Cell stacking equipment and stacking method

Abstract

The invention relates to a cell stacking installation (10) for stacking segments (20) of energy cells, in particular battery cells, comprising a supply device (12) for supplying the segments (20) in a material flow (21) to which the segments (20) can be fed in successive positions (22), a plurality of cell stacking devices (15) for transferring the segments (20) to form a stack (26), and a branch (17) in the material flow (21) for dividing the material flow (21) into partial material flows (20, 24, 25) in such a way that each two segments (20) are passed to different cell stacking devices (15) of the cell stacking installation (10) in directly successive positions (22) in the material flow (21).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell stacking installation for stacking segments of energy cells, in particular battery cells, according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for stacking segments of energy cells using a cell stacking installation according to the preamble of claim 12. [Background technology]

[0002] In the context of the present invention, energy cells or energy storage devices are used, for example in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, marine vehicles, aircraft and fixed storage installations, where very large amounts of energy must be stored for long periods of time.

[0003] Such energy cells, in particular battery cells, often have a structure consisting of a number of segments that are stacked into a stack. The segments may be, for example, single cells of a battery that are placed one above the other and bonded together in the manufacturing process of the battery cell.

[0004] In order to reduce the production costs of battery manufacturing, in particular the machine capacities must be increased, where a prerequisite for a high capacity is a high rate of production of stacks of energy cells, in particular battery cells, formed from a number of segments, in particular single cells, stacked one above the other, of the type mentioned at the outset.

[0005] In this case, the segments are placed one above the other in an upstream manufacturing step to form a so-called single cell consisting of a first separator sheet, an anode sheet disposed thereon, a second separator sheet disposed thereon and a cathode sheet disposed thereon.

[0006] The segments are in this case stacked one on top of the other to form a stack of several segments. If the segments are single cells or separator sheets on which an anode sheet or cathode sheet is placed, then the cathode or anode is located on the free side of the stack, which is then covered by placing a so-called terminal cell. The terminal cell has a first separator sheet, an anode sheet or cathode sheet placed thereon and a second separator sheet placed thereon, but no cathode or anode sheet is placed on the second separator sheet. The terminal cell may thus be considered as a single cell without a cathode or anode sheet. In this case, the completed stack of several single cells and terminal cells is characterized in that it has a separator sheet on its upper side and on its lower side, respectively, so that the anode and cathode sheets are covered by separator sheets towards the upper side and the lower side, respectively, and do not come into contact with each other.

[0007] In this case, in order to achieve a very high production rate of the energy cells or energy storage devices, it is desirable to stack the manufactured segments with the highest possible positional accuracy and at the highest possible production rate and to further process them as a stack. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Against this background, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide a cell stacking installation for stacking segments of energy cells, in particular battery cells, and a method for stacking segments of energy cells, in particular battery cells, using a corresponding cell stacking installation, which allows for extremely high production rates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve this goal, a cell stacking installation is proposed having the features of claim 1 and a method for stacking using the cell stacking installation having the features of claim 12. Further advantageous developments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims, the drawings and the corresponding description.

[0010] Therefore, a cell stacking installation for stacking segments of energy cells, in particular battery cells, is proposed, in which a feed device is provided, which feeds the segments in a material flow, into which the segments can be fed in successive positions, a plurality of cell stacking devices are provided for placing the segments one above the other to form a stack, and a branch is further provided in the material flow, which is designed to divide the material flow into partial material flows, in such a way that two segments, each in a directly successive position in the material flow, are passed to different cell stacking devices of the cell stacking installation.

[0011] The material flow is preferably continuously conveyed, and the segments can be fed from the feeder to the cell stacking device one after the other, for example on a conveyor belt or drum. The positions in the material flow correspond in each case to the required space for the segments, with the segments in adjacent positions preferably having a distance from each other of, for example, 1 mm.

[0012] The material flow is usually provided with voids. Accordingly, positions in the material flow may be unoccupied, so that there may be gaps in the material flow. For example, individual segments may be released by the feed facility, so that voids may be formed in the product flow. Individual segments or single cells may be removed from the material flow, for example after or for quality control.

