Method and coating system for producing coating having improved height profile

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a coating device (5) for applying a flowable or pasty coating material (1) to a substrate (6). In this case, an application nozzle (7) is used for dispensing the coating material (1), said application nozzle having a dispensing opening (8), the width (16) of which is smaller than a specified target width (17) of the coating (1). The outlet opening (8) is arranged close to the substrate (6) in such a way that the coating (1) is thus produced over the defined target width (17). A relative movement is then generated between the application nozzle (7) and the substrate (6) and the coating material (1) is discharged through the discharge opening (8) in order to apply the substrate (6) with the coating material (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for coating a substrate and a correspondingly constructed coating apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Coatings can be used in a variety of fields and applications, such as in the manufacture of electrical or electrochemical systems, such as fuel cell cells or cylindrical battery cells, especially cylindrical cells. Various coating methods exist, in which the coating material can be applied, for example, by spraying or printing onto a substrate, or by means of a slit nozzle application method, or similar methods. In the manufacture of such coatings, non-uniformity may occur. These non-uniformities can, for example, impair the electrical properties of the product in an uncontrolled manner, and / or cause damage or defects in subsequent manufacturing steps.

[0003] As a solution, DE102004034139A1 describes a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode unit. Here, one or more proton-guiding polymer membranes are extruded to form two or more electrodes. This extrusion is performed up to a preset amount of compression.

[0004] While extrusion can potentially achieve a certain degree of homogenization of the coating, problems can still arise if the original coating is too uneven before extrusion. These problems may include localized overcompression of the coating, and / or localized peeling, or damage to adjacent parts and / or tools due to increased pressure in raised areas of the coating. Therefore, there is a need for further improvements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The objective of this invention is to enable the manufacture of particularly efficient and robust battery cells in a particularly simple manner.

[0006] The objective is addressed by the subject matter of the main claim and the parallel independent claims, or rather, each independent claim. Other possible solutions to the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features, advantages, and possible solutions set forth in the scope of the description with respect to one of the subjects of the independent claims can be at least similarly regarded as features, advantages, and possible solutions of the corresponding subjects of the other independent claims, as well as features, advantages, and possible solutions of the corresponding subjects of each possible combination of the subjects of the independent claims (perhaps in combination with one or more dependent claims).

[0007] The method according to the invention can be used to coat a substrate, i.e., to manufacture or produce a coating material of a fluid or paste-like, i.e., non-brushable coating material. This may particularly relate to electrode pastes used in the manufacture of battery cells, such as lithium-ion battery cells. In the method according to the invention, a nominal width is specified for the coating. This may be, for example, the width that the coating material on the substrate, or the area occupied by the coating material, should ultimately have. This width can be measured here in the main extending plane of the coating, i.e., perpendicular to the thickness of the coating layer. If the coating is applied in a continuous process, then the width can also be perpendicular, particularly to, the direction in which the coating is applied or the direction of coating advancement.

[0008] Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, a coating nozzle, particularly a slit nozzle, is provided for dispensing or applying a coating material onto a substrate. This coating nozzle has a discharge or output opening through which the coating material is discharged toward the substrate during operation of the corresponding coating equipment. The width of this discharge or output opening is here less than the specified nominal width of the coating.

[0009] In other words, the output opening is narrower than the nominal width in the main extension plane and in a direction perpendicular to the output direction or longitudinal direction, that is, also narrower than the final coating that is applied or produced in the discharge direction.

[0010] Using such a narrow coating nozzle in conventional coating methods may result in a correspondingly narrow coating, causing the nominal width of the coating to be unmet or unachieved. However, in the method according to the invention, the output opening is positioned so close to the substrate that a coating of the substrate with the coating material at the specified nominal width can ultimately be produced. In other words, the distance between the output opening and the substrate (also known as the casting gap) is adjusted or reduced to such an extent—for example, from the configuration used in conventional slot nozzle coating methods—that the material flow of the coating material from the output opening to the substrate is widened or increased up to the nominal width. This is based on the understanding that the size or length of the distance between the output opening and the substrate (i.e., the casting gap) can affect the meniscus formed by the coating material in the casting gap immediately following the output opening. The actual distance adjusted between the output opening and the substrate can be related to, or adjusted based on, the corresponding coating material (especially its viscosity, viscoelasticity, and / or surface tension, or the like) and the difference between the width of the output opening and the nominal width. Thus, for example, when the difference between the width of the output opening and the nominal width is large, a smaller distance between the output opening and the substrate can be adjusted.

