Apparatus and method for forming an industrial cell stack for producing energy cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for stacking segments (11) of energy cells, comprising: at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), each of which is designed and designed to supply segments (11) at a continuous supply speed; and at least one cell stacking device (15), which is designed and designed to receive the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) and to stack the segments (11) on one another to form a stack (16), the cell stacking device (15) comprising at least one removal device (17) for receiving the segments (11) and at least one dispensing device (18) for dispensing the segments (11), the removal device (17) being designed to remove the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), and the dispensing device (18) being designed to dispense the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14). The device is characterized in that the removal device (17) is designed and set up to carry out a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration in a drivable manner, and the removal device (17) receives the segments (11) from one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) at a supply speed according to a specified receiving sequence, according to the invention, the removal device transfers the segments (11) to the at least one dispensing device (18) in each case in a decelerated movement or in a stationary state in order to form and set up the stack (16) from the segments (11) of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined sequence. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for stacking segments of energy cells, the device comprising: at least two supply devices, which are each constructed and set up to supply the segments at a continuous supply speed; and at least one cell stacking device, which is constructed and set up to receive the segments from the at least two supply devices and to stack the segments on each other to form a stack, wherein the cell stacking device comprises at least one removal device for receiving the segments and at least one delivery device for delivering the segments.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for stacking segments of energy cells, the method comprising the following steps: supplying the segments at a continuous supply rate by means of at least two supply devices; receiving the segments from the at least two supply devices; and stacking the segments on one another to form a stack by means of at least one cell stacking device, wherein the segments are received by means of at least one removal device comprising the cell stacking device and are distributed at at least one distribution device or by means of the distribution device. Background Art

[0003] The prior art is known for equipment and methods for stacking the segments of energy cells. When manufacturing energy cells or batteries comprising energy cells, such stacks of segments are particularly needed as a pre-intermediate product. In the sense of the present invention, energy cells or energy storage devices are used in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, ships, aircraft or in fixed devices such as photovoltaic devices, for example, in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, where very large amounts of energy must be stored over a long period of time. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure consisting of a large number of segments stacked into a stack. These segments are usually alternating anode sheets and cathode sheets, which are separated from each other by separator sheets that are also manufactured as segments. The segments are usually pre-cut in a pre-production process and then placed one on another in a predetermined order and connected to one another to form a stack. Here, the anode sheets and cathode sheets are cut from a continuous web, for example, and then separately placed at intervals on a continuous web of separator material. This subsequently formed "double-layer" continuous web consisting of the separator material together with the placed anode or cathode sheet is then cut into segments in a second step using a cutting device, wherein the segments are in this case formed in a double layer by the separator sheet together with the anode or cathode sheet arranged thereon.

[0004] Alternatively, the starting material, that is to say the anode or cathode provided on the continuous web and the separator material can be separated from the continuous web in the form of sheets. In this way, the components essential to the energy cell are provided separately in the form of sheets in order to construct and set up them in a corresponding sequence or volume to form a stack.

[0005] If this is possible or necessary in terms of production technology, the separator material and the continuous webs of the anode and cathode sheets placed can also be placed on top of each other before cutting, so that a continuous web is formed, which has a first continuous layer of separator material with the anode or cathode sheets placed thereon and a second continuous layer of separator material with the anode or cathode sheets placed thereon again. In the sense of the invention, a segmentation is therefore a segmentation of a single layer of separator material, anode material or cathode material, a double layer, a triple layer or a multi-layer segmentation of the above-described structures. In the case of known segmentations, it is only advantageous that the anode material or cathode material in the case of a multi-layer structure is separated by at least one separator material.

[0006] Devices for producing battery cells are known, for example, from WO 2016 / 041713 A1 and DE 10 2017 216 213 A1.

[0007] Currently, battery cells, for example for electric vehicles, are manufactured on production plants with a production capacity of 100 to 240 cells per minute. These production plants operate in partial areas or continuously in a clocked discontinuous movement, such as a back-and-forth movement, and are therefore limited in terms of production efficiency. Most of the known machines operate in a monolithic stacking process (e.g. "pick and place"), which has the disadvantage of being a relatively slow process. It is not possible to laminate the cell structures here.

[0008] Another known solution is a machine with a continuously running material web and clock-controlled tools, such as a separating knife or a tool for changing the distance and a transport tool for forming a single pool pile. For example, there is a device and method for manufacturing a single pool pile, which provides different web-shaped materials by means of an independent supply device, so that the material is separated into predetermined segments by means of a provided cutting device. Subsequently, the separated segments can be stacked in the desired order by means of a targeted corresponding shifting performed by the delivery element using a delivery element that can be individually moved. A large logic cost is required to control the delivery element, wherein, under the condition of the provided transport speed, a correspondingly high power will act on the segmentation and the delivery element. Such equipment tends to be highly error-prone when stacking and tends to wear in the corresponding components due to the corresponding parameters. In addition, the supply of the material web requires independent devices and devices for separating and providing the segments, which requires high investment costs, and a correspondingly large structural space must be provided for a large number of independent equipment components. In principle, machines with clock-controlled movement are limited in power. Components with mass, such as holders and tools, must be constantly accelerated and braked. The process determines the time flow and consumes a lot of energy. The mass of the moving components cannot be reduced at will. Components that move faster often have to withstand higher loads and therefore become even more complex and heavier.

[0009] In order to reduce the production costs of battery production, it is necessary in particular to increase the production efficiency of the machines. A condition for high production efficiency is a high processing rate of a stack of energy cells, which are formed from a plurality of segments of the type described in the introduction, stacked one on top of the other. In order to achieve very high processing rates for energy cells and / or energy storage devices, it is desirable to stack the produced segments at the highest possible processing rate with the highest possible positional accuracy.

[0010] Furthermore, existing devices and methods do not allow for flexible and positionally precise stacking of segments at high production speeds. Known devices are designed to produce stacks of segments at high production speeds or to form stacks of segments from a specific sequence. With current devices and methods, it is not possible to form stacks of different segments or different starting materials for the segments in a continuous process with high production efficiency and reliable positioning of the segments to be stacked. Summary of the invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for stacking segments of energy cells which should allow stacking of the segments at the highest possible processing rate and at the same time allow the stacking process to be designed flexibly. The object is also to provide a corresponding method.

[0012] This object is achieved by the device mentioned at the outset in that the removal device is constructed and arranged to be drivable to perform a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device receives segments from at least one of the at least two supply devices at a supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, wherein the removal device transfers the segments to at least one distribution device in a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, so that a stack is constructed and arranged from the segments of the at least two supply devices in a predetermined sequence.

[0013] By the device according to the present invention, it is ensured that the segment is received from one of at least two supply devices by the removal device at a supply speed, and then the segment is transferred to the distribution device at a lower speed or even in a stationary state by decelerating the movement of the removal device. The structural scheme of the device with at least two supply devices can realize flexible reception of the segment from at least one of the supply devices on the one hand, and can realize continuous provision of the segment and ensure subsequent stacking on the other hand. This can realize providing the segment with a high transport speed by means of at least one of the supply devices, wherein, however, only a low load of the segment will occur when receiving. On the other hand, the segment can be distributed to the distribution device with a lower lateral force acting on the segment by the decelerated speed of the removal device or by the stationary state of the removal device. Here, the reduced lateral force is particularly important when the segment is distributed to the distribution device, because the segment can be stacked into a stack more accurately in the distribution device. It is thus possible to minimize the wear-type relative movement between the segment that has been placed and the segment that is just in the distribution movement. When the segment is provided by means of at least two supply devices, the supply and distribution of the segment are particularly important. In an advantageous embodiment, the supply of the segments can be carried out substantially simultaneously, so that the segments are provided to the removal device substantially simultaneously. It is further preferred that the segments are also received substantially simultaneously by means of the removal device of the single cell stacking device. However, it is preferred that the segments are delivered in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state so that the segments are delivered to the individual stacks in a predetermined sequence. It is further preferred that the segments are delivered to the stacks alternately from at least two supply devices.