[0013] In this case, the multiple cell stacking devices are configured to stack the material flow of the segments in successive positions to form a stack or a single-cell cell stack, respectively. A branch in the material flow divides the material flow into partial material flows, so that two segments, each in a directly consecutive position in the material flow, are passed to different cell stacking devices of the cell stacking installation. This makes it possible to achieve that the cell stacking device is not supplied with two segments, each in a consecutive position in the material flow, which are separated only by their distance. By dividing the material flow at the branch, it can be achieved that the segments passed to the cell stacking device have a distance of at least the position or segment width or the width of a single cell of the incoming material flow. When the material flow is divided into three or more partial material flows, the distance between two segments to be stacked is appropriately increased in the cell stacking device.

[0014] It does not contradict the basic idea if two segments that are consecutive in the material flow are passed to the same cell stacking device when possibly there is a void at a position in the material flow, since in this case the two segments are not in consecutive positions adjacent to each other in the material flow.

[0015] Furthermore, the proposed division allows several cell stacking devices to stack segments in parallel, which can accelerate the material flow accordingly and increase the production rate. Furthermore, the positioning accuracy of the segments on the stack can be improved due to the lower processing speed requirements of the individual cell stacking devices. Possible production rate limitations when transferring segments or single cells to the cell stacking devices and when transferring them from the cell stacking devices to the stack can be eliminated in this way.

[0016] According to one development, the branching section has at least one branching drum, which divides the material flow or partial material flow by transferring the segments to at least one transfer drum and / or at least one cell stacking device and / or at least one deflection drum and / or another branching drum.

[0017] The diverter drum allows the material flow to be split, for example into two or more partial material flows, at high conveying speeds of the segments. Since the requirements for the spacing between the segments in successive positions are particularly low for the diverter drum, in an advantageous embodiment, means for increasing the spacing between two segments in successive positions or for changing the pitch can be omitted for the diverter drum provided in the cell stacking installation. Alternatively, further elements can be provided for increasing the spacing between the segments in successive positions in the material flow or in the feed device, which possibly provides sufficient switching times for the diverter, as will be described further below.

[0018] The splitting drum splits the material flow by passing it to preferably at least two further units, which further process the split material flow of the segments as partial material flows. Such units are for example transfer drums which receive the corresponding segments or single cells from the splitting drum and pass them to another unit, or turning drums which are used to rotate the segments by further passing them to another drum. Furthermore, such units can be cell stacking devices which can, in a possible embodiment, directly transfer the partial material flows from the splitting drum. In a possible embodiment, at the splitting section, the partial material flows can be transferred from the splitting drum to at least one further splitting drum, so that three or more partial material flows in total can be formed.

[0019] According to one further development, it is proposed that the component material flow transferred to the diverting drum is transferred to another diverting drum, which makes it possible to use several diverting drums for the diverting section, with the segments conveyed to the diverting drums each facing the diverting drum on the same segment side.

[0020] According to an advantageous development, it is proposed that the diverter, in particular the diverter drum, performs a mechanically predefined division of the segments into at least two partial material flows at successive positions of the material flow. This allows a simple, low-maintenance and robust construction of the diverter, in particular the diverter drum, which allows a deterministic division of the material flow. The appropriate actuation of the adjustment elements of the diverter drum or of the diverter and the distribution of the material flow can be carried out, for example, via a mechanical linkage. A pneumatic or electrical control for switching on the adjustment elements on the diverter drum can thus be dispensed with.

[0021] According to another advantageous development, the branching section, in particular the branching drum, effects a variable division of successive segments of the material flow into at least three partial material flows, in which case it is proposed that the cell stacking installation has at least three cell stacking devices.

[0022] A suitable variable allocation of the segments or single cells to the at least three partial material flows can be achieved, for example, by switching on valves. The division into at least three partial material flows by a branch makes it possible to temporarily not pass a segment or a partial material flow to at least one of the at least three cell stacking devices, without the remaining at least two cell stacking devices each still being passed two segments that are in a directly consecutive position in the material flow. Such an interruption of one of the at least three partial material flows can be used, for example, to remove a finished stack formed from the segments or to carry out a stack exchange, so that the possible time period for removal is increased. Accordingly, when a variable division of the partial material flows by a branch can be achieved, for example, by switching on two cell stacking devices to feed a segment and leaving one cell stacking device switched off.

[0023] According to one refinement, it is proposed that the cell stacking devices each have a vaned wheel which receives and delivers the segments of the partial material streams. Vaned wheels are also known, for example, under the terms stacking wheels or vaned drums.

