Thermal compounding device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of battery pole piece manufacturing equipment, and discloses a hot compounding device. The hot compounding device comprises a rubber roller, a heating unit, a temperature measuring unit, a distance measuring unit and a control unit. The heating unit is arranged on the rubber roller and can independently heat multiple target areas of the rubber roller, and the temperature measuring unit can measure the actual temperatures of the multiple target areas. The distance measuring unit can measure the actual roller surface heights of the multiple target areas. The control unit is in communication connection with the heating unit, the temperature measuring unit and the distance measuring unit, so that the actual temperatures and the actual roller surface heights of the target areas can be obtained. According to the target roller surface heights of each target area, the target temperatures corresponding to the target roller surface heights of each target area are obtained, and the heating unit is controlled to perform temperature compensation on each target area. The hot compounding device can ensure that the roller surface heights of the rubber roller at different positions along the axial direction are consistent during the hot compounding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery electrode manufacturing equipment technology, and in particular to a thermal bonding device. Background Technology

[0002] In electrode production, thermal lamination with a solid electrolyte layer or other functional film layer is often required. This thermal lamination is usually accomplished by roller pressing. In dry thermal lamination, the roller pressing equipment includes two rollers, one of which is a rubber roller. At least one of the rollers is heated, and the electrode and the solid electrolyte layer / functional film layer pass through the gap between the two rollers simultaneously to complete the lamination.

[0003] Conventional thermal lamination rollers consist of a roller core and a rubber layer. The roller core has channels through which heat-conducting oil is introduced for heating. The rubber layer covers the outer circumference of the roller core and is typically 3mm-5mm thick. However, due to inconsistent heat dissipation at different axial positions of the rubber layer, the thermal expansion is uneven, leading to inconsistent roller surface heights (i.e., roller diameters at corresponding positions) along the axial direction. Ultimately, this results in excessive thickness deviation of the laminated electrode along the roller's axial direction, rendering the thermally laminated electrode substandard.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a thermal recombination device to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a thermal bonding device that can ensure that the roller surface height is consistent at different positions along the axial direction during the thermal bonding process, improve the uniformity of the thickness of the electrode sheet at various positions in the width direction after thermal bonding, and improve the quality of the electrode sheet after thermal bonding.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A thermal laminating apparatus includes a rubber roller, the rubber roller comprising a shaft and a rubber layer coaxially disposed outside the shaft, the thermal laminating apparatus further comprising:

[0008] A heating unit, disposed on the rubber roller, is capable of independently heating multiple target areas of the rubber roller;

[0009] A temperature measuring unit, located adjacent to the rubber roller, is capable of measuring the actual temperature of multiple target areas respectively;

[0010] A ranging unit, located adjacent to the rubber roller, is capable of measuring the actual roller surface height of multiple target areas respectively;

[0011] The control unit is communicatively connected to the heating unit, the temperature measuring unit, and the distance measuring unit, respectively, so as to obtain the actual temperature and actual roller surface height of each target area;

[0012] The target regions are multiple regions that divide the rubber roller along the axial direction; the control unit can obtain the target temperature of each target region at the target roller surface height according to the target roller surface height of each target region, and control the heating unit to perform temperature compensation on each target region to adjust the temperature of each target region to the corresponding target temperature.

[0013] As an optional solution, the heating unit includes multiple heating components that are configured one-to-one with the multiple target areas; the control unit is communicatively connected to each of the heating components to control the multiple heating components to heat the corresponding target areas.

[0014] As an optional solution, the heating assembly includes a temperature control layer and a heat-conducting layer. The temperature control layer is disposed on the outside of the shaft, and the heat-conducting layer is disposed between the temperature control layer and the adhesive layer. The control unit is communicatively connected to the temperature control layer.

[0015] As an optional solution, the temperature measuring unit includes multiple temperature sensors that are configured one-to-one with the multiple target areas. Each temperature sensor is used to acquire the actual temperature of the corresponding target area, and each temperature sensor is connected to the control unit via communication.

[0016] As an optional solution, the ranging unit includes a displacement sensor and a driving mechanism. The displacement sensor can move along the axial direction of the rubber roller under the drive of the driving mechanism to obtain the actual roller surface height of each of the target areas. The control unit is communicatively connected to the displacement sensor and the driving mechanism respectively.

[0017] As an optional solution, the control unit includes a storage module and a control module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the storage module.

[0018] As an optional solution, the storage module stores the temperature-roller height variation curves of each of the target areas, and the control module obtains the target temperature of each target area at the target roller height according to the temperature-roller height variation curves of each of the target areas.

[0019] As an optional solution, the storage module is communicatively connected to both the temperature measuring unit and the distance measuring unit. The temperature measuring unit and the distance measuring unit can collect the actual roller surface height and actual temperature corresponding to multiple target areas at a preset frequency and store them in the storage module. The control module can plot the temperature-roller surface height change curve corresponding to the target area based on the actual temperature change data and actual roller surface height change data within a preset time. The preset time is from the start of self-heating composite to the point where the temperature of each target area reaches a first preset temperature, which is the maximum empirical working temperature.

