Patent Application
20240141536
The present application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0144661 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, more specifically to an anodizing apparatus.
An acupuncture needle is a tool that is inserted into the skin of a body, and accordingly, the acupuncture needle is made of a metal whose strength and biocompatibility are checked. A general acupuncture needle set consists of an acupuncture needle tip, an acupuncture needle body, and an acupuncture needle bottle, and the acupuncture needle is made of materials, such as stone, gold, silver, copper, iron, bone, thorn, and the like. As technologies have been recently developed, metals, which are rigid to be not broken, highly resistant to corrosion, and not harmful to the human body, are used as the materials of the acupuncture needle. In this case, pores are formed on the surface of the acupuncture needle through surface treatment to increase the surface area of the acupuncture needle, thereby making the porous acupuncture needle having high electrical conductivity and electrophysiologic properties. In the case of conventional surface treatment devices and methods, however, the number of acupuncture needles made for a short period of time is limitedly determined, and high manufacturing costs of the acupuncture needs are needed to cause low profitability.
Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an anodizing apparatus that is capable of allowing porous needles to be mass-produced for a short period of time.
To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to the present disclosure, there is provided an anodizing apparatus that may include: a body; a jig tray disposed inside the body and having a plurality of coupling holes formed to pass therethrough in an upward and downward direction thereof; a plurality of jigs detachably coupled correspondingly to the plurality of coupling holes of the jig tray to fix a plurality of objects to be anodized thereto at a time; and an anodizing unit adapted to perform an anodizing process for the plurality of objects to be anodized and having a plurality of accommodation parts for storing electrolytes therein.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the plurality of jigs may be insertedly coupled correspondingly to the plurality of coupling holes, and the plurality of coupling holes and the plurality of jigs may be arranged in a line above the accommodation parts.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the anodizing apparatus may further include a carrying unit movable in a longitudinal direction of the jig tray to carry the plurality of jigs to the plurality of coupling holes arranged in the longitudinal direction of the jig tray.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the anodizing apparatus may further include a temperature adjuster for cooling the plurality of accommodation parts to adjust an anodizing temperature to the range of a predetermined temperature.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the temperature adjuster may include: first cooling parts extending along the inner surfaces of the accommodation parts to cool the temperatures of the plurality of accommodation parts to the range of the predetermined temperature; and second cooling parts for cooling the cooling water moving along the first cooling parts.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the anodizing apparatus may further include a controller for controlling the operations of the temperature adjuster so that the anodizing apparatus may operate in the range of the predetermined temperature.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the anodizing apparatus may further include temperature sensors for detecting the temperatures of the plurality of accommodation parts so that the controller performs feedback control to allow the temperatures of the plurality of accommodation parts to be kept in the range of the predetermined temperature according to the temperature values detected by the temperature sensors.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the predetermined temperature may be 25° C.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the controller may control the operations thereof to allow the anodizing process to be performed for a predetermined period of time.
According to the present disclosure, desirably, the predetermined period of time may be 20 minutes.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention is disclosed with reference to the attached drawings wherein the corresponding parts in the embodiments of the present invention are indicated by corresponding reference numerals and the repeated explanation on the corresponding parts will be avoided. If it is determined that the detailed explanation on the well known technology related to the present invention makes the scope of the present invention not clear, the explanation will be avoided for the brevity of the description.
When it is said that one element is described as being “connected” or “coupled” to the other element, one element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but it should be understood that another element may be present between the two elements. In contrast, when it is said that one element is described as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to the other element, it should be understood that another element is not present between the two elements.
Terms used in this application are used to only describe specific exemplary embodiments and are not intended to restrict the present invention. An expression referencing a singular value additionally refers to a corresponding expression of the plural number, unless explicitly limited otherwise by the context. In this application, terms, such as “comprise”, “include”, or ‘have”, are intended to designate those characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, or parts which are described in the specification, or any combination of them that exist, and it should be understood that they do not preclude the possibility of the existence or possible addition of one or more additional characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, or parts, or combinations thereof.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.
