MXPA99009921A - Gripping device for positioning sheet-like objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanically positioned gripping device which is connected to a transfer apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects, such as electrodes, from one position to another, said transfer apparatus comprising members for transferring a loading member from one position to another and members connected to said loading member for moving the load in an essentially vertical position. According to the invention, in order to position the gripping device (5) with respect to the unloading and loading position (8, 14), the gripping device (5) is attached to a control frame (4) installed in between the transfer apparatus loading member (1) and the gripping device (5) by means of at least one control member (11), so that while the control frame (4) is positioned in the unloading and loading position (8, 14), the gripping device (5) is movable in relation to the control frame (4) in order to position the gripping device (5) in the unloading and loading position (8, 14).

Description

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR PLACING SHAPED OBJECTS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mechanically placed fastening device which is used in arrangements for transferring objects in the form of a sheet, such as electrodes needed in electrolysis, to transfer objects from one position to another. During electrolysis, the metal is precipitated, by electric current, on the surface of an electrode that serves as the cathode. In order to perform the precipitation in an advantageous manner, the electrodes, for example, the anode and the cathode, should be placed as close to each other as possible. In large electrolytic tanks, anodes and cathodes are alternately placed. When the electrodes must be replaced, for example in order to recover a precipitate created on the cathode, the replacement is carried out by means of an automatic loading member which first removes from the tank a desired number of electrodes, such as cathodes, and replaces them with the same number of electrodes. Now, in order to avoid stoppages or arrests, the load member and particularly the fastening device provided in the load member must be accommodated in an advantageous position with respect to the electrodes to prevent any contact between the electrodes, for example , the anode and the cathode. In order to avoid such contact, there are various devices designed differently, either members coupled to the electrolytic tank itself or to a transfer device, said members attempting to adjust the securing device in an advantageous position. From the German Patent Application No. 3,508,195, a device is known where the purpose of the positioning is provided with mechanical guiding cones which perform the precise positioning while the clamping device is lowered. The precise positioning movement takes place on the sliding or rolling surfaces which also support the load and the clamping device. Due to this structure, the loading equipment of the transfer arrangement obtains a noticeably greater load than the load and the clamping device as such.

In an apparatus according to the Finnish Patent Application No. 870,285, the loading member is provided with a stationary duct, along which a separate housing moves, supported by the loading machinery. The clamping device is suspended from this housing by means of rotating loops, and the clamping device is moved relative to the housing in order to achieve accurate positioning. The separate housing causes an extra load for the loading machinery. The rotating loops participate in supporting the load and the clamping device, with which they must be essentially stronger. Due to its positioning, the rotating loops are short, and the shortening of the rotating loops in turn leads to more and worse alterations and inclinations in the height, caused by the positioning movements in connection with the suspension of the rotating loop. In the apparatus according to the Finnish Patent Application No. 870,285, said alterations in the height and inclinations are directly focused on the clamping device and the load, whereby the positioning paper remains essentially shorter, and a precision is required of essentially advanced placement of the load member. From the Finnish Patent No. 82,435, an automatic loading member for the placement of anodes and cathodes in electrolytic tanks is known. The load member is provided with members for loading and securing the load, and with a control structure or frame installed between the load member and the holding device, as well as position sensors for load placement. By means of position sensors, the positioning of the position signs installed in the electrolytic tanks is detected, so that based on the information obtained from the position sensors, the position or positioning of the fastening device is carried out by means of the movement of the structure or control framework. However, the use of position sensors is not possible in all applications. In addition, the publications referred to in the above specification do not fully describe how the electrodes submerged in the electrolytic tank are charged, from the electrode handling machine to the transfer system.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate some of the drawbacks of the prior art and achieve a mechanically placed, improved and more feasible fastening device that can be used for the movement of sheet-shaped objects, such as anodes and cathodes needed in electrolysis, from one position to another, so that by means of the transfer apparatus, the clamping device can be adjusted in an advantageous position with respect to the electrodes to be charged. The essential and novel features of the invention are apparent from the appended claims. The transfer apparatus for sheet-shaped objects, including the fastening device according to the invention, comprises a loading member, a control structure or frame and a fastening device; the members connected to the load member and designed to move the control structure and frame and the clamping device in an essentially vertical direction, as well as the members for moving the caga member and for performing the transfer of the sheet-shaped objects from one position to another. In the load member, a protection member can permanently be attached which prevents the control structure, the holding device and the transferable load suspended from the holding device from moving essentially in the horizontal direction during the transfer. During the transfer, the load member moves from one position to another and supports the transferable load composed of sheet-shaped objects, as well as other members of the transfer system. The clamping device according to the invention is movably installed in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the load member and the control structure. The clamping device is connected to the load member by means of at least one movable member, which moves essentially vertically, so that the clamping device is movable essentially vertically also with respect to the control structure. The control structure is advantageously connected to the control member by means of a movable member which the control structure and the holding device have in common. The control structure may also be connected to the load member by means of at least one movable member that is separate from the holding device, and moves in an essentially vertical direction. The clamping device according to the invention is furthermore accommodated, in relation to the control structure, movably in a substantially vertical direction by means of at least one control member connected to the control structure and a counterpart control member connected to the control structure. clamping device. The control member can also be accommodated in the clamping device, in which case the counterpart of the control member must be installed in the control structure. The clamping device according to the invention and the control structure connected to it by means of the control member are both provided with at least one position member in order to place the clamping device with respect to the loading position or discharge of the load under transfer. Advantageously, the position member is placed in the clamping device, so that the position member of the clamping device can be accommodated, with the position member of the control structure, in the same position member connected to the position of unloading and load of the load under transfer.

