Field of the invention

The invention relates to method for collecting samples of cathode metal deposit sheets formed on a mother plate of permanent cathodes in a plurality of electrolytic cells as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to an arrangement for collecting samples of cathode metal deposit sheets formed on a mother plate of permanent cathodes in a plurality of electrolytic cells as defined in the preamble of independent claim 12.

Application AU 2007237233 Al presents an apparatus and a method for conveying electrodeposited metal sheets.

Publication JP 5076241 B2 presets a sample device of deposited metal plate.

Publication US 7,721,897 B2 presents an apparatus and a method for collecting, sorting and storing samples from multiple batches of copper cathode is disclosed. Samples are collected at a sampling station and transferred to a collection container. The samples are then transferred to a sorting container by way of chutes forming a continuous path from the collection container to the sorting container. The sorting container is affixed on the top surface of an automated carousel having a plurality of sorting containers for sorting samples from multiple batches. Samples in the sorting containers are recovered into storage containers through an access door panel and a funnel placed beneath the access door.

Objective of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method and an improved arrangement for collecting samples of cathode metal deposit sheets formed on a mother plate of permanent cathodes in a plurality of electrolytic cells.

Short description of the invention

The method for collecting samples of cathode metal deposit sheets formed on a mother plate of permanent cathodes in a plurality of electrolytic cells 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 11.

The arrangement for collecting samples of cathode metal deposit sheets formed on a mother plate of permanent cathodes in a plurality of electrolytic cells of the invention is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim 12.

Preferred embodiments of the arrangement are defined in the dependent claims 13 to 22. List of figures

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

Figure 1 shows a permanent cathode,

Figure 2 shows a sampling station,

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the method and of the arrangement,

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the method and of the arrangement, and

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the method and of the arrangement.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for collecting cathode samples 1 of cathode metal deposit sheets 2 formed on a mother plate 3 of permanent cathodes 4 in an electrolytic cell 7.

First the method for collecting cathode samples 1 of cathode metal deposit sheets 2 formed on a mother plate 3 of permanent cathodes 4 in an electrolytic cell 7 and some embodiments and variants of the method will be described in greater detail.

The method comprises a providing step for providing a permanent cathode 4 that comprises a mother plate 3 and a unique remotely readable identifier 5.

The unique remotely readable identifier 5 can for example comprise a radio frequency identification (RFID) or a camera readable matrix.

Publication US 7,678,247 presents an example of a permanent cathode 4 that is provided with an RFID element.

The providing step of the method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, providing a plurality of permanent cathodes 4 each comprising a mother plate 3 and each comprising a unique remotely readable identifier 5.

The method comprises a cathode metal producing step for in an electrolytic cell 7 form a cathode metal deposit sheet 2 on the mother plate 3 of the permanent cathode 4 that is provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5 to produce a cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 that is provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5. The cathode metal deposit sheet 2 can consist of two cathode metal deposit sheet halves (not shown in the figures).

The cathode metal producing step of the method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, forming in an electrolytic cell 7 a cathode metal deposit sheet 2 on several permanent cathodes 4 each provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5 to produce several cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathodes 6 each provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5.

The cathode metal producing step may be electrolytic refining of copper and the cathode metal may be copper having a purity that is approximately 99.99%.

The method comprises a transporting step for transporting the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 that is provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5 from the electrolytic cell 7 to a cathode stripping station 8.

In the transporting step a crane 20 or a hoist may be used for transporting the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode from the electrolytic cell 7 to the stripping station 8. In the arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2, a crane 20 is used for moving cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathodes 6 from electrolytic cells 7 to a first conveyor 9 of the stripping station 8. The first conveyor 9 of the stripping station 8 is configured to move cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathodes 6 to a traverse conveyor 10 of the stripping station 8. The traverse conveyor 10 of the stripping station 8 is configured to move cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathodes 6 to a cathode stripping device 11 of the cathode stripping station 8 and configured to move permanent cathodes 4 from the cathode stripping device 11 of the cathode stripping station 8 to a second conveyor 12 of the stripping station 8. The second conveyor 12 is configured to move permanent cathodes 4 to a pick-up station from where a set of permanent cathodes can be transported to an electrolytic cell 7.

