GB2369374A - A rack for supporting articles in electrochemical plating or electrostatic deposition - Google Patents

Abstract

A rack (1) for supporting a plurality of articles (2) in an electro-chemical plating process comprises a pair of support members (5) joined by top and bottom cross members (6) and (7). A plurality of receiving holes (10) at spaced apart receiving locations are provided on the side support members (5) for receiving carrier members (12) for carrying the articles (2). The number and arrangement of the receiving holes (10) is such as to maximise the number of combinations of receiving holes (10) which may be selected for receiving carrier members (12) so that in each combination of selected receiving holes (10) the carrier members (12) divide an effective supporting length (L) of the support members (5) into intervals of equal length. The number of receiving holes is thirty-two, and the effective supporting length (L) is sixty measuring units.

Description

"A rack for supporting articles in an electro-chemical plating or an electro-static deposition process" The present invention relates to a rack for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating or an electro-static deposition process for plating or coating the articles. The invention also relates to a method for supporting the articles during an electro-chemical plating or an electro-static deposition process using the rack, and the invention further relates to a method for electro-plating or coating a plurality of articles using the rack according to the invention.

Electro-chemical plating processes, in general, comprise a plurality of baths which are arranged in a flow-line sequentially one after the other, so that the articles to be plated may be sequentially moved from one bath to the next. Typically, the first bath is a cleaning bath and comprises a chemical cleaning solution. The next bath typically is an acid bath which includes a suitable acid solution, while the next bath is the actual plating bath, which contains an electro-plating chemical solution. Finally, a passivation bath passivates the plated articles. One or more rinsing baths are typically located between the cleaning, acid, plating and passivation baths for rinsing the articles between the respective baths. The articles, in general, are suspended from a rack which is lowered sequentially into the baths from the initial cleaning bath to the final rinse bath so that the articles supported on the rack are completely immersed in the respective baths. An overhead gantry or other suitable transfer mechanism is located above the baths for sequentially transferring each rack with the articles thereon from one bath to the next. Similarly, in the case of electro-static deposition processes, the articles mounted on a rack are sequentially passed

through a cleaning process, a acid process, the electro-static deposition process, a passivation process and subsequently generally into an oven for drying the coating which has been electro-statically deposited on the article. Such plating and coating processes will be well known to those skilled in the art.

Racks, in general, for supporting the articles comprise a pair of vertically extending support members with a plurality of transversely extending carrier members which are connected at suitably vertically spaced apart intervals to the vertical support members for carrying and supporting the articles. In order to accommodate batches of articles of different sizes and shapes provision is made for varying the vertical spacing between the carrier members. For example, the carrier members may be slidably carried on the support members and may be selectively secured at desired locations.

While such racks do facilitate adjustment of the intervals between the carrier members for accommodating articles of different size, in general, they are unsuitable, in that they do not make the most efficient use of the available space on the rack for supporting articles. By virtue of the fact that the carrier members are slidable on the support members, setting of the position of the carrier members is left to the judgement of the operator who may not always position the carrier members at locations which will optimise the number of articles which can be suspended on the rack. This is particularly so in cases where a production run of components comprises a plurality of components where all the components are identical, and it would be necessary for the rack to exclusively carry pluralities of the identical components, although the size and shape of the articles would typically vary from

production run to production but during each production run the components would be identical. In such cases, it would be necessary to set the carrier members at equi-spaced intervals on the rack, and the equi-spaced intervals would vary from production run to production run. Known racks, in general, are unsuitable for this.

There is therefore a need for a rack for supporting a plurality of articles in an electrochemical plating or an electro-static process for plating or coating the articles which overcomes the problems of known racks.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a rack, as well as a method for supporting the articles on the rack and a method for electro-plating and/or electro-statically coating the articles.

