Method and apparatus for automatically installing covers on lead-acid battery cells

A method for automatically covering and finishing an industrial lead-acid battery cell container having a cell group disposed therein, said group having at least two terminal posts extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. automatically straightening said posts;
• b. automatically placing said cover on said container whereby each post extends through an associated bushing disposed in said cover;
• c. automatically sealing said cover to said container;
• d. automatically removing flash from external surfaces of the cover to container seal;
• e. automatically welding said posts to said bushings;
• f. automatically testing for leaks in said cover to container seal and said post to bushing welds;
• g. automatically rejecting those cells having leaks which exceed a predetermined level;
• and
• h. automatically conveying said container to and between a plurality of stations capable of performing said automatic post straightening, said automatic cover placement, said automatic cover sealing, said automatic flash removing, said automatic post welding, said automatic leak testing and said automatic cell rejecting.

An apparatus for automatically covering and finishing an industrial lead-acid battery cell container having a cell group disposed therein, said group having at least two terminal posts extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising:

• a. means for automatically straightening said posts including means for engaging said posts with a vertically movable ram and means for preventing movement of said container during the engagement of said posts with said ram;
• b. means for automatically placing a cover on said container, including means for maintaining said covers in spaced alignment with said container so that each of said posts extends through an associated bushing disposed in said cover;
• c. means for automatically sealing said cover to said container;
• d. means for automatically removing flash from external surfaces of the cover to container seal including at least one platen, and means for drawing said platen along said cover to container seal to remove said flash;
• e. means for automatically welding said posts to said bushings including cooling means adapted for placement over said post and said bushing, and RF welding means directed onto said post and said bushing;
• f. means for automatically testing for leaks in said cover to container seal and said post to bushing welds;
• g. means for automatically rejecting those cells having leaks which exceed a predetermined level;
• and
• h. means for automatically conveying said industrial lead-acid battery cell through said apparatus, wherein said conveying means is operatively associated with a plurality of stations capable of performing said automatic post straightening;
• said automatic cover placement;
• said automatic cover sealing;
• said automatic flash removing;
• said automatic post burning;
• and said automatic cell testing.

A method for automatically covering and finishing an industrial lead-acid battery cell container having a cell group disposed therein, said group having at least two terminal posts extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. automatically straightening said posts by engaging said posts with a vertically movable ram while preventing movement of said container during said engagement of said posts with said ram;
• b. automatically placing a cover on said container after maintaining said cover in spaced alignment with said container so that each of said posts extend through an associated bushing disposed in said cover;
• c. automatically sealing said cover to said container;
• d. automatically removing flash from external surfaces of the cover to container seal by drawing at least one platen along said cover to container seal;
• e. automatically welding said posts to said bushings by directing RF welding means onto said posts and said bushings after placing cooling means around said posts and said bushings;
• f. automatically testing for leaks in said cover to container seal and said post to bushing welds;
• g. automatically rejecting those cells having leaks which exceed a predetermined level;
• and
• h. automatically conveying said container to and between a plurality of stations capable of performing said automatic post straightening, said automatic cover placement, said automatic cover sealing, said automatic flash removing, said automatic post welding, said automatic leak testing and said automatic cell rejecting.