Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2010/116038 1 PCT/F12010/050279
SEPARATING PROCESS AND APPARATUS
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a separating process for separating metal deposit
from a
mother plate of a permanent cathode used as an electrode in an electrolytic
process such as
metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning as defined in the preamble of
independent
claim 1.
The invention also relates to a separating apparatus for a separating process
for
separating metal deposit from a mother plate of a permanent cathode used as an
electrode
in an electrolytic process such as metal electrorefining or metal
electrowinning as defined
in the preamble of independent claim 14.
The refining of many metals, such as copper, zinc and nickel, includes an
electrolytic process where harmful impurities are separated from the metal to
be produced.
The metal produced in the electrolytic process is gathered to the permanent
cathode by
means of electric current. Usually the electrolytic process is carried out in
tanks filled with
an electrolyte containing sulphuric acid and, immersed therein, a number of
plates like
anodes and cathodes made of some electroconductive material and placed in an
alternating
fashion. At the top edges the anodes and cathodes are provided with lugs or
bars for
suspending them at the tank edges and for connecting them to the power
circuit. The
cathodes, i.e. the mother plates, used in the electrolytic process are made
for instance of
stainless steel, aluminium or titanium.
After the electrolytic process the anodes are removed from the tanks and the
metal
deposit is separated from the mother plate for further processing. For
separating of the
metal deposit from the anode many various processes are used. For example the
metal
deposit is opened slightly from one edge of the anode plate, grabbed with grip
members
and pulled apart from the anode. Another possibility is to cut the metal
deposit from the
surface of the anode with cutting blades.
Publication US 5 149 410 describes a process and apparatus for stripping
electrodeposited metal sheets from permanent cathodes comprising a rotating
carousel for
receiving and sequentially advancing suspended permanent cathodes having
electrodeposited metal sheets to a plurality of stations about the carousel
including a
loading station, a hammering station for loosening the upper edges of the
metal sheets from
the cathodes, an opening station for stripping of the metal sheets from the
cathodes, a
discharge station for discharge of pairs of metal sheets, and an unloading
station for
removal of stripped cathodes. The pairs of stripped metal sheets are
preferably bottom
discharged to a vertical envelope, which is rotated to a horizontal position
for removal of
metal sheets.
WO 2010/116038 2 PCT/F12010/050279
Publication WO 00/32846 describes another device for separating metal deposit
from a mother plate used as a cathode in an electrolytic process. In that
device the metal
sheets are separated and at the same time tilted from vertical position to
horizontal position
by gripping members guided with curved guides and then discharged from the
device.
Publication WO 02/097170 discloses a mobile zinc stripping device for
stripping
zinc from cathodes comprising a moveable base frame, a cathode support frame
to support
the cathodes during stripping, a stripping assembly for stripping the zinc
sheets from the
cathodes and at least one power source for powering the stripping assembly.
The stripping
assembly includes a lateral stripper for separating an upper edge of a zinc
sheet from each
of the cathodes, the lateral stripper being adapted to bias away from the
cathode
immediately upon entering between the zinc sheet and the cathode, and a
scraping device
for completing removal of the sheet from each said cathode. The device also
includes a
cathode cleaner and a bottom up stacker assembly for stacking zinc sheets.
Publication WO 2006/021617 discloses a turning device for metal deposits used
in
combination with a separating device, comprising at least one turnable
receiving unit
mounted on a rotating axle under the separating device and in vicinity of at
least one
conveyor, guiding means for guiding metal deposit to receiving unit acting as
a turning
device and means for rotating the receiving unit. The invention relates also
to a process for
handling metal deposits.
Publication W02005/054546 discloses an equipment for removing deposits
accumulated in electrolytic refining on the surface of an electrode, such as a
cathode, said
equipment including at least one element for stripping the deposits and at
least one element
for controlling the stripping element; said equipment includes at least one
stripping
element that is turnably movable in the vertical direction of the cathode, and
the cathode
can be bent owing to the contact with said stripping element. The invention
also relates to a
method realized by said equipment.
One problem with known separating apparatuses for a separating process for
separating metal deposit from a mother plate used as a cathode in an
electrolytic process
such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning is that they use a
process mainly built
on transport of the cathode between different stations where different
operations are
performed. This results in large and expensive machines, which also are
difficult to overlie
for an operator.
Objective of the invention
The object of the invention is to provide a separating process for separating
metal
deposit from a mother plate of a permanent cathode used as an electrolytic
process such as
metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning and a separating apparatus for a
separating
WO 2010/116038 3 PCT/F12010/050279
process for separating metal deposit from a mother plate of a permanent
cathode used as an
electrolytic process such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning,
where separation
of metal deposit and bundling of metal deposit can be performed in one
location.
Short description of the invention
The separating process for separating metal deposit from a mother plate of a
permanent cathode used in an electrolytic process such as metal
electrorefining or metal
electrowinning of the invention is characterized by the definitions of
independent claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the separating process are defined in the dependent
claims 2 to 13.
The separating apparatus for a separating process for separating metal deposit
from
a mother plate of a permanent cathode used in an electrolytic process such as
metal
electrorefining or metal electrowinning of the invention is correspondingly
characterized
by the definitions of independent claim 14.
Preferred embodiments of the separating apparatus are defined in the dependent
claims 15 to 27.
