Apparatus and method for fabricating and transporting segmented cell stacks for the energy cell manufacturing industry

Abstract

An apparatus 100 for producing and transporting cell stacks 3 consisting of segments 2 for the energy battery manufacturing industry, comprising at least two cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d configured to stack the segments 2 as cell stacks 3, and at least one supply device 5 configured to each supply a segment 2 to the cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, wherein a transport system 6 is provided with a plurality of independently movable transport units 7 configured to transport the cell stacks 3 produced by the cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d from an unloading area 8 to an output area 9 spatially separated from the unloading area 8, wherein one of the cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d produces the cell stacks 3 in or on one of the transport units 7, respectively, which can be removed from the transport system 6 in the unloading area 8 to produce the cell stacks 3.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing and transporting cell stacks made of segments for the energy cell manufacturing industry, according to the preamble features of claims 1 and 9. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy cells or energy stores in the sense of the invention are used, for example, in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, ships, aircraft, or also in stationary installations, such as photovoltaic installations, in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, where very large amounts of energy must be stored over longer periods of time. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure consisting of a number of segments stacked together in a stack, each of which is an alternating anode seed and cathode sheet, which are separated from each other by a separator sheet, which is also manufactured as a segment. The segments are precut in the manufacturing process, then stacked in a defined order in a stack and joined to each other by lamination. In that case, the anode and cathode sheets are first cut out from an endless strip and then placed, spaced apart, on each of the endless strips of separator material. The subsequently produced "double-layer" endless strip of separator material provided with an anode or cathode sheet is then cut into segments in a second step again by means of a cutting machine, in which case the segments are produced as a double layer of a separator sheet provided with an anode or cathode sheet placed on top. If production technically feasible or necessary, the endless strips of separator material provided with an anode sheet and a cathode sheet can also be superimposed on one another before cutting, so that an endless strip is produced consisting of a first endless layer of separator material provided with an anode sheet or a cathode sheet placed on top and a second endless layer of separator material provided with an anode sheet or a cathode sheet placed on top again. The "four-layer" endless strip is then cut into segments by means of a cutting machine, in which case the segments are produced with four layers consisting of a first separator sheet, an anode sheet, a second separator sheet and a cathode sheet placed on top of that. Such a solution is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,399,633.The four-ply strip may be fabricated with a first separator sheet, a cathode sheet, a second separator sheet, followed by an anode sheet.

[0003] Therefore, a segment in the sense of this application may be a segment of a single layer of separator material, anode material or cathode material, a segment of two or four layers of the above mentioned structures.

[0004] Apparatuses for manufacturing battery cells are known, for example from US Pat. No. 5,399,623 and US Pat. No. 5,499,633.

[0005] Furthermore, an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode stack is also known from US Pat. No. 5,999,366. For this purpose, a transport system with a carriage is provided, on which electrode layers and separator layers can be stacked. There are stacking stations for placing only separator layers, stacking stations for placing only cathode layers and stacking stations for placing only anode layers. Thus, by moving the carriage to the stacking stations accordingly, the cell stacks can be stacked in the desired order on the tray surface of the carriage.

[0006] Likewise, an apparatus for manufacturing battery cells is known from DE 199 0 63 336. After the battery cell has been manufactured, it is transferred to a belt conveyor in a so-called "pick and place" manner.

[0007] For example, the manufacture of battery cells for electromobility is carried out today in production facilities with a capacity of 100-240 monocells per minute. They either operate in partial areas or continuously with synchronized discontinuous movements, e.g. forward and reverse movements, and are therefore limited in terms of production capacity. The majority of known machines work in a single-sheet stacking manner (e.g. "pick and place"), the disadvantage of which is that they are slow. Lamination of cell configurations is then not possible.

[0008] Another known approach is a machine with a continuously advancing strip of material and a synchronized tool, such as a cutting knife or a pitch changing tool.

[0009] Basically, machines with synchronized movements are limited in terms of capacity. Massive parts, such as containers and tools, must constantly accelerate and decelerate. In that case, the process determines the time course, and a lot of energy is consumed. The mass of moving parts cannot be reduced arbitrarily. In many cases, faster-moving parts have to withstand higher loads and are therefore even more strained and heavier.

[0010] In order to reduce the production costs of battery manufacturing, in particular the machine capacities must be increased, whereby one condition for a high capacity is the increased speed at which stacks of energy cells consisting of a number of stacked segments of the type mentioned at the outset can be manufactured.

[0011] The segments are stacked on top of each other in a preceding manufacturing step, here in a first step, as so-called monocells consisting of a first separator sheet, an anode sheet arranged thereon, a second separator sheet arranged thereon and a cathode sheet arranged thereon, which monocells can also have a layer sequence consisting of a first separator sheet, a cathode sheet arranged thereon, a second separator sheet arranged thereon and an anode sheet arranged thereon.

[0012] Alternatively, the separator sheet can first be guided as two endless strips, then on one of the endless strips an already cut segment in the form of an anode sheet is laid, and on the other endless strip an already cut segment in the form of a cathode sheet is laid and joined together by a lamination process, after which the thus prefabricated composite strips are joined together in a further lamination process to form a four-ply composite strip.

[0013] Basically, it is also possible to place a first cut electrode in the form of a cathode or an anode between separator sheets in the form of an endless strip and a second cut electrode in the form of an anode or a cathode above or below one of the separator sheets, after which the lamination of the four layers of strips takes place in a common lamination process, so that even in the presence of the endless strips, i.e. before cutting, a monocell is produced in a fixed arrangement.

[0014] Subsequently, regardless of whether the mono-cell is manufactured in a one-step or two-step lamination process, the mono-cell is cut through the spaces between successive anode or cathode sheets of the composite strip in a single step.

[0015] Alternatively, an endless strip of separator material with an anode sheet and a cathode sheet disposed thereon can be cut first, and then a monocell is produced by a subsequent process of joining a first separator sheet cut with an anode and a second separator sheet cut with a cathode, respectively.

[0016] The segments are then stacked in a stack of several segments. If the segments are monocells or separator sheets with an anode or cathode sheet placed on top, then on the free side of the stack there is a cathode or anode, which is then covered by placing a so-called final cell. The final cell is composed of a first separator sheet, an anode or cathode sheet placed thereon and a second separator sheet placed thereon, but no cathode or anode sheet placed thereon. The final cell can then also be considered as a monocell without a cathode or anode sheet. The completed stack of several monocells and final cells then has a separator sheet on its upper and lower sides, respectively, characterized in that the anode and cathode sheets are covered by the separator sheet on their upper and lower sides, respectively, and do not come into contact with each other. Alternatively, the final cell can also be composed of an electrode, for example in the form of an anode. If a mono cell is constructed by the layer sequence of a first separator sheet, a cathode sheet disposed thereon, a second separator sheet disposed thereon and an anode sheet disposed thereon, the fabricated cell stack can be terminated on both sides by placing the final cell in the form of an anode, whereupon the cell stack terminated with two electrodes in the form of two anodes is then wrapped in an insulator.

[0017] However, delays can occur in fabricating cell stacks for a variety of reasons, but the prior art does not provide a solution as to how these time delays can be avoided without adversely affecting production capacity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0018] [Patent Document 1] International Patent Publication No. 2020 / 192845 [Patent Document 2] International Patent Publication No. 2016 / 041713 [Patent Document 3] German Patent Publication No. 102017216213 [Patent Document 4] International Patent Publication No. 2019 / 048589 [Patent Document 5] US Patent Publication No. 2002 / 0007552 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0019] In view of the above background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and corresponding method for producing and transporting cell stacks for the energy cell manufacturing industry, which allows for a more reliable supply of cell stacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description.

[0021] In a first aspect of the present application, this problem is solved by an apparatus for producing and transporting cell stacks consisting of segments for the energy cell manufacturing industry, comprising at least two cell stack devices, each configured to stack the segments as a cell stack, and at least one supply device configured to supply the segments to the cell stack devices, wherein a transport system is provided with a plurality of independently runnable transport units configured to transport the cell stacks produced by the cell stack devices from a receiving area to an output area spatially separated from the receiving area, one of the cell stack devices producing a cell stack in or on each of the transport units, which transport units are capable of receiving from the transport system in the receiving area in order to produce the cell stack.

[0022] By individually movable transport units, it is understood that the movement of the individual transport units, i.e. for example the movement speed or the movement path, can be set separately at least in a partial region of the transport system. The individually movable transport units can be achieved, for example, by means of transport vehicles that are configured to transport the transport units. These transport vehicles can, for example, be moved on a rail system. Furthermore, for example, the transport units can also be configured by transport vehicles. The individually movable transport units provide considerable optimization possibilities when removing the transport units from the transport system and then returning them. For example, the time points for removing and / or returning in parallel or for handing over can be calculated in advance and taken into account early when planning the transport instructions.

[0023] The removal of the transport unit from the transport system for the production of cell stacks from the segments has the effect that the production of the cell stacks can be decoupled from the transport process of the cell stacks between the receiving area and the output area. In this way, the segments can be reliably stacked into a cell stack by the respective cell stack equipment independently of the possibly prevailing conditions of the transport system. The decoupling of the production of the cell stacks from the timing of the transport system provides the advantage that the cell stacks can be produced with almost no time constraints. This is important, especially considering possible defective segments, since these defective segments can delay the production of the cell stacks.

