Automated systems, methods, and tools for harvesting electrodeposited metals
AssigneesIonic Engineering Limited, Emew Corporation
InventorsAndre Dumais, Paul Bazinet, Michael Kehoe, Chris Morgan, Ian Ewart, Ajay Patel, William Gower
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Abstract
Automated robotic harvesting systems and methods for harvesting electrodeposited metals from a cell, and specialized end of arm tooling for use in automated robotic harvesting systems and methods for harvesting electrodeposited metals from a cell, are disclosed. A harvesting tool comprises an extraction gripping unit configured to extract a starter sheet and metal electrodeposited on the starter sheet from a cell, and a harvesting gripping unit configured to separate the starter sheet from the metal for harvesting the metal.
Claims21
A harvesting tool for harvesting electrodeposited metals from a cell comprising a tubular cell wall, an anode extending in an axial direction of the cell and disposed centrally within the cell with respect to a radial direction of the cell, a removable starter sheet disposed along an inner surface of the cell wall, and a masking ring arranged on top of the starter sheet, the harvesting tool comprising:
- an extraction gripping unit configured to extract the starter sheet and metal electrodeposited on an interior surface of the starter sheet from the cell;
- a harvesting gripping unit configured to separate the metal and the starter sheet;
- a first actuator coupled to the extraction gripping unit, configured to move the extraction gripping unit between:
- an insertion position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is inserted to a position inside the cell, and
- an extracted position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is positioned outside the cell;
- and
- a second actuator coupled to the harvesting gripping unit, configured to move the harvesting gripping unit between:
- a starter sheet gripping position, wherein the harvesting gripping unit is configured to grip the starter sheet, and
- a separation position, wherein the starter sheet is separated from the metal.
A harvesting system for harvesting electrodeposited metals from a cell comprising a tubular cell wall, an anode extending in an axial direction of the cell and disposed centrally within the cell with respect to a radial direction of the cell, a removable starter sheet disposed along an inner surface of the cell wall, and a masking ring arranged on top of the starter sheet, the harvesting system comprising:
- a harvesting tool, comprising:
- an extraction gripping unit configured to extract the starter sheet and metal electrodeposited on an interior surface of the starter sheet from the cell;
- a harvesting gripping unit configured to separate the metal and the starter sheet;
- a first actuator coupled to the extraction gripping unit, configured to move the extraction gripping unit between:
- an insertion position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is inserted to a position inside the cell, and
- an extracted position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is positioned outside the cell;
- and
- a second actuator coupled to the harvesting gripping unit, configured to move the harvesting gripping unit between:
- a starter sheet gripping position, wherein the harvesting gripping unit is configured to grip the starter sheet, and
- a separation position, wherein the starter sheet is separated from the metal;
- a robotic arm configured to couple to the harvesting tool;
- and
- a controller configured to control movement of the robotic arm and to control actuation of the harvesting tool.
A method of harvesting electrodeposited metal from a cell, the cell comprising a tubular cell wall, an anode extending in an axial direction of the cell and disposed centrally within the cell with respect to a radial direction of the cell, a removable starter sheet disposed along an inner surface of the cell wall, and a masking ring arranged on top of the starter sheet, the method comprising:
- aligning a harvesting tool over the cell, the harvesting tool comprising:
- an extraction gripping unit configured to extract the starter sheet and metal electrodeposited on an interior surface of the starter sheet from the cell;
- a harvesting gripping unit configured to separate the metal and the starter sheet;
- a first actuator coupled to the extraction gripping unit, configured to move the extraction gripping unit between:
- an insertion position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is inserted to a position inside the cell, and
- an extracted position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is positioned outside the cell;
- and
- a second actuator coupled to the harvesting gripping unit, configured to move the harvesting gripping unit between:
- a starter sheet gripping position, wherein the harvesting gripping unit is configured to grip the starter sheet, and
- a separation position, wherein the starter sheet is separated from the metal;
- actuating the extraction gripping unit to the insertion position;
- actuating the extraction gripping unit to an extraction gripping position to grip at least one of the masking ring of the cell, and the metal electrodeposited on the starter sheet;
- with the extraction gripping unit in the extraction gripping position, actuating the extraction gripping unit to the extracted position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is positioned outside the cell and the masking ring, the metal, and the starter sheet are removed from the cell;
- and
- with the extraction gripping unit in the extracted position, actuating the harvesting gripping unit to the starter sheet gripping position to grip the starter sheet, and subsequently actuating the harvesting gripping unit to the separation position, to separate the metal from the starter sheet.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.