Multi-roller calender for producing electrodes by dry coating process, assembly for laminating an electrode web on both sides of a metal foil, and method for producing an electrode web using a multi-roller calender

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-roller calender for producing electrodes by a dry coating process, comprising a plurality of rollers arranged side by side substantially in the main conveyor direction of the electrode path to be produced. A roller gap for passing the electrode path is formed between each pair of adjacent rollers rotating in opposite directions, at least two adjacent rollers of the plurality of rollers are arranged such that their outer radii overlap in the main conveyor direction. The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising two multi-roller calenders for laminating electrode paths on both sides of a metal foil, and to a method for producing electrode paths using a multi-roller calender.

Description

Summary of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-roller calender for manufacturing an electrode by a dry coating method, web A multi-roller calender having a plurality of rollers arranged side by side substantially in the main conveyor direction, web A roller gap is formed between adjacent rollers rotating in opposite directions to allow the passage of the material.

[0002] The electrodes can be used in electrical energy storage cells, which are widely used to power electronic, electromechanical, electrochemical, and other useful devices. Such cells include batteries, such as primary chemical cells and secondary (rechargeable) cells, fuel cells, and various types of capacitors, including ultracapacitors. The electrodes can also be used in water treatment plants. Electric mobility in particular is growing rapidly. The batteries, which are the energy source for electric vehicles, represent a large part of the cost. This is directly related to the production of electric vehicles. As a result, efficient and cost-effective production with increasing energy density is required. The calendaring process in the process chain for producing lithium-ion batteries is important in this respect.

[0003] Electrodes are important components for the storage capacity of energy storage systems. The electrochemical capabilities of electrodes, such as the capacity and efficiency of battery electrodes, depend on a variety of factors. These include the distribution of active materials, binders, and additives, the physical properties of the materials contained therein, such as the particle size and surface area of ​​the active materials, the surface properties of the active materials, and the physical properties of the electrode film, such as density, porosity, cohesion, and adhesion to the conductive element. In dry processing systems and methods, high shear and / or high pressure processing steps are traditionally used to break down and mix the electrode film materials. Such systems and methods may contribute structural advantages over wet-fabricated electrode films. However, the high processing pressures and large system dimensions (and therefore space requirements) required for the production of dry free-standing electrode films and dry electrodes leave room for improvement.

[0004] US 2020 / 0227722 A1 discloses a multi-roller calender for manufacturing dry electrodes for energy storage devices. The system includes a first supply system for dry electrode material, a plurality of calender rollers arranged side by side, and a control device. The calender rollers are arranged to form a roller gap between the calender rollers, respectively. The first roller gap is provided to receive the dry electrode material from the first supply system for the dry electrode material and to form a dry electrode film from the dry electrode material.

[0005] Multi-roller calenders known from the prior art, in which the calender rollers are arranged linearly next to each other in the main conveyor direction, are such that the forces acting on the roller gap cause one of the rollers forming the roller gap to deviate laterally, with the result that the electrode being produced is deformed laterally. webThis has the disadvantage that the thickness of the rollers may be inaccurate or vibrations of the system may occur. The larger the roller width, the greater the problem. However, as the demand for lithium-ion batteries increases, it is necessary, among other things, to use wider rollers in order to increase the productivity of the system. Therefore, a solution is needed to prevent the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing electrode structures which allows for greater process stability and produces more uniform electrode structures. web The multi-roller calender according to the invention therefore allows for a simplified and more cost-effective method for the manufacture of electrodes.

[0007] It is therefore provided that at least two adjacent rollers of the plurality of rollers are arranged such that their outer radii overlap in the main conveyor direction. web As soon as the electrode passes through the roller gap, web This ensures that the pressing forces required to guide the electrodes through the roller gap can be absorbed in a more targeted manner. This is achieved by overlapping the outer radii of the rollers in the main conveyor direction, since the rollers are not supported linearly with respect to each other, but are offset with respect to each other. As a result, the support rollers are web The force in the roller gap can increase due to the increasing material compression, especially from the inlet to the outlet, so that the rollers forming the roller gap are correspondingly compressed, especially the electrodes web The main conveyor direction is the direction of the electrodes from one side of the multi-roller calender to the other. web This refers to the feed direction of the calender and corresponds essentially to the direction in which the individual rollers of the calender are arranged next to one another.

