AU2007237223B2

AU2007237223B2 - Apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates

Info

Publication number: AU2007237223B2
Application number: AU2007237223A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Takamitsu Kaneda; Koichi Maki; Akira Ueno
Original assignee: JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp
Current assignee: JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp
Priority date: 2007-03-20
Filing date: 2007-11-23
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-23
Also published as: CN101270488B; CN101270488A; CL2007003880A1; JP4294057B2; AU2007237223A1; JP2008231499A

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title Apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: P/00/o Il C I IVN IIN X1 Ii$'tt1 1 Apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates Technical Field The present invention relates to apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates, and more specifically to apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates for removing cathode plates considered to be defective having protrusions, flexure and such before they are transferred to the traverse conveyor upon conveying cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal by electrolytic smelting to a stripping means by a traverse conveyor, and stripping the electrodeposited metal from the cathode plates by said stripping means and recovering the stripped metal. Background of the Invention Electrolytic smelting of metal using permanent cathodes according to ISA method, for example electrolytic smelting of copper, is performed by electrodepositing electrolytic copper 2 to both surfaces of cathode plates by immersing a plurality of cathode plates made from stainless and anode plates cast with crude copper alternately in a electrolyte cell filled with electrolyte and conducting electricity thereto. Copper sheets 2 electrodeposited on the cathode plates are stripped from the plates using a stripping apparatus and served as products. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a cathode plate 1 is a stainless plate fitted with protectors 5 of synthetic resin on its both lateral surfaces while provided with a crossbar 4 at its upper side. Said crossbar 4 is further provided with 2 windows 3,3 to which hooks of a cathode plate conveying 1 IN Li A L I -I L I% device (not illustrated) are latched so as to charge, remove and convey the cathode plate to and from the electrolyte cell. Cathode plates 1 made from stainless are recently being widely used since they are durable and can be repetitively used while short circuit is less likely to occur during electrolytic smelting due to their good planarity. Then, 2 layers of electrodeposited metal stripped from both surfaces of each cathode plate are conveyed by a conveying device in pairs, and pressed by a flat press to obtain planarity and further subjected to corrugation to provide wavelike patterns on electrolytic copper before they are served as products. A conventional system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets is disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-240146 (patent reference 1). The system for recovering electrolytic cop.per sheets mentioned therein is comprised of a ply plate installation part for carrying in ply plate of SUS plate (cathode plate) deposited with electrolytic copper on both surfaces after electrolytic smelting, a cleansing apparatus for washing said ply plate, a stripping apparatus for stripping electrolytic copper sheets from the SUS plate, a SUS plate discharging part for recovering the stripped SUS plate, a defective removing apparatus for removing defective SUS plates produced from ill-stripping in the stripping process, a junction apparatus for jointing stripped electrolytic copper sheets, a packing apparatus for packing the stacked electrolytic copper sheets and a copper sheet discharging part for recovering the electrolytic copper sheets after they are packed, in which conveyors are installed in between each apparatuses as well as installation and discharging parts. 2 ly ii I LI Ift1L)k Next, operations of the above mentioned system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets are described. A ply plate carried into the ply plate installation part is hanged and transferred to the cleansing apparatus where a predetermined number of plates are simultaneously washed. Washed plate is transferred to a traverse conveyor by a conveyor and continuously conveyed to the stripping apparatus one by one in a direction deflected by the traverse conveyor with the surfaces of the plate in parallel to the conveying direction (in other words, in an axial direction of crossbar 4). When the plate is received by the stripping apparatus, electrolytic copper sheets are stripped from the SUS plate one at a time, and the SUS plate and the electrolytic copper sheets are respectively conveyed by a conveyor. The electrolytic copper sheets are then packed by the packing apparatus and recovered from the copper sheet discharging part. [Patent Reference 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-240146 Summary of the Invention Object of the Invention However, in the conventional