Wide-mouth nozzle and method for manufacturing a component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wide-mouth nozzle, the wide-mouth nozzle comprising a nozzle gap which is formed by a first nozzle surface (21) and an opposing second nozzle surface (22), wherein the nozzle gap (20) extends in a width direction (B) and has a height (H), and wherein at least the first nozzle surface (21) has different roughnesses in the width direction.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wide-mouth nozzle and a method for manufacturing components, such as electrodes of energy storage battery cells, for example, lithium-ion battery cells, or electrodes therefor. Background Art

[0002] Wide-mouth nozzles of the type described are used in slot-die coating. In this coating technique, a thin liquid layer is applied to a web-shaped substrate or a block. The accuracy or uniformity of the layer to be applied is a major challenge here. For example, electrodes of lithium-ion battery cells are manufactured using this technique, in which a very thin metal foil is applied with the highest precision. The quality of the coating determines decisively the capacity and operating characteristics of the battery cell during its lifetime. To influence or control the coating application, it is known from the prior art to change the nozzle gap. This can be achieved, for example, by using inserts (English: shims), as disclosed in EP3643411A1. WO2020 / 139664 proposes to make the lip of the nozzle movable in order to thereby change the nozzle gap. In order to produce a uniform mass throughput exactly across the entire width of the slot-die nozzle, DE102008041423B4 proposes to provide a distribution space for the coating tool, in which a plurality of distribution channels with a cross-sectional area increasing in the flow direction are provided, where each of the distribution channels in the distribution space is connected to a corresponding delivery channel provided in the channel. However, the known solutions are in part very complex structurally and difficult to implement precisely in the case of a thin nozzle gap. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wide-mouth nozzle and a method for manufacturing components, in which the best coating accuracy and coating quality can be achieved with the highest process reliability.

[0004] This object is solved by a wide-mouth nozzle and a method for manufacturing components. Further advantages result from the description and the drawings.

[0005] According to the present invention, the wide-mouth nozzle includes a nozzle gap formed by a first nozzle surface and an opposing second nozzle surface, wherein the nozzle gap extends in the width direction and has a height, and wherein at least the first nozzle surface has different roughnesses in the width direction. Through the roughness of the nozzle surface, in the present case especially the roughness of at least the first nozzle surface, where the nozzle surface is also referred to as the nozzle lip, the flow through the nozzle gap can be adjusted very precisely. By presenting different roughnesses in the width direction of the nozzle gap, that is, especially transversely or substantially transversely to the flow direction of the coating material, the coating application can be controlled very specifically and precisely. In particular, the layer thickness can be very well influenced in addition, such that, for example, an exactly the same coating thickness can be adjusted in the width direction or a coating with a changed thickness can be obtained as desired.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the first nozzle surface is composed of a plurality of sections with different roughnesses in the width direction, and these sections are at least according to one embodiment not of the same size or width in the width direction. In the width of the sections, the coating application can be advantageously locally and precisely controlled. The roughness appropriately varies in the width direction, while the roughness in the longitudinal direction or in the flow direction is preferably correspondingly constant. According to a preferred embodiment, each section has a constant or substantially constant roughness. The different roughnesses in the width direction are adjusted in such a way that the sections have different roughnesses from each other, for example, one section has a higher roughness than one or more other sections.

[0007] Alternatively, it can be provided that the first nozzle surface additionally has a changing roughness transversely to the width direction, that is, in the flow direction. The sections have a correspondingly configured roughness profile in the flow direction according to this embodiment, for example, a decreasing roughness in the flow direction, alternatively also vice versa. Thus, the flow velocity can be advantageously influenced.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, for example, three sections are provided, wherein the middle section has a lower roughness than the outer sections according to one embodiment. It has been proven that a very uniform coating can be achieved in the width through this configuration.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the middle section has an Rz value of, for example, 3 to 8, for example 5, while the two outer sections or edge sections have an Rz value of 12 to 20, for example 16. Here, the above-mentioned roughness values can only be understood exemplarily, because the actual design mainly depends on other parameters, such as the type of coating material or the height of the nozzle gap, etc.

