WO2023285277A2

WO2023285277A2 - Individualizing device for cutting and individualizing energy cell segments from a supplied continuous web

Info

Publication number: WO2023285277A2
Application number: PCT/EP2022/068899
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Kleine Wächter; Karsten Meinke; Manfred Folger; Thomas Meins; Marc Kessler; Michael Lüneburg
Original assignee: Körber Technologies Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-07-12
Filing date: 2022-07-07
Publication date: 2023-01-19
Also published as: WO2023285277A3; DE102021207349A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an individualizing device (1) for cutting and individualizing energy cell segments (6) from a supplied continuous web (5). A cutting device (2) is provided, by means of which the segments (6) are cut from the continuous web (5) in a specified length, and a spacing modifying element, in particular a spacing modifying drum (3), is provided which is rotated about a rotational axis (D) by means of a drive device, wherein a plurality of transport segments (8) for receiving the segments (6) are provided on a lateral surface of the spacing modifying element (3), and the transport segments (8) are movably arranged with respect to the radial and/or circumferential direction of the spacing modifying element (3). A transfer device (4) is also provided which receives the segments (6) from the spacing modifying element (3). The invention is characterized in that the spacing modifying element (3) and the cutting device (2) are separate assemblies and/or are functionally decoupled and/or the cutting device (2) is arranged between the supplied continuous web (5) and the spacing modifying element (3), and the transport segments (8) circulate from a receiving location (I) to a transfer location (II) and back in a circulating movement during the rotational movement of the spacing modifying element (3). The transport segments (8) receive segments (6) cut from the continuous web (5) by the cutting device (2) at the receiving location (I), transport the segments to the transfer location (II) while increasing the spacing (A) of the segments to the rotational axis (D) in the circumferential direction, and transfer the segments to the transfer device (4) with the increased spacing (A).

Description

Separating device for cutting and separating segments for energy cells from a supplied endless web

The present invention relates to a separating device for cutting and separating segments for energy cells from a fed continuous web with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a system for producing stacks of individual segments for energy cells with the features of the preamble of claim 13.

Energy cells or energy storage devices within the meaning of the invention are used, for example, in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, ships, airplanes or in stationary systems such as photovoltaic systems in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, where very large amounts of energy must be stored over longer periods of time. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure made up of a large number of segments stacked to form a stack. These segments are each formed from alternating anode sheets and cathode sheets which are separated from one another by separator sheets which are also produced as segments. The segments are pre-cut in the manufacturing process and then stacked in the predetermined sequence and connected to one another by lamination. In this case, the anode sheets and cathode sheets are first cut from a continuous web and then individually placed at intervals on a continuous web of a separator material. This subsequently formed "double-layered" endless web of separator material with the anode sheets and cathode sheets placed on it is then cut into segments again in a second step with a cutting device, the segments in this case being cut in two layers by a separator sheet with a separator sheet on it arranged anode sheet or cathode sheet are formed. If this is technically feasible or necessary, the endless webs of the separator material with the anode sheets and cathode sheets laid on top of them can also be laid one on top of the other before cutting, so that an endless web with a first endless layer of the separator material with anode sheets or cathode sheets laid on it and one second continuous layer of separator material with anode sheets or cathode sheets in turn laid thereon. This “four-layer” endless web is then cut into segments by means of a cutting device, which in this case are formed in four layers with a first separator sheet, an anode sheet, a second separator sheet and a cathode sheet lying on top of it. The advantage of this solution is that one cut can be saved. Segments within the meaning of this invention are therefore single-layer segments of a separator material, anode material or cathode material, double-layer or four-layer segments of the structure described above.

Devices for producing battery cells are known, for example, from WO 2016/041713 A1 and DE 10 2017 216 213 A1.

Battery cells for electromobility, for example, are now manufactured on production systems with an output of 100 to 240 mono cells per minute. These work in sub-areas or continuously with clocked discontinuous movements, such as back and forth movements, and are therefore limited in terms of production output. Most of the known machines work with the single-sheet stacking method (e.g. "pick and place") Disadvantage of slower processing. The laminating of cell formations is not possible here.

Another well-known approach is a machine with continuously running webs of material and cycled tools, such as separating knives and tools for changing the pitch.

In principle, machines with clocked movements are limited in terms of performance. The parts with mass, such as fixtures and tools, have to be constantly accelerated and braked. The processes determine the timing and a lot of energy is consumed. The mass of the moving parts cannot be reduced at will. Parts that move faster often have to withstand higher loads and are therefore even more complex and heavier.

In order to reduce the production costs of energy cell production, the production capacity of the machines must be increased, among other things. A condition for the high production output is a high production rate of the stack of energy cells, which are formed from several stacked segments of the type described above.