[0020] As an optional solution, the control unit includes a comparison module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the comparison module. The comparison module can compare the actual roller height after each target area reaches the target temperature with the corresponding target roller height, and output a second comparison result. When the second comparison result is greater than a preset value, the control module can update the temperature-roller height change curve of the target area according to the second comparison result.

[0021] As an optional solution, the control unit includes a comparison module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the comparison module; the comparison module is capable of comparing the actual roller surface height of each target area with the target roller surface height, and outputting a first comparison result; the control module determines whether to perform temperature compensation on the target area based on the first comparison result.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0023] The thermal lamination device of this invention divides the rubber roller into different target areas along the axial direction. During the thermal lamination process, the temperature measuring unit measures the actual temperature of each target area and sends it to the control unit. The distance measuring unit measures the actual roller surface height of each target area and sends it to the control unit. The control unit compares the detected actual roller surface height of each target area with the target roller surface height. For target areas with a difference less than or equal to a preset difference, no temperature compensation is performed. For target areas with a difference greater than the preset difference, the target temperature corresponding to the target roller surface height of the target area is obtained, and the temperature measuring unit is controlled to adjust the temperature of the target area to the target temperature. This ensures that the roller surface height of each target area after temperature compensation can reach the preset roller surface height, and ensures that the roller surface height of different target areas along the axial direction of the rubber roller is consistent. In other words, it makes the roller gap at each position along the axial direction of the rubber roller basically consistent, thereby improving the uniformity of the thickness of the electrode sheet at each position in the width direction after thermal lamination and improving the quality of the electrode sheet after thermal lamination. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber roller and steel roller provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the rubber roller and heating unit provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical control relationship of the thermal composite device provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a top view of a portion of the structure of the thermal composite device provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In the picture:

[0029] 10. Rubber roller; 11. Shaft; 12. Rubber layer;

[0030] 20. Heating unit; 21. Heating assembly; 211. Temperature control layer; 212. Heat-conducting layer;

[0031] 30. Temperature measuring unit; 31. Temperature sensor;

[0032] 40. Distance measuring unit; 41. Displacement sensor; 42. Drive mechanism;

[0033] 50. Control unit; 51. Control module; 52. Storage module; 53. Comparison module;

[0034] 60. Steel rollers;

[0035] 70. Roller gap;

[0036] 81. First support. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention and not the entire structure.

[0038] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0040] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0041] Thermal lamination is a common process in electrode production. It usually involves laminating positive or negative electrode sheets with solid electrolyte membranes or other functional membranes under heating conditions. Using rubber rollers for thermal lamination can improve the lamination effect between the electrode sheet and the membrane material.

[0042] Electrode preparation methods typically include dry and wet methods. However, both dry and wet electrodes may exhibit inconsistencies in thickness along their width. For example, in dry electrodes, the edges need to be trimmed, resulting in a thinner thickness at the two edges than in the middle. In wet electrodes, uneven heating during slurry drying can lead to inconsistent active material layer thickness. During thermal lamination, the elastic force of the rollers improves the bonding consistency along the electrode width, thereby reducing the inconsistency in bonding with the solid electrolyte layer or other functional layers caused by varying electrode thicknesses, and ultimately improving the lamination effect.

[0043] This embodiment provides a method for compensating the roller surface height of a thermally laminated roller, which can be executed by a thermal lamination device. This ensures that the roller surface height is consistent at all positions along the axial direction during the thermal lamination process, improving the uniformity of the electrode thickness in the width direction after thermal lamination and thus enhancing the quality of the electrode. Specifically, the electrode in this application can be a positive electrode or a negative electrode.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the thermal lamination device includes a rubber roller 10 and a steel roller 60, which are arranged in parallel with a gap 70 between them. The rubber roller 10 includes a shaft 11 and a rubber layer 12 coaxially disposed outside the shaft 11. The shaft 11 is used to rotate with a support mechanism and provides anti-deformation support for the entire rubber roller 10. The rubber layer 12 has a pressure-adaptive function, thereby improving the uniformity of the electrode thickness. During the thermal lamination process, the rubber roller 10 is heated, and the electrode and the film layer to be laminated (such as a solid electrolyte layer or other functional film layer) simultaneously pass through the gap 70. The rubber roller 10 and the steel roller 60 rotate in opposite directions, thereby achieving thermal lamination between the electrode and the film layer to be laminated.

[0045] During the thermal lamination process, the heat dissipation effect of the adhesive layer 12 is inconsistent at different positions along the axial direction, resulting in inconsistent thermal expansion at different positions along the axial direction of the adhesive layer 12. This leads to inconsistent roller surface height at various positions along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10, ultimately causing excessive deviation in the thickness of the laminated electrode sheet along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10.

