WO2023147990A1

WO2023147990A1 - Assembly line and method for producing modules or precursors of modules

Info

Publication number: WO2023147990A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/050914
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sigmund Niklas; Philipp SEPPENHAUSER
Original assignee: Mb Automation Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2022-02-07
Filing date: 2023-01-17
Publication date: 2023-08-10
Also published as: DE102022102829A1

Abstract

In an assembly line for producing modules or precursors of modules, in particular fuel cells or battery cells containing layer material and/or fluid, a central transporting section is provided and designed to convey a plurality of workpiece holders on a forward path and a return path between multiple process stations. The central transporting section comprises, on the forward path, a first transporting portion for conveying/positioning one or more workpiece holders to/in a first process station, and a second transporting portion for conveying/positioning one or more workpiece holders to/in a further process station. The central transporting section comprises, on the return path, a third transporting portion for conveying one or more workpiece holders from a last process station to the first process station. The central transporting section is designed to convey the workpiece holders in groups at least in some of the transporting portions. A first process station in the form of a stacking station is provided and designed to remove one or more workpiece holders from the central transporting section. The stacking station is designed to alternately stack, on at least one workpiece holder removed from the central transporting section and at at least one stacking location of the stacking station, individual anode layers from a first side of the at least one workpiece holder and individual cathode layers from a second side of the at least one workpiece holder to form an electrode stack on the workpiece holder in question. The first and second of the at least one workpiece holder can be opposite one another, for example from both long sides of the central transporting section in the conveying direction of the workpiece holder. The stacking station is designed to put one or more workpiece holders together with the electrode stacks thereon back onto the central transporting section. A further process station in the form of a laminating station is provided and designed to pressure- and/or heat-treat a workpiece holder together with an electrode stack, which was moved forward on the central transporting section from the respective stacking location of the stacking station so that the individual anode layers and cathode layers form a composite unit.

Description

Assembly line and method for producing modules or preliminary stages of modules

Description

background

An assembly line and a method for producing modules or preliminary stages of modules, in particular layered material and/or fuel or battery cells, are disclosed here. Details of this are defined in the claims; but the description also contains relevant information on the structure and the mode of operation as well as on variants of the method and the device components.

State of the art

So far, the machines in which the respective process steps are carried out in fuel or battery cell production have been operated as individual machines (so-called stand-alone devices). This applies, for example, to the stacking of the electrodes in a stacking machine (so-called "stacker"), the pressing of the loose electrode stack under high pressure and high temperatures in a block laminating machine, as well as other process machines such as for welding the Operating multiple separate machines results in variations in manufacturing precision and delays in the transfer of each intermediate product from one machine to the next, resulting in large variations in product quality.

From JP 2020 138 854 A a laminating device is known which comprises: a feeding device which feeds a film body; a pallet which is transported along a transport path and on which the film body fed from the feeder is laminated; and a guide rail provided along the transport path. The pallet includes: a pair of clamps that hold the laminated body by performing the opening and closing operations; and a cam follower provided on the pair of brackets and engaged with the guide rail. The pair of clamps are actuated to be opened or closed by a cam mechanism formed by the guide rail and the cam follower as the pallet is transported on the transport path.

Technical problem

Based on this situation, an inexpensive and robust arrangement and procedure with high processing speed should be provided to modules or To be able to produce precursors of modules, in particular fuel cells or battery cells containing sheet material.

Proposed solution

To solve this problem, a device and a method according to the independent claims are proposed.

In an assembly line for the production of modules or preliminary stages of modules, in particular layered material and/or fuel or battery cells, a central transport route is provided and set up to transport a large number of workpiece carriers between a number of process stations on a outward and return journey support financially. On the way there, the central transport route comprises a first transport section for conveying/positioning one or more workpiece carriers to/in a first process station, and a second transport section for conveying/positioning one or more workpiece carriers to/in a further process station. On the way back, the central transport section includes a third transport section for conveying one or more workpiece carriers from a last to the first process station. The central transport route is set up to convey the workpiece carriers in groups at least in individual transport sections. A first process station designed as a stacking station is provided and set up to remove one or more workpiece carriers from the central transport route. To form a To stack electrode stacks on the respective workpiece carrier. The first and the second of the at least one workpiece carrier can be opposite one another, for example in the conveying direction of the workpiece carrier from both longitudinal sides of the central transport path. The stacking station is set up to reset one or more workpiece carriers with the stack of electrodes on them onto the central transport route. A further process station designed as a laminating station is provided and set up to treat a workpiece carrier transported further from the respective stacking point of the stacking station on the central transport route with an electrode stack with pressure and/or heat, so that the individual anode layers and cathodes - Layers form a composite.