system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets, when there are protrusions and flexures formed on the surfaces of a ply plate, troubles are induced as they contact the equipments, apparatuses and such surrounding the traverse conveyor upon conveyance of the ply plate to the stripping apparatus by the traverse conveyor. More specifically, since the traverse conveyor conveys the plate in a direction parallel to its surface, the width of the traverse conveyor is configured 3 P:VWPDOCSVMDTVSpecsw20311250 Ist SPA.doc 14/5/09 comparatively narrow where the ply plate is conveyed. Therefore, when there are large protrusions on the surfaces or flexures on the ply plate, they may contact the surrounding equipments and apparatuses. Moreover, when large protrusions are formed at the bottom edge of the plate, conveyance troubles may occur due to the protrusions contacting the bottom surface of the conveying path of the traverse conveyor. Such problem is not only time-consuming as the traverse conveyor has to be suspended each time to be dealt with the trouble appropriately, but also inefficient as it lowers the operation efficiency of the recovering system as a whole, and further leads to a significant decrease in productivity. Further to above, the electrolytic copper sheets with protrusions and flexures cannot be sold as products. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates by removing cathode plates formed with protrusions and flexures from the plates electrodeposited with refined metal by electrolytic smelting before it is transferred to the traverse conveyor, and capable of preventing troubles on the traverse conveyor during conveyance induced by defective cathode plates in advance to raise the productivity efficiency of the copper sheets recovering system as a whole. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates to be arranged in a system for conveying cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal by P:VWPDOCSVMDTYSpecsV20311250 1st SPA.doc - 14/5/09 electrolytic smelting to a stripping means by a traverse conveyor, stripping electrodeposited metal sheets from said cathode plates by said stripping means and recovering the stripped electrodeposited metal sheets, wherein said apparatus removing cathode plates judged to be defective having protrusions, flexures and such before they are conveyed to said traverse conveyor. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus may further comprise a check board arranged at the lower section of a conveying means for conveying said cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal so as to contact protrusions of the size judged to be defective formed on the bottom of said cathode plates as they pass, and thereby toppling over towards the conveying direction but returning to the original position after said cathode plates pass over; a magnetism generating means arranged to topple over in connection with the toppling of said check board; a magnetism detecting means for detecting magnetism generated by said magnetism generating means and detecting changes in magnetic field induced by the toppling of said magnetism generating means in connection with the toppling of said check board; and a removing means for removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of detection of said magnetism detecting means without transferring them to the traverse conveyor. In another embodiment of the first aspect, cathode plates with protrusions of over 10mm in height formed at the bottom thereof may be removed to be defective by producing a clearance of at least 10mm in between the top edge of said check board and the bottom edges of said cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal P:VWPDOCSVMDTVSpecsY20311250 Ist SPA.doc - 14/5/09 passing over said check board. In a further embodiment of the first aspect, the width of said check board may be broader than the width of said cathode plates. In yet a further embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus may further comprise a mark detecting means for filming and detecting markings on predetermined sections of said cathode plates as they are conveyed by a conveying means for conveying said cathode plate deposited with refined metal to said traverse conveyor, said markings being marked preliminarily on the cathode plates judged to be defective having flexures or protrusions of a predetermined height on the surfaces; and a removing means for removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of said mark detecting means without transferring them to said traverse conveyor. In another embodiment of the first aspect, the marking may be a mark of yellow or blue on one end of a crossbar of said cathode plate. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for sorting defective cathode plates comprising: conveying cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal by electrolytic smelting to a stripping means by a traverse conveyor; removing cathode plates having protrusions, flexures and such as being defective before they are conveyed to said traverse conveyor upon recovering the electrodeposited metal sheets stripped from said cathode plates by said stripping means.