According to the invention there is provided a rack for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating or electro-static deposition process for plating or coating the articles, the rack comprising an elongated support means extending in a longitudinal direction and having an effective supporting length in the longitudinal direction in which the articles are supported, the effective supporting length being sixty measuring units long and extending from a first location at zero measuring units to a second location at sixty measuring units, thirty-two receiving means being provided at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the effective supporting length on the support means for selectively and releasably receiving a plurality of carrier means for carrying the articles, one of the receiving means being located at the first location, and the receiving means which is closest to the second location being spaced apart therefrom, the receiving means being selectable into any number

of combinations from two receiving means to ten receiving means for receiving a corresponding number of carrier means, with each combination including the receiving means at the first location, so that in each combination of selected receiving means the intervals between adjacent selected receiving means and the interval between the second location and the selected receiving means closest to the second location are substantially equal to each other.

In one embodiment of the invention the receiving means for dividing the effective length into seven substantially equal intervals are located one at the first location, and the remaining six at the following distances approximately in measuring units from the first location, 8. 5, 17.0, 25.5, 34.5, 43.0 and 51.5.

In another embodiment of the invention the receiving means are provided at locations at the following distances approximately in measuring units from the first location, 6. 0, 6.66, 7.5, 8.5, 10.0, 12.0, 13.33, 15.0, 17. 0, 18.0, 20.0, 22.5, 24.0, 25.5, 26.66, 30.0, 33.33, 34.5, 36.0, 37.5, 40.0, 42.0, 43.0, 45. 046. 66,48. 0,50. 0, 51.5, 52.5, 53.33, 54.0 and 60.0.

In another embodiment of the invention the support means extends longitudinally in a vertical direction, and the first location is located above the second location.

In one embodiment of the invention each receiving means is provided by a receiving hole which extends through the support means.

Advantageously, the support means comprises a pair of spaced apart support

members extending in the longitudinal direction, the respective support members being joined by a transversely extending cross member.

Preferably, two spaced apart cross members are provided extending between the support members at respective opposite ends of the support members.

Advantageously, the support members and the cross members form a frame.

Ideally, pairs of receiving means are provided, one receiving means of each pair being provided on each support member.

Preferably, each carrier means comprises an elongated carrier member for extending between and for securing to the respective support members.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of spaced apart mounting means are provided on the respective carrier means for mounting the articles on the carrier means.

In another embodiment of the invention each mounting means comprises a hook depending from the corresponding carrier means.

Advantageously, an electrical contact member is electrically connected to the support means, and the carrier means are secured to the support means so that electrical contact is made between the respective carrier means and the support means, and each mounting means is in electrical contact with the corresponding

carrier means so that an electrically conductive path is formed between the electrical contact member and the mounting means.

Preferably, the mounting means are of electrically conductive material for establishing electrical continuity between the articles and the electrical contact member.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of fastening means are provided for releasably fastening the respective carrier means to the support means at the corresponding receiving means.

In another embodiment of the invention the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in an electro-chemical plating process.

In another embodiment of the invention the rack is adapted for supporting articles in an electro-static process.

In a further embodiment of the invention the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in a passivation process.

In a further embodiment of the invention the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in a bath or other structure with the articles suspended therefrom during the process.

Additionally, the invention provides a method for supporting a plurality of articles in

an electro-chemical plating process or passivation process, the method comprising selecting an appropriate combination of receiving means on the rack as claimed in any preceding claim for receiving a corresponding number of carrier means so that intervals between adjacent carrier means and the interval between the second location and the carrier means closest to the second location are substantially equal to each other, securing the carrier means to the support means at the selected receiving means, placing the articles on the carrier means, and suspending the rack in the bath.

Further the invention provides a method for plating a plurality of articles in an electrochemical plating process, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method according to the invention on the rack also according to the invention, and sequentially immersing the articles supported on the rack in respective baths of the electro-chemical plating process.

Additionally the invention provides a method for coating a plurality of articles in an electro-static deposition process, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method according to the invention on the rack according to the invention, and passing the rack with the articles supported thereon through the electro-static process.