In order to achieve very high production rates, it is desirable to cut the segments from a continuous web in the production process at the highest possible piece rate, for which purpose the continuous web is fed in at a correspondingly high feed rate and the segments are cut off the continuous web at a cutting frequency that is as high as possible must. Then the segments, in particular the anode sheets and the cathode sheets, must be further processed at a distance from one another and on one Endless web of a separator material are placed. This necessary distance for further processing opposes the requirement to feed the segments in a high unit rate, since the two requirements are contradictory.

To solve this problem, it is known from publication DE 10 2017 216 138 A1 to guide the continuous web on a drum, to cut it into segments on the circumference of the drum and then to form the segments by means of a radial movement of individual transport segments of the drum to be separated from one another by distances and to place them on another endless web in the spaced-apart arrangement. The segments are cut using a laser directed at the endless web lying against the drum, with the cut having to be made in such a way that the cut has to be made exactly through the dividing line of adjacent transport segments so that the cut segments are finally assigned to one transport segment and through the radial movement of the transport segments pulled apart who can.

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of providing a separating device for cutting and separating segments for energy cells from a fed continuous web, which enables a simplified cutting of the segments in connection with a process-reliable separation of spaced segments in the highest possible piece rate.

In order to solve the task, a separating device for cutting and separating segments for energy cells from a supplied endless web with the features of claim 1 and a system with the features of claim 13 proposed gene.

According to the basic idea of the invention, a separating device according to the preamble of claim 1 is proposed, with the pitch-changing body designed in particular as a pitch-changing drum and the cutting device being separate assemblies and/or functionally decoupled and/or the cutting device between the fed continuous web and is arranged on the pitch-changing body, and the transport segments rotate during the rotary movement of the pitch-changing body in a circulating movement from a transfer point to a transfer point and back again, with the transport segments taking over segments cut from the endless web with the cutting device in the transfer point and increasing their distances in the circumferential direction transport to the axis of rotation to the transfer point and transfer to the transfer device with the increased distances.

In the context of this application, the particular rotatable division-changing body can be designed as a division-changing drum. If within the scope of this application a drum is mentioned (pitch changing drum, cutting drum, transport drum, etc.), a specific, advantageous embodiment of a rotating body or a rotationally drivable body is specified. The terms rotating body or rotationally drivable body can be used generically within the meaning of the invention in the places that specifically name a drum, in particular the drums listed above and/or the drums addressed below. The advantage of the solution according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the segments are cut and then separated in independent and/or functionally decoupled construction groups, so that cutting and separation can each be optimized for themselves without having to to take other functions into account. For this purpose, the cutting device can be arranged between the supplied endless web and the pitch changing body, so that the endless web is first fed to the cutting device, which cuts the endless web into segments and then transfers the cut segments to the pitch changing body. The proposed ne separation and / or functional decoupling and / or arrangement of the cutting device and the pitch change body can, for example, the maximum extent of the pitch change body for the individual zelung and the associated increase in the distances between the segments can be used, since the prior art at the Division change drum provided section of the continuous web is laid in the segments in an independent of the division change body upstream assembly. Furthermore, the cutting of the segments can be simplified since the continuous web and the cut segments no longer have to be arranged on movable transport segments in the cutting device. In particular, the cutting line no longer has to be positioned in a predetermined alignment between two transport segments and can instead be optimized with regard to its cutting quality, cutting speed and cutting frequency. The cutting device and the pitch-changing body can be functionally decoupled, but coupled to one another via a common drive device. It is only important that the cutting process and the separating process are carried out separately from one another, and that the segments are already cut by be transferred to the pitch change body. The segments that have already been cut are then taken over by the division change body in the takeover point and transported on the division change body, increasing their distances from one another to the transfer point, in which they are then handed over to a takeover device.

It has been found that the segments can be transferred to the transfer device in the transfer point with particular process reliability if the transport segments in the transfer point have a spacing of 1 to 10 mm, preferably 2 to 5 mm, in the circumferential direction of the pitch changing body.

It is also proposed that a control device is provided which controls the movement of the transport segments from the transfer point to the transfer point. The movement of the transport segments consists of the pure rotational movement of the pitch-changing body and the additional superimposed radial and/or circumferential movement of the transport segments to increase the distances between the transport segments and thus also between the segments held thereon. Since the position of the transport segments in the transfer point and the transfer point is of particular importance for process-reliable transport, especially given the high transport speeds to be achieved in the segments, the control device forms an important component of the separating device, in addition to the movable transport segments, by means of which the movement process can be realized particularly precisely. In this case, the control device preferably controls the radial and/or circumferential movement of the transport segments, which causes the increase in distance, relative to the rotary movement of the pitch-changing body and can thus be regarded as a kind of fine control.

A particularly cost-effective and reliable control of the movement of the transport segments can be realized by the control device being formed by a control cam which is stationary relative to the pitch-changing body and on which the transport segments each rest with a control projection. The movement of the transport segments can be controlled purely mechanically, so additional sensors and actuators are not required. The required accuracy of the movement sequence and in particular the positions of the transport segments in the transfer point and the transfer point can be achieved by a correspondingly precisely worked shape of the control curve and a correspondingly precise alignment of the control curve to the pitch-changing body or to the control approaches of the transport segments.

