Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Background of the Invention:
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
shaping anodes to be employed in the electrolytic refining
of metals.
Description of the Prior Art:
For carrying out an electrolysis operation in the
electrolytic refining of metals, the electrolytic plant
should have a large capacity and at the same time the
clearance between an anode and a cathode in the cells should
be minimized.
Crude copper~ crude niekel~ nickel matte and the
like are casted to form rectangular plates having supporter
mem~ers or ears protruding outwardly from opposing side edges
at an upper edge thereofa the support ears being suspended on
longitudinal flange portions at the upper portion of the
cell and the casted plates being electrolyzed as the anodes.
Such anode plates are prepared by casting a molten material
onto recessed molds having a shape as shown in Fig. 1, and
placed horizontally to enable the casting in the simplest
manner, cooling the surface of the casted material by spray
ing water thereon and stripping the solidified casted material
from the molds. In order to facilitate the removal of the
casted plates from the molds, the side walls of the recess
in the molds are inclined outwardly so that the sides of the
casted anode are sloped.
Refined thin metal sheets are suspended vertically
in the cells as the cathodes. When each anode casted, as
stated above, is suspended between the two cathodes by being
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supported on the longitudinal flanges of the cell by its
support ears or members at the both sides of the anode under-
surfaces of the ears are not perpendicular to the surface
walls of anodes but are inclined with respect thereto.
Accordingly, when the anodes are supported on the longitudinal
flanges of the cell, the bottom surfaces are out of full
contact therewith since only edges having acute angles on
bottom surfaces contact the flanges. Therefore~ the anodes
cannot be placed vertically in position but must be inclined
; 10 to the vertical~ Hence the clearance between the anode and
the cathode at the lower portion differs from that at the
upper portion. During the electrolysis operation, such an
inclination causes a difference in the dissolving rate at the
upper and lower portions. Hence the casted anodes cannot be
fully exhausted and the remaining portion must be casted
again for the re-use; thus, the utility efflciency of the
anodes is markedly reduced. In addition, in order to avoid
a direct contact of the anode with the cathode because of
the inclined anodes, the clearance between an anode and a
cathode should be maintained larger for the purpose of safety
than that will be maintained if the anode were suspended
vertically in position. This, however, results in a reduced
utility of the electrolytic cell~
In order to eliminate such problems, the position-
ing of the support ears or members has been positively adjusted
by inserting copper liners or the like below the undersurfaces
thereof so that the anode is suspended vertically in position~
However, such an adjustment requires much time and labor.
In order to reduce such labor, the shape of the
molds has been improved so that the undersurfaces are
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perpendicular to the parallel side surfaces to be electrolyzed9
or so that the inclination of the undersurfaces of one support
member is reversed relative to that of another support member.
However, as the casting accuracy of the anode plates cannot be
controlled precisely because of the simple casting procedure
involved, it has been difficult to overcome such problems by
such a control in the shape of the casted anodes. In addi-
tion, the surface of the casted anodes is so rough that the
electric resistance between an anode and a bus bar becomes
so high as to significantly reduce the electrolysis efficiency.
.
Summary of the Invention:
For overcoming such problems, the undersurfaces of
the support ears or members of the anodes are worked, in
accordance with the invention, by shaping them to provide
an arcuate surface having a radius R of which center lies
substantially on the center line of the thickness of the
anodes so that the anodes hang vertically in position when
their support ears or members are suspended on the flanges
of the cell.
` A primary object of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus for efficiently shaping anode plates in
that the undersurfaces of support ears of a plurality of
anode plates are concurrently shaped to increase the number
of the plates to be wor~ed per unit time, and to reduce the
installation space as well as the investment and running
costs as an accessory for a large scale electrolytic plant.
According to the present invention, the apparatus
for shaping anode plates includes a receptacle having a
plurality of vertical walls with a height and a width little
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larger than that of the anodes so as to define channels in
equally spaced relation for the reception of the plates
having their support ears extending outwardly of opposing
side edges of the walls, the plates being clamped against
adjacent wall surfaces. Shaping devices are disposed at the
lateral sides of the receptacleg such devices having cutters
movable toward and away from the receptacle to concurrently
shape the undersurfaces of the support ears or members of a
plurality of anodes. And, a vertically and horizontally
movable transfer device effects the transfer of a plurality
of anodes to and from the channel of the receptacle~
Brief Description of the Drawings:
Fig~ 1 shows a front view of anode made according
to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial side view taken along
line II - II of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the shap-
ing apparatus according to the present invention
Fig. 4A is a side view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 4B is a side view of the receptacle of Fi8.
