Leveller, cathodic finisher and leveller cleaning method

Abstract

To provide a leveler capable of easily removing foreign matter caught in a roller, a cathode finishing device equipped with such a leveler, and a cleaning method of the leveler of a cathode finishing device.SOLUTION: In a cathode finishing device 1, a leveler 20 corrects a starting plate. The leveler 20 is equipped with an upper work roller 21A and a lower work roller 21B sandwiching a starting plate S, and an upper backup roller 22A provided on a counter-starting plate side of the upper work roller 21A and a lower backup roller 22B provided on the counter-starting plate side of the lower work roller 21B. The lower backup roller 22B and the lower work roller 21A are arranged so that they can be separated in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a leveler, a cathode finisher, and a method for cleaning a leveler, and more particularly to a leveler that suppresses distortion of cathodes used in the electrolytic refining process of non-ferrous metals, a cathode finisher equipped with such a leveler, and a method for cleaning the leveler of a cathode finisher. [Background technology]

[0002] In metal electrolysis, such as electrolytic refining or electrowinning of metals, mother plates (crude metal plates) that serve as anodes and cathodes are alternately arranged and supplied to an electrolytic cell for electrolysis. For example, in the case of copper electrolytic refining, cathodes and refined blister copper cast anodes are alternately supplied to the electrolytic cell and electricity is applied. As the electrolysis proceeds, copper dissolves from the anodes, and this dissolved copper is electrodeposited on the cathodes to produce the finished electrolytic copper.

[0003] In metal electrolysis, the anode and cathode are fed into the electrolytic cell with as little space between them as possible to improve productivity, and electrolysis is performed at a high current density as long as it is not detrimental. Therefore, if the cathode seed plate has an irregular shape, such as a curved plate, narrowing the gap between the anode and cathode too much can cause contact between the two electrodes, i.e., a short circuit, resulting in current that does not contribute to electrolysis and reducing electrolysis efficiency. Even if the anode and cathode do not contact, there is a possibility of variation in the current flowing between the anode and cathode in the electrolytic cell. Current can concentrate at protrusions or curves on the cathode seed plate, potentially causing a short circuit even when the anode and cathode are not in contact. Therefore, the cathode seed plate fed into the electrolytic cell must have a uniform shape (e.g., flatness).

[0004] Cathode seed plates used in metal electrolysis are generally thin plates obtained by electrodepositing metal onto a mother plate, such as a stainless steel plate, using a method such as electrolytic refining, and then peeling the plate from the mother plate. However, thin seed plates made by electrodeposition are prone to distortion due to electrodeposition or when peeled from the mother plate. Furthermore, because the seed plate is thin, it is very prone to bending during transportation and handling. Because it is difficult to maintain the seed plate in a uniform shape, such as its flatness, the shape of the seed plate is adjusted by straightening, grooving, or other processes when preparing the cathode in a cathode finishing machine.

[0005] For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose techniques for adjusting the shape (flatness, etc.) of a seed plate in a cathode in a cathode finishing machine. Specifically, the seed plate is straightened using a leveler having rollers arranged in a staggered pattern, and a pair of upper and lower groove rollers is used to give the seed plate a groove-like deformation, thereby adjusting the shape of the seed plate in the produced cathode. In other words, efforts are made to reduce cathode distortion in the produced cathode. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-176880 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-192879 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-360050 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Here, copper particles adhering to the surface of the seed plate or scraps formed on the periphery of the seed plate (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as foreign matter) may be present on the surface of the seed plate. In the above-mentioned leveler, the gap between the work rollers (work rollers that come into contact with the surface of the seed plate) through which the seed plate passes is approximately the same as the thickness of the seed plate, so if foreign matter is present on the surface of the seed plate, the foreign matter will peel off from the seed plate when the seed plate comes into contact with the work rollers, and the peeled foreign matter will accumulate inside the leveler.

[0008] In a leveler, the work roller that contacts the surface of the seed plate is supported by multiple backup rollers. If foreign matter peels off from the seed plate, the foreign matter may adhere to the backup roller. In this case, the foreign matter may become caught between the backup roller and the work roller, or between the work rollers. This prevents the work roller from rotating normally, increases friction between the seed plate and the work roller, and makes it difficult to properly remove the internal stress of the seed plate. Therefore, in order to properly remove the internal stress of the seed plate, it is necessary to periodically disassemble the leveler and clean it to remove the foreign matter.

[0009] However, disassembling and cleaning a leveler usually requires shutting down the equipment for 48 hours or more, making it difficult to carry out disassembly and cleaning on a daily basis.