Referring to
The anodizing apparatus 10 largely includes a body 100, a jig tray 200, jigs 300, and an anodizing unit AU. Further, the anodizing apparatus 10 includes a carrying unit CU, a temperature adjuster 400, and a controller 500.
The body 10 serves to support the components of the anodizing apparatus 10 and is located on the lower end portion of the anodizing apparatus 10. The body 100 may have various shapes. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the body 100 has a structure with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped so that it can be located on an external object, the inner wall of a building, or the ground. In this case, the body 100 has a support plate 110 and a support part 120.
The support plate 110 is located on top of the body 100. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support plate 110 is provided unitarily with the body 100, and according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the support plate 110 is provided as a separate plate from the body 100 and thus coupled to top of the body 100. On top of the support plate 110, the temperature adjuster 400 and a power supply part (not shown) are located.
The support part 120 is provided by connecting a plurality of vertical frames 120a and a plurality of horizontal frames 120b to one another. On the support part 120, the carrying unit CU and/or the controller 500 are located. In more detail, the horizontal frames 120b are connected to tops of the vertical frames 120a. In this case, the carrying unit CU is coupled to the undersides of the horizontal frames 120b, and the controller 500 is located on tops of the horizontal frames 120b.
The carrying unit CU serves to carry the jig tray 200 to the anodizing unit AU. The carrying unit CU linearly reciprocates in the longitudinal direction (the direction of Y-axis) of the body 100. Further, the carrying unit CU is ascended and descended in a direction parallel to the height direction (the direction of Z-axis) of the body 100.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrying unit CU is located within a space B defined by the support plate 110 and the plurality of vertical/horizontal frames 120a and 120b. In this case, the carrying unit CU is linearly movable on the horizontal frames 120b. In detail, top of the carrying unit CU is coupled to the horizontal frames 120b, and the underside of the carrying unit CU extends in a downward direction (the direction of −Z-axis) toward accommodation parts A10. In this case, the underside of the carrying unit CU is connected to the jig tray 200. Under such an arrangement structure, the jig tray 200 is located to face the accommodation parts A10.
The carrying unit CU is provided with a linear driver C10. In this case, the linear driver C10 serves to couple top of the carrying unit CU to the horizontal frames 120b. the linear driver C10 may have various shapes. For example, the linear driver C10 is a linear motor (not shown) connected to the horizontal frames 120b. In this case, the horizontal frames 120b are provided with a guide member (not shown) such as a linear motion guide for guiding the linear motion of the carrying unit CU. In this case, the carrying unit CU linearly reciprocates along the guide member with the driving force generated from the linear motor. According to the present disclosure, however, the linear driver C10 may be of course provided to the form of a hydraulic cylinder or the like, without being limited thereto.
As a result, the carrying unit CU linearly reciprocates in the longitudinal directions of the horizontal frames 120b or in the longitudinal direction (the direction of Y-axis) of the body 100, while hanging on the horizontal frames 120b. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrying unit CU is located on a support unit (not shown) separately provided from the body 100 to carry the jig tray 200 to the accommodation parts A10, but hereinafter, an embodiment wherein the carrying unit CU is coupled to the horizontal frames 120b and linearly moves will be explained. The lower end portion of the carrying unit CU is constituted of a robot arm so that the carrying unit CU carries the jig tray 200 more easily, while having a high degree of freedom.
The jig tray 200 is a part where the jigs 300 as will be discussed later are selectively coupled. The jig tray 200 is coupled to the carrying unit CU. In detail, top of the jig tray 200 is coupled to the end portion of the carrying unit CU. In this case, if the carrying unit CU linearly moves, the jig tray 200 linearly reciprocates together with the carrying unit CU in the longitudinal direction (the direction of Y-axis) of the body 100.
