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Abstract

A method and apparatus for continuous, high-speed production of strip having an array of high-tolerance closely-spaced holes forming a continuous grid structure having wires bent out of the plane of the grid. The strip can be produced by continuous casting, extruding or by rolling reduction methods and the holes can be formed such as by linear punching and rotary punching. An apparatus for rotary punching comprises a first pair of opposed rotary dies, one a female die and the other a male/female die, which punches a first set of holes in a strip fed continuously between the dies, and a second pair of opposed rotary dies, one the male/female die and the other a male die, which punches a second set of holes in the strip between the first set of holes defining a continuous grid structure having grid wires, the strip being wrapped about the common male/female die during punching of the first and second sets of holes to continuously index the strip with the two opposed pairs of rotary dies to ensure production of the high-tolerance closely-spaced holes. A third pair of opposed rotary dies bends the grid wires of the continuous grid structure out of the plane of the grid, preferably symmetrically about the plane of the grid, to provide enhanced paste retention to battery plates manufactured from the grid.

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