[0024] The proposed solution allows the process of fabricating the cell stack to be carried out in parallel by at least two cell stack devices. Advantageously, exactly four cell stack devices are provided, so that any delays that may occur in fabricating the cell stack in one of these cell stack devices can be compensated for by the remaining three cell stack devices. However, the degree of parallelism in fabricating the cell stack can be divided into many more stages, so that five or more cell stack devices can also be provided.

[0025] After stacking the segments into a cell stack of a predefined cell stack height, i.e., after the cell stack is completed, the transport unit is handed over again to the transport system together with the completed cell stack, so that the cell stack together with the transport unit can be transported from the receiving area to the output area by the transport system. The process of fabricating the cell stack and the handover to the transport system can be performed in parallel in each cell stack device.

[0026] Advantageously, the segments stacked by the cell stack device are mono-cells.

[0027] Advantageously, at least one replacement device is provided, by means of which it is possible to replace a transport unit filled with a cell stack by one of the cell stack devices with an empty transport unit. The transport unit replaced by the replacement device is in a state of being removed from the transport system. This replacement device thereby assumes the function of supplying the transport unit to one of the cell stack devices and removing the transport unit with the completed cell stack from each cell stack device. This allows the replacement device to transport the transport unit when it is disconnected from the transport system by being removed from the transport system. Advantageously, this replacement device has a frame-like structure, so that the at least one transport unit can be stored inside the frame, which is called a replacement frame. Furthermore, this replacement device is realized and is movable between at least two positions, advantageously exactly two positions. Advantageously, each cell stack device is assigned its own replacement device.

[0028] It is further proposed that the at least one replacement device has a first and a second storage position for storing one of the transport units, respectively, and that the at least one replacement device is configured to transfer the transport unit from the first storage position to the second storage position. This is realized, for example, in that the transport unit is stored in a sliding manner, preferably in a frame-like replacement device. In this way, in the first position, the replacement device can accommodate the transport unit in the first storage position, while in the second storage position, another transport unit is already arranged relative to the cell stack device, in which case the segments are stacked as a cell stack. Subsequently, by sliding the replacement device in a first direction, the first storage position with the empty transport unit can be arranged relative to the cell stack device, in which case a cell stack can be produced, the replacement device being in the second position. At the same time, by moving such a replacement device in the first direction, the second storage position is slid so that the transport unit together with the cell stack is in a position to be transferred to the transport system. After the second storage position is freed again by outputting the transport unit to the transport system, the replacement device can be slid in a second direction opposite to the first direction, while the transport unit continues to remain in a position to be filled with segments by the cell stack device, for which purpose a holding member can be deployed for example to hold the position of the transport unit. The replacement device is now again in the first position. By sliding the replacement device relative to the transport unit, the transport unit is replaced from the first storage position to the second storage position, so that the first storage position becomes empty again and can thus accommodate an unladen transport unit. When the first storage position is again filled with transport units, the replacement device is slid again in the first direction so that the empty transport unit can be supplied with segments by the cell stack device. This process can then be continuously repeated. Such a replacement of the transport unit from the first storage position to the second storage position allows the process of building the cell stack to be decoupled from the handover of the transport unit.In this way, an empty transport unit can be received in the first storage location already in parallel with the production of a cell stack in the second storage location. By decoupling the transfer of the transport unit to and from the transport system from the production of the cell stack on the transport unit, these process steps can be carried out in parallel, whereby a larger time slot is obtained for the transfer of the transport unit from the transport system to the replacement device and vice versa. Furthermore, in this way, the replacement device can operate in three positions, even though it only travels to two positions: in the first position (receiving position), the replacement device receives the transport unit from the transport system; in the second position (stack position), the cell stack is produced on the transport unit by the cell stack device; and in the third position (output position), the replacement device outputs the transport unit to the transport system again.

[0029] Advantageously, the at least one replacement device is movable in a plane located above or below the plane of the transport system, in which the transport units are removed from the transport system and / or handed over to the transport system again. This achieves at least arranging the transport system in a receiving area below or above the replacement device. By such an arrangement of planes, a physical decoupling of the transport movement of the transport system from the transport movement of the replacement device can be achieved in a simple manner. Alternatively, it is obviously also possible to achieve a physical decoupling by arranging the replacement device laterally beside the transport system. Advantageously, the replacement device performs a linear movement to transport the transport units.

[0030] It is further proposed to assign to each cell stack device a first and / or a second lift, by means of which the transport units can be transported between the face of the replacement device and the face of the transport system. The first and / or the second lift can transfer the transport units from the transport system to the replacement device or vice versa. The lifts thereby create a simple mechanical solution for the transfer process. Advantageously, the first lift is configured to lift one of the transport units from the transport system to the replacement device. Even more advantageously, the second lift is configured to pull the transport unit down from the replacement device to the underlying transport system. Advantageously, the transport units are transported by the transport system between the receiving area and the output area in a horizontal plane, whereas the lift transports the transport units vertically.

[0031] In the case of the embodiment of the replacement device having two storage locations as described above, for example, the first lift can deliver a transport unit to the first storage location of the replacement device when the replacement device is in the first location, and the output of the transport unit to the second lift can be performed when the transport unit to be delivered is in the second storage location and the replacement device is in the second location.

[0032] Furthermore, it is advantageous to assign a dedicated replacement device to each cell stack device, and to assign the first and second lifts to each replacement device accordingly. In this way, the removal and return of the transport unit between the transport system and each cell stack device can be performed without any relation to the remaining cell stack devices. In this way, the reliability of the system of the present apparatus can be further improved.

[0033] Advantageously, the transport system comprises a number of transport vehicles configured for driving the transport units individually in the transport system, each of which can drive unladen to a second transfer position after transferring one of the transport units to at least one replacement device at a first transfer position in order to receive the ready transport unit with the completed cell stack. Advantageously, the transport vehicle without the transport unit is moved to the first transfer position only when the transport unit loaded with the completed cell stack is already ready at the second transfer position. Thus, at the first transfer position, the unladen transport unit can be transferred to the replacement device by the first lift. At the second transfer position, the transport unit loaded with the cell stack is transferred again by the second lift to the ready transport vehicle. Thereby, no fixed allocation of the transport vehicles to the transport units is required. Furthermore, this advantageous embodiment allows the transport vehicles to transport the cell stacks one after the other without the transport vehicles interfering with each other.

[0034] Advantageously, these segments are stacked as a cell stack on a height-adjustable bottom in or on one of the transport units. For example, this height-adjustable bottom can be a constituent part of the transport unit itself. Alternatively, however, this height-adjustable bottom can also be fully or partially constituted by elements that are not assigned to the transport unit and are a constituent part of the remaining part of the device. This height-adjustable bottom allows a constant height output of each segment in the stack. This offers the advantage that the stacking by the cell stacking device can be performed with greater precision and reliability.

[0035] It is further proposed that these transport units each have a storage surface with a recess for the cell stack, that the device comprises supports arranged to protrude into the recess of the storage surface when one of the transport units is in a position for filling it with segments by one of the cell stack devices, and that an adjustment device is provided for adjusting the degree to which the supports engage in the recess so that the supports form a height-adjustable bottom for the transport units. This height-adjustable bottom is therefore formed by parts that are not part of the transport units, i.e. by supports that protrude into the recess of the transport units in the stack position. The adjustment device advantageously comprises actuators for moving the supports, which are arranged fixedly on the device. This makes it unnecessary to arrange corresponding drives and mechanical parts on the transport units. In this way, these transport units can be realized lighter and manufactured more cheaply. These supports can be completely retracted again from the recess of the storage surface of the transport units after the production of the cell stack in order not to interfere with the sliding of the replacement device.

[0036] For example, the supports can also act as retaining members that hold the transport unit when they engage with the recesses, such that the transport unit secured by the supports can slide from a first storage position to a second storage position when the replacement instrument moves in a second direction.

[0037] In a second aspect of the present application, in order to solve this problem, an apparatus for producing and transporting cell stacks consisting of segments for the energy cell manufacturing industry is proposed, which comprises at least two cell stack devices, each configured to stack the segments as a cell stack, and a supply device configured to supply the segments to the cell stack devices, and a transport system is provided with a plurality of independently movable transport units configured to receive the cell stacks produced by the cell stack devices in a receiving area and to output them again in an output area, one of these cell stack devices stacks the segments as a cell stack in a magazine on a rotatable magazine drum, and this magazine is equipped with a reciprocating device capable of adjusting the depth of the magazine in accordance with the increase in the height of the stack of segments in the magazine.

[0038] In this solution too, the production of cell stacks by several cell stack devices can be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, by producing the cell stacks in magazines of a magazine drum, the production of the cell stacks can be decoupled from the timing of the transport system. This shuttle device allows the top segment to be placed on the cell stack at a constant height, so that it is guaranteed that the cell stacks can be produced reliably with high quality. Advantageously, each magazine drum has two or four magazines. Advantageously, each cell stack device is assigned its own magazine drum.

[0039] Advantageously, the magazine drum comprises pivotable gripping members by means of which the cell stack can be fixed or released in the magazine depending on the pivot position of the gripping members, which are connected to the reciprocating device in such a way that the reciprocating device performs a reciprocating movement together with the gripping members. The magazine is filled with segments by the cell stack device, advantageously via the magazine opening facing upwards. For output to the transport unit, the magazine drum is advantageously rotated by 180°, so that the magazine opening faces downwards and the cell stack can exit without getting caught. The gripping members connected to the reciprocating device ensure that the cell stack is held securely in the magazine while applying a clamping force.