[0008] The multi-roller calender also uses the electrodes formed by the calender. web However, it has the advantage that it does not have to be freestanding, since it can be placed on and supported by calender rollers during at least some, if not all, of the process steps. web When the electrode is formed by laminating the metal foil, the electrode web can be supported by at least one calender roller during every process step in a multi-roller calender system.

[0009] The energy storage device produced by using the multi-roller calendar according to the present invention can have any suitable configuration, such as flat, spirally wound, button-shaped, toothed, or as a pouch. The energy storage can be a component of a system, such as a power generation system, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, a solar power generation system, an energy recovery system, such as used in industrial machinery and / or transportation. The energy storage device can be used to power various electronic devices and / or motor vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and / or electric vehicles (EVs).

[0010] It may further be provided that at least two adjacent overlapping rollers are arranged such that one of them is arranged offset perpendicularly to the other roller in the main conveyor direction. Relative to the zero line, one of the rollers may have an offset of at least 1 mm, preferably 2 mm, particularly preferably 2.5 mm relative to its zero line. Relative to the zero line, the other of the rollers may have an offset of at least 1 mm, preferably 2 mm, particularly preferably 2.5 mm relative to its zero line. The first and second rollers may be offset in opposite directions relative to the zero line.

[0011] Furthermore, at least two adjacent overlapping rollers can be arranged relative to each other such that the central axis of the front roller is arranged in front of the roller gap with respect to a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction and the central axis of the rear roller is arranged behind the roller gap with respect to a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction, thereby preventing the electrode induced through the roller gap. web is conveyed at least partially against the main conveyor direction. For example, the main conveyor direction is horizontal and the electrodes web When the electrode is conveyed substantially vertically downward through the roller gap, the central axis of the front roller is positioned vertically above the roller gap and the central axis of the rear roller is positioned below the roller gap. web When the electrode is conveyed substantially vertically upward through the roller gap, the central axis of the front roller is located vertically below the roller gap and the central axis of the rear roller is located above the roller gap. The specified dimensions forward and / or rear of the roller gap are particularly web In other words, the front and rear rollers that form the roller gap are web may have opposite rotational directions that define a direction through the roller gap, with the central axis of the front roller being located forward of the roller gap and the central axis of the rear roller being located rearward of the roller gap, relative to a direction substantially transverse to the main conveyor direction.

[0012] Each roller in the multi-roller calender has an electrode between two adjacent roller gaps. web can be positioned relative to one another such that the paths extend over 180° of the circumference of each roller.

[0013] It may be stipulated that all rollers are offset from the zero line and that their outer radii overlap with respect to the main conveyor direction. It may be stipulated that all rollers are arranged such that their outer radii overlap with respect to the main conveyor direction and that all adjacent rollers are arranged with respect to each other such that the central axis of the respective front roller is arranged in front of the roller gap with respect to a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction and the central axis of the respective rear roller is arranged behind the roller gap with respect to a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction. For example, the multi-roller calender may have a third roller forming a second roller gap between itself and a second roller, the second roller being arranged adjacent to and upstream of the third roller, the second roller being arranged such that the second roller gap is formed by an electrode around which it is induced. web The third roller can be arranged such that its outer radius relative to the main conveyor direction overlaps with the outer radius of the second roller, the second and third rollers being arranged relative to each other such that the central axis of the second roller is arranged upstream of the second roller gap relative to the direction transverse to the main conveyor direction and the central axis of the third roller is arranged downstream of the roller gap relative to the direction transverse to the main conveyor direction. Correspondingly, the calender can have a fourth, fifth, and sixth and / or seventh roller. It may be provided that the distance between the individual roller gaps can be individually controlled / adjusted. The multi-roller calender may also be arranged such that the electrodes are arranged in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction for thickness control / measurement. web It may have one or more measuring devices, such as a gamma measuring device for measuring thickness or specific gravity. For this purpose, measuring electrodes web A control device can be provided to adjust the size of the roller gap depending on the thickness. It may also be possible to control the temperature of the individual rollers. For example, the temperature of the last roller of a multi-roller calender can be controlled to support lamination of the dry electrode foil(s) onto the current collector or metal foil.

