Vertical Electrode Roll Assembly for Uniform Copper Pipe Coating

The patent inverts the conventional horizontal movement approach by implementing vertical sheet metal feeding. The sheet metal is fed vertically through the coating tank, and multiple electrode rolls are arranged vertically to contact different sections of the sheet. This inversion simplifies electrode placement as electrodes can be easily positioned along the vertical path, and ensures uniform current distribution as each electrode contacts a specific vertical section, resulting in homogeneous copper coating on both sides of the sheet metal.

The patent segments the electrical current application by using multiple electrode rolls (first, second, and third roll devices) distributed along the vertical sheet metal path. Each electrode roll applies current to a specific section of the sheet metal rather than concentrating high current at one location. This segmentation allows the total current required for efficient coating to be distributed across multiple contact points, maintaining coating productivity while preventing localized overheating or damage to the sheet metal structure.

The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the electrode rolls to serve dual purposes: they act as both mechanical guides for the vertically fed sheet metal and as electrical electrodes for copper deposition. Each roll device combines the functions of sheet metal support, positioning, and electrical current application. This universal design achieves uniform current distribution across multiple contact points while avoiding the complexity of separate guiding and electrode systems, as the rolls inherently perform both functions simultaneously.