Such a circulating transport and conveyor system with workpiece carriers located thereon allows the respective process machines to be operated in an interactive and automated manner. The Workpiece carriers can include frame modules with a carrier plate customized for the electrode stack with the individual anode layers and cathode layers and clamps shown below. The anode layers and cathode layers and possibly also the separating layers or other layers are stacked in alternating order on these workpiece carriers and clamped with the clamps for onward transport to the next process station. The position of the workpiece carriers can be detected in the respective process station with suitable sensors, and the workpiece carriers can then be brought into an optimal position for the respective process step using additional actuators. This happens, for example, in that the workpiece carrier causes a (minimal) vertical movement to the conveying direction of the central transport path by means of the actuator, and then a transverse, longitudinal and/or rotary movement with corresponding additional actuators. In order to shorten the transport times between the respective process stations, highly dynamic linear axis systems can be provided as a decoupling to the slower standard transport through the assembly line. The decoupling of the workpiece carrier from the transport section is implemented by means of a slight vertical movement of the workpiece carrier to the level of the transport section. The central transport route for the workpiece carriers can be used by other process stations in the overall system. This can be, for example, a process station for welding the electrical connection lugs, in which the laminated electrode stack is provided with the corresponding connection lugs. In principle, any order of the process stations in the assembly line can be implemented. The workpiece carriers can be transported back downstream to each process station or at the end of the transport route by means of a respective lifting/lowering device in a return path of the transport route parallel to the transport direction above or offset below the outward path. The return transport of the workpiece carriers also includes the possibility of implementing the outward and return journeys in an approximately horizontal plane.

In a variant of the device, the workpiece carriers are arranged one behind the other in a plurality of stacking points in the conveying direction.

In a variant of the device, the (several) stacking points are arranged between the first transport path and the second transport path.

In a variant of the device, one or more workpiece carriers are removed from the central transport path by the first lifting devices, regardless of the presence of a carriage.

In a variant of the device, one or all of the stacking points are always at the same place, while the anode layers and cathode layers and possibly also the separating layers or other layers are stacked on top of one another in an alternating sequence. For the return transport, the workpiece carriers are unloaded at the end of the transport route. The clamped and laminated or further processed electrode stacks are removed from the workpiece carrier, for example by means of a pick & place process. The empty workpiece carriers are then returned to the start of the transport route on the way back. The workpiece carriers can be provided with clearly identifiable features, which allow comprehensive traceability of the modules and their preliminary stages by storing the respective data through appropriate sensors on the transport route. Identifiable features include QR, numeric, bar and/or similar codes. The individual workpiece carriers can be identified at the entrance to each process station.

The device and process variants presented here can be very efficiently parallelized in the respective process stations by processing several of the modules or their preliminary stages on the workpiece carrier in parallel, even if they are transported serially from one process station to the next. The processing on the workpiece carriers and the secure clamping of the modules or their preliminary stages on the workpiece carrier between the process stations can lead to more precise production of the modules compared to the prior art and allow a comparatively higher output of modules per time unit.

Further advantageous embodiments of the devices and the procedures result from the dependent claims.

In one variant of the assembly line, the outward path of the central transport section conveys the large number of workpiece carriers above or below the return path. A very space-saving arrangement of the central transport section is thus possible. A substantially horizontal arrangement of the outward and return paths is also possible, but requires more installation space for the central transport route.