P1:VWPDOCSYMDTVSpecsV2O311250 lstSPA.doc - 14/5/09 In an embodiment of the second aspect, the method may further comprise arranging a check board at the lower section of a conveying means for conveying said cathode plates deposited with refined metal so as to contact protrusions of a height judged to be defective formed on the bottom of said cathode plate as they pass; toppling over said check board towards the conveying direction as a result of the contact with said protrusions; toppling over a magnetism generating means in connection with the toppling of said check board; detecting magnetic change induced by the toppling of said magnetism generating means by a magnetism detecting means; and removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of said magnetism detecting means without transferring them to the traverse conveyor. In a further embodiment of the second aspect, the method may further comprise filming markings on predetermined sections of said cathode plates by a camera as they are conveyed by said conveying means for conveying cathode plate deposited with refined metal to said traverse conveyor, said markings being preliminarily marked on cathode plates judged to be defective having flexures or protrusions of a predetermined height formed on the surfaces; detecting said markings by a mark detecting means; and removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of the detection without transferring them to said traverse conveyor.

I':WPDOCSYMDTVSpecsV203 11250 1st SPA.doc - 14/5109 Effect of the invention Apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates according to the present invention has an effect of preliminarily preventing troubles induced by defective cathode plates on the traverse conveyor during conveyance by removing defective cathode plates before they are transferred to the traverse conveyor. Moreover, according to the apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates of the present invention, it has an effect of eliminating time-consuming procedures to deal with the troubles induced by defective cathode plates on the traverse conveyor during the conveyance and thereby enhancing the production efficiency of the copper sheets recovery system as a whole. Preferred embodiments of the invention First of all, a general summary of a system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets as electrodeposited metal is described, followed by a description on apparatus and method for sorting defective cathode plates according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets as electrodeposited metal. A system 100 for recovering electrolytic copper sheets is comprised of an installation part 101 to which a stainless cathode plates 1 deposited with electrolytic copper sheets 2 on both surface (hereinafter called ply plate A) as illustrated in FIG. 1 is carried in by a loading trolley, a cleansing apparatus 102 for washing the ply plate A carried in, a sorting apparatus 10 for removing defective ply plate A having protrusions and flexures larger than a predetermined height formed on the surfaces, a traverse conveyor 6 for conveying the washed ply plate A in a direction parallel to the plane of the plate, a stripping apparatus 103 for stripping electrolytic copper sheets 2 by chiselling from the ply plate A conveyed by the traverse conveyor 6, a cathode plate discharging part 104 for recovering cathode plate 1 after being stripped of electrolytic copper sheets 2, a laminating apparatus 107 for combining together 2 sheets of the stripped electrolytic copper 2 in pairs, a copper sheet conveying apparatus 106 for conveying the combined electrolytic copper sheets 2, a pressing apparatus 108 for performing flat press and corrugation to the copper sheets 2 upon their conveyance by the copper sheet conveying apparatus 106 and a copper sheet packing part 109 for loading and weighing a predetermined number of electrolytic copper sheet 2 treated with pressing processes, packing the copper sheets 2 after they are labeled, bundled and marked and finally recovering the packed 9 electrolytic copper sheets 2. A brief summary of the operations of the above system for recovering electrolytic copper sheets is described next. First of all, the ply plate A is carried into the installation part 101 in a state hanged by the loading trolley. The plate A is delivered to the cleansing apparatus 102 by a conveyor (not illustrated) as it is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate A. A predetermined number of plates A are simultaneously washed by the cleansing apparatus 102. The washed plate A is further conveyed by the conveyor (not illustrated) until it is transferred to the traverse conveyor 6 whereby the conveying direction is deflected to the direction parallel to the plane of plate A (in other words, in an axial direction of the crossbar 4), and continuously conveyed to the stripping apparatus 103 one by one. Upon receiving the ply plate A one at a time, the stripping apparatus 103 strips off the electrolytic copper sheets 2 from each cathode plate 1 to separate the two components, and the cathode plate 1 is delivered to the cathode plate discharging part 104 to be employed in electrolytic smelting again. Meanwhile, 2 sheets of the stripped electrolytic copper 2 are stacked in pairs and joined at least 2 sections by an appropriate method to be fixed together and transferred to the electrolytic copper sheet conveying apparatus 106. A pair of electrolytic copper sheets 2 joined together is then subjected to flat press and corrugation by the pressing apparatus 108 as they are conveyed by the electrolytic copper sheet conveying apparatus 106. The electrolytic copper sheets 2 treated with pressing are stacked and weighed by a 10 predetermined number at a time, packed after they are labeled, bundled and marked to be recovered from the copper sheet discharging part 109. Apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates according to the present invention is to be arranged in a predetermined position at a conveyor before the ply plate A is transferred to the traverse conveyor 6. One of