Abstract: A basket loader apparatus for a machine to cast commoning straps onto the positive and negative plate lugs of plate stacks used to form a multi-celled lead acid storage battery. As configured the apparatus is designed to hold a basket which contains said stacks and hold it during the casting operations. Prior to the start of said operation, the apparatus is further adapted to properly align the lugs for casting and further to enter the plates and the plastic separation which lie between them within the basket. The apparatus further includes vertical adjustment means so that plates of different size may be accommodated and vacuum cleaning means to remove fragments of lead sulfate paste and other foreign materials which might interfere with proper alignment of the plates within the basket.

Abstract: A basket apparatus for clamping a plurality of plate stacks sufficient to form one multi-celled, lead acid storage battery during the casting of the lug commoning straps in each stack is provided. As configured it comprises a frame defining a plurality of internal cavities each configured to hold one of said stacks and a set of individually biased movable clamping plates, one in each of said cavities, each adapted to hold the stack firmly in position during the casting operation. The individual biasing permits firm gripping regardless of any variability in plate or stack thickness.