[0010] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a leveler that can easily remove foreign matter caught in the rollers, a cathode finishing machine equipped with such a leveler, and a method for cleaning the leveler of a cathode finishing machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] <Leveler> The leveler of the first invention is a leveler for leveling a starter plate in a cathode finishing machine, and the leveler is provided with an upper work roller and a lower work roller that sandwich the starter plate, an upper backup roller provided on the opposite side of the starter plate to the upper work roller, and a lower backup roller provided on the opposite side of the starter plate to the lower work roller, and the lower backup roller and the lower work roller are provided so as to be separable in the vertical direction. the machine comprises a fixed frame equipped with the lower backup roller, a lower movable frame equipped with the lower work roller and separable from the fixed frame, and an upper movable frame equipped with the upper work roller and the upper backup roller and separable from the lower movable frame, and a hanging member for hanging the lower movable frame from the upper movable frame, the hanging member having a main body portion having a connecting portion at a first end thereof that is connected to the upper movable frame, and a hook portion provided at a second end of the main body portion, and the hook portion is formed so as to be positioned below the lower movable frame when the connecting portion of the main body portion is connected to the upper movable frame. It is characterized by: The leveler of the second invention is A leveler for straightening a seed plate in a cathode finishing machine, the leveler comprising upper and lower work rollers that sandwich the seed plate, an upper backup roller provided on the opposite side of the upper work roller to the seed plate, and a lower backup roller provided on the opposite side of the lower work roller to the seed plate, the lower backup roller and the lower work roller being vertically separable, a fixed frame having the lower backup roller, a lower movable frame having the lower work roller and being separable from the fixed frame, and the upper an upper movable frame provided with a work roller and the upper backup roller and separable from the lower movable frame; and a hanging member for hanging the lower movable frame from the upper movable frame, the hanging member having a main body having a connecting portion at a first end for connecting to the upper movable frame, and a hook portion provided at a second end of the main body for engaging with the lower movable frame, the lower movable frame being provided with an engaging portion into which the hook portion of the hanging member is placed when the connecting portion of the main body is connected to the upper movable frame. It is characterized by: <Cathode finishing machine> Third Invention The cathode finisher is First or second invention The present invention is characterized by comprising the leveler according to any one of the above. <How to clean the leveler> Fourth Invention How to clean the leveller: First or second invention A method for cleaning a leveler according to any one of the above items, The lower movable frame is suspended from the upper movable frame of the leveler. The lower work roller is separated from the lower backup roller, and the surfaces of the lower backup roller and the lower work roller are cleaned. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] <Leveler> According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lower work roller and the lower backup roller are separated, so that foreign matter caught between the lower work roller and the lower backup roller can be easily removed. Also, above By raising the side movable frame and the lower movable frame, the lower work roller and the lower backup roller can be easily separated from each other. Furthermore,When the connecting portion of the hanging member is connected to the upper movable frame, the hook portion is positioned below the lower movable frame, and by raising the upper movable frame in this state, the lower movable frame can be raised together with the upper movable frame while hanging from the upper movable frame. This allows the lower movable frame to be raised from the fixed frame without providing a mechanism for moving the lower movable frame, preventing the structure of the device from becoming complicated. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lower work roller and the lower backup roller are separated, so that foreign matter caught between the lower work roller and the lower backup roller can be easily removed. Also, by raising the upper movable frame and the lower movable frame, the lower work roller and the lower backup roller can be easily separated. Furthermore, When the connecting portion of the hanging member is connected to the upper movable frame, the hook portion engages with the engaging portion of the lower movable frame, and by raising the upper movable frame in this state, the lower movable frame can be raised together with the upper movable frame while suspended from the upper movable frame. This allows the lower movable frame to be raised from the fixed frame without providing a mechanism for moving the lower movable frame, thereby preventing the structure of the device from becoming complicated. Furthermore, because the hook portion of the hanging member engages with the engaging portion of the lower movable frame, the lower movable frame can be suspended stably from the upper movable frame by the hanging member. <Cathode finishing machine> Third Invention According to this method, the seed plate can be reliably corrected, and therefore a cathode having an appropriate shape can be manufactured. <How to clean the leveler> Fourth Invention According to this, the leveler can be easily cleaned. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the leveler 20, illustrating a state in which the lower moving frame 210 is brought close to the fixed frame 220. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the leveler 20, illustrating a state in which the lower moving frame 210 is separated from the fixed frame 220. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the leveler 20, illustrating a state in which the lower moving frame 210 is brought close to the fixed frame 220. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the leveler 20, illustrating a state in which the lower moving frame 210 is separated from the fixed frame 220. [Figure 5] (A) is a schematic explanatory diagram of the layout of the four hanging members 250 when they are attached to a pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100, and (B) is a schematic explanatory diagram of the hanging member 250 alone. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a case where the leveler 20 has long work rollers 21A, 21B, and is a schematic explanatory diagram of a state in which the lower moving frame 210 is brought close to the fixed frame 220. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a leveler 20 having long work rollers 21A, 21B, in which the lower moving frame 210 is separated from the fixed frame 220. [Figure 8] 1A is a schematic explanatory diagram of a cathode finishing machine 1, and FIG. 1B is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of rollers of a leveler in an internal stress relief section 2. FIG. [Figure 9] (A) is a diagram showing an example of groove roller pairs 11-13 used in the groove forming section 10 of the cathode finishing machine 1, (B) is a schematic plan view of a starting plate S on which grooves g have been formed by the groove roller pairs 11-13 of (A), and (C) is a schematic explanatory diagram of the flange portions 15-17 of the groove roller pairs 11-13 of (A). [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of cathode distortion X. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing experimental results. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The leveler of this embodiment is used in a cathode finishing machine that produces cathodes used in electrolytic refining, by clamping the seed plate between rollers to straighten the seed plate and remove internal stress, and is characterized by the fact that even if foreign matter becomes caught in the rollers, the caught foreign matter can be easily removed.

[0015] The leveler of this embodiment is suitable as a device for straightening deformed seed plates and relieving internal stress in a cathode finisher that manufactures cathodes used to produce electrolytic copper by electrolytic refining, but the cathode finisher in which the leveler of this embodiment can be used is not particularly limited. For example, the leveler of this embodiment can be used as a device for straightening deformed seed plates and relieving internal stress in a cathode finisher that is required to manufacture cathodes with minimal deformation, such as a cathode finisher that manufactures cathodes used to produce electrolytic nickel by electrolytic nickel smelting.

[0016] The cathode finishing machine recited in claim 5 means a cathode finishing machine that employs the leveler of this embodiment. The above-mentioned foreign matter is not particularly limited. For example, the foreign matter may be copper particles or copper powder such as scraps formed on the periphery of the seed plate, but the foreign matter is not limited to these.

[0017] <Cathode C> First, an outline of the cathode C produced by the cathode finisher 1 employing the leveler 20 of this embodiment (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the cathode finisher 1 of this embodiment) will be described.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 10, the cathode C is a seed plate S suspended from a cathode beam B by a hanger sh. The seed plate S is a metal plate having, for example, a vertical width of about 1000 to 1150 mm, a horizontal width of about 1000 to 1150 mm, and a thickness of about 0.6 to 1.0 mm. When used to produce electrolytic copper, the seed plate S is made of electrolytic copper with a purity of 99.99%.

[0019] In the cathode finishing machine 1 of this embodiment, when a seed plate pallet containing seed plates S obtained from a seed plate electrolysis process (not shown) is transported to the supply port of the cathode finishing machine 1, a cathode C with a cathode beam B attached is produced.

[0020] Here, the seed plate electrolysis process refers to, for example, a process for obtaining an electrolytic copper seed plate with a purity of 99.99% in the case of producing electrolytic copper. This seed plate electrolysis process is carried out in a state where an anode (positive electrode) made of blister copper with a purity of about 98% and a mother plate (cathode) made of stainless steel or titanium are alternately supplied to an electrolytic cell filled with an electrolytic solution. In this state, while supplying the electrolytic solution to the electrolytic cell, for example, a current density of 250 A / m 2 By supplying a current between the two electrodes so that the purity is about 99.99%, an electrolytic copper seed plate with a purity of 99.99% can be obtained. The electrolyte used in this seed plate electrolysis process is not particularly limited, but a copper sulfuric acid solution with added glue, Aviton, etc. is preferred.

[0021] The seed plate S of the cathode C has a plurality of grooves g formed therein, extending in its up-down direction (the direction that is vertical when the cathode C is suspended, the up-down direction in FIG. 9(B)). These grooves g are formed by the cathode finishing machine 1 of this embodiment. By forming these grooves g, unevenness of the seed plate S of the cathode C in the up-down direction is reduced, and cathode distortion can be suppressed. Therefore, by using such a cathode C, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed in the current application step, thereby improving the production efficiency of electrorefining.

[0022] The cathode strain means the thickness of the seed plate S when viewed from the edge in the vertical direction of the seed plate S (see X in FIG. 10).

[0023] <Cathode finishing machine 1 of this embodiment> Next, the cathode finisher 1 of this embodiment will be outlined.

[0024] The cathode finishing machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a thickness measurement section, an internal stress relief section 2, a groove forming section 10, a hanger forming section, and a cathode beam mounting section (see Figure 8(A)), and the internal stress relief section 2 has a leveler 20 of this embodiment.