It is further proposed that the control device comprises at least one electrically controllable actuator that controls the movement of the transport segments. The actuator controlling the movement can supplement or replace the control via the control cam if a purely electronic control of the movement of the transport segments is to be implemented. The electrically controllable actuator enables very precise control of the movement of the transport segments. Furthermore, the movement sequence can also be adjusted or changed very easily by way of a regulation or also to realize a new transfer distance of the segments.

It is also proposed that the transport segments are movable in the radial direction of the pitch changing body, and the Control device controls the transport segments to move from a smaller radius in the transfer point to a larger radius in the transfer point. The radial movement of the transport segments from the smaller to the larger radius automatically increases the distance between the transport segments from the transfer point to the transfer point, since the extension of the transport segments in the circumferential direction of the pitch-changing body is unchanged, the circumference on which the transport segments in be moved on the larger radius, but is larger than the circumference on the smaller radius.

It is also proposed that the transport segments be movable in the circumferential direction of the pitch-changing body, and the control device moves the transport segments from the transfer point to the transfer point at a speed with a higher peripheral speed than the circumferential speed of the pitch-changing body and from the transfer point to the transfer point at a lower speed Peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the pitch changing body controls. As a result, the distance between the transport segments can be increased by a purely circumferential movement of the transport segments on an at least almost identical radius. The distance between the transport segments, starting from the transfer point, is realized by briefly accelerating the transport segments to a higher circumferential speed compared to the rotational movement of the pitch-changing body. Starting from the transfer point, the transport segments are then decelerated again during the movement to the transfer point until they rest against one another again. If a pure circumferential movement is not optimal, the circumferential movement of the transport segments can, of course, also be carried out with the one described above Radial movement are combined.

It is also proposed that the transport segments have a transfer surface that can be subjected to negative pressure. The segments can thus be sucked onto the transfer surface of the transport segments via a negative pressure and can be held on the transport segments during the further transport movement against the radial forces acting during the rotary movement of the part change body. This means that no further mechanical means are required on the transport segments for taking over and for the further transport of the segments. In addition, the takeover and transport of the segments can be realized with very low forces acting on the segments to achieve “soft” transport.

It is further proposed that the cutting device is formed by a cutting body driven by a drive device to perform a rotary movement, in particular a cutting drum driven by a drive device to perform a rotary movement. The realization of the cutting device as a cutting body, in particular a cutting drum, is advantageous in that the cutting device can be integrated into a drum run in which the particularly high transport speed of the endless web and the cut segments can be realized with optimized space utilization. The segments can be cut, for example, by means of a laser, which is arranged on the circumference of the cutting body or also radially inside in the cutting body and, when activated, emits a laser beam directed at the endless web. Furthermore, a mechanical cutting of the endless web can also be provided by a plurality of over the Um- gang distributed arranged counter knives are provided, each with a one-sided free cutting edge, on the outside of which the endless web rests. Furthermore, a cutting blade is provided on the outer circumference of the cutting body, which can also be arranged on a second cutting body driven to perform a rotary movement, in particular a second cutting drum driven to perform a rotary movement. The cutting blade is then positioned and the movement of the second cutting body is controlled in such a way that the counter-blades of the cutting body come into contact in a predetermined position and alignment and during the further movement separate the continuous web according to the shearing principle. This mechanical cutting process can be further extended to a thermomechanical cutting process of the continuous web by heating the cutting blade or counter blade.

It is further proposed that the cutting body is driven by a drive device to perform a rotary movement counter to the direction of rotation of the pitch-changing body.

Due to the advantageous direction of rotation of the cutting body, it has a movement in the same direction in an arrangement adjacent to the pitch-changing body on the edge side facing the pitch-changing body, so that the cut segments can ideally be taken tangentially by the pitch-changing body with the lowest possible forces acting on the segments .

It is also proposed that the cutting body be arranged immediately adjacent to the pitch changing body, and the segments in the point of smallest distance from the pitch changing body to those arranged in the takeover point transfers transport segments. This distance that is as small as possible is advantageous in that the segments can be taken over by the pitch-changing body in a very process-reliable manner and with the lowest possible forces.

It is also proposed that the pitch-changing body has five, six, seven, eight, ten or twelve transport segments, and the transport segments in the transfer point have an outer radius of 75 to 150 mm, preferably 90 mm to 125 mm, in relation to the axis of rotation of the pitch-changing body . With the proposed number of transport segments in conjunction with the proposed outer radius, favorable movement conditions can be achieved with regard to increasing distances and with regard to a process-safe transport of the segments from the transfer point to the transfer point.

