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EP-3948981-B1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRODE STRINGS AND FOR PRODUCING ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENTS

EP3948981B1EP 3948981 B1EP3948981 B1EP 3948981B1EP-3948981-B1

Inventors

  • GLÜCK, Moritz
  • Paul, Jürgen
  • SZAUNIG, Joachim

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200325

Claims (15)

  1. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) for providing an electrode string (26.1, 26.2) for the purpose of producing an electrode arrangement (12), comprising: an electrode web providing device (38) for providing a web-like electrode substrate (40); a separator web providing device (42) for providing a separator web (28.1, 28.2); an electrode separation device (44) for separating the electrode substrate (40) into individual electrode pieces (30.1, 30.2) , which comprises an electrode substrate conveyor device (46) having a carrier (48) movable in a conveying direction (124) for conveying the electrode substrate and a cutting device (50) for cutting through the electrode substrate (40) on the carrier (46) along a cutting curve (52) in order to cut off an electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) from the web-like electrode substrate (40) during conveying; and a positioning and fixing device (54) for positioning and fixing the electrode pieces (30.1, 30.2) on the separator web (28.1, 28.2); wherein the cutting device (50) comprises at least a laser unit for generating a cutting beam and a cutting control unit (92) for controlling cutting corresponding to the cutting curve (52), characterized in that the cutting curve (52) of the cutting device (50) is a continuous cutting curve (52) and comprises at least a side edge cutting curve section (52.1, 52.3) for cutting a side edge (122.1, 122.3) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) running in a conveying direction (124) and a cut edge cutting curve section (52.2) for cutting a cut edge (123) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) running transversely to the conveying direction, and that the at least one side edge cutting edge section (52.1, 52.3) transitions to the cut edge cutting curve section (52.2) in an arcuate manner when viewed from a stationary position.
  2. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting curve (52) of the cutting device (50) comprises a first side edge cutting curve section (52.1) for cutting a first side edge (122.1) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) and a second side edge cutting curve section (52.3) for cutting a second side edge (122.2) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2), wherein the cut edge cutting curve section (52.2) is arranged between the side edge cutting curve sections (52.1, 52.3).
  3. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side edge cutting curve section (52.3) or at least one of several side edge cutting curve sections (52.1, 52.3) is configured for cutting out a contact lug (74) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2), comprises a U-shaped section (136) for cutting a contour of a contact lug (74) protruding from one side edge (122.2) and comprises at least one straight section in a direction oriented in the conveying direction (124).
  4. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cut edge cutting curve section (52.2) has a course that depends on the movement of the carrier (48) and runs diagonally to the conveying direction (124), viewed from a stationary position, and is longer than the at least one side edge cutting curve section (52.1, 52.3).
  5. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting device (50) has at least one deflection unit (90, 90a, 90b) for the cutting beam.
  6. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cutting device (50) has a first and a second deflection unit (90, 90a, 90b) for the cutting beam which are arranged one behind the other.
  7. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrode substrate conveying device (44) has an adhesion device for fixing the electrode substrate (40) on the carrier (48) by means of switchable adhesive bonding.
  8. Electrode string providing apparatus (24.1, 24.2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (48) has several carrier segments (86), each of which has a support surface (154) for receiving at least one electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) and which are movable relative to each other in a first direction oriented in a conveying direction (124) and in a second direction oriented perpendicular to the support surface (154), and that the carrier (48) is selected from a group comprising a carrier (48) which has at least one control element for relatively moving the carrier segments (86) depending on the position of the carrier; a carrier (48) which has a releasable fastening device (156) for fastening and, if necessary, exchanging the carrier segments (86), a carrier (48) which has a biasing device (158) for biasing the carrier segments (86) in a movement direction, a carrier (48) which has at least a first cam disc (94a) at a first section of a circumferential trajectory of the carrier segments (86) and at least a second cam disc (94b) at a second section of the trajectory of the carrier segments (86), wherein the carrier segments (86) are in contact with the cam discs (94a, 94b) in order to control their relative movement, a carrier (48), which has at least one driving dog (162) per carrier segment (86) which is in engagement with the carrier segment (86), so that the carrier segment (86) can be driven in the conveying direction (124) by the driving dog (162) and is movable relative to the carrier segment (86) in the second direction, and a carrier (48) which has carrier segments (86) with a switchable adhesion device.
