Method and apparatus for adhesive bonding of layers of an energy cell - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e. alternating anodes and cathodes, arranged between said separator sheets, in which at least one electrode is fixed to one of said separator sheets by adhesive bonding, in which an adhesive for at least one of said adhesive bonds is applied by a gravure printing method, providing a particularly precise adhesive area.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to A method for the manufacture of a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternating anodes and cathodes, disposed between the separator sheets, comprising: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one electrode is secured to one of said separator sheets by adhesive bonding. and, 1. An apparatus for the manufacture of stacked energy cells having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternating anodes and cathodes, arranged between the separator sheets, comprising: the separator sheets and electrodes are provided for stack formation either individually or in a prefabricated composite unit of at least two components, The apparatus includes a lamination station; In this lamination station, the stack of individual components and prefabricated composite units is formed, the apparatus comprises at least one adhesive applicator; the adhesive applicator is configured and arranged to apply adhesive to at least one of the components provided; Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy cells or energy stores within the meaning of the present invention are used in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, for example in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, ships, aircraft or in stationary installations, such as photovoltaic installations, where very large amounts of energy need to be stored over longer time intervals. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure consisting of a number of segments stacked into a stack, each of which is formed from alternating anode and cathode sheets which are separated from one another by separator sheets which are also present in the form of segments. Various methods are known for producing laminates. Usually, these segments are pre-cut in the manufacturing process and then stacked into a stack in a predetermined order "separator-anode-separator-cathode" and bonded together by lamination. The four-layer stack so formed is called a monocell. In another method, the anode and cathode sheets are firstly cut from an endless web and then laid in an individualized manner at intervals on one each of the endless webs of separator material. These subsequently formed "two-layered" endless webs of separator material with the laid anode and cathode sheets are then cut in a second step again by a cutting device into segments, the segments being formed in this case by the separator sheets with the anode and cathode sheets formed thereon in two layers. Insofar as this is production technically feasible or necessary, the endless webs of segment material with the anode and cathode sheets laid down can likewise be stacked before cutting, so that one endless web is formed with a first endless layer of the endless web with the anode sheet or cathode sheet laid down on it and a second endless layer of the endless web with the anode sheet or cathode sheet laid down on the other endless web. This "four-ply" endless web is then cut into segments by a cutting device, which in turn forms monocells. The fixing of the respective layers or sheets on these layers is usually performed by lamination, which is of great importance since the segments must be stacked on top of each other very precisely, with only small tolerances, and must not be misaligned relative to one another. Therefore, in order to avoid short circuits, the separator, the anode and the cathode should be reliably separated from one another. Apparatuses and methods for the production of cell stacks for the production of battery cells are known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,399,623, US Pat. No. 5,499,633, US Pat. No. 5,499,623 or US Pat. No. 5,523,633.

[0003] Lamination is an energy-intensive process and the manufacturing costs of a laminated unit are very high. For the lamination process, additionally, suitable materials should be used. In particular, the separator must therefore be laminable, which strongly limits the choice of possible materials that can be used, since further requirements (e.g. small layer thickness) must be met.

[0004] Therefore, selective possibilities for the fixation of the layers, one on top of the other, have been proposed. Thus, from US Pat. No. 5,399,636 it is known to provide anode and cathode sheets with adhesive by means of an adhesive nozzle and thus to produce webs with attached electrodes, from which on the other hand monocells are cut.

[0005] Applying the adhesive from a nozzle is problematic: precisely in the application of the adhesive transverse to the running direction of the web it is difficult to obtain a clean adhesive application, especially the slight viscosity of the adhesive used prevents accurate application. This process is difficult to control because the web must be pulled over the vertically oriented nozzle by a pre-applied web tension. It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus and method that allows for adhesive application without the use of a nozzle.

