Patent GB-274444-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for assembling galvanic cells
IPC: H01M6/08
Filed: 1927-06-29
Abstract: 274,444. Burgess Battery Co., (Assignees of Hodge, E. W.). July 17, 1926, [Convention date]. Electrodes; electrolytes; feeding parts of batteries.-A machine for making dry batteries comprises mechanism for feeding electrolyte into the empty cans, inserting the carbon electrodes with the depolarizer and placing the washers above same. The cans are carried through the machine by a conveyer and means are also provided for detecting missing or inverted cans and for restoring the circular shape of deformed cans. The conveyer consists of three screws 24 which are rotated intermittently and which receive the cans between their threads. The cans are delivered to the conveyer from a rotating feeder 23 with which a lever 59 cooperates to push the cans from the feeder to a position above the conveyer. The lever 59 is operated by a cam 61 on a shaft 15. Above the conveyer are a number of reciprocating slides 26 - - 34 adapted to perform various processes in the manufacture of the completed cell. The mechanism of the slides is shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The first slide 26 carries an adjustable pusher 65, 66 which pushes the cans from the feeder 23 into the conveyer. The next slide 27 gives warning of a missing can by means of a rod 68 which carries a head 69 of greater diameter than the can. The rod 68 passes loosely through lugs 67 secured to the slide 27 and is surrounded by a spring 70. A collar 72 is fastened to the rod 68 and carries a pin 73 engaging a pivoted lever 74. If a can is present below the rod 68 the slide 27 and lugs 67 move over the rod 68 and compress the spring 70. If no can is present the rod 68 is moved downwards and causes the pin 73 to actuate the lever 74. The movement of the lever 74 stops the machine by electrical or other means (not shown). The next slide 28 gives warning of an inverted can by means of mechanism which actuates a pivoted lever 84 if the rod 76 strikes the bottom of an inverted can. If the can is upright the rod 76 makes a full stroke downwards and the lever 84 is not actuated. The lever 84 when moved stops the machine by electrical or other means. The next slide 29 carries a tool 85 for rounding the tops of deformed cans. Discs are now inserted in the bottom of the cans through a hopper 98, Fig. 1, and the next slide 30 stops the machine if a disc is missing from any can. The slide 30 carries a rod 90 and mechanism similar to that of slide 27 to actuate a lever 97 is a disc is missing. After passing slide 30 the can is filled with the necessary quantity of electrolyte from a pump 22, Fig. 1. The pump is provided with a plunger-rod 100, Fig. 2, which is reciprocated by a crank 101 having a head 102 which is slidable in a radial groove in a disc 103, thus allowing adjustment of the stroke of the plunger. The disc 103 is rotated through gearing from a shaft 15. The electrolyte is contained in a receptacle 107. The can now moves under slide 31, Fig. 7, which co-operates with slide 32 to insert the dolly. Slide 31 carries a plunger 108, the lower end of which is cut away as shown in Fig. 8, so that it presses on the depolarizing mass and not on the carbon core of the dolly; it also allows the dolly to be slid into position from one side. Slide 32 terminates in a block 112 and a plate 114 having an opening 115 through which spring fingers 118 project. The dollies are fed on to plate 114 from a rotating disc 21, Fig. 11, by means of a pusher 117. The fingers 118 prevent the dollies falling through the opening 115 until the plunger 108 descends and forces the dolly into the can. Washers are inserted in the cans above the dollies bv slides 33, 34, the former of which carries a plunger 121, and the latter a member 126 having a slot 132 through which the washers are inserted singly from a hopper 134, Fig. 1, and a tube 135. Disc feeding mechanism is provided at the lower ends of both tubes 99 and 135, actuated by a rock shaft 136. The slides 26 - - 34 are reciprocated by cams 25 on a shaft which is rotated with the conveyer through gearing connected to the driving shaft 3 carrying a pulley 2.