[0040] It is further proposed that the cell stack can be transferred to one of the transport units while being clamped between the reciprocating device and the gripping member by a joint reciprocating motion of the reciprocating device and the gripping member, whereby the reciprocating device can not only keep the height of the top layer of the cell stack constant for the stacking process, but also transfer the cell stack to the transport unit. By coupling the reciprocating device with the gripping member, the cell stack can be transferred from the magazine drum to the transport unit while applying a clamping force. In this way, the segments constituting the cell stack are reliably held together by the clamping force, so that the correct arrangement and orientation of the individual segments of the cell stack can be maintained even during transfer to the transport unit.

[0041] The advantageous embodiments proposed below apply both to the solution according to the first aspect of the present application and also to the solution according to the second aspect of the present application, corresponding combinations being expressly regarded as disclosure content of the present application.

[0042] Advantageously, these transport units are each containers that are open on one side, which advantageously form a receiving section that corresponds to the shape of the cell stack, and this embodiment of the transport unit allows the cell stacks to be stacked and stored in a precise position in the container, in particular preventing to a certain extent the sliding of the individual segments relative to one another.

[0043] In another advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the transport units each have one or more gripping arms, by means of which the cell stack can be fixed to the transport unit. In this way, it is ensured that the arrangement and orientation of the individual segments of the cell stack relative to one another can be maintained even when the transport device is transported by the transport system. Advantageously, the gripping arms can be operated by a handling device of the device, which is not a component part of the respective transport unit.

[0044] In another advantageous embodiment, it is proposed to provide an unloading device in the output area, which can remove the cell stack from the transport unit and provide the empty transport unit again to the cell stack device by the transport system. Advantageously, a waiting area can be provided, in which the transport unit is parked until a request for an empty transport unit occurs in one of the cell stack devices and the transport unit is removed from the waiting area. An open-loop or closed-loop control of such transport units can be performed by a central control unit or by decentralized control units.

[0045] Another advantageous embodiment proposes that the supply device comprises at least one transfer drum and that each cell stack device comprises at least one segment drum, with which the segments are received from the transfer drum at a transfer speed and output at an output speed, which is faster than the output speed. Advantageously, this transfer speed is equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum. Advantageously, this output speed is zero, so that the transfer of the segments to the transport unit or magazine drum takes place in a stationary state. This slowing down is made possible by splitting the segments onto several segment drums, i.e. the stacking process is carried out in parallel, and due to this slowing down the production of the cell stack can be carried out with higher quality. This solution also does not require the allocation of segments to a given segment drum from the beginning.

[0046] Furthermore, after the segments are received at the delivery speed, it may be necessary to increase the speed again and then decelerate to zero. Similarly, after the segments are output to the transport unit, an acceleration to a speed higher than the delivery speed may first be performed, followed by deceleration to the delivery speed. The corresponding speed of the segment drum is set by setting the angular speed of the segment drum. In particular, with a segment drum with only one receiving plunger designed to receive the segments, a temporary speed increase starting from the delivery speed and a subsequent slowdown of the segment drum is necessary in order to reach the output position within one cycle. In contrast, when using segment drums with two or three separate receiving plungers for each segment, such temporary accelerations and decelerations starting from the delivery speed are not necessary or are only necessary to a lesser extent. In practice, a segment drum with three receiving plungers, each oriented at an angle of 120° to one another, has proven to be advantageous here.

[0047] If each of these segment drums has several receiving plungers, in particular three receiving plungers, the movement of the segment drum is advantageously controlled in such a way that each of the segment drums is decelerated and accelerated as a whole, with the mutual spacing of the receiving plungers remaining unchanged. Here, each of the segment drums is constituted by a drum which is driven in rotation, so that the receiving plungers are arranged at angles which do not change relative to one another during the rotational movement. Here, these receiving plungers are arranged at equal intervals relative to one another and are driven together with the basic body of the segment drum. The advantage of this solution is that the above-mentioned acceleration and deceleration of the segments at the transfer point is realized exclusively by a single control of the movement of the segment drum, while the receiving plungers themselves do not perform an individually controlled movement, but instead are decelerated and accelerated as a structural group. This allows the overall control and the design structure to be simplified. In particular, the receiving plungers do not have to be separately supported in a movable form on each segment drum. Individual control of the receiving plungers can also be omitted, for example by means of a control contour.

[0048] Advantageously, these segment drums can also be realised as double segment drums, i.e. two ejection plungers rotating on one axis, arranged to receive the segments from the delivery drum and then decelerate and eject them again. The two sections of this double segment drum can, for example, be provided with separate drives, i.e. driven separately from each other, or can be operated cyclically with the same drive profile, but offset. The use of this double segment drum allows the ejection of the segments to be better distributed, so that the individual segments have more time for deceleration and acceleration.

[0049] Another advantageous embodiment proposes that at least one comb-shaped storage element is provided with a number of separator bars arranged parallel to one another, which run from a common base part and engage in corresponding recesses in one of the segment drums during the rotational movement of the segment drum, the comb-shaped storage element being translationally movable or journalled in a manner that allows it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the base part in order to scrape the segments from each segment drum. The segments can be efficiently removed from the segment drum by the lever-like movement of the separator bars which occurs when the base part rotates about its longitudinal axis. The rotational movement of the base part can be effected, for example, by a separate actuator. If the comb-shaped storage element is journalled in a translationally movable manner, it has proven to be advantageous if it can be moved by a purely vertical reciprocating movement.

[0050] Advantageously, the storage lever has at least one contact opening to which a negative pressure can be applied in order to receive the segment. When the storage lever receives the segment from the segment drum, the at least one contact opening is subjected to a negative pressure, so that the segment is additionally attached to the storage lever by the effect of the negative pressure. Similarly, when the segment drum is subjected to a negative pressure in order to hold the segment, the negative pressure which serves to hold the segment just to be delivered is released. When the segment combed by the storage lever is delivered from the storage lever to a downstream device, the negative pressure applied to the at least one contact opening of the storage lever is also released again.

[0051] In another advantageous embodiment, it is proposed to provide a control device configured to individually open-loop and / or closed-loop control the movement speed and / or movement path of the transport unit loaded with the cell stack between the receiving area and the output area so that delays in the completion of the cell stack in one of the cell stack devices can be compensated for in the compensation area between the receiving area and the output area.

[0052] It has the effect that an individual open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement of the transport vehicle, i.e. the travel speed and / or the travel path, can influence the individual arrival time of each transport unit at the output area.

[0053] By reducing the travel speed, the arrival time at the output area can be delayed, while by increasing the travel speed, an earlier arrival time can be achieved. If a way to change the travel path is obtained, by lengthening the travel path, the arrival time can be delayed, while by shortening the travel path, an earlier arrival time can be achieved. The time sequence of the transport units arriving at the output area can thus be set to be ideally adapted to the subsequent processes. Furthermore, unforeseen disturbances in the manufacturing process can also be compensated for thereby, so that the reliability of the system during the production of the cell stack is generally increased. In particular, in the output area, possible time delays during the completion of the cell stack can be smoothed out so that the transport units can again be supplied to a given production cycle. Thus, the production process following the cell stack process is not adversely affected by possible delays during the cell stack fabrication process. Furthermore, the use of such a flexibly open-loop or closed-loop controllable transport system offers the advantage that it can be operated in a manner adapted to the subsequent process steps. Furthermore, the installation position of the segments or cell stacks can be corrected by the positioning of the transport units. Finally, it is possible to carry out time-critical processes in parallel and / or to temporarily delay the transport cycle.

[0054] The control unit provided for the open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement can be, for example, a central control unit, but can also be, for example, a distributed control unit, whose components are, for example, assigned to the individual transport units or transport vehicles, or it can be, for example, a combination of centrally and decentrally arranged components.

[0055] Instead of using a linear rail system with transport units and / or transport vehicles, the transport system can be defined, for example, by a movement surface, preferably a flat movement surface, on which the corresponding transport vehicles can travel. In principle, the transport vehicles can travel in any direction on this movement surface, which provides an additional degree of freedom in comparison with linear transport systems. For determining or setting the different travel paths, it is also possible to use a transport system with switches or similar elements.

[0056] Advantageously, the transport system can also be constructed from two parts. In the first part, the transport units can be moved flexibly and individually. This section is advantageously assigned to the part of the transport system from the receiving area to before the output area. Here, however, in the second part of the transport system, the transport units are no longer able to run individually, but are transported at a uniform movement speed and / or a uniform movement path. This second part is advantageously assigned to the output area. To realize a two-part transport system, the transport system can, for example, be equipped with separate guides and / or drive members, and completely independent transport systems are also conceivable for the first and second system parts, so that transfer devices for the cell stacks, the transport units and / or the transport vehicles must be present. It is also conceivable to realize the two-part transport system by providing a common guide for the transport vehicles or transport units, with different implementation of the drive members depending on whether they belong to the first or second part. In this case, the transfer takes place by drive members that overlap with the corresponding transfer of the transport units or transport vehicles.

[0057] Another advantageous embodiment proposes that a processing unit for processing the cell stack is arranged between the receiving area and the output area or in the output area, and the cell stack is fed to the processing unit by the transport system using a transport device. For example, the processing unit is configured to additionally deposit another material layer, for example an anode. The processing unit can be arranged, for example, in the compensation area. And advantageously, the control unit is also configured to compensate for possible delays that may occur when processing the cell stack. Alternatively, the processing unit can also be arranged in the output area. This is advantageous, since compensation can be performed there already, so that the processing unit can also be operated in a production cycle set by the control device.

