US20040168924A1

US20040168924A1 - Method and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic film components

Info

Publication number: US20040168924A1
Application number: US10/785,889
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Bohn
Original assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2003-02-28
Filing date: 2004-02-24
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: EP1452999A2; EP1452999A3; DE10309990A1

Abstract

1. A method and an apparatus for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic film components.

2.1. A method for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic film components built up in at least one row and successively on at least one continuous film web is known.

2.2. According to the invention on the at least one film web and in several method sections are built up electrical terminal faces and both active and inactive coatings for forming electrochemically active power supply units.

2.3. Use for the manufacture of active transponders.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic film or foil components, which are built up in at least one row and in successive manner on at least one continuous foil or film web, as well as to an apparatus for the continuous manufacture of such foil or film components with at least one unrolling device for receiving and unwinding a flexible foil or film web.

DE 101 36 502 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for the continuous manufacture of several electromagnetically active identification means. The identification means are designed as transponders with an integrated chip component, the transponders being passive elements without their own power supply. The identification means are successively arranged in strip form on a continuous roll and are separated by punching on drawing off from the continuous roll and are applied to an adhesive coating of a film layer web. The film layer web is provided with desired folding or bending points in order to fold or bend the corresponding film layer to which the identification means is applied in such a way that said identification means remains spaced from an electromagnetically activatable surface to which the identification means is fixed.

Electrical and/or electronic film components, particularly identification means in transponder form, are known as active or passive elements. Passive elements do not require their own power supply. However, active elements have a corresponding power supply unit.

Film components, constructed as so-called paper batteries are known and such a paper battery is disclosed by EP 1 009 476 A1. Through the product described in EP 1 009 476 A1 is created an extremely flat and to a certain extent flexible power supply unit. The different layers of the battery are produced by suitable printing methods.

The problem of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus of the aforementioned type permitting an inexpensive, simple manufacture in large quantities of such film components.

With regards to the method this problem is solved in that in numerous method sections on the at least one film web are built up electrical terminal faces and active, together with inactive coatings for forming electrochemically active power supply units. It is consequently possible in an extremely economic manner and in large quantities to manufacture corresponding film components, particularly films or paper batteries, or electrical and/or electronic elements provided with such power supply units. The at least one film web is continuously conveyed. The corresponding coatings or layers for the electrochemically active power supply unit are built up stepwise, so that the end products built up on the at least one film web arise in the film web path. It is consequently possible to manufacture either corresponding power supply units per se, which can subsequently serve as paper or film batteries, or also complex film components, in which electrical or electronic loads are associated with the power supply units and form the active products, i.e. active film components. The inventive solution is particularly suitable for chip components provided with corresponding power supply units, which have sensor functions and corresponding data or signal storage functions. In particular, such chip components can also be programmed. The electronic chip component consequently preferably comprises an electronic memory as well as a processor, over and above a sensor. As a result of the inventive solution the film components can be continuously manufactured in lined up, web form. The film components have a high flexibility, so that they have extremely numerous uses. The essential idea of the invention is that in the case of continuous conveying and continuous passage of the at least one film web, the corresponding coatings are appropriately applied, so that the end product is constituted by a composite web of a plurality of lined up, electrical and/or electronic film components, particularly a plurality of lined up power supply units. Due to the fact that corresponding electrical terminal faces are already provided, following corresponding separation from the composite web product, the power supply units are directly usable.

The solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for the use of expendable or throw-away electronics in a number of different fields, including those of everyday life, technology, etc.

According to a development of the invention each power supply unit is connected to an electronic or electrical load. Loads are in particular constituted by electronic chip components, which have sensor, storage and processor functions. Preferably the corresponding electrical or electronic load must be sufficiently flat that the film or strip-like, flexible design of the film components is not lost.

According to another development of the invention different pole layers of the power supply units have separate film webs, which in the form of carrier and cover layers are brought together and continuously interconnected following the application of the active and inactive coatings for the formation of the electrochemically active power supply units. The application of the cover layer as the top coating layer in conjunction with the lower carrier layer creates the electrochemical activatability, because the anode and cathode coatings must come into operative connection in order to achieve a desired function.

