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US-12617144-B2 - Pin designs for high COF polymer membranes or separator membranes, membrane or separator tension measuring, and related methods

US12617144B2US 12617144 B2US12617144 B2US 12617144B2US-12617144-B2

Abstract

In accordance with at least selected embodiments, aspects or objects, there are disclosed or provided new or improved pins adapted for use with high or higher COF polymer membranes or separator membranes (also known as sheets or films), polymer tension measuring, and/or related methods of use, of cell or battery manufacture, and/or the like. In certain embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators. In certain selected embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators in Z-fold or S-fold machines for the production of lithium ion pouch cells, lithium polymer pouch cells, lithium prismatic cells, and/or the like.

Inventors

  • Zhengming Zhang
  • Dickie J. Brewer

Assignees

  • CELGARD, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20221011

Claims (13)

  1. 1 . Pins, fingers or paddles adapted for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators in Z-fold or S-fold machines for the production of lithium ion pouch cells, lithium polymer pouch cells or lithium prismatic cells, comprising at least one curved surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one curved surface is in contact with the dry process polyolefin microporous membrane, separator membrane, or separator in the Z-fold or S-fold machine.
  2. 2 . The pins, fingers or paddles of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one curved surface includes grooves, beads, pits, rollers, wheels, bearings, or combinations thereof.
  3. 3 . The pins, fingers or paddles of claim 1 wherein the at least one curved surface is configured to reduce the points of contact with the membrane or separator, to reduce the surface area of the pin, to reduce the face friction, to change the friction to a line friction, to change the friction to a point friction, to reduce the initial static friction force, or combinations thereof.
  4. 4 . A Z-fold or S-fold machine for the production of lithium ion pouch cells, lithium polymer pouch cells, and/or lithium prismatic cells, comprising the pins, fingers or paddles of claim 1 .
  5. 5 . The pins, fingers, or paddles of claim 1 , wherein the pins, fingers, or paddles comprise a material with a low coefficient of friction (COF).
  6. 6 . The pins, fingers, or paddles of claim 1 , wherein the pins, fingers, or paddles further comprise a friction reducing coating.
  7. 7 . The pins, fingers or paddles of claim 1 , wherein the pins, fingers, or paddles provide at least a 10% reduction in membrane to pin face friction.
  8. 8 . Pins for use with high or higher COF polymer membranes or separator membranes, polymer tension measuring, and/or methods of cell or battery manufacture, comprising at least one curved surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one curved surface is in contact with the polymer membrane or separator membrane.
  9. 9 . The pins of claim 8 , wherein the at least one curved surface is configured to reduce the surface area of the pin, to reduce the face friction, to change the friction to a line friction, to change the friction to a point friction, to reduce the initial static friction force, or combinations thereof.
  10. 10 . The pins of claim 8 , wherein the pins may be combined with tension measuring and/or control to reduce damage to thin, high COF membranes.
  11. 11 . The pins of claim 8 , wherein the pins comprise a material with a low coefficient of friction (COF).
  12. 12 . The pins of claim 8 , wherein the pins further comprise a friction reducing coating.
  13. 13 . The pins of claim 8 , wherein the pins provide at least a 10% reduction in membrane to pin face friction.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA The present application claims the benefit of U.S. PCT Application No. PCT/US2022/046206, filed Oct. 11, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/256,736, filed Oct. 18, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure or invention relates to new or improved pins, fingers or paddles adapted or suited for use with high COF polymer membranes or separator membranes (also known as sheets or films), polymer tension measuring, and/or related methods of use, of cell or battery manufacture, and/or the like. In certain embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators. In certain selected embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators in Z-fold or S-fold machines for the production of lithium ion pouch cells, lithium polymer pouch cells, lithium prismatic cells, and/or the like. SUMMARY The present disclosure or invention relates to new or improved pins, fingers or paddles adapted or suited for use with high COF polymer membranes or separator membranes (also known as sheets or films), polymer tension measuring, and/or related methods of use, of cell or battery manufacture, and/or the like. In certain embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators. In certain selected embodiments, the new or improved pins are especially well suited for use with dry process polyolefin microporous membranes, separator membranes, or separators in Z-fold or S-fold machines for the production of lithium ion pouch cells, lithium polymer pouch cells, lithium prismatic cells, and/or the like In certain possibly preferred embodiments, aspects, or objects, the new or improved pins are contoured, shaped, designed, or modified to reduce the points of contact with the membrane or separator, to reduce the surface area of the pin, to reduce the face friction, to change the friction to a line friction, to change the friction to a point friction, to reduce the initial static friction force, includes contours, includes grooves, includes beads, includes pits, includes rollers, includes wheels, includes bearings, includes friction reducing materials, includes friction reducing coatings, provides at least a 10% reduction in membrane to pin face friction, provides at least a 70% reduction in membrane to pin face friction, provides at least a 90% reduction in membrane to pin face friction, facilitates the use of dry process separator membranes, is combined with tension measuring and control to reduce damage to thin, high COF membranes, and/or combinations thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1-4 are schematic perspective view illustrations of a typical Auto Lamination Stacking Machine For Lithium ion Battery (such as a TMAX machine) with horizontally and vertically moving pins or fingers holding the thin separator sheet in place while electrodes or plates are stacked on top by a vertically moving member so that the electrodes are located or inserted between the S-folds or Z-folds of the separator. Such typical rectangular and planar pins or fingers may destroy thin, high or higher coefficient of friction (COF) membranes or separators as the friction forces are too high for the thin film (typical lithium battery separators are 50 um or less thick, microporous polyolefin membranes (such as monolayer PP membranes or trilayer PP/PE/PP membranes). FIGS. 5 and 5A-5E show a channeled or grooved surface inventive pin embodiment. FIGS. 6, 6A and 6C-6E show a beaded or rounded protrusions surface inventive pin embodiment. FIGS. 7 and 7A-7D show a dented or pitted surface inventive pin embodiment. FIGS. 8 and 8A-8D show a roller or bearing edged and smooth surface inventive pin embodiment. FIGS. 9, 9A-9D, and a portion of FIGS. 12 and 13 show a first elongate contoured inventive pin embodiment (Rev A). FIGS. 10, 10A-10C, and a portion of FIGS. 12 and 13 show a second shorter contoured inventive pin embodiment (Rev D). FIGS. 11, 11A-11D, and a portion of FIGS. 12 and 13 show a third broader contoured inventive pin embodiment (Rev E). FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are schematic perspective views illustrating the new pins in the battery making equipment. FIGS. 14, 14A, 15, and 16 relate to a tension measuring device and method that may be used in combination with one or more improved pins to facilitate the use of high COF membranes or separators in an automated battery making machine. The exemplary tension measuring device of FIGS. 14, 14A, and 15, includes a support structure, two spaced lower idler rollers, an upper dancing or vertically moving idler roller, a spring pulling the dancer roll upward, and a force measuring device or loa