[0025] In addition, in FIG. 8(A), the thickness measurement section, the hanger forming section, and the cathode beam attachment section are omitted. In addition to the above, the cathode finisher 1 may also have functions such as cutting the starting plate and measuring cathode distortion. Furthermore, if the cathode finisher 1 has the internal stress relief portion 2, the grooved portion 10 does not necessarily have to be provided.

[0026] The cathode finishing machine 1 is supplied with a seed plate S of a predetermined size obtained in the seed plate electrolysis process and a hanging handle sh which is made by processing the seed plate S to a predetermined size (for example, approximately 0.1 m in length x approximately 0.3 m in width). The method for forming the seed plate S of a predetermined size is not particularly limited as long as it is a method that can obtain a smooth seed plate S with few burrs.

[0027] <Thickness measurement section> The thickness measuring section measures the thickness of the starting plate S to be supplied to the internal stress relief section 2. In the grooving section 10 described below, the gaps (clearance CL, see FIG. 9(C)) between the flanges 15-17 of each grooving roller pair 11-13 are adjusted based on the measurements made in this thickness measuring section.

[0028] The method for measuring the thickness of the seed plate S in the thickness measurement unit is not particularly limited. For example, the thickness of the seed plate S may be measured directly using a vernier caliper, or the thickness may be measured non-contact using an instrument using laser light, radiation, ultrasound, etc. When measuring the thickness of the seed plate S using an instrument using laser light, etc., for example, the instrument is placed vertically across the seed plate S, and the distance from the instrument to the surface of the seed plate S is measured, and the thickness of the seed plate S can be determined from the distance from the instrument to the surface of the seed plate S.

[0029] <Internal stress relief part 2> The internal stress relief unit 2 sandwiches the starter plate S between rollers to relieve the internal stress of the starter plate S. Specifically, the internal stress relief unit 2 includes a leveler 20.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 8(B), the leveler 20 is equipped with a plurality of upper work rollers 21A and a plurality of lower work rollers 21B that directly contact the seed plate S and clamp and straighten the seed plate S. The plurality of upper work rollers 21A and the plurality of lower work rollers 21B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the plurality of work rollers 21A, 21B) are arranged in a staggered pattern along the direction in which the seed plate S is transported. The seed plate S is fed between the plurality of work rollers 21A, 21B so that its up-down direction coincides with the direction in which the seed plate S is transported by the plurality of work rollers 21A, 21B.

[0031] The leveler 20 includes a plurality of upper backup rollers 22A and a plurality of lower backup rollers 22B. These upper backup rollers 22A and lower backup rollers 22B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the plurality of backup rollers 22A and 22B) support the plurality of work rollers 21A and 21B. The plurality of upper backup rollers 22A are provided on the opposite side of the plurality of work rollers 21A from the side where the work rollers 21A contact the seed plate S (the upper side of the work rollers 21A in FIGS. 1 and 8(B), hereinafter simply referred to as the upper side of the work rollers 21A). On the other hand, the plurality of lower backup rollers 22B are provided on the opposite side of the plurality of work rollers 21B from the side where the work rollers 21B contact the seed plate S (the lower side of the work rollers 21B in FIGS. 1 and 8(B), hereinafter simply referred to as the lower side of the work rollers 21B).

[0032] With this configuration, the seed sheet S fed between the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B is repeatedly bent in the sheet thickness direction by the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B while moving between the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B. Therefore, the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B can reduce the warp and unevenness width of the seed sheet S in the transport direction. In other words, when a cathode C is formed from the seed sheet S, the warp and unevenness width in the up-down direction can be reduced.

[0033] Furthermore, since the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B are supported by the multiple backup rollers 22A, 22B, even if a force that deforms the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B (for example, a force that bends the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B) is applied when the base plate S is fed between the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B, the multiple backup rollers 22A, 22B can prevent deformation of the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B.

[0034] The transport speed of the seed plate S in the leveler 20 is not particularly limited. It may be set each time according to the desired processing amount (i.e., the amount of cathodes C to be produced). The transport speed of the seed plate S in the leveler 20 is set, for example, in the range of 25 to 35 m / min.

[0035] <Grooved portion 10> The grooving unit 10 forms grooves g in the seed plate S from which internal stress has been removed by the internal stress relief unit 2. Specifically, while the seed plate S is being transported, multiple grooves g are formed in the seed plate S parallel to the transport direction of the seed plate S in the internal stress relief unit 2. As shown in FIG. 9(A), this grooving unit 10 includes three pairs of grooving rollers 11 to 13. Each of the three pairs of grooving rollers 11 to 13 includes an upper and lower pair of grooving rollers 11A to 13B (see FIG. 9(C)).

[0036] As shown in Figures 9(A) and 9(C), the grooved rollers 11A to 13B of each grooved roller pair 11 to 13 are provided with flanges 15 to 17 at predetermined positions in the axial direction. The flanges 15 to 17 are provided on the grooved roller pairs 11 to 13 so that the positions in the axial direction differ for each grooved roller pair 11 to 13. The flanges 15 to 17 have crest flanges 15a to 17a and valley flanges 15b to 17b, and of the flanges 15 to 17 provided at the same positions on a pair of grooved rollers 11A to 13B, one grooved roller 11A to 13B is provided with the valley flange 15b to 17b, and the other grooved roller 11A to 13B is provided with the crest flange 15a to 17a (see Figure 9(C)). Therefore, when the starting plate S is passed between the pair of grooving rollers 11A to 13B, grooves g recessed toward the bottom flange portion are formed in the starting plate S at the portions sandwiched between the flange portions 15 to 17.

[0037] For example, in the case of grooving roller pair 11, if groove roller 11A is provided with valley flange 15b, groove roller 11B is provided with crest flange 15a at a position opposite to valley flange 15b. Then, when the starting plate S is sandwiched between this pair and the flange (the right pair of flanges in FIG. 9(C), hereinafter referred to as the right flange pair), grooves g recessed toward the valley flange, i.e., grooves g recessed toward groove roller 11A, are formed. Also, adjacent grooves g on the starting plate S are usually formed so that they are recessed in opposite directions, so that between adjacent pairs of flanges, crest flange 15a and valley flange 15b are provided on opposite rollers. That is, in the pair of flanges adjacent to the right flange pair (the pair of flanges on the left side in FIG. 9(C), hereinafter referred to as the left flange pair), a crest flange portion 15a is provided on the grooving roller 11A, and a valley flange portion 15b is provided on the grooving roller 11B. Then, a groove g recessed toward the grooving roller 11B is formed in the starter plate S sandwiched between the pair of left flange portions. Therefore, by sandwiching the starter plate S between the pair of grooving rollers 11A, 11B of the grooving roller pair 11 as shown in FIG. 9(C), a pair of grooves g recessed in opposite directions can be formed.