[0014] By means of at least two supply devices, the removal device can preferably be provided with segments with different structures and / or different material compositions, so that a stack with a set stacking sequence of different segments can be constructed and set up by means of the cell stacking device. Preferably, segments with different sequences of anode sheets or cathode sheets and at least one separator sheet are provided by means of one of the at least two supply devices, so that a stack with segments of a corresponding sequence can be constructed and set up by means of the removal device. In this way, it is possible to provide a stack for energy cells, which consists of different segments, wherein the different segments, for example, have different sequences of anode sheets or cathode sheets and at least one separator sheet. Alternatively and further preferably, the segments can, for example, be different sheets (anode sheets, cathode sheets or separator sheets).

[0015] The continuous supply speed of the supply device by means of the segmentation in conjunction with the present invention means that the segmentation can be continuously provided at a predetermined supply speed. However, "continuously" should not be directly understood as necessarily providing the segmentation at a constant supply speed. Preferably, at least one of the supply devices is constructed and set up for carrying out a gradually increasing speed characteristic curve. For this purpose, further devices (such as control devices and / or regulating devices) and / or devices are provided, if necessary, in order to provide for a change in the supply speed. In this way, for example, it is obtained that the segments are distributed at a supply speed A and alternatively at a supply speed B. Preferably, at least two supply devices can be operated at the same or consistent supply speed.

[0016] The preferred embodiment is characterized in that the device includes three supply devices, which are respectively constructed and established for supplying segments at a continuous supply speed, wherein the removal device receives the segments from at least one of the three supply devices in a predetermined receiving order, so as to construct and establish a stack in a predetermined order from the segments. Further differences are obtained by the three supply devices, so that a stack is formed by a plurality of different segments. With the three supply devices, for example, the initial materials for the stack of energy cells, i.e., anode sheets, cathode sheets and separator sheets, can be supplied independently, so as to thereby construct and establish a stack in a predetermined order. Preferably, a stack can be produced in this way, wherein the anode sheets and the cathode sheets are covered by at least one separator sheet on the upper side and / or the lower side. Further preferably, at least four supply devices can be provided, wherein, in such a configuration, the segments preferably to be supplied by means of the supply devices are provided as anode sheets, cathode sheets and two separator sheets.

[0017] Advantageous improvement scheme is outstanding in that, the removal device is formed by a rotating body that can be driven rotatably, and the repeated alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the rotational motion of the acceleration and deceleration of the rotating body. The implementation scheme of the removal device as a rotating body that can be driven rotatably has the advantage of very high receiving speed of the removal device in the continuous supply movement of the segment. In addition, the use of the rotating body that can be driven rotatably has the advantage of a very compact structural form of the single cell stacking device. Preferably, the rotating body that can be driven rotatably is constructed and established as a roller that can be driven rotatably. The advantages of the roller as a transport medium are fully known. In an unexpected manner, the use of the roller in the field of manufacturing energy single cells and the use of the roller as a removal device have caused positive production speed and production accuracy. In addition, at least two supply devices can be respectively constructed and established as a roller running device in the form of a plurality of rollers connected one after another, thereby obtaining a supply segment with a very high supply speed.

[0018] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotating body comprises at least one receiving punch for receiving the segments, and the rotating body can decelerate and accelerate during the rotation according to the number of receiving punches. In an embodiment with a single receiving punch, the rotating body can preferably be rotated in such a way that the receiving punch receives the segments from different positions, that is, from different supply devices, in a predetermined sequence, and the dispensing device distributes them accordingly. In such an embodiment, higher requirements are placed on the dynamics, because the overall movement of the rotating body or the drum must be ensured. A single receiving punch allows for precise reception and distribution of the corresponding segments, whereby, for example, the clocking scheme when receiving and dispensing the segments is less complex, because only a smaller number of possible control processes and / or regulation processes need to be taken into account.

[0019] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the rotating body comprises at least three receiving convex molds, wherein, in the case of more than two receiving convex molds, these receiving convex molds are preferably arranged relative to each other at substantially the same angle. In the case of a preferred plurality of receiving convex molds, the receiving rate of the segments through the rotating body can be increased, or conversely, the necessary rotation speed of the rotating body can be reduced in the case of a predetermined number of segments to be received per unit time. In the case of angular deviations between the receiving convex molds, an electric and / or electronic regulating unit / control unit can be preferably provided based on a substantially identical arrangement in order to construct and establish a synchronous preparation of the receiving convex molds when the rotating body is used according to the present invention. In the case of more than one receiving convex mold, more than one segment can also be supplied to the removal device from at least two supply devices in parallel, thereby enabling faster supply speeds and processing to be achieved with the aid of the device. In an embodiment with two supply devices, four receiving convex molds are advantageous, whereas in an alternative embodiment with three supply devices, five receiving convex molds are advantageous. In another alternative embodiment with four supply devices, six receiving convex molds are advantageous. The number of receiving convex molds depends decisively on the positioning of the supply device, which depends on the arrangement of the stacking device or the rotating body with the corresponding supply device and the subsequent distribution of the segments. In a preferred embodiment, at least two receiving convex molds can be variably arranged on the rotating body, because the rotation is configured and established in a position-specific and time-specific manner at at least two supply devices by means of preferably additional electrical and / or electronic control and / or regulating devices. When distributing the segments in a stationary state, the device should preferably be configured in such a way and the corresponding devices should be positioned relative to each other in such a way that the remaining segments are not positioned in the receiving area. In a further advantageous embodiment, the number of receiving convex molds corresponds at least to the number of supply devices, wherein the number of receiving convex molds preferably corresponds to a plurality of supply devices in the supply device.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the four receiving convex molds are arranged opposite each other, i.e. at an angle of substantially 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotating body. It is further preferred that the two supply devices are oriented relative to each other in such a way that they ensure simultaneous reception of the segments by means of the receiving convex molds. In this way, the receiving convex molds are simultaneously in the receiving station and, when dispensing the segments, it is further preferred that no receiving convex molds are in the receiving station with the removal device. By means of the proposed further development, the receiving station and the transfer station are offset relative to each other in such a way that a continuous stacking process is ensured without the two receiving convex molds having to provide for dispensing simultaneously.

[0021] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receiving punches each have a receiving surface in the shape of a circular arc segment in the cross section of the rotating body, and the receiving surfaces of the receiving punches are arranged on the same diameter in the cross section. The receiving surfaces of the receiving punches thus form a receiving radius and therefore preferably travel through the receiving station and the transfer station on the same diameter relative to the rotating body.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the removal device comprises at least two carrying areas arranged spaced apart from one another in the rotation direction and extending in a length Y in the rotation direction, the carrying areas being used to receive the segments at at least two receiving stations and for distributing the segments at the distribution position. A free area extending in a length Z in the rotation direction is further preferably provided between the carrying areas. The free area is intentionally not constructed for receiving the segments and, for example, enables passing through at least one transfer station and / or at least one of the supply devices without distributing the segments in the transfer station and / or in one of the supply devices. The carrying area and the free area are preferably arranged in such a way that in the receiving phase at at least two receiving stations during which the segments are received by the carrying area, the removal device uses the free area to pass through the distribution device and / or at least one of the at least two transfer stations. Such an arrangement and design of the cell stacking device makes it possible to stack the segments at a very high piece rate, in that the removal device receives the segments in at least two receiving stations via the load zone in a continuous rotational movement, by virtue of the design as a rotating body with a load zone and a free zone.

