The present invention relates generally to electrochemical processing, and particularly to an electrochemical processing system.
An electrochemical process is a non-traditional processing method capable of processing difficult-to-process metal workpieces. The process is performed in an electrolyte. The metal workpiece acts as the anode whereas the electrode acts as the cathode. An electrochemical process makes use of the principle of dissolving the anode for processing the workpiece. The surface of the workpiece acting as the anode will be ionized into ions and hence removing the workpiece. The ionized ions will enter the electrolyte and form products. The products or impurities will attach to the surface of the electrode and reduce the quality of the electrochemical process. Accordingly, after a certain time of an electrochemical process, the process needs to be stopped for replacing or cleaning the electrode. Consequently, the performance of an electrochemical process will degrade.
The present invention discloses an electrochemical processing system, which comprises an electrochemical processing apparatus and a clean module. The electrochemical processing apparatus comprises an electrode transport module and a belt electrode. The belt electrode is disposed at the electrode transport module; the clean module is corresponding to one side of the belt electrode.
In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is disclosed as follows along with embodiments and accompanying figures.
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In addition, a positioning module 170 is disposed on the base 151 and corresponding to the belt electrode 130. The positioning module 170 includes two positioning members 171 located on both sides of the processing region 152, respectively, and against the belt workpiece 40 for positioning the belt workpiece 40. The positioning module 170 includes at least one electrolyte channel 172 disposed at each positioning member 171. The electrolyte channel 172 includes at least one inlet 173 and at least one outlet 174. The inlet 173 is disposed at the positioning member 171; the outlet 174 is disposed on one side of the positioning member 171 and corresponding to the processing region 152. Besides, the electrochemical processing apparatus 10 further comprises at least one workpiece fixing member 157 disposed on the base 151 and the belt workpiece 40 and corresponding to the belt workpiece 40 for fixing the belt workpiece 40.
According to the present embodiment, the electrode transport module 110 is disposed at the frame 153. The electrode transport module 110 further comprises a rotating member 111 and a driver 113, which is a first driver. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driver 113 is a motor; the rotating member 111 may be a wheel. The rotating member 111 is disposed corresponding to and against the inner side of the belt electrode 130. The driver 113 is connected with the rotating member 111 for driving the rotating member 111 to rotate. Moreover, the electrochemical processing apparatus 10 further comprises a conductive member 190 disposed corresponding to and against the inner side of the belt electrode 130. The conductive member 190 is located below the electrode transport module 110. In addition, the conductive member 190 includes a connecting part 191 and a fixing part 193. The connecting part is disposed at the bottom of the fixing part 193. The bottom surface of the connecting part 191 is against the inner side of the belt electrode 130. The bottom surface of the connecting part 191 includes a plane corresponding to the processing region 152, namely, corresponding to the belt workpiece 40. Besides, both side surfaces adjacent to the plane are curved surfaces. The connecting part 191 is located among the plurality of positioning members. Thereby, the positioning module 170 may position the belt electrode 130. The fixing part 193 is disposed at the plurality of positioning members 171 for fixing the conductive member 190.
According to the above description, the rotating member 111 and the conductive member 190 are against the upper and lower inner sides of the belt electrode 130, respectively. The belt electrode 130 may surround the curved surface of the rotating member 111, the plane of the connecting part 191 of the conductive member 190, and the two side curved surfaces. In addition, the conductive member 190 is located among the plurality of positioning members 171. A segment of the belt electrode 130 corresponds to the belt workpiece 40 in the processing region 152 and is spaced from the belt workpiece 40 by a gap.
Furthermore, a power supply module (not shown in the figures) supplies power. The anode and cathode thereof are coupled to the electrical connecting part 155 and the conductive member 190, respectively, for supply power to the belt workpiece 40 and the belt electrode 130. The belt workpiece 40 acts as the anode whereas the belt electrode 130 acts as the cathode for performing electrochemical processes. Besides, two insulating members 175 are disposed at the contacts between the fixing part 193 of the conductive member 190 and the plurality of positioning members 171 for avoiding short circuitry.
According to the present embodiment, the clean module 30 is disposed at the frame 153 located on one side of the electrode transport module 110. The clean module 30 includes a wheel brush 310 and a driver 320. The driver 320 is a second driver. The wheel brush 310 is disposed corresponding to the outer side of the belt electrode 130 and contacts the outer surface of the belt electrode 130. The driver 320 is connected with the wheel brush 310 and drives the wheel brush 310 to rotate. When the wheel brush 310 rotates, it contacts the outer surface of the belt electrode 130 incessantly and thus cleaning the surface of the belt electrode 130.
According to the present embodiment, while performing an electrochemical process, the belt workpiece 40 is disposed in the processing region 152 of the base 151 and located among the plurality of positioning members 171. The belt electrode 130 and the belt workpiece 40 are spaced by a gap. The electrolyte is transported to the electrolyte channel 172, such that the electrolyte is located between the belt workpiece 40 and the belt electrode 130 and contacts the outer surface of the belt workpiece 40 and the belt electrode 130. The power supply module supplies power to the belt workpiece 40 and the belt electrode 130 for performing the electrochemical process. After performing the electrochemical process for a while, products are attached to the outer surface of the processing surface of the belt electrode 130 corresponding to the belt workpiece 40. The electrode transport module 110 drives the belt electrode 130 to move and remove the electrochemically processed segment of the belt electrode 130 out of the processing region 152. The removed segment will then undergo no electrochemical process. The unprocessed segment (the cleaned segment) of the belt electrode 130 is moved above the processing region 152 for process in succession. During the process of moving the belt electrode 130, the driver 320 drives the wheel brush 310 to rotate. The wheel brush 310 contacts the outer surface the currently unprocessed segment of the belt electrode 130 for removing mechanically the products or impurities attached on the outer surface of the belt electrode 130. Then the outer surface of the belt electrode 130 may be cleaned and ready for subsequent electrochemical process. Accordingly, the quality of electrochemical processes will not be affected.
According to the present embodiment, the belt electrode 130 may be roughly classified into an electrochemically processed segment and an electrochemically unprocessed (cleaned) segment. While performing an electrochemical process, the electrochemically unprocessed segment (the clean segment) is moved into the processing region 152 and used as the electrode for the electrochemical process. The electrochemically processed segment is removed from the processing region 152. Meanwhile, the clean module 30 cleans the electrochemically processed segment of the belt electrode 130. Thus, the belt electrode 130 may be kept clean and continuous electrochemical processes may be performed. According to the above description, because the clean module 30 is able to clean the belt electrode 130 incessantly during electrochemical processes, the electrochemical processes need not to be stopped. Consequently, the process and time for cleaning may be saved and the electrochemical processing efficiency may be improved.
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To sum up, the electrochemical processing system and method provided by the present invention enable the belt electrode to be moved and cleaned during an electrochemical process. It is not necessary to disassemble the belt electrode, nor should the electrochemical process be stopped. Thereby, the process and time for maintaining the electrode may be reduced and the electrochemical processing efficiency may be improved.
Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, nonobviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only embodiments of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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104141261 | Dec 2015 | TW | national |