Furthermore, to achieve the object of claim 13, a system for producing stacks of individual segments for energy cells is proposed, in which at least one separating device is provided according to one of claims 1 to 12, the segments separated by the separating device being fed to a composite device , which connects the segments to form formations. The segments can be connected to each other in the composite device to form a fixed connection or via an endless track. Furthermore, the segments can also be placed one on top of the other or on an endless track or vice versa and transported further as a composite simply by exerting pressure. It is important that the formations are connected, either by pressure or a connection, so that they come together in one Composite further processing can be supplied. The segments are connected to one another or to the endless web in such a way that they are fixed in their arrangement and orientation relative to one another.

For this purpose, the connecting device can have at least one supplied continuous web, and the connecting device can preferably have a first connecting device, which places the continuous web and the segments on top of one another to form a first formation. If this makes sense, a permanent connection can be created here, e.g. through a thermal lamination process. However, it is also sufficient if the first connecting device merely places the continuous web on the segments or vice versa and then fixes the segments solely by exerting pressure against the continuous web to form the first formation.

It is also proposed that the take-over device be formed by a transport body that is driven to perform a rotary movement, in particular a transport drum that is driven to perform a rotary movement, and that the first connecting device comprises a tensioning belt that encompasses the transport body, which takes over the segments from the pitch-changing body and places them on a conveyor belt or placed on the endless track. The advantage of this solution can be seen in the fact that the segments can be taken over by the transfer device designed as a transport body in a rotational movement from the pitch changing body, which means that very high transport speeds can be achieved in a continuous endless production process. These segments taken over by the transport body are then secured via the tensioning strap, which has a correspondingly may have fitted management and geometry, placed on the conveyor belt to realize a linear removal movement of the segments.

Alternatively, it is proposed that the take-over device is formed by a conveyor belt, on which the division-changing body places the segments in the transfer point, and the endless web is deflected via a deflection roller and placed on the segments, which is arranged in such a way that it moves in the direction of the conveyor belt has a smaller distance to the transfer point le than the length of the segments in the transport direction of the transport belt. By means of the conveyor belt, the segments are transported away from the rotational movement of the pitch-changing body in a linear, rectilinear removal movement. The segments placed on the conveyor belt are detected due to the arrangement of the deflection roller and the endless web guided and placed by it before they are completely removed from the pitch change body. In this way, the segments are fixed in each phase of the transitional movement either on the transport segments of the pitch-changing body or over the endless track and ideally in a brief overlapping phase both on the transport segments and over the endless track. A particularly process-reliable transfer of the segments from the pitch-changing body to the conveyor belt can thus be implemented.

It is further proposed that at least two separating devices are provided in the system, and the connecting device has a second connecting device which connects the segments cut by the separating devices to form second formations or which are connected by the first Composite devices formed first formations to a two-th formation connects together. The second connecting device can also fix the second formations of the segments and the endless webs that may be present either solely by exerting pressure on the second formations or also in a connecting method such as a lamination process or an adhesive method.

The invention is explained below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures. while showing

1 shows a separating device according to the invention with a cutting device and a pitch change drum according to a first embodiment; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the pitch change drum; and

3 shows an endless web with segments cut from it in the separating device; and

4 shows a separating device according to the invention with a cutting device and a pitch change drum according to a second embodiment; and

5 shows a diagrammatically illustrated structure of a cell stack for an energy cell; and 6 shows a system according to the invention with two singling devices; and

7 shows an enlarged section of the separating device with a pitch-changing drum and a transfer device designed as a transport drum; and

8 shows an enlarged section of the separating device with a pitch-changing drum and a transfer device designed as a conveyor belt.

In the exemplary embodiments described below, the pitch-changing body is in the form of a pitch-changing drum 3, the cutting body is in the form of a cutting drum, and the transport body is in the form of a transport drum.

The structure of a cell stack 90 is first described below with reference to FIG. A monocell 91 is a layered system consisting of layers or segments placed one on top of the other, namely a separator 92, an anode 93, another separator 94 and a cathode 95 completed with a termination cell 96. This closing cell 96 consists, for example, of a separator 92, an anode 93 and a further separator 94 and ensures that the mono-cell stack 90 is closed off from the outside with a separator 92, 94 in each case. The mono cell stack 90 is used in particular to build an electrochemical or galvanic battery, not shown, for example a lithium-ion battery. The electrodes 93, 95 are made of typical electrode materials of an electrochemical or galvanic accumulator cell. In the case of a lithium ion cell, the electrodes contain lithium ions, for example. The separators are used to electrically insulate the electrodes from one another and consist, for example, of a plastic film, such as a thermoplastic material.

1 shows a separating device 1 with a cutting device 2, a pitch-changing drum 3 and a transfer device 4, to which a continuous web 5 of anode material, cathode material or separator material for producing energy cells or energy storage devices is fed. The energy cells or energy storage devices are used, for example, in land vehicles, ships, aircraft or also stationary devices such as photovoltaic systems and are used to store and/or convert electrical energy in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, which are used to operate electrical drive units will. This could be motor vehicles with an electric drive, for example.