[0058] In another advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the supply device comprises a discharge device, which is capable of removing defective segments from the device. Advantageously, the discharge device comprises an inspection drum, which is arranged to detect defective segments, and a discharge drum, which allows the defective segments to be discharged to a waste storage. The at least one discharge device ensures that only defect-free segments are used for the production of cell stacks. Since these segments are distributed to a number of cell stack devices, for example four, the sorting of the individual segments by the discharge device in a cell stack with missing segments leads to delays in the completion of the cell stack, i.e. only afterwards is a predefined cell stack height reached in each cell stack device, which leads to irregular output of the cell stack to the transport unit or delays in the completion of the cell stack on or in the transport unit in the receiving area. However, the individual open-loop or closed-loop controllability of the transport units or transport vehicles in the transport system by the control unit makes it possible to compensate for such irregularities, so that cell stacks can be supplied to the output area in a given production cycle. In summary, the quality of the product can therefore be improved without adversely affecting the production cycle.

[0059] In a third aspect of the present application, this problem is solved by a method for producing and transporting a cell stack of segments for the energy cell manufacturing industry, the method comprising the steps of: a) moving a plurality of transport units between a receiving area and an output area by a transport system; b) removing one or more of the transport units from the transport system at a receiving area of ​​the transport system; c) stacking the segments in parallel by at least two cell stacking devices on the removed transport unit as a cell stack of a predefined cell stack height; d) when the cell stack reaches a predefined cell stack height on each transport unit, sending the removed transport unit back to the transport system together with the cell stack disposed on the transport unit; The present invention proposes a method for

[0060] With regard to the technical effects and advantages associated with this method, reference is made to the above description of the apparatus according to the first aspect of the present application.

[0061] Advantageously, after step d) of this process, e) compensating for possible time delays during the production of the cell stack by open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the movement speed and / or the movement path of the transport unit in a compensation area arranged between the receiving area and the output area, so that the cell stack reaches the output area at a predefined time interval; continues.

[0062] This method can be carried out, for example, using an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present application, and therefore carrying out this method using an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present application as previously described is also expressly considered to be part of the disclosure of the present application.

[0063] In a fourth aspect of the present application, the present invention provides a method for producing and transporting a cell stack of segments for the energy cell manufacturing industry, the method comprising the steps of: a) stacking the segments in parallel as a cell stack of a predefined cell stack height by at least two cell stack devices, which cell stacks are produced in a magazine of a plurality of magazine drums, advantageously with each magazine drum being assigned to one cell stack device; b) adapting the magazine depth to the height of the cell stacks present in each magazine during the cell stack process, so that the segments to be installed are installed on the cell stacks at a constant height; c) clamping the cell stack within the magazine after a predefined cell stack height is reached; d) transferring the cell stack in a clamped state to one of a plurality of independently movable transport units of the transport system in a receiving area; e) compensating for possible time delays during the production of the cell stack by open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the movement speed and / or the movement path of the transport unit in a compensation area arranged between the receiving area and the output area, so that the cell stack reaches the output area at a predefined time interval; The present invention proposes a method for

[0064] With regard to the technical effects and advantages associated with this method, reference is made to the above description of the apparatus according to the second aspect of the present application.

[0065] This method can be carried out, for example, using an apparatus according to the second aspect of the present application, and thus carrying out this method using an apparatus according to the second aspect of the present application as previously described is also expressly considered to be part of the disclosure of the present application.

[0066] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0067] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a detailed view of the device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for a first step thereof; [Figure 4] Segment drum angle vs. time graph [Diagram 5] Segment drum angular velocity versus time graph [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for the second step thereof. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for the third step of the present method. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for the fourth step [Figure 9] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for the fifth step [Figure 10] Displacement equipment stroke vs. time graph [Figure 11] Speed ​​vs. time graph for substitution equipment [Figure 12] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present method for the sixth step [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 14] A graph of vehicle travel time versus time in a receiving area. [Figure 15] A graph of vehicle speed versus time in a receiving area. [Figure 16] A graph of the speed of a transport vehicle versus time in the output area. [Figure 17] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment with a processing device; [Figure 18] 1 is a block diagram of a first method for fabricating and transporting a cell stack; [Figure 19] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 21]Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present method for the first step thereof. [Figure 22] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present method for a second step thereof. [Figure 23] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present method for the third step thereof. [Figure 24] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present method for the fourth step [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 26] Schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment with a processing device. [Figure 27] 1 is a block diagram of a second method for fabricating and transporting a cell stack. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first or second embodiment with a conveying system having a correction region; [Figure 29] Detailed view of processing equipment [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device according to the second embodiment with a segment drum in the form of a double segment drum. [Diagram 31] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment variant with segment drums each having three segment receptacles. [Diagram 32] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment with a two-part conveying system. [Diagram 33] Schematic diagram of the device according to a second embodiment with a flat transport system DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] 1 shows an apparatus 100 for producing and transporting cell stacks 3 made up of segments 2 for the energy cell manufacturing industry. The apparatus 100 comprises a supply device 5, four cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and a transport system 6.

[0069] A cutter 34 for cutting an endless strip 35 is provided in front of the supply device 5 .

[0070] The cutting machine 34 is fed with an endless strip 35 consisting of two endless strips of separator material, between which an anode sheet is arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction of the endless strip 35 and on one side of the endless strip of separator material a cathode sheet is arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction of the endless strip. It should be understood that it is basically possible to interchange the arrangement of the anode and cathode sheets in the endless strip 35. If the endless strip has spaced electrode sheets, the cutting in the cutting machine 34 takes place at the respective cutting positions between the electrode sheets. The endless strip 35 fed is a four-layer strip, so that the segments 2 cut therefrom correspond to the monocells mentioned at the outset. Naturally, other types of segments 2 are also possible.

[0071] Here, the cutter 34 is constituted by a drum pair consisting of a cutting drum 36 with a cutting knife and a counter drum 37 realized as a suction roller with a counter knife, in which, by shearing of the cutting knife against the counter knife, the endless strip 35 fed onto the cutting drum 36 or onto the counter drum 37 is cut into segments 2 of a given length defined by the distance between the cutting knives. Starting from this cutter 34, the cut segments 2 are fed to a feed device 5.

[0072] The feed device 5 further comprises a discharge device consisting of an inspection drum 27, a discharge drum 38 and a discharge store 39 (see FIG. 2). The inspection drum 27 is arranged to detect defective segments 2, for example by means of an electrical test device. From the inspection drum 27, both defect-free and defective segments 2 are transferred by means of a transport drum 40 to the discharge drum 38, where the defective segments 2 are removed from the completion process and fed to the discharge store 39.

[0073] In this embodiment, the supply device 5 comprises four transfer drums 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d for transferring the segments 2 to the four cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. A discharge drum 38 transfers the defect-free segments 2 to the first transfer drum 14a, from where a subset of the segments 2 is transferred by means of another transport drum 40 to the other transfer drums 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d.

[0074] It is to be understood that this supply device 5 can obviously also comprise further components or structural groups not shown in Fig. 1, for example devices for aligning the intermediate product, such as devices for controlling the strip edges after laminating the monocells, which are arranged after the discharge device, since the strip edge control can only be used for controlling the endless strip, which devices are arranged in the finished process before the cutting and before the discharge device.

[0075] Each cell stack device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d comprises a segment drum 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d in the form of a rotary driven extraction plunger, which is adapted to extract segments 2 from the respective assigned delivery drums 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and stack them into a cell stack 3.

[0076] The rotational movement of these segment drums 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is controlled so that they receive segments 2 from the transfer drums 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d in a predefined sequence. In this embodiment, four segment drums 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are provided, so that each segment drum 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d receives segments 2 from the transfer drums 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d in a fixed sequence of four beats. Thereby, the segment drum 15a assigned to the first transfer drum 14a receives one segment 2 from the circumference of the first transfer drum 14a during one rotation. In this case, the rotational movement of the segment drum 15a is synchronized with the rotational movement of the first transfer drum 14a so that, in total, when the first transfer drum 14a is full, it receives one quarter of the segments 2 held by the first transfer drum 14a. It is self-evident that the first transfer drum 14a is only full if no segments 2 are discharged by the discharge drum 38. The segments 2 remaining on the first transfer drum 14a are then received by the transport drum 40 and transferred to the second transfer drum 14b, from where a portion of the segments 2 is then removed by the second segment drum 15b. In a corresponding manner, the segments 2 are then transferred by another transport roller 40 to the third and fourth transfer drums 14c, 14d, so that the segments 2 are also removed from the third and fourth segment drums 15c, 15d and stacked into a cell stack 3. In this way, the segments 2 can be distributed uniformly to the segment drums 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. Thereby, the segments 2 are fed in a continuous stream from the feed device 5 and discharged from there to the cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d for continuous transfer and stacking in parallel.

[0077] In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cell stack 3 is produced on a transport unit 7 of the transport system 6, which has been previously removed from the transport system 6. The removal of the transport units 7 from the transport system 6 is performed by means of a lift 13a, which lifts each transport unit 7 from the transport system face 12 to the face 11 of the replacement device 10 located above it. Then, by means of the replacement device 10, an empty transport unit 7 is positioned with respect to each cell stack device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d so that the segments 2 can be stacked on the transport unit 7 as a cell stack 3. The transport unit 7, with the cell stack 3 arranged thereon, is subsequently fed by means of the replacement device 10 to a second lift 13b, by means of which the transport unit 7 together with the cell stack 3 can be moved again to the transport system face 12.