[0023] The proposed design of the cell stacking device results in improved reception and transfer of segments and thus improved stacking of segments. Since, due to the proposed loading area, free area and their arrangement, the segments are not simultaneously received and transferred in a single position of the removal device, the removal device can be configured with respect to its movement characteristics when receiving and transferring the segments for optimized improved reception of the segments from the supply device and for the delivery and stacking of the segments by correspondingly individualizing its movement characteristics in the positions when the removal device passes through the transfer station and the at least one receiving station with the loading area.

[0024] It is further proposed that the length Y of one or each support area is less than, equal to or greater than the length Z of one or each free area. If the length Y of the support area is smaller, this is advantageous for transferring the segments, since in this case a larger rotation angle is provided by the larger length of the free area, which serves to adapt the movement characteristics of the removal device until the segments are received and transferred. If the length Y of the support area is equal to the length Z of one or each free area, the advantage of changing the movement characteristics as uniformly as possible can thereby be achieved, in particular with the same acceleration and deceleration of the removal device. If the length Y of the support area is greater than the length Z of the free area, this is advantageous with regard to the production capacity of the removal device, since the lateral surface of the rotating body can thereby be designed for receiving and transferring a larger number of segments.

[0025] It is further proposed that the lengths Z of the free zones between the support zones are identical or different. If the lengths Z of the free zones are identical, this allows repeated, as identical as possible, motion sequences of the rotating body between the receiving and transfer segments, and vice versa. If the lengths Z of the free zones are different, this allows individually different motion sequences to be achieved, thereby allowing, for example, deviations in the supply or removal motion of the segments to be taken into account.

[0026] It is further proposed that one or each support area has a receiving surface. The receiving surface allows the segment to be held flat on the support area and to be transported from at least one of the receiving stations to the transfer station by the rotating body. This allows a particularly gentle transport of the segment with the lowest possible local maximum surface-dependent forces acting on the segment.

[0027] It is further proposed that one or each free zone is formed by a radially inwardly extending recess on the rotating body. The proposed design of the free zone creates a free space on the rotating body that enables, for example, a collision-free, overlapping relative movement of at least one of the dispensing device or the supply device relative to the rotating body. Furthermore, the mass of the rotating body to be moved can be reduced, which in turn simplifies the movement control and reduces the energy to be consumed for driving the rotating body.

[0028] It is further proposed that one or each free zone has a boundary offset radially inwards relative to one or each support zone. The radially inwardly offset boundary achieves a clearly defined spatial separation between the free zone and the support zone, which enables, for example, a simplified detection of a rotational movement of the rotating body.

[0029] Another suitable design of the present invention is that at least one dispensing device has a linearly movable receiving portion, which transports the stacked body from the removal device in the direction of the surface normal of the segment. The stacked body and / or the segment stacked therein can be transported away by the linearly movable receiving portion without the presence of an acting lateral force. This prevents the segment or the stacked body from losing its positionally accurate arrangement during transport. In the meaning of the present invention, the "receiving portion" of the dispensing device is understood, for example, as a device that is constructed and established to remove the segment from the removal device by means of a negative pressure supply. The removal device can be constructed and established, for example, as a placing rod (Ablaghebel) to remove the segment from the removal device.

[0030] The preferred improvement of the present invention is characterized in that the receiving part of the removal device and / or at least one distribution device has one or more vacuum lines that can be loaded with negative pressure, which support the receiving of the segment from at least one of the supply devices and / or the receiving of the segment from the removal device by at least one distribution device by applying negative pressure, and support the transportation on the removal device. Through the vacuum line that can be loaded with negative pressure, the transfer of the segment on the removal device and the transportation of the segment can be achieved with very low forces acting on the segment. In addition, the force applied to the segment can be controlled very easily by switching on and off the negative pressure in the vacuum line. Thus, for example, it is very easy to control the receiving of the segment from at least two supply devices by the removal device, that is, switching on the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the removal device and switching off the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the supply device in the transfer position. Then, the segment is similarly distributed from the removal device to the distribution device in the following manner, that is, switching off the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the removal device and switching on the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the receiving part of the distribution device. In a further embodiment, a holding vacuum is applied to one or each vacuum line of the removal device leading into the loading area, the holding vacuum is switched off with a delay when or during the transfer of the segment to the distribution device, and the segment to be transferred is pulled out against the holding vacuum which is still at least partially applied, which ensures that the segment to be transferred is held in a fixed and precisely positioned manner and helps to prevent changes in position due to possible suspension movements or lowering movements.

[0031] A suitable design of the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the at least two supply devices comprises a buffer device for providing segmented and / or segmented primary products in a decelerated manner, wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web comprising a plurality of segments. Such a buffer device enables the supply of segmented and / or segmented primary products in accordance with demand, so that the segments are provided according to other equipment components and with the aid of equipment steps associated therewith. The buffer device is preferably constructed and set up for adapting the sections of the segments during supply in such a way that the sections of the supply can be changed. In this way, the segments have to pass through a larger section, whereby the segments can be provided to the removal device, for example, with a delay. It is further preferred that the buffer device comprises a clamping mechanism in order to set the desired web stress in the case of a (continuous) web or in the case of a (continuous) web with segments. The buffer device is preferably constructed and set up as a so-called "dancer". ”.

[0033] An advantageous development is characterized in that at least one of the at least two supply devices comprises a cutting device which is designed and arranged to cut segments and / or segmented primary products, wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web comprising a plurality of segments. This allows a wider range of applications for the device, for example by dividing the primary product into segments. Furthermore, the segments can be cut according to a predetermined cutting pattern.

[0034] Another preferred improvement of the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the at least two supply devices comprises at least one dividing device (Teileinrichtung), which is constructed and set up to continuously supply the segments to the single cell stacking device at a predetermined spacing relative to each other. In this way, the segments can be supplied to the removal device at a predetermined spacing, wherein the spacing of the segments is increased in particular during the transportation or supply process performed by means of the supply device. The supply of the segments to the removal device can be controlled and / or regulated by the dividing device, since the supply of the segments at the removal device at a predetermined spacing is determined by the supply speed. In this way, the removal device can transfer the segments to at least one distribution device in a predetermined rhythm with a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, and can change the order of supply according to the transfer performed by the supply device. This leads on the one hand to an efficient use of the existing supply devices by means of the removal device, and on the other hand to the desired order when distributing the segments. The dividing device is preferably constructed and set up as a distance changing roller. Another advantage of the dividing device is that, due to the distribution or spacing of the supplied segments, the single cell stacking device or the removal device can be received and stacked by means of the removal device in a predetermined order. For example, the segments of the number A on the first supply device and the segments of the number B on the second supply device can be provided at different spacings respectively. By continuously using the removal device, it is preferably possible to implement the stacking in accordance with the regulations in a predetermined order. Therefore, the spacing of the segments on the two supply devices can be adapted according to the requirements in order to provide the desired stacking sequence. Another advantage of at least one dividing device is that the segments are distributed at a lower stacking rate by means of the removal device compared to the segments supplied to the removal device by means of the supply device. Therefore, the supply rate of the supply device can be correspondingly designed to be higher, and for the high position accuracy of the stacked segments and thus the stack body itself, the stacking rate can be correspondingly designed to be lower at the same time. "Distance change" in the sense of the present invention should be understood in particular as a change in the spacing of the segments relative to each other on the corresponding supply device. Such a change in distance serves, for example, to increase or decrease the spacing of the segments relative to one another, in particular in order to arrange the segments on the removal device correspondingly by means of the supply device depending on the movement of the rotating body and / or the arrangement and number of receiving punches.

[0035] According to another preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least two supply devices comprises at least one transfer roller, which is constructed and set up for transferring the segments to the single cell stacking device and / or for receiving the segments from the buffer device or the cutting device. The roller-shaped transfer device is particularly suitable for continuous transfer processes with high process speeds. Preferably, at least one transfer roller is also constructed and set up for providing the segments at a reduced speed. In other words, the transfer roller can achieve the spacing of the segments by means of the transfer roller, in that the transfer roller has, for example, a different speed or a different diameter relative to another rotating body and / or roller preferably arranged in front for providing the segments.