[0046] In response, the roller surface height compensation method for the thermal laminating roller provided in this embodiment includes:

[0047] S100, respectively obtain the actual roller surface height and the corresponding actual temperature of multiple target areas on the rubber roller 10 during the thermal bonding process;

[0048] S200 compares the actual roller surface height of each target area with the target roller surface height;

[0049] S300, based on the comparison results of step S200 and the temperature-roller height change curve of each target area, obtain the target temperature of each target area at the corresponding target roller height;

[0050] S400 performs temperature compensation on the corresponding target area according to the target temperature of each target area, so as to adjust the actual temperature of the target area to the target temperature;

[0051] Among them, multiple target areas are multiple regions that divide the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction.

[0052] The roller surface height compensation method of the thermal lamination roller in this embodiment obtains the actual roller surface height and corresponding actual temperature of each target area along the axial direction of the roller 10 during thermal lamination. Then, the actual roller surface height of each target area is compared with the target roller surface height. If the difference between the actual roller surface height and the target roller surface height is greater than a preset difference, it means that the current actual roller surface height of the target area needs to be compensated. At this time, based on the existing temperature-roller surface height change curve of the corresponding target area, the target temperature at the target roller surface height of each target area is obtained. Then, according to the obtained target temperature of each target area, temperature compensation is performed on the corresponding target area to adjust the actual temperature of the target area to the target temperature, thereby adjusting the actual roller surface height of each target area to the target roller surface height. This ensures that the roller surface height of different target areas along the axial direction of the roller 10 is consistent. In other words, it makes the roller gap 70 at each position along the axial direction of the roller 10 basically consistent, thereby improving the uniformity of the thickness of the electrode sheet at each position in the width direction after thermal lamination and improving the quality of the electrode sheet after thermal lamination.

[0053] In fact, this application first starts with the direct factors affecting the thickness of the electrode sheet in thermal bonding (i.e., the roll gap 70), and then finds the important factors affecting the roll gap 70 (i.e., the roll surface height). It then focuses on the fact that the roll surface height is different in different target areas during the rolling process, and the temperature-roll surface height change curves are also different due to the inconsistent heat dissipation conditions in each target area. Then, by dividing the rubber roller 10 into different target areas along the axial direction and combining the temperature-roll surface height change curves of each target area, temperature compensation is performed on each target area. Finally, the zonal adjustment of the roll surface height is achieved, ensuring that the roll surface height of the rubber roller 10 at each position along the axial direction is basically consistent with the ideal roll surface height. This achieves the technical effect of improving the uniformity of the thickness of the electrode sheet in the width direction after thermal bonding and improving the quality of the electrode sheet after thermal bonding.

[0054] In the above temperature-roller height variation curve, the temperature refers to the temperature of the target area. This temperature can be the surface temperature of the adhesive layer 12 or the internal temperature of the adhesive layer 12, as long as it matches the actual temperature position of the target area obtained in step S100. Furthermore, since the adhesive layer 12 exhibits the most significant expansion with temperature changes in the rubber roller 10, it can be considered that the roller height of the rubber roller 10 is mainly affected by the expansion of the adhesive layer 12. Therefore, in the temperature-roller height variation curve, the change in roller height is primarily caused by the thermal expansion of the adhesive layer 12.

[0055] The number of target regions divided by the rubber roller 10 can be flexibly set according to the actual axial dimension of the rubber roller 10 and the required thickness accuracy of the electrode sheet along the width direction. For example, for a rubber roller 10 with a smaller axial dimension, the number of target regions can be reduced, while for a rubber roller 10 with a larger axial dimension, the number of target regions can be increased. If the required thickness accuracy of the electrode sheet along the width direction is high, the number of target regions can be increased, and vice versa. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the dimensions of each target region along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 are equal. In some embodiments, considering that the heat dissipation effect of the rubber roller 10 is not uniformly varied at different positions along the axial direction, the dimensions of each target region along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 can also be different. For example, the axial dimension of the target region near the axial end of the rubber roller 10 can be appropriately increased, while the axial dimension of the target region near the middle position of the rubber roller 10 can be appropriately decreased.

[0056] It should be noted that in step S200, there may be cases where the difference between the actual roller height and the target roller height of some target areas is less than or equal to a preset difference. In this case, it means that the actual roller height of the target area does not need to be compensated, and the temperature compensation in steps S300 and S400 will not be performed on the target area.

[0057] In this embodiment, step S100, obtaining the actual roller surface heights corresponding to multiple target areas on the rubber roller 10 during the thermal lamination process, includes: measuring the actual distance between the roller surface corresponding to each target area and a reference point, where the actual distance is the actual roller surface height of the corresponding target area. The roller surface is the outer surface of the adhesive layer 12. The reference point is a straight line adjacent to the rubber roller 10 and parallel to the axial direction of the rubber roller 10.

[0058] In some embodiments, the actual roller height of the target area is the actual distance between the midpoint of the corresponding target area along the axial direction and the reference point. This setting reduces the amount of data collection while ensuring that the roller height data accurately reflects the roller height state of the corresponding target area, thereby reducing the difficulty of subsequent calculations.

[0059] In some embodiments, the actual roller surface height of the target area can also be the average of the actual distances between at least two height measuring points along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 within the corresponding target area and a reference point. The actual roller surface height obtained in this way can more accurately reflect the actual roller surface height state of the target area, which is beneficial for improving the accuracy of subsequent temperature compensation.