[0024] The segments can in one advantageous embodiment be received directly from a drum, for example a transfer drum or a diverter drum, so that the vaned wheel receives the segments into the cell stacking device, and accordingly the vaned wheel engages directly with the drum which performs the transfer.

[0025] The proposed cell stacking installation with a branch is particularly suitable for combination with a vaned wheel, since depending on the division into partial material streams, when entering the vaned wheel, a gap of at least one segment width is created between two segments in the partial material stream, which simplifies the reception by the vaned wheel. The segments are removed from the vaned wheel, preferably by means of a comb which engages with the vaned wheel, which allows the transfer or transfer of the segments onto the stack of segments.

[0026] In one possible embodiment, the transfer drum, for example the transfer drum, has an outlet for compressed air, which is assigned to the position of the front edge of the segments or single cells to be conveyed. Preferably, the drum, in particular the transfer drum, is configured such that the front edge of the segments or single cells is raised on the transfer drum by means of compressed air, so that the transfer, in particular to the vaned wheel, can be improved.

[0027] According to one development, it is proposed that the cell stacking devices each have an intermediate drum, which receives a segment of the partial material stream, in particular from a transfer drum, and delivers it, in particular to a vaned wheel of the cell stacking device.

[0028] Preferably, the intermediate drums are driven at increasing rotational speeds. The corresponding intermediate drums receive the segments at the feed speed, for example from a transfer or branching drum, and transfer the segments or single cells in a reduced motion or at rest, with delivery preferably to a vaned wheel. In an alternative embodiment, delivery can be to a receiver for forming the stack.

[0029] The advantage of the proposed solution is to be found in that the segments are received by the intermediate drum at the feed speed of the feed device and then transferred to the vaned wheel or to the receiver at a reduced speed or in a stopped state by slowing down the movement of the intermediate drum. By receiving the segments at the feed speed of the feed device, it is possible, on the one hand, to realize an uninterrupted removal of the segments at a high conveying speed from the feed device with as little strain as possible on the segments when being transferred. On the other hand, by slowing down the speed of the intermediate drum in contact with the vaned wheel or by stopping the intermediate drum, for example when receiving, it is possible to realize a transfer of the segments with less lateral forces acting on the segments. This allows a more reliable delivery of the process to the vaned wheel or a delivery with higher positioning accuracy to the receiver, so that the segments can be stacked to form a stack with higher positioning accuracy.

[0030] It is further proposed that the intermediate drum has at least two receiving punches arranged at the same angle to each other for receiving the segments, the intermediate drum being decelerated and accelerated depending on the number of receiving stamps during one revolution. By means of multiple receiving punches it is possible to increase the rate of receiving of the segments by the intermediate drum, or vice versa, for a given number of segments to be received per time unit, the required rotation speed of the intermediate drum can be reduced.

[0031] According to another advantageous development, it is proposed that the number of receiving punches is odd, so that the receiving position of the segments from the supply device and the transfer position to the transfer mechanism can be arranged on opposite sides, i.e. at an angle of 180° relative to the rotation axis of the intermediate drum, but it is not always the case that a receiving punch is in the receiving position and another receiving punch is in the transfer position and vice versa. According to the proposed development, the receiving position and the transfer position can be arranged on opposite sides, so that a structurally simple construction of the cell stacking installation is realized, with two receiving punches not passing through the receiving position and the transfer position at the same time.

[0032] According to one development, it is proposed that the cell stacking devices are each configured to deliver the stack to an unloading device.

[0033] The discharge device is, for example, a conveyor belt, on which the formed stack or segment stack (which may also be referred to as single cell stack or cell stack) can be transported for further processing.

[0034] It is further proposed that the cell stacking devices each have a movable, in particular linearly movable, receiver which receives segments of the partial material stream and delivers them as a stack to the discharge device.

[0035] The movable receiver of the cell stacking device is used to receive the segments during the stacking process. The receiver conveys the stack, preferably in the direction of the surface normal of the segments. Due to the linearly movable receiver in the proposed direction, the stack or the segments stacked in the stack are conveyed without the action of lateral forces. This prevents the segments or stacks from losing their correctly positioned arrangement again during conveying.

[0036] It is further proposed that the cell stacking device has a lifting device, which in operation moves the receiving part via a linear guide device, by means of which the receiving part and the stack held therein are removed in a defined movement path, and the receiving part can be fed, with a movement to be very precisely controlled, back to a transfer position, for example on a vaned wheel or an intermediate drum, after the stack is discharged.