Further, the invention provides a method for passivating a plurality of articles, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method according to the invention on the rack according to the invention, and sequentially immersing the articles supported on the rack in respective baths of the passivation process.

Further the invention provides an article plated in an electro-chemical plating process according to the invention.

Further the invention provides an article coated in an electro-static deposition process using the method according to the invention.

Further the invention provides an article passivated in a passivation process using the method according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a rack according to the invention for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating process, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the rack of Fig. 1 with carrier members mounted on the rack, Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the rack of Fig. 1 with a different number of carrier members mounted on the rack, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the rack of Fig. 1,

Figs. 5 to 8 are perspective views of similar portions of the rack of Fig. 1 illustrating the rack with different numbers of carrier members carried thereon, Fig. 9 is a table which illustrates the positions of receiving holes on support members of the rack according to the invention, and also the combinations of the receiving holes which may be selected, and Fig. 10 is a side schematic representation of an electro-plating process illustrating the rack of Fig. 1 in use.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a rack according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for supporting a plurality of articles 2 of different shapes and sizes in an electro-chemical plating process for plating the articles 2. The rack 1 comprises a support means, namely, a pair of vertically extending spaced apart side support members 5 of angle iron which are joined by spaced apart top and bottom cross members 6 and 7, respectively, of round stock steel. The side support members 5 define an effective supporting length L within which articles 2 to be plated are located. A plurality of receiving means, which in this embodiment of the invention are formed by receiving holes 10 are provided at spaced apart locations along the respective side members 5 for receiving a plurality of carrier means, namely, transversely extending carrier members 12 for carrying the articles 2. The arrangement and the spacing of the receiving holes 10 is described below. A plurality of fastening means, namely, bolts 14 and nuts 15 are provided for releasably securing the carrier members 12 to the side support members 5 at

selected receiving holes 10. The carrier members 12 are of tubular steel, and respective opposite ends 17 of the carrier members 12 are flattened. Holes (not shown) through the flattened ends 17 of the carrier members 12 are alignable with the selected receiving holes 10 of the side support members 5 and accommodate the bolts 14 therethrough.

The carrier members 12 are adapted for supporting different types of articles of different shapes and sizes, and mounting means for mounting the articles to the carrier members 12 are provided. The mounting means may be provided as in the rack 1 illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 by electrically conductive hooks 18 which are engageable with the carrier members 12, or in the case of the rack 1 which is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by electrically conductive sockets 19 for engaging the articles 2. Needless to say, other mounting means of other size, shape and construction for mounting the articles 2 on the carrier members 12 may be used.

Three electrical contact members 20 extend upwardly from the top cross member 6 for engaging a bus bar (not shown) for feeding DC current into the rack 1 during the electro-plating process. The top cross member 6 is electrically connected to the side support members 5 and the carrier members 12 are electrically connected by the bolts 14 and nuts 15 to the side support members 5, while the hooks 18, sockets 19 or other suitable mounting means are in electrical contact with the carrier members 12. Thus, electrical continuity is maintained between the electrical contact members 20 and the articles 2 when supported on the hooks 18, sockets 19 or other suitable mounting means.

Turning now to the effective supporting length L and the number, spacing and arrangement of the receiving holes 10, the effective supporting length L is sixty measuring units, and thirty-two receiving holes 10 are located along the effective supporting length L of each side support member 5. The measuring units may be any suitable measuring units, and in this embodiment of the invention each measuring unit corresponds approximately to 2.5 cms, and thus the length L is 150cms. The effective length L extends from a first upper location 22 to a second lower location 23 on each side support member 5. One of the receiving holes 10 coincides with the first upper location 22, while the receiving hole 10 which is closest to the second lower location 23 is spaced apart from the second location.

In column 1 of the table of Fig. 9 the spacing of the receiving holes 10 from the first upper location 22 is set forth in measuring units. The first of the receiving holes 10 coincides with the first upper location, while the next receiving hole 10 downwardly is 6 measuring units from the first upper location 22. The next receiving hole 10 downwardly is at 6.66 measuring units from the first location 22, and the next nearest receiving hole 10 to the first location 22 is at 7.5 measuring units from the first location 22, and so on downwardly to the thirty-second and last receiving hole 10 which is at 54 measuring units from the first location 22, and thus 6 measuring units from the second lower location 23.