According to another development of the invention at least one electrolytic coating is associated with each pole layer per film component and between the electrolytic coatings of the two pole layers is inserted a membrane separating layer. The membrane separating layer is also continuously supplied and is applied as a coating to the carrier layer or the corresponding, already built up coatings. The membrane separating layer preferably forms a semipermeable membrane, such as is used for paper batteries.

According to a further development of the invention the electrolytic coatings of each power supply unit are applied as gel beads. The electrolyte gel is applied in strip-like manner to the corresponding, underlying coating for each power supply unit.

According to another development of the invention electrical terminal faces of the carrier and cover layers are mechanically interconnected. The electrical terminal faces of the carrier layer and cover layer of each film component are spaced from one another, because between the carrier layer and the cover layer are positioned different active or inactive coatings of the power supply unit. As a result of the mechanical connection the necessary electrical conductivity is produced between the terminal faces of the carrier and cover layer.

Advantageously there is a mechanical clamping of the in particular metallic terminal faces of the cover and carrier layer. According to a preferred solution the mechanical connection is provided by crimping.

Alternatively to a mechanical connection it is possible to use an integral joint, particularly using laser beam welding.

The electrical terminal faces are in particular formed by copper terminals, which are etched in an appropriate manner from a copper coating, which is preferably applied to the cover layer and carrier layer.

According to a further development of the invention the film components successively built up on the film web are separated and stacked. Alternatively the composite web of carrier and cover layers provided with the complete, built up film components is wound to form a roll. This leads to a continuous roll/roll method, in that the manufacture and building up of the film components takes place during the continuous unrolling of the corresponding film webs and subsequently the interconnected film webs are rolled up to an end product roll.

According to another development of the invention the composite web provided with the finished, built up film components is placed in in each case grooved and concertina folded manner between adjacent film components. However, all three alternatives allow a compact storage of the film components.

According to another development of the invention the film web of each pole layer is provided with electrically active coatings. A stencil or mask web is then connected to each film web and covers the latter with the exception of the surface areas essential for the building up of the electrochemically active power supply units. This represents the preparation for the application of the electrolytic coatings. The stencils or masks prevent electrolytic material coming into contact on the corresponding film web, also in undesired areas, beside the decisive surface areas, with said film web.

According to a further development of the invention on the pole layer serving as the carrier layer the electrolytic coatings for said pole layer are applied to the exposed surface areas. Subsequently membrane blanks of the membrane separating layer are applied to the electrolytic coatings of the carrier layer. Subsequently the electrolytic coatings of the other pole layer are applied to the membrane blanks applied to the electrolytic coatings. The membrane blanks act as semipermeable membranes in order to permit the electron flow from the positive pole layer to the negative pole layer, i.e. from the anode layer to the cathode layer when the power supply unit is operating.

According to another development of the invention on the carrier layer is continuously applied the cover layer provided with the associated mask web and is integrally joined to said carrier layer. The cover layer is applied following the application of the electrolytic coatings and the membrane separating layer, so that the application of the cover layer completes the web form end product.

With regards to the apparatus, the problem of the invention is solved in that there are two unrolling devices for film webs with different pole layers of electrochemically active power supply units, that each unrolling device has means for the continuous supply and connection of in each case one mask layer to the film web of each pole layer and means for separating surface sections from each mask layer level with the surface areas on each film web decisive for the building up of the electrochemically active power supply units and that there are means for the flat connection of the mask layer to the film web. The means for separating surface sections from each mask layer are preferably constituted by punching means, which merely separate the mask layer without damaging the underlying film web. The unrolling devices are driven and the advance movements of the film webs are matched to the processes to be carried out.

According to a further development of the invention two electrolyte application stations are provided, which in spaced manner, considered in the running direction of at least one film web, are successively associated with a film web path. Preferably the electrolytic coatings are applied in strip or bead form as gel coatings.

According to a further development of the invention an unrolling device for receiving and unwinding a web-like membrane separating layer and supply means for applying the membrane separating layer to the at least one film web are provided. In a further development with the membrane separating layer are associated punching means for separating a punching lattice web and means for removing the punching lattice web and means for applying the remaining membrane blanks to the at least one electrolytic coating of the at least one film web, the means for applying the remaining membrane blanks being spatially positioned between the two electrolyte application stations.

