Abstract: A method of dispensing metered portions of molten lead comprises the steps of providing a heater body with a lead reservoir that produces sufficient heat to form molten lead and providing a lead dispensing shuttle plate with at least two lead metered cavities that are filled with molten lead in a fill position. The heater body is movable between a dispense position and a feed position. At least one of the metered cavities releases the molten lead when the heater body is moved to the dispense position. In one aspect, the method comprises supplying a strip of lead so that when the heater body moves to the feed position, it receives a portion of the strip of lead. In another aspect, the method comprises injecting inert gas over the lead reservoir and into the dispensing metered cavity to prevent air from entering the metered cavity.

Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

Abstract: A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units. The pick-up head rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head when a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum is selectively drawn through each pick-up unit to pull the outermost plate into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

Abstract: A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units spaced about its periphery. The pick-up head is attached to and rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head each time a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum device is selectively coupled to each pick-up unit as it passes over the stack to pull the outermost plate away from the stack and into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

Abstract: A plate handling apparatus grips a group of vertically oriented stacks of plates that are being transported serially, lifts them out of the pockets they are being transported in, reduces the separation between them, moves them to a remote location and deposits them for further processing. In addition, the apparatus picks up the stacks in two groups that are 180.degree. opposed from one another with the stacks in one group being interposed with the stacks in the other group. The stacks of plates are engaged by gripping heads that employ paired cam elements carrying gripping fingers. The cam elements have two separate cam faces that permits them to be positively opened and closed by linear movement of a cam follower that fits between the cam elements and engages the cam faces. The set of cam faces used to open the fingers has a steeper ramp angle than the set used to close the fingers. Accordingly, the fingers are opened quicker than they are closed and a greater pressure is exerted upon closing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated handling of battery plate stacks is disclosed. The apparatus includes an endless drive unit having a plurality of upstanding pockets which open to receive the plates and to assemble a predetermined number of them side by side in a vertically arranged stack. The drive unit includes a single revolution clutch which permits the drive unit to move a predetermined amount and then stop each time it is signaled by a controller that the proper number of plates has been inserted into a particular pocket. Thus, movement of the drive unit is interrupted while the plates are being inserted into the pockets and commences again when the pockets are loaded. The stacks of plates then are blocked and centered as they move through the apparatus in their pockets.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotary carrier which carries a plurality of semi-spherical gripping heads having concave gripping surfaces. The gripping heads are positioned such that the gripping surfaces become flush with the forwardmost plate in a vertically arrayed stack of plates as the carrier rotates. Each gripping head is mounted to the carrier through a hollow bellows and vacuum air drawn into a hole in the gripping face passes through the bellows. When the vacuum increases, due to the forwardmost plate in the stack being pulled up against the gripping head, the bellows collapses and pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack. Rollers, which extend beyond the periphery of the carrier, urge the stack away from the gripping head immediately before they become aligned. The vacuum then pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack and into contact with the gripping head before the bellows collapses thereby increasing the gap between them.