[0037] According to one development, it is proposed that the cell stacking devices each have a movable relay device, which receives and delivers segments of the partial material stream.

[0038] Preferably, the intermediate device is movable from a waiting position to a holding position, and during removal, each stack is positioned in the holding position, for example when the receiver is moved, the intermediate device forming an intermediate rest for transferring the segments. By providing the intermediate device, the transfer of the segments is realized even when the receiver filled with preformed finished stacks is moved to the output location for transferring the stacks and is thus not offered for receiving the segments at the transfer location. This allows an uninterrupted, i.e. continuous, reception of the segments from the stacking device with a high stacking rate to be realized. In order to transfer the segments onto the intermediate device only when the receiver is not located at the transfer location, the intermediate device is moved back from the holding position to the waiting position as soon as the receiver is moved back to the transfer location again. In this way, the stacking process and in particular the movement path of the receiver from the transfer location is not hindered or limited by the intermediate device. The intermediate device is moved from the waiting position to the holding position when a predetermined number of segments have been stacked in the receiver or in particular when a predetermined stack height has been reached immediately after the last segment has been transferred onto the stack. In this case, the relay device enters the transfer path of the segments, so that the transfer of the next segment on the stack is interrupted and the next segment is transferred onto the relay device instead, whereby the relay device actually assumes the function of the receiver for a short time by forming an intermediate transfer device until the receiver is returned to the transfer position.

[0039] In this case, it is further proposed that the receiver and the intermediate device each have a rest surface formed by the surface of a plurality of webs (protrusions) arranged parallel to one another and at equal intervals, in which case the intermediate device and the receiver engage with each other with the webs during the movement in order to transfer the stack of segments. Due to the proposed configuration of the rest surfaces, the receiver is moved back to the transfer position after the stack has been delivered, without colliding with the intermediate device. In this case, when moving to the transfer position, the receiver is moved with the webs of its rest surface between the webs of the rest surface of the intermediate device, so that an enlarged receiver surface is formed, complementing the rest surface of the intermediate device. When the receiver is again placed in the transfer position, the intermediate device is again moved from the holding position to the waiting position, in which it transfers the already stacked segments to the receiver. The stack is actually "relayed".

[0040] The feeding device is preferably formed by a drum path, which allows a very high conveying rate of the segments, either directly abutting one another or at a slight or increased distance. Preferably, the feeding device has a spreading device, which increases the distance between successive segments in the material flow, so that successive segments in the material flow at the entry to the cell stacking installation have an increased distance from one another. The spreading device increases the distance between the segments. In this case, the spreading device may preferably be formed by at least one first drum and a second drum of the drum path, in which the segments are transferred from the circumferential surface of the first drum to the circumferential surface of the second drum, the first drum transferring the segments to the circumferential surface of the second drum at a transfer position with a first circumferential speed of its circumferential surface, and the second drum receiving the segments with a second circumferential speed of its circumferential surface, the second circumferential speed being higher than the first circumferential speed, such that when the segments are transferred from the first drum to the second drum, they are actually pulled apart by the higher circumferential speed of the second drum and are subsequently transported at increased intervals.

[0041] Furthermore, the spreading device can also be formed by at least one pitch-changing drum integrated into the drum path, which can have a number of circumferentially arranged conveying segments for conveying a respective segment of the material flow, the conveying segments being movable in the radial direction of the pitch-changing drum, the segments being moved from a relatively small radius to a relatively large radius from the receiving position to the transfer position. With the proposed pitch-changing drum, the spacing increase can be effected on the rotating drum itself, in which case the spacing increase is brought about by the conveying segment and its movement, in that the segments held on the conveying segment are moved by the conveying segment itself in a direction with an increased spacing from each other.

[0042] In this case, it is further proposed that at least two pitch-changing drums are provided, which are arranged in series on the drum path. By providing at least one further pitch-changing drum, the spacing increase that is effected on the pitch-changing drums for the spacing increase to be realized can be reduced by a factor corresponding to the number of pitch-changing drums. This likewise makes it possible to reduce the required relative speed of the transport segment with respect to the pitch-changing drum and the associated acceleration of the transport segment and the segments held thereon, which likewise reduces the lateral forces acting on the segments during the spacing increase.

