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.

Abstract: An extruder and electrode assemblage for interconnecting the upstanding lugs of plate straps connected to the positive and negative grids of battery cell units through apertures provided in partitions, separating the cell units of a battery from each other. The electrode assemblage not only clamps the lugs against the partition but defines apertures for the extruding plungers to engage the lugs and extrude same into the partition aperture. Once the extruded lug portions contact each other, welding current is supplied thereto in a semi-annular path by the electrodes.