In a variant of the assembly line, a first cutting or stamping station is set up to cut up a first endless layer material and to deliver it as a sequence of isolated anode layers; a second cutting or punching station is set up to divide up a second continuous sheet material and to deliver it as a series of separated cathode sheets. In this case, the first cutting or stamping station can be set up to deliver the separated anode layers onto a first transport path to the stacking station. The second cutting or punching station can be set up to separate the cathode layers deliver on a second transport route to the stacking station. The separated anode and cathode layers can also be conveyed to a respective storage station on a respective carrier in order to be deposited on a first or second transport path. This transport route(s) bring the separated anode and cathode layers to the central transport route. For this purpose, the first and/or the second transport section can be equipped with suppression or adhesive trays, onto which the separated anode and cathode layers are deposited by the respective cutting or punching station. The first and second transport sections can be designed as circular transport sections, in which the suppression or adhesive trays are conveyed endlessly in a circle in order to transport the separated anode and cathode layers from the respective cutting or punching station to the stacking station .

In a variant of the assembly line, the central transport path at the stacking station includes a carriage that can be moved in a controlled manner in and against the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers. This carriage is set up to receive one or more of the workpiece carriers, into a receiving area of the stacking station, from the receiving area into a stacking area, and from the stacking area into a delivery area.

In a variant of the assembly line, the stacking station comprises one or more first lifting devices, which are set up to vertically remove one or more workpiece carriers from the central transport path and reset them by each of the first lifting devices controlling this/n workpiece carriers from the carriage in the z-direction lift or set down in the z-direction.

In a variant of the assembly line, the stacking station includes one or more stacking devices that are set up to alternately stack the individual anode layers and individual cathode layers from the respective side of the at least one workpiece carrier to form an electrode stack, approximately transversely from the first and the second transport section in the y-direction or against the y-direction and to be stacked on the workpiece carrier. In a variant of the assembly line, the stacking station comprises one or more second lifting devices which are set up to lower the respective workpiece carriers in a controlled manner counter to the z-direction as the stack of electrodes grows. In a variant of the assembly line, the first lifting device is also set up to lower the respective workpiece carriers in a controlled manner counter to the z-direction as the stack of electrodes grows.

In a variant of the assembly line, the central transport path upstream of the stacking station includes a further lifting device, which is set up for this purpose in the receiving area lift one or more workpiece carriers from the central transport line and place them on the carriage.

In a variant of the assembly line, each workpiece carrier comprises an upper side on which one or more clamps are arranged and set up to clamp electrode stacks located on the upper side of the workpiece carrier during transport between the process stations.

In one variant, each clamp comprises a clamping jaw which is designed to bear on the stack of electrodes in a first position and to release a storage space for the stack of electrodes on the workpiece carrier in a second position.

In one variant, each clamp comprises a spring device that is set up to urge the clamping jaws into the first position on the electrode stack, and a pressing point that is set up to absorb a force application from an actuator in a process station, wherein the force introduced is directed against the spring device and causes the storage space to be released by the clamping jaws.

A stacking station, which can also be used in the assembly line described above, comprises a first transport section with a receiving area, a stacking area and a delivery area; several first lifting devices in the stack area; a carriage, which can be positioned in and opposite to an outward path along a first transport section and is set up to transport several empty workpiece carriers in groups from the receiving area to the stacking area and/or several workpiece carriers, each carrying a stack created in the stacking area, from the stacking area to the delivery area to position.

In a variant of the stacking station, each lifting device is set up to lift the respective workpiece carrier from the carriage for stacking.

In a variant of the stacking station, the carriage has a length in the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers that at least approximately corresponds to the extent of the receiving area and the stacking area or the stacking area and the delivery area in the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers.

In a variant of the stacking station, the carriage is arranged to be longitudinally movable on two opposite linear guides and has 2 x N receptacles for N workpiece carriers to be positioned, with the lifting devices being set up to reach between the linear guides. In a variant of the stacking station, a lifting device is provided in the receiving area and a lifting device in the delivery area for the workpiece carriers.

A method is used to produce modules or preliminary stages of modules, in particular layered material and/or fuel or battery cells, in which a large number of workpiece carriers are conveyed between a number of process stations on a central transport route on a outward and return journey by central transport section on the way there in a first transport section conveys/positions one or more workpiece carriers to/in a first process station, and in a second transport section conveys/positions one or more workpiece carriers to/in a further process station, and on conveys one or more workpiece carriers from a last to the first process station on the way back in a third transport section. At least in some of the transport sections, the workpiece carriers are conveyed in groups.

