Method and apparatus for collecting plates

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for collecting plates from two rows of plates travelling side-by-side on a moving conveyor comprising inverting plates sequentially in one row of plates and merging said two rows of plates by depositing a plate from one row onto a plate in the other row to form a single row of double plates each having an inverted plate, and assembling a single row of said double plates into stacks. The double plates are assembled into stacks preferably by shingling the double plates to assemble a plurality of overlapped double plates, stacking shingled double plates to form horizontal stacks, turning each horizontal stack onto a side or end of the stack to form a vertically-stacked bundle, and rocking the vertically-stacked bundle on the side or end to align the plates on the side or end, rotating the bundle vertically through 90.degree. onto an adjacent end or side, and rocking the bundle on the adjacent end or side to align the plates on the adjacent end or side, whereby the plates form a squared bundle having even sides and ends. In one embodiment the plates are lead alloy battery plate electrodes each having a tab extending from a side edge thereof, the two rows of plates are travelling side-by-side on a first conveyor with the tabs of one row of plates facing the tabs of the other row of plates, the plates in one row of plates are inverted by passing the plates sequentially over an endless belt having an upper moving surface turning from a substantially horizonal plane through about 90.degree. to a substantially vertical plane at a linear speed effective to turn the plates upside down onto a second conveyor, and the two rows of plates are merged by transferring one row of plates onto a diagonal conveyor intersecting the second conveyor and controlling the relative speeds of the second conveyor and diagonal conveyor whereby each plate on one conveyor is deposited on a plate of the other conveyor to form a pair of double plates with the tabs of the two plates at least partially overlapping each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.