[0060] In this embodiment, step S100 involves obtaining the actual temperatures of multiple target areas on the adhesive roller 10 during the thermal lamination process, including:

[0061] Acquire the temperature of multiple temperature measurement points on each target area;

[0062] Obtain the average temperature value from multiple temperature measurement points;

[0063] Set the average temperature to the actual temperature of the corresponding target area.

[0064] The actual temperature obtained in this way can more accurately reflect the actual temperature state of the target area, thereby improving the accuracy of subsequent temperature compensation. Optionally, the actual temperature of each target area can be obtained by setting multiple temperature sensors 31 on the outside of the rubber roller 10 corresponding to each target area, or by setting multiple temperature-sensing patches inside different target areas of the rubber roller 10, etc., without specific limitations.

[0065] Furthermore, temperature compensation is performed on the corresponding target areas based on their target temperatures, including either increasing or decreasing the temperature of the corresponding target area. Specifically, increasing the temperature of a target area corresponds to increasing its heating power, while decreasing its temperature corresponds to decreasing its heating power.

[0066] In this embodiment, the roller height compensation method further includes: obtaining the target roller height in advance before step S200 so as to compare it with the actual roller height of each target area in step S200.

[0067] In some embodiments, the method for pre-obtaining the target roller surface height includes:

[0068] During the thermal bonding process, when the temperature of the target area located at the center of the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 reaches the second preset temperature, the roller surface height of multiple height measuring points on the target area is obtained.

[0069] Obtain the average value of the roller surface height from multiple height measurement points;

[0070] Set the average roller surface height as the target roller surface height.

[0071] In this embodiment, the second preset temperature is a predetermined temperature determined by the operator based on various factors such as the properties of the functional film layer after thermal lamination and the thickness of the electrode sheet after thermal lamination. Furthermore, during the thermal lamination process, when the temperature of the target area located at the center of the roller 10 along the axial direction reaches the second preset temperature, the actual roller surface height of that target area is a relatively ideal roller surface height. Based on this, by averaging the roller surface heights at multiple height measurement points on that target area, a more accurate value reflecting the roller surface height state of that target area can be obtained. Using this average roller surface height as the target roller surface height ensures that the final roller surface height of each target area after temperature compensation is a relatively ideal roller surface height, thus guaranteeing the accuracy of the electrode sheet after thermal lamination.

[0072] It should be noted that in some embodiments, when the number of target areas is odd, there is one target area located at the center of the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction. In some embodiments, when the number of target areas is even, there are two target areas located at the center of the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction. Since these two target areas are symmetrically arranged, one of them can be selected to obtain the roller surface height of multiple height measuring points.

[0073] Furthermore, in the aforementioned statement, "During the thermal lamination process, when the temperature of the target area located at the center of the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction reaches a second preset temperature, the roller surface height at multiple height measuring points on the target area is obtained," the roller surface height can be the result obtained in step S100. In some embodiments, "During the thermal lamination process, when the temperature of the target area located at the center of the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction reaches a second preset temperature, the roller surface height at multiple height measuring points on the target area is obtained" can also be performed and obtained separately in step S100.

[0074] In some embodiments, the method for pre-obtaining the target roller surface height includes:

[0075] The roller surface height of the target area located at the center of the roller 10 along the axial direction during the previous thermal bonding process is obtained;

[0076] The target roller surface height is set as the height of the target area located at the center of the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 during the previous thermal bonding process.

[0077] In this embodiment, data from the thermal bonding process with good electrode quality in past production can be directly selected. This not only makes the data acquisition more convenient but also ensures that the roller surface height after temperature compensation based on the target roller surface height is closer to the ideal roller surface height.

[0078] In this embodiment, the roller height compensation method further includes: before step S300, obtaining the temperature-roller height change curve of the target area in advance.

[0079] In some embodiments, the method for pre-obtaining the temperature-roller height variation curves of each target region includes:

[0080] Perform a thermal bonding operation on the rubber roller 10;

[0081] Acquire the actual temperature change data and actual roller height change data of each target area within a preset time;

[0082] Based on the actual temperature change data and actual roller height change data of each target area, plot the temperature-roller height change curve of the corresponding target area;

[0083] The preset time is from the start of self-heating composite to the point where the temperature of each target area reaches the first preset temperature, which is the maximum empirical working temperature.

[0084] In addition, the above-mentioned thermal bonding operation on the rubber roller 10 includes heating each target area of ​​the rubber roller 10 at a first preset temperature.

[0085] It should be noted that the maximum empirical operating temperature is a "safety temperature," meaning that the electrode sheet will not fail the thermal bonding process if the rubber roller 10 operates within the maximum empirical operating temperature. In this embodiment, each target area is heated to a first preset temperature, and temperature change data and actual roller height change data of the corresponding target area are collected in real time during this process. This ensures that the temperature-roller height change curves of each target area are obtained from actual measurements during the thermal bonding operation of the rubber roller 10. In other words, the temperature-roller height change curves of each target area already cover the factor of inconsistent heat dissipation conditions of the rubber roller 10 in each target area. The final temperature-roller height change curves of each target area have high reliability, ensuring the reliability of the target temperature of each area obtained from the temperature-roller height change curve in the subsequent step S300, and ultimately ensuring the accuracy of temperature compensation for each area.

