NOVELTY - An edge piece is applied to edge of battery plate by bending strip of bendable plastic material into an open top U-shaped channel having opposed sides which are interconnected by a bottom element; cutting the channel; supporting the edge piece with the open top oriented in a particular direction; transporting a battery plate; and releasing the edge piece once the edge of the inserted battery plate.    USE - For applying an edge piece to the edge of battery plate.    ADVANTAGE - The inventive method is simple. It allows the battery plates to be provided to the in-feed conveyor with the proper spacing to arrive at the assembly station at the appropriate time. It does not require intensive labor and is economical.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Application of edge piece to the edge of the battery plate comprises providing a thin strip of bendable plastic material; bending the strip into an open top U-shaped channel having opposed sides which are interconnected by a bottom element; cutting the channel into an edge piece having a length substantially equal to the length of the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered; supporting the edge piece with the open top oriented in a particular direction; transporting a battery plate toward the open top of the supported edge piece such that the edge of the battery plate will be inserted into the supported edge piece; and releasing the edge piece once the edge of the inserted battery plate.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an apparatus for applying an edge piece to the edge of a battery plate, comprising a feed mechanism which transports a thin strip of bendable plastic material; a bending mechanism which forms the strip into an open top, U-shaped channel having opposed sides which are interconnected by a bottom element; a first sensor which stops the feed mechanism when the channel is fully inserted into an assembly station; a cutter which cuts off the portion of the channel which is inserted into the assembly station to form an edge piece; a conveyor which transports a battery plate having an edge toward the edge piece such that the edge is inserted into the open top of the edge piece; a support mechanism which supports the edge piece while the edge of the battery plate; and then releases the edge piece to travel out of the assembly station with the battery plate on the conveyor; and a second sensor which restarts the feed mechanism once the battery plate is completely out of the assembly station.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of how the portion of the apparatus in the invention operates.    Battery plate (10)    Mat (12)    Edge (14)    Piece (16)    Opening (70)