The receiving holes 10 are located and arranged along the effective supporting length L of the side support members 5 so that the receiving holes 10 can be selected in pairs of corresponding receiving holes 10 from the respective side support members 5 in combinations of from two pairs of receiving holes 10 to ten

pairs of receiving holes 10 for supporting a corresponding number of carrier members. Furthermore, the locations and arrangement of the receiving holes 10 is such that with each selected combination of pairs of receiving holes 10 containing the pair of receiving holes 10 at the first location 22 the receiving holes 10 can be selected so that the intervals between adjacent selected pairs of receiving holes 10 and the interval between the second location 23 and the closest selected pair of receiving holes 10 to the second location 23 are equal. Thus, when the carrier members 12 are secured to the selected pairs of receiving holes 10 in each selected combination the intervals between adjacent carrier member 12 within which the articles 2 are located, and the interval between the closest carrier member 12 to the second location 23 and the second location 23 within which the articles 2 are also located are equal to each other. Accordingly, the effective supporting length L can be divided by the carrier members 12 into intervals of equal length from any number of interval from two to ten depending on the number of carrier members 12 and pairs of receiving holes 10 selected.

The row across the top of the table of Fig 9. indicates the combinations of pairs of receiving holes 10 and the number of pairs of receiving holes which may be selected in each combination. The"X"in the columns indicates the receiving holes 10 which should be selected for each combination of selected pairs of receiving holes, the receiving 10 holes being identified in column 1 of the table by their respective distances from the first location 22.

Accordingly, should it be desired to secure only two carrier members 12 to the side support members 5 with equal spacing between the two carrier members and the

lower carrier member and the second location 23 the carrier members 12 are secured to the receiving holes 10 at the first location and at thirty measuring units from the first location 22. In order to secure three carrier members along the effective supporting length L with equal spacing between adjacent carrier members 12 and between the lowest carrier member 12 and the second location 23 the carrier members 12 are secured to the receiving holes 10 at the first location 22 and at the respective distances, twenty and forty measuring units from the first location 22, and so on to the case where ten carrier members 12 are secured to the respective side support members 5 by securing the carrier members 12 to the receiving holes 10 at the first location 22 and at respective distances from the first location 22 of six measuring units, twelve measuring units, eighteen measuring units, twenty-four measuring units, thirty measuring units, thirty-six measuring units, forty-two measuring units, forty-eight measuring units and fifty-four measuring units.

Referring now to Fig. 10, there is illustrated an electro-chemical plating production line 30 according to the invention in which the articles 2 to be electro-plated are supported on the racks 1. The production line 30 comprises four baths, namely, a cleaning bath 31 in which the articles 2 are initially cleaned by immersion in a suitable cleaning chemical solution, an acid bath 32 in which the articles 2 are prepared for plating by immersion in a suitable acid solution, an electro-plating bath 33 in which the articles 2 are plated by immersion in a suitable electro-plating chemical solution and a passivation bath 34 in which the articles 2 are passivated after plating by immersion in a suitable passivation solution. An overhead gantry 35 carriers and suspends the racks 1 with the articles 2 mounted thereon in the baths 31 to 34. The gantry 35 is adapted for sequentially transferring the racks 1 from one

bath of the baths 31 to 34 to the next bath. Such electro-plating lines will be well known to those skilled in the art, and typically rinse baths (not shown) are located between each of the baths 31 to 34 and after the passivation bath 34.