The invention is based on using pivotable members in the pressing means for
pressing the permanent cathode from the sides to bend the mother plate i.e.
the permanent
cathode plate of the permanent cathode to the separate metal deposit from the
mother plate.
The pivotable members are both to be used for pressing the cathode to separate
metal
deposit from the mother plate and for guiding the separated metal deposit to a
receiving
bin arranged at a level below the apparatus.
A preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes a holding step
for
holding the permanent cathode at least during part of the separating process
by means of
holding means in an essentially vertical position. Correspondingly, in a
preferred
embodiment of the apparatus of the invention holding means are configured for
holding
the mother plate in an essentially vertical position during at least part of
the separating
process.
A preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes using as the
receiving bin a movable receiving bin that is movable in relation to a machine
frame into a
first pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding means for in
the first pre-
defined receiving position receiving metal desposit guided by the first
pivotable member of
the first pressing means, and into a second pre-defined receiving position at
a level below
the holding means for in the second pre-defined receiving position receiving
metal desposit
guided by the second pivotable member of the second pressing means. The
movement of
the movable receiving bin is preferably, but not necessarily, controlled by an
separating
apparatus control unit that automatically moves the movable receiving bin into
the first and
WO 2010/116038 4 PCT/F12010/050279
the second pre-defined position. This preferred embodiment of the separating
process
includes preferably, but not necessarily, using a separating apparatus
comprising a first
delay device for preventing the metal deposit from falling into the movable
receiving bin
in a wrong position i.e. a wrong angle. This prevents a metal deposit for
example from
falling in a vertical position into a possible space between the movable
receiving bin and a
stack of metal deposit loaded into the movable receiving bin. The first delay
device can
also be used for preventing the metal deposit from falling into the movable
receiving bin if
the movable receiving bin is not properly located in the first pre-defined
receiving position.
This preferred embodiment of the separating process includes preferably, but
not
necessarily, using a separating apparatus comprising a first second device for
preventing
the metal deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin in a wrong
position i.e. a
wrong angle. This prevents a metal deposit for example from falling in a
vertical position
into a possible space between the movable receiving bin and a stack of metal
deposit
loaded into the movable receiving bin. The second delay device can also be
used for
preventing the metal deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin if
the movable
receiving bin is not properly located in the second pre-defined receiving
position i.e. a
wrong angle. This preferred embodiment of the separating process includes
preferably, but
not necessarily, moving the movable receiving bin from the first pre-defined
position to the
second pre-defined position or vice versa after a metal deposit has been
guided into the
movable receiving bin and before a next metal deposit is to be guided into the
movable
receiving bin. By doing this the stack of metal deposits that is formed in the
movable
receiving bin will be even, because then the normally thicker bottom end of
every second
metal deposit in the stack will be turned towards one end of the movable
receiving bin and
the normally thicker bottom end of the other metal deposits in the stack will
be turned
towards the opposite end of the movable receiving bin. Correspondingly, in a
preferred
embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the receiving bin is a movable
receiving bin
that is movable in relation to a machine frame into a first pre-defined
receiving position at
a level below the holding means for in the first pre-defined receiving
position receiving
metal desposit guided by the first pivotable member of the first pressing
means, and into a
second pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding means for
in the second
pre-defined receiving position receiving metal desposit guided by the second
pivotable
member of the second pressing means. This preferred embodiment of the
apparatus
includes preferably, but not necessarily, a first delay device for preventing
the metal
deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin in a wrong position i.e. a
wrong angle.
This prevents a metal deposit for example from falling in a vertical position
into a possible
space (between the movable receiving bin and a stack of metal deposit loaded
into the
movable receiving bin). The first delay device can also be used for preventing
the metal
deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin if the movable receiving
bin is not
WO 2010/116038 5 PCT/F12010/050279
properly located in the first pre-defined receiving position. This preferred
embodiment of
the apparatus includes preferably, but not necessarily, a second delay device
for preventing
the metal deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin in a wrong
position i.e. a
wrong angle. This prevents a metal deposit for example from falling in a
vertical position
into a possible space (between the movable receiving bin and a stack of metal
deposit
loaded into the movable receiving bin). The second delay device can also be
used for
preventing the metal deposit from falling into the movable receiving bin if
the movable
receiving bin is not properly located in the second pre-defined receiving
position. A
preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes using as the
receiving bin a
movable receiving bin that is movable in relation to a machine frame, wherein
the
apparatus comprises first actuation means that is preferably, but not
necessarily, operable
by means of the first pivotable member of the first pressing means for
actuating an
automatic movement of the movable receiving bin in relation to the holding
means into a
first pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding means, and
second
actuation means that is preferably, but not necessarily, operable by means of
the second
pivotable member of the second pressing means for actuating an automatic
movement of
the movable receiving bin in relation to the holding means into a second pre-
defined
receiving position at a level below the holding means. This preferred
embodiment includes
operating the first actuation means to automatically move the movable
receiving bin in
relation to the holding means into the first pre-defined receiving position
and guiding the
metal deposit separated from the mother plate into movable receiving bin that
is located in
the first pre-defined receiving position by means of the first pivotable
member of the first
pressing means. Correspondingly, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of
the
invention the receiving bin is a movable receiving bin movable in relation to
a machine
frame, wherein the apparatus comprises first actuation means that is
preferably, but not
necessarily, operable by means of the first pivotable member of the first
pressing means
for actuating an automatic movement of the movable receiving bin in relation
to the
holding means into a first pre-defined receiving position at a level below the
holding
means, and second actuation means that is preferably, but not necessarily,
operable by
means of the second pivotable member of the second pressing means for
actuating an
automatic movement of the movable receiving bin in relation to the holding
means into a
second pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding means. In
this preferred
embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the first pivotable member of the
first
pressing means is configured for guiding the metal deposit separated from the
mother plate
into the movable receiving bin that is located in the first pre-defined
receiving position and
the second pivotable member of the second pressing means is configured for
guiding the
metal deposit separated from the mother plate into the movable receiving bin
that is
located in the second pre-defined receiving position.