In a first process station designed as a stacking station, one or more workpiece carriers are removed from the central transport path. Individual anode layers from a first side of the at least one workpiece carrier and individual cathode layers from a second side of the at least one workpiece carrier are placed on at least one workpiece carrier removed from the central transport path at at least one stacking point of the stacking station to form an electrode stack on the respective workpiece carriers are stacked alternately. The one or more workpiece carriers with the stack of electrodes on them are then returned to the central transport path. In a further process station designed as a laminating station, a workpiece carrier transported further from the respective stacking point of the stacking station of the central transport path is treated with an electrode stack with pressure and/or heat. The individual anode layers and cathode layers thus form a composite.

In a variant of the method, several stacking points are provided one behind the other in the conveying direction of the workpiece carrier.

In a variant of the method, the (several) stacking points are provided between the first transport section and the second transport section.

In a variant of the method, one or more workpiece carriers are removed from the central transport path by the first lifting devices, regardless of the presence of a carriage. In a variant of the method, one or all of the stacking points are always at the same place, while the anode layers and cathode layers and possibly also the separating layers or other layers are stacked on top of one another in an alternating sequence.

Brief description of the characters

Further features, properties, advantages, expediencies of the devices and the procedures can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawing. Possible modifications will also become clear to a person skilled in the art on the basis of the following description, in which reference is made to the attached drawings. The figures schematically show the devices discussed here and the process sequence. Individual aspects are explained in connection with the device, from which the method or individual steps of the method also result directly.

Here show:

1 shows an assembly line for the production of modules or preliminary stages of modules in a schematic side view;

FIG. 2 shows part of the assembly line from FIG. 1 in a schematic plan view; FIG.

FIG. 3a shows part of a workpiece carrier of the assembly line from FIG. 1 in a schematic side view in the closed position; FIG.

FIG. 3b shows part of a workpiece carrier of the assembly line from FIG. 1 in a schematic side view in the open position; FIG. and

4a-h an operational sequence of the assembly line in the area of the stacking station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIATIONS OF THE APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an assembly line 100 for the manufacture of modules or preliminary stages of modules. Here, the assembly line 100 is explained using fuel or battery cells containing sheet material and/or fluid as an example. A central transport path 110 conveys a large number of workpiece carriers 120 between a number of process stations on a forward path 112 and a return path 114 . On the outward path 112, the central transport path 110 transports a large number of empty workpiece carriers in a first transport section 116 to a first process station in order to position them therein. In a second transport section 117, the central transport section 110 transports a plurality of workpiece carriers 120 to a further process station in order to position them therein. function. On the return path 114, a third transport section 118 serves to convey a plurality of workpiece carriers 120 from a last (on the right in FIG. 1) to the first process station (on the left in FIG. 1).

The central transport path 110 is set up by means of drives, not shown in detail, to convey the workpiece carriers 120 in groups in individual of the transport sections. At the ends of the outward and return paths 112, 114 of the central transport path 110, either the lifting device 150 is used to convert from the return path to the outward path, or a separate lifting/lowering device 122, 124 is provided and set up to transport the workpiece carriers 120 at the rear end of the outward path 112 to the return path 114. In the variant illustrated here, the outward path 112 of the central transport path is arranged above the return path 114 in order to convey the multiplicity of workpiece carriers 120 .

As delivery stations to the assembly line, a first cutting or punching station (not shown) is set up to cut up a first endless layer material coming from a roll and deliver it onto a carrier 82 as a sequence of isolated anode layers AL, and a not shown in detail The second cutting or punching station is set up to divide up a second endless layer material 92 coming from a roll and to deliver it onto a carrier 92 as a sequence of separated cathode layers KL. A first deposit station 80 feeds the separated anode layers AL onto a first transport path 210. A second deposit station 90 feeds the separated cathode layers KL onto a second transport path 310 in order to feed them to a stacking station 130. On their transport to the stacking station 130, the anode and cathode layers AL, KL are guided through an inspection station 84, 94 assigned to the respective transport section 210, 310 in order to check their quality and/or alignment. The cathode is a metal foil with a conductive coating on both sides with a protruding conductor tab. The anode is a metal foil with a conductive coating on both sides, which is laminated between two dielectric foils (separators), with the current collector tab protruding laterally, i.e. on one of the short sides between the separators.