  9. Electrode string providing method for providing an electrode string (26.1) for the purpose of producing an electrode arrangement (12), comprising: a) providing a web-like electrode substrate (40); b) providing a separator web (28.1, 28.2); c) separating the electrode substrate (40) into individual electrode pieces (30.1, 30.2), comprising: c1) conveying the electrode substrate (40) on a carrier (48) and c2) cutting off the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) from the web-like electrode substrate (40) during conveying by cutting at least two edges (122.2, 123) of the contour of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) on the carrier along a continuous cutting curve (52); and d) positioning and fixing the electrode pieces (30.1, 30.2) on the separator web (28.1, 28.2), wherein step c2) includes the steps: c2a) cutting a side edge (122.2) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) running in a conveying direction and cutting a cut edge (123) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) running diagonally to the conveying direction in a cutting operation with the cutting curve (52) by i) continuously performing the cutting operation by continuously passing through the cutting curve (52) with a cutting beam or ii) performing the cutting operation (52) by passing through a sub-section (52a) of the cutting curve (52), which sub-section comprises a transition between a side edge (122.1) and the cut edge (123), with a cutting beam deflected by means of a first deflection unit (90a) and subsequently by passing through the remaining sub-section (52b) of the cutting curve (52) with a cutting beam deflected by means of a second deflection unit (90b), wherein cutting at least one side edge (122.1, 122.2) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) transitions to cutting the cut edge (123) in an arcuate manner when viewed from a stationary position.
  10. Electrode string providing method according to claim 9, characterized in that step c2) comprises at least one of the steps: c2b) cutting a first side edge (122.1), the cut edge (123) and a second side edge (122.2) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) in a cutting operation with the cutting curve (52); and c2c) continuous cutting along a continuous cutting curve (52).
  11. Electrode string providing method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that cutting at least one side edge (122.1, 122.2) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2) comprises the steps: 11.1 cutting out at least one contact lug (74) of the electrode piece (30.1, 30.2), 11.2 cutting a U-shaped contour of a contact lug (74) protruding from the side edge and 11.3 cutting along a straight section (52.1) of the cutting curve (52) in a direction oriented in the conveying direction (124).
  12. Electrode string providing method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that cutting the cut edge (123) 12.1 proceeds depending on the movement of the carrier (48) and 12.2 takes place diagonally to the conveying direction (124) when viewed from a stationary position and 12.3 lasts longer than cutting the at least one side edge (122.1, 122.2).
  13. Electrode string providing method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that step c2) comprises: deflecting at least one cutting beam by means of a first and a second deflection unit (90a, 90b) which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction, in order to cut out electrodes (14.1) simultaneously or overlapping in time by means of the deflection units (90a, 90b).
  14. Electrode string providing method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that step c1) comprises: c1a) placing sections of the electrode substrate (40) to be separated from each other by step c2) on support surfaces (154) formed on several carrier segments (86) of the carrier (48), wherein the carrier segments (86) are movable relative to each other in a first direction oriented in the conveying direction (124) and in a second direction oriented perpendicular to the support surface (124), wherein the placing and step c2) are carried out with adjacent carrier segments (86) brought closer to each other, and the adjacent carrier segments (86) with electrode pieces (30.1, 30.2) fixed thereon are moved apart in the first and/or second direction in order to carry out step d), wherein the electrode string providing method comprises at least one of the steps: 14.1 guiding the carrier segments (86) via at least one cam disc (94a) at a first section of a cirumferential trajectory of the carrier segments (86) and at least one second cam disc (86) at a second section of the trajectory of the carrier segments (86) in order to control the movement of the carrier segments (86) via the course of the cam discs (94a, 94b); and 14.2 driving the carrier segments (86) by respective driving dogs (162) in the conveying direction (124) and moving the carrier segments (6) relative to the respective driving dog (162) in the second direction.