[0086] It is understandable that when the temperature-roller height change curves of each target area are obtained in advance, the steps of performing thermal lamination on the rubber roller 10 can be completed during the heating process of the rubber roller 10 at the start of the actual thermal lamination production, or can be obtained through simulation experiments before the actual thermal lamination production.

[0087] In some embodiments, pre-obtaining the temperature-roll height variation curves for each target area includes obtaining the temperature-roll height variation curves for each target area based on the thermal expansion curve of the material selected for the adhesive layer 12. In this embodiment, since the material of the adhesive layer 12 is consistent at all axial positions, the temperature-roll height variation curves used for all target areas are the same. This method makes obtaining the temperature-roll height variation curves easier, but this embodiment does not take into account the inconsistent actual heat dissipation conditions of each target area. Therefore, the reliability of the temperature-roll height variation curves obtained in this way is slightly lower than that obtained by the method mentioned above.

[0088] In some scenarios, after the rubber roller 10 has been used for a period of time, the roller surface may experience wear and aging, resulting in the roller surface height in each target area still not reaching the target roller surface height after temperature compensation. To address this:

[0089] In this embodiment, the roller height compensation method further includes:

[0090] Obtain the actual roller surface height when each target area is heated to the corresponding target temperature;

[0091] Obtain the difference between the actual roller surface height after heating and the target roller surface height;

[0092] If the difference for a target area exceeds the preset value, then update the temperature-roller height change curve for that target area.

[0093] In this embodiment, the roller height compensation method involves re-acquiring the actual roller height of each target area after temperature compensation. If the difference between the actual roller height and the corresponding target roller height is within a preset value, it indicates that the wear and aging of the target area is negligible. However, if the difference between the actual roller height and the target roller height exceeds the preset value, it indicates that the wear and aging of the rubber roller 10 cannot be ignored, and the current temperature-roller height change curve does not match the actual state of the rubber roller 10. Updating the temperature-roller height change curve of the target area ensures that the subsequent temperature compensation for each target area is more accurate, thereby ensuring that the actual roller height of each target area after temperature compensation is basically consistent with the target roller height, and ensuring the thickness consistency of the electrode sheet in the width direction after thermal bonding.

[0094] Normally, during a single thermal lamination process, performing the temperature compensation operation in steps S100 to S400 only once is sufficient to ensure that the actual roller surface height of each target area after temperature compensation is basically consistent with the target roller surface height. Afterward, it is unnecessary to repeat steps S100 to S400 multiple times. However, if the difference between the actual roller surface height of each target area after heating to the corresponding target temperature and the target roller surface height exceeds a preset value, then after updating the temperature-roller surface height change curve as described above, the temperature compensation operation in steps S100 to S400 can be repeated once more.

[0095] In this embodiment, updating the temperature-roller height change curve corresponding to the target area includes:

[0096] Perform a thermal bonding operation on the rubber roller 10;

[0097] Acquire the actual temperature change data and actual roller height change data of each target area within a preset time;

[0098] Based on the actual temperature change data and actual roller height change data of each target area, plot the temperature-roller height change curve of the corresponding target area;

[0099] The preset time is from the start of self-heating composite to the point where the temperature of each target area reaches the first preset temperature, and the first preset temperature is the maximum empirical working temperature.

[0100] In addition, performing a thermal bonding operation on the rubber roller 10 includes heating each target area of ​​the rubber roller 10 at a first preset temperature.

[0101] The process of updating the temperature-roller height change curve corresponding to the target area can be performed during the thermal bonding process. Based on the process of updating the temperature-roller height change curve corresponding to the target area, the heating temperature applied to the rubber roller 10 is the maximum empirical working temperature, so it will not cause the electrode sheet to be unqualified during the current thermal bonding.

[0102] This embodiment also provides a thermal bonding device, such as... Figures 2-4As shown, the thermal lamination device includes a rubber roller 10, a heating unit 20, a temperature measuring unit 30, a distance measuring unit 40, and a control unit 50. The rubber roller 10 includes a shaft 11 and a rubber layer 12 coaxially disposed outside the shaft 11. The heating unit 20 is disposed on the rubber roller 10 and can independently heat multiple target areas of the rubber roller 10, wherein the multiple target areas are regions that divide the rubber roller 10 along the axial direction. The temperature measuring unit 30 is disposed adjacent to the rubber roller 10 and can measure the actual temperature of each target area. The distance measuring unit 40 is disposed adjacent to the rubber roller 10 and can measure the actual roller surface height of each target area. The control unit 50 is communicatively connected to the heating unit 20, the temperature measuring unit 30, and the distance measuring unit 40 to acquire the actual temperature and actual roller surface height of each target area. The control unit 50 can acquire the target temperature at the corresponding target roller surface height for each target area and control the heating unit 20 to perform temperature compensation for each target area to adjust the temperature of each target area to the corresponding target temperature.