[0010] According to one embodiment, three sections are provided, and these sections have the same width or length in the width direction respectively.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the wide-mouth nozzle includes an insert that is replaceably arranged, wherein the insert constitutes or has the section. Suitably, the wide-mouth nozzle can be adjusted quickly and uncomplicatedly by replacing the insert. Suitably, the wide-mouth nozzle includes a plurality of inserts with different configurations, and these inserts have different roughnesses in the width direction. Therefore, the coating application can be adjusted reliably and quickly during the process by the arrangement structure of the corresponding insert.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the section is or is configured to be a section that is replaceably arranged in the wide-mouth nozzle or the insert. According to one embodiment, each section itself is configured as a replaceably arranged component or element. In this way, the nozzle gap can be adjusted individually and locally in the width direction by the arrangement structure of the corresponding section. Correspondingly, according to one embodiment, the wide-mouth nozzle includes a plurality of such sections, which can be arranged when needed.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the section can be variably arranged / located in the width direction. In particular, the section can be variably arranged in the insert or, according to one embodiment, in the wide-mouth nozzle. This means that the section or the wide-mouth nozzle or the insert is suitably shaped and configured such that no special space is allocated to the section. This is advantageous for flexibility because, for example, a section or part with low roughness can be arranged not only in the center but also at the edge. According to one embodiment, the section or the one insert or multiple inserts are designed to be arranged / fixed in a form-locking and / or force-locking manner. Preferably, fixing elements such as screws are used, for example. Alternatively or additionally, plug connectors and the like can also be advantageously used.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the nozzle gap is configured to have different heights in the width direction, i.e., when viewed transversely to the flow direction. For example, it has been proven that it can be suitable to implement the nozzle gap in the middle region to be larger / higher relative to the flow cross-section.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the nozzle gap has a graded height profile in the cross-section, for example, by the configuration of sections or parts with different thicknesses or heights.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the nozzle gap has a continuous height profile in the cross-section. This means that a continuous, stepless transition is provided between the sections / parts.

[0017] The section or part can be configured to be straight / planar or non-straight in the profile, i.e., when viewed transversely to the flow direction, for example, following a curved profile or a wavy profile.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the height and / or shape of the nozzle gap is adjusted by the design of the section. In other words, the section or segment suitably has different thicknesses, whereby different heights of the nozzle gap are obtained in the installed state of the section / segment.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the wide-mouth nozzle includes one or more spacer elements. By means of the spacer elements, the height of the nozzle gap can be flexibly adjusted when positioned below the section.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the nozzle gap not only has a greater height in the middle region than in the edge region, but also has a lower roughness than in the edge region. According to one embodiment, this is adjusted, for example, by three correspondingly configured sections. Preferably, the middle region of the nozzle gap with lower roughness is wider than the adjacent side regions, for example 1.5 times, 2 times or three times as wide.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the second nozzle face has different roughnesses in the width direction. According to one embodiment, all the advantages and features described in connection with the first nozzle face in the present case apply to the second nozzle face. The nozzle gap is basically composed of two nozzle lips or nozzle faces. According to one embodiment, only one nozzle face has different roughnesses, such as the first nozzle face. Alternatively, both nozzle faces have different roughnesses, especially the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face. In particular, the two nozzle faces can be individually formed by using inserts, sections, segments, etc.

[0022] The wide-mouth nozzle includes a distribution channel that extends in the width direction or along the nozzle gap and thus transversely to the flow direction. The nozzle gap is supplied by the distribution channel. The distribution channel itself is in turn supplied by at least one supply channel. According to one embodiment, the wide-mouth nozzle includes a supply channel that preferably opens into the distributor channel centrally. According to an alternative embodiment, the wide-mouth nozzle includes a plurality of supply channels that are spaced apart from each other and distributedly open into the distributor channel. Thus, a more uniform distribution of the coating material into the distributor channel can be suitably achieved.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a component, in which a fluid is applied to a carrier material by means of a wide-mouth nozzle according to the invention.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the current collector foil of the energy storage battery cell is coated as the carrier material. It has been proven that exactly the coating materials (as used in the field of manufacturing electrodes for energy storage battery cells, such as lithium-ion battery cells or lithium-sulfur battery cells) respond well to the adjustment of different roughnesses in the nozzle gap. The coating materials used in the field of electrode manufacturing or the Reynolds numbers achieved in the tools are usually very low and respond well to the adaptation of the surface of the nozzle gap. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] Other advantages and features result from the following description of the embodiment of the wide-mouth nozzle with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 Two schematic cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of the wide-mouth nozzle are shown;

[0028] Figure 2 as outlined in Figure 1 a schematic detailed view;

