Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for preparing a mother plate of a permanent cathode to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for preparing a mother plate of a permanent cathode to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning as defined in the preamble of independent claim 11.

The invention relates more precisely to a method and apparatus for automatically flattening and leveling mother plates of permanent cathodes used in electrolytic recovery of metals such as zinc, copper or lead. A mother plate of a permanent cathode can for example be deformed when metal deposit is removed from the faces of the mother plate of the permanent cathode.

One known method for flattening and leveling mother plates of permanent cathode is by rolling. Because permanent cathodes normally are provided with a hanger bar for supporting the permanent cathode on the edges on an electrolytic cell so that the mother plate of the permanent cathode is sank in the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell, flattening and leveling of a mother plate by rolling is difficult to perform.

Publication US 4,903,519 presents a method and an apparatus for straightening of cast anodes on their way to a stage for electrolytic refining of metals. The straightening of the anodes and the elimination of the casting fins is carried out by pressing the anode at several spots or spot areas simultaneously. The apparatus includes a pressing member formed of horizontal and vertical bars. The adjacent ends of the horizontal and vertical bars form at least one of a 45. degree, miter joint configuration or are right-angled.

Objective of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for preparing a mother plate of a permanent cathode to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal.

Short description of the invention

The method for preparing a mother plate of a permanent cathode to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning of the invention is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 10.

The apparatus for preparing a mother plate of a permanent cathode to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning of the invention is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim 11.

Preferred embodiments of the apparatus are defined in the dependent claims 12 to 23.

The invention is based on releasable holding the permanent cathode with a holding means and on measuring a shape of the mother plate with a measurement means to obtain measurement data, and on calculating geometric deviation of the mother plate in comparison to a predefined reference shape by using said measurement data, and on using said geometric deviation for automatically controlling a pressing means for locally pressing the mother plate of the permanent cathode for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. Because the mother plate of the permanent cathode is locally pressed the mother plate can easily be straightened without detaching its hanger bar for supporting the permanent cathode at an electrolytic cell. Local pressing allows also for straightening of a mother plate in situations where edge strips are attached to the mother plate. Possible edge strips are however preferably removed.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention a pressing means is used that comprises several pressing devices, each being configured for applying a linear pressing force essentially perpendicularly to one of the faces of the mother plate at a different location of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the method of the invention the mother plate is pressed with at least one of said several pressing devices of the pressing means by applying a linear pressing force essentially perpendicularly to one of the faces of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention a pressing means is used that comprises several independently operable pressing devices, each being configured for applying a linear pressing force essentially perpendicularly to one of the faces of the mother plate at a different location of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the method of the invention the mother plate is pressed with at least one of said several independently operable pressing devices of the pressing means by applying a linear pressing force essentially perpendicularly to one of the faces of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the pressing means comprises several pressing devices, each pressing devices being configured linearly and perpendicularly in relation to the faces of the mother plate pressing the mother plate at a different location of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention each pressing device comprises a first piston arrangement that is configured to cooperate with a pressing device comprising a second piston arrangement so that the mother plate can be held between at least one first piston arrangement of a pressing device and at least one second piston arrangement of a pressing device when the mother plate is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the apparatus can for example comprise eighteen pressing devices so that nine pressing devices are configured to be situated at a first side of the mother plate and so that nine pressing devices are configured to be situated at a second side of the mother plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the pressing means comprises several independently operable pressing devices, each independently operable pressing devices being configured linearly and perpendicularly in relation to the faces of the mother plate pressing the mother plate at a different location of the mother plate for plastically deforming the mother plate to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention each independently operable pressing device comprises a first independently operable piston arrangement that is configured to cooperate with a independently operable pressing device comprising a second independently operable piston arrangement so that the mother plate can be held between at least one first independently operable piston arrangement of a pressing device and at least one second independently operable piston arrangement of a independently operable pressing device when the mother plate is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate. In this preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the apparatus can for example comprise eighteen independently operable pressing devices so that nine independently operable pressing devices are configured to be situated at a first side of the mother plate and so that nine independently operable pressing devices are configured to be situated at a second side of the mother plate. List of figures

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by referring to the figure which shows the working principle of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The figure shows an example of a method and an apparatus according to the invention.

First the method for preparing a mother plate 1 of a permanent cathode 2 to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning and preferred variations thereof will be described.

The mother plate 1 is an object in the form of a plate that has two opposite faces (not marked with a reference numeral) on which metal is collected in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning.

The method comprises a step for releasable holding the permanent cathode 2.

The method comprises a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 of a permanent cathode 2 with a measurement device to obtain measurement data.

