality of support wheels 441 are located between the support block 44 and the conductive belt 41 for supporting the conductive belt 41. The support wheels 441 are insulating support wheels 441.

[0044] The conductive belt 41 being an annular belt facilitates the conductive belt 41 to move back and forth by itself when following the movement of the fixture 30, avoiding the need for manual movement of the conductive belt 41 from one end of the electroplating tank body 20 in the first direction to the other end of the electroplating tank body 20 after the conductive belt 41 follows the fixture 30 to move from one end of the electroplating tank body 20 in the first direction to the other end, and then following the fixture 30 to move again.

[0045] When the electroplating machine 10 provided in this embodiment is in use, the conductive part 31 of the fixture 30 can be connected to the conductive seat 42 of the conductive belt 41 in a relatively stationary manner at one end of the electroplating tank body 20 in the first direction. The fixture driving member 32 drives the fixture 30 to move along the first direction to the other end of the electroplating tank body 20 in the first direction. At this time, the workpiece to be plated suspended and fixed on the fixture 30 moves in the electroplating tank body 20 and completes electroplating. At the other end of the electroplating tank body 20 in the first direction, the conductive part 31 of the fixture 30 is separated from the corresponding conductive seat 42.

[0046] The two rollers 43 can support the conductive belt 41 from both ends of the conductive belt 41. The plurality of support wheels 441 rotatably provided on the support block 44 located between the two rollers 43 can support the conductive belt 41 below the moving direction of the conductive belt 41, avoiding the conductive belt 41 sagging downward and affecting the conductive connection between the conductive seat 42 and the conductive part 31. The plurality of support wheels 441 are uniformly arranged along the first direction on the support block 44, which can uniformly support the conductive belt 41, improve the support effect of the support wheels 441, and avoid the conductive belt 41 sagging due to insufficient local support.

[0047] The rollers 43 are insulating rollers 43, and the support wheels 441 are insulating support wheels 441, avoiding the rollers 43 and the support wheels 441 from conducting the current of the conductive belt 41 out, which affects the conductive belt 41 from conducting the current to the conductive seat 42. The rollers 43 can rotate around the axis of the rollers 43, and the support wheels 441 can rotate around the axis of the support wheels 441. This can reduce the resistance during the movement of the conductive belt 41, so that a smaller force can be applied during the movement of the fixture 30 to drive the conductive belt 41 to move synchronously.

[0048] Please also refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 in Figure 2 and Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, the brush assembly 50 includes a brush 51, which is slidably connected to the conductive assembly 40 and electrically connected to the conductive assembly 40. In this embodiment, the brush 51 is slidably connected to the conductive strip 41 and electrically connected to the conductive strip 41, and the other end of the brush 51 is connected to the cathode 60 through a wire.

[0049] The brush assembly 50 further includes a brush connecting rod 52 and an elastic member 53. The middle of the brush connecting rod 52 is hinged to the conductive assembly 40. One end of the brush connecting rod 52 is hinged to the brush 51, and the other end is connected to the elastic member 53. In this embodiment, the middle of the brush connecting rod 52 is hinged to one end of the support block 44 close to the brush 51 for fixing and hinging the brush connecting rod 52 so that the brush connecting rod 52 can rotate around the hinge point of the brush connecting rod 52 and the support block 44.

[0050] The elastic member 53 is a spring. One end of the spring is fixed on the support block 44, and the other end is connected to the brush connecting rod 52. During the movement of the conductive strip 41, the pressure exerted on the brush 51 by the part with the conductive seat 42 and the part without the conductive seat 42 passing by the brush 51 is different. By setting the spring, the brush 51 can be in contact with the conductive strip 41 and electrically connected to the conductive strip 41 to continuously supply current to the conductive strip 41 when the downward pressure on the brush 51 is different.

[0051] When the electroplating machine table 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application is in use, the electroplating tank 20 is filled with electroplating solution. The solar cell to be electroplated is placed in the accommodation groove 33 of the hanger 30. The conductive part 31 at the bottom of the hanger 30 is inserted into the conductive seat 42 of the conductive strip 41 so that the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42 are relatively stationary and electrically connected. The hanger driving member 32 drives the hanger 30 to move in the electroplating tank 20 along the first direction, and then drives the conductive strip 41 to move synchronously through the conductive part 31 and the conductive seat 42. One end of the brush 51 is connected to the cathode 60, and the other end is slidably connected to and electrically connected to the conductive strip 41. The cathode 60 is electrically connected to the solar cell to be electroplated through the brush 51, the conductive strip 41, the conductive seat 42, the conductive part 31, the hanger 30, and the accommodation groove 33. There are metal ions in the electroplating solution. Through the action of the electrode, the metal ions are electrochemically deposited on the surface of the workpiece to be electroplated to form a metal coating, and the electroplating is completed.

[0052] Compared with the conductive connection between the hanger 30 and the cathode 60 realized by the conductive part 31 of the hanger 30 sliding on the conductive assembly 40 connected to the cathode 60, in the electroplating machine table 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application, the conductive part 31 and the conductive assembly 40 are relatively stationary and electrically connected, which can avoid the relative sliding between the conductive part 31 and the conductive assembly 40, thereby avoiding the wear of the conductive part 31 and saving the workload of replacing the conductive part 31 of the hanger 30.

Claims

1. An electroplating machine, characterized in that: include: The electroplating tank is used to place the electroplating solution; A hanger for hanging and fixing the workpiece to be plated is movably arranged above the electroplating tank body along a first direction; the hanger is provided with a conductive part, and the conductive part is located outside the electroplating tank body; A conductive component, statically connected to the conductive portion and conductively connected to the conductive portion; and The brush assembly used for connecting with the cathode is slidably connected with the conductive assembly and is conductively connected with the conductive assembly.

2. The electroplating machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive assembly comprises a conductive belt and a conductive seat, wherein the conductive seat is arranged on the conductive belt and conductively connected to the conductive belt, and the conductive seat is relatively statically connected to the conductive part and conductively connected to the conductive part.

3. The electroplating machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductive portion and the conductive seat are in contact with each other in a first direction.

4. The electroplating machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: One of the conductive part and the conductive seat is provided with a groove, and the other of the conductive part and the conductive seat is provided with a protrusion matched with the groove.

5. The electroplating machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The opening of the bottom of the groove is smaller than the opening of the top of the groove, and the size of the top of the protrusion is smaller than the size of the bottom of the protrusion.

6. The electroplating machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: There are multiple hangers, which are spaced apart along the first direction; there are multiple conductive seats, which are spaced apart along the first direction, and the number of the conductive seats corresponds to the number of the hangers.

7. The electroplating machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductive assembly further comprises two rollers and a support block located between the two rollers, the conductive belt is an annular belt and is sleeved on the two rollers, and the rollers are insulating rollers; The support block is rotatably provided with a plurality of support wheels, and the plurality of support wheels are located between the support block and the conductive belt and are used to support the conductive belt, and the support wheels are insulating support wheels.

8. The electroplating machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The roller can rotate around the axis of the roller; and / or The support wheel can rotate around the axis of the support wheel; and / or The plurality of support wheels are evenly arranged on the support block along the first direction.

9. The electroplating machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brush assembly comprises a brush, and the brush is relatively slidably connected to the conductive assembly and is conductively connected to the conductive assembly.

10. The electroplating machine according to claim 9, characterized in that: The brush assembly also includes a brush connecting rod and an elastic member. The middle portion of the brush connecting rod is hinged to the conductive assembly. One end of the brush connecting rod is hinged to the brush, and the other end is connected to the elastic member.

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