Straightening apparatus

Abstract

The invention concerns an anode straightening apparatus ( 10, 30, 60 ) for the straightening of an anode ( 100 ) typically used in an electrowinning process. In the preferred embodiment the apparatus includes clamps ( 21, 41, 71 ) for clamping a busbar ( 101 ) of the anode and clamps ( 22, 42, 71 ) for clam in a blade of the anode to the apparatus during the course of the straightening process. At least one sensor ( 29, 52, 85 ) monitors the curvature of the blade ( 102 ) of the anode ( 100 ) when the anode is secured to the apparatus by the clamps. The apparatus (( 10, 30, 60 ) includes a movable head ( 24, 44, 78 ) housing straightening means for bending the anode in a desired direction in response to feedback received from the sensor. The head is movable in two planes of movement which are transverse to one another. The apparatus further has actuators ( 27, 28, 48, 49, 81, 83 ) for urging the straightening means along its axes of movement in the first and second planes respectively so that the anode may be straightened by urging the straightening means in the second plane of movement while moving it in the first plane of movement. The invention also concerns a method of straitening an anode ( 100 ) by first bending the anode into a pre-set curvature and there-after bending it to a theoretically correct curvature, which is preferably a zero curvature.

1 . An anode straightening apparatus including:
 at least one clamp for clamping the anode to the apparatus during the course of the straightening process;   at least one sensor for monitoring the curvature of a blade portion of the anode when the anode is secured to the apparatus by the clamp;   straightening means for bending the anode in a desired direction in response to feedback received from the sensor, the straightening means being movable in two planes of movement which are transverse to one another; and   actuators for urging the straightening means along its first and second axes of movement in the first and second planes respectively so that the anode may be straightened by urging the straightening means in the second plane of movement while moving it in the first plane of movement.   
     
     
         2 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second planes are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         3 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first plane is vertically oriented and the second plane is horizontally oriented such that the straightening means are movable back and forth in both the vertical and horizontal directions. 
     
     
         4 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , including a securing mechanism for securing the end of the anode which is, in use, the lower end. 
     
     
         5 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the securing mechanism includes two guide members which are arranged to receive the end of the anode in a gap between them. 
     
     
         6 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the straightening means includes a set of rollers which is located in a movable head and arranged so that the rollers are, in use, located on either side of the anode such that when the rollers are moved in the first plane they run on opposite sides of the anode blade. 
     
     
         7 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the head is mounted on a carrier frame which is movable in the first plane of movement, the head being movable with respect to the carrier frame in the second plane of movement. 
     
     
         8 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , including four actuators, two of which are arranged so that their axes of movement lie in the first plane for urging the straightening means along the first axis of movement and two of which are arranged so that their axes of movement lie in the second plane for urging the straightening means along the second axis of movement. 
     
     
         9 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the actuators are in the form of servo drives or hydraulic actuators. 
     
     
         10 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic actuators are in the form of double acting piston and cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , including at least three sensors which are movable with the straightening means, wherein the sensors are spaced apart for scanning different regions of the anode blade. 
     
     
         12 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein four sensors are provided in a linear arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , including two pairs of anode clamps with one pair of clamps being arranged to clamp a top edge of the anode and the other pair of clamps being arranged to clamp a blade portion of the anode. 
     
     
         14 . An anode straightening apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the clamps are in the form of extendible hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         15 . An anode straightening apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , including a control panel and PLC for controlling the movement of the straightening means in an automated manner in response to feedback received from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A method of straightening an anode, the method including the steps of:
 aligning the anode in a straightening apparatus;   clamping the anode to the straightening apparatus to secure it thereto;   scanning the anode to detect any variations from a theoretically correct curvature using at least one sensor;   bending the anode into a pre-set curvature by urging straightening means into a desired direction; and   bending the anode into the theoretically correct curvature in response to the feedback received from the sensor.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the steps of scanning and bending the anode in response to the feedback received from the sensor are repeated until the curvature of the anode corresponds with the theoretically correct curvature. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to either  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the theoretically correct curvature is one which corresponds with a substantially zero curvature so that the straightening process is automatically terminated only once the anode is straight. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to any one of  claims 15  to  17 , wherein the step of bending the anode into a pre-set curvature includes moving the straightening means in a first and second plane of movement which are transverse to one another. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first plane is a vertical plane and the second plane is a horizontal plane so that the straightening means are moveable back and forth in both vertical and horizontal directions. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to any one of  claims 15  to  19 , including the step of securing an end of the anode which is, in use, the lower end.