[0043] In this case, the pitch changing drum is suitably capable of increasing the spacing between successive segments in the material stream by at least 10mm, preferably 13mm.

[0044] In order to solve the problem, a method for stacking segments of energy cells, in particular battery cells, using a cell stacking installation as described in one of claims 1 to 11 is further proposed, in which a supply device is provided, which supplies the segments in a material flow, into which the segments are supplied in successive positions and in which a number of cell stacking devices are provided for placing the segments one above the other to form a stack, and in which a branch is provided in the material flow, which divides the material flow into partial material flows, in such a way that two segments, each in a directly consecutive position in the material flow, are passed to different cell stacking devices of the cell stacking installation.

[0045] The cell stacking equipment is accordingly operated in such a way that, during operation, two segments in successive positions of the material flow are not fed to any of the cell stacking devices. Nevertheless, it is possible, for example, for two consecutive segments in the material flow, which are separated by a void and are accordingly not arranged in the material flow in successive positions, to be assigned by the branching to the same partial material flow. Correspondingly, these two segments will be stacked by the cell stacking devices one after the other. Due to the proposed division of the material flow by the branching of the cell stacking equipment, at least one void is formed between the two segments per segment or single cell in the partial material flow fed to one of the cell stacking devices, so that the required production rate of the individual cell stacking devices is at least halved, whereby the production rate of the cell stacking equipment as a whole can be increased. Furthermore, due to the significant increase in the distance between two segments in the partial material flow, which may be, for example, one, two or three voids, the transfer to, for example, an intermediate drum and / or a vaned wheel and the transfer onto the stack can be carried out correspondingly more slowly and therefore more precisely and kindly to the product.

[0046] It is further proposed that at least two stacks of segments are formed in parallel in at least two cell stacking devices of the cell stacking facility, so that the cell stacking facility is not limited by the production rate of the cell stacking device alone, thereby increasing the processable material flow of the cell stacking facility as a whole, and the segments can be gently stacked to form the cell stacks.

[0047] The proposed method distinguishes between possible redirections of the material flow towards two cell stacking devices, for example two cell stacking devices each forming a stack in succession, in which the material flow is redirected to the second cell stacking device after the first stack is formed in the first cell stacking device.

[0048] According to one development, it is proposed that the stacking equipment has at least three cell stacking devices and that the branching section is controlled so that a partial material flow is sent simultaneously to each of at least two cell stacking devices, while at least one cell stacking device is temporarily not sent a partial material flow.

[0049] The proposed control of the cell stacking system makes it possible to feed the partial material streams to several cell stacking devices in parallel, with one cell stacking device not receiving, for example, a segment or a single cell at the same time. The cell stacking device to which the partial material stream is temporarily not fed preferably removes the formed stack during the interruption. Furthermore, the cell stacking system can continue to operate if a problem occurs with one cell stacking device.

[0050] The division of the material flow into the partial material flows by controlling the branches is preferably dynamic or controlled on demand, particularly in this embodiment, which offers the advantage that, as opposed to a possible deterministic division of the material flow, the cell stacking installation can compensate for the random distribution of voids at positions in the material flow.

[0051] According to one development, it is proposed to count the segments that are placed one above the other to form a stack by the cell stacking device, which makes it possible to easily ensure a predetermined number of segments or single cells on the stack, regardless of possible voids in the supplied material flow and / or the partial material flow.

[0052] Therefore, the cell stacking installation and / or each cell stacking device preferably comprises a counting device, which preferably counts the segments or single cells transferred onto the stack in the receiver for counting purposes.

[0053] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0054] [Figure 1] 1 shows a cell stacking installation having one branch drum and two cell stacking devices. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a cell stacking installation having two branch drums and three cell stacking devices. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a portion of a cell stacking installation including a cell stacking device having a vaned wheel. [Figure 4] 1 shows a portion of a cell stacking installation including a cell stacking device having an intermediate drum and a vaned wheel. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a portion of a cell stacking installation including a cell stacking device having a bladed wheel and a relay device. [Figure 6] 1 shows a portion of a cell stacking installation including a cell stacking device having an intermediate drum, a vaned wheel, and a relay device. [Figure 7] 1 shows a portion of a cell stacking installation including a cell stacking device having an intermediate drum and a relay device. [Figure 8] 1 shows a cell stacking installation with a pitch changing drum in the feeder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the proposed cell stacking machine 10. The cell stacking machine 10 comprises a feeder 12 which supplies segments 20 in a material flow 21 for use in energy cells, e.g. single cells for lithium-ion battery cells.

