APPARATUS FOR STACKING BATTERY PLATES

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for stacking battery plates comprising: a first battery plate holding stage; a delivery conveyor system for delivering battery plates sequentially to the first battery plate holding stage; a second battery plate holding stage disposed beneath the first battery plate holding stage; and a removal conveyor system for removing stacks of battery plates from the apparatus; in which: the first battery plate holding stage comprises a plurality of moveable elements which are moveable between a first position in which the elements form a stage to support a battery plate delivered by the delivery conveyor system to a second position which allows the battery plate to fall under gravity onto the second holding stage; and the second holding stage comprises a stage for holding a stack of battery plates received from the first holding stage; wherein the second holding stage is moveable between a first position in which battery plates are received from the first holding stage and a second position which allows the stack of battery plates to be removed by the removal conveyor system.