[0036] The object is also achieved by the method mentioned at the outset in that the removal device is driven to perform a repeated alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device receives segments from at least one of the at least two supply devices at a supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, wherein the removal device transfers the segments to at least one distribution device in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state, so that a stack is constructed and set up from the segments of the at least two supply devices in a predetermined sequence.

[0037] One of the advantages of the proposed method can be that the segment is received by the removal device at the supply speed of at least two supply devices in a continuous supply, and then the segment is transferred to the distribution device of the stacked segment by slowing down the movement of the removal device at a lower speed or even in a stationary state. The segment is provided flexibly and efficiently at the same time by at least two supply devices, wherein different segment combinations are preferably set. In addition, when receiving the segment at the supply speed of the supply device, on the one hand, the segment is removed from the supply device without interruption at a high transport speed in a sequence predetermined by the removal device during reception, accompanied by the lowest possible load of the segment. On the other hand, the segment can be transferred to the distribution device by the decelerated speed of the removal device or by the stationary state of the removal device with a lower lateral force acting on the segment. When the segment is distributed to the distribution device, the reduced lateral force is particularly important because the segment can be stacked into a stack in a more precisely positioned sequence in the placement device. Due to the proposed control, the single cell stacking device forms an interface between the continuous supply of the segment by the supply device and the stacking of the segment.

[0038] In order to avoid repetition, in conjunction with the method according to the invention, reference is made in particular to the advantages already described in detail in conjunction with the device according to the invention. These advantages also apply in an analogous manner to the method according to the invention presented below.

[0039] The development is characterized in that three supply devices are provided, which each supply segments at a constant supply speed, wherein the removal device receives the segments in a predetermined receiving sequence from each of the three supply devices in order to construct and build up a stack from the segments in a predetermined sequence.

[0040] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the removal device has a controllable drive which is controlled in such a way that the removal device is accelerated for receiving the segments from the at least two supply devices and is decelerated for dispensing the segments to the dispensing device.

[0041] An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the removal device is formed by a rotationally drivable rotating body, and the repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration is formed by an accelerating and decelerating rotational movement of the rotating body.

[0042] Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rotating body includes at least one receiving punch for receiving the segment, wherein, in the case of two or more receiving punches, these receiving punches are arranged at the same angle relative to each other and the rotating body decelerates and accelerates during rotation depending on the number of receiving punches.

[0043] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the stack is transported away from the removal device in the direction of the surface normal of the segment by means of at least one dispensing device having a linearly movable receptacle.

[0044] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the segments and / or segmented primary products are provided in a decelerated manner by means of at least one buffer device comprising at least two supply devices, wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web comprising a plurality of segments.

[0045] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the segments and / or the segmented preliminary product are cut by means of at least one cutting device comprising at least two supply devices, wherein the preliminary product is preferably a continuous web comprising a plurality of segments.

[0046] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the segments are continuously supplied to the cell stack at predetermined distances from one another by means of at least one dividing device comprising at least two supply devices.

[0047] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the at least two supply devices comprises at least one transfer roller in order to transfer the segments to the cell stacking device and / or to receive the segments from the buffer device or the cutting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further suitable and / or advantageous features and improvements as well as preferred devices are obtained from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0049] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a device according to the invention is shown in a perspective view,

[0050] Figure 2 The cross section shows Figure 1 Further illustrations of the device shown in,

[0051] Figure 3 The cross section shows the Figure 1 and Figure 2 The cutout portion of the device shown in the figure is a sequence of stacking of segments,

[0052] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention with three supply devices is shown in a perspective view,

[0053] Figure 5 The device according to the invention is shown in cross section. Figure 4Further illustrations of further embodiments shown in,

[0054] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in a perspective view with three supply devices and three removal devices, and

[0055] Figure 7 The device according to the invention is shown in cross section. Figure 6 Further illustrations of further embodiments are shown in . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are described in more detail with reference to the aforementioned figures.

[0057] The device 10 shown in the drawings is constructed and set up as an independent and individually designed device 10 by way of example. However, the present invention relates in the same way to similar devices 10 that are integrated in more complex installations with multiple structural components or other devices or machine components placed in front and / or behind. Such devices 10 can be variably constructed and set up, especially in terms of (machine-) width, so that multiple segments can be formed in parallel to form a stack. In other words, by correspondingly adapting the device components in terms of width, preferably multiple or a large number of segments 11 are processed in parallel on the device 10. For this purpose, the provided devices and corresponding devices are adapted accordingly to provide scalability in terms of width.

[0058] Such segments 11 are produced using a machine tool, which is described hereinafter by way of example, and which can include the device 10 according to the invention and / or the device 10 according to the invention is arranged behind the machine tool. Such a machine tool, which is not shown in the figures, preferably includes a supply device for four continuous webs, wherein two of these continuous webs are formed from separator material, one continuous web is formed from anode material, and one continuous web is formed from cathode material. The continuous web of cathode material or of anode material is further preferably cut into anodes (sheets) and cathodes (sheets) with a predetermined length or width respectively by means of a cutting device, which are then placed on one of the continuous webs of separator material respectively after cutting. The merging is then carried out by first placing the anodes or cathodes cut from the bottom continuous web separately on a conveyor belt, then placing the upper continuous web of separator material, and then placing the anodes or cathodes cut from the continuous web separately on the continuous web of separator material, and then covering them by placing the uppermost continuous web of another separator material on the upper side to form a preferably four-layer continuous web. This four-layer continuous web with anodes or cathodes on the upper side is then fed to a laminating unit (also not shown) in which the four-layer continuous web is connected to one another by the action of thermal and / or mechanical energy to form a firm composite structure. Alternatively, such segments can each consist only of the (starting) material for producing the energy cell, so that an independent material web consisting of a single material is provided, which is cut into separator sheets, anode sheets or cathode sheets with a predetermined length or width by means of a cutting device. Such separated separator sheets, anode sheets or cathode sheets are subsequently placed, for example separately, on a conveyor belt in order to be supplied to the device 10 , in particular by means of at least one of the supply devices 12 , 13 , 14 .

[0059] If the segments 11 are supplied to the device 10 as a laminated four-layer continuous web in a preferred embodiment, they can be cut into segments 11 of a predetermined length or width by means of a cutting device 20, which can also be referred to as individual cells. However, it is also conceivable to supply single-layer segments 11, double-layer segments 11 and multi-layer segments 11 as a continuous web 19 or individually to the device 10 in the machine tool, provided that these segments are to be processed again in a stacked manner accordingly. Alternatively, it is also possible to supply the device 10 with only already separated segments 11, which have already been produced into segments 11 from a continuous web 19 in a preceding processing step or using a preceding cutting device 20.

[0060] Figure 1 and Figure 2A first embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for stacking segments 11 of energy cells not shown in the drawings is schematically shown, comprising: at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14, each of which is constructed and set up to supply the segments 11 at a continuous supply rate; and at least one cell stacking device 15, which is constructed and set up to receive the segments 11 from the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 and to stack the segments 11 on top of each other to form a stack 16, wherein the cell stacking device 15 comprises at least one removal device 17 for receiving the segments 11 and at least one distribution device 18 for distributing the segments 11. Figure 3 Schematically shows the process of receiving the segments 11 from at least two supply devices 12, 13 by the removal device 17 according to the invention and distributing the segments 11 to the distribution device 18. For this purpose, the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from at least one of the supply devices 12, 13 in order to subsequently distribute them to the distribution device 18 accordingly.