In use, the racks 1 are set up for a batch production process, and typically, the articles 2 will be of identical size and shape in each specific batch production process, although the articles will obviously differ in size and shape from batch production process to batch production process. Initially, the racks for a particular batch production process are set up by selectively securing the appropriate number of carrier members 12 taking account of the size and shape of the articles to the side support members 5 by the bolts 14 and nuts 15. The appropriate receiving holes 10 are selected so that the appropriate number of carrier members 12 are located for sub-dividing the effective supporting length L into the corresponding number of intervals of equal length. The rack 1 is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8 with different numbers of carrier members 12 mounted thereon. The articles 2 to be plated are then attached to the carrier members 12, and the racks 1 are then mounted on the gantry 35 to be sequentially transferred through the baths 31 to 34 for immersing the articles 2 in the solutions in the respective baths for plating thereof.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that the racks are suitable for use with articles of a wide range of size and shape. For example, each rack may be used for supporting articles in which the length of the articles when suspended from a carrier member is equal to sixty measuring units, in other words, is equal to the effective supporting length L, in which case a single carrier member 12 is secured to the side support members 5 at

the receiving hole 10 which coincides with the first location 22. On the other hand, if the maximum length when suspended of the articles ils'/2, then two carrier members 12 may be provided for supporting the articles 2, and the carrier members 12 are located for dividing the effective supporting length L into equal intervals of L/2.

Similarly, if the length of the articles when suspended is'/3, then 3 carrier members 12 may be provided for supporting the articles, and the effective supporting length L is divided into equal intervals ou land so on up to articles of length L/10.

Accordingly, in the case of articles of length t/4,'/5,/6,'/7,'/8,'/9 and'/10 the number of carrier members selected is 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively, and the carrier members 12 are secured to the side support members 5 for dividing the effective supporting length L into equal intervals of/4,/5,/6,'/7,/8,/9 or'/, 0, respectively as desired.

The advantages of the invention are largely achieved by virtue of the fact that the effective length L has been chosen to be sixty measuring units in length. Sixty is a number which can be easily divided by the integers from one to ten with the exception of seven. When divided by seven the number sixty gives a result 8.57. For convenience this is rounded to 8.5. This rounding of the number 8.57 to 8.5 results in the number 34.28 being rounded to 34. 5, the number 42.85 being rounded to 43, and the number 51.42 being rounded to 51.5.

It will be appreciated that while the rack has been described for supporting articles through an electro-chemical plating process, the rack is also suitable for supporting articles to be coated in an electro-static deposition process, for example, an electrostatic painting process, and is also suitable for supporting articles to be passivated in a passivation process, and indeed, in any other process.

It will also be appreciated that while the racks have been illustrated as supporting articles of identical size and shape, it is not essential that the articles be of identical size and shape, however, in order to maximise efficiency in the plating process, this is desirable.

Claims (36)

1. A rack for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating or electro-static deposition process for plating or coating the articles, the rack comprising an elongated support means extending in a longitudinal direction and having an effective supporting length in the longitudinal direction in which the articles are supported, the effective supporting length being sixty measuring units long and extending from a first location at zero measuring units to a second location at sixty measuring units, thirty-two receiving means being provided at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the effective supporting length on the support means for selectively and releasably receiving a plurality of carrier means for carrying the articles, one of the receiving means being located at the first location, and the receiving means which is closest to the second location being spaced apart therefrom, the receiving means being selectable into any number of combinations from two receiving means to ten receiving means for receiving a corresponding number of carrier means, with each combination including the receiving means at the first location, so that in each combination of selected receiving means the intervals between adjacent selected receiving means and the interval between the second location and the selected receiving means closest to the second location are substantially equal to each other.

2. A rack as claimed in Claim 1 in which the receiving means for dividing the effective length into seven substantially equal intervals are located one at the first location, and the remaining six at the following distances approximately in measuring units from the first location, 8.5, 17.0, 25.5, 34.5, 43.0 and 51.5.

3. A rack as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the receiving means are provided one at the first location and the remainder at locations at the following distances approximately in measuring units from the first location, 6.0, 6.66, 7.5, 8.5, 10.0, 12.0, 13.33, 15.0, 17.0, 18.0, 20.0, 22.5, 24.0, 25.5, 26.66, 30.0, 33. 33, 34.5, 36.0, 37.5, 40.0, 42.0, 43.0, 45. 046. 66,48. 0,50. 0, 51.5, 52.5, 53. 33 and 54. 0.

4. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which the support means extends longitudinally in a vertical direction, and the first location is located above the second location.

5. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving means is provided by a receiving hole which extends through the support means.

6. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which the support means comprises a pair of spaced apart support members extending in the longitudinal direction, the respective support members, being joined by a transversely extending cross member.

7. A rack as claimed in Claim 6 in which two spaced apart cross members are provided extending between the support members at respective opposite ends of the support members.

8. A rack as claimed in Claim 7 in which the support members and the cross members form a frame.

9. A rack as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8 in which pairs of receiving means are provided, one receiving means of each pair being provided on each support member.

10. A rack as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9 in which each carrier means comprises an elongated carrier member for extending between and for securing to the respective support members.

11. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which a plurality of spaced apart mounting means are provided on the respective carrier means for mounting the articles on the carrier means.

12. A rack as claimed in Claim 11 in which each mounting means comprises a hook depending from the corresponding carrier means.

13. A rack as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 in which an electrical contact member is electrically connected to the support means, and the carrier means are secured to the support means so that electrical contact is made between the respective carrier means and the support means, and each mounting means is in electrical contact with the corresponding carrier means so that an electrically conductive path is formed between the electrical contact member and the mounting means.

14. A rack as claimed in Claim 13 in which the mounting means are of electrically conductive material for establishing electrical continuity between the articles and the electrical contact member.

15. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which a plurality of fastening means are provided for releasably fastening the respective carrier means to the support means at the corresponding receiving means.

16. A rack as claimed in any preceding claim in which the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in an electro-chemical plating process.

17. A rack as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 in which the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in an electro-static deposition process.

18. A rack as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 in which the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in a passivation process.

19. A rack as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 18 in which the rack is adapted for supporting the articles in a bath or other structure with the articles suspended therefrom during the process.

20. A rack for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating or electro-static deposition process for plating or coating the articles, the rack being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

21. A rack for supporting a plurality of articles in a passivation process, the rack being substantially described herein with reference to and is illustrated in the

accompanying drawings.

22. A method for supporting a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating process or passivation process, the method comprising selecting an appropriate combination of receiving means on the rack as claimed in any preceding claim for receiving a corresponding number of carrier means so that intervals between adjacent carrier means and the interval between the second location and the carrier means closest to the second location are substantially equal to each other, securing the carrier means to the support means at the selected receiving means, placing the articles on the carrier means, and suspending the rack in the bath.

23. A method for supporting a plurality of articles on a rack in an electro-chemical plating process or in an electro-static deposition process for plating or coating the articles, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

24. A method for supporting a plurality of articles on a rack during a passivation process, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. A method for plating a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating process, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 on the rack as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21, and sequentially immersing the articles supported on the rack in respective baths of the electro-chemical plating process.

26. A method for plating a plurality of articles in an electro-chemical plating process, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

27. A method for coating a plurality of articles in an electro-static deposition process, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 on the rack as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21, and passing the rack with the articles supported thereon through the electro-static process.

28. A method for coating a plurality of articles in an electro-static deposition process, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

29. A method for passivating a plurality of articles, the method comprising supporting the articles by the method as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 on the rack as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21, and sequentially immersing the articles supported on the rack in respective baths of the passivation process.

30. A method for passivating a plurality of articles, the method being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

31. An article plated in an electro-chemical plating process using the method as claimed in Claim 25 or 26.

32. An article plated in an electro-chemical plating process, the article being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

33. An article coated in an electro-static deposition process using the method as claimed in Claim 27 or 28.

34. An article coated in an electro-static deposition process, the article being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

35. An article passivated in a passivation process using the method as claimed in Claim 29 or 30.

36. An article passivated in a passivation process, the article being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.