[0056] The material flow 21, which is made up of the segments 20, has an arrangement of the segments 20 in sequence, where the flat segments 20 are transported in predetermined positions one after the other. The positions in the material flow 21 have sufficient space for the segments 20, whereby the segments 20 in the material flow 21 and thus also the positions in the material flow 21 can have intervals or gaps from one another. The segments 20 therefore do not necessarily collide with one another with their edges. A corresponding interval or pitch between two segments 20 can result, for example, from a cutting process when separating the individual segments 20. Furthermore, a widening in the sense of a pitch change or an increase in the interval between two segments in successive positions in the material flow 21 can be carried out by suitable devices and methods. The material flow 21 can also have gaps, where the interval between two segments is composed of the width of the segments 20 and the interval between the segments 20 that is set during feeding. In the material flow 21, therefore, not all successive positions of the segments 20 are necessarily occupied or covered by one segment. Such voids are obtained, for example, by releasing a segment 20 of the material flow 21 for or after a quality test. In the schematic diagram of Figure 1, for the sake of simplicity, voids in the material flow 21 are not shown.

[0057] The segments 20 are transferred from the feed device 12 to the diverter drum 18, which forms the diverter 17 in this embodiment. The diverter 17 divides the material flow 21, which consists of the segments 20, into two partial material flows 23, 24 in this embodiment. Accordingly, two segments 20 or single cells in successive positions in the material flow 21 are divided on the diverter drum 18 into different partial material flows 23, 24, which are fed to different cell stacking devices 15. In this embodiment, the diverter drum 18 transfers the segments to the diverter drum 19 in the respective second position in the material flow 21. Another segment 20 is transferred from the diverter drum 18 directly to the cell stacking device 15 in this embodiment, so that in this case the diverter drum 18 also performs the function of the transfer drum 14. The diverter drum 18 therefore transfers the segments 20 alternately in successive positions to the diverter drum 19 and to the first cell stacking device 15 on the left in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1. The redirecting drum 19 transfers the partial material flow 24 to another transfer drum 14 which transfers the segments 20 to a second cell stacker 15 .

[0058] The cell stacking device 15 receives the segments 20 of each partial material stream 23, 24, with successive segments 20 having a segment width and gap spacing as depicted in Fig. 1. The cell stacking device 15 places the received segments 20 one above the other with their main faces, so that stacks 26 are respectively formed in the receiving section 29. When a predetermined number of segments 20 or single cells are present in the stack 26, each stack 26 is discharged from the cell stacking facility 10 by an unloading device 27.

[0059] In Figure 1 the cell stacking apparatus 15 is shown diagrammatically as a box. The cell stacking apparatus 15 is shown in more detail in the drawings of Figures 3 to 7.

[0060] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of the cell stacking system 10, in which the branching section 17, in contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1, has two branching drums 18. Accordingly, the material flow 21 can be divided in this embodiment into three partial material flows 23, 24, 25. The cell stacking system 10 thus has three cell stacking devices 15, which each discharge the partial material flows 23, 24, 25 that are fed to them.

[0061] The first branching drum 18 receives the material flow 21 from the supply device 12 and divides the material flow 21, with the first branching drum 18 transferring a partial material flow 23 directly to the first cell stacking device 15 as a transfer drum 14. The partial material flows 24, 25 are transferred via a diverting drum 19 to the second branching drum 18. The second branching drum 18 transfers the partial material flow 24 to the second cell stacking device 15 as a transfer drum 14. The partial material flow 25 is transferred via another diverting drum 19 to the transfer drum 14, which transfers a segment 20 of the partial material flow 25 to the third cell stacking device 15.

[0062] 3 shows a schematic representation of a part of a cell stacking installation 10, for example corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, where a cell stacking device 15 has a vaned wheel 16. The vaned wheel 16 engages in this embodiment directly with the transfer drum 14, which can also be a branch drum 18 at the same time. The vaned wheel 16 thus receives a segment 20 of one of the partial material flows 23, 24, 25 from the transfer drum 14 and transfers it into a receiver 29, where a stack 20 is formed. The transfer from the vaned wheel 16 into the receiver 29, where a stack 26 is formed, is carried out, for example, by a comb 28 which engages with the vaned wheel and transfers the segment 20 onto the stack 26.