[0061] The device 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the removal device 17 is designed and arranged to be driven to perform a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 at a supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, wherein the removal device 17 transfers the segments 11 to at least one distribution device 18 at a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, in order to form and set up a stack 16 in a predetermined sequence from the segments 11 of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14. It is further preferred that the segments 11 are likewise transferred to the at least one distribution device 18 according to a predetermined transfer sequence by means of the removal device 17. In this way, the stack 16 can be produced with the segments 11 from the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 in a desired sequence.

[0062] exist Figure 1 1 , a segment 11 is shown in each case by way of example on a supply device 12, 13. In proper use, such a device 10 comprises a plurality of segments 11 which are present simultaneously in the device 10 and can be transported and processed with the aid of the device components.

[0063] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises a cutting device 20 which is designed and arranged to cut the segments 11 and / or the precursor product of the segments 11, wherein the precursor product is preferably a continuous web 19 comprising a plurality of segments 11. The cutting device 20 is Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5The cutting device 20 is respectively composed of a cutting device 21 and a matching roller 22. The cutting device 20 cuts the continuous web 19 guided on the matching roller 22 into segments 11 of a predetermined length, which is determined by the cutting device and / or the corresponding cutting device 21. Starting from the cutting device 20, the cut segments 11 are respectively supplied to the corresponding supply devices 12, 13, and 14. The matching roller 22 further preferably also serves as a transport roller to transport the segments 11 and / or the continuous web 19 containing the segments 11 in the transport direction.

[0064] Preferably, at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises at least one transfer roller 23, which is designed and arranged to transfer the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 and / or to receive the segments from the buffer device 32 or the cutting device 20. In a preferred embodiment, at least one or each supply device 12, 13, 14 is formed by a roller 23, for example a transfer roller 23 or a roller running device (not shown) with a plurality of (transport) rollers, to which the segments 11 are held, for example, by negative pressure. If the supplied continuous web 19 is a four-layer continuous web 19, the segments 11 cut therefrom correspond to the single cells. If the continuous web 19 is an independent material web, the segments 11 cut therefrom preferably correspond to separator sheets, anode sheets or cathode sheets, respectively.

[0065] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 A preferred embodiment is shown in the figure, according to which the device 10 includes three supply devices 12, 13, 14, which are respectively constructed and established for supplying segments 11 at a continuous supply speed, wherein the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from at least one of the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 in a predetermined receiving sequence, so as to construct and establish a stack 16 from the segments 11 in a predetermined sequence.

[0066] In an advantageous embodiment, the removal device 17 is formed by a rotatably driven rotating body 24, and the repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the accelerating and decelerating rotational movement of the rotating body 24. An advantageous development is characterized in that the rotating body 24 comprises at least one receiving convex die 25 for receiving the segment 11, and the rotating body 24 can be decelerated and accelerated during the revolution according to the number of receiving convex die 25. Preferably, the rotating body 24 comprises at least three receiving convex die 25, wherein, in the case of more than two receiving convex die 25, these receiving convex die are preferably arranged at the same angle relative to each other. Figures 1 to 3 The embodiment of the device 10 exemplarily comprises four receiving convex molds 25, and Figure 4 and Figure 5Further preferred embodiments of the invention each have five receiving convex molds 25 .

[0067] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment of, the angles of the four receiving punches 25 are oriented substantially at 90° relative to each other. The receiving punches 25 here each have a bearing area 26 in the form of a receiving punch 25. The receiving punch 25 has an outer surface that can correspond to at least the outer shape of the segment 11 in terms of its outer dimensions or be designed to be larger than the outer shape. The receiving punches 25 further preferably each have a receiving surface 27 in the shape of a circular arc segment in the cross section of the rotating body 24, and the receiving surfaces 27 of the receiving punches 25 are arranged on the same diameter in the cross section. Preferably, the receiving punches 25 have contours in the shape of circular arc segments with the same radius in their cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the removal device 17, so that they complement each other to form a virtual circle. Furthermore, the removal device 17 and its receiving punch 25 are arranged and designed in terms of radius in such a way that during the rotational movement, the removal device engages with the outer surface of the receiving punch 25 during the transfer of at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 at least in a region, preferably tangentially with a gap corresponding at least to the thickness of the segment 11, with the outer surface of the receiving punch 25. In this case, the rotational movement of the removal device 17 relative to the respective transfer drum 23 is controlled in such a way that the receiving punch 25 receives exactly one segment 11 from the transfer drum 23 during each revolution. For this purpose, the movement of the removal device 17 can preferably be controlled and / or regulated in such a way that the circumferential side of the receiving punch 25 at the point with the shortest distance from the transfer drum 23, which point preferably corresponds to the receiving station, has a circumferential speed corresponding to the circumferential speed of the segment 11 held on the transfer drum 23, and the segment 11 can be received by the receiving punch 25 in the ideal case without any relative speed in the circumferential direction.

[0068] The circumferential side surface of the receiving punch 25 has at least one arc length in the circumferential direction, which corresponds to the width of the segment 11 pointing in the circumferential direction of the transfer drum 23, so that the segment 11 is received by the receiving punch 25 in a full-faced manner. In addition, the receiving punch 25 also has a length in the axial direction of the removal device 17 for this purpose, which length at least corresponds to the length of the segment 11 in the axial direction. The receiving punch 25 preferably has a comb-like structure with a plurality of tabs 31 pointing parallel to each other and in the circumferential direction, between which gaps with constant and identical width are arranged. The end sides of the tabs 31 then jointly form the circumferential side surface of the receiving punch 25.

[0069] The receiving convex molds 25 each form a receiving surface 27 on their outer side, which receiving surfaces are separated from each other by free areas 28 due to the plurality of receiving convex molds 25. Figures 1 to 5In the present embodiment of the present invention, the removal device 17 is formed by a rotating body 24 which can be driven to perform a rotational movement and has at least two supporting areas 26 which are arranged spaced apart from each other in the rotational direction (and preferably fixed in the rotational direction) and extend in the length Y in the rotational direction, and are used to receive the segment 11 at at least one of the receiving stations. The supporting areas 26 are formed by the receiving surface 27 of the receiving punch 25. Free areas 28 extending in the length Z in the rotational direction are provided between the supporting areas 26, which are formed in this embodiment by recesses extending radially inwards and thus form free spaces. The supporting areas 26 are each designed to receive the segment 11, while the free areas 28 are not designed to receive the segment 11 and only intentionally form unused intermediate areas between the supporting areas 26, which can form advantageous movement characteristics and / or movement states of the rotating body 24 for realizing different movement states of the removal device 17 and for receiving and transferring the segment 11. To this end, the load-bearing area 26 and the free area 28 are arranged in such a way that the removal device 17 uses the free area 28 to pass through the distribution device 18 and / or at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 during the receiving phase at at least one of the receiving stations, during which the segment 11 is received by the load-bearing area 26.

[0070] The free zone 28 is realized here by a recess. Alternatively, however, the free zone can also be formed generally by a passive surface of the rotating body 24, which does not have a vacuum line and is therefore not designed for receiving the segments 11. The free zone 28 is therefore distinguished by the fact that it does not carry the segments 11 and therefore also does not dispense the segments 11 in the transfer station. Therefore, the removal device 17 does not need to meet special movement conditions in the receiving phase (in which it passes through the transfer station with the free zone 28) and can be designed in terms of its movement characteristics only for receiving the segments 11 in the transfer station.