[0029] Figure 3 as outlined in Figure 2 three other schematic views are shown. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0030] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the wide-mouth nozzle is shown in the left half of the figure. The wide-mouth nozzle includes a first nozzle part 11 and a second nozzle part 12. The wide-mouth nozzle is shown in the open position in the left half of the figure. The first nozzle part 11 includes a supply channel 14 that leads into a distributor channel 16. The wide-mouth nozzle is shown in the present case cut transversely to the width direction B. The second nozzle face 22 and the first nozzle face 21 can be seen, where the nozzle faces are preferably configured as replaceable sections. The first nozzle face 21 and the second nozzle face 22 form a nozzle gap 20 in the closed state of the wide-mouth nozzle, see the right half of the figure. The nozzle gap has a height H and a length L that extends in the flow direction of the coating material (not shown here). The viewing direction towards the first nozzle face 21 is outlined with the reference sign B1. This view is schematically shown in Figure 2 as shown.

[0031] Figure 2 Schematically shown as in Figure 1Details outlined by reference numeral B1 in the figure. The dispenser channel 16 and three sections 30 can be seen. According to one embodiment, the middle section 30, for example, has a different roughness from the two outer sections 30. Thus, different roughnesses can be adjusted in the width direction B of the wide-mouth nozzle. According to one embodiment, each of the sections 30 is configured as a segment per se and is configured to be replaceable. Alternatively, the section 30 can be part of an insert that can be replaced as a whole. The section 30 can, for example, differ in its thickness or height, whereby the height H of the nozzle gap can be adjusted, see Figure 1 the right half of

[0032] Figure 3 Schematically shows different design options of the first nozzle face 21. For orientation, see the Figure 2 arrows in the appendix, see reference numeral B2, which indicates the basic viewing direction. The first nozzle face 21 is respectively composed of three sections 30. The flow direction can be said to extend vertically out of the plane of the figure, see, for example, the Figure 2 viewing direction B2 outlined in. In the embodiment according to the left half of the figure, the three sections 30 are configured to be of the same height. In the middle half of the figure, the middle section 30 is configured to be lower, whereby an uneven nozzle gap, especially a graded height profile, is obtained in the width direction B. The outer sections 30 are constructed thicker in the current case. Alternatively, spacer elements can also be used. In this case, sections 30 of the same configuration can be used, wherein the desired height is adjusted by the number and height of the installed spacer elements. Another design option is shown in the right half of the figure, where the nozzle gap is also configured to be uneven in the width direction B. However, a transition is provided between the outer section 30 and the inner section 30. According to another embodiment not shown here, a continuous transition can also be provided between the sections in order to provide a completely stepless height profile. For this purpose, the sections are preferably not configured to be flat or straight, but follow a contour.

[0033] List of reference numerals

[0034] 11 First nozzle part

[0035] 12 Second nozzle part

[0036] 14 Supply channel

[0037] 16 Dispenser channel

[0038] 20 Nozzle gap

[0039] 21 First nozzle face

[0040] 22 Second nozzle face

[0041] 30 Section

[0042] Width direction B

[0043] Length L

[0044] Height H

[0045] Observation directions B1, B2

Claims

1. Wide-mouth nozzle, the wide-mouth nozzle comprising a nozzle gap (20) formed by a first nozzle surface (21) and an opposing second nozzle surface (22), wherein, The nozzle gap (20) extends in the width direction (B) and has a height (H), wherein the first nozzle surface (21) has different roughnesses in the width direction (B), the first nozzle surface (21) in the width direction (B) consists of a plurality of sections (30) with different roughnesses, and these sections (30) are configured to be of different sizes or widths in the width direction, the sections (30) are replaceably arranged sections in the wide-mouth nozzle or insert, and the sections can be variably arranged or positioned in the width direction (B).

2. The wide-mouth nozzle according to claim 1, wherein, At least three sections (30) are provided, and the middle section of the at least three sections has a lower roughness than the outer sections.

3. The wide-mouth nozzle according to claim 1, wherein, The nozzle gap (20) is configured to be of different heights in the width direction (B).

4. The wide-mouth nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The height (H) of the nozzle gap (20) is adjusted by the design of the section (30).

5. The wide-mouth nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The height (H) of the nozzle gap (20) in the middle region is greater than the height of the nozzle gap at the edge.

6. The wide-mouth nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The second nozzle surface (22) has different roughnesses in the width direction (B).

7. A method for manufacturing a component, wherein, A fluid is applied to a carrier material by means of a wide-mouth nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein A current collector foil of an energy storage battery cell is coated as the carrier material.

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