Abstract: A battery cast-on-strap machine unloading apparatus includes a first and a second unit. Each unit includes a rotary drive mechanism; and, a pinion co-axial with and directly driveable by the rotary drive mechanism. The apparatus further includes an elongate rack. The rack includes teeth along a first side and an opposing second side. The first and second units are mounted adjacent to each other on the rack. Operation of each drive mechanism causes rotation of the respective pinion to be converted into linear motion of the respective unit along the rack. Adjacent rotary drive mechanisms are located on opposing sides of the rack, such that the pinion of the first unit meshes with the teeth along the first side of the rack, and the pinion of the adjacent second unit meshes with the teeth along the opposing second side of the rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating battery plates includes a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface. The work surface is movable between a first position in which it is angled with respect to a horizontal plane and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane. When the work surface moves between the first and second position adjacent battery plates of the stack are displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus for a cast on strap machine is arranged to deliver a predetermined volume of molten lead to a mould. The apparatus includes a first needle valve, a second needle valve, and a housing. The housing has a reservoir including an inlet and an outlet. The reservoir inlet is in fluid communication with a molten lead supply. The reservoir is supplied with molten lead during use such that the molten lead in the reservoir is maintained at a constant height.

Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus for a cast on strap machine is arranged to deliver a predetermined volume of molten lead to a mould. The apparatus includes a first needle valve, a second needle valve, and a housing. The housing has a reservoir including an inlet and an outlet. The reservoir inlet is in fluid communication with a molten lead supply. The reservoir is supplied with molten lead during use such that the molten lead in the reservoir is maintained at a constant height.

Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus for a cast on strap machine is arranged to deliver a predetermined volume of molten lead to a mould. The apparatus includes a first needle valve, a second needle valve, and a housing. The housing has a reservoir including an inlet and an outlet. The reservoir inlet is in fluid communication with a molten lead supply. The reservoir is supplied with molten lead during use such that the molten lead in the reservoir is maintained at a constant height.

Abstract: A battery plate loading system includes a battery plate separator apparatus having a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and a loading mechanism including an arm coupled to the work surface. The arm is pivotable to move the work surface between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. A pallet has a surface arranged to receive a plurality of stacks of battery plates, each stack being arranged in at least a first or a second orientation; and, a robot head arrangement configured to transfer stacks of battery plates from the pallet to the battery plate separator apparatus. The robot head arrangement includes a sensor configured to detect the orientation of each stack. The pivotable arm is configured to move the work surface to the substantially horizontal position or to the substantially vertical position in response to the detected orientation of a selected stack.

Abstract: A mould for forming battery components includes a first mould body having a first plurality of mould cavities and a second mould body having a second plurality of mould cavities. The first mould body and the second mould body are configured to be moveable between a moulding position in which the first plurality and second plurality of mould cavities are aligned, and a fill position in which the first plurality and second plurality of mould cavities are displaced from the aligned position and are proximal to a molten metal feed.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating battery plates comprising a work surface for receiving a stack of battery plates, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the battery plates on the work surface. The work surface is movable between a first position in which it is angled with respect to a horizontal plane and a second position in which it is substantially aligned with the horizontal plane. When the work surface moves between the first and second position adjacent battery plates of the stack are displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus for a cast on strap machine is arranged to deliver a predetermined volume of molten lead to a mould. The apparatus includes a first needle valve, a second needle valve, and a housing. The housing includes a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet. The reservoir inlet is in fluid communication with a molten lead supply. The reservoir is supplied with molten lead during use such that the molten lead in the reservoir is maintained at a constant height. A volume block has an inlet, an outlet and a through cavity and the volume block inlet is in fluid communication with the reservoir outlet. The through cavity together with the second needle valve defines the predetermined volume of molten lead received from the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for moulding battery components including a molten metal feed trough, a mould block adjacent to the feed trough, a weir between the feed trough and each cavity and a supply for feeding molten metal to the feed trough. The mould block has at least one mould cavity and a cooling arrangement which cools the mould block, and the mould block is provided with a heating arrangement adjacent to the or each mould cavity. In use, the heating arrangement maintains at least part of the, or each, mould cavity at an elevated temperature relative to the average operational temperature of the mould block.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for moulding battery components using an apparatus include a mould block having a plurality of mould cavities; a molten metal feed trough adjacent to the mould block and extending in a generally longitudinal direction along the mould block; a plurality of weirs between the feed trough and each of the cavities; and a supply for providing molten metal to the trough. The feed trough is provided with at least one volume adjustment mechanism, which is operable to alter the volume of the feed trough.