[0071] The load-bearing area 26 and the free area 28 are arranged in such a way that the free area 28 passes through at least one of the receiving stations of the transfer station and / or the corresponding other receiving stations of the other supply devices 12, 13, 14 during the passage of the load-bearing area 26. The free area 28 is preferably oriented to at least one of the receiving stations during the orientation of the load-bearing area 26 to the transfer station. In this case, the free area 28 can have a greater length Z than the load-bearing area 26 in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 24, so that the rotation angle during which the free area 28 passes through at least one of the transfer station and / or the receiving station is greater than the rotation angle during which the load-bearing area 26 passes through at least one of the transfer station and the receiving station. As a result, the rotation angle provided for the acceleration and deceleration of the removal device is greater than the rotation angle required for the receiving and transfer section 11. Due to the larger rotation angle, the maximum acceleration and the maximum deceleration for switching between two predetermined speeds can be reduced. In this case, the free area 28 has a length Z that spans at least two receiving stations and the transfer station. The length Y of one or each support area 26 can be smaller, equal to or greater than the length Z of one or each free area 28. Furthermore, the lengths Z of the free areas 28 between the support areas 26 can also be the same or different, thereby achieving the advantages described above.

[0072] A drum with a cylindrical lateral surface is considered as a rotating body 24, wherein the load area 26 and the free area 28 are formed by areas that are intentionally designed to carry or receive the segments 11, while the free area 28 is not provided for this and can also be called a passive area. In addition, all bodies that receive the segments 11 in a receiving station during a rotational movement, transport them further to a transfer station by means of the rotational movement, and distribute them there as described above are also considered as rotating bodies 24.

[0073] The rotating body 24 can also be designed as a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms, wherein one or each rotor arm can have a receiving surface at its free end. In addition, one or each rotor arm can be provided with vacuum channels, which can lead into the free end of the rotor arm and in particular into the receiving surface arranged on the rotor arm. The rotor arms of the rotor are preferably fixedly positioned relative to one another in the direction of the orbit of the rotor, in particular their spacing relative to one another in the direction of the orbit of the rotor is fixed relative to one another, in particular their spacing in the direction of the orbit of the rotor cannot be changed.

[0074] In an advantageous embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, at least one dispensing device 18 has a linearly movable receptacle 29 which transports the stack 16 away from the removal device 17 in the direction of the surface normal of the segment 11. The dispensing device 18 preferably has a receptacle 29 which is linearly movable by means of a lifting device 30, wherein the movement of the receptacle 29 is triggered by activating the lifting device 30 and is guided by means of guide devices, such as guide rods. The receptacle 29 is linearly movable between a receiving position and a dispensing position, wherein the receiving position of the receptacle 29 is arranged as close as possible to the transfer station of the segment 11, while the dispensing position of the receptacle 29 corresponds to a more distant position of the receptacle 29 assigned to the dispensing device 18.

[0075] A further advantageous embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the receiving section 29 of the removal device 17 and / or of the at least one dispensing device 18 has one or more vacuum lines that can be acted upon with negative pressure, which support the receiving of the segment 11 by the removal device 17 from at least one of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 and / or the receiving of the segment from the removal device 17 by the at least one dispensing device 18 by applying negative pressure, and support the transport on the removal device 18. The vacuum line can be arranged, for example, in the tab 31 of the receiving punch 25, which can be acted upon with negative pressure and opens with its opening into the lateral surface of the end face of the tab 31 and / or of the receiving punch 25, for example in Figure 1 and Figure 4 This is shown in . In addition, corresponding openings of vacuum lines that can be loaded with negative pressure can also be provided in the circumferential side of the transfer drum 23. The segment 11 is then held at the circumferential side of the transfer drum 23 by applying negative pressure in the vacuum line and is received by the removal device 17 by switching off the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the transfer drum 23 and by switching on the negative pressure in the vacuum line of the receiving punch 25 running through the receiving station. For providing the vacuum, it is expedient if the device 10 comprises at least one vacuum device 34 for providing negative pressure.

[0076] It is further preferred that at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises a buffer device 32 for providing the segments 11 and / or the primary product of the segments 11 in a decelerated manner, wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web 19 comprising a plurality of segments 11. For this purpose, the segments 11 are usually not yet separated on the continuous web 19 and are further preferably separated into individual segments 11 by means of a downstream cutting device 20. For this purpose, the segments 11 can be transported on a transport track, for example. The buffer device 32 is preferably designed and set up to adapt the material web comprising the segments 11, for example, in the form of a continuous web 19, during the supply so that the route of supply can be changed. Due to the adaptation of the route, the segments 11 must, for example, travel a longer route, whereby the segments 11 can, for example, be provided to the removal device 17 with a delay, in particular if a constant transport speed is given. In the case of a shortened route, the segments 11 can be provided to the supply device in a correspondingly accelerated manner. It is further preferred that the damping device 32 comprises a clamping mechanism in order to set a desired web tension in the case of a (continuous) web 19 or in the case of a (continuous) web 19 with segments 11. The damping device 32 is preferably designed and arranged as a so-called "dancing device". ”.

[0077] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises at least one dividing device 33, which is designed and configured to continuously supply the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 at predetermined spacings relative to one another. Preferably, the transfer roller 23 is designed and configured as a dividing device 32. The advantage of the dividing device 33 can be that the cell stacking device 15 or the removal device 17 should receive the segments 11 from one of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 in a predetermined sequence. In order to provide a synchronous sequence according to the receiving punch 25 provided, it can be advantageous if the segments 11 are arranged at spacings relative to one another, so that the movement of the rotating body 24 to be performed has a low complexity. For example, the segments 11 of the first supply device 12 can be stacked at a lower stacking rate than the segments 11 of the second supply device 13. Therefore, the supply rates of the supply devices 12, 13 can be adapted accordingly to one another, and the stacking rate can be designed to be low at the same time for the high position accuracy of the stacked segments 11 and thus the stack 16 itself.

[0078] The device 10 according to the invention can preferably have a dividing device 33 for each of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 in order to operate the segments 11 at a high supply rate in the supply devices 12, 13, 14 and at the same time with precise position stacking of the segments 11, since the stacking rate of the segments 11 in the cell stacking device 15 can be significantly lower due to the solution according to the invention than the supply rate of the segments 11 in the supply devices 12, 13, 14. In the case of a "division" of the material web / continuous web 19 or the segments 11, spacings are then generated between the cut segments 19 and / or a reduction in the supply speed is generated, so that the segments 11 are then provided on the cell stacking device 15 in a specific sequence and at a specific speed.

[0079] The method is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The method is used for stacking segments 11 of energy cells, the method comprising the following steps: supplying the segments 11 at a constant supply rate by means of at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14; receiving the segments 11 from the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14; and stacking the segments 11 on top of each other into a stack 16 by means of at least one cell stacking device 15, wherein the segments 11 are received by means of at least one removal device 17 including the cell stacking device 15 and are distributed at at least one distribution device 18 or distributed by means of the distribution device. In particular, in Figure 3 In the image of , the sequence of the stacking process is shown by way of example with reference to two supply devices 12 , 13 . The segments 11 are provided by means of the supply devices 12 , 13 and are firstly received by the removal device 17 and finally distributed to the distribution device 18 .