4A showing the anode support beams.
Fig. 5A is an enlarged side view of the pinching
device or receptacle of Fig. 3 showing the manner of clamping
the anodes in place.
Fig. SB is an enlarged front elevational view show-
ing the relal:ionship between the shaping device, the anode
support beams, and the transfer device.
Fig. 5C is a further enlarged partial view of a
receptacle wall and a clamping device thereon.
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:
Fig. 6 is a front view showing the relative posi-
tions of the pinching device, shaping apparatus, supporting
means and transfer means, taken substantially along line
VI - Vl of Fig. 4A.
Fig. 7 is a side view of hanging frames of the
transfer means.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.
Fig~ 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a typical
milling cutter of the shaping devices.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments:
As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a plurality of ver-
tical walls 3a having a height a width slightly larger than
that of anodes 1 are arranged to parallel to one another
and are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the
thickness of anodes 1. The walls are interconnected at the
bottom thereof so as to form a plurality of channels 3b
opening upwardly and extending laterally between walls 3a.
In each wall 3a except the wall 3a~, three oil pressure
cylinders 3c are provided in spaced-apart relation and lie
perpendicular to the wall surfaces so as to be positioned at
apices of a triangle (Figs~ 5 and 6). A pinching device or
receptacle 3, thus provided includes piston rods 3d of oil
pressure cylinders 3c protruding through the wall surface of
adjacent walls 3a. Hence anodes 1 can be pinched or clamped
in place within channels 3b by inserting anodes 1 vertically
into channels 3b paral]el to each other wall 3a by means of
piston rods 3d.
A support device 4 is provided at opposite sides of
receptacle 3, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Support device
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4 includes support beams 4a arranged horizontally adjacent
walls 3a and parallel to the side edges thereof. Vertical
piston rods 4c of oil pressure cylinders 4b are connec~ed
to opposite ends of the beams. Guide bars 4d are secured at
one end thereof to the undersurfaces of support beams 4a and
extend downwardly from support beams 4a into guide channels
4e disposed centrally of beams 4a. Support device 4 thus
supports support ears 2 at the later sides of anodes 1 which
have been transferred by the transfer device and inserted
into channels 3b on the top surface of support beams 4a.
Support beams 4a are raised together to a predetermined
position by piston rods 4c of oil pressure cylinders 4b.
Anodes 1, supported by support beams 4a, are then clamped
in place by pressing them against walls 3a by protruding
piston rods 3d. Piston rods 4c are then retracted into oil
pressure cylinders 4b, and support beams 4a are allowed to
lower so as to disengage from support ears 2 (see Fig. 5B3.
As shown in Fig. 6, anodes 1 pinched by pinching
device 3 are held in a condition such that support ears 2
protrude laterally outwardly from walls 3a between channels
3b. Shaping devices 5 are disposed at opposite sides of
anodes 1 which are held in place by device 3. Cutter holders
5b are movable forward and away from receptacle 3 by means
of oil pressure cylinders 5c fixedly mounted on beds 5a.
Motors 5e are fixedly mounted on holders 5b for driving
shafts 5f disposed parallel to support beams 4aO Milling
cutters 5~, having concave blade tips as shown in Fig. 9,
are attached to each shaft 5f at positions corresponding to
the support ears of anodes 1 so as to shape undersurfaces
2a of ears 2 to suitable lengths. Hence, the apparatus is
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designed to support a number of anodes 1 by means of support
beams 4a, then pinch the anodes by means of pinching device
3, allow support beams 4a to lower, allow milling cutters
5g to shape undersurfaces 2a of support ears 2 and then
retract milling cutters 5~ so as to disengage from the anodes.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, a transfer device 6 is ;
supported on legs 6a above pinching device 3 for inserting
anodes 1 in~o channels 3b of pinching device 3 and for with-
drawing anodes 1 from channels 3b. Beams 6b interconnect
the top ends of legs 6a so as to form square frames sur-
rounding pinching device 3, and rails 6c are provided there-
on parallel to support beams 4a. A carrier 6d is mounted `
on rails 6c for movement from a position outwardly of one
; end of pinching device 3 to a position outwardly of the
opposite end of pinching device 3 in a direction parallel
to the train of walls 3a. Two hanging frames 6e are disposed
between beams 6b (Fig. 6) and are suspended by piston rods
6g of oil pressure cylinders 6f fixedly mounted on carried
6d for movement vertically up and down along guide pipes 6m.
