Abstract: A system for drying a battery plate grid is disclosed. The system includes a pair of heated rollers disposed adjacent to one another, and a conveyor belt arranged to transfer the battery plate grids toward the heated rollers, such that the battery plate grid passes between, and comes in contact with, each of the heated rollers. The system includes a convection oven arranged to circulate convection heat around the battery plate grid when the battery plate grid completes transfer through the heated rollers.

Abstract: A battery grid pasting machine includes a support structure, a battery grid plate support for supporting a battery grid plate, a paste dispensing hopper, a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the hopper and the battery grid plate support and a control system. The height adjustment mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hopper and a position sensor for sensing the position of the hydraulic cylinder. The control system includes a first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic valve associated with the first hydraulic pump for incrementally moving the hydraulic cylinder by a first specified distance and a second hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic valve associated with the second hydraulic pump for incrementally moving the hydraulic cylinder by a second specified distance.

Abstract: A battery grid pasting machine includes a support structure, a battery grid plate support for supporting a battery grid plate, a paste dispensing hopper, a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the hopper and the battery grid plate support and a control system. The height adjustment mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hopper and a position sensor for sensing the position of the hydraulic cylinder. The control system includes a first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic valve associated with the first hydraulic pump for incrementally moving the hydraulic cylinder by a first specified distance and a second hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic valve associated with the second hydraulic pump for incrementally moving the hydraulic cylinder by a second specified distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for flash drying paste provided on strips of battery plate grids, wherein the paste is dried through contact with a plurality of heated rollers. The plurality of heated rollers are individually driven and heating of the heated rollers is controlled on an individual basis with a feedback loop. The plurality of heated rollers are positioned so as to move the pasted strip of battery plates through contact with the heated rollers; as a result of this contact with the heated rollers, moisture is removed from the paste, so as to provide a pasted strip that with a sufficiently low moisture content to be divided into battery plate grids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for flash drying paste provided on strips of battery plate grids, wherein the paste is dried through contact with a plurality of heated rollers. The plurality of heated rollers are individually driven and heating of the heated rollers is controlled on an individual basis with a feedback loop. The plurality of heated rollers are positioned so as to move the pasted strip of battery plates through contact with the heated rollers; as a result of this contact with the heated rollers, moisture is removed from the paste, so as to provide a pasted strip that with a sufficiently low moisture content to be divided into battery plate grids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method operations are provided for battery plate fabrication, in particular for applying paste to battery plate grids. A conveyer-type pasting machine includes a conveyer belt for moving battery plate grids under a new type of paste dispensing hopper, which includes closely spaced knurled rollers and an angled paste deflector member, which cooperate to generate a pressurized stream of paste for extrusion thru the battery plate grid. The apparatus also includes a specialized grid support sheet that also enables a consistent layer of paste to be applied to both exterior sides of a manufactured battery plate grid by enabling application of paste to one side of the grid and facilitating transmission of the paste through to and past the opposite, exterior side of the grid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for transporting battery plate grids which include a lug and which are transported from a magazine, which apparatus comprises a rail supporting a grid lug for movement of the grid lug along the rail from a pick-up station adjacent the magazine, through a transfer station, and to a delivery station, structure for supporting a suction cup for movement parallel to the rail and from a first position wherein the suction cup engages the grid lug at the pick-up station to a second position spaced from the first position and wherein the grid lug is located at the transfer station, for movement transversely to the rail from the second position to a third position, and thereafter for movement to the first position, a stripping member for stripping the grid lug from the suction cup in response to movement of the suction cup from the second position to the third position, and a valve connected to the suction cup for applying suction at the suction cup during movement of the suction cup from

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing a multi-unit battery plate grid into individual battery plate grids and for subsequently applying paste to the individual battery plate grids, which apparatus comprises a pasting device for applying paste to the grids, a parter located upstream of the pasting device for dividing multi-unit battery plate grids into individual battery plate grids prior to pasting thereof, and a conveyor for feeding multi-unit battery plate grids through the parter and for thereafter feeding the individual battery plate grids through the pasting device. Also disclosed herein is a method of dividing a multi unit battery plate grid including at least two connected individual battery plate grids into separated individual battery plate grids and of subsequently pasting the separated individual battery plate grids, which method comprises the steps of dividing the multi-unit battery plate grid into separated individual battery plate grids, and thereafter pasting the individual separated battery plate grids.