[0103] In this embodiment of the thermal lamination device, the rubber roller 10 is divided into different target areas along the axial direction. During the thermal lamination process, the temperature measuring unit 30 measures the actual temperature of each target area and sends it to the control unit 50. The distance measuring unit 40 measures the actual roller surface height of each target area and sends it to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 compares the detected actual roller surface height of each target area with the target roller surface height. For target areas where the difference is less than or equal to a preset difference, no temperature compensation is performed. For target areas where the difference is greater than the preset difference, the target temperature corresponding to the target roller surface height is obtained, and the temperature measuring unit 30 is controlled to adjust the temperature of the target area to the target temperature. This ensures that the roller surface height of each target area after temperature compensation can reach the preset roller surface height, and ensures that the roller surface height of different target areas along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 is consistent. In other words, the roller gap 70 at each position along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 is basically consistent, thereby improving the uniformity of the thickness of the electrode sheet at each position in the width direction after thermal lamination and improving the quality of the electrode sheet after thermal lamination.

[0104] In this embodiment, the shaft 11 can be made of high-strength chromium-molybdenum alloy steel to minimize the overall bending deformation of the rubber roller 10. The rubber layer 12 can be made of Hypalon rubber or hydrogenated nitrile rubber, preferably with a Shore hardness in the range of 90-95A.

[0105] like Figure 3As shown, the control unit 50 includes a control module 51 and a storage module 52, which are communicatively connected. The storage module 52 stores the temperature-roller height variation curves of each target area. The control module 51 obtains the target temperature at the target roller height corresponding to each target area based on the temperature-roller height variation curves of each target area. The control unit 50 also includes a comparison module 53, which is communicatively connected to the control module 51. The comparison module 53 can compare the actual roller height with the target roller height of each target area and output a first comparison result. The control module 51 determines whether to perform temperature compensation on the target area based on the first comparison result. Specifically, if the comparison module 53 obtains a first comparison result for a target area that is less than or equal to a preset difference, then no temperature compensation is performed on the corresponding target area; if the comparison module 53 obtains a first comparison result for a target area that is greater than the preset difference, then the control module 51 controls the temperature measuring unit 30 to perform temperature compensation on the corresponding target area.

[0106] In some embodiments, the storage module 52 is communicatively connected to the temperature measuring unit 30 and the distance measuring unit 40, respectively. The temperature measuring unit 30 and the distance measuring unit 40 can collect the actual roller surface height and actual temperature corresponding to multiple target areas at a preset frequency and store them in the storage module 52. The control module 51 can plot the temperature-roller surface height change curve of the corresponding target area based on the actual temperature change data and the actual roller surface height change data within a preset time. The preset time is from the start of self-heating composite until the temperature of each target area reaches a first preset temperature, which is the maximum empirical working temperature. It should be noted that the maximum empirical working temperature is a "safety temperature", that is, the electrode sheet of the heat-composite process will not be defective if the rubber roller 10 is within the maximum empirical working temperature.

[0107] In this embodiment, at the start of the thermal lamination process, each target area of ​​the rubber roller 10 is heated to a first preset temperature. During this process, the temperature measuring unit 30 and the distance measuring unit 40 respectively collect the actual roller surface height and actual temperature corresponding to each target area at a preset frequency and store them in the storage module 52. The control module 51 can plot the temperature-roller surface height change curve of the corresponding target area based on the actual temperature change data and the actual roller surface height change data within a preset time. On the one hand, the temperature-roller surface height change curve is completed by the thermal lamination device itself at the beginning of the actual thermal lamination process, without the need for external equipment or prior calculation or experimentation; on the other hand, the acquisition of the temperature-roller surface height change curve is based on actual working conditions, taking into account the heat dissipation conditions of each target area, thus making the data more reliable.

[0108] In other embodiments, the temperature-roller height variation curve can be calculated based on the thermal expansion curve of the material used in the adhesive layer 12. Since the material of the adhesive layer 12 is consistent at all axial positions, the temperature-roller height variation curve is the same for all target areas. In this way, it is easier to obtain the temperature-roller height variation curve, and it can reduce the storage capacity of the storage module 52 and the computational load of the control module 51. However, it is understandable that since the heat dissipation state of each target area is different, calculating the target temperature of each target area based on the same temperature-roller height variation curve will result in slightly lower accuracy.

[0109] In some scenarios, after the rubber roller 10 has been used for a period of time, the roller surface may experience wear and aging, resulting in the roller surface height in each target area still not reaching the target roller surface height after temperature compensation. To address this:

[0110] The comparison module 53 can compare the actual roller height of each target area after reaching the target temperature with the corresponding target roller height and output a second comparison result. When the second comparison result is less than or equal to the preset value, it means that the wear and aging of the current target area can be ignored; when the second comparison result is greater than the preset value, it means that the wear and aging of the current target area cannot be ignored, and the current temperature-roller height change curve is no longer consistent with the actual state of the rubber roller 10. At this time, updating the temperature-roller height change curve of the target area can ensure that the temperature compensation of each target area is more accurate in the future, thereby ensuring that the actual roller height of each target area after temperature compensation is basically consistent with the target roller height, and ensuring the thickness consistency of the electrode sheet in the width direction after thermal bonding.