According to a further development of the invention means for bringing together and joining the two film webs are provided and for this purpose use is more particularly made of press rams, press rolls or similar pressing devices.

According to a further development of the invention means are provided for functional monitoring of electronic components of the film components. Functional monitoring preferably takes place in the form of readers and can be used both for active and passive electronic components. In the case of active electronic components the corresponding film components are preferably brought into a “sleeping state”, in order to ensure that the power supply units, i.e. the paper or film batteries, do not discharge prior to putting into operation.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with respect to the attached drawings, wherein show: [0026]
FIG. 1A perspective exploded view of a multilayer electrical/electronic film component. [0027]
FIG. 2 Diagrammatically an apparatus for the continuous manufacture of a plurality of film components according to FIG. 1. [0028]
FIG. 3 A larger scale, diagrammatic view of a method section for the manufacture of the film components on the apparatus according to FIG. 2. [0029]
FIG. 4A further method section for the apparatus according to FIG. 2. [0030]
FIG. 5A further method section for the apparatus according to FIG. 2. [0031]
FIG. 6A further method section for the manufacture of the film components on the apparatus according to FIG. 2 in order to obtain the finished end products. [0032]
FIG. 7 Diagrammatically another embodiment of an apparatus for the manufacture of electrical film components, which are exclusively constituted here by electrical power supply units in the form of paper or film batteries.[0033]
A method and an apparatus as described relative to FIGS. [0034] 1 to 6 are used for the manufacture of active transponder laminates, which constitute film components in the sense of the invention and have flexible, thin batteries as power supply units. The essence of the invention is to disclose the method and apparatus with a view to the manufacture and building up of flexible, thin batteries. The thin, flexible batteries, also known as paper or film batteries, are continuously produced in a roll/roll method and can be separated for later use. Active transponder laminates in the sense of the invention have both an integrated battery and also sensor or timer functions. Alternatively such active film components, besides an integrated battery, can also have active transmitters, sensors, timers and other active, electronic elements. Such components are inter alia used for data acquisition and evaluation. They can also form completely autonomous systems, which in particular have a data acquisition and/or electrical or electronic activity over a very long time period.
In the represented embodiment each active transponder according to FIG. 1 and as manufactured using the apparatus according to FIG. 2, has an [0035] electronic chip component 10 which, apart from a temperature sensor, has a data memory and an electronic processor. As a function of the programming of the chip component, it is in particular possible to apply the transponder to frozen article packaging and in this way to detect temperature fluctuations during the transportation of the frozen product. In particular it is possible to preset upper and lower limits for corresponding desired temperatures, above or below which it is not possible to pass. An antenna 11 is associated with the chip component 10 for communication with corresponding readers. In order to supply power to the chip component 10, the transponder also has a flexible, thin power supply unit in the form of a paper or film battery, which is manufactured together with the laminate.
In order to be able to manufacture such transponders continuously and in large numbers, said transponders are built up in several layers or coatings on continuously conveyed film webs. The transponder laminate is built up in two different layers, which are defined by the different pole layers of the battery and which are brought together towards the end of the product manufacturing line. Both the [0036] cathode web 2 serving as the negative pole layer and the anode web 1 serving as the positive pole layer have as the carrier film in each case a plastic film, in the present case a polyester film, which is in each case metal-coated, preferably copper-coated. Using not shown method processes, the antenna 11 is etched from the copper coating in connection with the cathode web 2. In addition, for both the pole webs 1, 2, the subsequently required electrical terminals for the power supply unit and the corresponding wires for the chip component 10 to be subsequently applied are etched out. The corresponding chip components 10 are applied. In addition, passive and active coatings such as graphite or active coatings with bound-in electrons, particularly manganese and zinc/carbon coatings, are applied in not shown manner using the screen printing process to the copper-coated, etched plastic film webs. The thus precoated film webs are now supplied to the apparatus according to FIG. 2, the anode web 1 forming a carrier web and the cathode web 2 a cover layer of the transponder laminates. Both the anode web 1 and the cathode web 2 are wound onto a roll and supplied in the rolled up state to an unrolling device 12, 22 respectively of the apparatus according to FIG. 2. In order to build up the electrochemically active power supply unit in a complete and functional manner, in the way described hereinafter between the prefabricated anode and cathode webs and level with the surface areas decisive for the subsequent battery function, initially electrolytic coatings are applied in strip-like gel form. In each case an electrolytic coating is associated with the anode side and another electrolytic coating with the cathode side. For the separation of the electrolytic coating between the anode and cathode sides a separating layer in the form of a semipermeable membrane is provided, which permits the electron flow in the desired direction in order to ensure the battery function.