the embodiments of the apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The illustrated apparatus 10 for sorting defective cathode plates is provided with a first sorting device 11 and a second sorting device 12. The first sorting device 11 is comprised of a check board 20 arranged so as to contact protrusions 9 on the cathode plate 1 when a cathode plate 1 (ply plate A) electrodeposited with copper sheets 2 having protrusions of a height over h which is considered to be defective on the bottom passes, and thereby toppling over to the conveying direction (direction shown by an arrow X in FIG. 3) but returning to the original position after the cathode plate 1 passes over, a magnetism generator 23 arranged so as to topple over in connection with the toppling of the check board 20, a magnetism detector 25 for detecting magnetism generated by the magnetism generator 23 and further detecting changes in magnetic field induced by the toppling of the magnetism generator 23 in connection with the toppling of the check board 20, a removal device 27 (refer to FIG. 5) for removing a cathode plate 1 judged to be defective from the results of the magnetism detector 25 to a reject conveyor 7 instead of transferring them to the traverse 11 conveyor 6. The sorting device 11 is arranged before the traverse conveyor 6 and at the lower section of the conveying means for conveying the ply plates A to the traverse conveyor 6 (refer to FIG. 2). As illustrated, the check board 20 is a bar member longer than the length of the ply plate A in a width direction which is rotatably supported by supporting parts 21 arranged on either side at spindles 20a provided at the lower section of either end of the bar. From such composition, the check board 20 is free to topple over to the conveying direction (direction X) of the ply plate A on the spindles 20a. The check board 20 is further provided with a returning mechanism employing means such as a spring, and configured to keep an upright state (state as illustrated in FIG. 3) unless force of some sort is applied thereto. Accordingly, the check board 20 is toppled over to the direction X, which is the conveying direction of the ply plate A, by contacting the protrusions 9 formed on the bottom of the ply plate A upon said plate A passing over the check board 20, but rises up by the returning mechanism (not illustrated) after the passing of the plate A and returns to the original position. Since a highly reactive electrolytic such as copper sulfate solution is used in electrolytic refining, it is preferable that the check boards 20 are made from stainless steel, such as SUS316 which is corrosive-resistant. It is preferable to form a clearance of at least 10mm in between the upper edge of the check board 20 and the bottom edge of the ply plate A passing over the check board 20. With such composition, it becomes possible to remove ply plate A having downward 12 protrusions 9 of over 10 mm in height h on the bottom as being defective. It is also possible to adjust the size (height) of the protrusions 9 to be removed by changing the breadth of the clearance. On one of the spindle 20a supported by the supporting part 21, a magnetism generator 23 configured to topple over in connection with the toppling of the check board 20 is provided. Located near the magnetism generator 23 is a magnetism detector 25 for detecting magnetism generated by the magnetism generator 23. The magnetism generator 23 is configured to be kept in an upright state when the check board 20 is in an upright position, and when the check board 20 is toppled over, it goes down to a toppled position in connection thereto, moving away from the magnetism detector 25 (refer to FIG. 4). The magnetism detector 25 is able to judge that the ply plate A with protrusions 9 on the bottom has passed over the check board 20 by detecting the changes in magnetic field resulting from such change in position of the magnetism generator 23. The magnetism detector 25 can take any other configuration if it is possible to detect the positional change of the magnetism generator 23 in connection with the toppling of the check board 20, and the invention is not to be limited only to the present embodiment. A detection signal detected by the magnetism detector 25 is sent to a control device 27 which thereupon sends removal signal giving instructions to a removal device 35 to deliver the concerning ply plate A towards the reject conveyor 7 for removal instead of transferring it to the traverse conveyor 6. The removal device 35 13 INI I 14A U removes the ply plate A judged to be defective according to the removal signal sent from the control device 27 without transferring it to the traverse conveyor 6 but transferring it to the reject conveyor 7 instead. The control device 27 consists of a general-purpose computer comprising a memory device such as a memory for recording data, a central processing unit for processing various data according to programs recorded in the memory device, an input device such as a keyboard for entering necessary data, a display device for displaying processing statuses on a screen and a communication device for sending and receiving data to and from the control device 27. Further descriptions are omitted since these compositions are of public knowledge. The second sorting device 12 is described in detail next. The second sorting device 12 is located before a conveyor (not illustrated) for conveying the ply plate A to the traverse conveyor 6. The second sorting device 12 is equipped with a camera 31 as a filming device for filming the conveyed ply plate A, a mark detecting means 33 for detecting defective cathodes by analyzing images filmed by the second sorting device 12 and a removal device 35 for removing the defective ply plate A to the reject conveyor 7 instead of transferring it to the traverse conveyor 6. Judging defectiveness of the plate A having protrusions of a predetermined size or flexures impairing the planarity on the surfaces is done by visual inspections in advance, and plates judged to be defective are marked with markings M on a predetermined