Patent ID: 8099848

Claim:
A process for removing in a single step n thimbles, with n being a whole number greater than or equal to 3, attached to n stubs of an anode stem leg, comprising at least the following steps: a) said anode stem leg is placed between a stop device and an attacking device, said attacking device can be moved using an actuator towards said stop device, said stop device at least partially surrounding each of the n stubs of said anode stem leg and having a stop surface that stops the corresponding thimble from moving forward; b) movement of the attacking device in the direction of the stop device so that said attack device enters into contact with the anode leg and drives it until said anode leg comes into contact with said stop device; c) continuation of the movement of said attack device so that each thimble, blocked by the associated stop surface, is detached from the corresponding stub; f) stop and withdraw of the attacking device; said process being characterised in that a stop device is used comprising at least two separate stop surfaces, separated from one another by an axial distance such that the thimbles blocked by a first stop surface are detached from the stubs to which they were secured before other thimbles are blocked by the other stop surface.