A first process station designed as a stacking station 130 is provided and set up to remove a plurality of workpiece carriers 120 - here as a group of four - from the outward path 112 of the central transport path 110 . For this purpose, the central transport route 110 has a lifting device 150 upstream of the stacking station 130, which can be part of the central transport route 110, here in the form of a scissor lift table - which is set up to lift a group of four workpiece carriers 120 from the receiving area 132 of the stacking station 130 lift central transport route 110 and on a carriage 140 to be set, which can also be part of the central transport route 110. This carriage 140 at the stacking station 130 is to be moved in the first transport section 116 in and against the conveying direction x of the workpiece carriers 120, controlled by means of a drive that is not illustrated further, in order to pick up a group of the workpiece carriers 120, into the receiving area 132 of the stacking station 130, from which To promote receiving area 132 in a stacking area 134, and from the stacking area 134 in a delivery area 136. Details of this sequence of movements are explained further below with reference to FIGS. 4a-4h.

In the stacking area 134, a number of stacking devices 138 corresponding to the number of workpiece carriers 120 in the group are loaded from a respective first and second transport path 210, 230 located on both longitudinal sides of the central transport path 120 with suppression or adhesive trays 212, 312, also shuttles called, individual anode layers AL and individual cathode layers KL are transported into the stacking area 134 (see also FIG. 2). For this purpose, the arrangement of four stacking devices 138 is equipped with drives, not shown in detail, in order to be able to move individually vertically in the z-direction for raising and lowering the individual anode and cathode layers KL, and with drives, not shown in detail, in order to be able to move individually to be able to be moved horizontally in the y-direction in order to transport the individual anode and cathode layers KL from the trays of the first and second transport sections 210, 230 to the respective stacking point on the workpiece carrier 120 in the stacking area 134. Individual anode layers AL from a first side of workpiece carrier 120, and individual cathode layers KL from a second side of workpiece carrier 120 are stacked alternately on workpiece carriers 120 removed from central transport line 120 at the respective stacking points of stacking station 130 to the respective workpiece carrier 120 brought up and stacked on the respective workpiece carrier 120 to form an electrode stack EL.

The stacking station 130 also has a plurality of first lifting devices 135 acting in the z-direction, one per workpiece carrier 120, in order to lift the workpiece carrier 120 in a controlled manner by the carriage 140 in the z-direction and thus separate it from the carriage 140 or these workpiece carriers 120 be controlled on the carriage 140 in the z-direction. In this way, the workpiece carriers 120 can be loaded with the layer material for forming the electrode stack EL, while the carriage 140 can be moved back and forth in the x-direction.

When the electrode stack EL has reached its required height of anode layers AL and cathode layers KL, the carriage 140 transports the group of four workpiece carriers 120 with the respective electrode stacks EL on them from the stacking area 134 to the delivery area 136. Such a stacking station has a first transport section 116 with the receiving area 132, the stacking area 134 and the delivery area 136. Several first lifting devices 135 are provided in the stacking area 134 to lift the workpiece carrier 120 on the carriage 140 in the Z-direction. The carriage 140 can be positioned in and counter to the outward path 112 along a first transport section. The carriage 140 is set up to position several empty workpiece carriers 120 in groups from the receiving area 132 into the stacking area 134 and/or several workpiece carriers, each carrying a stack created in the stacking area 134, from the stacking area 134 into the delivery area 136. Each lifting device 135 is set up to lift the respective workpiece carrier 120 from the carriage 140 for stacking. In the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers 120, the carriage 140 has a length which at least approximately corresponds to the extent of the receiving area and the stacking area, or the stacking area and the delivery area in the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers 120. The carriage 140 is arranged to be longitudinally movable on two opposite linear guides and has 2 x N receivers for N workpiece carriers 120 to be positioned -Raise direction while the carriage 140 is moved along the linear guides (in the x-direction). Analogous to this, the lifting device 150 is provided in the receiving area 132 and the lifting device in the delivery area 136 for the workpiece carrier 120 .

A further process station, designed as a laminating station 160 , is arranged downstream of the stacking station 130 along the central transport path 110 . In the illustrated variant, a group of four is conveyed in the laminating station 160 from the respective stacking point of the stacking station on the central transport path 110 to the workpiece carrier 120 under the respective thermode stamp 162 . The thermode stamps 162 are pushed against the electrode stack EL by the drives in and against the z-direction, which are not illustrated further, in order to treat them with pressure and/or heat. As a result, the individual anode layers AL and cathode layers KL form a composite. Depending on the required dwell time of the electrode stacks EL under the thermode stamps 162, the workpiece carriers 120 are also lifted out of the central transport path 110, while the electrode stacks EL are located under the thermode stamps 162, as is the case in connection with the stacking station 130 above is described.