[0038] Note that, if adjacent pairs of flanges form grooves g recessed on the same side, the same flanges may be provided on the same rollers for the adjacent pairs of flanges. For example, in the case of a pair of grooved rollers 11A and 11B of grooved roller pair 11, grooved roller 11A may be provided with a crest flange 15a and grooved roller 11B may be provided with a valley flange 15b for both of the adjacent pairs of flanges.

[0039] The cathode finishing machine 1 is equipped with a gap adjustment unit that adjusts the gap (clearance CL, see FIG. 9(C)) between the flanges 15-17 of each grooved roller pair 11-13. This gap adjustment unit has an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the distance between the paired grooved rollers 11A-13B in each grooved roller pair 11-13. For example, the adjustment mechanism can be configured with a cylinder mechanism, a screw mechanism, or the like. In this case, the bearings that rotatably hold the grooved rollers 11A-13B of each grooved roller pair 11-13 are connected to the adjustment mechanism. Then, by moving the bearings using the adjustment mechanism, the grooved rollers 11A-13B held in the bearings can be moved, adjusting the distance between the paired grooved rollers 11A-13B, i.e., the clearance CL.

[0040] The reference thickness of the seed plate S to be grooved is input into this gap adjustment unit. When a cathode C is produced using a seed plate S of the reference thickness, the gap adjustment unit adjusts the clearance CL to the reference clearance. The reference clearance is the clearance CL that allows grooves to be formed with an appropriate force in a seed plate S of the reference thickness. For example, when the reference thickness of the seed plate S is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mm, the reference clearance is usually set in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 mm. The clearance CL is then further adjusted based on the measurement value in the thickness measurement unit.

[0041] In this way, setting the reference clearance to a value corresponding to the seed plate S of the reference plate thickness and adjusting the clearance CL based on the measurement value in the thickness measurement unit has the advantage that it is less affected by variations in plate thickness at the time of setting and can obtain a more reliable clearance CL than setting the clearance CL to a value corresponding to various seed plates S.

[0042] It is preferable to use the standard thickness of the seed plate S determined based on the refining conditions of the seed plate S as the reference thickness of the seed plate S. For example, when refining a cathode seed plate S used to refine electrolytic copper by electrolytic refining, any value in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mm can be used as the reference thickness of the seed plate S.

[0043] The transport speed at which the starting plate S is transported in the grooving section 10 is not particularly limited and may be set appropriately depending on the amount of cathodes C to be produced, and may be set to, for example, 25 to 35 m / min.

[0044] <Hanging handle forming section> The hanger forming section attaches the hanger sh to the base plate S that has been grooved by the groove forming section 10. Specifically, the hanger sh is formed by fixing both ends of a strip-shaped plate to both sides of the base plate S so that it forms a ring. For example, when attaching a pair of hangers sh, sh, they are attached in the positions shown in Figure 10.

[0045] <Cathode beam attachment part> The cathode beam attachment section is used to attach the cathode beam B to the hanging handle sh. Specifically, the cathode beam B is inserted into a ring-shaped hanging handle sh (for example, a pair of hanging handles sh, sh). In this way, by attaching the cathode beam B to the hanging handle sh, the cathode C is completed (see Figure 10).

[0046] It should be noted that when attaching the hanger sh to the base plate S, the cathode beam B may be attached to the hanger sh at the same time. For example, when fixing both ends of a strip-shaped plate to both sides of the base plate S so as to form a ring, the cathode beam B is positioned so that it is sandwiched between the strip-shaped plates. In this way, when attaching the hanger sh, the cathode beam B can be attached to the hanger sh at the same time.

[0047] <Detailed explanation of Leveler 20> As described above, the leveler 20 has multiple work rollers 21A, 21B and multiple backup rollers 22A, 22B that support the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B. The multiple work rollers 21B and multiple backup rollers 22B are arranged below the path along which the seed plate S passes. Therefore, when the leveler 20 straightens the seed plate S and removes internal stress, foreign matter adhering to the seed plate S may peel off from the seed plate S and fall between the lower backup roller 22B and the lower work roller 21B. If this foreign matter becomes caught between the lower backup roller 22B and the lower work roller 21B, it becomes difficult to properly remove the internal stress of the seed plate S. Therefore, in the cathode finishing machine 1 of this embodiment, a leveler 20 (the leveler 20 of this embodiment) equipped with a mechanism for removing such foreign matter is used as the leveler 20 of the internal stress relief section 2. Specifically, the leveler 20 is equipped with a separation mechanism for separating the lower backup roller 22B and the lower work roller 21B. The leveler 20 of this embodiment equipped with the separation mechanism will be described below.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the leveler 20 of this embodiment has a lower frame 200 that holds a plurality of lower work rollers 21B and a plurality of lower backup rollers 22B, and an upper movable frame 100 that holds a plurality of upper work rollers 21A and a plurality of upper backup rollers 22A.

[0049] <Lower frame 200> 1 and 2, the lower frame 200 includes a fixed frame 220 that rotatably holds a plurality of lower backup rollers 22B so that they are aligned in the direction in which the starting plate S is transported (the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2). This fixed frame 220 is installed on the base 20B in a state in which its movement is fixed via a height adjustment mechanism 33 (described later) of the leveler 20 (see FIG. 2). Note that the height adjustment mechanism 33 is not necessarily provided.

[0050] A lower movable frame 210 is provided above the fixed frame 220. This lower movable frame 210 has a pair of frame portions 211, 211 arranged outward from the fixed frame 220. More specifically, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 are provided outward from the fixed frame 220 in the axial direction of the lower backup roller 22B (the left-right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4). A plurality of lower work rollers 21B are provided between the pair of frame portions 211, 211 so as to be aligned in the direction in which the starting plate S is transported. Both end portions of the plurality of lower work rollers 21B are rotatably held by the pair of frame portions 211, 211, respectively.

[0051] Four engaging portions 211h are provided on the end faces (left and right faces in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of this lower movable frame 210, with which hooks 252a of hook portions 252 of a hanging member 250, which will be described later, engage. More specifically, two engaging portions 211h are provided on each frame portion 211. Each engaging portion 211h is a recess formed by cutting out the end face in the direction in which the starting plate S is transported (the end face in the left and right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the outer side face (the outer end face in the left and right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4), and is formed so that the upper surface thereof is a substantially horizontal flat surface.

[0052] Each engaging portion 211h may have any shape as long as it can engage with a hook 252a of a hook portion 252 of a hanging member 250, which will be described later. For example, a groove or hole into which a hook 252a of a hook portion 252 of a hanging member 250, which will be described later, can be inserted may be formed on the end face of each frame portion 211 in the direction in which the starting plate S is transported, to serve as each engaging portion 211h.

