Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Patent
1988-08-16
1989-12-19
Walton, Donald L.
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
296231, 269238, B23P 1900, B25B 104
Patent
active
048873500
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to handling apparatus and methods and in particular, but not exclusively, to the handling of groups of battery plates.
In the automatic or semi-automatic manufacture of batteries it is usual to have to handle stacks or groups of battery plates at various stages. For example, they may need to be loaded into a casting machine and subsequently out of that machine into the cells of a battery box. The quality and speed of production of the batteries is to a great extent dependent on accuracy of the alignment of the plates in the stack.
Attempts to automate these handling operations have, for the most part, foundered because of a tendency of the plates to spread at their lower edge when gripped or because of the limited space between the groups.
This invention relates to a method of handling battery plate groups or the like, comprising mechanically gripping the groups whilst they are retained in a pre-determined alignment, releasing the groups from that retainment, transporting the groups in their mechanically gripped state to a multi-compartment holder, loading respective groups into a first set of non-adjacent compartments in the holder and then releasing them and loading respective groups into a second set of non-adjacent compartments and then releasing them.
Conveniently the compartments in the first and second sets are alternate.
The method may further comprise inserting a guide into each compartment before loading and for example there may be a plurality of guides, in the form of chutes, which are first presented to the first set of compartments and then to the second set.
In a loading operation the groups may be initially retained in cassettes and loaded into a multi-compartment carrier of a casting machine; the compartments being defined by partition plates or separators in the carrier. In an unloading operation the groups may be retained in the carrier and unloaded into the compartments or cells of a battery box.
From another aspect the invention consists in apparatus for handling battery plate groups or the like, comprising a plurality of side-by-side gripping devices for gripping respective groups when held in retaining means, means for moving the gripping devices from the retaining means to a multi-compartment holder loading position, means for relatively moving a first set of gripping devices and the holder to position groups in non-adjacent compartments in the holder, means for releasing the first PG,4 set of gripping devices, means for relatively moving a second set of gripping devices and the holder to position groups in a second set of non-adjacent compartments and means for releasing the second set of gripping devices.
The apparatus may further include guide means insertable in the compartments for guiding the groups into the compartments as their respective gripping devices are lowered. For example, the guide means comprise a plurality of spaced chutes positioned for insertion in non-adjacent compartments of the holder. Means may be provided for inserting the chutes initially in the first-mentioned set of compartments and subsequently in the second set of compartments. Conveniently the compartments in the first and second sets are alternate.
The apparatus may further include means for adjusting the spacing between the gripping devices to allow for different relative group positions in the retaining means and the holder. Thus, the gripping devices may be mounted for relative sliding movement in the sense to vary their spacing and the spacing adjustment means may comprise means for camming the gripping devices apart and together as they pass from the retaining means position to the holder position and back again.
In any of the above cases the gripping devices may comprise a pair of spaced gripping elements hingingly projecting from a support, a toggle extending between the gripping element, and means for opening and closing the toggle to open and close the elements.
The opening and closing means may comprise a fluid-activated ram located between the elements and the grippi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2807873 (1957-10-01), Weissenberger
patent: 4361326 (1982-11-01), Golz et al.
patent: 4509252 (1985-04-01), Sabatino et al.
patent: 4537389 (1985-08-01), Kancnik et al.
patent: 4660816 (1987-04-01), Taylor
DRG (UK) Limited
Walton Donald L.
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