[0014] It is conceivable that all gaps have the same gap height. Furthermore, it may be provided that the gap height of at least one rear roller in the main conveyor direction is smaller than at least one arranged in front of it. It may be provided that the roller gap height decreases progressively from the first roller gap to the last roller gap.

[0015] It may be provided that some of the roller gaps are arranged in a common pressing plane with respect to one another. A multi-roller calender may have several rollers with the same diameter. These are arranged in such a way that at least two gaps are formed between them, i.e. between rollers with the same diameter. These roller gaps of pairs of rollers with the same diameter may be in a common plane with respect to the main conveyor direction.

[0016] The multi-roller calender has an inlet side for supplying the electrode precursor material and an electrode formed from the electrode precursor material. web and an exit side for discharging the electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor material can be fed perpendicular to the main conveyor direction.

[0017] At the inlet side, a roller gap formed by two rollers for receiving the electrode precursor material fed thereto is provided, the two rollers being conceivably of smaller diameter than the other two rollers adjacent thereto. By using a roller with a smaller diameter for feeding the electrode precursor material, particularly in powder form, the high shear forces and / or high pressures required for breaking and mixing the electrode precursor material can be generated in the roller gap. The roller with the smaller diameter can be offset in the same direction as the zero line. The front roller of the rollers can have an offset of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4, particularly preferably 4.45 mm, relative to the zero line. The other of the rollers can have an offset of at least 8 mm, preferably at least 9 mm, particularly preferably 10 mm, relative to the zero line. The offset between the two rollers can thus be at least 3 mm, preferably 4 mm, particularly preferably at least 5 mm.

[0018] It can therefore be provided that the rollers intended to receive the electrode precursor material are at least two adjacent overlapping rollers.

[0019] The roller located in front of and adjacent to the roller provided for receiving the electrode precursor material in the main conveyor direction may be a support roller that does not form a roller gap with the first of the rollers having a smaller diameter, but is directly adjacent to it.

[0020] The support roller can be arranged relative to the front roller of the rollers provided for receiving the electrode precursor material such that the central axis of the support roller is arranged behind the roller contact area formed therebetween in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction, and the central axis of the front roller of the rollers provided for receiving the electrode precursor material is arranged in front of the roller contact area in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction. The support roller can be arranged opposite the second roller having a smaller diameter, i.e. the roller arranged behind the fourth roller in this combination, relative to the zero line. The support roller can have a deviation of at least 1 mm, preferably 2 mm, particularly preferably 2.5 mm, relative to the zero line. The support roller can be offset from the fourth roller by at least 2 mm, preferably 4 mm, particularly preferably 5 mm.

[0021] It may be provided that at least two adjacent overlapping rollers are driven at different rotational speeds, each of the rollers being individually controllable with regard to speed, acceleration, rotational speed etc.

[0022] The rotational speed of the rear roller may be greater than that of the first roller. If the multi-roller calender has several rollers, the rotational speed of the first roller may be the slowest, the rotational speed of the second roller may be greater than that of the first roller, the rotational speed of the third roller may be greater than that of the second roller, etc. These different speeds may generate forces that ensure shear in the film and / or improve the adhesion of the film to the rollers that run at a faster speed.

[0023] The roller gap of the rollers provided for receiving the electrode precursor material is considered to be associated with a feeder for feeding the electrode precursor material. The first roller gap is a gap that receives the electrode precursor material from the feeder and converts the electrode precursor material from the electrode precursor material into an electrode. webThe feeding device can be a funnel-shaped feeding hopper. The hopper can be fed with the bulk material by a suction conveyor or a screw conveyor. The bulk material can be evenly distributed inside the feeding hopper and the filling level can be kept constant during the feeding process. The formation of cavities and the breakdown of the material can be prevented by special mixers. A rotating dosing roller can be fitted to the underside of the hopper. The size of the cells of the dosing roller can be selected according to the particle size of the bulk material. The bulk material can be picked up by the dosing roller and scraped off with a flexible squeegee. The precisely metered bulk material can then be conveyed to a vibrating brushing device. Following the brushing process, the bulk material can be inspected and transferred to the following substrate line.