WO 2010/116038 6 PCT/F12010/050279
A preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes a step for
pressing
a first blade of a blade arrangement between the metal deposit and the first
side of the
mother plate to separate metal deposit from the mother plate, and by a step
for pressing a
second blade of a blade arrangement between the metal deposit and the second
side of the
mother plate to separate metal deposit from the mother plate. This preferred
embodiment
of the process of the invention includes preferably, but not necessarily, a
step for rotating
the first blade with respect to the blade arrangement about a first axis of
rotation essentially
parallel with the mother plate after pressing the first blade between the
metal deposit and
the first side of the mother plate to separate metal deposit from the mother
plate, and a step
for rotating the second blade with respect to the blade arrangement about a
second axis of
rotation essentially parallel with the mother plate after pressing the second
blade between
the metal deposit and the second side of the mother plate to separate metal
deposit from the
mother plate. This preferred embodiment of the process of the invention
includes
preferably, but not necessarily, a step for moving the first blade between the
metal deposit
and the first side of the mother plate essentially from an upper edge of the
metal deposit to
essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit to separate metal deposit from
the mother
plate, and a step for moving the second blade between the metal deposit and
the second
side of the mother plate essentially from an upper edge of the metal deposit
to essentially a
lower edge of the metal deposit to separate metal deposit from the mother
plate. This
preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes preferably, but
not
necessarily, a holding step for holding the permanent cathode including
holding the
permanent cathode by means of holding means arranged in the blade arrangement
at least
during part of the separating process performed by the first pivotable member
of the first
pressing means and/or the second pivotable member of the second pressing
means.
Correspondingly, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention
includes a
blade arrangement comprising a first blade that is pressable between the metal
deposit and
the first side of the mother plate to separate metal deposit from the mother
plate, and a
second blade that is pressable between the metal deposit and the second side
of the mother
plate to separate metal deposit from the mother plate. In this preferred
embodiment of the
apparatus of the invention, the first blade is preferably, but not
necessarily, rotatably
arranged in the blade arrangement about a first axis of rotation that is
essentially parallel
with the mother plate, and the second blade is preferably, but not
necessarily, rotatably
arranged in the blade arrangement about a second axis of rotation that is
essentially parallel
with the mother plate. A rotatably arranged first blade and a rotatably
arranged second
blade make also possible to adjust the position of the first blade and the
second blade in
relation to the surfaces of the mother plate for example to adjust the
position of the first
blade and the second blade in accordance with the thickness of the mother
plate by rotating
the first blade and the second blade in relation to the surfaces of the mother
plate so that
WO 2010/116038 7 PCT/F12010/050279
the edge (not marked with a reference numeral) of the first blade and so that
the edge (not
marked with a reference numeral) of the second blade are close to the surfaces
of the
mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention,
the first blade
is preferably, but not necessarily, movable between the metal deposit and the
first side of
the mother plate essentially from an upper edge of the metal deposit to
essentially a lower
edge of the metal deposit to separate metal deposit from the mother plate, and
the second
blade is preferably, but not necessarily, movable between the metal deposit
and the second
side of the mother plate essentially from an upper edge of the metal deposit
to essentially a
lower edge of the metal deposit to separate metal deposit from the mother
plate. In this
preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention by the holding means is
preferably,
but not necessarily, arranged in the blade arrangement, wherein the holding
means being
configured for holding the permanent cathode at least during part of the
separating process
performed by the first pivotable member of the first pressing means and/or the
second
pivotable member of the second pressing means.
The process of the invention includes a step for supporting the first side of
the
permanent cathode by means of the first pivotable member of the first pressing
means
while pressing the opposite second side of the permanent cathode by means of
the second
pivotable member of the second pressing means. Correspondingly, in the
apparatus of the
invention the first pivotable member of the first pressing means is configured
for
supporting the first side of the permanent cathode while pressing the opposite
second side
of the permanent cathode by means of the second pivotable member of the second
pressing
means.
A preferred embodiment of the process of the invention includes a step for
supporting the second side of the permanent cathode by means of the second
pivotable
member of the second pressing means while pressing the opposite first side of
the
permanent cathode by means of the first pivotable member of the first pressing
means.
Correspondingly, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention
the second
pivotable member of the second pressing means being configured for supporting
the
second side of the permanent cathode while pressing the opposite first side of
the
permanent cathode by means of the first pivotable member of the first pressing
means.
This separating process and apparatus can handle both TACO-type as well as
bottom edge lists/wax type cathodes.