The endless web 5 is fed to the cutting device 2, which is designed here as a cutting drum with a plurality of counter knives 11 and cutting knives 10 directed onto the circumference of the cutting drum. The continuous web 5 is gripped by the cutting device 2 designed as a cutting drum in a rotary transport movement and fed on to the pitch change drum 3 . The continuous web 5 is cut on the cutting device 2 by means of the cutting blade 10 through a scissors on the counter knives 11 are cut into segments 6 with a predetermined length, which correspond to the anodes 93, cathodes 95 or separators 92, 94 described at the outset in the monocells 91 or composite elements of anodes 93 with separators 92, 93 cathodes 95 with separators 92 , 93 or the monocells 91 themselves. After the continuous web 5 has been cut, the segments 6 rest against the outer surface of the cutting drum and are held against the outer surface of the cutting drum by means of negative pressure, for example. Furthermore, the segments 6 are directly, ie without a distance or with only a very small distance aneinan the and are only separated by the separating cuts. The segments 6 are then transported on the cutting drum by the rotary movement up to a takeover point I and taken over in the takeover point I by the pitch change drum 3 . Alternatively, instead of the cutting drum, a cutting device 2 can also be used, in which the endless web 5 and/or the segments 6 are cut and fed to the pitch-changing drum 3 in a straight, ie flat, feed movement. Furthermore, the cutting device 2 can also include any curved or deflected feed movement to implement different guide paths of the endless web 5 or the segments 6. It is only important that the segments 6 that have already been cut are in direct contact or as close as possible to each other in the transfer point I are fed.

The pitch-changing drum 3 comprises a drum base body 7 and a plurality of transport segments 8 arranged radially on the outside of the drum base body 7, as can also be seen in the enlarged depiction of FIG. The pitch change drum 3 is driven by a non-illustrated, standing with the drum body 7 in a rotary connection to a Driven clockwise rotation in the direction of the arrow. For this purpose, an electric motor can be provided as the drive device, which drives the drum base body 7 directly or via a gear. The transport segments 8 are held on the drum base body 7 so that they can move radially and each have a curved surface on their outside with an identical radius in relation to the axis of rotation D of the drum base body 7, so that in the position applied to the drum base body 7 they have an im Form cross-section circular, cylindrical lateral surface of pitch change drum 3 with a radius R1. The transport segments 8 have on their radial outside an over-taking surface 9 with a length directed in the circumferential direction of the pitch change drum 3, which corresponds to the length of the segments 6 cut off from the continuous web 5. The Trans port segments 8 can be provided with compressed air openings in the area of their takeover surfaces 9, which can be acted upon for taking over and holding the segments 6 with negative pressure.

Furthermore, a control device, not shown, is provided, which controls the movement of the transport segments 8, explained in more detail below, during the circulation from the transfer point I to a transfer point II. The control device can be a control cam which is stationary with respect to the rotating basic drum body 7 and on which the transport segments 8 rest with a control attachment (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, the movement of the transport segments 8 can also be controlled with actuators by an electrical control.

The movement of the transport segments 8 on the drum base body 7 is controlled in such a way that the transport segments 8 pass through the transfer point I to the drum base body 7 are used and in the circumferential direction with a very small distance, preferably directly, abut each other. The radius of the outer surface of the transport segments 8 corresponds to the radius R1 in the transfer point I. The precut segments 6 are fed from the cutting device 2 in the transfer point I in a direct abutting arrangement or in an arrangement with very small distances and taken over by the transport segments 8 of the pitch-changing drum 3 . The rotary movement of the pitch-changing drum 3 and the movement of the transport segments 8 in relation to the feed movement of the cutting device 2 are synchronized in this case with respect to the rotary movement of the cutting drum in such a way that the separating cuts between the segments 6 and the separating points of the transport segments 8 in the transfer point I ideally coincide, so that a segment 6 is taken over by a transport segment 8. Starting from the transfer point I, the transport segments 8 are extended radially outwards during the further rotary movement of the pitch-changing drum 3 . The distances A between the transport segments 8 and the segments 6 held thereon are increased. As a result, the segments 6 are practically pulled apart and separated. The spaced segments 6 are then taken over in the transfer point II on a larger radius R2 with increased distances A from a subsequent takeover device 4 and transported away. The takeover device 4 is formed here as a transport drum, which in turn is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the pitch change drum 3 . However, it is also conceivable to provide a device as the transfer device 4, in which the isolated and spaced segments 6 are removed in a flat or otherwise curved movement path will. In principle, any movement paths can be provided in the design of the cutting device 2 and the transfer device 4, which can be individually adapted to the geometric specifications of the higher-level system.

In FIG. 3, the continuous web 5 and the segments 6 cut off from it can be seen isolated. The continuous web 5 is fed to the cutting device 2 and is cut in the cutting device 2 . The segments 6 are still in direct contact with one another in the cutting device 2, which is why no distances can be seen here. Only after the transfer of the segments 6 from the pitch change drum 3 are the distances A between the segments 6 increased until the segments 6 with their increased distances A are taken over by the transfer device 4 .