[0063] 4 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of the cell stacking installation 10, in which the cell stacking device 15 has, in the illustrated portion, an intermediate drum 30 next to the vaned wheel 16. The intermediate drum 30 receives a segment 20 of one of the partial material flows 23, 24, 25 from the delivery drum 14 or the branch drum 18 and passes the received segment 20 to the vaned drum 16, which transfers the segment 20 into a receiver 29, whereupon the stack 26 is formed.

[0064] In another embodiment corresponding to the schematic diagram of FIG. 5, the bladed wheel 16 of the cell stacking device 15 of the cell stacking installation 10 is arranged directly on the transfer drum 14, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3, so that the segments 20 are transferred directly from the transfer drum 14. The cell stacking device 15 additionally has a movable intermediate device 31. The intermediate device 31 is movable in the area between the bladed wheel 16 and the receiver 29, so that the segments 20 to be transferred from the bladed wheel 16 can be temporarily stored or stocked on the intermediate device 26 in order to be transferred onto the stack 26. This increases the time period provided for discharging the stack 26, for example via the discharge device 27. Since the segment or segments 20 stored on the movable intermediate device 31 are subsequently transferred into the receiver 29, the production rate of the cell stacking device 15 is not limited by the time required to discharge the stack 26 when it is complete and has a certain number of segments, for example 50 to 100, or even for example 80 to 90.

[0065] 6 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of a cell stacking installation 10, in which a partially shown cell stacking device 15 has a stacking wheel 16 on which a segment 20 of one of the partial material streams 23, 24, 25 is loaded from an intermediate drum 30. The stacking wheel 16 transfers the segment onto the stack 26 in a receiving section 29 by rotation and engagement of a comb 28. Furthermore, a movable transfer device 31 is provided, which temporarily receives the segment to be transferred from the stacking wheel 16, so that more process time is realized for the removal of the stack 26 by the removal device 27. The segment 20 stored on the movable transfer device 31 can subsequently be transferred to the receiving section 29, for example as the bottommost segment 20 for a new stack 26.

[0066] Figure 7 shows part of a cell stacking installation 10, another embodiment of a cell stacking device 15, in which an intermediate drum 30 is provided, which transfers the segments 20 from the partial material flows 23, 24, 25 onto the stack 26 in the receiving section 29 in this embodiment.

[0067] Furthermore, a movable relay device 31 is provided, which is adapted to enter a transfer position of the intermediate drum 30. In this entry position, at least one segment 20 can be received from the intermediate drum 30 into the relay device 31. The segment 20 can subsequently be transferred, for example, by engagement of the relay device 31 with a receiver 29. Meanwhile, the additional time provided thereby can be utilized for removing a complete stack 26, i.e. a stack 26 with a predetermined number of segments 20, in particular a single cell. In an alternative embodiment, the relay device 31 can also be omitted.

[0068] 8 shows another embodiment of the cell stacking installation 10, in which the feeder 12 feeds the material flow 21 of segments 20 or single cells to the branch 17, the feeder 12 having a first pitch change drum 32 and a second pitch change drum 33 connected in series. The pitch change drums 32, 33 form a spreading device, which increases the spacing of the segments 20 in successive positions in the material flow 21.

[0069] The pitch change drums 32, 33 in this embodiment have a number of circumferentially arranged conveying segments for respectively conveying the segments 20 of the material flow 21. The conveying segments move in the radial direction of the respective pitch change drums 32, 33, so that the segments 20 are moved from a relatively small radius to a relatively large radius from a receiving position to a transfer position. This allows the spacing between two segments 20 in successive positions in the material flow 21 to be increased. For example, the segments 20 may initially have a spacing of 1 mm from each other in the material flow 21, which is increased to 14 mm by the first pitch change drum 32 and to 27 mm by the second pitch change drum 33.