List of figures
In the following the invention will be described in more detail by referring
to the
figures, of which
Figure 1 is a simplified view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for
the
WO 2010/116038 8 PCT/F12010/050279
separating process and in which a cathode is held in an essentially vertical
position,
Figure 2 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in another stage of the
separating
process,
Figure 3 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in yet another stage of the
separating process,
Figure 4 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in yet another stage of the
separating process,
Figure 5 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in yet another stage of the
separating process,
Figure 6 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in yet another stage of the
separating process,
Figure 7 shows an optional stage of the separating process performed by means
of
rotatable first and second blades,
Figure 8 shows yet another optional stage of the separating process performed
by
means of first and second blades,
Figure 9 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 in yet another stage of the
separating process and
Figure 10 shows the apparatus shown in figure 1 along line A-A in figure 1.
Detailed description of the invention
The invention relates to a separating process for separating metal deposit 1
from a
mother plate 2 i.e. a permanent cathode plate of a permanent cathode 3 used as
an electrode
in an electrolytic process such as metal electrorefining or metal
electrowinning. The
invention relates also to a separating apparatus (not marked with a reference
numeral) for a
separating process for separating metal deposit 1 from a mother plate 2 i.e. a
permanent
cathode plate of a permanent cathode 3 used as an electrode in electrolytic
process such as
metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning.
The figures show some preferred embodiments of an apparatus for a separating
process for separating metal deposit 1 from a mother plate 2 of a permanent
cathode 3 used
in an electrolytic process such as metal electrorefining or metal
electrowinning. The
separating apparatus shown in the figures comprises a machine frame 24.
First the separating process for separating metal deposit 1 from a mother
plate 2 of
a permanent cathode 3 used as an electrode in an electrolytic process such as
metal
electrorefining or metal electrowinning and some of its preferred embodiments
of the
method will be described in greater detail.
The separating process includes a holding step for holding the permanent
cathode 3
at least during part of the separating process by means of holding means 4 for
holding the
WO 2010/116038 9 PCT/F12010/050279
permanent cathode 3. The permanent cathode 3 can for example be held by means
of
holding means by its hanger bar 25 that is used for hanging the mother plate 2
in the
electrolyte during the electrolytic process. Figure 9 shows a holding step
where the
permanent cathode 3 is held by its hanger bar 25 by means of holding means 4
arranges in
the machine frame 24.
The separating process includes also a first pressing step for pressing the
permanent
cathode 3 from a first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of a first
pressing means
6 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2 and/or a second pressing
step for
pressing the permanent cathode 3 from a second side 7 opposite of the first
side 5 of the
permanent cathode 3 by means of a second pressing means 8 to separate metal
deposit 1
from the mother plate 2. The purpose of the first pressing step and the second
pressing step
is to flex the mother plate 2 to cause the metal deposit 1 to separate from
the mother plate
2.
In the separating process performed by the apparatus in the figures the
separating
process includes both a first pressing step for pressing the permanent cathode
3 from a first
side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of a first pressing means 6 to
separate metal
deposit 1 from the mother plate 2 and a second pressing step for pressing the
permanent
cathode 3 from a second side 7 opposite of the first side 5 of the permanent
cathode 3 by
means of a second pressing means 8 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother
plate 2.
The separating process of the invention includes using an apparatus comprising
a
first pressing means 6 including a first pivotable member 9 pivotable around a
first axis 10
and a second pressing means 8 including a second pivotable member 11 pivotable
around a
second axis 12. The separating process of the invention includes preferably,
but not
necessarily, using an apparatus comprising a first pressing means 6 including
a first
pivotable member 9 pivotable around a first axis 10 that is essentially
horizontal and a
second pressing means 8 including a second pivotable member 11 pivotable
around a
second axis 12 that is essentially horizontal.
The first pressing step for pressing the permanent cathode 3 from the first
side 5 of
the permanent cathode 3 includes pressing the permanent cathode 3 from the
first side 5 of
the permanent cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first
pressing
means 6 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2. More precisely,
the first
pressing step for pressing the permanent cathode 3 from the first side 5 of
the permanent
cathode 3 includes rotating the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing
means 6 about
the first axis 10 so that an end of the first pivotable member 9 of the first
pressing means 6
presses against the first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3.
The second pressing step for pressing the permanent cathode 3 from the second
side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 includes pressing the permanent cathode 3
from the
second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of the second pivotable
member 11 of
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the second pressing means 8 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate
2. More
precisely, the second pressing step for pressing the permanent cathode 3 from
the second
side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 includes rotating the second pivotable
member 11 of the
second pressing means 8 about the second axis 12 so that an end of the second
pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8 presses against the second side 7 of
the
permanent cathode 3.
In the separating process performed in the figures the separating process
includes
both a first pressing step pressing the permanent cathode 3 from the first
side 5 of the
permanent cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first
pressing means 6
to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2 and a second pressing step
for pressing
the permanent cathode 3 from the second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 by
means of
the second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 to separate
metal deposit
1 from the mother plate 2.
The separating process includes also a step for guiding by means of the first
pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 and/or the second pivotable
member 11
of the second pressing means 8 the metal deposit 1 separated from the mother
plate 2 into a
receiving bin 13 arranged at a level below the holding means 4.
The holding step for holding the permanent cathode 3 at least during part of
the
separating process by means of holding means 4 for holding the permanent
cathode 3
includes preferably, but not necessarily, holding the mother plate 2 by means
of holding
means 4 in an essentially vertical position during at least part of the
separating process.