Carrier 6d is movable by oil pressure cylinders 6h secured
to opposite ends of beams 6b. If carrier 6d is moved to
the right or to the left in Fig. 4, one of hanging frames
6e will be positioned immediately above pinching device 3
(Fig. 4) and the other hanging frame will be positioned to
the front or to the rear of pinching device 3. - -
As shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, links 6i are
arranged inwardly of frame beams 6n of each hanging frame
6e. Pins 6i are fixedly secured to hooks 61 located outwardly
of beams 6n, the pins being rotatably mounted on beams 6n
and being fixedly secured to short links connected to links
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6i. Th~ls hooks 61 may be swung back and forth about the pin
axes upon actuation of oil pressure 6k mounted on hanging
frame 6e. Opposing pairs of hooks 61 engage support ears 2
for supporting a plurality of anodes 1 which rest on a con-
stantly pitching conveyer 7 provided at the front of pinch-
ing device 3. The anodes are spaced apart distances equal
to the spacing of channels 3b of pinching device 3 so that,
when lifted by hooks 61 of hanging frames 6e, they may be
inserted into channels 3b~ Opposing pairs of hooks 61 also
lift the anodes from channels 3b of pinching device 3 for
discharging them onto an endless discharging conveyer 8
provided at the rear of pinching device 3.
A plurality of anodes 1 transferred by means of a
forklift are mounted on a base 9b of feeding conveyer 9
positioned at a predetermined elevation by means of a cylinder
9a. Anode 1 are eransferred in compact condition by the
fork lift and are arranged in uniform lateral order by means
of a pair of lateral positioner device 9c provided on opposite
sides of base 9b. And then, they are hung by their ears on
; 20 conveyer 9 upon the lowering of cylinder 9a.
Anodes 1 are conveyed under such condition by means
of feeding conveyer 9 to constantly pitching conveyer i and
when anodes 1 are transferred from feeding conveyer 9 to
constantly pitching conveyer 7, anodes 1 maintain the same
spaced relation to that of channel 3b.
When the same number of anodes 1 as that of chan
nels 3b arrives immediately below transfer device 6 by means
of constantly pitching conveyer 79 the movements of feeding
conveyer 9 and constantly pitching conveyer 7 are stopped.
These conveyers are shown in more detail in Japanese Utility
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Model lay open Print No. 4537~/1973, published June 13, 1973
and commonly o-~ned herewith. Then hanging frame 6e at the
left side in Fig. 4 above conveyer 7 is lowered and hooks 61
are operated to engage ears 2 of anodes 1 so as to lift them,
insert them into pinching device 3 and place them on support
beams 4a of supporter device 4 (See Fig. 5B). After the
completion of these operations, the operations of feeding
conveyer 9 and constantly yitching conveyer 7 are retarted
for repeating the preceding cycle~ Carrier 6d is returned
to the original position and hanging frame 6e at the left side
is returned above constantly pitching conveyer 7. The anodes
which have been passed shift from supporter device 4 to pinch-
ing device 3, are then shaped as described above by means
of shaping device 5, and are then supported again by support
device 4 simultaneously with release of the pinching device
3O Then hanging frame 6e above constantly pitching conveyer
7 and hanging frame 6e immediately above pinching device 3
are lowered together for lifting the anodes as hooks 61
engage ears 2 thereof. It can therefore be seen that the
leftward hanging frame transfers the unworlced anodes supported
on constantly pitching conveyer 7 to pinching device 3, and
the rightward hanging frame trarsfers the worked anodes from
; pinching device 3 to discharging conveyoer 8.
