摘要 |
A method and apparatus for reliably assembling battery cell elements having relatively large numbers of electrode plates separated by a single interleaved spacer. The apparatus includes a rotatable element-assembly drum formed with a plurality of plate receiving slots at circumferentially spaced intervals about the periphery thereof, a first plate supply station for directing first electrode plates of common polarity into successive plate-receiving slots as the drum is rotated, a separator-sheet supply station for positioning a pre-folded strip of separator sheet onto the rotating drum with downwardly-opening folds of the sheet each encompassing a respective one of the first plates, a second electrode-plate supply station for directing second plates of a common polarity opposite to the first plates into respective upwardly-opening folds of the separator sheet carried by the rotating drum, and an element-stack discharge ramp for continuously removing from the rotary drum the strip of separator sheet with the first and second plates occupying alternative folds on opposite sides thereof. In the illustrated apparatus, the continuous strip of separator sheet is cut at the discharge ramp following discharge of the requisite number of plates for the assembled cell element. |