The jig tray 200 may have various shapes. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the jig tray 200 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In detail, the jig tray 200 is a plate having a relatively large area when viewed on top thereof, as shown in
The jig tray 200 has a plurality of coupling holes 210 formed to pass therethrough. In detail, the coupling holes 210 extend from top of the jig tray 200 to the underside of the jig tray 200 in the height direction (the direction of Z-axis) of the jig tray 200 so that they pass through the jig tray 200.
As shown in
The jig tray 200 has carbon parts CB. The carbon parts CB, which are portions where reduction occurs in the anodizing process, are located close to the coupling holes 210.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each carbon part CB has a pair of carbon CB. One (hereinafter, referred to as first carbon) of the pair of carbon CB is located on one inner surface of the corresponding coupling hole 210, and the other (hereinafter, referred to as second carbon) on another inner surface of the corresponding coupling hole 210. Accordingly, the first carbon and the second carbon are spaced apart from each other to face each other, while providing an empty space therebetween. In this case, the pair of carbon CB protrudes downward (in the direction of −Z-axis) from the corresponding coupling hole 210, and accordingly, the lower end portions of the first carbon and the second carbon are submerged in the electrolyte stored in the corresponding accommodation part A10 when the carrying unit CU is descended.
Each jig 300 fixedly grasps the objects N to be anodized. In detail, each jig 300 serves to fix the plurality of objects N to be anodized at a time. The jig 300 grasps tens to hundreds of objects N (e.g., about 200 objects) to be anodized at a time. The jig 300 has an accommodation space 310 formed therein. Further, the jig 300 includes a plurality of fixing plates P, a pressurizing part 320, elastic members 330, and an operating part 340.
Each fixing plate P is a thin plate that serves to help the objects N to be anodized fixed to the jig 300. The fixing plate P has a plurality of fixing grooves P10 concavely formed thereon. Each fixing groove P10 extends from one end of the fixing plate P to the other end thereof in the longitudinal direction of the fixing plate P.
The plurality of fixing grooves P10 are spaced apart from one another on top of the fixing plate P in parallel with one another. In detail, the plurality of fixing grooves P10 are equally spaced apart from one another in parallel with one another. A portion (hereinafter, referred to as an insertion portion) of each object N to be anodized is inserted into the corresponding fixing groove P10. In this case, the insertion portion of the object N to be anodized is a portion where no anodizing is carried out. For example, if the object N to be anodized is a porous needle such as an acupuncture needle, the insertion portion is a handle of the porous needle.
The plurality of fixing plates P into which the plurality of objects N to be anodized are inserted are placed in the accommodation space 310. In this case, the plurality of fixing plates P are laminated on top of one another in the same direction in the accommodation space 310. In detail, the underside of any one fixing plate P comes into contact with one surface of the objects N to be anodized inserted into the neighboring fixing plate P, so that the plurality of fixing plates P are laminated on top of one another.
The pressurizing part 320 serves to fixedly pressurize the plurality of fixing plates P laminatedly located in the accommodation space 310. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pressurizing part 320 is located in the accommodation space 310. The pressurizing part 320 is located on one side of the accommodation space 310 in such a way as to linearly reciprocate in the laminated direction (the direction of X-axis) of the plurality of fixing plates P. The pressurizing part 320 moves in the laminated direction (the direction of X-axis) of the plurality of fixing plates P and fixedly pressurizes the plurality of fixing plates P laminated on top of one another. Further, the pressurizing part 320 moves in the opposite direction (the direction of −X-axis) to the laminated direction of the plurality of fixing plates P and releases the pressurized states of the plurality of fixing plates P.
The operating part 340 is coupled to one end of the pressurizing part 320. In this case, as the operating part 340 is controlled, the pressurizing part 320 pressurizes the plurality of fixing plates P. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the operating part 340 rotates in one direction to allow the pressurizing part 320 connected thereto to move toward the other side of the accommodation space 310. As the pressurizing part 320 moves through the control of the operating part 340, the plurality of fixing plates P are fixedly pressurized. In this case, if the operating part 340 is fixed in position, the pressurized states of the plurality of fixing plates P through the pressurizing part 320 are kept.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the operating part 340 rotates in the opposite direction to one side to allow the pressurizing part 320 to move to one side of the accommodation space 310 so that the pressurizing part 320 is returned to its original position. In this case, the pressurizing part 320 has at least one pair of elastic members 330. The elastic members 330 are symmetrically located on both sides of the pressurizing part 320 and expanded when the pressurizing part 320 pressurizes the plurality of fixing plates P. Further, the elastic members 330 provide elastic restoring forces for returning the pressurizing part 320 to its original position when the pressurization is released.
