Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and stacking battery plates in which pasted battery plates are delivered from a drying oven to a stacking station by an entry conveyor. In the stacking station, a stack of battery plates builds up on a stacking elevator which then deposits the stack on a take-off conveyor. The take-off conveyor indexes, moving the stack of battery plates out of the stacking station to make room for the next stack. A change elevator moves into the stacking station to handle incoming battery plates while the stacking elevator deposits a stack on the take-off conveyor and the take-off conveyor indexes to remove the stack. A partial stack of battery plates accumulates on the change elevator. When the previous stack has been removed from the stacking station, the partial stack is transferred from the change elevator to the stacking elevator, a full stack builds up on the stacking elevator and the cycle repeats.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering molten metal such as lead to a receiver comprising a variable speed pump and a delivery pipe leading from the pump. The delivery pipe has an upwardly extending portion which leads to a discharge orifice from which molten metal may be discharged. A variable speed motor drives the pump. A controller causes the motor to drive the pump selectively at a first speed sufficient to raise molten metal and maintain it at a predetermined level in the upwardly extending portion of the delivery pump and at a second speed sufficient to force molten metal in the delivery pipe from the discharge orifice.

Abstract: Apparatus for piling in stacks a plurality of successive individual battery plates moving at a high rate of speed. Synchronized plates are transferred to a carrier conveyor which advances them into work stations with the leading edge of each plate raised generally vertically above its trailing edge. Sequentially in one and another of the stations, each plate is rapidly stopped so that a plurality of succeeding synchronized plates are each disengaged from the carrier and deposited in a stack on an elevator underlying each station. The elevator is retracted as each plate is deposited so that the next plate can be received on the stack. Periodically, the depositing of plates is switched from one station to another and stacks of plates are removed from the elevator associated with each station so that another stack can be formed on the elevator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling in stacks a plurality of successive individual battery plates moving at a high rate of speed. Synchronized plates are transferred to a carrier conveyor which advances them into work stations with the leading edge of each plate raised generally vertically above its trailing edge. Sequentially in one and another of the stations, each plate is rapidly stopped so that a plurality of succeeding synchronized plates are each disengaged from the carrier and deposited in a stack on an elevator underlying each station. The elevator is retracted as each plate is deposited so that the next plate can be received on the stack. Periodically, the depositing of plates is switched from one station to another and stacks of plates are removed from the elevator associated with each station so that another stack can be formed on the elevator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling in stacks a plurality of successive individual battery plates moving at a high rate of speed. Synchronized plates are transferred to a carrier conveyor which advances them into work stations with the leading edge of each plate raised generally vertically above its trailing edge. Sequentially in one and another of the stations, each plate is rapidly stopped so that a plurality of succeeding synchronized plates are each disengaged from the carrier and deposited in a stack on an elevator underlying each station. The elevator is retracted as each plate is deposited so that the next plate can be received on the stack. Periodically, the depositing of plates is switched from one station to another and stacks of plates are removed from the elevator associated with each station so that another stack can be formed on the elevator.

Abstract: A machine for cutting a continuous web into successive individual battery plates has a rigid frame on which a cylindrical rotary anvil is journalled. A rotary knife drum is fixed on a shaft journalled on a pair of laterally spaced upright plates mounted for vertical sliding movement on the frame of the machine. A toggle linkage is utilized to shift the drum mounting plates vertically between operative and inoperative positions. The knife drum shaft is journalled on one of the mounting plates such that the plate can be disengaged from the shaft and tilted laterally outwardly by simply removing a nut threaded on the end of the shaft.

Abstract: A machine for casting battery grids in a continuous manner includes a rotary cylindrical drum in the outer peripheral surface of which the battery grid pattern is machined as a cavity. A shoe is arranged against an arcuate segment of the peripheral surface of the drum. An orifice slot in the shoe has an opening at the peripheral surface of the drum. Molten lead under superatmospheric pressure is directed into the orifice slot in an amount in excess of that required to fill the grid cavity on the drum through the opening in the orifice slot as the drum rotates. Means are provided in the shoe for maintaining the molten lead in the orifice slot in a highly fluid condition and for causing the lead filling the grid cavity to solidify rapidly as it advanced beyond the opening of the orifice slot.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a continuous web at preselected locations spaced lengthwise of the web which includes a first drive for advancing the web at substantially uniform velocity in the direction of its length through a predetermined fixed path. A circular mandrel is mounted for rotation adjacent to the web path and has a plurality of cutter blades at uniform angular intervals around the periphery thereof. A differential transmission couples the mandrel to the web drive and is controlled by a stepper motor to advance or retard angular velocity of the cutter mandrel as compared with linear velocity of the web. A pair of sensors are respectively responsive to motion of the web and rotation of the cutter blades toward the position of cutting engagement.

Abstract: A machine for casting battery grids in a continuous manner includes a rotary cylindrical drum in the outer peripheral surface of which the battery grid pattern is machined as a cavity. A shoe is arranged against an arcuate segment of the peripheral surface of the drum. An orifice slot in the shoe has an opening at the peripheral surface of the drum. Molten lead under superatmospheric pressure is directed into the orifice slot in an amount in excess of that required to fill the grid cavity on the drum through the opening in the orifice slot as the drum rotates. Means are provided in the shoe for maintaining the molten lead in the orifice slot in a highly fluid condition and for causing the lead filling the grid cavity to solidify rapidly as it advanced beyond the opening of the orifice slot.

Abstract: A machine for casting battery grids in a continuous manner includes a rotary cylindrical drum in the outer peripheral surface of which the battery grid pattern is machined as a cavity. A shoe is arranged against an arcuate segment of the peripheral surface of the drum. An orifice slot in the shoe has an opening at the peripheral surface of the drum. Molten lead under superatmospheric pressure is directed into the orifice slot in an amount in excess of that required to fill the grid cavity on the drum through the opening in the orifice slot as the drum rotates. Means are provided in the shoe for maintaining the molten lead in the orifice slot in a highly fluid condition and for causing the lead filling the grid cavity to solidify rapidly as it advanced beyond the opening of the orifice slot.

Abstract: A machine for casting battery grids in a continuous manner includes a rotary cylindrical drum in the outer peripheral surface of which the battery grid pattern is machined as a cavity. A shoe is arranged against an arcuate segment of the peripheral surface of the drum. An orifice slot in the shoe has an opening at the peripheral surface of the drum. Molten lead under superatmospheric pressure is directed into the orifice slot in an amount in excess of that required to fill the grid cavity on the drum through the opening in the orifice slot as the drum rotates. Means are provided in the shoe for maintaining the molten lead in the orifice slot in a highly fluid condition and for causing the lead filling the grid cavity to solidify rapidly as it is advanced beyond the opening of the orifice slot.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a battery grid casting machine for receiving grids one at a time from a grid trimming die and for arranging them in a horizontally stacked arrangement on a pair of pivoted rails. After a predetermined number of grids have accumulated on the rails, the rails are pivoted from a horizontal to a vertical position to deposit the grids as a vertical stack on an intermittently moving conveyor.

Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing the mold of a battery grid casting machine which includes a reciprocable slide to which the movable mold half is directly connected for movement in unison therewith. A cam mounted on and movable with the slide is arranged to engage a cam follower within the first three-quarters of the slide stroke. The cam follower is operatively connected with knock-out pins on the stationary mold half to eject the cast grid during the opening stroke of the movable mold half.