[0111] The specific update method for the temperature-roll height change curve can be as follows: During the actual rolling process, the control module 51 controls the heating unit 20 to heat the temperature of the corresponding target area to the first preset temperature. During this heating process, the temperature measuring unit 30 collects the actual temperature of the corresponding target area at a preset frequency and stores it in the storage module 52. The distance measuring unit 40 collects the actual roll height of the corresponding target area at a preset frequency and stores it in the storage module 52. The control module 51 can redraw the temperature-roll height change curve of the target area based on the actual temperature change data and the actual roll height change data during the heating process, and replace the original temperature-roll height change curve to realize the update of the temperature-roll height change curve.

[0112] The target roller surface height is stored in storage module 52. The specific method for obtaining the target roller surface height can be referred to the description above, and will not be repeated here.

[0113] In this embodiment, the heating unit 20 includes multiple heating components 21, each corresponding to a specific target area. The control unit 50 is communicatively connected to each heating component 21 to control the heating components 21 to heat the corresponding target areas. In other words, by using multiple heating components 21, independent temperature control of multiple target areas can be achieved. In this embodiment, each heating component 21 is disposed between the roller core and the adhesive layer 12, and arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the adhesive roller 10. Each heating component 21 is arranged circumferentially around the roller core. This arrangement ensures uniform temperature across different circumferential positions in each target area.

[0114] like Figure 2 As shown, the heating assembly 21 includes a temperature control layer 211 and a heat-conducting layer 212. The temperature control layer 211 is disposed on the outside of the shaft 11, and the heat-conducting layer 212 is disposed between the temperature control layer 211 and the adhesive layer 12. The control unit 50 is communicatively connected to the temperature control layer 211. By setting the heat-conducting layer 212, not only can the heat generated by the temperature control layer 211 be quickly transferred to the adhesive layer 12, but the temperature distribution of the adhesive layer 12 is also made uniform. In this embodiment, the temperature control layer 211 can be a PTC heating element. The PTC heating element is an existing mature module. By changing the power of the PTC heating element, the heating temperature can be changed. The specific working principle of the PTC heating element will not be described in detail. Optionally, the axial dimension of each PTC heating element is no greater than 200mm, that is, the axial dimension of each target area is no greater than 200mm. This setting can control the temperature deviation of the target area at various locations within ±2℃. Optionally, the heat-conducting layer 212 can specifically be a copper-aluminum alloy microtube array structure. In some embodiments, the heat-conducting layer 212 of different heating components 21 can be configured as a single piece.

[0115] like Figure 4 As shown, the temperature measuring unit 30 includes multiple temperature sensors 31, with at least one temperature sensor 31 corresponding to each target area. Each temperature sensor 31 is used to acquire the actual temperature of the corresponding target area, and each temperature sensor 31 is connected to the control unit 50 via communication. After each temperature sensor detects the temperature of its corresponding target area, it can send the detection result to the control unit 50, so that the control unit 50 can perform temperature compensation for each target area based on the temperature detection result.

[0116] In some embodiments, one temperature sensor 31 is set for each target area. This temperature sensor 31 can be used to measure the temperature at the midpoint of the target area along the axial direction. In other embodiments, two or more temperature sensors 31 are set within the same target area, allowing simultaneous acquisition of temperatures from multiple measurement points within the same target area. The control unit 50 can average the temperatures from multiple measurement points in the target area to obtain the actual temperature of the target area. This actual temperature more accurately reflects the temperature state of the target area, thereby improving the accuracy of temperature compensation.

[0117] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, each temperature sensor 31 is disposed on the outside of the rubber roller 10 and arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10, thereby ensuring that the distance between each temperature sensor 31 and the target area it detects is basically consistent, and ensuring that the detection results are comparable. Optionally, the thermal bonding device also includes a first support 81, which is a rod arranged parallel to the rubber roller 10, and each temperature sensor 31 is mounted on the first support 81.

[0118] In some embodiments (not shown), the temperature sensor 31 may also be a temperature-sensitive patch disposed inside the rubber roller 10, and multiple temperature-sensitive patches may be disposed in each target area. The temperature-sensitive patch is an existing temperature sensing element, and its working principle will not be further described here.

[0119] like Figure 3 As shown, the ranging unit 40 includes a displacement sensor 41 and a driving mechanism 42. The displacement sensor 41 can move along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 under the drive of the driving mechanism 42 to obtain the actual roller surface height of each target area. The control unit 50 is communicatively connected to the displacement sensor 41 and the driving mechanism 42. In this embodiment, by setting the driving mechanism 42 to drive the displacement sensor 41 to move along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10, the actual roller surface height of each target area can be measured. The height of one or more height measurement points can be collected for each target area, and the average value is taken as the actual roller surface height, ensuring that the actual roller surface height more accurately reflects the roller surface height status of the corresponding target area. In addition, when the displacement sensor 41 moves along the axial direction of the rubber roller 10, the distance from the axis of the center 11 remains constant, thereby ensuring the consistency of the reference point for measuring the roller surface height and ensuring the reliability of the measured roller surface height.