[0078] The transport system 6 is configured to transport the transport unit 7 loaded with the cell stack 3 from the receiving area 8 to an output area 9, where the cell stack 3 is removed from the transport unit 7 by means of an unloading device 26. The empty transport unit 7 is then fed via a circulation section 44 for loading again in the receiving area 8.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the device 100 according to the first embodiment. The cutter 34, which is fed with an endless strip 35, can be seen in detail. Furthermore, a discharge reservoir 39 into which the defective segments 2 are discharged is shown diagrammatically. If the defective segments 2 are discharged into a discharge drum 38, the first transfer drum 14a cannot be completely filled with segments 2. Depending on where the segments 2 are missing, a previously discharged segment 2 is missing during the production of the cell stack 3 by the first, second, third or fourth segment drum 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. The cell stack 3 can therefore only reach a predefined cell stack height with a time delay. How this time delay is compensated for will be explained further on.

[0080] 3 illustrates the removal of the segments 2 from the first and second transfer drums 14a, 14b using the first and second segment drums 15a, 15b. The removal by the third and fourth segment drums 15c, 15d is carried out in exactly the same way. However, to avoid repetition, only the process of the cell stack up to the transfer to the transport system 6 will be described starting from the removal of the segment 2 from the first transfer drum 14a.

[0081] In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the segment drum 15a projects towards the delivery drum 14a in order to receive the segments 2 to be delivered (not shown). This segment drum 15a is rotated at a speed which allows it to receive the segments 2 at a delivery speed equal to the circumferential speed of the delivery drum 14a. The segments 2 can therefore be delivered to the segment drum 15a without deceleration. To receive the segments 2, the segment drum 15a is subjected to a negative pressure. After receiving the segments 2, the segment drum 15a is decelerated to a zero output speed so that each segment 2 can be stacked in a stationary state on the transport unit 7 as a cell stack 3. After the output of the segments 2 to the transport unit 7, the segment drum 15a is accelerated again to the delivery speed.

[0082] The graph in Figure 4 illustrates the time course of the angle of one of the segment drums 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. On the horizontal axis, time is plotted in seconds, and on the vertical axis, the rotation angle of the segment drum 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is plotted in degrees.

[0083] Figure 5 illustrates the progression of angular velocity over time for the movement of Figure 4. On the horizontal axis, time is plotted in seconds and on the vertical axis, the angular velocity of the segment drums 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is plotted in ° / s.

[0084] From figures 4 and 5 it can be seen that during the time period 50 of receiving the segment 2 from the delivery drum 14a, 14d the speed, i.e. the delivery speed, remains constant (in this case 600° / s). In the following acceleration time period 51 the speed is increased to more than 1,600° / s. Then in the time period 52 deceleration takes place to an angular velocity of 0° / s. This is followed by a relatively short stationary time period 53 during which the output of the segment 2 to the transport unit 7 takes place in order to produce the cell stack 3. After the output of the segment 2, the segment drum 15a, 15d is again accelerated to more than 1,600° / s in another acceleration time period 54 and then decelerated to the delivery speed in another time period 55 so that the segment drum 15a, 15d can again receive a new segment 2 from the delivery drum 14a, 14d in the receiving time period 50. Then the process is repeated. The angular speed and acceleration depend, inter alia, on the strip speed, the diameter of the segment drums 15a-15d, the number of receiving plungers and the acceleration gradient of the drive. Correspondingly, these values ​​can also deviate from the values ​​given here.

[0085] FIG. 6 shows the placement of the segments 2 on one of the transport units 7. It can be seen that the transport unit 7 is constituted by an upwardly open container in which the cell stacks 3 can be produced. In FIG. 6, the segment drum 15a with the receptacle for the segments 2 has been rotated downwards. The output of the segments 2 to the transport unit 7 is carried out by means of a slot element 16 consisting of a number of parallel partition bars 17 starting from the base part 18. In the illustrated position of the segment drum 15a, the partition bars 17 engage in corresponding recesses 19 of the segment drum 15a. Furthermore, this comb-like slot element 16 is journalled in a rotatable manner about the longitudinal axis of the base part 18, so that by corresponding rotation the segments 2 can be combed out by the partition bars 17. Alternatively, this slot element 16 can also be used to transfer the segments 2 into or onto the transport unit 7 by a purely vertical reciprocating movement. The operation of this slot element 16 can be carried out, for example, by means of an actuator, not shown.

[0086] 7 illustrates that the transport unit 7 has an output face 21 with a recess 22. In the position for loading the transport unit 7 with the segments 2, the support 20 projects into the recess 22, the degree to which the support 20 engages in the recess 22 being adjustable by means of an adjustment device 45. This adjustability allows the support 20 to form a height-adjustable bottom relative to the transport unit 7.

[0087] Furthermore, Fig. 7 shows the position of the replacement device 10 immediately before transferring an empty transport unit 7 from the diagrammatically illustrated transport system 6 to the replacement device 10 arranged above it. This replacement device 10 comprises a frame configured to store two transport units 7. Fig. 7 shows an empty first storage location 41 into which an unladen transport unit 7 can be brought by means of a first lift 13a. The second storage location 42 is occupied by a transport unit 7. The transport unit 7 in the second storage location 42 is positioned by the replacement device 10 so that a cell stack 3 can be produced thereon by means of a segment drum 15a.

[0088] 8 illustrates the replacement device 10 with both the first and second storage locations 41, 42 each occupied by a transport unit 7. Upon arrival of a predefined number of segments 2 at the transport unit 7 in the second storage location 42, the gripping arms 46 of the transport unit 7 are closed using a handler 47 so that they rest on the topmost segment 2 of the cell stack 3 and secure the segment within the transport unit 7. In this case, the handler is not part of the transport unit 7.

[0089] FIG. 8 shows how the replacement device 10 can be slid so that the transport unit 7 in the second storage position 42 can be transported back to the transport system plane 12 (see FIG. 1) by the second lift 13b. To move the replacement device 10 from the first position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to this second position, the support 20 must be fully withdrawn from the recess 22 (see FIG. 7) of the discharge plane 21. In this second position of the replacement device 10, the loaded transport unit 7 is ready for removal by the second lift 13b in the second storage position 42. The transport unit 7 in the first storage position 41 can now be filled with segments 2 from the segment drum 15a for producing the cell stacks 3.

[0090] 9 shows how the displacement device 10 can be reciprocated in translation in the plane 11 (see FIG. 1) of the displacement device 10 by means of a rotary drive 48, the direction of rotation of which is changed for the displacement device 10. For this purpose, the displacement device 10 is kinematically coupled to the rotary drive 48 by means of a corresponding motion converter 49.

[0091] Figure 10 illustrates the movement of the displacement device 10 by a time vs. travel graph. On the horizontal axis, time is plotted in seconds and on the vertical axis, slide travel is plotted in meters. In Figure 11, the same movement of the displacement device 10 is plotted in grams of speed vs. time. On the horizontal axis, time is plotted in seconds and on the vertical axis, speed is plotted in m / s.

[0092] From the graphs of figures 10 and 11 it can be seen that in a first time period 60 the replacement device 10 is stationary. In this time period 60 a cell stack 3 is produced on a transport unit 7 in the second storage position 42, which can be moved by the replacement device 10. Furthermore, in this time period 60 an empty transport unit 7 can be deposited in the first storage position 41. This is followed by a time period 61 during which the replacement device 10 is continuously accelerated to a value of 0.7 m / s. This is followed by a time period 62 during which the replacement device 10 is continuously decelerated to a speed of 0 m / s. In the following stationary time period 63, for example in the second storage position, a transfer of the transport unit 7 with the cell stack 3 to the transport system 6 is performed by means of the second lift 13b, while a new cell stack 3 can already be produced on the transport unit 7 in the first storage position. The replacement device 10 is then sent back with the same speed profile. However, when the replacement equipment 10 is sent back, the transport unit 7 with the fabricated cell stack 3 thereon is held in position, so that the transport unit 7 slides from the first storage position 41 to the second storage position 42. The position of the transport unit 7 during the sliding movement is maintained by the support portion 20 protruding into the recess 22 of the transport unit 7.

[0093] FIG. 12 illustrates how the transport unit 7 together with the cell stack 3 produced thereon is handed over to the transport system 6, which is illustrated in a schematic manner. For this, the replacement device 10 is in a second position, so that the transport unit 7 with the cell stack 3 can be lowered by the lift 13b to the transport system plane 12 (see FIG. 1). The transport system 6 comprises, for example, an independently movable transport vehicle, by means of which the transport unit 7 can be transported. While the transport unit 7 is being removed from the transport system 6, the corresponding transport vehicle (not illustrated) is in a parking position and is ready to receive the transport unit 7 loaded with the cell stack 3. After receiving the transport unit 7, the transport system 6 synchronously sends the cell stack 3 to the subsequent process steps.

[0094] FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram of the device 100 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, an arrow 56 is used to indicate the ejection of the defective segments 2 into the discharge storage 39. Further arrows 57, 58 (only two of which are numbered for better visibility) diagrammatically indicate the removal (arrow 57) and return (arrow 58) of the transport units 7 from the transport system 6. Due to the ejection of the defective segments 2, the cell stacks 3 can only be completed partially with a time delay, so that the completed cell stacks 3 cannot also be transferred to the transport system 6 in a constant cycle in the receiving area 8. In order to be able to correct possible gaps between the transport units 7 in the transport system 6, the transport units 7 can run individually in the transport system 6. More details on this will be explained further below with reference to FIG. 28. The transfer of the transport units 7 from the transport vehicles (not shown) is carried out by moving each transport vehicle in the direction of the arrow 57 to a first transfer position where the transport units 7 are transferred to the replacement frame 10. Immediately after this transfer, a transport vehicle (not shown) drives to a second transfer position where it can receive the cell stack 3 already manufactured on the transport unit 7. Only when the completed cell stack 3 is ready to be transferred to the transport unit 7 at the second transfer position, i.e., at the lift 13b, is the transport vehicle finally moved to the first transfer position, i.e., to the lift 13a. In this way, the transport vehicles (not shown) can transport the cell stacks 3 in series without interfering with each other.

