Filter press with cake removing device

A filter press provided with a plurality of filter plates supported vertically in a horizontal row in a frame structure and with filter cloth disposed between said filter plates for treating slurries introduced under pressure between said filter plates, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of bars extending over a full width of said filter plates, each filter plate including spring means for movably mounting one of said bars to said filter plate between a position at a predetermined height above said filter plate for supporting said filter cloth and a position below said predetermined height,
• shafts movably mounted between said bars and said filter plates between a position raising said bars and a position disengaged from said bars,
• driving devices for moving said shafts,
• vibrating devices for vibrating said bars, and
• a pair of photoemissive devices and photoreceptive devices for detecting the location of said bars at said position below said predetermined height caused by the weight of remaining cake on said filter cloth, said photoemissive device emitting a light beam which passes under said bars which are at said predetermined height.