Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-24
2001-03-20
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
C198S468600, C198S774200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202830
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement for conveying plates, particularly mother plates, with or without deposited metal layers, in a plant for electrolytically refining metals, in which arrangement the plates are intended to be conveyed along at least one horizontal conveyor path while positioned generally vertically and equidistantly in the conveyor path. The invention also relates to a conveyor line which includes two horizontal and mutually perpendicular conveyor paths, wherein an inventive conveyor arrangement is disposed along each conveyor path.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
In the electrolytic refinement of copper and certain other metals, metal layers are deposited on both sides of so-called mother plates which hang vertically from a horizontal rod, hereinafter called the yoke, having laterally and outwardly projecting parts which form electric contact means for the passage of electric current during the electrolysis process. The plates hang in mutually parallel and equidistant relationship in the tank. Subsequent to the refined metal having been precipitated to a desired thickness onto both sides of the mother plates, the mother plates with their metal layers deposited are moved batch-wise to a plant for further treatment. A primary operation in this plant is to strip the deposited layers from the mother plates. The plates are first advanced along a first horizontal path in the stripping and conditioning plant in their transverse direction. The plates are then transferred to a second path, in which they are conveyed in their longitudinal direction. The actual stripping operation is carried out in this second path. The mother plates are then transferred to a third path which extends parallel with the first path and along which the plates are again advanced in their transverse direction.
In the technique used at the present time, this technique having been practised for a very long time, the plates are normally moved along all three horizontal conveyor paths on chain conveyors or other types of endless conveyors. Conventional endless conveyors are also used in other mother plate treatment plants, e.g. plate washing or plate alignment plants, etc. SE 81013427, SE 329011, U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,401 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,925 disclose examples of this type of arrangement for conveying mother plates with or without deposited metal layers in conjunction with the pre-treatment or after-treatment of the mother plates in conjunction with the electrolytic refinement of metals.
A significant drawback with endless conveyors used in this technical field, normally chain conveyors, is that they are very expensive. This is mainly due to the harsh working environment of the conveyors. For instance, it is necessary to manufacture the chains and also support wheels and other devices from acid-proof steel, at least along parts of the conveyor line. The expensiveness of chain conveyors in this type of plant is also contingent on the necessity to manufacture bearings, bushes and the like from a special material. Another drawback with such conveyors is that they require the provision of separate devices for switching the plates from one conveyor path to another. In the absence of better conveyor arrangements, chain conveyors or other continuously working conveyors are still used in plants of the aforesaid kind in spite of these drawbacks.
It is also known to convey mother plates in their transverse direction with the aid walking beam conveyors. In this known technique, the plates hang from longitudinally extending rails on lugs which form electric contact devices on the plates in the electrolysis process. The plates are advanced with the aid of the walking beam conveyors with the platecarried contact lugs resting on said rails. One significant drawback with this method is that the lugs are subjected to a high degree of wear due to sliding on the carrier rails. Another drawback is that the rails do not indicate distinct plate positions as the plates are stepped forwards to new positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor arrangement. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a conveyor arrangement which does not require the use of endless conveyors, such as chain conveyors. A further object is to provide a conveyor arrangement which operates in a manner in which those surfaces which are to conduct current to the plates in the electrolysis process will be subjected to the minimum of wear. Another object of the invention is to provide conveyor arrangements which do not utilize endless conveyors for conveyor the plates in their transverse and longitudinal directions. In those cases in which the plant includes a conveyor line having two or more mutually perpendicular conveyor paths, as is often the case in plants of this kind, and in which the plates are switched from one conveyor path to the other, a further object of the invention is to provide conveyor arrangements which do not require separate devices for switching the plates from one conveyor path to the next conveyor path in said conveyor line.
These and other objects can be achieved with a conveyor arrangement in the form of a walking beam conveyor which includes fixed supportive devices and at least one walking beam having movable supportive devices, wherein the walking beam is arranged for movement in a cyclic pattern that includes a lifting movement in which all plates conveyed along the path are lifted by the movable supportive devices from their fixed supports in a first position, a forward advancing movement in which all plates are advanced simultaneously through one step or increment while resting on their movable supports, a lowering movement in which the plates are placed on fixed supports in a new position, and a return movement, wherein the length of the step corresponds to the plate spacing along the path.
Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following Claims and also from the following detailed description of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1866124 (1932-07-01), Oertli
patent: 4220240 (1980-09-01), Norberg et al.
patent: 4626159 (1986-12-01), Scannell
patent: 4669607 (1987-06-01), Mason
patent: 5012918 (1991-05-01), Acker et al.
Bohlin Christer
Larsson Hans O.
Outokumpu Wenmec AB
Smith-Hill and Bedell
Valenza Joseph E.
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