When the objects N to be anodized are fixed to the jigs 300, as described above, their portions to be anodized (hereinafter, referred to as portions to be anodized) protrude outward from the jigs 300. If the objects N to be anodized are porous needles such as acupuncture needles, for example, the portions to be anodized are needle portions of the porous needles.
Further, the jig 300 has a handle 350. The handle 350 is a portion grasped when the jig 300 is coupled and separated to and from the jig tray 200 or when the objects N to be anodized are fixed to the jig 300. The handle 350 protrudes outward from one surface of the jig 300. In this case, one surface of the jig 300 is located on the opposite side to the protruding directions of the needle portions of the objects N to be anodized fixed to the jig 300. The handle 350 is exposedly located above the jig tray 200 if the jig 300 is inserted into the coupling hole 210 and coupled to the jig tray 200. Through the handle 350, accordingly, the coupling process of the jig 300 to the jig tray 200, the grasping process of the jig 300, and the fixing process of the objects N to be anodized are conveniently performed.
Each jig 300 is coupled to the jig tray 200. In this case, the jig 300 has an outer shape corresponding to the coupling hole 210. To allow the jig 200 to be coupled to the jig tray 200, the lower end portion of the jig 300 passes through the coupling hole 210 so that the objects N to be anodized are exposedly located under the jig tray 200.
The jig 300 and the jig tray 200 are detachably coupled to each other. For example, the jig 300 has coupling protrusions (not shown) formed on underside thereof, and the jig tray 200 has coupling grooves (not shown) formed on top thereof. In this case, when the jig 300 is coupled to the jig tray 200, the coupling protrusions are inserted into the coupling grooves to allow the jig 300 to be stably fixed to the jig tray 200.
The plurality of jigs 300 are inserted correspondingly into the plurality of coupling holes 210 formed on the jig tray 200. In this case, one jig 300 fixedly grasps the plurality of objects N to be anodized at a time, and such jigs 300 are coupled to one jig tray 200. Accordingly, hundreds to thousands of objects (e.g., 4,000 to 5,000 objects) to be anodized are graspedly fixed to one jig tray 200 and subjected to the anodizing process at a time.
The anodizing unit AU serves to apply the anodizing process to the surfaces of the objects N to be anodized. In this case, the anodizing unit AU includes the accommodation parts A10, electrode parts (not shown), electrolyte feeding parts A20, electrolyte discharging parts A30, and the power supply part.
The accommodation parts A10 serve to accommodate electrolytes and are located on the support plate 110. Each accommodation part A10 is open on top thereof and has an inner space portion in which the electrolyte is accommodated. For example, the accommodation part A10 is a container having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The accommodation part A10 is connected to the electrolyte feeding part A20 and the electrolyte discharging part A30 as will be discussed later.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the plurality of coupling holes 210 are formed on the jig tray 200, the number of accommodation parts A10 corresponds to the number of coupling holes 210. In this case, the plurality of accommodation parts A10 are arranged on the support plate 110 in the same or similar lattice pattern as or to the coupling holes 210. If the jig tray 200 is carried toward top of the support plate 110 by means of the carrying unit CU, the accommodation parts A10 are arranged under the jig tray 200 to face the jig tray 200. Accordingly, one accommodation part A10 faces one coupling holes 210. In this case, as the jigs 300 are insertedly coupled to the coupling holes 210, the jigs 300 and the coupling holes 210 are arranged in a line above the accommodation parts A10.