[0011] In another step of the method according to the invention, a relative movement is then generated between the coating nozzle (in particular the output opening of the coating nozzle) and the corresponding substrate to be coated, and the coating material is output through the output opening of the coating nozzle so as to coat the substrate with the coating material, i.e., to manufacture or produce a coating.

[0012] By reducing the width of the output opening to less than the nominal width as suggested in this invention, and simultaneously placing the output opening close to the substrate, edge bulges in the resulting coating can be avoided or reduced. This is particularly evident when compared to conventional coating methods, in which the same coating material is applied to the same substrate via a coating nozzle or slit nozzle, but the width of the output opening is equal to the nominal width of the coating and the output opening is positioned, for example, so far from the substrate that a free or freely hanging film of coating material is formed on the output opening, or rather, between the output opening and the substrate, at a corresponding width; this can also be referred to as a so-called coat hanger pattern. In such conventional coating methods, edge bulges can form at the edges of the coating.

[0013] Such edge bulges are areas of the coating where the coating has increased thickness, particularly compared to the intermediate plateau areas between these areas, where the coating may have a specified, especially constant, nominal thickness. Such edge bulges result in an uneven surface of the coating and thus impair or reduce its quality. For example, localized overcompression can occur in areas of such edge bulges during subsequent compression or pressing of the coating. This can affect the properties of the coating there in an undesirable and uneven manner. Similarly, the edge bulges may not always be completely smoothed. This can then lead to damage to materials or components and / or tools (e.g., calendering rolls) applied to the coating in subsequent manufacturing processes, and / or to localized peeling of the coating, and / or to fitting problems in subsequent cell assembly, and / or to other similar problems.

[0014] These problems can be avoided or mitigated by the present invention. In particular, the coating materials and substrates used to date can be retained, i.e., continued use. Similarly, existing coating equipment can be adapted or modified relatively easily for the method of the present invention. Thus, for example, reducing the distance between the output opening and the substrate as specified in the present invention can be achieved by fully utilizing the corresponding process windows of conventional coating equipment. Therefore, the present invention allows for improvements in coating quality in a particularly simple, effective, and practically achievable manner. Depending on the application, this can, for example, lead to greater reliability and / or robustness of the corresponding final product (e.g., a battery cell), and / or simplify or eliminate manufacturing steps following the actual coating method, such as those for reducing or removing edge protrusions and / or for occupying the coating with other materials or components. Damage to the tools used may also be avoided.

[0015] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the coating material is applied to the substrate in a scraper mode—and therefore, particularly not in a hanger mode. This can mean that the output opening is so close to the substrate that no coating material is formed on or immediately adjacent to the output opening, leaving a free or suspended film or curtain. Instead, in the scraper mode employed here, due to the small distance between the output opening and the substrate, and due to the viscosity or stickiness of the coating material, the coating material can be driven laterally, i.e., in the width direction, resulting in a coating that is wider than the output opening. In this way, a coating with reduced or no edge bulges and thus of correspondingly improved quality, with a specified nominal width, can be produced particularly precisely, reliably, and robustly, for example, compared to applying the coating material to the substrate in a hanger mode.

[0016] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the output opening is configured to be less than 200 μm, particularly less than 100 μm, from the substrate. In other words, the casting gap can have a size or length in the double-digit micrometer range. It has been proven that, therefore, especially when using electrode paste as the coating material, for example for manufacturing battery cells, particularly cylindrical battery cells, a coating with at least substantially no edge protrusions can be produced.

[0017] In another possible embodiment of the invention, in order to apply the coating material, a volumetric flow rate of the coating material is employed, and therefore specified, for example, adjusted on the corresponding coating equipment. This volumetric flow rate produces a coating with a central layer thickness over a nominal width, which, for the same coating material, is also produced with the output opening having a width equal to the nominal width and a greater distance between the output opening and the substrate. In other words, here, the same volumetric flow rate of the coating material can be used as in conventional coating methods or conventional coating equipment, or in the case of coating equipment configured for the same coating or the same type of coating.