[0006] If several of these monocells are combined into a final energy cell by lamination, further problems arise in further processing: to prevent slippage, the stacked monocells also need to be fixed against each other, which in the prior art is done as one method by lamination. Optionally, the laminate is secured with adhesive tape and optionally subsequently guided and laminated in a "hot press" in a subsequent process. In that case, there is the problem that the laminate is produced without directly fixing the laminate: by lamination and / or gluing, the monocells are produced and combined into an uneven laminate, and it is attempted to partially join (homogenize) all the laminates after the fact. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] DE 10 2017 216 138 A1 [Patent Document 2] DE 10 2017 216 213 A1 [Patent Document 3] DE 10 2018 219 000A1 [Patent Document 4] European Patent Application Publication No. 3 588 653 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to achieve homogeneous energy cells, ensure secure fixation of the individual layers on top of each other, ensure long-lasting subsequent processes such as cutting, and allow secure fixation at the desired position, thereby ensuring clean, sharp adhesive application; The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This object is achieved by a method according to the initially mentioned manner, in which at least one adhesive for the adhesive bond is applied by a gravure printing method, and In an apparatus of the initially mentioned type, the problem is solved in that at least one of the adhesive application devices is a gravure printing roll. Effect of the Invention

[0010] Such a gravure printing roll has depressions for receiving and transporting the adhesive on the outer surface of the gravure printing roll, the depressions generating a corresponding adhesive pattern on the layer to be provided with the adhesive, whereby it is possible for different depressions to have the same or different depression volumes per area.

[0011] In this way, it is possible to apply pin-sharp, individual or multiple adhesive points or respectively different adhesive patterns on the electrodes or, in particular, on the separator, which ensures a very good fixation of the electrodes and the separator.

[0012] It is possible that adhesive is applied by a gravure roll only for some of the adhesive bonds to be performed, while adhesive is applied, for example, by a nozzle, for the other adhesive bonds. It is, however, particularly advantageous if all the necessary adhesive applications are carried out in a gravure printing process.

[0013] A particularly advantageous method is then provided in which an anode is provided on transport path A, a cathode on transport path B and a separator sheet as a separator web on each of transport paths C and D, from both of said separator webs and said anode and cathode, firstly an endless web is formed having cut anode and cathode pieces; In this case, all bonds between the separator and the electrodes are formed by adhesive bonds, and The endless web is cut into individual monocells in a further step. In this way, production speeds can be increased and with the advantage that in a continuous area individual products can be tested for their quality.

[0014] The object is further to provide a method according to the above-mentioned method, The stacked energy cell is formed by stacking a number of mono-cells, the mono-cells being fixed one on top of the other by adhesive bonding, or - in the case that the energy cell is not produced via the intermediate step of forming a monocell, but rather by alternating lamination of the desired number of electrodes and separators - The application of the adhesive is performed immediately prior to the formation of a stack of the energy cells in a stacked form by alternately stacking separator sheets and electrodes; is solved by:

[0015] The term "immediately before the formation of the laminate" means in that case that the adhesive application is carried out on the electrode piece / separator piece, in particular when these electrode piece / separator piece are located on an accelerating roll. Ideally, adhesive application is carried out on an accelerating roll, since here the product has a precise alignment and the speed can be adapted if necessary: ​​in certain positions of the accelerating roll a standstill or constant speed prevails, whereas in other positions there is acceleration. The concept "immediately before stack formation" also includes one alternative configuration. Alternatively, the adhesive can be applied, i.e. during laying on the stack. Advantageously, this can be done by a laying lever or after stacking by an additional movable element.

[0016] In summary, this problem is solved by a device of the type described at the beginning, the apparatus includes a monocell stacking device for stacking a plurality of monocells to form a stacked energy cell; In this case, an adhesive application device is assigned to the lamination device, or - on the other hand, if the energy cell is not produced via the intermediate step of forming a monocell, but rather by alternating lamination of the desired number of electrodes and separators - The apparatus comprises a lamination device for forming a stack of energy cells by alternating lamination of separator sheets and electrodes, to which an adhesive application device is assigned.