The holding step includes preferably, but not necessarily, holding the
permanent cathode 3
so that the permanent cathode 3 is prevented from moving vertically.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process using a movable receiving bin 13 that is movable in relation to the
machine frame
24 into a first pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding
means 4 for in the
first pre-defined receiving position receiving metal desposit 1 guided by the
first pivotable
member 9 of the first pressing means 6, and into a second pre-defined
receiving position at
a level below the holding means 4 for in the second pre-defined receiving
position
receiving metal desposit 1 guided by the second pivotable member 11 of the
second
pressing means 8. The movement of the movable receiving bin 13 is preferably,
but not
necessarily, controlled by an separating apparatus control unit (not shown in
the figures)
that automatically moves the movable receiving bin 13 into the first pre-
defined position
and correspondingly into the second pre-defined position. This preferred
embodiment of
the separating process includes preferably, but not necessarily, using a
separating apparatus
comprising a first delay device 21 for preventing the metal deposit 1 from
falling into the
movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong position i.e. a wrong angle. This prevents
a metal
deposit 1 for example from falling in a vertical position into a possible
space (not marked
WO 2010/116038 11 PCT/F12010/050279
with reference numeral) between the movable receiving bin 13 and a stack of
metal deposit
1 loaded into the movable receiving bin 13. The first delay device 21
comprises in the
figures first movable stoppers 26 arranged to be movable at least partly into
the inside of
the movable receiving bin 13, said first movable stoppers 26 forming means for
preventing
the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong
position i.e. a
wrong angle. Thereafter, the first movable stoppers 26 will be retracted from
the inside of
the movable receiving bin 13 and the metal deposit 1 is allowed to fall into
the movable
receiving bin 13 as shown in figure 6. The first delay device 21 may also be
used for
preventing the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13
if the
movable receiving bin 13 is not located in the first pre-defined receiving
position. This
preferred embodiment of the separating process includes preferably, but not
necessarily,
using a separating apparatus comprising a second delay device 22 for
preventing the metal
deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong position
i.e. a wrong
angle. This prevents a metal deposit 1 for example from falling in a vertical
position into a
possible space (not marked with reference numeral) between the movable
receiving bin 13
and a stack of metal deposit 1 loaded into the movable receiving bin 13. The
second delay
device 22 comprises in the figures second movable stoppers 27 arranged to be
movable at
least partly into the movable receiving bin 13, said second movable stoppers
27 forming
means for preventing the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable
receiving bin 13 in
a wrong position i.e. a wrong angle. The second delay device can also be used
for
preventing the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13
if the
movable receiving bin 13 is not located in the second pre-defined receiving
position. This
preferred embodiment of the separating process includes using an apparatus
which
comprises first actuation means (not shown) that is preferably, but not
necessarily,
operable by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means
6 for
actuating an automatic movement of the movable receiving bin 13 in relation to
the
holding means 4 into a first pre-defined receiving position 14 at a level
below the holding
means 4, and second actuation means (not shown) that is preferably, but not
necessarily,
operable by means of the second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing
means 8 for
actuating an automatic movement of the movable receiving bin 13 in relation to
the
holding means 4 into a second pre-defined receiving position 15 at a level
below the
holding means 4. This preferred embodiment of the separating process includes
a step for
operating the first actuation means to automatically move the movable
receiving bin 13 in
relation to the holding means 4 into the first pre-defined receiving position.
This preferred
embodiment of the separating process includes a step for guiding the metal
deposit 1
separated from the mother plate 2 into the movable receiving bin 13 that is
located in the
first pre-defined receiving position 14 by means of the first pivotable member
9 of the first
pressing means 6. This preferred embodiment of the separating process includes
WO 2010/116038 12 PCT/F12010/050279
preferably, but not necessarily, a step for operating the second actuation
means to
automatically move the movable receiving bin 13 in relation to the holding
means 4 into
the second pre-defined receiving position, and a step for guiding the metal
deposit 1
separated from the mother plate 2 into the movable receiving bin 13 that is
located in the
second pre-defined receiving position 15 by means of the second pivotable
member 11 of
the second pressing means 8. This preferred embodiment of the separating
process includes
preferably, but not necessarily, a step for moving the movable receiving bin
13 in relation
to the holding means 4 into a third pre-defined unloading position (not marked
with a
reference numeral).