[0024] The rollers can be fixed in place by rattle-free bearings. Conical bearings or other bearing configurations can be used to fix the rollers rattle-free so that the desired tight web thickness tolerances can be achieved. It is contemplated that the rollers have the same diameter for each roller gap or for rollers within a roller gap. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the rollers have different diameters for each roller gap or for rollers within a roller gap. The surface of the rollers can be coated, for example with chrome or hard ceramic, to increase the surface hardness.

[0025] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a metal foil having electrodes on both sides. web 2. An assembly comprising two multi-roller calenders according to any one of the preceding claims for laminating the Electrodes formed in web The downstream end rollers of both multi-roller calenders are arranged to be conveyed in opposite main conveyor directions, forming end roller gaps and rotating in opposite directions, so that the metal foil fed into the end roller gaps is provided on both sides with respective electrodes induced in the end roller gaps. web is coated.

[0026] The downstream end rollers are not offset from each other, so that the laminated foils web It may be provided that the feedstock is guided through the end roller gap substantially perpendicular to the main conveyor direction.

[0027] The assembly may further include a feeder disposed between the first and second plurality of roller calenders configured to continuously feed the metal foil into the end gap, the end gap being configured to receive the metal foil and feed the metal foil to one of the electrodes. web is laminated to one side of the metal foil, and the other electrode web One electrode can be designed to be laminated on the other side. web is the cathode web The other electrode may be web is the anode web The rollers forming the end gap may have one or more gap control actuators. The one or more gap control actuators may be configured to generate and control opposing forces between the first and second rollers forming the end gap during lamination. It may be provided that the metal foil is pre-coated with adhesive before being fed into the end gap, or that the adhesive can be applied to one side of the foil via a separate powder hopper on a multi-roller calender, so that direct lamination to the foil is possible without prior pre-coating of material. After the lamination step, the assembly may have a cutting device for cutting the laminated web to the final electrode width and winding up the individual electrode reels.

[0028] The present invention further relates to a method for producing an electrode using a multi-roller calender according to any one of claims 1 to 15 or an assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 17. web The method for producing supplying an electrode precursor material into an entrance roller gap of a multi-roller calender formed by an upstream roller and a downstream roller; Passing the electrode precursor material through the inlet gap thereby forming an electrode web forming a Electrode around downstream roller web and inducing electrode web passing the material through at least one further roller gap; Electrodes from multi-roller calendar web and removing Electrode Precursor Materials and / or Electrodes web While passing through at least one roller gap, the electrode web The conveyor direction of the electrode web The main conveyor has a component of movement opposite to the main conveyor direction.

[0029] In the method, an electrode web It may be provided that the flow rate is guided around the downstream roller by more than 180°.

[0030] In particular, it may be provided that the rotational speed of the downstream roller is greater than the rotational speed of the upstream roller.

[0031] Electrodes from multi-roller calendar web The electrode web It may be specified that the method includes laminating a metal foil onto the metal foil.

[0032] The method involves two electrodes conveyed in opposite main conveyor directions. web Electrodes web When each is released from the multi-roller calendar, the electrode web It may be provided that is laminated on both sides onto the metal foil.

[0033] The method may be preceded by a process for preparing the electrode precursor material, which may be a powder. The process may begin with a dry mix of dry active material particles, dry conductive particles, and dry binder particles to form a first dry mix. Further, the dry conductive particles and the conductive binder particles may be dry mixed to form a second dry mix that may be fed to a dry fibrillation step. In the dry fibrillation step, the dry mix may be fibrillated using a jet mill. During the dry fibrillation step, high shear forces are applied to the dry mix to physically stretch it to form a thin web-like network of fibers. In the dry feeding step, the separately formed first and second dry mixes are fed into corresponding containers to form a dry film. The dry film is then fed to a multi-roller calender, where it is compressed and calendered to form the integrated / mixed electrode. web or free-standing electrodes web can be obtained. web is then attached to a current collector (eg, a metal foil).

[0034] The advantage of this method is that the free-standing electrodes thus produced web However, electrodes manufactured by wet processes web For example, a dry electrode can have improved properties compared to a dry electrode. web may have one or more of the following properties: improved web strength, improved adhesion, improved cohesion, improved electrical performance, or reduced defect occurrence. web Adhesion may be adhesion to a current collector. Electrical performance may relate to specific capacitance. Web strength may be tensile strength.