[0018] The central layer thickness of the coating is given here in the central region of the coating when viewed in the width direction, that is, in the plateau region of the coating between the edges of the coating or perhaps edge effects, such as conventionally present edge ridges and / or gradually descending outer edges or the like. This central layer thickness can be specifically specified as a parameter, that is, specified as a nominal layer thickness or nominal thickness.

[0019] It has been demonstrated that, starting from conventional coating methods or processes, simply by reducing the width of the output opening and the distance between the output opening and the substrate, while maintaining the rated width, coating material, and its volumetric flow rate, it is possible to manufacture a coating with improved quality, particularly in terms of edge protrusion, at a specified rated width and thickness. Therefore, the method according to the invention can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes with particular simplicity and low cost.

[0020] This invention also relates to a coating apparatus for applying a coating material, particularly electrode paste, to a substrate. The coating apparatus according to the invention can be, in particular, the coating apparatus mentioned in relation to the method of the invention, or a corresponding coating apparatus. The coating apparatus according to the invention thus has a coating nozzle, which is particularly configured as a slit nozzle, having an output opening for discharging the coating material. Furthermore, the coating apparatus according to the invention includes a transport mechanism or motion mechanism for generating relative movement between the coating nozzle (in particular the output opening of the coating nozzle) and the corresponding substrate to be coated. Thus, the corresponding substrate can move relative to the coating nozzle or the output opening of the coating nozzle, for example, moving beside the coating nozzle. For this purpose, the motion mechanism can be, for example, or include a guide roller, a rolling element, a conveyor belt, or the like. The coating nozzle can here be fixed or held relative to the environment, particularly in position. Similarly, other embodiments are possible in principle, in which only or also the coating nozzle moves actively. The coating apparatus according to the invention is constructed for the method of the invention, i.e., for implementing the method of the invention or for application in the method of the invention. This could mean, for example, that the coating nozzle, or the output opening of the coating nozzle, and the distance between the output opening and the motion mechanism—especially the surface or area of ​​the motion mechanism (on which the substrate to be coated rests or moves during operation)—are correspondingly configured or adjusted. The coating equipment may also include other components, such as a conveying mechanism for delivering the coating material into or through the coating nozzle and / or an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the distance between the coating nozzle and the substrate, and / or more similar components.

[0021] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the width of the output opening is at most 2%, and particularly at most 1%, smaller than the width of the resulting coating (i.e., at least 1% smaller than the corresponding specified nominal width). This has proven to be a practical and effective parameterization, especially for electrode pastes, to avoid edge protrusions in the coating while simultaneously creating a coating on a nominal width larger than the width of the output opening. This is based on the understanding that the characteristics of the coating, or the characteristics of the coating material, can be quite sensitively related to parameters such as the width of the output opening, or the difference between the width of the output opening and the nominal width, and the distance between the output opening and the substrate.

[0022] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the width of the output opening is smaller than the width of the resulting coating (i.e., smaller than the specified nominal width) by between 0.2 mm and 2.5 mm. In particular, the difference between the width of the output opening and the width of the resulting coating, or the nominal width, can be between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. This can specifically mean that the casting gap is also adjusted accordingly. This has proven to be particularly useful and effective parameterization for electrode pastes used, for example, in the manufacture of lithium-ion electrodes or lithium-ion battery cells. Here, the width of the resulting coating, i.e., the specified nominal width, can be, for example, approximately 160 mm.

[0023] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the coating nozzle has at least one replaceable built-in cover, the width of which is defined, caused, and thus adjusted or achieved. Such a built-in cover may also be referred to as a gasket or pad. The built-in cover can, for example, be integrated into the housing of the coating nozzle to reduce the opening on the output side of the nozzle. For this purpose, the built-in cover may, for example, have a free area that ultimately forms the output opening and one or more material areas disposed adjacent to this free area, defining space available for the coating material. With such a built-in cover, existing coating nozzles, for example, with larger output-side openings, can be adapted to the method according to the invention. Because the built-in cover is replaceable, the same coating nozzle, or the same coating nozzle housing, can be adapted particularly easily to different requirements, rated widths, coating materials, and / or more similar options. Therefore, the advantages of the invention can be realized or utilized in a particularly simple and flexible manner.