The subsequently described apparatus ensures that there is a firm, durable connection between the different layers and coatings. In addition, the flexibility of the transponder laminate is maintained. It is finally ensured that despite the continuous manufacture the corresponding coatings are in each case applied to the decisive surface areas. It is in particular necessary to prevent that the electrolytic coating or the separating layer is applied in such an imprecise manner that there are either doubts concerning the battery function or the remaining transponder functions are impaired. [0037]
A transponder laminate according to FIG. 1 has the following structure. The carrier layer is constituted by the [0038] anode web 1, to which is applied a stencil or mask 3 a, which covers the areas of the anode web 1 not to be supplied with electrolytic gel 4 a and which are not to be connected with the facing cathode web 2. Subsequently on the recessed areas level with the electrochemically active surface areas 8 a of the anode web 1, electrolytic gel 4 a is applied in strip or bead form. To said electrolytic coating is applied a separating layer 6, which constitutes a semipermeable membrane, more particularly with a suction function like blotting paper. It is applied in web form and is provided around the electrolytic gel areas with a glue frame 5, so that the separating layer is bonded to the mask layer around the electrolytic gel. The mask layer 3 a is self-adhesive and is adhered flat to the anode web 1. The areas extending beyond the bonded blank areas of the separating layer 6 active for the electrochemical battery function are punched out as a lattice web and removed from the anode web 1. Advantageously said lattice waste web sucks up electrolytic gel residues applied by means of the recessed surface areas to the mask layer 3 a and removes the same. The second electrolytic gel coating 4 b is now applied to the punched out separating layer areas. By means of a further glue frame coating 7 the cathode web 2 is applied as a cover layer to the anode web 1 and prior to this the cathode web 2 is also provided with a mask layer 3 b constructed in self-adhesive form and is bonded flat to the cathode web 2. Thus, through the glue frame coating 7 the mask layer 3 b is bonded flat to the mask layer 3 a of the anode web 1 as soon as they have been brought together. Thus, the transponder laminate is functionally completed. For protection purposes a bottom layer is subsequently applied, together with a top layer in the form of in each case a self-adhesive, flexible film.
Subsequently the finished transponder laminate web is either wound onto a roll or in some other way is compactly deposited or separated into the different film components. [0039]
In order to provide the [0040] anode web 1 wound onto the unrolling device 12 with the mask layer 3 a, according to FIGS. 2 and 4 the mask layer 3 a is stored in continuously wound manner as a self-adhesive film web on an unrolling device 13. A punching device 14 punches continuously in the roll punching process the surface areas of the mask layer 3 a to be exposed. A carrier film is removed together with punchings from the mask layer and rolled onto a roll-up device 15. The prepunched mask layer now has an exposed adhesive coating, which in the vicinity of the deflecting device 30 is bonded flat to the anode web 1. The exposed surface areas S1 to S3 of the mask layer 3 a are so positioned on corresponding coating faces 8 a or terminal faces 9 a of the anode web 1 that they remain exposed and the remaining anode web 1 is covered by the mask layer 3.
In the same way, according to FIGS. 2 and 3 the [0041] cathode web 2, provided with the coating faces 8 a, terminal faces 9 b and chip component 9, is provided with a mask layer 3 b, which has punched out surface areas S1 to S3 for the recessing of the coating faces 8 b, terminal faces 9 b and chip component 10. The cathode web 2 is kept in stock in roll form on the unrolling device 22. The mask layer 3 b is also positioned in rolled up form on the unrolling device 23. The punching device 24 is used for punching the surface areas to be exposed from the mask layer 3 b. Immediately following on to the punching device 24 a carrier film of the mask layer, including the punchings are removed and wound onto a roll 25. The mask layer 3 b which is now self-adhesive due to the removal of the carrier film is brought together with the cathode web 2 in the vicinity of the deflecting device 37.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a wind-up [0042] device 37 a or 38 a for the initial product obtained by the bringing together of the mask layer 3 a, 3 b and the particular pole web 1, 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 are to be understood diagrammatically, because said initial product according to not shown embodiments of the invention is also initially stored in roll form and can be supplied for the subsequent further process to a corresponding, further extending installation. However, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 there is no winding up of the initial product and instead a direct further processing in the manner described hereinafter.