[0035] Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a roller assembly of a multi-roller calender according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an inlet roller combination of a multi-roller calender according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a side view of one embodiment of an inlet roller combination of a multi-roller calender according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of an assembly consisting of two counter-rotating multi-roller calenders. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a roller assembly of a multi-roller calender according to the invention. The assembly shown has a total of seven rollers 2 arranged next to each other in the main conveyor direction X, each offset with respect to each other and offset with respect to the zero line N or pressing plane P. The rollers 2 are offset from each other in the vertical direction on the one hand and in the main conveyor direction X on the other hand, so that the outer diameter R of the rollers 2 is 1 / 2 mm. w overlap each other in the main conveyor direction X. The left side of the figure shows the inlet side 5 of the multi-roller calender 1, in which the electrode precursor material 7 is fed from above from the left via a feeder 9 (not shown) into the roller gap of the second and third rollers 2 having a smaller diameter D1 than the other rollers 2 having a larger diameter D2, and is fed through the two rollers 2 having diameter D1 under a given roller gap pressure.

[0038] On the other side of the roller gap 3, the electrode generated by the pressure web 4 is guided around the underside of the third roller 2 and fed into a second roller gap 3 between the third and fourth rollers 2 as shown in the figure, the third roller having a diameter D1 and the fourth roller having a diameter D2. web 4 adhere to the succeeding roller 2 in that each downstream roller 2 has a higher rotational speed than the upstream roller 2 adjacent to them. The faster speed of the downstream roller 2 causes the electrodes 4 in the roller gap 3 to rotate faster. web 4 shear occurs, resulting in the electrode web 4 adheres to roller 2 at a higher speed. The first roller 8 on the left side of the figure adheres to the electrode web 4. Instead, the first roller 8 serves to support the second roller or the first roller having a smaller diameter D1. There is therefore no roller gap 3 provided between these two rollers, but the rollers 2 are in direct contact with each other. As shown, adjacent rollers 2 rotate in opposite directions. In the example shown, the support roller 8 rotates counterclockwise, the second roller rotates clockwise, the third roller rotates counterclockwise again, and so on. Electrode web The rollers 2 between which the electrode 4 passes in a zigzag pattern are disposed relative to each other such that the central axis M of the front roller of the roller 2 that forms the roller gap 3 is disposed in front of the roller gap 3 relative to the vertical and the central axis M of the rear roller of the roller 2 is disposed behind the roller gap 3. For example, the second roller 2 rotates clockwise and the third roller rotates counterclockwise, so that the electrode 4 passes through the roller gap 3 formed by the second and third rollers 2. web The feed direction of the fourth roller 2 passes substantially vertically downwards. The central axis M of the second roller 2 is now arranged above the roller gap 3 and the central axis M of the third roller 2 is arranged below the roller gap 3. In the adjacent gap 3 between the third and fourth rollers 2, the feed direction points substantially vertically upwards, so that the central axis M of the third roller 2 is below the roller gap 3 and the central axis M of the fourth roller 2 is above the roller gap 3. As a result of the rollers 2 being arranged in this way, the electrode web The direction of movement of 4 is the vertical component B Y and the horizontal component B X and the horizontal component B X are each oriented relative to the main conveyor direction X. The illustrated roller assembly also includes electrodes web The path travelled by the rollers 4 is characterized by exceeding 180° of the arc of each roller. web are led out of the multi-roller calender 1 at the exit side 6 .