The electrolyte feeding parts A20 communicate with the accommodation parts A10 to feed the electrolytes to the accommodation parts A10. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each electrolyte feeding part A20 includes a first storage part (not shown) and a feed pump (not shown). In this case, one end of the electrolyte feeding part A20 communicates with the accommodation part A10, and the other end thereof communicates with the first storage part. In this case, the first storage part is a storage tank where the electrolyte introduced from the outside is stored. The electrolyte stored in the first storage part is fed to the accommodation part A10 by means of the feed pump.
The electrolyte discharging parts A30 communicate with the accommodation parts A10 to discharge the electrolytes used in the accommodation parts A10. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each electrolyte discharging part A30 includes a second storage part (not shown) and a discharge pump (not shown). In this case, one end of the electrolyte discharging part A30 communicates with the accommodation part A10, and the other end thereof communicates with the second storage part. In this case, the second storage part is a storage tank where the electrolyte discharged from the accommodation part A10 is stored. The electrolyte used is discharged from the accommodation part A10 to the second storage part or the outside by means of the discharge pump.
The electrode parts serve to generate oxidation or reduction from the objects N to be anodized and the carbon CB and are located on the jig tray 200. Each electrode part includes a first electrode corresponding to an anode and a pair of second electrodes corresponding to cathodes. In this case, the first electrode is electrically connected to the objects N to be anodized when each jig 300 is coupled to the jig tray 200. Further, the pair of second electrodes are electrically connected to the pair of carbon CB.
In this case, if the carrying unit CU is descended to allow the objects N to be anodized to be submerged in the electrolytes stored in the corresponding accommodation part A10, the objects N to be anodized are charged to the anodes by means of the first electrode so that oxidation occurs. Further, the pair of carbon CB is charged to the cathodes by means of the second electrodes so that reduction occurs.
The power supply part serves to supply power to the electrode parts (that is, the first electrodes and the second electrodes). The power supply part is used to supply power in general equipment, and therefore, an explanation of the power supply part will be avoided.
In the case where the plurality of accommodation parts A10 are provided, as mentioned above, each accommodation part A10 communicates with the electrolyte feeding part A20 and the electrolyte discharging part A30 so that the electrolyte is fed or discharged. Further, a water level sensor (not shown) is located inside each accommodation part A10 to detect an amount of electrolyte stored in the accommodation part A10 in real time.
The objects to be anodized are automatically subjected to the anodizing process by means of the anodizing unit AU, and an explanation of the anodizing process will be given in detail later.
The temperature adjuster 400 serves to adjust a temperature of the anodizing apparatus 10 during the anodizing process. In this case, the temperature adjuster 400 includes first cooling parts 410 and second cooling parts 420.
The first cooling parts 410 serve to adjust the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 to the range of a predetermined temperature. In detail, during the anodizing process, the temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 and the regions around the accommodation parts A10 become raised by the power applied to the electrode parts. In this case, the first cooling parts 410 serve to cool the accommodation parts A10 and the regions around the accommodation parts A10 to keep the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 to the range of the predetermined temperature.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each first cooling part 410 makes use of cooling water to cool the corresponding accommodation part A10. In this case, the first cooling part 410 is constituted of a hose through which the cooling water flows and has a cooling water storage part (not shown) and a cooling water feed pump (not shown) disposed on one side thereof. In this case, the first cooling part 410 is located close to the corresponding accommodation part A10.
The first cooling part 410 may be located inside the corresponding accommodation part A10. In this case, the first cooling part 410 extends surroundingly along the inner surfaces of the corresponding accommodation part A10. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first cooling part 410 may be located outside the corresponding accommodation part A10 to surround the outer surfaces of the corresponding accommodation part A10.
The cooling water stored in the cooling water storage part passes through a flow path formed inside the first cooling part 410 by means of the cooling water feed pump. In this case, as mentioned above, the first cooling part 410 is located to surround the inner surfaces (or the outer surfaces) of the corresponding accommodation part A10, so that heat exchange is made between the cooling water and the accommodation part A10 and/or the electrolyte stored in the accommodation part A10, thereby lowering the temperature of the accommodation part A10 and the temperature of the region around the accommodation part A10.