Abstract: A mould for forming battery components includes a first mould body having a first plurality of mould cavities and a second mould body having a second plurality of mould cavities. The first mould body and the second mould body are configured to be moveable between a moulding position in which the first plurality and second plurality of mould cavities are aligned, and a fill position in which the first plurality and second plurality of mould cavities are displaced from the aligned position and are proximal to a molten metal feed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking battery plates comprising a delivery conveyor for supplying battery plates sequentially along a delivery path. The delivery conveyor includes a plurality of spaced apart plate carriers each configured to support at least one battery plate in use, the plate carriers defining a series of gaps between adjacent plate carriers, wherein each gap is larger than the battery plate. The apparatus further includes a stop mechanism, configured to selectively intercept the delivery path at a plurality of indexed stop positions without impeding the delivery conveyor; wherein when the stop mechanism intercepts the delivery path at a selected one of the stop positions in use, it interrupts the movement of the battery plates on the delivery conveyor causing the battery plate(s) to move off the respective plate carrier and pass through the subsequent gap of the conveyor.

Abstract: A mold for molding post and strap in a cast on strap machine includes a mold body having an upper surface, a cavity in the upper surface for molding a strap and an opening aligned with the cavity for receiving a water-coolable insert for molding a post. The opening extends through the mold with its mouth in the upper surface to enable the insert to be inserted into the opening through the mouth. The mold body further includes a removable plate for being received in the mouth to retain releasably the insert in the opening and for defining the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of lead to a mould includes a housing defining a lead reservoir having a lead outlet defined in its base and in communication with the reservoir. A runway is provided beneath the base, spaced from the base and generally parallel thereto. A block is provided slidably mounted between the base and the runway and defining a through cavity having the predetermined volume for receiving lead from the outlet in a first position and for releasing the lead in a second position. A mechanism is provided for reciprocating the block between the first and second positions. A cast on strap machine is also disclosed. A lead delivery apparatus comprising a delivery chute is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of lead to a mould includes a housing defining a lead reservoir having a lead outlet defined in its base and in communication with the reservoir. A runway is provided beneath the base, spaced from the base and generally parallel thereto. A block is provided slidably mounted between the base and the runway and defining a through cavity having the predetermined volume for receiving lead from the outlet in a first position and for releasing the lead in a second position. A mechanism is provided for reciprocating the block between the first and second positions. A cast on strap machine is also disclosed. A lead delivery apparatus comprising a delivery chute is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of lead to a mould includes a housing defining a lead reservoir having a lead outlet defined in its base and in communication with the reservoir. A runway is provided beneath the base, spaced from the base and generally parallel thereto. A block is provided slidably mounted between the base and the runway and defining a through cavity having the predetermined volume for receiving lead from the outlet in a first position and for releasing the lead in a second position. A mechanism is provided for reciprocating the block between the first and second positions. A cast on strap machine is also disclosed. A lead delivery apparatus comprising a delivery chute is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line. This includes a pick up and release unit generally indicated at 16. The unit includes a central metal hollow body 17, which is divided into a number of side-by-side vacuum chambers, some of which have a perforate floor 19. A vacuum course 21 can be selectively connected to those, which have a perforate floor, while it is perpendicularly connected to a second set of chambers. Plates can be picked up from elevators 11 and 12 by use of the intermittent vacuum and then held against an endless belt 25 by the constant vacuum until they arrive at a release chamber, having a perforate floor, where upon interruption of the vacuum allows for release of the battery plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line from a stack of plates including an elevator for receiving a stack of plates and sequentially elevating the stack to maintain, in use, the uppermost plate in the stack in a datum region lying between two parallel generally horizontal planes and a plurality of vacuum heads arranged in a closed loop for sequentially passing over the elevator with a fixed gap from the upper plane of the datum range for picking up the uppermost plate and for subsequently releasing the plate at a release position.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line. This includes a pick up and release unit generally indicated at 16. The unit includes a central metal hollow body 17, which is divided into a number of side-by-side vacuum chambers, some of which have a perforate floor 19. A vacuum course 21 can be selectively connected to those, which have a perforate floor, whilst it is perpendicularly connected to a second set of chambers. Plates can be picked up from elevators 11 and 12 by use of the intermittent vacuum and then held against an endless belt 25 by the constant vacuum until they arrive at a release chamber, having a perforate floor, where upon interruption of the vacuum allows for release of the battery plate.