sections, for example on one end of the crossbar 4. The defectiveness of plate A is judged according to the standards such 14 as whether protrusions higher than 10mm in size and flexures of more than ±20mm of width to the thickness direction are formed on the surfaces or not. When the ply plate A preliminarily marked with marking M is conveyed, presence of the marking M is detected by detecting the change in contrast in the image filmed by the camera 31. From this respect, it is preferable to use a color different from the crossbar for the marking M in its tone, brightness and chromaticness, in order to make a better contrast on the screen, and enhancing the accuracy of distinction thereby. The preferable colors to be used for the marking are for example yellow or blue. It is further preferable to provide a lighting to prevent false detections due to luminosity varying by weather and with time of the day in order to maintain a stable filming condition of a predetermined section The mark detecting means 33 of the present embodiment is provided as a program within the computer comprising the control device 27 programmed to function as described above, but it can also be provided separately. Upon detecting the marking M by the mark detecting means 33 placed within the control device 27, the control device 27 sends out removal signal to send the concerning ply plate A to the reject conveyor 7 instead of the traverse conveyor 6, as in the case of the first sorting device 11. Thus, it becomes possible to remove the ply plate A judged to be defective without transferring it to the traverse conveyor 6. The process of sorting defective cathode plates according to the present invention is described next along with the operations of the 15 sorting apparatus 10 of cathode plates comprised of the first sorting device 11 and the second sorting device 12. First of all, ply plates A finished with electrolytic smelting are visually inspected to check whether they have protrusions 9 or flexures of over a predetermined size formed on the surfaces or not, and for those plates A judged to be defective, a predetermined section of each crossbar 4 is colored with yellow to show that the plates are defective (Step Si). A plurality of ply plates A including the defective ply plates A with colored markings are conveyed towards the traverse conveyor 6 by a conveyor (not illustrated). As they are being conveyed, the plates A pass over the first sorting device 11 placed before the traverse conveyor 6, and when the plates A having protrusions 9 of over a predetermined height on the bottom pass, the protrusions 9 contact the check board 20 and topple it over to the advancing direction (direction X) of the plates A. The magnetism generator 23 fixed to the spindle 20a of the check board 20 is thereby toppled over in connection thereto and moves away from the magnetism detector 25. Then, the magnetic change is detected by the magnetism detector 25 which sends detection signals to the control device 27 (Step S2). Upon receiving the detection signals from the magnetism detector 25, the control device 27 sends removal signals to the removal device 35 (Step S3) which delivers the concerning plates A to the reject conveyor 7 for removal instead of transferring them to the traverse conveyor 6. Accordingly, the ply plates A judged to be defective are removed without being transferred to the traverse conveyor 6 (Step S4). Meanwhile, when the ply plates A with yellow markings M on the 16 crossbars 4 are conveyed, the mark detecting means 33 installed within the control device 27 detects the difference in contrast from the images filmed by the camera 31 (Step S2), and sends out removal signals to the removal device 35 (Step S3) as in the case of first sorting device 11. The removal device 35 then delivers the concerning. plates A to the reject conveyor 7 for removal instead of transferring them to the traverse conveyor 6. Accordingly, the ply plates A judged to be defective are removed without being transferred to the traverse conveyor 6 (Step S4). As described above, according to the process for sorting defective cathode plates of the present invention, it not only prevents conveyance troubles on the traverse conveyor due to the defective cathode plates, but also improves operation efficiency of the electrolytic copper recovery system as a whole since such troubles induced by defective cathodes can be saved. The preferable embodiment of the present invention is described hereinabove, but the present invention shall not be limited to the specified embodiment, and multiple variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the content of the appended claims. The Brief Description of the Drawings FIG.1 is a perspective view of a permanent cathode. FIG.2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the recovery system of electrolytic copper. 17 FIG.3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a sorting apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.4 is a perspective view showing the check board in a toppled state. FIG.5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention. Description of the Numbering A ply plate M marking 1 cathode plate 2 electrolytic copper sheet 3 window 4 crossbar 5 protector 6 traverse conveyor 7 reject conveyor 9 protrusion 10 sorting apparatus 11 first sorting device 12 second sorting device 20 check board 20a spindle 21 supporting part 18 P:VWPDOCSYMDTVSpecsV20311250 Ist SPA.doc - 14/5/09 23 magnetism generator 25 magnetism detector 27 control device 33 mark detecting means 35 removal device Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates to be arranged in a system for conveying cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal by electrolytic smelting to a stripping means by a traverse conveyor, stripping electrodeposited metal sheets from said cathode plates by said stripping means and recovering the stripped electrodeposited metal sheets, wherein said apparatus removing cathode plates judged to be defective having protrusions, flexures and such before they are conveyed to said traverse conveyor.