In order to achieve a secure cohesion of the individual anode layers AL and cathode layers KL and to prevent the individual anode layers AL and cathode layers KL from slipping relative to one another, there are several workpiece carriers 120 on the upper side Clamps 122 are arranged and set up to clamp electrode stacks EL located on top of the workpiece carrier 120 during transport between the process stations. For this purpose, each clamp 122 has a roller-shaped clamping jaw 124, which is arranged on a rocker 125 in order to weigh in a first position (see FIG. 3a) on the electrode stack EL, and in a second position (see FIG. 3b) one Release storage space 126 for the electrode stack EL on the workpiece carrier 120 upwards for the stacking devices 138 or other processing tools. Each clamp 122 has spring means 128 adapted to urge the jaw 124 to the first position on the electrode stack EL. The clamp 122 has a roller-shaped pressing point 127, which is set up to absorb the introduction of force from an actuator 129 in the z-direction in a process station, the force introduced being directed against the spring device 128 and releasing the storage space 126 by the Jaws 124 causes.

A mode of operation of the assembly line is explained in detail below with reference to FIG. 4 , with components corresponding to one another being provided with the same reference symbols.

Fig. 4a: The empty carriage 140 is located with one (right) section in the delivery area 136 and with another (left) section in the stacking area 134 of the stacking station 130, with the beginning of the outward journey, i.e. the receiving area 132, of the central transport path 110 with empty workpiece carriers 120 is filled by the drive of the central transport path 110 , which is not illustrated in any more detail, transporting empty workpiece carriers 120 on the outward path 112 .

4b: The scissor lift table 150 moves upwards in the z-direction and, in the receiving area 132, lifts a group of four empty workpiece carriers 120 from the central transport path in the z-direction.

Fig. 4c: The scissor lift table 150 lifts the four empty workpiece carriers 120 above the level of the carriage 140 in the receiving area and the empty carriage 140 moves (to the left) with its other (left) section against the X-direction into the receiving area 132 under the Scissor lift table 150 with the four empty workpiece carriers 120.

Fig. 4d: The scissor lift table 150 is narrower in the y-direction than the clear width of the carriage 140 (see also Fig. 2). The scissor lift table 150 is lowered in the receiving area 132 against the z-direction to the level of the carriage 140 . The four workpiece carriers 120 are picked up at their corners by the pickups 142 on the inner edge of the other (left) section of the carriage 140. The empty scissor lift table 150 lowers in the z-direction below the level of the outward path 114 of the central transport path 110.

Fig. 4e: The carriage 140 conveys the four workpiece carriers 120 on its left section into the stacking area 134.

FIG. 4f: The four workpiece carriers 120 are lifted off the carriage 140 by means of the lifting devices 135 (see FIG. 1) in the z-direction. The clamps 122 of the workpiece carrier 120 are opened by means of the actuator 129 (see FIG. 3). In the receiving area 132, the scissor lift table 150 lifts another four empty workpiece carriers 120 from the central transport path in the z-direction.

4g: The scissor lift table 150 lifts the other four empty workpiece carriers 120 above the level of the carriage 140 in the receiving area 132. The carriage moves with its empty, left-hand section against the X-direction into the receiving area 132 under the scissor lift table 150, which carries the other four empty workpiece carriers 120. In the stacking area 134, the individual anode layers AL and cathode layers KL are placed alternately on each of the workpiece carriers 120 from both sides (see FIG. 2). In the process, each workpiece carrier 120 is lowered again against the z-direction onto the right-hand section of the carriage as the electrode stack EL grows.

4h: The scissor lift table 150 lowers in the receiving area 132 against the z-direction to the level of the carriage 140. The left-hand section of the empty carriage 140 picks up the four empty workpiece carriers 120 in the pick-up area 132 of the scissor lift table 150 . The empty scissor lift table 150 continues to descend against the z-direction; In the stacking area, anode layers AL and cathode layers KL are also placed on each of the workpiece carriers 120 until a target number for the electrode stack EL is reached. Each workpiece carrier 120 is lowered again against the Z-direction onto the right-hand section of the carriage 140 as the electrode stack EL grows.

