A process is provided for fabricating metallic patterns such as resonant RF-tuned circuits on a polyolefin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene film. The film is processed under conditions such as to maintain its mechanical integrity by being passed through a solvent plasticizing bath, an etch bath to provide attraction sites and adhesion for catalytic metal deposition, a conditioning bath to improve catalyst adhesion and a catalyst bath to deposit a catalytic metal for electroless metal deposition. A negative image is printed on the film and an electroless metal deposit followed by an electrolytic metal plate are applied to the film to produce the desired metallic patterns. Optionally, prior to the printing step, an electroless metal deposit, with or without a thin electrolytic metal plate, can be applied to the total film surface. Thereafter, a negative or positive printed image is coated on the film. When these optional steps are utilized, the electroless metal deposit, thin electrolytic metal plate and printed image are selectively removed to leave the thick electrolytic metal plate on the electroless metal deposit in the form of the desired pattern.

A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end. To laminate stamped plastic film tape together with a pre-stamped metal foil tape, with the least possible complexity, so that any mismatch between the stamped structures of the two tapes is as small as possible, after the strips have been merged, the position of position markings for the stamped structures in the second strip and on the pre-stamped strip are successively scanned and, once a predetermined position of the position markings has been reached, a stamped structure is introduced into that region of the second strip situated in front of the site of the joining together, at a distance from the predetermined position corresponding to an integral multiple of the interval at which the stamped structures of the pre-stamped metal strip are repeated.

A method and apparatus for continuously forming printed circuits, the apparatus including a cylindrical drum rotatable about a generally vertical axis and a tank for holding an electrolytic plating solution. The tank is dimensioned to surround a lower portion of the drum and immerse the lower portion of the drum in the electrolytic plating solution. Means for introducing electrolytic solution into the tank are provided, and a plurality of metallic anodes are disposed within the tank surrounding and facing the lower portion of the drum defining a generally uniform gap therebetween. A plurality of cathodes are disposed above the tank and facing an upper portion of the drum, the cathodes being biased toward the drum. The apparatus is adapted to receive a movable continuous flexible web having a thin layer of conductive metal on one side thereof. The metal layer is masked to expose a plurality of patterns aligned along the web and a continuous strip of exposed metal along one edge of the web. The web is to be positioned against the drum with the metal layer facing away therefrom and with the exposed patterns extending into the gap and facing the anodes. The continuous strip of exposed metal is above the tank and facing the cathodes wherein the cathodes are biased into electrical contact therewith as the web moves through the apparatus.

A method and apparatus for continuously forming primed circuits, the apparatus including a cylindrical drum rotatable about a generally vertical axis and a tank for holding an electrolytic plating solution. The tank is dimensioned to surround a lower portion of the drum and immerse the lower portion of the drum in the electrolytic plating solution. Means for introducing electrolytic solution into the tank are provided, and a plurality of metallic anodes are disposed within the tank surrounding and facing the lower portion of the drum defining a generally uniform gap therebetween. A plurality of cathodes are disposed above the tank and facing an upper portion of the drum, the cathodes being biased toward the drum. The apparatus is adapted to receive a movable continuous flexible web having a thin layer of conductive metal on one side thereof. The metal layer is masked to expose a plurality of patterns aligned along the web and a continuous strip of exposed metal along one edge of the web. The web is to be positioned against the drum with the metal layer facing away therefrom and with the exposed patterns extending into the gap and facing the anodes. The continuous strip of exposed metal is above the tank and facing the cathodes wherein the cathodes are biased into electrical contact therewith as the web moves through the apparatus.

A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end. To laminate stamped plastic film tape together with a pre-stamped metal foil tape, with the least possible complexity, so that any mismatch between the stamped structures of the two tapes is as small as possible, after the strips have been merged, the position of position markings for the stamped structures in the second strip and on the pre-stamped strip are successively scanned and, once a predetermined position of the position markings has been reached, a stamped structure is introduced into that region of the second strip situated in front of the site of the joining together, at a distance from the predetermined position corresponding to an integral multiple of the interval at which the stamped structures of the pre-stamped metal strip are repeated.