[0095] The movement of the transport vehicle in the receiving area 8 is illustrated in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. Fig. 14 illustrates a graph of distance vs. time, with time plotted in seconds on the horizontal axis and distance in meters on the vertical axis. Fig. 15 illustrates a graph of speed vs. time, with time plotted in seconds on the horizontal axis and speed in m / s on the vertical axis. In a first time period 70, the transport vehicle is accelerated from a stationary state and decelerated again until it reaches a first transfer position, where in a next time period 71 the transfer of the empty transport unit 7 from the transport vehicle to the replacement device 10 takes place in a stationary state. Immediately after this transfer, the transport vehicle without the transport unit 7 is accelerated in a time period 72 and decelerated again, so that in a time period 73 the transport vehicle is ready to receive the transport unit 7 loaded with the cell stack 3 in a stationary state. In the following time period 74, the transport vehicle loaded with the transport unit 7 and the cell stack 3 is accelerated again (see Fig. 13) in order to move it to the output area 9.

[0096] FIG. 16 illustrates the movement profile of the transport vehicle or transport unit 7 in the output area 9 based on a speed vs. time graph. On the horizontal axis, the time is plotted in seconds, on the vertical axis the speed in m / s. It can be seen that acceleration / deceleration time periods 75 and stationary time periods 76 alternate, so that a predefined production cycle is set in the output area 9. In this case the production cycle is, for example, 1.8 seconds and is composed of an acceleration / deceleration time period 75 with a duration of 0.8 seconds and a stationary time period 76 with a duration of 1 second. However, the production cycle depends on the stripping speed of the segments 2 and the number of segments 2 in the stack 3. The production cycle can be adapted accordingly. The stationary time period 76 can be used for further processing or for removing the cell stack 3 from the transport unit 7.

[0097] 17 shows the apparatus 100 with processing equipment 25 in the form of a replenishing device 59 for replenishing additional anode layers. In principle it is also possible for these to already be installed before the cell stack 3 is fabricated in the transfer unit 7. Furthermore, further processing equipment 25 is provided which can serve for example to taping, welding and / or punching the cell stack 3.

[0098] FIG. 18 illustrates diagrammatically a method 300 for producing and transporting cell stacks 3 made of segments 2 for the energy cell manufacturing industry, comprising the following method steps: In step a) of the method, a plurality of transport units 7 are moved by a transport system 6 between a receiving area 8 and an output area 9, In step b) of the method, one or more of these transport units 7 are received from the transport system 6 in a receiving area 8 of the transport system 6, In step c) of the method, the segments 2 are stacked in parallel on the received transport unit 7 as a cell stack 3 of a predefined cell stack height by four cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, In step d) of the method, once the cell stack 3 on each transport unit 7 has reached a predefined cell stack height, the removed transport unit 7 together with the cell stack 3 located on it is sent back to the transport system 6. It has proven advantageous to carry out the method 300 using the apparatus 100 shown in Figures 1 to 17.

[0099] FIG. 19 shows an apparatus 200 for producing and transporting cell stacks 3 from segments 2 according to a second embodiment. In the following, to avoid repetition, only the differences compared to the present apparatus 100 will be mentioned. In this embodiment, the segments 2 are also transferred to the four cell stack devices 4a-4d by the transfer drums 14a, 14b. However, in this case, only two transfer drums 14a, 14b are provided, from which the segments 2 are removed. The cell stack devices 4a-4d are each constituted by a segment drum 15a-15d. The first two segment drums 15a, 15b receive the segments 2 from the first transfer drum 14a, and the third and fourth segment drums 15c, 15d receive the segments 2 from the second transfer drum 14b. These segments 2 are stacked as cell stacks 3 in a magazine drum 29, which will be described in more detail below, and are then output to a transport system 6 with an independently movable transport unit 7. In this embodiment, the transport unit 7 is constituted by a transport vehicle.

[0100] FIG. 20 shows a cross section of the device 200, in which the structure of the first magazine drum 29a can be seen. The remaining three magazine drums 29b-29d have the same structure. The segments 2 are removed from the segment drums 15a-15d into four parallel arranged magazine drums 29a-29d, in which the segments 2 are stacked as four cell stacks 3 and further output to the transport system 6. In this embodiment, the magazine drum 29a has two magazines 28 arranged on its periphery and open towards the outside. The cell stacks 3 produced in these magazines 28 are then output to the transport unit 7.

[0101] In the following, starting from the delivery drum 14a, the receipt of the segments 2 and the production of the cell stacks 3 will be described. However, starting from the delivery drum 14b, the production of the remaining cell stacks 3 is carried out in the same manner and therefore will not be described further.

[0102] Figure 21 shows in detail how the segment drums 15a, 15b receive the segments 2 from the transfer drum 14a. The segment drums 15a, 15b receive the segments 2 from the transfer drum 14a without any relative speed, i.e. with the same peripheral speed as the transfer drum 14a, and are then decelerated to a stationary state so that the segments 2 can be transferred from the segment drums 15a, 15b to the respective magazines 28 in a stationary state. The transfer of the magazine drums 29a, 29b to the magazines 28 is shown in Figure 22. With regard to the motion and speed profiles of the segment drums 15a-15d, reference is made to Figures 4 and 5 and their accompanying explanations.

[0103] In the position of the segment drum 15a shown in FIG. 22, one of the segments 2 is output to the magazine 28 of the magazine drum 29a. The segment 2 can be received from the segment drum 15a by means of a slot element 16 having a base part 18 and partition bars 17 arranged parallel to one another and projecting away from it. For this purpose, additionally, a negative pressure is released at the segment drum 15a and applied at the slot element 16. This slot element 16 is journalled in a rotatable manner about the longitudinal axis of its base part 18, so that by a corresponding rotational movement of the base part 18, the partition bars 17 remove the segment 2 into the magazine 28 of the magazine drum 29a. Alternatively, this slot element 16 can also remove the segment 2 into the magazine 28 by a purely vertical reciprocating movement. For this purpose, the partition bars 17 of the slot element 16 engage in corresponding recesses 19 of the segment drum 15a. Furthermore, the magazine 28 is equipped with a reciprocating device 30 that allows the depth of the magazine 28 to be adjusted according to the increasing height of the stack of segments 2 in the magazine 28. This reciprocating device 30 thereby has an adjustable bottom on which the segments 2 can be stacked as cell stacks 3. This reciprocating device 30 can be realized by the actuator of the magazine drum 29a itself or by an external actuator, which is a component of the device 200.

[0104] FIG. 23 illustrates the fixing of the completed cell stacks 3 in the magazine 28. This is done as soon as the production of the cell stacks 3 is completed, i.e. as soon as a predefined number of segments 2 have been stacked. This fixing is done by means of gripping members 31 arranged in a pivotable manner on the magazine drum 29a. In this case, six gripping members 31 are provided per magazine 28, engaging with the topmost layer of the cell stacks 3. Furthermore, these gripping members 31 are connected to a reciprocating device 30, so that by adjusting the reciprocating device 30, the distance between the adjustable bottom of the magazine 28 and the surface against which the gripping members 31 abut on the cell stacks 3 can also be kept constant. After fixing the cell stacks 3 in the magazine, the magazine drum 29a is rotated by 180° in an unloading cycle, so that the completed cell stacks 3 can be fed to the transport system 6 arranged below the magazine drum 29a. After this 180° rotation, the magazine drum 29a is again stationary, so that the transfer of the cell stacks 3 from the lower magazine 28 to the transport system 6 can take place in a stationary state. In this way, when a completed cell stack 3 is ready for removal in the lower magazine 28, the transport unit 7 moves to the corresponding removal position for receiving the cell stack 3. At the same time, a new cell stack 3 can be produced in the magazine 28 above the same magazine drum 29a.

[0105] FIG. 24 shows the actual transfer of the cell stack 3 to the transport system 6. The gripping element 31 fixes the cell stack 3 to the bottom of the magazine 28. This bottom is then moved towards the transport unit 7, which is located below the magazine drum 29b as part of the shuttle device 30. In order to better illustrate this shuttle movement, it is noted that the transport unit 7 is not shown below the magazine drum 29a, so that the transport unit 7 is located here below the magazine drum 29b. The gripping element 31 is connected to the shuttle device 30, so that the cell stack 3 can be transferred in a fixed state to the transport unit 7. After the cell stack 3 has been transferred to the transport unit 7, the shuttle device 30, i.e. the empty bottom, is again drawn into the magazine drum 29b. Now the cell stack 3 that has just been transferred to the transport device 6 is synchronously transported by the transport system 6 to the subsequent process steps.

