US 12,110,196 B2
Stack manipulating system and corresponding method
Gerard Jan Hollestelle, Broek op Langedijk (NL)
Assigned to G.J. HOLLESTELLE BEHEER B.V., Broek op Langedijk (NL)
Appl. No. 18/022,200
Filed by G.J. HOLLESTELLE BEHEER B.V., Broek op Langedijk (NL)
PCT Filed Aug. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/073659
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/043462, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20193453 (EP), filed on Aug. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0303343 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 59/02 (2006.01); H01M 10/06 (2006.01); H01M 10/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 59/02 (2013.01) [H01M 10/06 (2013.01); B65G 2201/022 (2013.01); B65G 2207/40 (2013.01); H01M 10/0404 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
2. A stack manipulating system configured to move a stack of plates, in particular lead battery plates, from at least one arrival location to at least one target location at a machine where the plates are to be processed, and wherein the stack manipulating system comprises:
a first zone comprising the at least one arrival location and a non-static moving assembly having a range of motion, wherein the complete range of motion is located within the first zone,
a second zone comprising the at least one target location and the machine, wherein the second zone is configured to accommodate an operator,
a separation, separating the second zone from the first zone, the separation being configured for preventing the operator to move into the first zone,
at least one conveyor traversing the separation, the at least one conveyor comprising an entrance in at least one intermediate location located in the first zone and an exit located in the second zone,
wherein the conveyor defines a trajectory between the entrance and the exit and comprises a guide structure which extends between the entrance and the exit along said trajectory and which guides the stack of plates along said trajectory, and wherein, at least in the second zone, the guide structure is a static structure, wherein the moving assembly comprises moving parts, and wherein the moving parts are configured to stay outside the second zone, and
wherein the at least one intermediate location is located at a first vertical distance from the at least one arrival location and at a second vertical distance from the at least one target location, wherein the moving assembly is configured to move a stack of plates over the first vertical distance to the at least one intermediate location, and wherein the at least one conveyor is configured to move the stack of plates over the second vertical distance to the at least one target location, wherein the moving assembly and the at least one conveyor work together to move the stack of plates past the separation and towards the machine.