[0017] Here, the adhesive application is therefore carried out directly on the lamination wheel, i.e. directly in the lamination process. Thanks to this in-line adhesive process, the fixing can be integrated without interference into the production process. The adhesive fixing takes place directly during the lamination of the individual layers or monocells to one another, and therefore no process steps have to be bridged or overcome during the method duration during which the laminate is present in a form in which they are indeed laminated, but are not yet fixed in contact with one another. The lamination quality grade is thereby significantly improved and the reliability of the produced energy cells is decisively increased.

[0018] Particularly preferably, in this process, the adhesive application is carried out by the gravure printing method, using a gravure printing roll, which, as mentioned above, allows a particularly good and sharp application of the adhesive in the desired pattern.

[0019] Particularly advantageous is the use of adhesives which have a melting point above 20° C., in particular above 30° C. Such adhesives are solid at normal process temperatures and therefore serve for immediate and strong fixing. Such adhesive is heated prior to application, therefore the adhesive application device advantageously comprises an adjustable and controllable heating device for the adhesive. Under the term "melting point", the melting point of the adhesive should be understood insofar as it concerns a material that has a uniquely determinable melting point.Many polymer adhesives, however, do not have any unique melting point, but rather have a melting range.In the case of melting range, by "melting point" is meant the lower limit of this melting range.

[0020] The upper limit of the melting point is determined by the melting point of the separator material. The melting point of the adhesive (in the case of a melting range, the upper limit of the melting range) should always be below the melting point of the separator material. Advantageously, the melting point of the adhesive is therefore at most 100°C, advantageously at most 80°C and particularly advantageously at most 50°C.

[0021] The adhesive applicator can apply the adhesive continuously or intermittently.

[0022] In a very particularly advantageous embodiment, the adhesive is soluble in the electrolyte used for the energy cell. The adhesive in this case is not any foreign body on the electrode which, so to speak, passivates a part of the electrode, i.e. the entire electrode surface is used for energy generation, since the electrically active surface is not reduced, and therefore it does not matter which part of the electrode surface is covered by the adhesive. If the adhesive does not dissolve in the electrolyte, it is particularly advantageous if only the smallest possible area of ​​the electrode is provided with adhesive, i.e. always a minimum application is selected for the required fixing strength. If the adhesive, on the other hand, is soluble in the electrolyte, there is no longer a restriction on applying as little adhesive as possible, and there is no need to work with as little adhesive application as possible: rather, the fixation can be improved with a larger amount of adhesive, without having to fear any loss in the energy cell performance.

[0023] Advantageously, the adhesive is heated immediately before application of the adhesive, for which purpose an adjustable and controllable heating device is assigned to the adhesive application system, in particular to the adhesive reservoir of the gravure printing roll.

[0024] Curing of the adhesive, and therefore bonding of the adhesive material, is effected by cooling the adhesive below its melting point. Furthermore, it is therefore advantageous if the adhesive is cooled below its melting point after the application, this cooling taking place actively or passively. Depending on the melting point of the adhesive, sufficient cooling of the adhesive can already take place passively, based on free convection, by means of a sufficiently long cooling section, so that the adhesive becomes solid. If an even more rapid hardening of the adhesive is desired, active cooling of the adhesive can also be performed. For this purpose, the device has a cooling device for active cooling of the applied adhesive. The device preferably has control means by means of which the cooling process can be controlled.

[0025] For the adhesive application many possibilities exist: full surface application is possible. As mentioned above, this full coverage application is advantageous if the adhesive dissolves in the electrolyte, in which case it can be fully adhered without affecting the performance of the energy cell. In a further advantageous embodiment, a partial surface application of the adhesive onto the electrodes and / or the separator is provided. Yet another possibility is the application of the adhesive in the form of strips or dots. Particularly advantageous is the application of individual points at the four corners of the electrode sheet to be glued or at corresponding positions on the separator, which is particularly advantageous as the smallest possible amount of adhesive is applied, since this in particular saves material.

[0026] Application of the adhesive onto the web material can be accomplished in a variety of ways:

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the adhesive is applied, either endlessly or intermittently, onto the separator film, after which the electrodes are placed and fixed, in particular by cooling and with accompanying hardening of the adhesive. In another advantageous embodiment, the adhesive is applied, either endlessly or intermittently, onto the electrode webs (anode web and cathode web) and assembled with a separator. In a third advantageous embodiment, the application of adhesive is performed endlessly or intermittently on the electrode segments, which are subsequently assembled with a separator.