[0024] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the coating nozzle has a plurality of separate, side-by-side output openings for simultaneously producing a plurality of parallel coatings. In other words, the coating nozzle can thus simultaneously output multiple parallel flows of coating material. The coating nozzle may, in particular, have exactly two or at least two such separate output openings. These output openings are arranged side-by-side in the width direction. The plurality of parallel coatings can be produced in the same plane. The output openings are separated from each other, which can mean that the output openings are separated by a region between them, i.e., spaced apart from each other, in which no coating material is output during operation. For this purpose, the coating nozzle may, for example, be provided with a plurality of built-in shields or a single built-in shield, which defines, thus realizes, or defines the plurality of output openings.

[0025] The proposed method using the coating nozzle allows for the particularly simple and efficient production of multiple coatings—that is, multiple individual strips or areas of coating material applied to a respective substrate. These coatings can be produced particularly consistently, i.e., identically or with the same characteristics. In particular, the distance between the coating nozzle and one or more substrates can thus easily be made the same for two or all coatings. This can also contribute to improved quality and / or reduced component dispersion during mass production.

[0026] In a possible extension of the invention, the width of each output opening of the coating nozzle is respectively smaller than the width of the coating produced through that output opening, i.e., smaller than a correspondingly specifically defined nominal width. Here, all the output openings may be of the same width, or at least two of the output openings may be of different widths. Therefore, each coating, or all coatings produced simultaneously, can be produced in the manner described, i.e., especially with at least substantially no edge protrusions. The proposed solution of the invention here thus allows for the simultaneous production of multiple correspondingly high-quality coatings. Here, the multiple coatings can be produced particularly flexibly, because, for example, different widths can be specified or implemented for each output opening.

[0027] Other features of the invention can be obtained from the claims, drawings, and description with reference to the drawings. Features and combinations of features mentioned above in the specification, as well as features and combinations of features shown separately in the description with reference to the drawings and / or in the drawings, may be applied not only in the corresponding described combinations, but also in other combinations, or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The attached image is as follows:

[0029] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the height curve of the coating produced according to the prior art;

[0030] Figure 2 Showing the coating equipment used to produce the improved coating;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown to illustrate possible designs for the coating nozzles of the coating equipment; and

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic side view showing the possible height curves of the improved coating.

[0033] In the accompanying drawings, identical and functionally identical elements are given the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Figure 1 shows a partial schematic diagram illustrating the cross-sectional trend or curve of the surface of the coating 1 when applied using the prior art, i.e., a conventional slit nozzle coating method. Specifically, the outer portion of the central plateau region 2 of the coating 1 and the edge region immediately following this outer portion are described here. In the plateau region 2, the coating 1 has a layer thickness H1 defined as a nominal value. Conversely, in the edge region, immediately following the plateau region 2 is a region that is at least partially raised, i.e., thickened, in which the coating 1 has an edge ridge 3. This edge ridge 3 has an additional, i.e., an edge ridge thickness H2, exceeding the nominal layer thickness H1. On the outer side of the edge ridge, or edge side, immediately following the edge ridge 3 is a descending side surface, referred to herein as an edge descending edge 4. The edge descending edge 4 begins at the end of the edge ridge 3, i.e., where the thickness of the coating 1 decreases below the nominal layer thickness H1. The width of the edge protrusion 3 is referred to here as the edge protrusion width B1, while the width of the edge drop edge 4 is referred to here as the edge drop width B2. The sum of the edge protrusion width B1 and the edge drop width B2 can be summarized as the width of the edge region immediately following the platform region 2.

[0035] At present, only a portion of the cladding 1, or rather a portion of the curve of the cladding 1, is described. The cladding 1 may also have an edge ridge 3 and an edge drop edge 4 immediately following the edge ridge on another edge (not shown here). The plateau region 2 between them may be significantly wider than the two edge regions here.

[0036] There is a technical need to minimize the edge protrusion 3 in different technical applications, such as in the manufacture of electrodes, where the coating 1 may be composed of electrode paste, for example.

[0037] A nominal width is specified for coating 1. In the prior art, the width of the opening on the output side of the nozzle used to produce coating 1 (i.e., to output the corresponding coating material) can be equal to this nominal width. However, as a result, edge protrusions 3 may be generated or appear on each outer edge of coating 1, or in each edge region.