[0039] FIG. 2 shows again in detail the first four rollers 2 arranged on the inlet side, of which the central roller 2 forms a roller gap 3 for receiving the supplied electrode precursor material 7. The offset between the individual rollers 2 is shown greatly enlarged relative to the roller diameter for clarity of representation. Relative to the zero line N, the first or support roller 8 is offset by an offset V Y8 With respect to the zero line N, the second roller 2 is also vertically below the zero line N and the deflection V Y8 Mutation V is larger than Y1 With respect to the zero line N, the third roller 2 is also vertically below the zero line N and has a deflection V Y1 A deflection V greater than Y2 With respect to the zero line N, the third roller 2 is vertically above the zero line N and has a deflection V Y8 The corresponding deflection V Y3 In the illustrated example, the deflection V Y8 is 2.5 mm, and the deviation V Y1 is 4.45 mm, and the deviation V Y2 is 10 mm, and the deviation V Y3 is 2.5 mm. In the horizontal direction, that is, along the main conveyor direction X, the second roller overlaps with the third roller V. X1,2 The third roller has an overlap V with respect to the fourth roller. X1,2 Overlap V is greater than X2,3 With respect to the roller gap 3 between the second and third rollers, the second roller 2 represents the front roller 2.1 and the third roller 2 represents the rear roller 2.2. With respect to the roller gap 3 between the third and fourth rollers, the third roller 2 represents the front roller 2.1 and the fourth roller 2 represents the rear roller 2.2.

[0040] Figure 3 shows the first four rollers 2 arranged on the left in actual dimensions in the installed state. In particular, a feeder 9 can be seen in the figure, which feeds the powdered electrode precursor material 7 into the roller gap 3 between the second and third rollers 2. The feeder 9 is arranged vertically above the roller gap 3, so that the electrode precursor material 7 is conveyed into the roller gap 3 with the help of gravity. The rollers are mounted in a calender frame 14 independently of each other and can be controlled independently of each other, in particular with regard to the gap adjustment of the rollers 2 and their respective rotational speeds.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an assembly 2 for producing metal foils coated with electrodes on both sides. The assembly 2 has two multi-roller calenders 1 arranged end to end, facing each other in the main conveyor directions X1, X2. The multi-roller calenders each have eight rollers 2, the end rollers on the inlet side are designed as support rollers 8 and the end rollers on the outlet side form a common end roller gap 13. The metal foil 11 is fed vertically from above into the end roller gap 13, the foil is then fed into the two multi-roller calenders 1 to produce electrodes. web 4 so that the coated metal foil 11 leaves the end roller gap 13 vertically downwards and can then be cut to length and / or wound or further processed.

[0042] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential to the implementation of the invention both individually and in any combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Multi-roller calendar 2 Rollers 2.1, 2.2 Overlapping rollers 3 Roller Gap 4 electrodes web (Electron Station) 5 Entrance side 6 exit side 7 Powder electrode precursor materials 8 Support Rollers 9 feeding device 10 Assembly 11 Metal foil 12 End Roller 13 End roller gap 14 calendar frames Direction of movement in the roller gap B B for movement in the direction of the main conveyor X component B for movement perpendicular to the main conveyor direction Y component D1 Small diameter D2 Large diameter M roller center axis N Zero Line P pressing surface R W outer radius V Y8 Deflection of support rollers perpendicular to the main conveyor direction V Y1 Deflection of the first roller perpendicular to the main conveyor direction V Y2 Deflection of the second roller perpendicular to the main conveyor direction V Y3 Deflection of the third roller perpendicular to the main conveyor direction V X1,2 Deflection of the first and second rollers in the direction of the main conveyor V X2,3 Deflection of the second and third rollers in the direction of the main conveyor X Main conveyor direction

Claims

1. A multi-roller calender (1) for producing electrodes by a dry coating process, comprising: a plurality of rollers (2) arranged side by side substantially in a main conveyor direction (X) of an electrode path to be produced, wherein between adjacent and oppositely rotating rollers (2) respective roller gaps (3) for passing said electrode path (4) are formed between adjacent oppositely rotating rollers (2); At least two adjacent rollers of the plurality of rollers (2) have an outer radius (R Ｗ ) are arranged so as to overlap with respect to the main conveyor direction (X), The multi-roller calender (1).

2. 2. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two adjacent overlapping rollers (2.1, 2.2) are arranged such that one of them is arranged offset perpendicularly to the other roller with respect to the main conveyor direction (X).

3. 3. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two adjacent overlapping rollers (2.1, 2.2) are arranged relative to one another such that the central axis (M) of the front roller (2.1) is arranged in front of the roller gap (3) in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X) and the central axis (M) of the rear roller (2.2) is arranged behind the roller gap (3) in the direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X), so that an electrode path (4) induced through the roller gap (3) is at least partially conveyed relative to the main conveyor direction (X).