[0053] <Frame 130> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a platform 130 on which the pair of frame portions 211, 211 are placed is provided below the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the pair of frame portions 211, 211). The platform 130 includes four support members 131. Specifically, the four support members 131 of the platform 130 are structures erected on a foundation or the like on which the leveler 20 is installed, and are provided at positions corresponding to the four corners of the fixed frame 220. More specifically, the four support members 131 are provided at positions corresponding to the four corners of the fixed frame 220, and are provided so as to be located to the sides of the fixed frame 220, that is, outward from the fixed frame 220 in the axial direction of the lower backup roller 22B (the left-right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4), when the fixed frame 220 is viewed from the movement direction of the starting plate S (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Moreover, the four support members 131 are each provided so as to be positioned outward of the fixed frame 220 in the movement direction of the starter plate S (see FIGS. 1 and 2). That is, the four support members 131 are installed at positions corresponding to the four corners of the fixed frame 220, spaced a predetermined distance from each other. Therefore, when the pair of frame portions 211, 211 is supported by the stand 130, each frame portion 211 is disposed so as to span the two support members 131 that are aligned in the movement direction of the starter plate S (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0054] Note that the four support members 131 of the stand 130 may be provided with a positioning mechanism that positions the pair of frame parts 211, 211 when the pair of frame parts 211, 211 are placed on them. The configuration of the positioning mechanism is not particularly limited, but for example, the positioning mechanism can be formed by providing positioning pins on the upper surfaces of the four support members 131 and positioning holes into which the positioning pins are inserted on the lower surfaces of the pair of frame parts 211, 211.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above example, the case where the stand 130 supports the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 by the four support members 131 has been described, but the structure of the stand 130 is not particularly limited. For example, the stand 130 may have a structure in which, of the above-mentioned four support members 131, beam-like members are provided between two support members 131 that are aligned in the axial direction of the frame portions 211 (the movement direction of the starting plate S, the left-right direction in Figures 1 and 2), connecting the two support members, and each frame portion 211 is placed on the beam-like members.

[0056] <Upper movable frame 100> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the upper movable frame 100 includes a first frame 110 that holds a plurality of upper work rollers 21A. This first frame 110 includes a pair of frame portions 111, 111, and a plurality of upper work rollers 21A are provided between the pair of frame portions 111, 111 so as to be aligned along the direction in which the starting plate S is transported. Both ends of the plurality of upper work rollers 21A are rotatably held by the pair of frame portions 111, 111, respectively. This pair of frame portions 111, 111 is disposed so as to be positioned substantially vertically above the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 described above, and is held so as to be able to rise and fall by a lifting mechanism 230.

[0057] A second frame 120 is provided between the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 and above the multiple upper work rollers 21A. This second frame 120 rotatably holds the multiple upper backup rollers 22A so that they are aligned in the direction in which the start plate S is transported, and is connected to the first frame 110 by connecting members (not shown). In other words, the second frame 120 is provided so that it can be raised and lowered together with the first frame 110 by the lifting mechanism 230. In other words, the second frame 120 is provided so that when the first frame 110 is raised and lowered by the lifting mechanism 230, the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the multiple upper backup rollers 22A are raised and lowered together.

[0058] In the above example, the first frame 110 that holds the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the second frame 120 that holds the multiple upper backup rollers 22A are separately provided on the upper movable frame 100. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which only the first frame 110 is provided as the upper movable frame 100, and the first frame 110 holds all of the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the multiple upper backup rollers 22A.

[0059] <Hanging member 250> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a hanging member 250 is detachably provided on a pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a pair of frame portions 111, 111).

[0060] Four mounting portions 105 for mounting the hanging member 250 are provided on the end faces (left and right end faces in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100. More specifically, two mounting portions 105 are provided on each frame portion 111. Each mounting portion 105 has a mounting surface 105f that is a substantially flat vertical surface that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the starting plate S is transported. A screw hole h is formed in this mounting surface 105f (see FIG. 1(X)).

[0061] A hanging member 250 is detachably connected to each mounting portion 105. As shown in Fig. 5(B), the hanging member 250 has a main body portion 251 connected to the pair of frame portions 111, 111, and a hook portion 252 provided at the tip (second end) of the main body portion 251. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5(B), the main body portion 251 of the hanging member 250 is provided at its first end with a connecting portion 251a connected to the pair of frame portions 111, 111. The back surface b of this connecting portion 251a is formed into a substantially flat surface, and a through-hole 250h is formed to pass through between the back surface b and the front surface. Therefore, by bringing the back surface b of the connecting portion 251a into surface contact with the mounting surface 105f of the mounting portion 105 so that the other end of the hanging member 250 is positioned downward, inserting a bolt B into the through hole 250h, and screwing the male thread of the bolt B into the screw hole h, the connecting portion 251a of the main body 251 can be fixed to the mounting portion 105 (see Figures 1(X) and 3(Y)).

[0062] Furthermore, a hook portion 252 is provided at a second end of the main body portion 251. This hook portion 252 has a hook 252a protruding from the back surface side of the main body portion 251. This hook 252a extends in a direction perpendicular to the back surface of the connecting portion 251a of the main body portion 251, and has a surface (hereinafter referred to as an upper surface c of the hook 252a) formed as a substantially flat surface perpendicular to the back surface of the connecting portion 251a on the first end side of the main body portion 251. Then, in a state in which the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 are placed on the pedestal 130, when the connecting portion 251a of the main body portion 251 is fixed to the attachment portion 105, the hook portion 252 is formed so as to be inserted into an engaging portion 211h formed on the lower movable frame 210 (see FIGS. 1(X), 3(Y), and 5(A)).

[0063] Since the hanging member 250 and the mounting portion 105 are configured as described above, by fixing the connecting portions 251a of the main body portion 251 of the hanging member 250 to each of the four mounting portions 105 provided on a pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 with bolts B, the hooks 252a can be inserted into the engaging portions 211h of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 (see Figures 1 to 5).

[0064] In this state, if the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 is raised, the hooks 252a of the four hanging members 250 will hook onto the engaging portions 211h of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210. Therefore, with the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 suspended by the hooks 252a of the four hanging members 250, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 can be moved away from the base 130 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). In other words, because the multiple lower work rollers 21B can be moved away from the multiple lower backup rollers 22B, foreign matter adhering to the multiple lower work rollers 21B and the multiple lower backup rollers 22B can be easily found and removed. In other words, even if a foreign object falls into the gap between adjacent work rollers 21B, the foreign object can be found, and the found foreign object can be easily removed from the lower work roller 21B and the lower backup roller 22B.

[0065] Furthermore, since the lower movable frame 210 is moved together with the upper movable frame 100, even if the lower movable frame 210 is moved away from the fixed frame 220 and then the upper movable frame 110 is moved closer to the fixed frame 220, it is possible to prevent misalignment between the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the multiple lower work rollers 21B.