At a [0043] gel application station 16 on the anode web 1 provided with the mask layer 3 a the corresponding gel coating 4 a is applied to the exposed surface areas of the mask layer 3 a. Then the separating layer in roll form on an unrolling device 17 is supplied, having previously been provided with the above-described glue frame in a glue application station 18. The separating layer 6 is applied to the initial product web of the anode web 1 and carried along therewith. Both pass through a punching device 19 where, in frame-like manner, the surface areas of the separating layer pass round the electrolyte application coating having the glue frame and are pressed onto the mask layer 3 a. Outside said glue frame the separating layer is cut free, so that a web-like separating layer lattice is left as waste, is removed upwards and rolled onto a roll-up device 20. Since, due to its membrane function, the separating layer has a suction action, electrolytic gel residues passing out via the necessary surface areas and adhering to the mask layer, are sucked up from the separating layer lattice and removed together with the latter to the roll-up device.
Subsequently the separating layer areas remaining on the carrier web receive the second electrolytic gel application coating in the vicinity of the [0044] electrolyte application station 21.
The above-described method steps are again illustrated by FIG. 5, where the unpunched separating layer carries the [0045] reference numeral 17. The glue application frame is 5. In the sketched surface areas P pressing takes place of the separating layer areas 6, so that there is also a bonding of the glue application frame 5 of the separating layer areas to the carrier web, i.e. the corresponding mask layer 3 a. Subsequently the separating layer lattice is removed and carries the reference numeral 21.
FIGS. 2 and 6 make it clear how the carrier web and cover web, i.e. the [0046] anode web 1 and cathode web 2 are brought together. As stated, the second electrolytic gel application 4 b takes place on the carrier web. The web-like initial product constituted by the cathode web 2 and the applied mask layer 3 b is conveyed through a glue application station 39 in which a glue frame 7 (reference numeral 39 in FIG. 6) is applied in such a way that the battery function-decisive surface areas 8 b, the terminal face areas 9 b and the chip component 10 remain free from glue. The cover web and carrier web in the form of the anode web and provided with the glue frame are now united in the vicinity of a pressing and contacting station 26 and are bonded together. Corresponding pressing areas level with said pressing and contacting station 26 are given the reference P in FIG. 6. Firstly there is a mechanical contacting level with the surface areas M between the terminal faces 9 a of the anode web 1 and the terminal faces 9 b of the cathode web 2. In the embodiment shown mechanical contacting takes place by crimping bringing about a mechanical claw fastening of the copper-coated surface areas of the anode web 1 and the cathode web 2. Mechanical contacting takes place continuously through corresponding tools provided on the outer circumference of the rollers of the pressing and contacting station 26. The now functionally manufactured, web-like transponder laminate product passes through a reader 27, which firstly tests the functionality of the individual transponders and secondly places the transponders in a passive, power-economizing state, so as to ensure that during the subsequent putting into operation the transponders are fully operative without having lost part of their efficiency. Then the transponder laminate web passes through an inscription station 28 in order to permit a clear identification of the transponders. Finally an upper and a lower protective web are applied, being kept in stock on an unrolling device 29, 30 respectively. At in each case one glue application station 23, 31, the two protective webs are provided with an adhesive coating on their side facing the transponder laminate web, so that they are connected flat to the transponder laminate web at the top and bottom and consequently form a protective sleeve for the said web. Subsequently the end products are either separated by means of a punching device 32 and placed compactly in corresponding storage containers 35 or, in place of the punching device 32, a grooving device is provided and the transponder laminate web is grooved and placed in concertina-like manner between adjacent transponders in a storage container 36. It is finally also possible to do without a punching or grooving device and to continuously wind the transponder laminate web onto a roll 33. Separation can then take place in another station, which is not shown here.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 7 and in a continuous method a plurality of flexible, thin batteries, i.e. electrical power supply units is manufactured without them having additional electrical or electronic functions. The basic structure of such electrochemically active power supply units corresponds to those described hereinbefore relative to FIGS. [0047] 1 to 6. The structure of the other paper or film batteries is as described in EP 1 009 476 A1. The essential difference of the present solution is that the electrolytic coatings are applied in gel form. Thus, the structure of the apparatus for manufacturing the power supply units essentially corresponds to that of FIG. 2. The sole difference is that through the absence of electrical or electronic components there is no reader or a corresponding inscription. Consequently there is no enveloping by means of a protective cover layer and a protective carrier layer. Otherwise reference can be made to the statements regarding FIG. 2 concerning the manufacture of the power supply units, which to this extent is identical.