[0028] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises control means for controlling the application of adhesive. These control means can in particular control the application temperature and / or the amount of adhesive applied. Important parameters for control are then in particular the thermal conductivity, the web speeds of the anode, cathode and separator webs, as well as the length of the cooling section and the cooling performance.

[0029] Particularly advantageously, said gluing is followed by a step of pressing the glued materials together, in which step they are bonded even more firmly to one another. For this purpose, the device according to the invention advantageously comprises means for the mutual compression of the adhered materials. Such mutual compression can be performed without contact, advantageously via adjustment of the web tension of the endless web of the separator or via a directed air flow. In an advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention therefore has further control means for adjusting the web tension of the separator web and / or means for the introduction of an air flow, which are arranged in the process sequence after the adhesive application device and after the respective material combination location. In a further advantageous embodiment, the means for pressing the glued materials against one another are in particular formed as laminating rollers, preferably made of rubber, which come into contact with one another and press the glued materials against one another with a defined force, or as flexible brushes, by means of which the pressing is realized.

[0030] In a further advantageous configuration, the application is carried out by a transport device, which can in particular be configured as a transport roll. This method is used in particular when the electrode segments and / or the separator segments are to be provided with an adhesive. In the case of application onto web-form materials, a transport device can also be used, which is, however, not necessary: ​​in this case, application can instead take place directly via a gravure roll.

[0031] If the energy cell is produced by first forming mono-cells and then stacking these to form an energy cell, it is particularly advantageous if all bonding of the layers, i.e. the bonding of the mono-cells as well as the layers within the mono-cells on top of each other, is carried out by adhesive bonding. Particularly advantageously, in this case, adhesives are used which dissolve in the electrolyte of the energy cell.

[0032] Thanks to the invention it is possible to produce energy cells without the need for lamination: if all necessary bonding of the layers on top of each other is performed by means of adhesive, lamination is therefore omitted entirely. Such a "lamination-free" method is particularly advantageous because it is especially energetically more favorable and in addition serves for homogeneous bonding of all layers, even on top of each other. Furthermore, the lamination-free method according to the invention opens up greater variability in separator materials, for which lamination capability is no longer any prerequisite. Particularly preferably, materials are used as separators according to the invention which have good wettability, ceramic-coated separators being particularly preferred in this case.

[0033] As adhesives, essentially all solvent-free and non-aqueous adhesives come into consideration, which have a melting point above 20° C. In a very particularly advantageous embodiment, the adhesive is At least one compound from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, SBS block copolymers (styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers), SIS block copolymers (styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers), polyurethanes, silicones, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, epoxy resins, polyolefin resins and ethylene carbonate is used. In particular, the adhesive can be an adhesive. Ethylene carbonate is a cyclic ester with a melting point of 36° C. Ethylene carbonate is a common solvent and is used in lithium-ion batteries as an electrolyte. Due to its melting point, it is particularly well suited for the present use as an adhesive.