In this way, the clamping device can be made essentially non-movable with respect to the control structure in the unloading and shifting position of the load under transfer, and this can also be secured in the unloading and loading position. The position member of the clamping device according to the invention can also be installed in the clamping device, so that the position member of the clamping device is either accommodated, with respect to the position member of the control structure, in a position member separated or connected to the unloading and loading position of the load under transfer, or this can be left unsecured with respect to the unloading and loading position. Even if the fastening device itself is left unlocked in the unloading and loading position, it is important from the point of view of the fastening device according to the invention, that the control structure connected to the fastening device by means of the member of control, be placed in the unloading and loading position by means of the position member. In that case the control structure can be advantageously provided with at least two position members that are used either simultaneously or separately. Accordingly, as the control structure is placed in the unloading and loading position, the clamping device can be moved, when necessary, for example in the unloading and loading position in connection with an electrode handling machine in a essentially horizontal direction, within the range allowed by the free space left between the control member, installed between the control structure and the clamping device, and by the counterpart control member. By using the fastening device according to the invention, the transfer of sheet-like objects between the discharge and loading positions, for example the transfer of electrodes from the electrolytic tanks to the electrode handling machines and vice versa, can be essentially accelerated; it is also possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the electrodes in the electrolytic tanks, to reduce the risk of damage to the electrodes and electrolytic tanks, and to reduce the personnel required in the transfer of the electrodes. The clamping device according to the invention can be advantageously used together with an automatically placed transfer system, either fully automatic or controlled on the ground. Now, the electrodes can be raised and lowered essentially precisely by using the clamping device, without a person assisting and controlling the operation of the clamping device. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic side illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the transfer apparatus is in the electrolytic tank ready for unloading, Figure 2 illustrates the modality of the Figure 1, seen from the direction A-A when the structure or control frame is placed in the electrolytic tank, Figure 3 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 1, seen from the AA direction, when the clamping device is placed in the electrolytic tank, and Figure 4 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 1, when the clamping device is placed in the electrode management machine.

The load member 1 of the transfer apparatus according to Figures 1, 2 and 3 supports, by means of a support member 2, a protection member 3 containing the control structure 4 and the holding device 5. The clamping device 5 is suspended, by means of a mobile member 6, from the load member 1. The clamping device 5 further supports the control structure 4 and the electrodes 7 secured in the clamping device 5. In order to submerging the electrodes 7 in the electrolytic tank 8, the holding device 5 is turned on to be lowered by means of the movable member 6. While lowering the holding device 5, the control structure 4 is also lowered. the structure of the control frame 4 is made to be such that the electrodes are fitted within the control frame 4, the control frame 4 reaches the electrolytic tank 8 before the fastening device 5, during the descent process. In the electrolytic tank 8, the positioning or position pins 9 are provided, which are inserted in the position sleeves 10, located in the bottom part of the control frame 4, while the control frame 4 is lowered, so that the control frame 4 is placed in relation to the electrolytic tank 8. When the downward movement of the control frame 4 is stopped, the holding device 5 according to the invention starts to descend in the direction defined by the members of control 11 provided in the control frame 4 and the counterparts 12 connected to the holding device 5. The holding device 5 is also provided with position sleeves 13, where the position pins 9 installed in the electrolytic tank 8 are inserted when the clamping device 5 approaches the electrolytic tank 8. The control structure 4 and the clamping device 5 are thus tuamente placed in the same place, so that the charge, for example the electrodes 7, which are going to be lowered in connection with the placement of the same, is advantageously submerged in the electrolytic tank 8. When the electrodes 7 are in the tank Electrolytic 8 suspended from the respective support members, the securing of the fastening device 5 is unlocked, and the clamping device 5 begins to rise towards its upper position, in which case also the control frame 4 starts to rise according to the counterparts 12 provided in the clamping device 5 reach the upper part of the control members 11 installed in the control structure or frame 4. According to Figure 4, the control frame 4 and the clamping device 5 are placed in the electrode handling machine 14, in order to charge the electrodes 7 to be transferred to the electrolytic tank 8. The holding device 5 and the control frame 4 are placed in the electrode handling machine 14 by means of position pins 15 located on the electrode handling machine, by using the position sleeves 16 provided on the outer surface of the electrode frame. control 4. In this way, the holding device 5 can be moved essentially horizontally with respect to the control frame 4 within the range determined by the free space left between the control member 11 and the counterpart control member 12. In Consequently, any electrodes 7 placed in an incorrect position in the electrode handling machine 14 with respect to the control frame 4, are advantageously secured in the correct position in relation to the holding device 5.

Claims (5)

1. Mechanically placed holding device, which is connected to a transfer apparatus for transferring sheet-shaped objects, such as electrodes used in electrolysis, from one position to another, said transferring apparatus including the members for transferring a load member from one position to another, and the members connected to the load member to move the load essentially in the vertical direction, characterized the device because in order to place the holding device in relation to the unloading and loading position, the holding device is coupled to a control frame installed between the load member of the transfer apparatus and the clamping device, by means of at least one control member and a counterpart control member, so that while the control frame is placed in the loading and unloading position, the clamping device is movable with respect to the frame of control ol in the direction defined by the control member and the counterpart, in order to place the clamping device in the unloading and loading positions.

2. Clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device is provided with at least one position or positioning member, for the purpose of coupling the clamping device to the clamps to a position member provided in the unloading positions. and load. Clamping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping device and the control frame are both provided with at least one position member, for the purpose of coupling the clamping device with at least one clamping device. position member provided in the unloading and loading positions. Clamping device according to claim 3, characterized in that the position members of the clamping device and the control frame will be or are coupled to a common position member provided in the unloading and loading positions. Clamping device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control frame is provided with at least two position members, so that the clamping device and the control frame will be or will be coupled to separate position members provided in the unloading and loading positions.