Patent attributes
The present invention relates to a stack manipulating system configured to move a stack of plates, in particular lead battery plates, from at least one arrival location to at least one target location at a machine where the plates are to be processed, and wherein the stack manipulating system comprises: -a first zone comprising the at least one arrival location and a non-static moving assembly having a range of motion, wherein the complete range of motion is located within the first zone, -a second zone comprising the at least one target location and the machine, wherein the second zone is configured to accommodate an operator, a separation, separating the second zone from the first zone, the separation being configured for preventing the operator to move into the first zone, -at least one conveyor traversing the separation, the at least one conveyor comprising an entrance in at least one intermediate location located in the first zone and an exit located in the second zone, wherein the conveyor defines a trajectory between the entrance and the exit and comprises a guide structure which extends between the entrance and the exit along said trajectory and which guides the stack of plates along said trajectory, and wherein, at least in the second zone, the guide structure is a static structure, wherein the moving assembly comprises moving parts, and wherein the moving parts are configured to stay outside the second zone.
