Surface Treatment Apparatus Gap Channel Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface treatment apparatuses for small objects using porous rings face issues such as breakage of small objects, clogging, reduction in function due to heat-induced deformation, uneconomical pore diameter fixation, inaccuracy in pore diameter, and inability to adjust circulation amount of plating solution effectively.
Innovation Solution
A surface treatment apparatus with a treatment cell structure that includes a nonconductive bottom plate and cover, featuring gap channels formed between thin plate members, allowing for adjustable and accurate circulation of the surface treatment solution, preventing breakage and clogging, and enabling easy adjustment of the treatment process without the need for frequent replacement of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a porous ring is used as flow-out means, then the plating solution can be circulated, but small objects may collide against surface irregularities and break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous ring made of porous resin material that has been planarized by cutting work. The porous structure allows plating solution circulation while the planarized surface prevents object breakage. The porous ring maintains both circulation function and surface smoothness through the combination of porous material properties and mechanical planarization.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous ring is designed with multiple functional segments: the porous structure provides circulation pathways, while the planarized outer surface provides a smooth interface. This segmentation of functions within a single component allows simultaneous achievement of solution circulation and object protection.
2Reliability
If cutting work is performed on the porous ring surface to planarize it, then object breakage is reduced, but irregularities still appear after cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The porous ring undergoes planarization cutting work before being installed in the treatment cell. This preliminary surface preparation removes surface irregularities that would otherwise cause object breakage, ensuring a smooth surface is achieved prior to actual use.
3Ease of operation
If chemical agents are used to dissolve clogged substances, then clogging is addressed, but acid-insoluble substances cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The porous ring is designed as a disposable component that is easily replaceable. When clogging occurs, especially from acid-insoluble substances, the porous ring can be quickly removed and replaced with a new one, avoiding complex cleaning procedures. This disposable approach is economically viable and operationally simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The clogging problem is addressed by extracting the porous ring from the system and replacing it, rather than attempting to clean the openings. This separation of the porous ring from the treatment cell allows for easy removal and replacement of the clogged component.
4Reliability
If the pore diameter of the porous ring is made smaller to prevent object passage, then object breakage is prevented, but the circulation amount of plating solution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pore diameter parameter of the porous ring to a specific range (0.1 to 10 μm) that balances two competing requirements: small enough to prevent object passage and breakage, but large enough to maintain adequate plating solution circulation. This optimized parameter range resolves the contradiction between object containment and circulation efficiency.
5Reliability
If the porous ring is replaced frequently due to clogging, then circulation function is maintained, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous ring is designed as an inexpensive, disposable component that can be easily replaced. While frequent replacement may occur due to clogging, the low cost of the porous ring itself makes this economically viable, avoiding the need for expensive cleaning operations or complex maintenance systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents breakage of small objects, reduces clogging, allows for cost-effective and accurate adjustment of treatment parameters, and enhances the efficiency and longevity of the treatment process by using gap channels that can be easily modified to accommodate different object sizes and circulation needs.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical rotation shaft (3) for rotating the treatment cell (2) around its rotational center on a horizontal plane... circulating the surface treatment solution (4) from the inside of the treatment cell (2) to the outside thereof by rotating the treatment cell (2) containing the small objects (100)
Data Source
AI summary
A plating process apparatus (1) for small objects, including a treatment cell (2) formed by combining a base plate (23), a bottom plate (24), an electrode ring (21) and a cover (25) using bolts (26), energizes a plating solution within the treatment cell (2) while bringing the small objects (100) into contact with the electrode ring (21) and circulating the plating solution (4) from the inside of the treatment cell (2) to the outside thereof through a flow-out means by rotating the treatment cell (2) with a vertical rotation shaft (3), thereby plating the small objects (100). The apparatus (1) is characterized in that the flow-out means is a gap channel formed between adjacent sheet members (61) by sandwiching the sheet members (61), each having a dimension smaller than a minimum dimension of each small object (100), between the bottom plate (24) and the electrode ring (21) circumferentially at appropriate intervals.