[0034] The dependent claims outline the above-mentioned and further expedient and advantageous configurations of the invention. Only particularly expedient and advantageous configurations and design possibilities are explained in more detail on the basis of the following description of exemplary embodiments illustrated in schematic drawings. Within the embodiments, each described individual or detailed structure should be understood as a structurally independent detailed example for other not described or not fully described structures and features belonging to the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a lamination station having two lamination devices with adhesive application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of a monocell manufacturing apparatus with an adhesive coating on the separator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] 1 shows a partial view of a lamination station 1 with two lamination devices, each with an adhesive application device 20, a feed device 2, two transfer drums 5 and a deflection drum 6 arranged between said transfer drums 5. Furthermore, this lamination station comprises two cell lamination devices 11, each with a take-off device 111 and an associated lamination device 112. The removal device 111 is configured as a rotating body in the form of a drum driven for a rotary movement and has three receiving dies 113 aligned at an angle of 120° to one another. The receiving dies 113 have an outer surface which in its outer dimensions corresponds at least to the outer shape of the segments 16 or can also be dimensioned larger than these segments. The receiving dies 113 have, in their cross section, in the vertical direction, passing through the axis of rotation of the unloading devices 111, an outer contour in the form of a circular arc section, each with the same radius, so that they complement an imaginary circle. Furthermore, the unloading devices 111 are arranged with their receiving dies 113 and are dimensioned in radius in such a way that, during the rotational movement, they contact with their outer side against the outer surface of the transfer drum 5 with a gap that corresponds at least to the thickness of the segments 16. In that case, the rotational movement of the unloading device 111 is controlled relative to the respective transfer drum 5 in such a way that the receiving die 113 during the circulation each receives exactly one segment 16 from the transfer drum 5. For this purpose, the movement of the unloading device 111 is controlled in such a way that the outer surface of the receiving die 113 has a circumferential speed corresponding to the circumferential speed of the segment 16 held on the transfer drum 5 at the point of shortest distance relative to the transfer drum 5, which corresponds to the receiving position I, and the segment 16 is received by the receiving die 113 in the ideal case without any relative speed in the circumferential direction.

[0037] In the web of the receiving die 113, vacuum conduits are provided which can act with negative pressure and whose openings open into the web and / or into the jacket surface at the end face of the receiving die 113. Furthermore, it is also possible that in the jacket surface of the transfer drum 5, corresponding openings of vacuum conduits which can act with negative pressure are provided. The segment 16 is then held on the outer surface of the transfer drum 5 by the application of negative pressure in the vacuum conduit and is received by the removal device 111 by deactivating the negative pressure in the vacuum conduit of the transfer drum 5 and by starting the negative pressure in the vacuum conduit of the receiving die 113 passing through the receiving position I.

[0038] Individual separator sheets or monocells with separator sheets are worthy of consideration as segments 16. In the case where the segments are monocells, the stack is a monocell stack.

[0039] The circular movement of the unloading device 111, and therefore of the receiving die 113, is controlled in such a way that the latter receives the segments 16 by the transfer drum 5 in a predetermined sequence. In the embodiment under consideration here, two cell stacking devices 11 are provided, so that each of the cell stacking devices 11 receives the segments 16 in a constant sequence and in two rhythms from the supply device 2. Accordingly, a first removal device 111 of the first cell stacking device 11, which is assigned to a first transfer drum 5, receives the first segments 16 of each of the two groups from the first transfer drum 5 in one rhythm by means of a receiving die 113 of this removal device during circulation. Subsequently, the two groups of segments 16 remaining on the first transfer drum 5 are received by the first diverting drum 6 and further transferred to the second transfer drum 5. The second cell stacking device 11 then removes, in the same manner, the second two groups of segments 16 respectively from the second transfer drum 5 with the receiving dies 113 of the second removal device 111. Since each of the removal devices 111 has three receiving dies 113, the segments 16 are removed from the supply in two groups of three by these receiving dies 113 until all the segments 16 have been removed after delivery by the second delivery drum 5.

[0040] The take-off devices 111 are arranged between each one of the transfer drums 5 and the stacking device 112 and receive the segments 16 from the transfer drums 5 after the above-mentioned process. As can also be seen by the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the take-off devices 111 are driven with a counter-clockwise rotational movement. During the removal of each one of the segments 16 from the transfer drum 5, the removal device 111 is located with its receiving die 113 in the "12-Uhr-Position" and passes with this receiving die through the receiving position I. This position of the removal device 111 with the receiving die 113 located in the "12-Uhr-Position" is also referred to as the receiving position of the removal device 111 within the meaning of the present invention. The receiving die 113, which has received the above-mentioned four groups of segments 16 on the transfer drum 5, is located at the "8 o'clock position" in this receiving die position. The removal device 111 rotates in this receiving position with a circumferential speed of the outer surface of the receiving die 113, which circumferential speed corresponds to the circumferential speed of the segments 16 on the transfer drum 5, and receives exactly one segment 16 by the receiving die 113, which is located at the "12 o'clock position". Yet another receiving die 113 is located at the "four o'clock position" and this receiving die is not carrying any segments 16, i.e. has a free mantle surface, because this yet another receiving die has just delivered one segment 16 to the lamination device 112.