  15. Electrode string providing method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized by fixing the electrode substrate (40) on a carrier (48) by means of a switchable adhesion device or by adhesive bonding.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Elektrodenstrangbereitstellvorrichtung zum Bereitstellen eines Elektrodenstrangs zwecks Herstellens einer Elektrodenanordnung. Weiter betrifft die Erfindung ein Elektrodenstrangbereitstellverfahren zum Bereitstellen eines Elektrodenstrangs zwecks Herstellens einer Elektrodenanordnung. Die Erfindung liegt auf dem Gebiet der Fertigung von Elektrodenanordnungen und insbesondere von Batteriezellen und Zellverbünden hierfür. Mehr insbesondere liegt die Erfindung auf dem technischen Gebiet von Großserienanlagen zur Großserienherstellung von Batteriezellen. Insbesondere sollen Batteriezellen zur Verwendung in der Elektromobilität, insbesondere Batteriezellen für die Hauptstromversorgung von Elektrofahrzeugen, wie insbesondere Personenkraftwagen und Lastkraftwagen, in Großserie gefertigt werden. Zum technologischen Hintergrund der Erfindung wird insbesondere auf folgende Literaturstellen verwiesen: [1] EP 2 866 293 B1[2] EP 2 557 626 B1[3] KR 100832801 B1[4] DE 10 2007 057 129 B4[5] EP 3 415 265 A1[6] DE 10 2017 131 345 A1[7] DE 10 2017 216 133 A1[8] US 2014/020239 A1[9] US 2015/033547 A1[10] DE 10 2017 216 138 A1 Aus [7] und [10] sind Verfahren und Vorrichtungen zum Bereitstellen von Elektrodensträngen durch Schneiden von Elektroden auf einem Träger, der als Vakuumtrommel mit radial beweglichen Trägersegmenten ausgebildet ist und Positionieren der so vereinzelten Elektroden auf einer Separatorbahn bekannt. Aus [8] und [9] geht das Schneiden Elektroden mittels Ausstanzens mit vorgeformten Stanzwerkzeugen hervor. Die Erfindung hat sich zur Aufgabe gestellt, hinsichtlich Anpassbarkeit, Präzision und Prozesssicherheit verbesserte Vorrichtungen und Verfahren zur Verwendung bei einer Großserienherstellung von Elektrodenanordnungen, insbesondere für Batteriezellen, zur Verfügung zu stellen. Zum Lösen dieser Aufgabe schafft die Erfindung Vorrichtungen und Verfahren, wie in den unabhängigen Ansprüchen wiedergegeben. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche. Die Erfindung schafft gemäß einem ersten Aspekt davon eine Elektrodenstrangbereitstellvorrichtung zum Bereitstellen eines Elektrodenstrangs zwecks Herstellens einer Elektrodenanordnung mit: einer Elektrodenbahnbereitstelleinrichtung zum Bereitstellen eines bahnförmigen Elektrodensubstrats;einer Separatorbahnbereitstelleinrichtung zum Bereitstellen einer Separatorbahn;einer Elektrodenvereinzelungseinrichtung zum Vereinzeln des Elektrodensubstrats zu einzelnen Elektrodenstücken, welche eine Elektrodensubstratfördereinrichtung mit einem in einer Förderrichtung beweglichen Träger zum Fördern des Elektrodensubstrats und eine Schneideinrichtung zum Durchschneiden des Elektrodensubstrats auf dem Träger entlang einer Schneidkurve, um ein Elektrodenstück von dem bahnförmigen Elektrodensubstrat während des Förderns abzuschneiden, aufweist; undeiner Positionier- und Fixiereinrichtung zum Positionieren und Fixieren der Elektrodenstücke auf der Separatorbahn;wobei die Schneidkurve der Schneideinrichtung einen Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich zum Schneiden einer in Förderrichtung verlaufenden Seitenkante des Elektrodenstückes und wenigstens einen Schnittkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich zum Schneiden einer sich quer zur Förderrichtung verlaufenden Schnittkante des Elektrodenstückes aufweist. Es ist erfindungsgemäß vorgesehen, dass die Schneidkurve eine durchgängige Schneidkurve ist. Es ist bevorzugt, dass die Schneidkurve der Schneideinrichtung einen ersten Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich zum Schneiden einer ersten Seitenkante des Elektrodenstücks und einen zweiten Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich zum Schneiden einer zweiten Seitenkante des Elektrodenstücks aufweist, wobei der Schnittkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich zwischen den Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereichen angeordnet ist. Es ist bevorzugt, dass der Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich oder wenigstens einer von mehreren Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereichen zum Ausschneiden einer Kontaktfahne des Elektrodenstücks ausgebildet ist. Es ist bevorzugt, dass der Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich oder wenigstens einer von mehreren Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereichen einen U-förmigen Bereich zum Schneiden einer Kontur einer an der ersten Kante vorstehenden Kontaktfahne aufweist. Es ist bevorzugt, dass der Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich oder wenigstens einer von mehreren Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereichen wenigstens einen in einer in Förderrichtung gerichteten Richtung geradlinig verlaufenden Bereich aufweist. Es ist erfindungsgemäß vorgesehen, dass der Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich oder wenigstens einer von mehreren Seitenkanten-Schneidkurvenbereichen von einem stationären Standpunkt aus betrachtet bogenförmig in den Schnittkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich übergeht. Es ist bevorzugt, dass der Schnittkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich einen von der Bewegung des Trägers abhängigen Verlauf hat. Es ist bevorzugt, dass der Schnittkanten-Schneidkurvenbereich von einem stationären Standpunkt aus betrachtet