Process and machine for manufacturing electric storage batteries

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in testing batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between pairs of conductive portion of battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head, a pair of test fingers on said testing head, a battery support independent of said test fingers, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery support to position each of said test fingers for engagement with a conductive portion of a pair of welded conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, and actuating means operative when said test fingers are engaged with said conductive portions to move the said test fingers away from each other to exert a predetermined load on said welded joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, including signal means connected to and controlled by said test fingers for actuation by said test fingers to indicate a defective weld joint.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, including electrical test means connected to said test fingers and operative to pass an electrical test current through said electrically interconnected battery cell element assemblies, signal means connected to and controlled by said electrical test means for actuation by said electrical test means to indicate an electrically defective weld joint.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means on said testing head for engaging conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies of batteries supported on said battery support and operative to exert a predetermined load on said weld joints sufficient to detect defective weld joints, first conveyor means for moving a battery transversely of the direction of relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries from said battery support, and means adjacent said battery receiving means and connected to and controlled by said means on said testing head and operative in response to a defective weld joint, to engage the battery containing said defective weld joint when it is positioned on said receiving means, and move that battery to a reject line provided on said receiving means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means on said testing head for engaging conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies of batteries supported on said battery support and operative to exert a predetermined load on said weld joints sufficient to detect defective weld joints, first conveyor means for moving a battery transversely of the direction of relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries from said battery support, and means adjacent said battery receiving means and connected to and controlled by said means on said testing head and operative in response to a defective weld joint, to engage the battery containing said defective weld joint when it is positioned on said receiving means, and move that battery to a reject line provided on said receiving means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of adjacent battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head, a pair of testing members on said testing head, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other with said pair of testing members arranged for engagement with the welded conductive portions of adjacent battery cell assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, means for moving said battery support transversely of the direction of relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means connected to said pair of testing members and operative when said testing members are engaged with said conductive portions to move said testing members and exert a predetermiNed load on said weld joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints, second conveying means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries therefrom, reject means adjacent said second conveying means and selectively movable transversely thereof, and means connecting said reject means to said pair of testing members so that said reject means is controlled by said testing members for movement transversely of said second conveying means when a battery containing a ruptured weld joint is positioned on said second conveying means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of adjacent battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head, a pair of testing members on said testing head, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other with said pair of testing members arranged for engagement with the welded conductive portions of adjacent battery cell assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, means for moving said battery support transversely of the direction of relative movement between said testing head and said battery support toward and away from each other, means connected to said pair of testing members and operative when said testing members are engaged with said conductive portions to move said testing members and exert a predetermiNed load on said weld joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints, second conveying means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries therefrom, reject means adjacent said second conveying means and selectively movable transversely thereof, and means connecting said reject means to said pair of testing members so that said reject means is controlled by said testing members for movement transversely of said second conveying means when a battery containing a ruptured weld joint is positioned on said second conveying means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies electrically connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of adjacent battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head including a pair of depending test fingers, a battery support positioned below said testing head, means for providing relative vertical movement between said testing head and said battery support with said test fingers arranged for engagement with adjacent cell element assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, means operative when said test fingers are engaged with said conductive portions to move said test fingers away from each other to exert a predetermined force in tension on said welded joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints, first conveying means for moving said battery support horizontally relative to said testing head, and second conveying means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries therefrom, a stop member supported adjacent said second conveying means and movable transversely thereof into the path of batteries moving from said first conveying means, a reject arm adjacent said second conveying means and mounted for movement transversely thereof, said stop and reject means connected to said pair of test fingers and controlled thereby so that when said test fingers rupture a weld said stop means is actuated and moved transversely of the conveying means to engage and stop the battery containing said ruptured weld when it is received onto said second conveying means and so that when said battery is engaged with said stop said reject means is moved transversely of said conveying means for engagement with and movement of said battery to a reject line on said receiving means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in combination with batteries having battery cell element assemblies electrically connected by an intercell weld joint between conductive portions of adjacent battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a testing head including a pair of depending test fingers, a battery support positioned below said testing head, means for providing relative vertical movement between said testing head and said battery support with said test fingers arranged for engagement with adjacent cell element assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, means operative when said test fingers are engaged with said conductive portions to move said test fingers away from each other to exert a predetermined force in tension on said welded joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints, first conveying means for moving said battery support horizontally relative to said testing head, and second conveying means communicating with said first conveying means for receiving batteries therefrom, a stop member supported adjacent said second conveying means and movable transversely thereof into the path of batteries moving from said first conveying means, a reject arm adjacent said second conveying means and mounted for movement transversely thereof, said stop and reject means connected to said pair of test fingers and controlled thereby so that when said test fingers rupture a weld said stop means is actuated and moved transversely of the conveying means to engage and stop the battery containing said ruptured weld when it is received onto said second conveying means and so that when said battery is engaged with said stop said reject means is moved transversely of said conveying means for engagement with and movement of said battery to a reject line on said receiving means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6, including electrical test means connected to said test fingers for passing an electrical test current through the electrically interconnected battery cell assemblies and operative in response to an electrically defective weld joint in a battery to actuate said stop member and said reject means to reject the battery containing the electrically defective weld joint.

Claim 12

Apparatus for use in testing batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between pairs of conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising in combination, a testing head, a pair of test fingers on said testing head and each test finger connected to a pivotally supported arm, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery to position each of said test fingers for engagement with a conductive portion of a pair of welded conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, and actuating means including a movable actuating member connected to each of said arms and means selectively movable in opposite directions to pivot said arms about their pivot connections to move said test fingers toward and away from each other, said actuating means operative when said test fingers are engaged with said conductive portions to move the said test fingers away from each other to exert a predetermined load on said welded joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints.

Claim 13

Apparatus for use in testing batteries having battery cell element assemblies connected by an intercell weld joint between pairs of conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies, said apparatus comprising in combination, a testing head, a pair of test fingers on said testing head and each test finger connected to a pivotally supported arm, a battery support, means for providing relative movement between said testing head and said battery to position each of said test fingers for engagement with a conductive portion of a pair of welded conductive portions of battery cell element assemblies of a battery supported by said battery support, and actuating means including a movable actuating member connected to each of said arms and means selectively movable in opposite directions to pivot said arms about their pivot connections to move said test fingers toward and away from each other, said actuating means operative when said test fingers are engaged with said conductive portions to move the said test fingers away from each other to exert a predetermined load on said welded joints sufficient to rupture defective weld joints.