Coating carbon electrodes

Apparatus for applying protective sheets to the surface of an electric arc furnace electrode, said apparatus comprising a vertically extending frame having an open upper entrance for receiving a portion of said electrode which is delivered by electrode moving means usable with said apparatus to lower and raise a portion of said electrode through said entrance, said frame being open to allow passageof said electrode, a plurality of heat resistant rollers located below said entrance and adapted to contact said electrode, said rollers being biased toward said electrode and being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a plane including the center of the respective roller and the longitudinal axis of the electrode, said rollers mounted to guide said electrode during lowering, and a plurality of carriages located below said rollers, said carriages each being reciprocable in a direction radial of the major axis of the electrode from a first withdrawn position to a second electrode contacting position, each carriage being adapted to support a protective sheet that is placed in the carriage in said first position, advancing means to advance said carriage with a protective sheet from said first position to said second position to apply said protective sheet firmly against a portion of said electrode, said carriage adapted also to hold said protective sheet against said electrode for a length of time sufficient to assure adherence, said advancing means also adapted to withdraw said carriages away from said electrode, said rollers being also adapted to press said protective sheet upon said electrode when said electrode is raised.