The second cooling parts 420 serve to cool the cooling water whose temperature is raised by means of the heat exchange with the accommodation parts A10 and the regions around the accommodation parts A10 after passing through the first cooling parts 410.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each second cooling part 420 includes a thermoelectric module 421 and a plurality of fans 422. The thermoelectric module 421 is located close to one end (hereinafter, referred to as adjacent ends) of the first cooling parts 410, and in this case, the adjacent ends of the first cooling parts 410 are ends located on the opposite sides to the accommodation parts A10. In this case, the thermoelectric module 421 converts the thermal energy of the cooling water moving toward the adjacent ends in the state where the temperature is raised into electric energy to allow the cooling water to be cooled again. In this case, the plurality of fans 422 are located on top of the thermoelectric module 421 to emit the heat generated from the thermoelectric module 421 to the outside. Even though not shown, additional fans 422 are located close to the thermoelectric module 422 or along the outer surfaces of the body 100 or the support plate 110, thereby cooling the thermoelectric module 421. After that, the recooled cooling water moves along the first cooling parts 410 and is used again to cool the accommodation parts A10 and the regions around the accommodation parts A10.
The controller 500 serves to control the operations of the temperature adjuster 400. In this case, for example, the controller 500 is provided to the form of a circuit board mounted on a control computer of the anodizing apparatus 10, a computer chip mounted on a circuit board, or software embedded in a computer chip or control computer.
In detail, the controller 500 serves to control the operations of the first cooling parts 410 and the second cooling parts 420 to allow the anodizing process to be performed in the range of the predetermined temperature. In this case, the anodizing unit AU is provided with temperature sensors (not shown) for detecting the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10. The temperature sensors detect the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 before the anodizing process and during the anodizing process and transmit the detected temperature values to the controller 500.
In this case, the controller 500 performs feedback control according to the received detected temperature values to allow the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 to be kept in the range of the predetermined temperature. For example, if the detected temperature values are greater than the range of the predetermined temperature, the cooling water feed pumps are operated to move the cooling water to the accommodation parts A10 through the first cooling parts 410 under the control of the controller 500 so that the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 are lowered. Contrarily, if the detected temperature values are less than the range of the predetermined temperature, the cooling water feed pumps are operated to decrease an amount of cooling water moving to the accommodation parts A10 through the first cooling parts 410 or stopped under the control of the controller 500 so that the internal temperatures of the accommodation parts A10 are raised. In this case, for example, the range of the predetermined temperature is 25±2° C.
The controller 500 serves to control the operations of the anodizing unit AU to allow the anodizing process to be performed for a predetermined period of time. The anodizing apparatus 10 performs the anodizing process for the plurality of objects N fixed to the jigs 300 and the jig tray 200 for the predetermined period of time. In this case, the predetermined period of time represents the time required to perform one anodizing process for the fixed objects N. For example, the predetermined period of time is 20 minutes ago or later, desirably 20 minutes.
Further, the controller 500 serves to adjust the levels of the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10. In detail, the controller 500 adjusts the levels of the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10 to a predetermined value according to the detected values received from the water level sensors (not shown). For example, if the level of the electrolyte is adjusted to the predetermined value, about 200 mL of electrolyte is stored in each accommodation part A10.
If the detected level values are less than the predetermined value, the electrolyte feeding parts A20 are operated to feed the electrolytes to the accommodation parts A10 under the control of the controller 500 so that the levels of the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10 are adjusted to the predetermined value. Contrarily, if the detected level values are greater than the predetermined value, the electrolyte discharging parts A30 are operated to discharge some of the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10 under the control of the controller 500 so that the levels of the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10 are adjusted to the predetermined value.