4. 4. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the path of the electrode path (4) between two adjacent roller gaps (3) exceeds 180° of the circumference of each of the respective rollers (2).

5. All rollers (2) have their outer radius (R Ｗ 5. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 4, wherein the rollers (2.1) are arranged in a superimposed relationship with respect to the main conveyor direction (X), and all adjacent rollers (2) are arranged with respect to each other such that the central axis (M) of the respective front roller (2.1) is arranged in front of the roller gap (3) in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X) and the central axis (M) of the respective rear roller (2.2) is arranged behind the roller gap (3) in the direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X).

6. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein all gaps (3) have the same gap height.

7. 6. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the height of at least one rear gap (3) in the main conveyor direction (X) is less than the height of at least one gap located in front of it.

8. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the roller gaps (3) are arranged in a common pressing plane (P) with respect to one another.

9. 9. The multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the multi-roller calender (1) has an inlet side (5) for feeding an electrode precursor material (7) and wherein the multi-roller calender (1) has an outlet side (6) for discharging the electrode paths (4) formed from the electrode precursor material (7).

10. An inlet roller gap (3) is provided for receiving the supplied electrode precursor material (7), the inlet roller gap (3) being formed from two rollers (2) each having a smaller diameter (D １ 10. The multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 9, comprising:

11. 11. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 10, wherein the rollers (2) provided for receiving the electrode precursor material (7) are the at least two adjacent overlapping rollers (2.1, 2.2).

12. 12. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the roller arranged adjacent to the roller (2) provided for receiving the electrode precursor material (7) in the main conveyor direction (X) is a support roller (8), which does not form a roller gap with the first roller (2) having a smaller diameter (D1) but is directly adjacent to it.

13. 13. A multi-roller calender (1) according to claim 12, wherein the support roller (8) is arranged relative to the front roller of the roller (2) provided for receiving the electrode precursor material (7) with the central axis (M) of the support roller (8) arranged behind the roller contact area formed therebetween in a direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X) and the central axis (M) of the roller (2) provided for receiving the electrode precursor material (7) is arranged in front of the roller contact area in the direction transverse to the main conveyor direction (X).

14. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two adjacent overlapping rollers (2.1, 2.2) are driven at different rotational speeds.

15. 15. A multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein a feed device (9) for feeding the electrode precursor material (7) is associated with the roller gap (3) of the roller provided for receiving the electrode precursor material (7).

16. 16. An assembly (10) comprising two multi-roller calenders (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 for laminating electrode paths (4) on both sides of a metal foil (11), the assembly (10) being arranged such that the electrode paths (4) formed therein are fed in opposite main conveyor directions (X), the downstream end rollers (12) of both multi-roller calenders (1) form end roller gaps (13) and rotate in opposite directions, such that both sides of the metal foil (11) fed into the end roller gaps (13) are coated with the electrode paths (4) guided into the end roller gaps (13), respectively.

17. 17. The assembly (10) of claim 16, wherein the downstream end rollers (12) have no offset relative to one another so that the laminated metal foil (11) is guided through the end roller gap (13) substantially perpendicular to the main conveyor direction (X) of the electrode path (4).

18. A method for producing electrode tracks (4) using a multi-roller calender (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 or an assembly (10) according to any one of claims 16 to 17, comprising the steps of: supplying an electrode precursor material (7) into an inlet roller gap (3) of the multi-roller calender (1) formed by an upstream roller (2) and a downstream roller (2); passing said electrode precursor material (7) through said entrance roller gap (3), thereby forming an electrode path (4); guiding the electrode path (4) around the downstream roller (2); passing said electrode path (4) through at least one further roller gap (3); releasing the electrode path (4) from the multi-roller calender (1); Including, the conveyor direction of the electrode path (4) has a component of movement opposite to a main conveyor direction (X) of the electrode path (4) during the passage of the electrode precursor material (7) and / or the electrode path (4) through the at least one roller gap (3), The method.

19. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the electrode path (4) is guided around the downstream roller (2) by more than 180°.

20. 20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the rotational speed of the downstream roller (2) is greater than the rotational speed of the upstream roller (2).

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