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a step for pressing a first blade 16 of a blade arrangement 17 between
the metal
deposit 1 and the first side 5 of the mother plate 2 to separate metal deposit
1 from the
mother plate 2 and a step for pressing a second blade 18 of a blade
arrangement 17
between the metal deposit 1 and the second side 7 of the mother plate 2 to
separate metal
deposit 1 from the mother plate 2. This preferred embodiment of the separating
process
includes preferably, but not necessarily, a step for rotating the first blade
16 with respect to
the blade arrangement 17 about a first axis of rotation 19 essentially
parallel with the
mother plate 2 after pressing the first blade 16 between the metal deposit 1
and the first
side 5 of the mother plate 2 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate
2 and a step
for rotating the second blade 18 with respect to the blade arrangement 17
about a second
axis of rotation 20 essentially parallel with the mother plate 2 after
pressing the second
blade 18 between the metal deposit 1 and the second side 7 of the mother plate
2 to
separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2. Figure 6 shows a separating
apparatus
performing such a step where the first blade 16 is rotated with respect to the
blade
arrangement 17 to tear metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2 and where the
second blade
18 is rotated with respect to the blade arrangement 17 to tear metal deposit 1
from the
mother plate 2. A rotatably arranged first blade 16 and a rotatably arranged
second blade
18 make also possible to adjust the position of the first blade 16 and the
second blade 18 in
relation to the surfaces of the mother plate 2 for example to adjust the
position of the first
blade 16 and the second blade 18 in accordance with the thickness of the
mother plate 2 by
rotating the first blade 16 and the second blade 18 in relation to the
surfaces of the mother
plate 2 so that the edge (not marked with a reference numeral) of the first
blade 16 and so
that the edge (not marked with a reference numeral) of the second blade 18 are
close to the
surfaces of the mother plate 2. This preferred embodiment of the separating
process
includes preferably, but not necessarily, a step for moving the first blade 16
between the
metal deposit 1 and the first side 5 of the mother plate 2 essentially from an
upper edge of
the metal deposit 1 to essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to
separate metal
deposit 1 from the mother plate 2, and a step for moving the second blade 18
between the
WO 2010/116038 13 PCT/F12010/050279
metal deposit 1 and the second side 7 of the mother plate 2 essentially from
an upper edge
of the metal deposit 1 to essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to
separate metal
deposit 1 from the mother plate 2. Figure 6 shows a separating apparatus
performing such a
step where the first blade 16 has been moved between the metal deposit 1 and
the first side
5 of the mother plate 2 essentially from an upper edge of the metal deposit 1
to essentially
a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to separate metal deposit 1 from the
mother plate 2, and
where the second blade 18 has been moved between the metal deposit 1 and the
second
side 7 of the mother plate 2 essentially from an upper edge of the metal
deposit 1 to
essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to separate metal deposit 1
from the mother
plate 2. By using a blade arrangement that comprises a first blade 16 and a
second blade 18
which are rotatably arranged and which can be moved linearly along the surface
of a
mother plate 2 both splitting i.e. separation of metal deposit 1 from the
mother plate 2 and
tearing i.e. scraping of metal deposit 1 off the surface of the mother plate 2
can be
performed with the same blades.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a holding step for holding the permanent cathode 3 by means of holding
means 4
arranged in a blade arrangement 17 at least during part of the separating
process performed
by the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 and/or the
second pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8. Figure 2 shows a separating
apparatus
performing such a holding step where the permanent cathode 3 is held in
position by
means of holding means 4 arranged in the blade arrangement 17 during the
separating
process performed by the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means
6. A holding
step for holding the permanent cathode 3 by means of holding means 4 arranged
in a blade
arrangement 17 at least during part of the separating process performed by the
first
pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 and/or the second pivotable
member 11
of the second pressing means 8 may include holding the permanent cathode 3
simultaneously also by means of other holding means 4 than by holding means
arranged in
a blade arrangement 17.
The separating process includes a step for supporting the first side 5 of the
permanent cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first
pressing means 6
while pressing the opposite second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 by means
of the
second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8. In this preferred
embodiment
of the separating process the supporting step includes preferably, but not
necessarily,
supporting the first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of the first
pivotable
member 9 of the first pressing means 6 at a lower end region of the permanent
cathode 3 as
shown in figure 2.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a step for supporting the second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 by
means of the
WO 2010/116038 14 PCT/F12010/050279
second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 while pressing the
opposite
first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member
9 of the first
pressing means 6. Figure 2 shows a separating apparatus performing such a step
where the
second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 is supported by means of the second
pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8 while pressing the opposite first
side 5 of the
permanent cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first
pressing means
6. In this preferred embodiment of the separating process the supporting step
includes
preferably, but not necessarily, supporting the second side 7 of the permanent
cathode 3 by
means of the second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 at a
lower end
region of the permanent cathode 3 as shown in figure 2.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a step for removing the mother plate 2 from the holding means 4 prior
guiding
metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a step for firstly guiding the metal deposit 1 to the first pivotable
member 9 of the
first pressing means 6 by means of the second pivotable member 11 of the
second pressing
means 8 prior guiding metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13 by means of
the second
pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8.
The separating process includes in a preferred embodiment of the separating
process a step for firstly guiding the metal deposit 1 to the second pivotable
member 11 of
the second pressing means 8 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the
first pressing
means 6 prior guiding metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13 by means of
the second
pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8. Figures 3 and 4 show a
separating
apparatus performing such a step. The metal deposit 1 is in figure 3 firstly
guided to the
second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 by means of the
first
pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 prior guiding the metal
deposit 1 into the
receiving bin 13 by means of the second pivotable member 11 of the second
pressing
means 8 which is shown in figure 4.
In the following the separating apparatus for a separating process for
separating
metal deposit 1 from a mother plate 2 used as a permanent cathode 3 used as an
electrode
in an electrolytic process such as metal electrorefining or metal
electrowinning and some
of the preferred embodiments of the apparatus will be described in greater
detail.
The separating apparatus comprises holding means 4 for holding the permanent
cathode 3 at least during part of the separating process.
The separating apparatus comprises a machine frame 24.