Claims

1. Method for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic film components successively built up in at least one row on at least one continuous film web, wherein, in several method sections, on the at least one film web (1, 2) are built up electrical terminal faces and both active and inactive coatings for forming electrochemically active power supply units.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein each power supply unit is connected to an electrical or electronic load (10).

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein to the film web (2) are applied transponder elements (11) and/or electronic chip components (10), which are connected to the power supply units.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein separate film webs are provided for different pole layers of the power supply units and following the application of electrical terminal faces and inactive or active coatings as carrier and cover layers are brought together and continuously interconnected.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein with each pole layer per film component is associated at least one electrolytic coating (4 a, 4 b), a membrane separating layer (6) being inserted between the electrolytic coatings (4 a, 4 b) of both pole layers (1, 2).

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the electrolytic coatings of each power supply unit are applied as gel beads.

7. Method according to claim 4, wherein electrical terminal faces (9 a, 9 b) of the carrier and cover layers (1, 2) are mechanically interconnected.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the film components successively built up on the film web are separated and stacked.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the film web provided with the built up film components is wound up to form a roll.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the film web provided with the built up film components is in each case grooved and placed in concertina fold-like manner between adjacent film components.

11. Method according to claim 4, wherein the film web (1, 2) of each pole layer is provided with electrically active coatings and subsequently a mask web (3 a, 3 b) is connected to each film web (1, 2) covering the latter except for the surface areas decisive for building up the electrochemically active power supply units.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the electrolytic coating (4 a) for the pole layer (1) is applied to the exposed surface areas of said pole layer serving as the carrier layer.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein separating layer blanks of the membrane separating layer (6) are applied to the electrolytic coating (4 a) of the carrier layer (1).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein to the separating layer blanks applied to the electrolytic coating (4 a) is applied an electrolytic coating (4 b) of the other pole layer (2).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the cover layer (2) provided with the associated mask web (3 b) is continuously applied to the carrier layer (1) and is integrally joined therewith.

16. Apparatus for the continuous manufacture of electrical and/or electronic components with at least one unrolling device for receiving and unwinding a flexible film web, wherein there are two unrolling devices (12, 22) for film webs (1, 2) with different pole layers of electrochemically active power supply units, wherein with each unrolling device are associated means (13, 15; 23, 25) for the continuous supply and connection of in each case one mask layer (3 a, 3 b) to the film web (1, 2) of each pole layer and means (14, 24) for separating surface areas from each mask layer level with the surface areas on each film web decisive for building up the electrochemically active power supply unit and wherein means are provided for the flat connection of the mask layer to the particular film web.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein two electrolyte application stations (16, 21) are provided which, considered in the running direction of at least one film web, are associated in spaced, successive manner with a film web path.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein an unrolling device (17) is provided for receiving and unwinding a web-like membrane separating layer, together with supply means for the application of said membrane separating layer to the at least one film web.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein with the membrane separating layer are associated punching means (19) for the separation of a punching lattice web and means for applying the remaining membrane blanks to at least one electrolytic coating of the at least one film web, the means for applying the remaining membrane blanks being positioned spatially between the two electrolyte application stations.

20. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein there are means (26) for uniting and joining the two film webs (1, 2).

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein means are provided for separating the finished film components.

22. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein means (27) are provided for monitoring the operation of electronic components of the film components.

23. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one tool, especially a crimping tool, for mechanically interconnecting electrical terminal faces (9 a, 9 b) of different pole layers of the separate film web is provided.