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US 10,826,105 B2Granted
Apparatus for the manufacture of battery components
AssigneeTbs Engineering Limited
InventorChris Barge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for separating battery plates comprising a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface. The work surface is movable between a first position in which it is angled with respect to a horizontal plane and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane. When the work surface moves between the first and second position adjacent battery plates of the stack are displaced relative to each other.
Claims20
A battery plate separator apparatus comprising:
- a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, the work surface being moveable between
- a first position which is angled with respect to a horizontal plane;
- and
- a second position which is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane such that in use, the stack of battery plates are dropped so that lower edges of the plates impact the work surface in the first position, and moving the work surface between the first and second position causes adjacent battery plates of the stack to be vertically displaced relative to each other;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface,
- wherein the work surface is provided with a displacement mechanism for laterally displacing the plates of the stack relative to each other, the displacement mechanism comprising two opposing blocks provided on, or above, the work surface, the blocks being moveable between a retracted position and an operational position, such that in use in the operational position the blocks contact opposing side edges of the battery plates adjacent to the lower edges.
4 more elements
A method of separating battery plates comprising:
- (a) moving a stack of battery plates with an automated feed mechanism from a supply station to a battery plate separator apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, the work surface being moveable between:
- a first position which is angled with respect to a horizontal plane, and a second position which is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane, such that in use, the stack of battery plates are dropped so that lower edges of the plates impact the work surface in the first position, and moving the work surface between the first and the second position causes adjacent battery plates of the stack to be vertically displaced relative to each other;
- and,
- an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface, wherein the work surface is provided with a displacement mechanism for laterally displacing the plates of the stack relative to each other, the displacement mechanism comprising two opposing blocks provided on or above the work surface, the blocks being moveable between a retracted position and an operational position, such that in use in the operational position the blocks contact opposing side edges of the battery plates adjacent to the lower edges;
- and
- (b) operating the battery plate separator apparatus to displace the plates of the stack of battery plates relative to each other, thereby separating adjacent battery plates;
- (c) aligning the stack of battery plates;
- (d) moving the stack of battery plates with an automated transfer mechanism from the battery plate separator apparatus to an end station for further processing.
6 more elements
A method of separating battery plates comprising:
- (a) dropping a stack of battery plates onto an inclined work surface, the work surface being moveable between:
- a first position which is angled with respect to a horizontal plane, and a second position which is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane, such that in use, the stack of battery plates are dropped so that lower edges of the plates impact the work surface in the first position, and moving the work surface between the first and second position causes adjacent battery plates of the stack to be vertically displaced relative to each other;
- (b) moving the work surface to a substantially horizontal orientation to vertically displace the battery plates of the stack relative to each other;
- (c) operating a displacement mechanism to laterally displace the battery plates of the stack relative to each other, the displacement mechanism comprising two opposing blocks provided on or above the work surface, the blocks being moveable between a retracted position and an operational position, such that in use in the operational position the blocks contact opposing side edges of the battery plates adjacent to the lower edges;
- and,
- (d) operating an alignment mechanism to align the plates of the stack.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.