Method of manufacturing an electrode plate assembly for lead accumulator and device therefor

A method of manufacturing an electrode plate assembly for a lead accumulator wherein:

• an electrode plate group is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates with interposition of separators and with respective electrode plate leads projecting from said positive and negative electrode plates aligned in electrode rows for positive and negative terminals;
• and
• a strap is formed respectively joining said electrode plate leads and pillar electrodes in said electrode rows, the method comprising the steps of:
• orienting the electrode plate leads directed upwards;
• attaching a welding jig having a recess corresponding to an external shape of said strap electrode plate group with said electrode plate lead rows accommodated in the recess by insertion of and comb teeth at a bottom face of the recess to each of said electrode lead rows such that said comb teeth are interposed between said electrode plate leads and define gaps between said comb teeth and said electrode plate leads;
• placing said pillar electrodes at a prescribed position in the recesses;
• pouring a prescribed quantity of molten lead from a pouring aperture, communicated with a melting furnace, into the recesses in the welding jigs such that the molten lead fans out in a direction of the electrode rows, when leaving said pouring aperture and prior to pooling in said recesses, to promote radiation of heat and in a condition in which a pouring pressure due to flow speed is suppressed;
• fixing together the electrode plate leads and said pillar electrodes by solidification of the poured molten lead into solidified lead;
• applying heat to areas of the electrode plate leads and the pillar electrodes in the solidified lead to melt in the areas the solidified lead, said electrode plate leads, and bases of the pillar electrodes to integrally join the electrode plate leads and the pillar electrodes and thereby form the straps;
• and
• removing said welding jig leaving the straps on the electrode lead rows.

A device for manufacturing an electrode plate assembly for a lead accumulator wherein:

• an electrode plate group is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates with interposition of separators and with respective electrode plate leads projecting from said positive and negative electrode plates aligned in electrode rows for positive and negative terminals;
• and
• a strap is formed respectively joining said electrode plate leads and pillar electrodes in said electrode rows, the device comprising:
• welding jigs having a recess corresponding to an external shape of said strap and comb teeth at a bottom face of the recess for interposition between said electrode plate leads and which define gaps between said comb teeth and said electrode plate leads;
• means for installing and removing said welding jigs to said electrode rows and disposing the pillar electrodes in a prescribed position in the recess;
• a melting furnace with a reservoir for containing molten lead and a pouring aperture from which the molten lead is poured;
• means for pouring the molten lead whereby a prescribed quantity of the molten lead is poured via said pouring aperture into the recess in the welding jig, said pouring aperture being configured such that the molten lead fans out in the direction of the electrode rows, when leaving the pouring aperture and prior to pooling in said recess, to promote radiation of heat and in a condition in which the pouring pressure due to flow speed is suppressed;
• and
• means for heating areas of the electrode plate leads and the pillar electrodes after the molten lead turns to solidified lead, to melt and join the solidified lead, the electrode plate leads, and a base of the pillar electrodes.

An apparatus for manufacturing a strap joining electrode plate leads, aligned in an electrode row, with a pillar electrode, the apparatus comprising:

• a strap mold having a recess corresponding to an external shape of said strap and comb teeth at a bottom face of the recess for interposition between said electrode plate leads and which define gaps between said comb teeth and said electrode plate leads;
• a melting furnace with a reservoir for containing molten lead and a pouring aperture from which the molten lead is poured;
• means for pouring the molten lead said pouring aperture into the recess in the strap mold, said pouring aperture being configured such that the molten lead fans out when leaving the pouring aperture and prior to pooling in said recess to promote radiation of heat;
• and
• means for heating areas of the electrode plate leads and the pillar electrode after the molten lead turns to solidified lead to melt and join the solidified lead, the electrode plate leads, and a base of the pillar electrode.