[0041] At the "8 o'clock position" there is also provided an adhesive applicator 20. In the embodiment of Figure 1, this comprises a gravure printing roll 21, an adhesive reservoir 22 and a transfer roll 23. The adhesive in the adhesive reservoir 22 is heated to 40° C. by a heating device (not shown) and is thus liquefied. To produce the desired adhesive pattern on the segments 16, the gravure printing roll 21 has depressions in the form of wells. From the adhesive reservoir 22, the heated adhesive reaches into corresponding wells of the gravure printing roll 21. These wells deliver the adhesive to a transfer roll 23 in a pre-given adhesive pattern. The transfer roll 23 is synchronized with the take-off device 111 so that the transfer roll 23 has the same speed as the take-off device 111 at the "8 o'clock position". In this way, at the "8 o'clock position", the adhesive pattern can be transferred from the transfer roll 23 to the segment 16.

[0042] For the delivery of the segment 16 from the receiving die 113 located at the receiving position of the removal device 111 at the "8 o'clock position", the removal device 111 rotates further until it is positioned at the "6 o'clock position" by the receiving die 113 previously located at the "8 o'clock position" and passes through the delivery position II. Accordingly, the application of adhesive at the "8 o'clock position" is performed immediately before the laminate forming section which is connected to the transfer position II.

[0043] The transfer position II is the position with the shortest distance between the outer surface of the transferring receiving die 113 and the lamination device 112. Since the number of receiving dies 113 is odd, the transfer position II can be positioned at the "6 o'clock position" opposite the pick-up position I at the "12 o'clock position" without two receiving dies 113 passing through the pick-up position I and the transfer position II at the same time. The position of the ejection device 111 with the receiving die 113 located at the "six o'clock position" is also referred to as the delivery position of the ejection device 111 within the meaning of the present invention.

[0044] To facilitate the transfer of the segments 16, the removal device 111 may be decelerated so that during its rotational movement, the removal device 111 at the transfer position rotates with a lesser peripheral speed. At the delivery position of the take-out device 111 , the segments 16 are delivered from a receiving die 113 located at the “six o'clock position” to a stacking device 112 .

[0045] The lamination device 112 has a receiving section 115 and a scraper 117 having a comb-like three-dimensional structure with a plurality of webs aligned parallel to one another, the webs being arranged in a width and arrangement as follows: so that, during the circulation of the unloading device 111, these webs are engaged into the gaps between the webs of the receiving die 113 of the unloading device 111, depending on their position or by active movements, and the segments 16 held thereon are combed out of the receiving die 113, in the transfer position II, passively and / or actively, by the inherent movements and / or by the movements of the unloading device 111, The dimensions are set. On the receiving section 115 a cell stack is accordingly formed, from which it is further transported and fed to the finishing of the energy cells.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a monocell manufacturing apparatus with adhesive application on the separator. An anode is provided on transport path A, a cathode on transport path B, and a separator sheet as a separator web on each of transport paths C and D. From the anode and the cathode, first of all an endless web is formed having anode and cathode pieces which are cut.

[0047] On the transport path C, a separator web 30 is fed and guided around a deflection roller 31. On a first surface of the separator web 30, a heated and thus liquefied adhesive is applied by an adhesive applicator 21a formed as a gravure printing roll. The gravure printing roll 21a has depressions in the form of wells arranged in a pattern that corresponds to the desired adhesive pattern, and adhesive is applied by the gravure printing roll 21a onto the separator web 30 in repeating portions in the desired adhesive pattern.