The method comprises a stripping step for by means of the cathode stripping device 11 of the cathode stripping station 8 stripping the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the mother plate 3 of the permanent cathode 4 that is provided with a unique remotely readable identifier 5 and dropping the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8 onto a cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of a stacking station 19, wherein the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of the stacking station 19 is arranged at least partly below the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8 and that is configured to feed the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 towards a stacking device 26 of the stacking station 19, which stacking device 26 of the stacking station 19 is configured to form a stack 27 of cathode metal deposit sheets at the stacking station.

The method comprises an arranging step for arranging a sampling station 14 at the stacking station 19.

The method comprises a picking step for picking up the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the stacking station 19 at the sampling station 14.

A robotic manipulator or an industrial robot may be used as a picking device 22 in the picking step.

The method comprises a sampling step for punching out a cathode sample 1 from the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 at the sampling station 14.

The method comprises a permanent cathode 4 tracking step that comprises (i) reading the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 by means of a first identifying device 15 to produce permanent cathode specific permanent cathode location information comprising at least the location of the electrolytic cell 7 the permanent cathode 4 is located in during the cathode metal producing step,

The first identifying device 15 can be a RFID reader in case the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 is a RFID element.

The first identifying device 15 can be a camera in case the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 is a matrix element.

The tracking step comprises (ii) storing the permanent cathode location information in a memory unit 16.

The tracking step comprises (iii) identifying the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 at the cathode stripping station 8 by reading the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode by means of a second identifying device 17 arranged at the cathode stripping station 8 and in response to identifying the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 at the cathode stripping station 8 retrieving the location information from the memory unit 16.

The second identifying device 17 can be a RFID reader in case the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 is a RFID element.

The second identifying device 17 can be a camera in case the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 is a matrix element.

The method comprises a transmitting step for sending the permanent cathode location information to a sampling station 14 and for receiving the permanent cathode location information at the sampling station 14, and a labeling step for at the sampling station 14 providing the cathode sample 1 with a label 18 containing said permanent cathode location information.

The method may comprise a returning step for returning the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the sampling station 14 to the stacking station 19 such as to the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of the stacking station 19 .

The method may comprise using a crane 20 in the transporting step. In such case the method may comprise arranging the first identifying device 15 at the crane 20.

The method may comprise arranging the first identifying device 15 at the electrolytic cell

7.

In the figures, the method includes arranging the first identifying device 15 in the stripping station 8 downstream of the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8.

The method may comprise a packaging step for placing the cathode sample 1 in package 24, so that the packaging step is performed after the sampling step and prior the labeling step so that the label 18 is provided on the package 24.

The method may comprise a packaging step for placing the cathode sample 1 in package

24, so that the packaging step is performed after the sampling step and after the labeling step so that the label 18 is in the labeling step provided on a cathode sample 1 that is placed in a package 24 in the packaging step. The labelling step of the method may comprise printing the permanent cathode location information with a printer 21 on the label 18 in response to receiving the permanent cathode location information at the sampling station 14.

The method may comprise arranging the second identifying device 17 in the stripping station 8.

The method may comprise arranging the second identifying device 17 at a conveyor of the stripping station 8 such as at a traverse conveyor 10 of the stripping station 8 configured to feed the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 into the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8 and configured to feed permanent cathodes 4 from the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8. In the arranging step, the sampling station 14 can, as in the embodiments shown in figures 3 and 4, be arranged at the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of the stacking station 19.

In the arranging step, the sampling station 14 can, as shown in the embodiment shown in figure 5, be arranged downstream of the stacking device 26 at the stacking station 19 and the picking step may include picking the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 as the top sheet of a stack 27 of cathode metal deposit sheets formed by the stacking device 26 of the stacking station 19.

Next the arrangement for collecting cathode samples 1 of cathode metal deposit sheets 2 formed on a mother plate 3 of permanent cathodes 4 in an electrolytic cell 7 and some embodiments and variants of the arrangement will be described in greater detail.

