Patent ID: 6202830
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B65G,C25C

Abstract:
An arrangement for conveying plates (4) in particular mother plates with or without a deposited metal layer, in an electrolytic metal refining plant, wherein the plates are intended to be conveyed in the conveyor arrangement (25, 50) along at least one horizontal conveyor path with the plates oriented generally vertical and equidistant from one another in the conveyor path, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement is of the walking beam kind and includes fixed supports (28, 54) and at least one walking beam (30, 62) having movable supports (31, 67), wherein the walking beam is arranged to move in a cyclic pattern, including a lifting movement in which all the plates supported by the fixed supports are lifted by the movable supports, a forward movement in which all plates are advanced simultaneously one step while resting on their movable supports, a lowering movement in which the plates are placed on fixed supports in a new, second position, and a return movement, wherein the length of one step corresponds to the plate spacing (PI; PII) along the path, and further characterized by lifting beams (35, 71) which function to lift the walking beams, lifting devices (37,73) for lifting and lowering the lifting beams and therewith also the walking beams, and means (39, 40, 76, 77, 80, 81, 82) for preventing longitudinal movement of the lifting beams, wherein the walking beams are intended to slide on the lifting beams during longitudinal movement of said walking beams.