[0038] For example, in the coating process of electrodes for lithium-ion battery cells, electrode paste is applied to a conductive metal foil, which is or contains an electrochemically active material. The corresponding edge region of the coating 1 corresponds to the region of transition from the coating material (in this case, the electrode paste) to the conductive foil after application, i.e., after the coating material is output onto the conductive foil. The ideal geometry in the edge region is a transition from the plateau region 2 to the edge drop edge 4 and from the edge drop edge to the conductive foil, i.e., the edge drop edge 4 is perpendicular to the main extension plane of the conductive foil and therefore typically also perpendicular to the width of the coating 1.

[0039] However, this is practically impossible when using coating materials that are typically fluid or paste-like, such as electrode paste. The ideal geometry of the coating 1 in the edge region can therefore be characterized by two quality features: the edge bulge thickness H2 and the edge drop width B2. A smaller edge bulge thickness H2 and a narrower required drop width B2 here signify a higher quality coating 1.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a partially schematic cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus 5. The coating apparatus 5 can be configured, for example, to coat a substrate 6, such as a film-like substrate, with a coating 1, for example, an electrode paste. As an application tool for the corresponding coating material, the coating apparatus 5 has a coating nozzle 7. This coating nozzle can be configured, in particular, as a slit nozzle, wherein the longitudinal extension direction of the slit-shaped output opening 8 on the corresponding output side of the coating nozzle 7 can be perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and perpendicular to the output direction 11 of the coating material, as shown herein. A transport channel or conveying channel 9 for the coating material is formed in the coating nozzle 7. Through this transport channel 9, the coating material can be guided in the coating nozzle 7, for example, from a material supply section 10 on the input side (shown only schematically herein), in the output direction 11 to the output opening 8 on the output side of the coating nozzle 7. The coating material can then be discharged or output from the coating nozzle 7 towards the substrate 6 to produce the coating 1.

[0041] The substrate 6 can move relative to the output opening 8, particularly beside the output opening, during the operation of the coating equipment 5, in order to form the coating 1 on the substrate 6. For this purpose, the coating equipment 5 has a corresponding transport or motion mechanism, which is represented here, for example, in the form of an application roller 12. The application roller 12 can rotate in the indicated rotation direction 13 during operation, and thus the substrate 6, guided on or beside the application roller 12, moves beside the output opening 8.

[0042] To avoid the undesirable formation of edge bulges 3 in the coating 1, two measures are recommended. First, to avoid edge bulges 3 and to comply with the nominal width specified for the corresponding coating 1, the distance given between the output opening 8 and the substrate 6, or application roller 12, is reduced compared to conventional slit nozzle coating methods. This distance is referred to herein as the casting slit 14.

[0043] Secondly, the width of the output opening 8, that is, the width of the output opening perpendicular to... Figure 2 The longitudinal extension dimension of the drawing plane is chosen to be smaller than the nominal width specified for the corresponding cladding 1. Therefore, Figure 3A schematic and partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the coating nozzle 7, and the area of ​​the substrate 6 located on the output side of the coating nozzle, along with the portion of the coating layer 1 already formed. Currently, the coating nozzle 7 is configured to produce two parallel coating layers 1 side-by-side. For this purpose, two built-in covers 15 are provided in the coating nozzle 7, which respectively define, thus enclose, or release corresponding output openings 8. These output openings 8 each have a free opening width 16. The opening width 16 described here in the drawing plane is... Figure 2 The diagram also shows perpendicular to Figure 2 The drawing plan. The opening width 16 is less than that of the cladding 1, thus the resulting layer width 17 is less than one or more nominal widths specified for the cladding 1.

[0044] By combining this narrower design of the opening width 16 (i.e., the corresponding opening width 16 is reduced to less than the nominal width specified for the corresponding cladding 1) with the simultaneous reduction of the pouring gap 14, each cladding 1 can be produced on the specified nominal width and without edge protrusions 3.

[0045] For example, the layer width 17, i.e., the nominal width specified for the corresponding coating 1, can be 160 mm. The corresponding opening width 16 can be, for example, 0.8 mm smaller than this nominal width, i.e., the layer width 17. The pouring gap 14 can be simultaneously reduced or adjusted until, for example, less than 100 μm. Here, for example, depending on the nominal width and the coating material used, the pouring gap 14 can be gradually reduced to such an extent that the layer width 17 equals the specified nominal width. The final size of the pouring gap 14 can be determined, for example, empirically and / or by simulation.

