Process and apparatus for multiple surface treatments of battery cans

Abstract: Apparatus for surface treatment of battery cans, including cleaning and electroplating of the interior and exterior surfaces of battery cans as they are transported along a continuously moving production line. The battery cans are automatically loaded from a conveyor onto workpiece holders on a series of circular carriers. Surface processing enclosures operated by cam followers are arranged to enclose the battery cans so that a processing fluid may be automatically injected. The processing fluid may simply be a surface cleansing or drying agent or in the case of electroplating, the processing fluid is a liquid electrolyte so that a plating voltage can be applied to plate either the external or internal surfaces of the battery cans. (end of abstract)