In the separating apparatus shown in figure 10 holding means 4 for holding the
permanent cathode 3 at least during part of the separating process are
arranged in the
machine frame 24. The holding means 4 shown in figure 10 are configured for
holding the
WO 2010/116038 15 PCT/F12010/050279
permanent cathode 3 by the hanger bar 25 that is used for hanging the mother
plate 2 in the
electrolyte during the electrolytic process. The holding means 4 arranged in
the machine
frame 24 that are shown in figure 10 are configured for preventing the
permanent cathode 3
from falling in a vertical direction and for preventing the permanent cathode
from being
moved upwards in a vertical direction. In figure 10 the holding means 4 are
formed partly
by the machine frame 24 that is configured for preventing the permanent
cathode 3 from
falling in a vertical direction and partly by moveable pivoting locking
devices 28 which in
figure 10 are pivotable about a third axis 29 and a fourth axis 30, which are
configured for
preventing the permanent cathode from being moved upwards in a vertical
direction. In
other words, in figure 10 the holding means 4 are configured for preventing
the permanent
cathode 3 from moving in a vertical direction downwards and upwards by locking
the
hanger bar 25 of the permanent cathode 3 between stoppers 31 arranged in the
machine
frame 24 and the moveable pivoting locking devices 28.
The separating apparatus comprises in addition first pressing means 6 for
pressing
the permanent cathode 3 from a first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 to bend
the mother
plate 2 to separate metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2, and second
pressing means 8
for pressing the permanent cathode 3 from a second side 7 opposite to the
first side 5 of the
permanent cathode 3 to bend the mother plate 2 to separate metal deposit 1
from the
mother plate 2.
The first pressing means 6 includes a first pivotable member 9 configured to
be
pressed against the first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 to separate metal
deposit 1 from
the mother plate 2. The second pressing means 8 includes a second pivotable
member 11
configured to be pressed against the second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3
to separate
metal deposit 1 from the mother plate 2.
The first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 and the second
pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8 forms guiding means for guiding the
metal
deposit 1 into a receiving bin 13 arranged at a level below the holding means
4.
The holding means 4 are preferably, but not necessarily, configured for
holding the
mother plate 2 in an essentially vertical position during the separating
process, as shown in
the figures. The holding means 4 are preferably, but not necessarily,
configured for holding
the permanent cathode 3 so that the permanent cathode 3 is prevented from
moving
vertically.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus, the receiving bin 13 is
a
movable receiving bin 13 that is movable in relation to the machine frame 24
into a first
pre-defined receiving position at a level below the holding means 4 for in the
first pre-
defined receiving position receiving metal desposit 1 guided by the first
pivotable member
9 of the first pressing means 6, and into a second pre-defined receiving
position at a level
below the holding means 4 for in the second pre-defined receiving position
receiving metal
WO 2010/116038 16 PCT/F12010/050279
desposit 1 guided by the second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing
means 8. The
figures show such embodiments. In this preferred embodiment of the separating
apparatus
the separating apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a first
delay device 21
for preventing the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin
13 in a
wrong position i.e. a wrong angle. This prevents a metal deposit 1 for example
from falling
in a vertical position between the movable receiving bin 13 and a stack of
metal deposit 1
loaded into the movable receiving bin 13. The first delay device 21 comprises
in the
figures first movable stoppers 26 arranged to be movable at least partly into
the inside of
the movable receiving bin 13, said first movable stoppers 26 forming means for
preventing
the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong
position i.e. a
wrong angle. In figures 4 and 5 said first movable stoppers 26 will prevent
the metal
deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13 until the movable
receiving bin 13
and the machine frame 24 have been moved in relation to each other such that
the angle
between the metal deposit 1 with respect to the horizontal plane is less than
45 degrees. In
other words, when the angle between the metal deposit 1 with respect to the
horizontal
plane is less than 45 degrees, the first movable stoppers 26 will be retracted
from the inside
of the movable receiving bin 13 and the metal deposit 1 is allowed to fall
into the movable
receiving bin 13 as shown in figure 6. The first delay device 21 may also be
configured for
preventing the metal deposit 1 from falling into the movable receiving bin 13
if the
movable receiving bin 13 is not located in the first pre-defined receiving
position. In this
preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the separating apparatus
comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, a second delay device 22 for preventing the
metal deposit 1
from falling into the movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong position i.e. a
wrong angle. This
prevents a metal deposit 1 for example from falling in a vertical position
between the
movable receiving bin 13 and a stack of metal deposit 1 loaded into the
movable receiving
bin 13. The second delay device 22 comprises in the figures second movable
stoppers 27
arranged to be movable at least partly into the movable receiving bin 13, said
second
movable stoppers 27 forming means for preventing the metal deposit 1 from
falling into
the movable receiving bin 13 in a wrong position i.e. a wrong angle. The
second delay
device 22 may also be configured for preventing the metal deposit 1 from
falling into the
movable receiving bin 13 if the movable receiving bin 13 is not located in the
second pre-
defined receiving position. In this preferred embodiment of the separating
apparatus, the
separating apparatus comprises first actuation means that is preferably, but
not necessarily,
operable by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means
6 for
actuating an automatic movement of the movable receiving bin 13 in relation to
the
holding means 4 into a first pre-defined receiving position 14 at a level
below the holding
means 4. In this preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus, the
separating
apparatus comprises in addition second actuation means that is preferably, but
not
WO 2010/116038 17 PCT/F12010/050279
necessarily, operable by means of the second pivotable member 11 of the second
pressing
means 8 for actuating an automatic movement of the movable receiving bin 13 in
relation
to the holding means 4 into a second pre-defined receiving position 15 at a
level below the
holding means 4. In this preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the
first
pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 is configured for guiding the
metal
deposit 1 separated from the mother plate 2 into the movable receiving bin 13
that is
located in the first pre-defined receiving position. In this preferred
embodiment of the
separating apparatus the second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing
means 8 is
preferably, but not necessarily, configured for guiding the metal deposit 1
separated from
the mother plate 2 into the movable receiving bin 13 that is located in the
second pre-
defined receiving position. In this preferred embodiment of the separating
apparatus the
movable receiving bin 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, movable in
relation to the
machine frame 24 into a third pre-defined unloading position.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus, the separating
apparatus
comprises a blade arrangement 17 comprising a first blade 16 that is pressable
between the
metal deposit 1 and the first side 5 of the mother plate 2 to separate metal
deposit 1 from
the mother plate 2 and a second blade 18 that is pressable between the metal
deposit 1 and
the second side 7 of the mother plate 2 to separate metal deposit 1 from the
mother plate 2.