An alternative embodiment of the separating device 1 can be seen in FIG. The transport segments 8 are accelerated starting from the takeover point I in the direction of rotation of the drum base body 7, whereby the distances A between the transport segments 8 and between the segments 6 held thereon are increased. The segments 6 are thus transferred in the same way as in the exemplary embodiment in FIG increased distances A to the transfer device 4 preferably with a relation to the speed transferred to transfer point I at increased or the same speed in transfer point II. So that the transport segments 8, after passing through the transfer point II, then rest against each other again at the smaller distances or directly in the transfer point I, after the transfer of the segments 6 to the transfer device 4, these are again delayed in relation to the rotary movement of the drum base body 7, which means that reduce the distances A again until you reach the transfer point I.

Both movements of the transport segments 8 lead to an increase in the distances A between the transport segments 8 itself and the transported on the transport segments 8 Seg elements 6 as described above. Of course, the movement sequences can also be combined if the increase in distance is to be made even larger, for example, or if more favorable conditions can be achieved for the transfer of the segments 6 in the transfer point II.

The advantage of the separating devices 1 described is that the segments 6 are cut in a first step in the cutting device 2 from the endless web 5, which can be optimized in terms of the cutting process itself.

The segments 6 are then already taken over in cut form by the pitch-changing drum 3 in the transfer point I and are each placed exactly on one of the transport segments 8 by a synchronized sequence of movements of the cutting device 2 and the pitch-changing drum 3 . Since the segments 6 are no longer cut on the pitch-changing drum 3, the circulating movement of the transport segments 8 can take place from the transfer point I to the transfer point II and back again be used exclusively to increase the distances A by a corresponding movement of the transport segments 8. Depending on the design of pitch-changing drum 3 and the control of the movement sequence of the transport segments, circumferential angles of 180 degrees and more can be used. However, an opposite arrangement of the transfer point I and the transfer point II at an angle of 180 degrees has the advantage that to increase the distances A from the transfer point le I to the transfer point II and the subsequent reduction in the distances A from the transfer point II to the Transfer point I each the same circumferential angle is available, which in turn the maximum relative speeds of the Transportseg elements 8 to the base body 7 of the pitch change drum 3 can be reduced to a minimum.

Since the segments 6 are subsequently stacked to form the monocells 91 in a next step for the production of the energy cells, two or more separating devices 1 can preferably be provided in a system according to FIG also the Separato ren 92, 94 transport and separate before further processing according to the principle described above. The segments 6 are then cut in parallel arranged separating devices 1 from an endless web 5 and separated by increasing their distances A and then stacked on top of one another by means of a connecting device 100 to form the monocells 91 .

Furthermore, the spaced-apart segments 6 can preferably be the anodes 93 or cathodes 95 of the energy cells, which then, in their spaced-apart arrangement created by the separating device 1, are placed on an endless web 5 of a separator material to form be placed düng a composite web. Two separating devices 1 can be provided, with the anodes 93 being separated in a first separating device 1 and the cathodes 95 being separated in a second separating device 1, with the distances between them being increased. These isolated anodes 93 and cathodes 95 are then each placed on an endless web 5 of a separator material to form two composite webs and laminated with them in a composite process. Subsequently, these composite webs are then brought together in a composite device 100 and connected to one another by a further lamination process to form a double composite web, ie a superordinate composite unit. Subsequently, the monocells 91 are formed by cutting the double composite sheet through the gaps created by the gaps between the anodes 93 and between the cathodes 95 from the double composite sheet. The distances created or increased between the successive anodes 93 and the successive cathodes 95 are of particular importance, since this enables the double composite web to be cut to form the monocells 91 without having to cut through the anodes 93 and/or cathodes 95 .

It is also conceivable to supply a web of two separator webs and spaced anodes and cathodes between them according to the structure of a monocell 91 or of two separator webs with anodes 93 arranged between them according to the structure of the closing cell 96 as the endless web 5 . The segments 6 would then be the monocells 91 or final cells 96 cut by means of the cutting device 10, which are then separated in the same way on the pitch-changing drum 3 to form greater distances from one another. The mono cells 91 and the final Cells 96 can then be handled and in particular stacked more easily with the increased distances. For cutting and separating the segments 6 only a single association zelungvorrichtung 1 would be required.

