Patent GB-671756-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for assembling storage battery elements
IPC: H01M10/14
Filed: 1950-04-05
Abstract: 671,756. Endless conveyers; lifting devices. ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY CO. April 5, 1950. [April 12, 1949] No. 8539/50. Classes 78 (i) and 78 (iv). [Also in Group XXXVI] A machine for stacking accumulator plates and separators in correct order for insertion in the case comprises a number of movable magazines for supporting piles of positive plates, negative plates, and separators, one or more pairs of suction heads for lifting the top plate or separator from each pile and placing it on a stationary conveyer, the magazines being movable first in one direction and then in the opposite direction so that the plates are removed one by one from the magazines and stacked in correct order on the conveyer. When the required number of plates has been piled up on the conveyer the latter is moved to take the pile to an unloading station. Figs. 4 and 5 show in plan magazines 13a, 16a for negative and positive plates on one side of a conveyer 15, and magazines 17a, 18a for separators 20, 21 having their grooves facing upwardly and downwardly respectively. A cross-head 12a carries suction heads 10a, 11a which are shown in Fig. 4 with the head 10a in position to'lift the top negative plate of the pile 14. The suction to the head 11a is cut off while the head 10a lifts the plate 14 as the cross-head 12a rises and moves across the conveyer to bring the plate 14 in position over the conveyer. During this movement the magazines 17a, 18a are moved downwards in Fig. 4 so that when the cross-head 12a is lowered to deposit the plate 14 on.the conveyer the suction head 11a rests on the top separator of the pile 20 as shown in Fig. 5. Suction is then cut off from the head 10a and applied to head 11a. The cross-bar 12a is again lifted and moved to the left while the magazines 13a, 16a are moved upwardly to bring the head 10a over the pile of positive plates 19 as the separator 20 is lowered on to the negative plate 14a which has been deposited on the conveyer by the previous operation. The cycle of operations is continued, the magazines being moved upwards and downwards as the cross-head is raised and moved across the conveyer, and the vacuum in the heads 10a, 11a being made and cut off according as a plate is being lifted from a magazine or deposited on the conveyer. When the required number of plates has been stacked the crosshead 12a is held in its uppermost position while the conveyer removes the stack to an unloading station. The machine may comprise several cross-heads similar to 12a, the number of magazines for plates and separators being correspondingly increased. A number of separate piles of plates are then formed simultaneously on the conveyer. Figs. 1 and 2 show front and side views of a machine having three pairs of suction heads 10a, 11a carried by rectangular tubes 22a, 23a passing loosely through anti-friction bearings in a frame 24 carried by four arms of which two 25, 26 are shown in Fig. 2 pivoted at 29, 30. The lower ends of the arms carry cam followers 25a, 26a bearing against cams 33, 34 which produce the transverse movements of the suction heads to transfer plates from the magazines to the conveyer. The tubes 22a, 23a are raised and lowered by friction devices carried by a frame 39 to which are pivoted arms 40, 41 carrying at their lower ends cranks 44, 45 driven by shafts 48, 49. The plates and separators are carried in magazines 16a, 18a supported on platforms 53, 52 slidably mounted on the main platform of the machine. The platforms are moved backwards and forwards by links 60, Fig. 1, and levers 61 pivoted at 61b and carrying followers 61a engaging cams 63. The mechanism is duplicated for the platforms and magazines on both sides of the conveyer, the two cams 63 one of which is behind that shown in Fig. 1 being displaced from one another by ninety degrees which causes one platform to remain stationary while the other is moving. When the conveyer is removing completed stacks of plates and separators the suction heads 10a, etc., are retained in their uppermost positions by latches 85, Fig. 2, which engage projections on the tubes 22a, &c. The latches are operated by solenoids energized by cam-operated switches. The main shaft of the machine is operated by a motor which also drives the shafts carrying the cams for operating the switches and valves controlling the suction to the heads 10a, &c. When the heads 10a are depositing plates or separators pressure may be applied to the heads, the valves for which are controlled by further cam-operated switches and solenoids. The number of plates and separators assembled in each stack on the conveyer can be varied for batteries of different sizes bv alteration of the gears on the various shafts. Fig. 17 (not shown) illustrates the electric circuits for the machine. Specification 671,751 is referred to.