In this preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the first blade 16 is
preferably,
but not necessarily, rotatably arranged in the blade arrangement 17 about a
first axis of
rotation 19 that is essentially parallel with the mother plate 2, and the
second blade 18 is
preferably, but not necessarily, rotatably arranged in the blade arrangement
17 about a
second axis of rotation 20 that is essentially parallel with the mother plate
2, as shown in
figure 6. A rotatably arranged first blade 16 and a rotatably arranged second
blade 18 make
also possible to adjust the position of the first blade 16 and the second
blade 18 in relation
to the surfaces of the mother plate 2 for example to adjust the position of
the first blade 16
and the second blade 18 in accordance with the thickness of the mother plate 2
by rotating
the first blade 16 and the second blade 18 in relation to the surfaces of the
mother plate 2
so that the edge (not marked with a reference numeral) of the first blade 16
and so that the
edge (not marked with a reference numeral) of the second blade 18 are close to
the surfaces
of the mother plate 2. In this preferred embodiment of the separating
apparatus the first
blade 16 is preferably, but not necessarily, movable between the metal deposit
1 and the
first side 5 of the mother plate 2 essentially from an upper edge of the metal
deposit 1 to
essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to separate metal deposit 1
from the mother
plate 2, and the second blade 18 is preferably, but not necessarily, movable
between the
metal deposit 1 and the second side 7 of the mother plate 2 essentially from
an upper edge
of the metal deposit 1 to essentially a lower edge of the metal deposit 1 to
separate metal
deposit 1 from the mother plate 2, as shown in figure 7.
WO 2010/116038 18 PCT/F12010/050279
If the separating apparatus is provided with a blade arrangement 17, the
holding
means 4 is preferably, but not necessarily, arranged in the blade arrangement
17. In this
preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the holding means 4 is
configured for
holding the permanent cathode 3 at least during part of the separating process
performed
by the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 and/or the
second pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8, as shown in figure 2.
In the separating apparatus the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing
means
6 is configured for supporting the first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3
while pressing the
opposite second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 by means of the second
pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the second pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8 is configured for supporting the
second side 7
of the permanent cathode 3 while pressing the opposite first side 5 of the
permanent
cathode 3 by means of the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means
6, as shown
in figure 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the separating apparatus
comprises a removing arrangement (not shown in the figures) for removing the
mother
plate 2 from the holding means 4 prior guiding metal deposit 1 into the
receiving bin 13.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the second pivotable
member 11 of the second pressing means 8 is configured for guiding the metal
deposit 1
onto the first pivotable member 9 of the first pressing means 6 prior guiding
the metal
deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13 by means of first pivotable member 9 of
the first
pressing means 6.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the first pivotable
member 9
of the first pressing means 6 is configured for guiding the metal deposit 1
onto the second
pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 prior guiding metal deposit
1 into the
receiving bin 13 by means of second pivotable member 11 of the second pressing
means 8.
Figures 3 and 4 show such an embodiment, where in figure 3 the first pivotable
member 9
of the first pressing means 6 is in process of pushing the metal deposit 1
onto the second
pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8 and where figure 4 shows
the
situation after figure 3 where the second pivotable member 11 of the second
pressing
means 8 guides the metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the first pivotable
member 9
of the first pressing means 6 comprises roller means 23 configured to be
pressed against
the first side 5 of the permanent cathode 3 and to serve as movement means
when guiding
metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13 by means of the first pivotable
member 9 of the
first pressing means 6.
In a preferred embodiment of the separating apparatus the second pivotable
WO 2010/116038 19 PCT/F12010/050279
member 11 of the first pressing means 6 comprises roller means 23 configured
to be
pressed against the second side 7 of the permanent cathode 3 and to serve as
movement
means when guiding metal deposit 1 into the receiving bin 13 by means of the
second
pivotable member 11 of the second pressing means 8.
It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the
basic
idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and
its
embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may
vary within
the scope of the claims.
WO 2010/116038 20 PCT/F12010/050279
List of reference numerals
1. Metal deposit
2. Mother plate
3. Permanent cathode
4. Holding means
5. First side of cathode
6. First pressing means
7. Second side of cathode
8. Second pressing means
9. First pivotable member
10. First axis
11. Second pivotable member
12. Second axis
13. Movable receiving bin
14. First pre-defined receiving position
15. Second pre-efined receiving position
16. First blade
17. Blade arrangement
18. Second blade
19. First axis of rotation
20. Second axis of rotation
21. First delay device
22. Second delay device
23. Roller means
24. Machine frame
25. Hanger bar
26. First movable stoppers
27. Second movable stoppers
28. Moveable pivoting locking devices
29. Third axis
30. Fourth axis
31. Stopper