[0066] Furthermore, the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B can be placed in a state where they can be separated by removing the four hanging members 250 from the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100. This allows the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B to be easily returned to a state where they can be separated, so that after performing the work of removing foreign matter that has fallen between the lower backup roller 22B and the lower work roller 21B, for example, it is possible to easily return to a state where the work of removing foreign matter that has adhered to the multiple work rollers 21A, 21B can be performed.

[0067] In the above example, a case has been described in which the hook 252a of the hanging member 250 is caught on the engaging portions 211h of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210, but it is sufficient that the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 are configured so that the hook 252a can be caught on the pair of frame portions 211, 211. In other words, it is sufficient that when the connecting portion 251a of the main body portion 251 of the hanging member 250 is fixed to the frame portion 111, the hook 252a of the hook portion 252 is positioned below the lower surfaces of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 or the portions where the hook 252a is caught. Then, even if the upper surface c of the hook 252a is not initially in contact with the lower surfaces of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 or the portion on which the hook 252a is hooked, by raising the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100, the upper surface c of the hook 252a can be hooked onto the lower surfaces of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 or the portion on which the hook 252a is hooked. Then, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 can be suspended from the pair of frame portions 111, 111 by the suspending member 250, and therefore the lower movable frame 210 can be raised together with the upper movable frame 100.

[0068] <About the long work rollers 21A and 21B> The leveler 20 may be provided with a plurality of long upper work rollers 21A and a plurality of long lower work rollers 21B as the plurality of work rollers 21A, 21B. By providing a plurality of long work rollers 21A, 21B and supporting these long work rollers 21A, 21B by a plurality of fixed frames 220 and a plurality of second frames 120 of the upper movable frame 100, respectively, more accurate leveling is possible. Even in this case, if the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 are suspended from the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 by the suspending member 250 and moved, simultaneous maintenance of the plurality of lower backup rollers 22B provided on the plurality of fixed frames 220 can be performed.

[0069] For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, even when the leveler 20 has a plurality of long upper work rollers 21A and a plurality of long lower work rollers 21B, a pair of frame portions 111, 111 is provided as the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 that holds both ends of the plurality of long upper work rollers 21A. In addition, a pair of frame portions 211, 211 is provided as the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 that holds both ends of the plurality of long lower work rollers 21B. The pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 are supported by four support members 131 of the base 130. In addition, a plurality of (three in FIGS. 6 and 7) fixed frames 220 are provided between the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 so as to be aligned along the axial direction of the plurality of long lower work rollers 21B. Furthermore, a plurality of second frames 120 (three in FIGS. 6 and 7) are provided between the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100 at positions corresponding to the plurality of fixed frames 220. This allows the deflection of the plurality of long work rollers 21A, 21B to be supported by the plurality of backup rollers 22A, 22B.

[0070] Even in this case, if the above-described hanging member 250 is attached to the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100, the multiple long lower work rollers 21B can be simultaneously separated from the multiple lower backup rollers 22B supported by the multiple fixed frames 220. In other words, the hook portion 22 of the hanging member 250 is hooked onto the engaging portions 211h of the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200, and the pair of frame portions 111, 111 is raised. This causes the pair of frame portions 211, 211 to rise together with the pair of frame portions 111, 111, so that the multiple long lower work rollers 21B can all be simultaneously separated from the multiple lower backup rollers 22B supported by the multiple fixed frames 220. Therefore, simultaneous maintenance of the multiple lower backup rollers 22B provided on the multiple fixed frames 220 can be performed.

[0071] The long work rollers 21A, 21B refer to those having a length that is about two to three times that of the normal work rollers 21A, 21B, but there are no particular limitations on the length. Furthermore, the lengths of the multiple fixed frames 220 and the multiple second frames 120 of the upper movable frame 100, that is, the lengths of the multiple backup rollers 22A, 22B, may be set to an appropriate length to match the lengths of the long work rollers 21A, 21B.

[0072] <When not using the stand 130> In the above example, a case has been described in which the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 are placed on the pedestal 130, but the pair of frame portions 211, 211 may also be placed on the upper surface of the fixed frame 220. In this case, a larger load is applied to the fixed frame 220 than when the pedestal 130 supports multiple backup rollers 22B. In other words, since the fixed frame 220 also supports the load of the multiple backup rollers 22B, a larger load is applied to the fixed frame 220. Therefore, when the pedestal 130 is not used, it is necessary to increase the size and rigidity of the fixed frame 220 in order to support the load applied from the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200.

[0073] Furthermore, when the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 are placed on the upper surface of the fixed frame 220, a positioning mechanism for positioning the pair of frame portions 211, 211 when the pair of frame portions 211, 211 are placed on the upper surface of the fixed frame 220 may be provided. The configuration of the positioning mechanism is not particularly limited, but, for example, the positioning mechanism can be formed by providing positioning pins on the upper surface of the fixed frame 220 and positioning holes into which the positioning pins are inserted, on the lower surfaces of the pair of frame portions 211, 211.

[0074] <About the separation mechanism> In the above example, a separation mechanism was described in which the leveler 20 has a configuration that can separate the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the multiple lower work rollers 21B. In other words, the separation mechanism is configured to suspend the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200 by the hanging members 250 connected to the pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100.

[0075] The configuration of the separation mechanism for separating the plurality of upper work rollers 21A and the plurality of lower work rollers 21B is not particularly limited, as long as the separation mechanism is configured to separably provide a frame that holds the plurality of lower work rollers 21B (in the above example, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200) and a frame that holds the plurality of lower backup rollers 22B (in the above example, the fixed frame 220), and the frame that holds the plurality of lower work rollers 21B can be moved up and down relative to the frame that holds the plurality of lower backup rollers 22B, and is not particularly limited.

[0076] For example, if the leveler 20 has a structure as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a lift mechanism such as a cylinder mechanism may be provided between the support member 131 of the stand 130 (or the base 20B of the leveler 20, etc.) and the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200, so that the pair of frame portions 211, 211 can be lifted (moved) upward relative to the fixed frame 220.

[0077] However, a typical leveler 20 provided in a cathode finishing machine 1 typically has a separable frame that holds multiple upper work rollers 21A (in the above example, a pair of frame portions 111, 111 of the first frame 110 of the upper movable frame 100) and a frame that holds multiple lower work rollers 21B (in the above example, a pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 of the lower frame 200). The frame that holds the multiple upper work rollers 21A can be moved upward to separate the upper work rollers 21A from the multiple lower work rollers 21B. Therefore, if the above-described suspension member 250 is used as the separation mechanism, the movement mechanism provided in a typical leveler 20, i.e., the movement mechanism used to separate (lift) the frame that holds the multiple upper work rollers 21A from the multiple lower work rollers 21B, can be used as the separation mechanism. This eliminates the need to separately install a device (such as the lift mechanism described above) for separating the multiple lower work rollers 21B and the multiple lower backup rollers 22B in the vertical direction, thereby preventing the configuration of the leveler 20 from becoming complicated even when a separation mechanism is provided. Moreover, because the hanging member 250 is simply attached to a frame that holds the multiple upper work rollers 21A, if an existing leveler has a frame that holds the multiple lower work rollers 21B and a frame that holds the multiple lower backup rollers 22B, it is possible to easily operate the existing leveler as the leveler 20 of this embodiment that has a separation mechanism.