In the system according to the invention in FIG. 6, two separating devices 1 with a connecting device 100 are provided. An endless web 5 of electrode material is fed to the separating device 1 on the left in the illustration, which is then cut into segments 6 in accordance with the process described above in the separating device 1, which in turn are then separated at greater intervals and opened by the transfer device 4 a conveyor belt 102 can be placed. A further endless web 5 made of a separator material is then placed on the segments 6 transported on the conveyor belt 102, as a result of which the segments 6 are then fixed in their spaced arrangement with the endless web 5 to form a first formation and by applying pressure or preferably by a joining process be fixed to each other. The feeding of the continuous web 5 and the feeding of the segments 6 resting on the conveyor belt 102 form a first connecting device 103 of the connecting device 100 of the system, in which the cut segments 6 are fixed with the continuous web 5 to form a first formation. The first formation then enables further processing of the continuous web 5 with the adjacent segments 6. The same applies to the separating device 1 on the right in the illustration Significance, as this is made possible by a continuous, endless composite process with a very high production speed. Two separating devices 1 are provided in the system shown. In addition, the superordinate connecting device 100 has a second connecting device 104, in which the first formations of the cut segments 6 or of the endless webs 5 with the segments 6 arranged thereon, removed from the first connecting devices 103, are formed into a second formation in the form of an endless web 5 Monocells 91 are connected to one another, which can then subsequently be cut and spaced apart in a further association zelungvorrichtung 1 . In this case, the segments 6 would be four-layer monocells 91 according to the structure described above. The second connecting device 104 can, in particular, comprise a thermomechanical connecting unit, in which the layers of the continuous webs 5 with the segments 6 arranged thereon or between them are connected to one another by laminating. However, it would also be conceivable to fix the second formation formed in the second composite device 104 solely by applying pressure and to feed it to a subsequent processing process.

The term second compound device 104 does not necessarily presuppose the presence of the first compound device 103 . If no first compound device 103 is present, the segments 6 supplied by the two separating devices 1 would then be fixed in the second compound device 104 to form the second formation without first being fixed in a first formation. The term second compound device 104 is used only for conceptual differentiation from the first compound device 103.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged section of the system with the separating device 1 . The transfer device 4 is here as a driven to a rotational movement transport drum is formed, which is surrounded by a tensioning strap 105, which in turn also wraps around a tensioning roller 106. The tensioning roller 106 is positioned in such a way that the tensioning belt 105 runs parallel to the transporting belt 102 in one section, starting from where it is wrapped around the transport drum, and from there it is led back to the transporting drum via the tensioning roller 105 . The pitch-changing drum 3 transfers the separated segments 6 to the tensioning belt 105 of the transport drum, which then takes over the segments 6 during the revolving movement and places them on the transport belt 102 via the section running parallel to the transport belt 102 . The clamping band 105 of the acquisition device 4 places the segments 6 in their spaced arrangement on a conveyor belt 102, which transports the segments 6 further to a point in which a continuous web 5 of the separator material for connecting the segments 6 to a first formation is hung up. The tensioning roller 106 has a very small diameter and preferably a smaller diameter than the transport drum, so that the tensioning belt 105 is deflected in a small radius and the segments 6 are not deflected with it. Furthermore, the tensioning roller 106 is arranged as close as possible to the feed point at which the continuous web 5 is fed, so that the segments 6 arranged on the conveyor belt 102 are covered on the upper side by the continuous web 5 as soon as possible after the tensioning belt 105 has run off and be fixed by them. The cut segments 6 are then fixed between the endless track 5 and the conveyor belt 102 . The first connecting device 103 of the connecting device 100 here includes the tensioning belt 105 which, in other words, includes the transport drum, the transfer device 4 and the tensioning roller 106 . Furthermore, the first Verbundvorrich device 103 includes the supply of the endless web 5, in which the endless web 5 is placed on the segments 6 to form the first formation.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged section of an alternative separating device 1 with a pitch-changing drum 3 and a transfer device 4 formed by a conveyor belt. The pitch change drum 3 places the segments 6 in their spaced arrangement on the conveyor belt before the endless web 5 of the separator material is placed on the segments 6. The first formation formed in this way from the segments 6 and the endless web 5 is then transported further by the conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt 101 that comes to rest on the upper side is pressed together to form a composite. The first compound device 103 is realized here in that the pitch-changing drum 3 places the segments 6 directly on the conveyor belt, i.e. the transfer device 4, and the endless web 5 is then placed on the segments 6 as close as possible to the transfer point II of the pitch-changing drum 3 . For this purpose, a deflection roller 107 is additionally provided in the first connecting device 103, which is positioned as close as possible to the transfer point II and on which the continuous web 5 is deflected and placed on the segments 6. Ideally, the distance from the deflection roller 107 to the transfer point II in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt is smaller than the length of the cut segments 6 in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, so that in each phase of movement these are either via the transport segments 8 of the pitch-changing drum 3 or through the endless track 5 and are fixed in a short overlapping phase both by the transport segments 8 and by the endless track 5. In both the first compound device 103 and the second compound device 104, the first formations are formed from the continuous webs 5 and the adjacent segments 6, and the second formation is formed from the two continuous webs 5 with the interposed and on one side overlying segments 6 transported via a conveyor belt 102. The endless webs 5 have not yet been cut, so that the first formations and the second formations in turn form endless webs. As a result, a very high production speed can be achieved for the monocells 91 subsequently cut from the second formation.

