CA1072728A

CA1072728A - Apparatus for shaping anodes

Info

Publication number: CA1072728A
Application number: CA296,546A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Masaharu Ono; Kimio Yoshida; Hirofumi Kurokawa; Tadashi Itado; Yasuhiro Uchihara
Original assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd; Fuji Sangyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd; Fuji Sangyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1977-02-15
Filing date: 1978-02-09
Publication date: 1980-03-04
Also published as: AU502594B1; JPS565831B2; SE427051B; SE7801690L; JPS53100902A

Abstract

Title of the Invention:
An apparatus for shaping anodes Abstract of the Disclosure:
An apparatus for shaping anodes for electrolytic refining in the form of flat plates having support ears extending outwardly of a top edge and opposite side edges thereof, the apparatus including a receptacle for holding the plates parallel, vertical and spaces apart, vertically movable beams engaging the ears for supporting the plates, shaping devices movable toward and away from opposing sides of the receptacle for shaping the undersurfaces of the support ears, and a device movable vertically and horizontally for transferring the plates into the receptacle for being shaped and for transferring the shaped plates from the receptacle, whereby the support ears may be shaped concurrently for improving the contact of the anodes with bus bars.

Description

~1:3'7Z'7Z~

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

- 2 _ Z7Z~3 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

- 3 -~727.:~?d~

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

- 4 _ .. . : . .

~97~7Z8 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.

~727~3 :
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 ,~

~727Z8 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 1~72728 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 1C~7Z728 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 ..
_ 9 _ , . . .

7Z~2~

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.

':

.

~ Z7Z8 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 ~72'72~

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 ~CD ig~7;2~

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.
; 15

Claims

What we claim is:

Claim 1. An apparatus for shaping anodes for electrolytic refining comprising flat plates having support ears extending outwardly of a top edge and opposite side edges thereof, the apparatus comprising, a receptacle having a plurality of spaced vertical walls open at the top thereof and disposed parallel to one another for the reception of the plates between said walls, said walls having a predeter-mined width permitting the support ears of the plates to extend outwardly of opposing side edges thereof, means on said walls for clamping the plates against vertical surfaces of said walls, means including cutters movable toward and away from said opposing side edges of said walls for shap-ing undersurfaces of the support ears, and means for trans-ferring the plates into said receptacle for being shaped and for transferring the shaped plates from said receptacle, sand transferring means being disposed above said receptacle for vertical movement toward and away therefrom and for horizontal movement perpendicular to said walls.
Claim 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means disposed outwardly and adjacent said oppos-ing side edges of said walls for engaging the support ears so as to support the plates, said engaging means including vertically movable, horizontal support beams disposed parallel to said opposing side edges.
Claim 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means disposed beneath said transferring means for conveying the plates toward and away from said receptacle.
Claim 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, where-in said conveying means includes a feed conveyor and a cooperating constantly pitching conveyor.
Claim 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, where-in said conveying means further includes means for holding the anodes located adjacent said constantly pitching con-veyor, said holding means including a base member, means on said base member for raising and lowering same, and means movable toward and away from opposing side edges of said base member for arranging the anodes in uniform lateral order.
Claim 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, where-in said clamping means includes piston and cylinder units.
Claim 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, where-in said shaping means comprises a fixed support bed, a cutter holder mounted on said bed for movement toward and away from said receptacle, said cutters being mounted on said bed and comprising concave cutting blades, and a motor on said support bed for actuating said cutting blades.
Claim 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, where-in said transferring means comprise fixed frames located above said receptacle, a carrier member mounted on said frame for horizontal movement perpendicular to said walls, hanging frames mounted on said carrier member for vertical movement toward and away from said receptacle and means on said hang-ing frames for raising and lowering the plates into and from said receptacle.
Claim 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, where-in each said hanging frame has a length substantially equal to the length of said receptacle along a direction perpendi-cular to said walls thereof.
Claim 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said raising and lowering means comprises a plurality of hooks located at the sides of said hanging frames, rotatebly mounted pin elements extending outwardly of said sides and being fixedly secured to said hooks, a link mechanism inter-connecting said pin elements, and means for moving said link mechanism to effect rotation of said pin elements and move-ment of said hooks.