Referring to
First, the electrolytes are fed to the accommodation parts A10 at step S100. Before the electrolyte is fed or just after the electrolyte has been fed, the plurality of jigs 300 are coupled to the jig gray 200. In this case, the plurality of objects N have been fixed to each jig 300. During the supply of the electrolyte, the water level sensors detect the level of the electrolyte fed to the accommodation parts A10 in real time. The controller 500 receives the detected level values and adjusts the level of electrolyte stored in the accommodation parts A10 to the predetermined value.
Next, the carrying unit CU carries the jig tray 200 toward the accommodation parts A10 and locates the jigs 300 above the accommodation parts A10 at step S200. The carrying unit CU carries the jig tray 200 to which the jigs 300 are coupled along the longitudinal direction (the direction of Y-axis) of the body 100. If the jig tray 200 is located above the accommodation parts A10, the carrying unit CU moves in forward and backward directions (the directions of Y-axis and −Y-axis) and/or left and right directions (the directions of X-axis and −X-axis) of the body 100 and is adjusted in position. As a result, the jigs 300 are alignedly located above the accommodation parts A10.
Next, the carrying unit CU is descended to move the objects N to be anodized to the interiors of the accommodation parts A10, and after that, the anodizing unit AU performs the anodizing process for the objects N at step S300. In detail, as the carrying unit CU is descended, the objects N to be anodized and the carbon parts CB are submerged in the electrolytes stored in the accommodation parts A10.
Next, as power is applied to the electrode parts, the first electrodes are charged to anodes, and the second electrodes to cathodes. In this case, the objects N electrically connected to the first electrodes are oxidized to generate electrons, and the oxidized substances are coupled to fluorine ions contained in the electrolyte and thus separated from the anodes. The electrons generated during the oxidation on the anodes move to the cathodes to reduce the water contained in the electrolyte. Through such processes, the objects N are anodized so that pores are formed on the surfaces thereof. During the anodizing process, the controller 500 controls the temperature adjuster 400 to allow the temperatures of the anodizing apparatus 10 and the accommodation parts A10 to be adjusted to the predetermined temperature (e.g., about 25° C.). Further, the controller 500 controls the power supply part to allow the anodizing process to be performed for the predetermined period of time (e.g., about 20 minutes).
Next, the carrying unit CU is ascended to separate the anodized objects N from the anodizing apparatus 10 at step S400. In detail, if the predetermined period of time passes to complete the anodizing process, the carrying unit CU is ascended again. As a result, the anodized objects N and the carbon parts CB escape from the accommodation parts A10 and the electrolytes, and next, after the jigs 300 are separated from the jig tray 200, the anodized objects N are separated from the jigs 300. Hereinafter, such processes of performing the anodizing process for the objects N to be anodized, completing the anodizing process, and separating the anodized objects N are defined as an anodizing cycle.
Next, the electrolytes (waste electrolytes) used for the anodizing process are discharged at step S500. In this case, the waste electrolytes are discharged after the anodizing cycle has been completed at least one time. For example, after the anodizing cycle has been completed one time or two times, the electrolyte discharging parts A30 discharge the waste electrolytes from the accommodation parts A10. If the discharge of the waste electrolytes is completed, the electrolyte feeding step S100 restarts to perform next anodizing cycle. The objects N anodized using the anodizing apparatus 10 and the anodizing method S10 according to the present disclosure have minute pores over the entire surface thereof so that the surface areas thereof are increased, unlike general needles and the conventional porous needles.
As described above, the anodizing apparatus 10 according to the present disclosure is configured to have the jigs 300 grasping the objects N to be anodized and the jig tray 200 to which the jigs 300 are coupled at a time, so that the objects N are anodized at a time, thereby enabling mass production and reduction in manufacturing time. Further, the anodizing time and temperature are controlled to optimum conditions during the anodizing process, thereby making the porous needles having large surface areas and low impedance.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the parts expressed in a singular form may be dispersedly provided, and in the same manner as above, the parts dispersed may be combined with each other.
The scope of the present disclosure is within the following claims, and the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2022-0144661 | Nov 2022 | KR | national |
