US 12,344,952 B2
Automated systems, methods, and tools for harvesting electrodeposited metals
Andre Dumais, Sudbury (CA); Paul Bazinet, Sudbury (CA); Michael Kehoe, Sudbury (CA); Chris Morgan, Sudbury (CA); Ian Ewart, Squamish (CA); Ajay Patel, Baroda (IN); and William Gower, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to IONIC ENGINEERING LIMITED, Lively (CA); and EMEW CORPORATION, Vancouver (CA)
Filed by Ionic Engineering Limited, Lively (CA); and emew Corporation, Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/384,497.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/056,831, filed on Jul. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0025536 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. C25C 7/08 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC C25C 7/08 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1679 (2013.01); B25J 11/005 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B25J 19/02 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A harvesting tool for harvesting electrodeposited metals from a cell comprising a tubular cell wall, an anode extending in an axial direction of the cell and disposed centrally within the cell with respect to a radial direction of the cell, a removable starter sheet disposed along an inner surface of the cell wall, and a masking ring arranged on top of the starter sheet, the harvesting tool comprising:
an extraction gripping unit configured to extract the starter sheet and metal electrodeposited on an interior surface of the starter sheet from the cell;
a harvesting gripping unit configured to separate the metal and the starter sheet;
a first actuator coupled to the extraction gripping unit, configured to move the extraction gripping unit between:
an insertion position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is inserted to a position inside the cell, and
an extracted position, wherein the extraction gripping unit is positioned outside the cell;
a second actuator coupled to the harvesting gripping unit, configured to move the harvesting gripping unit between:
a starter sheet gripping position, wherein the harvesting gripping unit is configured to grip the starter sheet, and
a separation position, wherein the starter sheet is separated from the metal; and
a clamping apparatus configured to be actuated to reduce a diameter of the starter sheet for reinsertion of the starter sheet into the cell.