2. The apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates according to claim 1 comprising: a check board arranged at the lower section of a conveying means for conveying said cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal so as to contact protrusions of the size judged to be defective formed on the bottom of said cathode plates as they pass, and thereby toppling over towards the conveying direction but returning to the original position after said cathode plates pass over; a magnetism generating means arranged to topple over in connection with the toppling of said check board; a magnetism detecting means for detecting magnetism generated by said magnetism generating means and detecting changes in magnetic field induced by the toppling of said magnetism generating means in connection with the toppling of said check board; and a removing means for removing the cathode plates judged to be 20 defective from the results of detection of said magnetism detecting means without transferring them to the traverse conveyor.

3. The apparatus for sorting cathode plates according to claim 2, wherein the cathode plates with protrusions of over 10mm in height formed at the bottom thereof are removed to be defective by producing a clearance of at least 10mm in between the top edge of said check board and the bottom edges of said cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal passing over said check board.

4. The apparatus for sorting cathode plates according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the width of said check board is broader than the width of said cathode plates.

5. The apparatus for sorting cathode plates according to claim 1 comprising: a mark detecting means for filming and detecting markings on predetermined sections of said cathode plates as they are conveyed by a conveying means for conveying said cathode plate deposited with refined metal to said traverse conveyor, said markings being marked preliminarily on the cathode plates judged to be defective having flexures or protrusions of a predetermined height on the surfaces; and a removing means for removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of said mark detecting means without transferring them to said traverse conveyor.

6. The apparatus for sorting cathode plates according to claim 5, wherein said marking is a mark of yellow or blue on one end of a 21 crossbar of said cathode plate.

7. A method for sorting defective cathode plates comprising: conveying cathode plates electrodeposited with refined metal by electrolytic smelting to a stripping means by a traverse conveyor; removing cathode plates having protrusions, flexures and such as being defective before they are conveyed to said traverse conveyor upon recovering the electrodeposited metal sheets stripped from said cathode plates by said stripping means.

8. The method for sorting defective cathode plates according to claim 7 comprising: arranging a check board at the lower section of a conveying means for conveying said cathode plates deposited with refined metal so as to contact protrusions of a height judged to be defective formed on the bottom of said cathode plate as they pass; toppling over said check board towards the conveying direction as a result of the contact with said protrusions; toppling over a magnetism generating means in connection with the toppling of said check board; detecting magnetic change induced by the toppling of said magnetism generating means by a magnetism detecting means; and removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of said magnetism detecting means without transferring them to the traverse conveyor.

9. The method for sorting defective cathode plates according to claim 7 comprising: filming markings on predetermined sections of said cathode plates 22 P:VWPDOCSYMDTVSpecsV20311250 1st SPA.doc - 14/5/09 by a camera as they are conveyed by said conveying means for conveying cathode plate deposited with refined metal to said traverse conveyor, said markings being preliminarily marked on cathode plates judged to be defective having flexures or protrusions of a predetermined height formed on the surfaces; detecting said markings by a mark detecting means; and removing the cathode plates judged to be defective from the results of the detection without transferring them to said traverse conveyor.

10. An apparatus for sorting defective cathode plates, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.

11. A method for sorting defective cathode plates, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.