By precisely supporting the anodes in predeter-
mined position within channels 3b by means of hoolcs 619 it
is possible to support anodes 1 by means of the transfer
device instead of the support device until anodes 1 are
pinched by the pinching device, thereby avoiding the need
for a support device.
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In the embodiment described above, support beam 4a
may be arranged for longitudinal movement and the anodes may
be so conveyed that they are laid down horizontally to con-
stantly pitching conveyer 7 and may be vertically separated
on conveyer 7. In addition, transfer device 6 may comprise
9 hanging frame hung from a crane. Still further, the
present apparatus may be employed in combination with a
~ constantly pitching conveyer corresponding to the anode- pitch in an electrolyzing cell.
To briefly the summarize the operation of the ap-
paratus according to the present invention, a plurality of
the anodes, equal to the number of channels 3b of receptacle
3, are conveyed first along conveyer 9 and then along con-
veyer 7, conveyer 7 is then stopped so that the plurality
of anodes, which are supported vertically at a predetermined
spacing with their portions at the upper ends of the plates,
are made to lie directly beneath the left hanging frame 6e
positioned as in Fig. 4 to the left-most end of transfer
device 6. The right hanging frame 6e is, in such position,
directly above receptacle 3 as shownO Cylinders 6f are then
actuated to Qxtend their piston rods 6~ thereby simultaneously
lowering both hanging frames sufficiently so that hooks 61
will engage the undersurfaces o~ ears 2 so the hooks be
swung beneath the ears upon actuation of link mechanism 6i
by cylinders 6ko Both hanging frames are then raised upon
actuation of their cylinders 6f so as to thereby lift the
anodes from conveyer 7. Both hanging frames are then moved
towards only to the right, when viewing Fig. 4A, until the
left hanging frame lies directly above receptacle 3. Such
horizontal movement is carried out by clinders 6h. Both
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hanging frames are then again lowered upon actuation of their
cylinders 6f for insertion of the anodes into channels 3b.
Just prior to such insertion, support beams 4a are raised,
by the actuation of their cylinders 4b, to a position shown
in phantom outline in Fig. 5B~ The anodes may then be lowered
` into receptacle 3 until their support ears 2 rest on the top
surfaces of support beams 4a. The lower level of hanging
~` frame 6e and hooks 61 thereof are shown in phantom outline
in Fig. 5B. Cylinders 3c are then actuated to extend their
` lO piston rods 3d so as to pinch or clamp the anodes in placeagainst the surface of walls 3a. Hooks 61 are then swung
out of engagement with ears 2 upon actuation of link mecha-
nism 6i, the left hanging frame is then raised, support
beams 4a are lowered, and undersurfaces 2a of support ears ~-
2 are shaped or milled by cutters 5~ as cutter holders 5b
are moved toward receptacle 3 upon actuacion of cylinders
5c. Upon completion of the shaplng or milling operation~ the
cutter holders 5b are shifted away from receptacle 3 to their
position shown in phàntom outline in Fig. 5B, beams 4a are
elevated to their phantom outline position shown in this
Figure, both hanging frames are moved horizontally back to
their position shown in Fig. 4, both hanging frames are
lowered9 and hooks 61 on the right hanging frame are swung
to engage ears 2 of the now-shaped anodes in receptacle 3,
and hooks 61 of the left hanging frame are s~ng to engage
the support ears of a plurality of anodes yet to be worked
on and which now lie directly therebeneath on conveyer 7 as
described earlier. Both hanging frames are then raised for
simultaneously moving the unworked and the worked sets of
anodes upwardly. Horizontal shifting of the hanging frames
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then transfers the finished anodes to overlie conveyer 8 and
the unfinished anodes to overlie receptacle 3. ~pon the
lowering of the hanging frame, and a swinging of their hooks
to disengage them from the support: ears of the anodes, the
finished sets of anodes are deposited onto conveyer 8, and
the unfinished set of anodes are lowered into channels 3b
of receptacle 3 in the same manner as described hereabove.
The operation cycle is then repeated as detailed above.
From the foregoing~ it can be seen that the ap-
paratus according to the present invention is capable of
economically and efficiently shaping the support ears of a
plurality of anodes to be supplied to an electroly~ing cell
on a large scale. In addition~ contacting the anodes with
bus bars is improved significantly to reduce cell voltage.
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