4i: The scissor lift table 150 lowers in the receiving area against the Z-direction below the level of the outward path 112 of the central transport path 110. The clamps 122 of the filled four workpiece carriers 120 are closed. The carriage 140 moves the filled four workpiece carriers 120 in its right-hand section from the stacking area 134 to the delivery area 136, and at the same time the empty four workpiece carriers 120 in the left-hand section from the receiving area in the x-direction to the stacking area 134.

4j: The four workpiece carriers 120 located in the delivery area 136 on the right-hand section of the carriage 140 are raised above the level of the carriage 140 in the z-direction. For this purpose, third lifting devices 139 are below the level in the delivery area 136 of the carriage 140 is provided. The clamps 122 of the empty four workpiece carriers 120 in the left section are opened. The method continues with the steps from FIG. 4f, wherein in the following step 4g the four workpiece carriers 120 located in the output area 136 are lowered onto the output conveyor 170 by the third lifting devices 139 and are transported away from there for further processing.

The variants of the assembly line described above, their structural and operational aspects, as well as the variants of the procedure are only intended to provide a better understanding of the structure, the mode of operation and the properties; they do not limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments. The figures are partly schematic. Some of the essential properties and effects are clearly enlarged in order to clarify the functions, operating principles, technical configurations and features. Any mode of operation, any principle, any technical configuration and any feature disclosed in the figures or in the text, with all claims, any feature in the text and in the other figures, other modes of operation, principles, technical configurations and features that are contained in this disclosure or result from it, can be combined freely and arbitrarily, so that all conceivable combinations of the procedure described can be assigned. This also includes combinations between all individual statements in the text, that is to say in each section of the description, in the claims and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims and in the figures. The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown with one another. All disclosed features are also explicitly disclosed here individually and in combination with all other features.

Claims

patent claims

1. Assembly line for the production of modules or preliminary stages of modules in the form of fuel or battery cells containing layered material, a central transport path (110) being provided and set up for transporting a large number of workpiece carriers (120) between to convey a plurality of process stations (130, 160); the central transport path (110) on the way there having a first transport section for conveying and/or positioning one or more workpiece carriers to or in a first process station (130, 160), and a second transport section for conveying and/or positioning a or a plurality of workpiece carriers to or in a further process station (130, 160), and on the way back a third transport section for conveying one or more workpiece carriers (120) from a last to the first process station (130, 160) , includes; and wherein the central transport path (110) is set up to convey the workpiece carriers (120) in groups at least in individual of the transport sections; a first process station designed as a stacking station (130) is provided and set up to remove one or more workpiece carriers (120) from the central transport path (110); individual anode layers (AL) from a first side of the at least one workpiece carrier (120) and individual cathode layers (KL ) to alternately stack from a second side of the at least one workpiece carrier (120) to form an electrode stack (EL) on the respective workpiece carrier (120); reset one or more workpiece carriers (120) with the electrode stack (EL) located thereon onto the central transport path (110); and the further process station designed as a laminating station (160) is provided and set up to apply pressure and/or heat to a workpiece carrier transported further from the respective stacking point of the stacking station (130) on the central transport path with an electrode stack (EL). treat so that the individual anode layers (AL) and cathode layers (KL) form a composite.

2. Assembly line according to claim 1, wherein the outward path of the central transport path (110) promotes the plurality of workpiece carriers (120) above or below the return path.

3. Assembly line according to claim 1, wherein a first cutting or stamping station is set up to cut up a first endless sheet material and to deliver it as a sequence of separated anode layers (AL); and a second cutting or stamping station is set up to divide up a second endless layer material and to deliver it as a sequence of separated cathode layers (KL).

4. Assembly line according to claim 3, wherein a first depositing station (80) is set up to deliver the separated anode layers (AL) onto a first transport route (210) to the stacking station (130); and a second depositing station (90) is set up to deliver the separated cathode layers (KL) onto a second transport route (310) to the stacking station (130).

