Stripping apparatus for use in cathode base plate for electrolytic refining

An apparatus for stripping electrodeposited metal plates from a cathode base plate suitable for electrolytic refining, comprising:

• base means;
• supporting means mounted on said base means for supporting in an upright position a cathode base plate having electrodeposited metal plates on the opposite surfaces thereof;
• a pair of elastically deformable, leaf springs mounted on said base means for movement on opposite sides of said cathode base plate through corresponding arcuate paths from a starting position a starting adjacent the upper corner of one side edge of said cathode base plate across said cathode base plate to a final position adjacent the lower corner of the opposite side edge of said cathode base plate, said leaf springs each having a wedge mounted on one end thereof, said wedges being adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of said cathode base plate and to be moved between said cathode base plate and said electrodeposited metal plates, said wedges being mounted for movement with said leaf springs whereby to strip off said electrodeposited metal plates from said cathode base plate as said leaf springs move from said starting position to said final position;
• actuation means for moving said leaf springs through said paths;
• controlling means engageable with said leaf springs for elastically deforming same as said leaf springs move through said paths, said controlling means being arranged so that said wedges are positioned in engagement with the opposite surfaces of said cathode base plate and fit between said cathode base plate and said electrodeposited metal plates when said leaf springs are in said starting position and said leaf springs and thereby said wedges move away from each other and away from said cathode base plate whereby to position said wedges out of engagement with the opposite surfaces of said cathode base plate as said leaf springs move across said cathode base plate to said final position.