[0106] FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of the device 200 according to the second embodiment. Furthermore, the release of the defective segments 2 into the discharge reservoir 39 is indicated by means of an arrow 56. Another arrow 64 (only two of which are numbered for better visibility) diagrammatically indicates the handover of the completed cell stack 3 to the transport unit 7 of the transport system 6. Due to the release of the defective segments 2, the cell stack 3 can only be completed partially with a time delay, so that the completed cell stack 3 cannot also be handed over to the transport system 6 in a constant cycle in the receiving area 8. Once the cell stack 3 is ready, a transport unit 7 can be requested to receive the completed cell stack 3. In order to be able to compensate for possible gaps between the transport units 7 in the transport system 6, the transport units 7 can run individually in the transport system 6. More details on this will be explained further below with reference to FIG. 28.

[0107] Figure 26 shows the apparatus 200 with a refilling device 59 for refilling an additional anode layer. Basically it is also possible to install this layer before the fabrication of the cell stack 3 in the transport unit 7. The inspection drum 27 (see Figure 20) is not shown in Figure 26 for the sake of clarity.

[0108] In Figure 27, a method 400 for fabricating and delivering cell stacks 3 made of segments 2 for the energy cell manufacturing industry is illustrated diagrammatically. The method comprises the following steps: In step a) of the method, a parallel stacking of the segments 2 for producing a cell stack 3 of a predefined cell stack height is performed by at least two cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the cell stack 3 being produced in a magazine 28 of a plurality of magazine drums 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, each magazine drum 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d being assigned to one cell stack device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, In step b) of the method, an adaptation of the depth of the magazines 28 during the cell stacking process to said height of the cell stacks 3 present in each magazine 28 is performed, so that the segments 2 to be stacked are stacked on the cell stacks 3 at a constant height, In step c) of the method, clamping of the cell stack 3 in the magazine 28 takes place after reaching a predefined cell stack height, In step d) of the method, the cell stack 3 is transferred in a clamped state to one of a plurality of independently movable transport units 7 of the transport system 6 in a receiving area 8, In step e) of the method, possible time delays in producing the cell stack 3 are compensated for by open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the movement speed and / or the movement path of the transport unit 7 in a compensation area 24 arranged between the receiving area 8 and the output area 9, so that the cell stack 3 reaches the output area 9 within a predefined time period. It has proven advantageous to carry out the method 400 using the device 200 described in figures 19 to 26.

[0109] Even when producing a cell stack 3 in a transport unit 7 (see, for example, Figure 3) positioned by a replacement device 10, delays may occur due to segments 2 discharged in a previous stage, so that step e) of the method can also be linked to step 300 described based on Figure 18.

[0110] The embodiments described below with reference to figures 28 to 32 are basically applicable both to the device 100 and to the device 200. Corresponding combinations with the devices 100 and 200 are expressly part of the disclosure of the present application.

[0111] Figure 28 shows a schematic diagram of a conveying system 6, which makes it possible to compensate for possible gaps between the conveying units 7 by the individual runnability of the conveying units 7, so that the conveying units can be provided at a given time in the receiving area 9.

[0112] Four cell stack devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are provided, where the cell stacks 3 can be produced in parallel and, as mentioned above, can be handed over to the transport system 6. Furthermore, a transport unit 7 is shown which can be moved on a rail system which defines transport paths 65, 66. For example, the transport unit 7 can be transported by means of a transport vehicle running on the rail system. In principle, however, other ways of transporting the transport unit 7 are also conceivable.

[0113] The drive of the transport units 7 or the transport vehicles is for example carried out by means of stationary motor modules (not shown) arranged along the rail system. Alternatively, the transport units 7 or the transport vehicles can also be equipped with their own drive, for example in the form of an electric motor. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, only the transport units 7 are mentioned, even though they are moved by the transport vehicles.

[0114] 28 illustrates two empty transport units 7, i.e., not loaded with cell stacks 3, located in a waiting area 32. If required, the transport units can be called to a receiving area 8 to receive completed cell stacks 3, or a cell stack 3 can be fabricated on the transport units 7.

[0115] The cell stack 3 is then moved using a transport unit 7 along a transport path 65 to an output area 9, which is equipped with, for example, a processing unit 25 for processing the cell stack 3 and an unloading device 26 for unloading the cell stack 3 from the transport unit 7.

[0116] Furthermore, a control unit 23 is provided, which allows for open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the movements of the transport units 7 individually.

[0117] As already explained above, it may happen that defective segments 2 have to be removed from the finished process by means of the discharge drum 38 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 19). This has the consequence that it is not always possible to feed the cell stacks 3 to the cell stack devices 4a-4d at a given time. On the other hand, it is advantageous to feed the cell stacks 3 to the output area 9 in a predefined production cycle, i.e. at predefined, constant time intervals, in order to ensure further processing of the cell stacks 3. Therefore, a compensation area 24 is provided, the movement speed of which can be adapted by means of the control device 23, so that the transport unit 7 reaches the output area 9 in a given production cycle. This has the consequence that the transport units 7 can be moved at a constant speed and equidistantly spaced from one another in the output area 9. Such a regular and continuous movement of the transport units 7 in the output area 9 allows the cell stacks 3 to be easily removed from the transport units 7 by means of the discharge device 26 and thus fed to a downstream process. The empty transport unit 7 is then sent back through the transport path 66 to the waiting area 32, where it is ready for another loading in the receiving area 8. In this embodiment, the waiting area 32 is provided before the curve that moves the transport unit 7 to the receiving area 8. By locating the waiting area 32 before the curve, the transport unit 7 can be waited on the rail system. If the waiting area 32 extends in the curve, the transport unit 7 has to be held against the force of gravity, which increases the energy consumption. Then, in the output area 9, the transport unit 7 is moved on a stop-and-go basis.

[0118] FIG. 29 shows in more detail a processing unit 25, which can be arranged, for example, in the output area 9. The individually movable transport units 7 loaded with cell stacks 3 are fed, by means of a transport system 6, at equidistant intervals to the processing unit 25. This processing unit 25 comprises a fixing device 67 and various processing stations. This fixing device 67 comprises an endless drive device 68 in the form of an endless belt, an endless strip, an endless chain or a combination of several of these elements, and a drive device, not shown, which drives this endless drive device 68 into a rotary movement. This endless drive device 68 is provided with a number of fixing members 69 in the form of fixed plungers. Furthermore, control lugs 80 are provided which are kinematically connected directly or indirectly to these fixing members 69 and which move on a control device 81 in the form of a fixed control contour during the rotation of the fixing members 69. Furthermore, this processing device 25 is provided with a number of processing stations, such as a number of tape devices 77, punching devices 78 and welding devices 79 for processing the segments 2 or the cell stacks 3. These fixing members 69 can be used to fix the segment 2 or cell stack 3 to the transport unit 7 during the passage through the processing stations and the application of mechanical forces thereto.

[0119] Fig. 30 shows the segment drums 15a-15d, which are realized as multi-segment drums, each of which is designed to receive a segment 2 from each transfer drum 14a, 14b and then output it again at a reduced speed, i.e. as two removal plungers rotating on an axis of rotation. The two sections of this multi-segment drum can, for example, be equipped with separate drives, i.e. be operated separately from each other or with the same drive profile, but with a cyclic offset. Naturally, these multi-segment drums are also adapted to the device 100 in a corresponding manner.

[0120] FIG. 31 shows a variant of the device 100 in which, instead of the segment drums 15a-15d with only one receiving plunger, each segment drum 15a-15d now has three receiving plungers 33 each. In this embodiment too, the segment drums 15a-15d (only two segment drums 15a, 15b are shown for better visibility) can be driven to a rotational movement. These segment drums 15a-15d each have three receiving plungers 33 arranged at an angle of 120° to one another, the outer dimensions of which are at least equal to or can even be greater than the outer dimensions of the segments 2. In a vertical cross section through the axis of rotation of the segment drums 15a-15d, these receiving plungers 33 each have a contour whose cross-sectional shape is the shape of a circular arc of the same radius, so that they complement each other to form an imaginary circle.

[0121] In this case, the movement of the segment drums 15a-15d is controlled in such a way that one of the segment drums 15a-15d is decelerated and accelerated as a whole, respectively, without changing the mutual spacing of the receiving plungers 33. In this case, one of the segment drums 15a-15d is constituted by a drum that is driven in rotation, so that in this case the receiving plungers 33 are arranged in such a way that their angle with respect to one another does not change during the rotational movement. In this case, the receiving plungers 33 are arranged at equal distances from one another and are driven together with the base body of the segment drum 15a-15d.

[0122] In the following, the delivery process is described based on the segment drum 15a shown in Figure 31. However, the delivery to the segment drum 15b and to the segment drums 15c and 15d (not shown in Figure 1) is carried out in the same manner.

[0123] During the receipt of one of the segments 2 from the transfer drum 14a, one of the receiving plungers 33 is in the "12 o'clock position". The receiving plunger 33 that has received the preceding segment 2 from the transfer drum is now in the "4 o'clock position". In this receiving position, the segment drum 15a rotates with a circumferential speed of the outer surface of the receiving plunger 33, which is equal to the circumferential speed of the segment 2 on the transfer drum 14a, and receives exactly one segment 2 with the receiving plunger 33 that is exactly in the "12 o'clock position". Another receiving plunger 33 is in the "8 o'clock position". This other receiving plunger does not carry a segment 2 and has a free outer surface, since it has just delivered a segment 2 to the transport unit 7 that is in the replacement device 10 at that position. In order to deliver the segment 2 from the receiving plunger 33 at the "4 o'clock position" to the conveying unit 7, the segment drum 15a is decelerated until it is positioned at the "6 o'clock position", which enables the output of the segment 2 in a decelerated manner to the conveying unit 7, together with the receiving plunger 33 that was previously positioned at the "4 o'clock position".