The arrangement comprises a permanent cathode 4 that comprises a mother plate 3 and a unique remotely readable identifier 5.

The permanent cathode may comprise a unique remotely readable identifier 5 comprising a RFID and/or a camera readable matrix.

The arrangement comprises an electrolytic cell 7 configured to perform an cathode metal producing step, where a cathode metal deposit sheet 2 is formed on the mother plate 3 of the permanent cathode 4 to produce a cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6.

The cathode metal producing step may be electrowinning or electrorefining and the cathode metal may be copper having a purity of 99.99 %.

The arrangement comprises a transporting means, such as a crane 20, configured to transport the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 from the electrolytic cell 7 to a cathode stripping station 8 comprising a cathode stripping device 11 configured to strip the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the mother plate 3 of the permanent cathode 4.

The arrangement comprises a stacking station 19 comprising a cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 that is arranged at least partly below the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8 and that is configured to receive the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8 and configured to feed cathode metal deposit sheets 2 towards a stacking device 26 of the stacking station, wherein the stacking device 26 is configured to form a stack 27 of cathode metal deposit sheets at the stacking station 19. The arrangement comprises a sampling station 14 that is arranged at the stacking station 19, wherein the sampling station 14 comprises a picking device 22 configured to pick the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13, and wherein the sampling station 14 comprises a punching device 23 for punching out a cathode sample 1 from the cathode metal deposit sheet 2.

The arrangement comprising a permanent cathode tracking system (not marked with a reference numeral) comprising

(i) a first identifying device 15 configured to read the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the permanent cathode 4 to produce for the permanent cathode permanent cathode location information comprising at least the location of the electrolytic cell 7 the permanent cathode 4 is located in during the cathode metal producing step,

(ii) a memory unit 16 configured to store the permanent cathode location information, and

(iii) a second identifying device 17 that is arranged at the stripping station 8 and that is configured to read the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6.

The permanent cathode tracking system being configured, in response to reading the unique remotely readable identifier 5 of the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 at the stripping station 8 by means to the second identifying device 17, to retrieve the permanent cathode location information from the memory unit 16 and to transmit the permanent cathode location information to the sampling station 14.

The sampling station 14 comprises a printer 21 configured to print the permanent cathode location information on a label 18 and configured to provide the cathode sample 1 with the label 18.

The picking device 22 may be configured to return the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 from the sampling station 14 to the stacking station 19, such as to the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of the stacking station 19. In the arrangement shown in figure 3, the picking device 22 is a lifting means, and in the arrangement shown in figure 4, the picking device is an industrial robot.

The first identifying device 15 of permanent cathode tracking system may be arranged at the transporting means that may be a crane 20.

The first identifying device 15 of the permanent cathode tracking system may be arranged at the electrolytic cell 7.

The first identifying device 15 of the permanent cathode tracking system may, as shown in figures 3 and 4, be arranged in the stripping station 8 downstream of the cathode stripping device 11.

The second identifying device 17 of the permanent cathode tracking system may, as shown in figures 3 and 4, be arranged in the stripping station 8 upstream of the cathode stripping device 11.

The second identifying device 17 of the permanent cathode tracking system may be arranged at a conveyor of the stripping station 8 such as at a traverse conveyor of the stripping station 8 configured to feed the cathode metal deposit sheet carrying permanent cathode 6 into the cathode stripping device 11 of the stripping station 8.

The arrangement may comprise a packaging means 25 configured for placing the cathode sample 1 in package 24, wherein the packaging means 25 is configured to receive the cathode sample 1 from the punching device 23. In such case the labeling device may be configured to place the label 18 on the package 24. In the arrangement, the sampling station 14 may, as shown in the embodiments shown in figures 3 and 4, be arranged at the cathode metal deposit sheet feed conveyor 13 of the stacking station 19.

In the arrangement, the sampling station 14 may, as shown in the embodiment shown in figure 5, be arranged downstream of the stacking device 26 at the stacking station 19. In such case the picking device 22 of the sampling station 14 is configured to pick the cathode metal deposit sheet 2 as the top sheet of a stack 27 of cathode metal deposit sheets formed by the stacking device 26 of the stacking station 19. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, 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.