[0078] <Height adjustment mechanism> The leveler 20 may be provided with a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the multiple upper work rollers 21A and the multiple lower work rollers 21B, i.e., a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the roller depression amount. The roller depression amount refers to the distance W between a first contact surface A1 formed by connecting the points where the multiple work rollers 21A contact the seed plate S, and a second contact surface A2 formed by connecting the points where the multiple work rollers 21B contact the seed plate S (see Figure 8(B)). An example of the height adjustment mechanism will be described below.

[0079] As shown in Figure 2, the height adjustment mechanism 33 has the function of raising and lowering the fixed frame 220 of the lower frame 200, and by adjusting the height of the fixed frame 220 using the height adjustment mechanism 33, the roller pressing amount W can be adjusted.

[0080] Specifically, the fixed frame 220 has a lower surface 220B that is inclined downward from right to left in FIG. 2 , and the height adjustment mechanism 33 includes a wedge-shaped movable member 33a disposed between the upper surface of the base 20B of the leveler 20 and the lower surface 220B of the fixed frame 220. A screw hole h1 is formed in the movable member 33a parallel to the conveyance direction of the start plate S in the leveler 20, and a screw shaft 33b having a male screw thread is threadedly engaged with the screw hole h1. The base end of the screw shaft 33b is connected to the tip of a support member 33c, and a handle (not shown) is provided at the base end of the support member 33c. Therefore, by rotating the handle to rotate the support member 33c and the screw shaft 33b, the movable member 33a can be moved along the conveyance direction of the start plate S. Then, by moving the moving member 33a in a direction approaching the lower surface 220B of the fixed frame 220 (i.e., leftward in FIG. 2), the fixed frame 220 can be raised. Conversely, by moving the moving member 33a in a direction away from the lower surface 220B of the fixed frame 220, the fixed frame 220 can be lowered.

[0081] When such a height adjustment mechanism 33 is provided, the leveler 20 of this embodiment adjusts the roller pressing amount W as follows.

[0082] First, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 using the above-described hanging members 250 are raised from the support members 131 of the stand 130, and the plurality of lower work rollers 21B are separated from the plurality of backup rollers 22B.

[0083] Next, the screw shaft 33b is rotated to raise and lower the fixed frame 220, and the height of the fixed frame 220 is adjusted to the desired roller depression amount W. Specifically, when the multiple lower work rollers 21B are in contact with the multiple backup rollers 22B of the fixed frame 220, the height of the fixed frame 220 is adjusted to a height where the distance between the multiple lower work rollers 21B and the multiple upper work rollers 21A becomes the predetermined roller depression amount W.

[0084] Thereafter, the pair of frame portions 211, 211 are lowered so that the plurality of lower work rollers 21B are positioned above the plurality of backup rollers 22B, completing the adjustment of the roller depression amount W.

[0085] In the above example, a case has been described in which the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 are raised from the base 130 using the above-mentioned hanging members 250, and then the fixed frame 220 is raised and lowered by the height adjustment mechanism 33. The roller depression amount W may also be adjusted without raising the pair of frame portions 211, 211 of the lower movable frame 210 from the four support members 131 of the base 130. In other words, the roller depression amount W may be adjusted by raising and lowering the fixed frame 220 while the multiple work rollers 21B remain mounted on the multiple backup rollers 22B.

[0086] The configuration of the height adjustment mechanism 33 is not limited to the above configuration, as long as it can adjust the amount of roller pressing by raising and lowering the fixed frame 220 of the lower frame 200.

[0087] <About the roller pressure amount W> The roller push-in amount W of the leveler 20 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to adjust it so that it is larger on the entrance side and smaller on the exit side. The case where the first contact surface A1 and the second contact surface A2 are aligned is taken as the reference, i.e., distance W = 0. Then, when the second contact surface A2 is positioned below the first contact surface A1 (the state shown in FIG. 8(B)), distance W is defined as a positive amount. When the second contact surface A2 is positioned above the first contact surface A1, distance W is defined as a negative amount. In other words, by adjusting this distance W, it is possible to effectively remove internal stress in the seed sheet S. For example, when the reference thickness of the seed sheet S is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 mm, the roller push-in amount W can be set in the range of -2.0 to 0.0 mm on the entrance side and 0.5 to 1.5 mm on the exit side. [Example]

[0088] It was confirmed that by using a cathode finishing machine having an internal stress relief section equipped with the leveler of the present invention, foreign matter caught between the lower work roller and the lower backup roller can be easily removed, thereby suppressing distortion of the cathode.

[0089] In the experiment, cathodes were produced in a cathode finisher having the structure shown in Fig. 8(A). Two cathode finishers were used: one using a leveler (hereinafter referred to as the leveler of the present invention) with a mechanism for separating the lower work roller and the lower backup roller as the leveler for the internal stress relief section (Example 1), and the other using a leveler (hereinafter referred to as the conventional leveler) without such a mechanism as the leveler for the internal stress relief section (Comparative Example 1). Both the leveler of the present invention and the conventional leveler have the function of separating the lower work roller and the upper work roller.

[0090] The cathode distortion was compared between the cathodes produced by the cathode finisher of Example 1 and the cathodes produced by the cathode finisher of Comparative Example 1. After the cathodes were produced, the cathode finishers of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were compared for foreign matter getting caught in the work rollers and backup rollers.

[0091] The starting plates to be fed to the cathode finisher were prepared in the following manner. An anode (positive electrode) made of crude copper with a purity of approximately 98% and a stainless steel mother plate (cathode) were fed into the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic cell, and after 24 hours of electricity was applied, the electrodeposited copper was peeled off from the mother plate to produce a starting plate. The copper electrolytic solution used had a copper concentration of 47±2 g / L, a sulfuric acid concentration of 180±20 g / L, glue 100±10 g / ton of electrodeposited copper, Aviton 10±5 g / ton of electrodeposited copper, and thiourea 110±10 g / ton of electrodeposited copper. The current density of the current flowing between the anode and cathode was 250 A / m 2 The amount of electrolyte supplied to the electrolytic cell was adjusted to 25 L / min.

[0092] The prepared seed plates were all made of electrolytic copper with a purity of 99.99%, and had a flat plate shape with dimensions of 1000 mm length x 1000 mm width x 0.6 to 1.0 mm thickness.

[0093] The produced starting plate was loaded into a cathode finishing machine to produce a cathode. The operating conditions of the cathode finishing machine were that the roller push-in amount in the leveler of the internal stress relief section was -0.6 mm on the entrance side and +0.8 mm on the exit side for both Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The reference clearance of the grooved roller in the grooved section was 1.3 mm, and the reference thickness was 0.8 mm for both Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The cathode hanger was a strip cut from the prepared starting plate, measuring 300 mm long x 100 mm wide x 0.6 to 1.0 mm thick.