[0120] Specifically, the control unit 50 determines the current position of the displacement sensor 41, i.e., the target area corresponding to the displacement sensor 41, by detecting the time when the drive mechanism 42 starts executing the drive action. The temperature detected by the displacement sensor 41 and sent to the control unit 50 at this time is the actual temperature of the corresponding target area. Of course, in some embodiments, a distance detection element can also be provided. This element measures the position of the displacement sensor 41 in real time and sends the data to the control unit 50, allowing the control unit 50 to confirm which target area the distance detection element is currently detecting. Furthermore, by using a movable displacement sensor 41, measurements can be taken at different elevation points along the axial direction of the same target area, resulting in low cost.

[0121] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 42 includes a motor, a lead screw, and a nut. The lead screw is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the rubber roller 10 and rotatably mounted on a second bracket. The motor is mounted on the second bracket and its output end is connected to the lead screw for transmission. The nut is threadedly connected to the lead screw, and the distance sensor is fixedly connected to the nut. When the motor outputs rotational motion, the lead screw rotates, and the nut drives the distance sensor to move along the lead screw, thereby detecting the distance to different target areas of the rubber roller 10. It is understood that, in order to ensure the motion accuracy of the distance sensor, a guide assembly can also be provided between the distance sensor and the bracket assembly. Specifically, the guide assembly can be a structure of a guide rod and a linear bearing, or a guide rail and slider structure.

[0122] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, based on the concept of the present invention, there will be changes in specific implementation methods and application scope. The content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal lamination apparatus, comprising a rubber roller, the rubber roller including a shaft and a rubber layer coaxially disposed outside the shaft, characterized in that, Also includes: A heating unit, disposed on the rubber roller, is capable of independently heating multiple target areas of the rubber roller; A temperature measuring unit, located adjacent to the rubber roller, is capable of measuring the actual temperature of multiple target areas respectively; A ranging unit, located adjacent to the rubber roller, is capable of measuring the actual roller surface height of multiple target areas respectively; The control unit is communicatively connected to the heating unit, the temperature measuring unit, and the distance measuring unit, respectively, so as to obtain the actual temperature and actual roller surface height of each target area; The target regions are multiple regions that divide the rubber roller along the axial direction; the control unit can obtain the target temperature of each target region at the target roller surface height according to the target roller surface height of each target region, and control the heating unit to perform temperature compensation on each target region to adjust the temperature of each target region to the corresponding target temperature; The control unit includes a storage module and a control module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the storage module. The storage module is communicatively connected to the temperature measuring unit and the distance measuring unit. The temperature measuring unit and the distance measuring unit can collect the actual roller surface height and actual temperature corresponding to multiple target areas at a preset frequency and store them in the storage module. The control module can plot the temperature-roller surface height change curve corresponding to the target area based on the actual temperature change data and actual roller surface height change data within a preset time. The preset time is from the start of self-heating composite to the temperature of each target area reaching a first preset temperature, where the first preset temperature is the maximum empirical working temperature. The control unit includes a comparison module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the comparison module. The comparison module can compare the actual roller height after each target area reaches the target temperature with the corresponding target roller height, and output a second comparison result. When the second comparison result is greater than a preset value, the control module can update the temperature-roller height change curve of the target area according to the second comparison result.

2. The thermal composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating unit includes multiple heating components that are configured one-to-one with the multiple target areas; the control unit is communicatively connected to each of the heating components to control the multiple heating components to heat the corresponding target areas.

3. The thermal composite device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heating assembly includes a temperature control layer and a heat-conducting layer. The temperature control layer is disposed on the outside of the shaft, and the heat-conducting layer is disposed between the temperature control layer and the adhesive layer. The control unit is communicatively connected to the temperature control layer.

4. The thermal composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature measuring unit includes multiple temperature sensors, with at least one temperature sensor corresponding to each target area. Each temperature sensor is used to acquire the temperature of the corresponding target area, and each temperature sensor is communicatively connected to the control unit.

5. The thermal composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ranging unit includes a displacement sensor and a driving mechanism. The displacement sensor can move along the axial direction of the rubber roller under the drive of the driving mechanism to obtain the actual roller surface height of each target area. The control unit is communicatively connected to the displacement sensor and the driving mechanism.

6. The thermal composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage module stores the temperature-roller height variation curves of each of the target areas, and the control module obtains the target temperature of each target area at the target roller height according to the temperature-roller height variation curves of each target area.

7. The thermal composite device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit includes a comparison module, and the control module is communicatively connected to the comparison module. The comparison module is capable of comparing the actual roller surface height of each target area with the target roller surface height and outputting a first comparison result. The control module determines whether to perform temperature compensation on the target area based on the first comparison result.

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