[0046] Similar to the illustration in Figure 1, Figure 4 The illustrations shown are used to depict two possible trends, or curves, of the surface of the coating 1 when the described measures are employed. Here, the coating 1 has a defined layer thickness H1 in the central plateau region 2. However, outwards, i.e., at the edge of the plateau region, the edge drop edge 4 directly follows the plateau region without the edge ridge 3. Here, two possible trends of the edge drop edge 4 with correspondingly different edge drop widths B2 are described exemplarily. This is used to illustrate that the edge drop width B2 is not necessarily increased compared to a conventional slit nozzle coating method, i.e., the quality of the coating 1 does not necessarily need to deteriorate in this quality characteristic, in which, as described in Figure 1, an edge ridge 3 with an edge ridge width B1 is additionally produced.

[0047] According to Figure 1 and Figure 4In the illustration, the widths of the edge bulge B1 and the edge drop B2 are, for example, less than 10 mm or less than 5 mm. Correspondingly, the width of the platform region 2, which is only described locally, can be many times larger in comparison.

[0048] Overall, the examples illustrated demonstrate how gasket or shroud designs for nozzles, particularly slit nozzles, can be implemented and applied to minimize edge bulges in coating processes, especially for electrodes used in lithium-ion battery cells.

[0049] List of reference numerals

[0050] 1. Covering

[0051] 2 platform areas

[0052] 3. Rising edges

[0053] 4 edge drop edge

[0054] 5. Coating equipment

[0055] 6 substrates

[0056] 7 Coating Nozzles

[0057] 8 output openings

[0058] 9 conveyor channels

[0059] 10 Materials Supply Department

[0060] 11 Output Direction

[0061] 12 Applying rollers

[0062] 13. Rotation direction

[0063] 14 Pouring joints

[0064] 15 built-in covers

[0065] 16 opening width

[0066] 17 floors wide

[0067] H1 layer thickness

[0068] H2 edge bulge thickness

[0069] B1 Edge Elevation Width

[0070] B2 edge drop width

Claims

1. A method for coating a substrate (6) with a fluid or paste-like coating material (1), wherein, - Specify the nominal width (17) for the cladding (1); - A coating nozzle (7) is provided for dispensing coating material (1) onto a substrate (6), the coating nozzle having an outlet opening (8) for the coating material (1) with a width less than the specified nominal width (17) of the coating (1). - The output opening (8) is positioned so close to the substrate (6) that it is thus possible to produce a coating (1) of the substrate (6) with the coating material (1) on a specified nominal width (17); and - A relative movement is generated between the coating nozzle (7) and the substrate (6), and the coating material (1) is output through the output opening (8) so as to coat the substrate (6) with the coating material (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coating material (1) is applied to the substrate (6) in a scraper mode.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The output opening (8) is configured to have a distance (14) of less than 200 μm, especially less than 100 μm, from the substrate (6).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, In order to output the coating material (1), a certain volumetric flow rate of the coating material (1) is used, which is generated on the nominal width (17) of the coating (1) having the same central layer thickness (H1), which is also generated for the same coating material (1) with the output opening (8) having a width equal to the nominal width (17) and with a greater distance (14) between the output opening (8) and the substrate (6).

5. A coating apparatus (5) for coating a substrate (6) with a coating material, particularly electrode paste, the coating apparatus having a coating nozzle (7) having an output opening (8) for discharging the coating material (1), and the coating apparatus having a motion mechanism (12) for generating relative motion between the coating nozzle (7) and the substrate (6) to be coated, the coating apparatus (5) being constructed for the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. The coating apparatus (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The width (16) of the output opening (8) is at most 2% smaller than the width (17) of the resulting coating (1), and in particular at most 1% smaller.

7. The coating apparatus (5) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The width (16) of the output opening (8) is smaller than the width (17) of the resulting coating (1) by between 0.2 mm and 2.5 mm, especially between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

8. The coating apparatus (5) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, The coating nozzle (7) has a replaceable built-in cover (15), through which the width (16) of the output opening (8) is caused.

9. The coating apparatus (5) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, The coating nozzle (7) has multiple side-by-side, separate output openings (8) for simultaneously producing multiple parallel coatings (1).

10. The coating apparatus (5) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The width (16) of each output opening (8) of the coating nozzle (7) is smaller than the width (17) of the coating (1) produced through the output opening.

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