[0094] The cathode strain was measured by passing a cathode beam (24 × 42 × 1394 mm) through a seed plate with a hanger attached, and holding the cathode beam to hang the cathode. The cathode strain is the value of X shown in Figure 10. That is, the width of the seed plate when viewed from the edge of the plate was measured using a flatness measuring device for electrolytic electrode plates (a measuring device disclosed in JP-A-7-190744), and this was taken as the cathode strain.

[0095] Example 1 In Example 1, a cathode finishing machine having a leveler of the present invention was used to produce 2,400 cathodes per day for 177 days, and the cathode distortion of the produced cathodes was measured. The daily average value of the cathode distortion (hereinafter simply referred to as the average cathode distortion) was calculated for each day, and the change in this average value was confirmed.

[0096] As shown in Figure 11(A), the average cathode strain was maintained within a maximum of 2 mm for the first 60 days after the start of cathode finishing machine operation. On the 65th day, the average cathode strain reached 3 mm, and then on the 75th day, it reached 6 mm. Therefore, operation of the cathode finishing machine was stopped and the lower work roller and lower backup roller were separated. When the lower work roller and lower backup roller were inspected, foreign matter was found to be attached to the lower work roller and lower backup roller, so the foreign matter was removed from the lower work roller and lower backup roller.

[0097] After the foreign object was removed, the lower work roller and lower backup roller were brought closer together to return to operating condition, and the cathode finisher was put back into operation.

[0098] When the average value of cathode strain was checked after restarting operations, it was found that the average value of cathode strain never reached 6 mm during the 102 days of operation after restarting operations. Moreover, it was confirmed that the average value of cathode strain was maintained within a maximum of 2 mm.

[0099] <Comparative Example 1> In Comparative Example 1, a cathode finishing machine with a conventional leveler was used to produce 2,400 cathodes per day for 177 days, as in Example 1. The cathode distortion of the produced cathodes was measured, the average value of the cathode distortion was calculated for each day, and the change in this average value was confirmed.

[0100] As shown in Figure 11(B), the average cathode strain reached 6 mm on the 10th day after the start of cathode finishing machine operation, so the operation of the cathode finishing machine was stopped, the upper work roller and the lower work roller were separated, and when the upper and lower work rollers were checked, foreign matter was found to be attached to the lower work roller, so the foreign matter attached to the lower work roller was removed.

[0101] After the foreign matter was removed, the lower work roller and the upper work roller were brought closer together to return the cathode finishing machine to its operating state, and operation of the cathode finishing machine was resumed. Note that, for convenience, the period from when the cathode finishing machine was shut down to when the lower work roller and the upper work roller were brought closer together to return the machine to its operating state will be referred to as the foreign matter removal work below.

[0102] As shown in Figure 11(B), 40 days after the cathode finisher restarted operation, the average cathode strain reached 6 mm, so foreign matter removal work was carried out and the cathode finisher operation was restarted.

[0103] After that, the average cathode distortion reached 6 mm five more times over the course of 177 days, and each time, foreign matter removal work was performed. However, the number of operating days required for the average cathode distortion to reach 6 mm after the foreign matter removal work was reduced as the foreign matter removal work was performed. Furthermore, during the 177-day operation, the foreign matter removal work was performed eight times with the cathode finishing machine equipped with the conventional leveler. Moreover, the eighth foreign matter removal work not only involved separating the upper and lower work rollers, but also involved disassembling and cleaning the leveler to remove foreign matter trapped between the lower work roller and the lower backup roller. This disassembly and cleaning work took 40 to 50 times longer than a normal foreign matter removal work.

[0104] As described above, it has been confirmed that the use of a cathode finishing machine equipped with a leveler of the present invention can suppress cathode distortion compared to a cathode finishing machine equipped with a conventional leveler, and can also maintain good operating conditions for a long period of time. [Industrial Applicability]

[0105] The leveler of the present invention is suitable for use as a leveler for correcting and relieving internal stress on cathodes used in electrolytic refining processes for non-ferrous metals and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1. Cathode Finisher 2 Internal stress relief section 10 Grooved part 20 Leveller 21A Upper work roller 21B Lower work roller 22A Upper backup roller 22B Lower backup roller 33 Height adjustment mechanism 100 Upper movable frame 110 First Frame 111 Frame section 120 Second Frame 130 Mounting stand 131 Support member 200 Lower Frame 210 Lower movable frame 211 Frame section 211h Engagement part 220 fixed frame 250 Hanging member 251 Main body 252 Hook part CL Clearance C cathode S seed plate B Cathode beam sh Hanging handle X Cathode distortion

Claims

1. A leveler for straightening a starting plate in a cathode finishing machine, The leveler is Upper and lower work rollers that sandwich the seed plate; An upper backup roller provided on the reverse plate side of the upper work roller and a lower backup roller provided on the reverse plate side of the lower work roller, The lower backup roller and the lower work roller are provided so as to be separable in the vertical direction, a stationary frame having the lower backup roller; a lower movable frame provided with the lower work roller and separable from the fixed frame; an upper movable frame including the upper work roller and the upper backup roller and spaced apart from the lower movable frame, The upper movable frame is provided with a hanging member for hanging the lower movable frame, The hanging member comprises: a main body having a connecting portion at a first end thereof that is connected to the upper movable frame; a hook portion provided at a second end of the body portion, The hook portion is The connecting portion of the main body is configured to be disposed below the lower movable frame when connected to the upper movable frame. A leveler characterized by the above.

2. A leveler for straightening a starting plate in a cathode finishing machine, comprising: The leveler is Upper and lower work rollers that sandwich the seed plate; An upper backup roller provided on the reverse plate side of the upper work roller and a lower backup roller provided on the reverse plate side of the lower work roller, The lower backup roller and the lower work roller are provided so as to be separable in the vertical direction, a stationary frame having the lower backup roller; a lower movable frame provided with the lower work roller and separable from the fixed frame; an upper movable frame including the upper work roller and the upper backup roller and spaced apart from the lower movable frame, The upper movable frame is provided with a hanging member for hanging the lower movable frame, The hanging member comprises: a main body having a connecting portion at a first end thereof that is connected to the upper movable frame; a hook portion provided at a second end of the main body portion and adapted to engage with the lower movable frame; The lower movable frame includes: An engagement portion is provided on which the hook portion of the hanging member is placed when the connecting portion of the main body portion is connected to the upper movable frame. A leveler characterized by the above.

3. Equipped with a leveler according to either claim 1 or 2. A cathode finishing machine characterized by:

4. A method for cleaning a leveler according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The lower movable frame is suspended from the upper movable frame of the leveler to separate the lower work roller from the lower backup roller, thereby cleaning the surfaces of the lower backup roller and the lower work roller. A method for cleaning a leveler.

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