Abstract: A movable type of device for fertilizing the soil by piercing a nozzle into the same comprises a moving support which is adapted to lift, retain and move a device for fertilizing the soil by piercing a nozzle into the same. This device comprises a nozzle for injecting a specified amount of fertilizer from its tip end portion into the soil by use of a blast of air, a nozzle striking hammer for applying an impact force to the nozzle to drive the same into the soil, a nozzle drawing-out for drawing the pierced nozzle out of the soil, a blast source for causing a blast of air to be produced, and a fertilizer metering chamber for metering the fertilizer. The fertilizer metering chamber indludes a fertilizer holding chamber which is arranged to temporarily hold therein the specified amount of fertilizer supplied from a fertilizer storage chamber. The fertilizer is suitably fed into a passage of the device for being injected into the soil from the tip end portion of the nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing battery plates includes a mechanism for transferring battery plate panels between conveyors comprising a supply conveyor having a discharge end, a receiving conveyor having a receiving end located adjacent to and below the discharge end of the supply conveyor and including an endless member movable along a predetermined path and having thereon a battery plate drive lug adapted to engage a battery plate panel and thereby to cause transport of the battery plate panel along the receiving conveyor, and a drive for periodically advancing the endless member in the direction of conveyor advance and through a predetermined distance greater than the length of a battery plate panel, guides stationarily located adjacent the discharge end of the supply conveyor for guiding battery plate panel travel from the supply conveyor to the receiving conveyor, another drive for advancing the supply conveyor so as to deliver battery plate panels onto the guides for delivery to the receiving conveyor, and

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for testing the weld strength of a battery connection extending through a hole in a battery partition and between first and second lugs located in adjacent parallel relation to the partition and each including an end surface and a pair of side surfaces extending in parallel relation to each other and in transverse relation to the end surface, which apparatus comprises a vertically movable main frame including a holding surface adapted for engagement with the end surface of the first lug, a sub-frame carried by the main frame and movable vertically relative to the main frame, horizontally movable clamping members carried by the sub-frame for clampingly engaging the side surfaces of the second lug to the sub-frame, a cylinder for applying a force for vertically displacing the main frame to engage the holding surface with the end surface of the first lug and to retain the holding surface against vertical movement after engagement with the end surface of the first lug, a second cylin

Abstract: A programmable control mechanism for positioning a tool head relative to a battery. The programmable mechanism includes a conveyor means for moving the battery along a first dimensional axis into a work station of the mechanism, a sensing means detects the leading and trailing edges of the battery and means responsive to the sensing means and the conveyor means generates a signal representing the dimensional length of the battery. The signal is utilized by a minicomputer to select a work program suited for that length of battery from a memory bank containing a plurality of such programs. The minicomputer utilizes a selected program to position the tool head relative to the battery so that various successive operations may be performed on the battery by any one of a variety of tools.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for cutting a strip of battery plate material into a plurality of battery plates, which strip of battery plate material includes a series of longitudinally evenly spaced apertures, and which apparatus comprises a plurality of support rollers rotatably mounted on a frame, an endless belt trained around the support rollers on an endless path, which belt includes an inner surface and an outer surface having thereon a plurality of longitudinally evenly spaced lugs adapted, when the strip is overlayed on the belt, to engage the strip apertures for advancing the strip in common with advancement of the belt, sprocket teeth on at least one of the support rollers and a plurality of apertures on the endless belt engaged by the sprocket teeth for advancing the belt along the endless path, a cutter roller mounted on the frame for rotation and for translation toward and away from the belt, which cutter roller has, on the periphery thereof, cutting knives for severing the strip into plates in

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in machines employed for enclosing battery plates within a pouch of sheet material. The sheet is positioned so that the center of its length is disposed between the side of a fixture adapted to receive adjacent thereto the bottom edge of a battery plate and a slot and the sheet is enfolded around the battery plate by moving the fixture plate combination horizontally into and through the slot. As the wrapped bottom edge of the plate emerges from the slot, grasping means are engaged with the wrapped end of the battery plate and hold the plastic sheet tightly so as to prevent any displacement relative to the enclosed battery plate. The fixture is then withdrawn from the enfolding sheet. The overlapping lateral edges of the sheet are then sealed and the battery plate is dropped into an inclined position on an intermittently moving horizontal conveyor to produce a horizontal stack of wrapped plates.

Abstract: An apparatus for alternately stacking finite numbers of n positive battery plates and n+1 negative battery plates wherein a negative battery plate is provided at both the top and bottom ends of the stack. The apparatus includes a moving conveyor belt on which the positive plates are deposited having a spacing interval greater than the length of two negative plates. A negative plate is dropped onto the conveyor belt in the space between the positive plates and, in order to provide a negative plate at both the top and bottom ends of a resulting stack, two negative plates are dropped into the space between the positive plates whenever the required number of positive plates for a stack have been deposited on the conveyor belt. The negative and positive plates are then sequentially removed from the conveyor belt and dropped on top of each other thus producing a stack of alternating negative and positive plates, with a negative plate at both the bottom and top of the stack.