[0048] On the transport path A, anodes are fed and separated into anode pieces 50 by means of a cutting drum 52. Via an anode feed roll 51, the anode pieces 50 are fed to the separator web 30 and are thus arranged on this separator web in accordance with the adhesive pattern. Via control means (not shown), the gravure printing roll 21a is synchronized with the anode transport path A, whereby the anode segment pieces 50 are positioned in the desired positions with the adhesive on the separator web 30. When the anode segment pieces are attached on the separator web 30 with the adhesive, the separator web passes through a cooling device 80, in which the adhesive is cooled and hardened, thus fixing the anode segment pieces 50 on the separator web 30.

[0049] In a similar manner, on the transport path D, a separator web 40 is fed and guided around a deflection roller 41. Onto a first surface of the separator web 40, a heated and thus liquefied adhesive is applied by an adhesive applicator 21b formed as a gravure printing roll. This adhesive is the same adhesive that is also applied to the top of separator web 30 . The gravure printing roll 21b has depressions in the form of wells, which are arranged in a pattern, which corresponds to the desired adhesive pattern, which can be the same as the adhesive pattern for the separator web 30, but can also be different from the adhesive pattern for the separator web 30. The adhesive is applied by gravure roll 21b onto separator web 40 in repeated portions in the desired adhesive pattern.

[0050] On the transport path B, a cathode is fed and separated into cathode pieces 60 by means of a cutting drum 62. Via a cathode feed roll 61, the cathode pieces 60 are fed to the separator web 40 and are thus arranged on this separator web in accordance with the adhesive pattern. Via control means (not shown), the gravure printing roll 21b is synchronized with the cathode transport path B, whereby the cathode piece 60 is placed in the desired position with adhesive on the separator web 40. When the cathode piece is attached on the separator web 40 with adhesive, the separator web passes through a cooling device 81, in which the adhesive is cooled and hardened, thus fixing the cathode piece 60 on the separator web 40.

[0051] In a further run of separator web 30 there is an adhesive applicator 21c configured as a gravure printing roll, which in turn applies heated and liquefied adhesive to the second surface of separator web 30. At pressure roll 90 both separator webs, i.e. separator web 40 with cathode segment 60 and separator web 30 with anode segment 50, meet each other. The separator web 30 is placed with the second, adhesive-bearing surface of the separator web such that the cathode piece 60 is positioned on top of the surface of the second separator web 40, and the anode piece 50 and the cathode piece 60 are positioned overlapping each other with their respective intermediate portions. The adhesive secures the separator web 30 over the cathode piece and forms a monocell web consisting of both separator webs 30, 40, the anode piece 50 and the cathode piece 60. This monocell web is cut into completed monocells by a cutting device (not shown).

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, In the above method, in which at least one electrode is fixed to at least one separator sheet among the separator sheets by adhesive bonding, A method characterized in that at least one adhesive for adhesive bonding is applied by a gravure printing method.

2. The anode is supplied on transport path A, the cathode on transport path B, and separator sheets as separator webs (30, 40) are supplied on transport paths C and D, respectively. First, an endless web having cut anode and cathode pieces (50, 60) is formed from both separator webs (30, 40), the anode and the cathode. All bonds between the separator and the electrode are formed by adhesive bonding, and The endless web is then cut into individual monocells in a further step. The method according to feature 1.

3. In particular, the claim described in claim 1, A method for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, In a method in which at least one electrode is fixed to at least one separator sheet among separator sheets by adhesive bonding, A stacked energy cell is formed by stacking multiple monocells. These monocells are overlapped and fixed in place by adhesive bonding. A method characterized by the following:

4. In particular, the claim described in claim 1, A method for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, In a method in which at least one electrode is fixed to one of the separator sheets by adhesive bonding, A stacked energy cell is formed by alternating stacking of separator sheets and electrodes. The adhesive is applied immediately before the formation of the laminate. A method characterized by the following:

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive has a melting point higher than 20°C, particularly higher than 30°C.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive is soluble in an electrolyte used for an energy cell.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive is heated immediately before application of the adhesive.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive is cooled after application, and this cooling is performed actively or passively.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating is performed by a transfer roll (23).

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive is applied to the separator sheet, the electrode, or both, either entirely, partially, or in dots.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive step is followed by the step of pressing the adhered materials against each other.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacked energy cells are manufactured without lamination.