Claims

Expectations:

1. separating device (1) for cutting and separating segments (6) for energy cells from a supplied endless web (5), wherein

- a cutting device (2) is provided, by means of which the segments (6) are cut in a predetermined length from the endless web (5), and

- A pitch changing body, in particular a pitch change drum (3), is provided, which is driven by means of a drive device to rotate about an axis of rotation (D), wherein

- A plurality of transport segments (8) for receiving the Seg elements (6) is provided on a lateral surface of the pitch changing body (3), wherein

- the transport segments (8) are arranged to be movable in relation to the radial and/or circumferential direction of the pitch-changing body (3), and

- a take-over device (4) is provided, which takes over the segments (6) from the pitch-changing body (3), characterized in that

- the pitch-changing body (3) and the cutting device (2) are separate assemblies and/or functionally decoupled and/or the cutting device (2) is arranged between the supplied endless web (5) and the pitch-changing body (3), and

- the transport segments (8) rotate during the rotary motion of the pitch changing body (3) in a circulating motion from a transfer point (I) to a transfer point (II) and back again, wherein - the transport segments (8) take over segments (6) cut from the continuous web (5) with the cutting device (2) in the transfer point (I) and increase their distances (A) in the circumferential direction to the axis of rotation (D) to the transfer point (II) and handed over to the transfer device (4) with the increased distances (A).

Separation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that

- the transport segments (8) in the transfer point (II) have a distance of 1 to 10 mm, preferably 2 to 5 mm in the circumferential direction of the pitch changing body.

Separating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

- a control device is provided which controls the movement of the transport segments (8) from the transfer point (I) to the transfer point (II).

Separation device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that

- the control device is formed by a control cam which is stationary in relation to the part-changing body (3) and on which the transport segments (8) each rest with a control attachment.

Separating device (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that

- the control device at least one electrically controllable, the movement of the transport segments (8) control erden actuator includes.

Separation device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to

5, characterized in that

- the transport segments (8) are movable in the radial direction of the parting change body (3), and

- The control device controls the transport segments (8) to move from a smaller radius (R1) in the takeover point (I) to a larger radius (R2) in the transfer point (II).

Separation device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to

6, characterized in that

- the transport segments (8) can be moved in the circumferential direction of the pitch-changing body (3), and - the control device moves the transport segments (8) from the transfer point (I) to the transfer point (II) at a speed with a higher peripheral speed than the peripheral speed of the Division change body (3) and from the transfer point (II) to the transfer point (I) at a lower peripheral speed than the speed of the circumferential change body (3) controls.

Separating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport segments (8) have a take-over surface (9) which can be subjected to negative pressure.

Separating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that -the cutting device (2) by means of a drive device for a rotational movement driven cutting body, in particular a cutting drum is formed.

10. Separating device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the cutting body is driven to rotate counter to the direction of rotation of the pitch-changing body (3).

11. Separating device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that

- the cutting body is arranged immediately adjacent to the pitch-changing body (3), and the segments (6) are transferred to the transport segments (8) arranged in the transfer point (I) at the point of the smallest distance from the pitch-changing body (3).

12. Separating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- the division changing body (3) has five, six, seven, eight, ten or twelve transport segments (8), and

- the transport segments (8) in the transfer point (I) have an outer radius of 75 to 150 mm, preferably 90 mm to 125 mm in relation to the axis of rotation of the pitch-changing body (3).

13. Plant for producing stacks of individual segments (6) for energy cells, characterized in that - at least one separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 is provided, and - the segments separated by the separating device (1) ( 6) are fed to a compound device (100), which connects the segments (6) to form formations.

14. Plant according to claim 13, characterized in that -the composite device (100) has at least one supplied endless web (5), wherein

- the connecting device (100) has a first connecting device (103) which lays the continuous web (5) and the segments (6) on top of one another to form a first formation.

15. Plant according to claim 14, characterized in that -the receiving device (4) is formed by a rotary motion driven transport body, in particular a transport drum, and

- the first connecting device (103) comprises a tensioning belt (105) surrounding the transport body, which takes over the segments (6) from the pitch-changing body (3) and places them on a conveyor belt (102) or on the endless track (5).

16. Plant according to claim 14, characterized in that - the transfer device (4) is formed by a conveyor belt, on which the pitch-changing body (3) places the segments in the transfer point (I), and

- the continuous web (5) is deflected via a deflection roller (107) and placed on the segments (6), which is arranged in such a way that in the direction of the conveyor belt it is at a smaller distance from the transfer point (II) than the length of the segments ( 6) in the transport direction of the conveyor belt. 17. Plant according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that

- at least two separating devices (1) are provided, and - the compound device (100) has a second compound device

(104) which connects the segments (6) cut by the separating devices (1) to form second formations or connects the first formations formed by the first connecting devices to form a second formation.