The method comprises a step for calculating geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 in comparison to a predefined reference shape by using said measurement data.

The method comprises a step for using said calculated geometric deviation for automatically controlling a pressing means 3 for locally pressing the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. A reference shape means in this context the ideal shape of the mother plate 1. To at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1 means in this context to obtain such shape for the mother plate 1 such that the geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 falls between certain tolerances such that the mother plate 1 is capable of performing its task in the process for electrolytic recovery of metals.

The method may comprise a step for releasable holding the permanent cathode 2 at an end of the permanent cathode 2 provided with a hanger bar 5 for supporting the permanent cathode 2 at an electrolytic cell during a process for electrolytic recovery of metal.

The method may comprise a step for pressing the mother plate 1 by means of the pressing means 3 to plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for at least part of the mother plate 1 if said geometric deviation exceeds a predefined value. This step is optional, because it might be that the shape of the mother plate 1 is such that no plastic deformation is needed. It might for example be that the mother plate 1 is found to be flat enough after the calculating so that no plastic deformation of the mother plate 1 need to be performed.

The method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, locally pressing the mother plate 1 by means of the pressing means 3 by applying pressing force essentially perpendicularly and linearly to one of the faces of the mother plate 1.

The method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a step for using a measurement means 4 comprising a laser measuring system for remotely measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 to obtain said measurement data. Alternatively or additionally the method may comprise a step for using a measurement means 4 comprising a measuring system, which function is based on touching the mother plate 1 to obtain said measurement data.

The method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, as shown in the figure a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 at several locations of the mother plate 1, and a step for pressing the mother plate 1 at several locations of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. More precisely, the method shown in the figure comprises a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 at nine locations of the mother plate 1 and using a pressing means 3 comprising eighteen pressure devices 9 making it possible to press the mother plate at eighteen different locations, because the pressing means 3 comprises eighteen pressure devices each comprising a piston arrangement; nine first piston arrangements 6 arranged at a first side of the mother plate 1 for pressing the mother plate 1 independently at nine locations from the first side of the mother plate 1 and nine second piston arrangements 7 arranged at an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 for pressing the mother plate 1 independently at nine locations from the opposite second side of the mother plate 1.

The method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, as shown in the figure a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 at several different locations of the mother plate 1, and a step for pressing a face the mother plate 1 at several different locations of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. More precisely, the method shown in the figure comprises a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 at nine different locations of the mother plate 1 and using a pressing means 3 comprising eighteen independently operable pressure devices 9 making it possible to press a face of the mother plate independently at eighteen different locations, because the pressing means 3 comprises eighteen pressure devices 9 each comprising an independently operable piston arrangement 6; nine first independently operable piston arrangements 6 arranged at a first side of the mother plate 1 for pressing a face the mother plate 1 independently at nine locations from the first side of the mother plate 1 and nine second independently operable piston arrangements 7 arranged at an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 for pressing a face the mother plate 1 independently at nine locations from the opposite second side of the mother plate

1.

The method may comprise a step for after plastically deforming the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 by means of the pressing means 3 performing a step for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 with a measurement device to obtain verification data, and a step for calculating geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 in comparison to a predefined reference shape by using said verification data, and a step for using said geometric deviation for automatically controlling a pressing means 3 for pressing the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

The invention relates also to an apparatus for preparing a mother plate 1 of a permanent cathode 2 to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefming or metal electro winning.

The mother plate 1 is an object in the form of a plate that has two opposite faces (not marked with a reference numeral) on which metal is collected in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefming or metal electro winning.

The apparatus comprises a holding means 8 for releasable holding the permanent cathode 2.

The apparatus comprises a measurement means 4 for measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 with a measurement device to obtain measurement data.

The apparatus comprises a calculating means functionally connected with the measurement means 4, said calculating means being configured for calculating geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 in comparison to a predefined reference shape by using said measurement data.

The apparatus comprises a pressing means 3 functionally connected with the calculating means and configured for locally automatically pressing the mother plate 1 in accordance with the calculated geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 to plastically deform the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. A reference shape means in this context the ideal shape of the mother plate 1. To at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1 means in this context to obtain such shape for the mother plate 1 such that the geometric deviation of the mother plate 1 falls between certain tolerances such that the mother plate 1 is capable of performing its task in the process for electrolytic recovery of metals.

The holding means 8 are preferably, but not necessarily, configured for holding the permanent cathode 2 at an end of the permanent cathode 2 provided with a hanger bar 5 for supporting the permanent cathode 2 at an electrolytic cell (not shown in the figure).