13. As an adhesive, The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one compound from the group consisting of acrylate, methacrylate, SBS-block copolymer, SIS-block copolymer, polyurethane, silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, epoxy resin, polyolefin resin, and ethylene carbonate is used.

14. An apparatus for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, The separator sheet and the electrode are supplied individually or in a pre-fabricated composite unit consisting of at least two components for the formation of a laminate. This device includes a stacking station (1), Within this stacking station, a stack consisting of individual components and pre-fabricated composite units is formed. This apparatus comprises at least one adhesive application device (20), The adhesive application device is formed and configured to apply adhesive to at least one of the supplied components. In the above device, An apparatus characterized in that at least one adhesive application device (20) is a gravure printing roll (21).

15. The apparatus is It has a transport path A for the anode, a transport path B for the cathode, and transport paths C and D for the separator webs (30, 40), and, This device further includes an anode positioning device (51), This anode positioning device positions the anode on one separator web (30) for the manufacture of an anode-separator-composite unit, and This device has a cathode positioning device (61), This cathode positioning device places the cathode on the other separator web (40) for the manufacture of a cathode-separator-component unit. An adhesive application device (20, 21a, 21b) is assigned to at least one of the anode positioning device (51) and the cathode positioning device (61) for applying adhesive onto the electrodes and / or particularly onto the separator. This adhesive application device is formed as gravure printing rolls (21, 21a, 21b). The apparatus according to feature 14.

16. The apparatus further comprises a monocell manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing monocells, comprising an anode-separator-composite unit and a cathode-separator-composite unit, wherein an adhesive coating apparatus (20) is assigned to the monocell manufacturing apparatus, and this adhesive coating apparatus is formed as a gravure printing roll (21c). The apparatus according to feature 15.

17. In particular, the claim described in claim 14, An apparatus for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, The separator sheet and the electrode are supplied individually or in a pre-fabricated composite unit consisting of at least two components for the formation of a laminate. This device includes a stacking station (1), Within this stacking station, a stack consisting of individual components and pre-fabricated composite units is formed. This apparatus comprises at least one adhesive application device (20), The adhesive application device is formed and configured to apply adhesive to at least one of the supplied components. In the above device, The apparatus has a monocell stacking apparatus for stacking multiple monocells for forming stacked energy cells, The adhesive coating device (20) is assigned to the lamination device (1). A device characterized by the following features.

18. In particular, the claim described in claim 14, An apparatus for manufacturing a stacked energy cell having a plurality of separator sheets and a plurality of electrodes, i.e., alternatingly arranged anodes and cathodes, disposed between these separator sheets, The separator sheet and the electrode are supplied individually or in a pre-fabricated composite unit consisting of at least two components for the formation of a laminate. This device includes a stacking station (1), Within this stacking station, a stack consisting of individual components and pre-fabricated composite units is formed. This apparatus comprises at least one adhesive application device (20), The adhesive application device is formed and configured to apply adhesive to at least one of the supplied components. In the above device, This device has a lamination apparatus (11) for forming a stacked energy cell by alternately stacking separator sheets and electrodes. The adhesive coating device (20) is assigned to the lamination device (11). A device characterized by the following features.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the adhesive coating device (20) assigned to the monocell lamination device or lamination device (11) is formed as a gravure printing roll (21).

20. The lamination apparatus (11) or monocell lamination apparatus has an acceleration drum (111), and, The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the adhesive coating device (20) is assigned to the acceleration drum (111).

21. The apparatus further comprises one or more transfer rolls (23), This transport roll is assigned to this or these gravure printing rolls (21), The apparatus according to feature 14.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the apparatus has a cooling device (80) for cooling the applied adhesive.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the apparatus has control means for a cooling device (80).

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the apparatus has a heating device for heating and liquefying the cooled adhesive.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the apparatus has control means for a heating device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the apparatus has control means for controlling the application of adhesive.

27. ​​The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the apparatus has means for compressing (90) the adhered materials together.

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