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: 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: Newly formed battery plates are fed singly edgewise into radially open pockets in a first transfer wheel, while a like number of wrapper sheets are folded in half and pressed radially into pockets in a second transfer and sealing wheel. Vacuum plates in the sides of the pockets in the second transfer wheel hold the wrapper sheets open. Both wheels rotate step by step, and each plate is released to fall by gravity between folded sides of each wrapper. Centering rails carried around segment of second wheel pass through notches in edges of wrapper sheet to center battery plate in wrapper. Plates and wrappers carried by second wheel then pass hot air jets to soften edge of wrapper sheet; after which clamp blades carried by sides of vacuum plates are cammed closed to seal side edges of wrapper sheets over side edges of each plate. Clamp plates then open, and wrapped battery plate is released and delivered by gravity from second transfer wheel to off-feeding conveyor.