[0080] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the removal device 17 is driven to perform a repeated alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 at a supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, wherein the removal device 17 transfers the segments 11 to at least one distribution device 18 at a decelerated motion or in a stationary state, so as to construct and set up a stack 16 from the segments 11 of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 in a predetermined sequence. Figure 3 In the sequence of , the removal device 17 is respectively in the delivery position or transfer station, wherein in the first image, the segment 11 has not yet been received by the receiving punch 25. On the first and second supply devices 12, 13, a segment 11 is arranged, which is ready to be received by the removal device 17. Figure 3In the second image, the removal device 17 is accordingly again in the distribution position or transfer station, wherein the segments 11 are received from the first and second supply devices 12, 13 respectively by means of two of the receiving convex dies 25, for which purpose the removal device 17 is rotated in a rotational direction, wherein the segments 11 are respectively received by the receiving convex dies 25. The removal device 17 is preferably controlled and / or adjusted in accordance with the supply devices 12, 13, 14 so as to be constructed and set up for reception by means of the receiving convex dies 25. Preferably, the segments 11 are received simultaneously from the first and second supply devices 12, 13, however, it may also be advantageous to receive the segments 11 only from the first or second supply device 13, alternatively it may be advantageous not to receive the segments from one of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 during the rotation, which may be provided, for example, by corresponding spacings between the segments. Figure 3 In the third image of FIG. 1 , the removal device 17 is accordingly again in the dispensing position or transfer station, wherein the segments 11 are respectively received again from the first and second supply devices 12, 13 by means of two of the receiving convex dies 25, for which purpose the removal device 17 is rotated in the rotation direction, wherein the segments 11 are respectively received by the receiving convex dies 25. During the rotation carried out, the removal device 17 has already transferred / dispensed the previously received segments 11 to the dispensing device 18, respectively in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state, in order to form a stack 16 in the dispensing device 18. Preferably, the stack 16 is transported away from the removal device 17 in the direction of the surface normal of the segments 11 by means of a linearly movable receptacle 29 having at least one dispensing device 18. In order to dispense the corresponding segment 11, it is further preferred that the placing rod of the dispensing device performs a linear lifting and lowering movement in the radial direction of the removal device 17 and thereby carries the segment 11 in the direction of the surface normal of the segment. Due to the direction of the removal movement of the segment 11, the segment 11 is acted upon by the lowest possible forces and a particularly gentle removal movement of the segment 11 can be achieved. The linear lifting and lowering movement of the placement rod ends with the delivery of the segment 11 in the receptacle 29 of the delivery device 18. The stroke of the lifting and lowering movement of the placement rod is controlled in such a way that the segment 11 is placed in the receptacle 29 as far as possible without a lowering movement and with the lowest possible pressing force.

[0081] In a further advantageous embodiment, three supply devices 12, 13, 14 are provided, which each supply segments 11 at a continuous supply speed, wherein the segments 11 are received in a predetermined receiving sequence by a removal device 17 from each of the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 in order to construct and set up a stack 16 from the segments 11 in a predetermined sequence. The stacking process is carried out in the case of three supply devices 12, 13, 14 in a manner similar to the process described above, wherein the segments of the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 are each received by means of the removal device 17 and are distributed to the distribution device 18 accordingly. Figure 4 and Figure 5 1 shows a device 10 with three supply devices 12, 13, 14, by means of which the method according to the invention can be implemented accordingly. Usually, more complex regulation and / or control operations are provided in the case of three supply devices, because the removal device 17 and the movements to be implemented must be adapted accordingly.

[0082] The removal device 17 preferably has a controllable drive which is controlled in such a way that the removal device 17 is accelerated for receiving the segments 11 from at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 and is decelerated for distributing the segments 11 to the distributing device 18. The desired sequence of the segments 11 to be stacked is particularly decisive for the control by means of the drive. For example, it can be set in which sequence the segments 11 are to be received from which of the supply devices 12, 13, 14. It is further preferred that the supply speed and / or the provision of the segments by means of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 can also be controlled.

[0083] In a further embodiment, the removal device 17 is formed by a rotatably driven rotating body 24, and the repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the rotational movement of acceleration and deceleration of the rotating body 24. Further preferably, the rotating body 24 comprises at least one receiving convex die 25 for receiving the segment 11, wherein, in the case of two or more receiving convex die 25, these receiving convex die are arranged at the same angle relative to each other, and the rotating body 24 is decelerated and accelerated during the revolution according to the number of receiving convex die 25.

[0084] The segments 11 and / or the initial product of the segments 16 can be provided in a decelerated manner by means of at least one buffer device 32 comprising at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14, wherein the initial product is preferably a continuous web 19 comprising a plurality of segments 11. Furthermore, the segments 11 and / or the initial product of the segments 11 can be cut by means of at least one cutting device 20 comprising at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14, wherein the initial product is preferably a continuous web 19 comprising a plurality of segments 11. If the segments 11 are already provided separately, for example on a transport track, the cutting device 20 is usually no longer provided. Figures 1 to 5 In the embodiment shown, each of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises a cutting device 20, so as to cut the continuous web 19 including the segments 11 as required. In addition, each of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 comprises a buffer device 32, respectively.

[0085] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two supply devices 12 , 13 , 14 comprises at least one transfer roller 23 in order to transfer the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 and / or to receive the segments 11 from the buffer device 32 or the cutting device 20 .

[0086] In a further preferred embodiment, the segments 11 are continuously supplied to the cell stacking device 15 at a predetermined spacing relative to one another by means of at least one dividing device 33 comprising at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14. For example, the spacing in the supply devices 12, 13, 14 can be designed in such a way that the supplied segments 11 are stacked in a number B per unit time in the first supply device 12 by means of the dividing device 33 and in a number C per unit time in the second supply device 13. In this way, the segments 11 of the supply devices 12, 13 are each designed to be spaced apart from one another, in particular at a constant transport speed, so that they can be received by the removal device 17, for example, at a set spacing. The continuous web 19 of uncut segments 11 or the flow of segments 11 can be supplied at a high speed, and the segments 11 cut therefrom or the segments 11 can be processed again and stacked online. The high flow of segments 11 can be transported reliably and efficiently in an orderly manner, almost without stopping and without interruption, and the desired spacing is advantageously provided. In the flow of segments 11 with a number B, the spacing between two segments 11 can be configured to be greater than or approximately equal to the length of the segment 11. The spacing between two consecutive segments 11 configured in the flow of segments 11 with a number B can achieve that the desired sequence of the segments 11 is provided when they are subsequently received by means of the removal device 17, wherein the spacing and the time intervals accompanying this can be used to access the segments 11 during the supply of the flow of segments 11. In the case of the spacing between two consecutive segments 11 configured in the flow of segments 11 with a number C, the corresponding reception performed by means of the removal device 17 is also given. The dividing device 33 therefore preferably supports the process of receiving the segments 11 from one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 at a supply speed according to a predetermined reception sequence by the removal device 17.

[0087] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 , a further preferred embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention is shown, according to which the device 10 comprises three supply devices 12 , 13 , 14 , which are each designed and configured to supply the segments 11 at a continuous supply rate. Figure 6 and Figure 7The device 10 further comprises a cell stacking device 15, which is designed and set up for receiving the segments 11 from the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 and for subsequently stacking the segments 11 on top of each other into a stack 16 by means of three removal devices 17 which further comprise the cell stacking device 15. Such preferred embodiments can also comprise more than three supply devices 12, 13, 14 and / or more than three removal devices 17, and in further particularly preferred embodiments not shown in the figures, it is advantageous to have a device 10 with four supply devices 12, 13, 14 and / or four removal devices 17, in order to supply four material webs 19 or segments 11 to one or more cell stacking devices 15 or removal devices 17, respectively.

[0088] In particular, Figure 7 The process of supplying the segments 11 to the cell stack 15 is shown in detail in FIG. The exemplary direction of rotation of the drums is illustrated by the correspondingly indicated arrows in the respective drums. Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the embodiment, a material web 19 is preferably provided in the form of a continuous web by means of the supply devices 12, 13, 14, which can be cut into segments 11 by means of a cutting device 20 arranged in front of the cell stacking device 15. The cutting device 20 is arranged in a Figure 6 and Figure 7 The cutting device 20 is composed of a cutting device 21 and a matching roller 22, and the material web 19 guided on the matching roller 22, preferably in the form of a continuous web 19, is cut into segments 11 of a predetermined length, which is determined by the cutting process and / or the corresponding cutting device 21. Starting from the cutting device 20, the cut segments 11 are supplied by means of corresponding supply devices 12, 13, 14. The matching roller 22 further preferably acts as a transport roller at the same time to transport the segments 11 and / or the continuous web 19 containing the segments 11 in the transport direction.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the segments 11 are first cut into segments 11 by a cutting device 20. Preferably, the material webs 19 are respectively separator material webs, anode material webs and cathode material webs, which are respectively cut into segments 11 by means of the cutting device 20, so that the separator sheets, anode sheets and cathode sheets can be stacked into stacks 16 preferably by means of a single cell stacking device 15.