[0070] The intermediate drum 30 in the embodiments in Figures 4, 6, 7 and 8 can be driven in particular with an increased rotational speed, so that the reception of the segment 20 on the transfer drum 14 or on the branch drum 18 can be performed at an adapted high rotational speed, while the transfer to the vaned wheel 16 or to the receiver 29 can then be performed at a reduced rotational speed. The intermediate drum 30 can subsequently be accelerated again in order to receive the next segment 20. Furthermore, the intermediate drum 30 can have a plurality of receiving punches, for example three, evenly distributed over its circumference, so that the intermediate drum 30 does not engage the respective elements at the receiving and transfer points simultaneously. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10 Cell stacking equipment 12 Feeding device 14 Transfer Drum 15 Cell stacking device 16 Bladed Wheel 17 Branch 18 Branch drum 19. Directional Drum 20 Segments 21 Material Flow 23 Partial material flow 24 Partial material flow 25 Partial material flow 26 Laminate 27 Unloading device 28 Comb 29 Receptor 30 Middle Drum 31 Relay Device 32 First pitch-changing drum 33 Second pitch-changing drum

Claims

1. A cell stacking apparatus (10) for stacking energy cells, particularly battery cell segments (20), A supply device (12) is provided, and the supply device (12) supplies segments (20) in the state of material flow (21), and the segments (20) can be supplied to the material flow (21) in a continuous position (22). In a cell stacking facility (10) provided with multiple cell stacking devices (15) for stacking segments (20) vertically to form a laminate (26), A cell stacking apparatus (10) is characterized in that a branching section (17) is provided in the material flow (21), and the branching section (17) divides the material flow (21) into partial material flows (20, 24, 25), and two segments (20) located in directly continuous positions (22) within the material flow (21) are passed to different cell stacking devices (15) of the cell stacking apparatus (10).

2. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the branching section (17) has at least one branching drum (18), and the branching drum (18) divides a material flow (21) or a partial material flow (23, 24, 25) by passing a segment (20) to at least one transfer drum (14) and / or at least one cell stacking apparatus (15) and / or at least one direction change drum (19) and / or another branching drum (18).

3. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the partial material flows (24, 25) passed to the direction change drum (19) are passed to another branching drum (18).

4. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the branching section (17) mechanically pre-sets the division of a segment (20) in a continuous position of the material flow (21) into at least two partial material flows (23, 24, 25).

5. The cell stacking equipment (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the branching section (17) performs variable division of a continuous segment (20) of the material flow (21) into at least three partial material flows (23, 24, 25), and the cell stacking equipment (10) has at least three cell stacking devices (15).

6. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each cell stacking apparatus (15) has a vane wheel (16), and the vane wheel (16) receives and delivers segments (20) of partial material flows (23, 24, 25).

7. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each cell stacking apparatus (15) has an intermediate drum (30), and the intermediate drum (30) receives segments (20) of partial material flows (23, 24, 25) particularly from the transfer drum (14) and particularly delivers them to the vane wheel (16) of the cell stacking apparatus (15).

8. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate drum (30) is driven at an increasing rotational speed.

9. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cell stacking apparatus (15) is configured to transfer the stacked body (26) to the discharge apparatus (27).

10. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to claim 9, wherein each cell stacking apparatus (15) has a movable storage section (29), and the storage section (29) receives segments (20) of partial material flows (23, 24, 25) and sends them to the discharge apparatus (27) as a stack (26).

11. The cell stacking apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each cell stacking apparatus (15) has a movable relay device (31), and the relay device (31) receives and sends out segments (20) of partial material flows (23, 24, 25).

12. A method for stacking energy cells, particularly battery cell segments (20), using the cell stacking equipment (10) described in claim 1, A supply device (12) is provided, and the supply device (12) supplies segments (20) in the state of material flow (21), and the segments (20) are supplied to the material flow (21) in a continuous position (22). A method of lamination characterized in that a plurality of cell lamination devices (15) are provided for placing segments (20) vertically to form a laminate (26), a branching section (17) is provided in the material flow (21), the branching section (17) divides the material flow (21) into partial material flows (23, 24, 25), and two segments (20) are passed to different cell lamination devices (15) of the cell lamination equipment (10) at positions (22) that are directly continuous within the material flow (21).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least two laminates (26) of the segment (20) are formed in parallel by at least two cell lamination devices (15) of the cell lamination equipment (10).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the lamination equipment (10) has at least three cell lamination devices (15), and the branching section (17) is controlled so that partial material flows (23, 24) are sent simultaneously to at least two cell lamination devices (15), and at the same time, the partial material flow (25) is temporarily not sent to at least one cell lamination device (15).

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a cell stacking device (15) counts the segments (20) that are placed vertically so as to form a stack (26).

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