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US 12,070,830 B1Granted
Automated cathode buffing system
AssigneeSamuel, Son & Co. (USA) Inc.
InventorsNeal J. Preimesberger, Thomas G. Carmichael
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for buffing a cathode including a lifting assembly, a carriage assembly, and a buffing assembly. The lifting assembly is configured to transport the cathode in a substantially vertical direction while the carriage assembly secures the cathode. The buffing assembly is configured to buff the cathode as the cathode is transported in the substantially vertical direction. The buffing system provides for buffing both sides of a cathode simultaneously.
Claims20
A buffing system, comprising:
- a frame defining a slot, the slot sized and configured to receive a cathode;
- a lifting assembly secured to the frame and configured to transport the cathode in a substantially vertical direction;
- a carriage assembly slidably coupled to the lifting assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a carriage follower and a carriage cam rail, the carriage follower in slidable communication with a lifting cam rail and the carriage cam rail in slidable communication with a lifting follower, and wherein the carriage assembly is sized and configured to secure the cathode during a buffing process;
- and
- a buffing assembly rotatably coupled to the frame, the buffing assembly comprising:
- a motor rigidly coupled to a pivot frame, the motor rotatably coupled to a buffing shaft;
- and
- a buffing wheel rigidly coupled to the buffing shaft, the buffing wheel configured to buff the cathode as the motor operates and as the lifting assembly transports the cathode in the substantially vertical direction.
5 more elements
A system for buffing a cathode, comprising:
- a frame defining a slot, the slot sized and configured to receive a cathode;
- a lifting assembly secured to the frame and configured to transport the cathode in a substantially vertical direction, the lifting assembly comprising:
- a first rail assembly;
- and
- a second rail assembly positioned opposite the first rail assembly;
- a carriage assembly positioned between the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a first carriage follower and a first carriage cam rail, the first carriage follower in slidable communication with a first lifting cam rail and the first carriage cam rail in slidable communication with a first lifting follower, and wherein the carriage assembly is sized and configured to secure the cathode during a buffing process;
- and
- a buffing assembly configured to buff the cathode.
5 more elements
A system for buffing a cathode, comprising:
- a frame defining a slot, the slot sized and configured to receive a cathode;
- a lifting assembly secured to the frame and configured to transport the cathode in a substantially vertical direction, the lifting assembly comprising:
- a first rail assembly, wherein the first rail assembly comprises:
- a first cam rail;
- a first stop positioned on the first cam rail;
- a first follower positioned above the first stop;
- an actuator movably coupled to the first cam rail, the actuator positioned between the first stop and the first follower;
- a second cam rail;
- a second stop positioned on the second cam rail, the second stop positioned opposite the first stop;
- and
- a second follower positioned above the second stop;
- and
- a second rail assembly positioned opposite the first rail assembly;
- a carriage assembly positioned between the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly, the carriage assembly sized and configured to secure the cathode during a buffing process;
- and
- a buffing assembly configured to buff the cathode.
13 more elements
A buffing system, comprising:
- a frame defining a slot, the slot sized and configured to receive a cathode;
- a lifting assembly secured to the frame and configured to transport the cathode in a substantially vertical direction;
- a carriage assembly slidably coupled to the lifting assembly, the carriage assembly comprising a carriage follower and a carriage cam rail, the carriage follower in slidable communication with a lifting cam rail and the carriage cam rail in slidable communication with a lifting follower, and wherein the carriage assembly is sized and configured to secure the cathode during a buffing process;
- and
- a buffing assembly comprising:
- a pivot shaft rotatably coupled to the frame;
- a pivot frame rotatably coupled to the pivot shaft, the pivot frame configured to be positioned by a buffing cylinder;
- and
- a buffing wheel rotatably coupled to the pivot frame, the buffing wheel configured to buff the cathode.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.