Plural drives each driving plural filter press plate engaging hooks

Claim 1

A filter press comprising: first and second parallel horizontal support rails; a plurality of filter material carrying plates, each said plate having on first and second opposite sides thereof respective first and second lugs resting on said first and second support rails, respectively, said plates being aligned in a row extending along said support rails, each said plate being movable independently and without connection to adjacent said plates in a first direction toward first ends of said support rails and in a second direction toward second ends of said support rails; first and second first hook means, mounted adjacent said first and second support rails, respectively, for movement therealong in said first and second directions, for engagement with said first and second lugs, respectively, of a selected said plate to move said selected plate in said first direction; first and second second hook means, mounted adjacent said first and second support rails, respectively, for movement therealong in said first and second directions, for engagement with said first and second lugs, respectively, of a selected said plate to move said selected plate in said second direction; first moving means supporting said first first hook means and said first second hook means adjacent said first support rail for movement therealong in said first and second directions; second moving means supporting said second first hook means and said second second hook means adjacent said second support rail for movement therealong in said first and second directions; first stall motor means operatively connected to said first moving means for driving said first moving means in said first and second directions; second stall motor means, separate from said first stall motor means, operatively connected to said second moving means for driving said second moving means in said first and second directions; whereby, when said plates are to be moved in said first direction, said first and second stall motor means operate to drive said first and second moving means in said first direction, and said first and second first hook means engage first and second lugs of a first plate and move said first plate in said first direction to a predetermined location whereat such movement is arrested and said first and second first hook means cause said first and second stall motor means to stall and reverse movement, to thereby drive said first and second moving means in said second direction until said first and second hook means abut first and second lugs of a second plate and cause said first and second stall motor means to stall and again reverse movement, to thereby again drive said first and second moving means in said first direction and cause said first and second first hook means to engage said first and second lugs of said second plate and move said second plate in said first direction, said operations being repeated until all of said plurality of plates are separately and independently moved in said first direction; and whereby, when said plates are to be moved in said second direction, said first and second stall motor means operate to drive said first and second moving means in said second direction, and said first and second second hook means engage first and second lugs of a first plate and move said first plate in said second direction to a predetermined location whereat such movement is arrested and said first and second second hook means cause said first and second stall motor means to stall and reverse movement, to thereby drive said first and second moving means in said first direction until said first and second first hook means abut first and second lugs of a second plate and cause said first and second stall motor means to stall and again reverse movement, to thereby again drive said first and second moving means in said second direction and cause said first and second second hook means to engage said first and second lugs of said second plate and move said second plate in said second direction, said operations being repeated until all of said plurality of plates are separately and independently moved in said second direction.