5. Assembly line according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the central transport section (110) at the stacking station (130) comprises a carriage (140) to be moved in a controlled manner in and against the conveying direction (x) of the workpiece carriers (120), which is set up for this purpose to receive one or more of the workpiece carriers (120), into a receiving area (132) of the stacking station (130), from the receiving area (132) into a stacking area (134), and from the stacking area (134) into a delivery area (136) to promote; and/or the stacking station (130) has one or more first lifting devices (135) which are set up to raise the workpiece carrier (120) controlled by the carriage (140) in the z-direction and/or on the carriage (140) in z -to drop direction; and/or has one or more stacking devices (138) which are set up to move the individual anode layers (AL) and individual cathode layers (KL) from the respective side of the at least one workpiece carrier (120) to form an electrode stack (EL) to be transported alternately from the first and the second transport path (210, 310) in the y-direction or against the y-direction and to be stacked on the workpiece carrier (120).

6. Assembly line according to claim 5, wherein the central transport path (110) upstream of the stacking station (130) comprises a further lifting device (150) which is set up to move one or more workpiece carriers (120) from the central transport path in the receiving area (132). (110) lift and put on the carriage (140).

7. Assembly line according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each workpiece carrier (120) has an upper side on which one or more clamps (122) are arranged and adapted to hold the electrode stack (EL) located on the upper side of the workpiece carrier (120) during of transport between the process stations.

8. Assembly line according to the preceding claim, wherein each clamp (122) has a clamping jaw (124) adapted to bear on the electrode stack (EL) in a first position and a storage space (126 ) for the electrode stack (EL) on the workpiece carrier (120).

9. Assembly line according to the preceding claim, wherein each clamp (122) has a spring device (128) which is adapted to urge the clamping jaw (124) into the first position on the electrode stack (EL), and a pressing point (127) which is set up to receive the introduction of force from an actuator in a process station, the force introduced being directed against the spring device (128) and causing the storage space (126) to be released by the clamping jaws (124).

10. A stacking station for an assembly line according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a first transport section (116) having a receiving area (132), a stacking area (134) and a delivery area (136); a plurality of first elevators (135) in the stacking area (134); a carriage (140), which can be positioned in and counter to a way (112) along a first transport section and is set up, several empty workpiece carriers (120) in groups from the receiving area (132) into the stacking area (134) and/or several workpiece carriers, each carrying a stack created in the stacking area (134), to be positioned from the stacking area (134) into the delivery area (136).

11. Stacking station according to the preceding claim, wherein each lifting device (135) is set up to lift the respective workpiece carrier (120) for stacking from the carriage (140); and/or wherein the carriage (140) has a length in the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers (120) which at least approximately corresponds to the extent of the receiving area and the stacking area or the stacking area and the delivery area in the conveying direction of the workpiece carriers (120); and/or where the carriage (140) is arranged to be longitudinally movable on two opposite linear guides and has 2 x N receivers for N workpiece carriers (120) to be positioned and the lifting devices (135) are set up to reach between the linear guides; and/or wherein a lifting device (150) is provided in the receiving area (132) and a lifting device is provided in the delivery area (136) for the workpiece carrier (120).

12. A method for producing modules or preliminary stages of modules in the form of layer material containing fuel or battery cells, wherein a large number of workpiece carriers are conveyed between a plurality of process stations on a central transport route on a outward and return route, by the central transport route on the way there, in a first transport section, one or more workpiece carriers are conveyed and/or positioned to or in a first process station, and in a second transport section one or more workpiece carriers are conveyed to or in a further process station and/or positioned, and on the way back in a third transport section promotes one or more workpiece carriers from a last to the first process station; at least in some of the transport sections, the workpiece carriers are conveyed in groups; in a first process station designed as a stacking station, one or more workpiece carriers are removed from the central transport path; individual anode layers from a first side of the at least one workpiece carrier, and individual cathode layers from a second side of the at least one workpiece carrier to form an electrode stack on at least one workpiece carrier removed from the central transport path at at least one stacking point of the stacking station Workpiece carriers are stacked alternately; and one or more workpiece carriers with the stack of electrodes located thereon are reset onto the central transport path; and in a further process station designed as a laminating station, a workpiece carrier transported further from the respective stacking point of the stacking station of the central transport route is treated with an electrode stack with pressure and/or heat so that the individual anode layers and cathode layers form a composite .