[0124] These three receiving plungers 33 make it possible to guarantee the correct delivery of the segment 2 to the transport unit 7 at the "6 o'clock position" without having to accelerate the segment drum 15a starting from the delivery speed (see FIG. 5).

[0125] Basically, it is also possible to rotate the segment drum 15a at a constant speed, so that the segments 2 are peeled off by the slot members 16 during rotation of the segment drum 15a.

[0126] It should be understood that the embodiment of the segment drums 15a to 15d shown in Figure 31, each having three segment storage sections 33, also applies to the embodiment of the device 200 with a magazine drum 29 (see Figures 19 to 26).

[0127] FIG. 32 shows a two-part transport system 6. In the first part 6a, the transport units 7 can be moved flexibly and individually. This section is preferably assigned to a receiving area 8. In the second part 6b of the transport system 6, however, the transport units 7 are no longer able to run individually, but are transported at a uniform movement speed and / or a uniform movement path. This second part is preferably assigned to an output area 9. In the first part 6a, the transport units 7 or the transport vehicles are thus controlled in such a way that any gaps that may occur are compensated for as early as before reaching the second part 6b. This two-part transport system 6a, 6b naturally also fits into the device 100 in a corresponding manner.

[0128] Fig. 33 shows a transport system 6 in which the transport units 7 are not moved on a closed track but on a flat moving surface 43. The transport units 7 can move more flexibly on the moving surface 43 compared to a track, so that further degrees of freedom can be utilized. In that way, the travel path can also be utilized in an enhanced manner to compensate for the gaps. For example, switches or equivalent parts can also be used to define the travel path.

Claims

1. A device (100) for manufacturing and transporting cell stacks (3) consisting of segments (2) for the energy cell manufacturing industry, At least two cell stack devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are configured to stack segments (2) as a cell stack (3), Each of the following is configured to supply segments (2) to cell stack devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), and at least one supply device (5) In a device equipped with, A transport system (6) is provided, which includes a plurality of individually mobile transport units (7) configured to transport cell stacks (3) manufactured by cell stack equipment (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) from a receiving area (8) to an output area (9) spatially separated from the receiving area (8). One of the cell stacking devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) manufactures a cell stack (3) either inside or on top of one of the transport units (7). The apparatus is characterized in that a transport unit (7) is received from a transport system (6) in a receiving area (8) for the purpose of manufacturing a cell stack (3).

2. In the apparatus (100) described in claim 1, The apparatus is characterized by having at least one replacement device (10) that can replace a transport unit (7) filled with a cell stack (3) by one of the cell stack devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) with an empty transport unit (7).

3. In the apparatus according to claim 2, The aforementioned at least one replacement device (10) has first and second storage positions (41, 42) for storing one of the transport units (7), The apparatus is characterized in that at least one of the aforementioned replacement devices (10) is configured to transfer the transport unit (7) from a first storage position (41) to a second storage position (42).

4. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 2 or 3, The apparatus is characterized in that at least one replacement device (10) is movable within a surface (11) located above or below the transport system surface (12), and within this transport system surface, the transport unit (7) is removed from the transport system (6), returned to the transport system (6), or both.

5. In the apparatus (100) described in claim 4, The apparatus is characterized in that each cell stack device (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is assigned a first and / or second lift (13a, 13b), and the transport unit (7) can be transported between the surface (11) of the replacement device (10) and the transport system surface (12) using these lifts.

6. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 2 or 3, The transport system (6) comprises a plurality of transport vehicles configured to move the transport units (7) individually within the transport system (6), The apparatus is characterized in that each transport vehicle is able to move to a second transport position in an unloaded state to accommodate the transport unit (7) having completed cell stacks (3) after it has delivered one of the transport units (7) to at least one replacement device (10) at a first delivery position.

7. In the apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The apparatus is characterized in that the segments (2) are stacked as a cell stack (3) on one of the height-adjustable bottoms in the middle or upper part of a transport unit (7).

8. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 7, Each transport unit (7) has a tray surface (21) having a recess (22) for a cell stack (3), The device (100) is equipped with a support portion (20), which is positioned to protrude into a recess (22) of the tray surface (21) when one of the transport units (7) is in a position to be filled with segments (2) by one of the cell stacking devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d). The apparatus is characterized in that it is equipped with an adjustment device (45), which allows the degree to which the support part (20) engages with the recess (22) to be set, such that the support part (20) forms a height-adjustable bottom for the transport unit (7).

9. A device (200) for manufacturing and transporting cell stacks (3) consisting of segments (2) for the energy cell manufacturing industry, At least two cell stacking devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), each configured to stack segments (2) as cell stacks (3), A supply device (5) configured to supply segments (2) to cell stack devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), In a device equipped with, A transport system (6) is provided, which includes a plurality of individually traversable transport units (7) configured to receive cell stacks (3) manufactured by cell stack equipment (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) in a receiving area (8) and output them again in an output area (9). One of the cell stacking devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) stacks segments (2) as cell stacks (3) within the magazine (28) of a rotatable magazine drum (29), The apparatus is characterized in that the magazine (28) is equipped with a reciprocating device (30) that can adjust the depth of the magazine (28) in accordance with the increase in the height of the stack of segments (2) within the magazine (28).

10. In the apparatus (200) described in claim 9, The magazine drum (29) is equipped with a rotatable gripping member (31), and depending on the rotational position of the gripping member (31), the cell stack (3) can be fixed in or released from the magazine (28). The apparatus is characterized in that the rotatable gripping member (31) is connected to a reciprocating device (30) such that the reciprocating device (30) completes a reciprocating motion together with the gripping member (31).

11. In the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The apparatus is characterized in that, by the joint reciprocating motion of the reciprocating device (30) and the gripping member (31), the cell stack (3) can be transferred to one of the transport units (7) while being held between the reciprocating device (30) and the gripping member (31).

12. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The apparatus is characterized in that each transport unit (7) is a container with one side open.

13. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The apparatus is characterized in that the transport unit (7) is equipped with one or more gripping arms (46) capable of fixing each cell stack (3) to the transport unit (7).

14. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, An unloading device (26) is installed within the output area (9), and the cell stack (3) is removed from the transport unit (10) using this unloading device. The apparatus is characterized in that the unloaded transport unit (7) can be supplied again to the cell stack equipment (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) by the transport system (6).

15. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The supply equipment (5) includes at least one delivery drum (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), Each cell stack device (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is equipped with at least one segment drum (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), and using this segment drum, segments (2) are received from the transfer drum (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) at transfer speed and output at output speed. This device is characterized by a delivery speed that is faster than the output speed.

16. In the apparatus (100, 200) described in claim 15, At least one comb-shaped slot member (16) is provided, which has multiple partition bars (17) arranged parallel to each other. These partition rods (17) extend from a common base portion (18), These partition rods (17) engage with one of the corresponding recesses (19) in the segment drum (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) during the rotational motion of the segment drum (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), The apparatus is characterized in that the comb-shaped slot member (16) is either movable in translation or pivotally supported so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the base portion (18) in order to peel off the segments (2) from each segment drum (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d).

17. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The apparatus is characterized in that, in the compensation area (24) between the receiving area (8) and the output area (9), control equipment (23) is provided which is configured to individually control the movement speed and / or movement path of the transport unit (7) carrying the cell stack (3) between the receiving area (8) and the output area (9) in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, so as to compensate for delays in the completion of the cell stack (3) in the cell stack equipment (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d).

18. In the apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2, or 3 or the apparatus (200) according to claim 9 or 10, The apparatus is characterized in that the supply equipment (5) is equipped with an discharge equipment capable of receiving defective segments (2) from the main apparatus (100, 200).

19. A method (300) for manufacturing and transporting a cell stack (3) consisting of segments (2) for the energy cell manufacturing industry, a) A process of moving multiple transport units (7) between the receiving area (8) and the output area (9) using a transport system (6), b) A step of receiving one or more of the transport units (7) from the transport system (6) in the receiving area (8) of the transport system (6), c) A step of stacking segments (2) in parallel on a transport unit (7) that has been removed by at least two cell stacking devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) as a cell stack (3) of a predetermined cell stack height, d) A method comprising the step of sending back the removed conveying unit (7) to the conveying system (6) together with the cell stack (3) placed on each conveying unit (7) once the cell stack (3) has reached a predetermined cell stack height on each conveying unit (7).

20. A method (400) for manufacturing and transporting a cell stack (3) consisting of segments (2) for the energy cell manufacturing industry, a) A step in which segments (2) are stacked in parallel by at least two cell stacking machines (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) to form a cell stack (3) of a predetermined cell stack height, and the cell stack (3) is manufactured in a magazine (28) of multiple magazine drums (29a, 29b, 29c, 29d), b) A step of adjusting the depth of the magazine (28) during the cell stacking process to match the height of the cell stack (3) located within each magazine (28), so that the installed segment (2) is placed on the cell stack (3) at a constant height, c) After reaching a predetermined cell stack height, the cell stack (3) is held in place within the magazine (28), d) A step of transferring the cell stack (3) in a gripped state in the receiving area (8) to one of the multiple individually traversable transport units (7) of the transport system (6), e) A method comprising the steps of: in a compensation area (24) located between a receiving area (8) and an output area (9), the movement speed and / or movement path of the transport unit (7) is controlled in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner to compensate for delays that may occur during the manufacturing of the cell stack (3), thereby causing the cell stack (3) to reach the output area (9) at a predetermined time interval.

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