Patent ID: 7258224

Claim:
An apparatus for conveying an anode plate from one location to another, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor; and a gripping device, the gripping device comprising: a fixing plate for providing support for elements of the apparatus and for attachment of the elements of the apparatus to the conveyor; a gripper bar supported by the fixing plate and by at least one support element, said support element, wherein said support element allows the gripper bar to be suspended; a hinge element arranged between the gripper bar and the fixing plate, the hinge element defining an axis about which the gripper bar can rotate relative to the fixing plate; gripping elements for gripping the anode plate, each gripping element being pivotally attached to the gripper bar and moved by an operating device; grapple devices having bearing surfaces attached to a lower end of each gripping element, the grapple devices being capable of engaging the anode on opposite edges thereof; and an anode counter device having at least one support surface for acting in conjunction with the grapple devices and bearing surfaces to contact an upper surface of the anode in a substantially horizontal position during conveyance of the anode by the conveyor, wherein the anode counter device is hinged such that the distance between the upper surface of the anode and the gripper bar remains the same in all conditions.