[0090] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7In the embodiment, the supply devices 12, 13, 14 furthermore each have a transfer roller 23, which is constructed and set up for transferring the segments 11 to the single cell stacking device 15. In the embodiment, the transfer roller 23 and the matching roller 22 are constructed as a single roller, so that the synergy effect can be utilized as much as possible. By means of the transfer roller 23, the cut segments 11 can be transferred to a collection roller 35 further comprising the single cell stacking device 15, which is constructed and set up for receiving the segments 11 supplied by the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 from the transfer roller 23. The collection roller 35 in turn transfers the segments 11 to a roller running device 36 having a plurality of distribution rollers 37, where the segments 11 are held, for example, by negative pressure. The distribution roller 37 comprising the single cell stacking device 15 is constructed and set up for distributing the segments 11 so that the segments are received by the removal device 17 in a predetermined receiving order through the corresponding receiving convex mold 25. For this purpose, the removal device 17 performs a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration in order to receive the predetermined segments 11 from the distribution drum 37 with precise position and then transfer them to the corresponding distribution device 18 with a decelerated movement or in a stationary state. The distribution of the segments 11 to the three supply devices 12, 13, 14 is given by the drum running device 36, so that a stack 16 can be formed from the segments 11 in a predetermined sequence by means of each of the removal devices 17. Preferably, each of the removal devices 17 produces a stack 16 with the same sequence of segments 11, wherein, further preferably, each second received segment 11 is a separator sheet and anode sheets or cathode sheets can be used alternately between them. Further preferably, the separator sheets on the collection drum 35 are supplied in at least twice the number of anode sheets or cathode sheets or in total in at least the same number. The supply speed of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 to which separator segments 11 are to be supplied is, for example, faster than the supply speed of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 to which anode segments or cathode segments 11 are to be supplied. It is further preferred that the segments 11 can be held at least temporarily on the provided rollers or provided devices by negative pressure.

Claims

1. A device (10) for stacking segments (11) of energy cells, comprising: at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), each of which is designed and arranged to supply the segments (11) at a continuous supply speed; as well as at least one cell stacking device (15) which is designed and arranged to receive the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) and to stack the segments (11) on top of each other to form a stack (16), The single cell stacking device (15) comprises at least one removal device (17) for receiving the segment (11) and at least one delivery device (18) for delivering the segment (11). It is characterized in that The removal device (17) is constructed and arranged to be driven to perform a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and The removal device (17) receives the segments (11) from one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) at the supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, The removal device transfers the segments (11) to the at least one distribution device (18) in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state in order to construct and set up a stack (16) from the segments (11) of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined sequence.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The device (10) comprises three supply devices (12, 13, 14), which are respectively constructed and set up for supplying segments (11) at a continuous supply speed, wherein the removal device (17) receives the segments (11) from at least one of the three supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined receiving sequence, so as to construct and set up a stack (16) from the segments (11) in a predetermined sequence.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The removal device (17) is formed by a rotatably driven rotating body (24), and the repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the accelerating and decelerating rotational movement of the rotating body (24).

4. The device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that The rotating body (24) includes at least one receiving convex mold (25) for receiving the segment (11), and the rotating body (24) can be decelerated and accelerated during rotation according to the number of the receiving convex molds (25).

5. The device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The rotating body (24) comprises at least three receiving convex embossments (25), wherein, in the case of more than two receiving convex embossments (25), the receiving convex embossments are preferably arranged at the same angle relative to one another.

6. The device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The receiving convex dies each have a receiving surface (27) in the shape of a circular arc segment in the cross section of the rotating body (24), and the receiving surfaces (27) of the receiving convex dies (25) are arranged on the same diameter in the cross section.

7. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The at least one dispensing device (18) has a linearly movable receptacle (29) which transports the stack (16) away from the removal device (17) in the direction of the surface normal of the segment (11).

8. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The receiving portion (29) of the removal device (17) and / or the at least one distribution device (18) has one or more vacuum lines that can be loaded with negative pressure, which support the receiving of the segment (11) from at least one of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) by the removal device (17) and / or the receiving of the segment from the removal device (17) by the at least one distribution device (18) by applying negative pressure, and support transportation on the removal device (17).

9. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that At least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) comprises a buffer device (32) for providing the segment (11) and / or the primary product of the segment (11) in a decelerated manner, wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web (19) comprising a plurality of segments (11).

10. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that At least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) comprises a cutting device (20), which is constructed and arranged for cutting the segments (11) and / or the primary product of the segments (11), wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web (19) comprising a plurality of segments (11).

11. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that At least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) comprises at least one dividing device (33) which is designed and arranged to continuously supply the cell stack (15) with segments (11) having predetermined spacings relative to one another.

12. The device (10) according to any one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that At least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) comprises at least one transfer roller (23), which is constructed and arranged to transfer the segment (11) to the single cell stacking device (15) and / or to receive the segment (11) from the buffer device (32) or the cutting device (20).

13. A method for stacking segments (11) of energy cells, the method comprising the steps of: - supplying the segments (11) at a constant supply rate by means of at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), - receiving the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) and stacking the segments (11) on top of each other to form a stack (16) by means of at least one cell stacking device (15), wherein: - receiving the segments (11) by means of at least one removal device (17) comprising the cell stacking device (15) and distributing them to or by means of at least one distributing device (18), It is characterized in that - the removal device (17) is driven to perform a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device (17) receives the segments (11) from one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) at the supply speed according to a predetermined receiving sequence, - wherein the removal device (17) transfers the segments (11) to at least one distribution device (18) in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state in order to construct and set up a stack (16) from the segments (11) of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined sequence.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Three supply devices (12, 13, 14) are provided, which supply the segments (11) at a continuous supply speed, wherein the removal device (17) receives the segments (11) from one of the three supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined receiving sequence, so as to construct and set up a stack (16) from the segments (11) in a predetermined sequence.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The removal device (17) has a controllable drive device which is controlled in such a way that the removal device (17) is accelerated for receiving the segments (11) from the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) and is decelerated for distributing the segments (11) to the distributing device (18).

16. The method according to any one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The removal device (17) is formed by a rotatably driven rotating body (24), and the repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the accelerating and decelerating rotational movement of the rotating body (24).

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The rotating body (24) comprises at least one receiving punch (25) for receiving the segment (11), wherein, in the case of two or more receiving punches (25), these receiving punches are arranged at the same angle relative to each other, and the rotating body (24) decelerates and accelerates during rotation according to the number of the receiving punches (25).

18. The method according to any one or more of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that The stack (16) is transported away from the removal device (17) in the direction of the surface normal of the segment (11) by means of a linearly movable receptacle (29) having the at least one dispensing device (18).

19. The method according to any one or more of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that The segments (11) and / or the primary product of the segments (11) are provided in a decelerated manner by means of at least one buffer device (32) comprising the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web (19) comprising a plurality of segments (11).

20. The method according to any one or more of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that The segments (11) and / or the primary product of the segments (11) are cut by means of at least one cutting device (20) comprising the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), wherein the primary product is preferably a continuous web (19) comprising a plurality of segments (11).

21. The method according to any one or more of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that By means of at least one dividing device (33) comprising the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), segments (11) of the cell stack (15) are continuously provided at predetermined distances from one another.

22. The method according to any one or more of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that At least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) comprises at least one transfer roller (23) for transferring the segment (11) to the cell stacking device (15) and / or for receiving the segment (11) from the buffer device (32) or the cutting device (20).

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