The pressing means 3 are preferably, but not necessarily, configured for locally pressing the mother plate 1 by applying pressing force essentially perpendicularly to one of the faces of the mother plate 1.

The measurement means 4 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a laser measuring system (not marked with a reference number) for remotely measuring a shape of the mother plate 1 to obtain said measurement data.

In the figure the pressing means 3 of the apparatus comprises pressing devices 9 each having a first piston arrangement 6 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from a first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the first face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 and pressing devices 9 each having a second piston arrangement 7 for pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the opposite second face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2.

If the apparatus comprises pressing devices 9, each having a first piston arrangement 6 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from a first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the first face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 and pressing devices 9, each having a second piston arrangement 7 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the opposite second face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2, the first piston arrangement 6 is preferably, but not necessarily, configured to co-operate with the second piston arrangement 7 so that the mother plate 1 is held between the first piston arrangement 6 and the second piston arrangement 7 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

The measurement means 4 of the apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several measurement devices 10 each being configured for measuring the shape of part of the mother plate 1. In the figures the measurement means 4 comprises nine measurement devices 10.

The pressing means 3 of the apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. The pressing means 3 of the apparatus shown in the figure comprises eighteen pressing devices 9, which are arranged as nine pressing devices 9 each having a first piston arrangement 6 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from a first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 and as nine pressing devices 9 each having a second piston arrangement 7 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2.

The pressing means 3 of the apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several independently operable pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing a face the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. The pressing means 3 of the apparatus shown in the figure comprises eighteen independently operable pressing devices 9, which are arranged as nine independently operable pressing devices 9 each having a first independently operable piston arrangement 6 for linearly pressing a first face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from a first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the first face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 and as nine independently operable pressing devices 9 each having a second independently operable piston arrangement 7 for linearly pressing a opposite second face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 essentially perpendicularly in relation to the opposite second face of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2.

If the apparatus comprises a first piston arrangement 6 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from a first side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 and a second piston arrangement 7 for linearly pressing the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2 from an opposite second side of the mother plate 1 of the permanent cathode 2, the first piston arrangement 6 is preferably, but not necessarily, configured to cooperate with the second piston arrangement 7 so that the mother plate 1 is held between the first piston arrangement 6 and the second piston arrangement 7 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

If the apparatus comprises several co-operating first piston arrangements 6 and second piston arrangements 7, the apparatus is preferably, but not necessarily, configured for holding the mother plate 1 in place between a co-operating first piston arrangement 6 and second piston arrangement 7 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed with another co-operating first piston arrangement 6 and another second piston arrangement 7 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

If the apparatus comprises several co-operating first independently operable piston arrangements 6 and second independently operable piston arrangements 7, the apparatus is preferably, but not necessarily, configured for holding the mother plate 1 in place between a cooperating first independently operable piston arrangement 6 and second independently operable piston arrangement 7 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed with another co-operating first independently operable piston arrangement 6 and another second independently operable piston arrangement 7 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

As mentioned, the pressing means 3 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

As mentioned, the pressing means 3 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several independently operable pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing a face the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1.

If the pressing means 3 comprises several pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1 , each pressing device 9 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a first piston arrangement 6 that is configured to co-operate with a pressing device 9 comprising a second piston arrangement 7 so that the mother plate 1 can be held between at least one first piston arrangement 6 of a pressing device 9 and at least one second piston arrangement 7 of a pressing device 9 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. In the figure, the pressing means 3 comprises eighteen pressing devices 9 so that nine pressing devices 9 are configured to be situated at a first side of the mother plate 1 and so that nine pressing devices 9 are configured to be situated at a second side of the mother plate 1.

If the pressing means 3 comprises several independently operable pressing devices 9 each being configured for pressing a face the mother plate 1 at a different location of the mother plate 1 for plastically deforming the mother plate 1 to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1, each independently operable pressing device 9 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a first independently operable piston arrangement 6 that is configured to co-operate with a independently operable pressing device 9 comprising a second independently operable piston arrangement 7 so that the mother plate 1 can be held between at least one first independently operable piston arrangement 6 of an independently operable pressing device 9 and at least one second independently operable piston arrangement 7 of an independently operable pressing device 9 when the mother plate 1 is plastically deformed to at least partly obtain a reference shape for the mother plate 1. In the figure, the pressing means 3 comprises eighteen independently operable pressing devices 9 so that nine independently operable pressing devices 9 are configured to be situated at a first side of the mother plate 1 and so that nine independently operable pressing devices 9 are configured to be situated at a second side of the mother plate 1.

The measurement means 4, the pressing means 3, and the holding means 8 are preferably, but not necessarily, fixedly arranged in a frame means (not shown in the figure).

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.