Apparatus and method for forming cell stacks for the energy cell manufacturing industry - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for stacking energy cell segments (11), comprising at least two feeders (12, 13, 14) each formed and configured to feed the segments (11) at any continuous feed rate, and at least one cell stacking apparatus (15) formed and configured to receive the segments (11) from the at least two feeders (12, 13, 14) and stack the segments (11) into a stack (16), the cell stacking apparatus (15) having at least one removal apparatus (17) for receiving the segments (11) and at least one ejection apparatus (18) for ejecting the segments (11). In the apparatus (10), the ejection apparatus (17) comprises: The present invention relates to a device (10) for stacking segments (11) of energy cells, characterized in that the device (10) is drivably configured and arranged to perform a repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration, and that the removal device (17) receives the segments (11) at a feed speed from one of at least two feed devices (12, 13, 14) in accordance with a predefined receiving sequence, and that the removal device delivers the segments (11) to at least one discharge device (18) in a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, respectively, so that a stack (16) can be formed and constructed from the segments (11) of the at least two feed devices (12, 13, 14) in a predefined sequence. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding method.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking energy cell segments, comprising at least two supply devices each formed and configured to supply segments at any continuous supply rate, and at least one cell stacking device formed and configured to receive segments from the at least two supply devices and stack the segments into a stack, the cell stacking device having at least one removal device for receiving the segments and at least one ejection device for ejecting the segments.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method for stacking segments of energy cells, comprising the steps of feeding the segments by at least two feeding devices at any continuous feeding speed, and receiving the segments from the at least two feeding devices and stacking the segments into a stack by at least one cell stacking device, wherein the segments are received by at least one removal device of the cell stacking device and ejected in or by at least one ejection device. [Background technology]

[0003] Devices and methods for stacking segments of energy cells are known in the prior art. Such stacks of segments are necessary, especially as upstream intermediate products, during the production of energy cells or batteries with these energy cells. Energy cells in the sense of the invention, or also energy accumulators, are used in the form of battery cells or fuel cells, in which very large amounts of energy must be stored for relatively long periods of time, for example in motor vehicles and other land vehicles, ships, aircraft, or also in stationary installations, such as photovoltaic installations. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure consisting of a number of segments that are stacked in a stack. These segments are usually alternate anode and cathode sheets, respectively, which are separated from one another by separator sheets that are also produced as segments. The segments are usually precut during the upstream manufacturing process and then stacked in a predetermined order in the stack and bonded to one another. In this case, the anode and cathode sheets are, for example, cut from an endless web and then individually laid at intervals on a respective one of the endless webs of separator material. This subsequently formed "double layer" of endless web of separator material with the laid anode or cathode sheets is then cut again in a second step into segments by a cutting unit, the segments being in this case formed by one separator sheet with one anode or cathode sheet arranged thereon in the double layer.

[0004] Alternatively, the raw materials, i.e. the anode or cathode and separator materials provided on an endless web, can start from an endless web and be separated in sheet form, so that the main components for the energy cell are provided separated in sheet form, which allows them to be formed and configured into a stack in the appropriate order or volume.

[0005] Insofar as this is production technically possible or necessary, the endless webs of separator material with the anode and cathode sheets placed thereon may be stacked before cutting, so that one endless web is formed with a first endless layer of separator material with the anode or cathode sheet placed thereon and a second endless layer of separator material with the anode or cathode sheet also placed thereon. A segment in the sense of the present invention can therefore be a segment of a single layer of separator material, anode material or cathode material, but also a segment of a double layer, a segment of a triple layer or a segment of multiple layers of the abovementioned configuration. It is only advantageous in the known segments that the anode material or the cathode material, in the case of a multiple layer configuration, respectively, is separated by at least one separator material.

[0006] Apparatuses for manufacturing battery cells are known, for example from US Pat. No. 5,399,623 and US Pat. No. 5,499,633.

[0007] The manufacture of battery cells, for example for electric mobility, is today carried out on production facilities with a capacity of 100-240 monocells per minute. The production facilities work in some areas or throughout with a clocked discontinuous movement, e.g. a reciprocating movement, which limits the production capacity. Most of the known machines work in a single-sheet lamination method (e.g. "pick and place"), which has the disadvantage that the process is relatively slow. Lamination of cell arrangements is not possible here.

[0008] Another known approach is a machine with a continuously advancing material web, a clocked tool, for example a cutting knife or a pitch changing tool, and a conveying means for forming the cell stack. For producing the cell stack, for example, devices and methods exist in which different web-like materials are provided by independent feed devices, whereby the web-like materials can each be singulated into defined segments by means of a provided cutter device. The singulated segments can then be stacked in the desired sequence by individually movable ejection elements, with the corresponding appropriate movement of the ejection elements in the desired sequence. Controlling the ejection elements requires a great deal of logistical effort or cost, and at the predetermined conveying speed, correspondingly high dynamics act on the segments and the ejection elements. Due to the corresponding parameters, devices of this type are highly prone to errors during stacking and to wear on the respective components. The supply of the material web additionally requires separate means and mechanisms for individually providing the segments, which requires high investment costs and requires that a correspondingly large assembly space must be provided for a large number of separate device components. In principle, machines with clocked movements are limited in terms of performance. Massive elements, such as receivers and tools, must be constantly accelerated and braked. The process then determines the time course and consumes a lot of energy. The mass of the moving elements cannot be reduced arbitrarily. Elements that are moved at relatively high speeds must often withstand relatively high loads and are therefore even more laborious or costly and heavier.

[0009] In order to reduce the production costs of battery manufacturing, it is necessary, among other things, to increase the production capacity of the machines. One condition for a high production capacity is a high production rate of the stack of energy cells, which is formed from a number of stacked segments of the type described at the beginning. In order to achieve a very high production rate of energy cells and / or energy accumulators, it is desirable to stack the produced segments at the highest possible production rate and with the highest possible positional accuracy.

[0010] Existing devices and methods furthermore do not allow flexible and at the same time positionally accurate stacking of the segments at high production rates. Known devices are designed either for producing stacks of segments at high production rates or for forming special sequences of segments into stacks. With current devices and methods, it is not feasible to form stacks from different segments or different raw materials of segments in a continuous process with high production capacity and reliable positioning of the segments to be stacked. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 041713 [Patent Document 2] DE 102017216213 Summary of the Invention

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for stacking segments of energy cells, which allows stacking of the segments with as high a production rate as possible, while at the same time structuring the stacking process flexibly.

[0013] The above problem is solved by the device mentioned at the beginning in that the removal device is formed and configured to be drivable for repeated alternating movements consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and the removal device receives the segments at a supply speed from one of the at least two supply devices in accordance with a predefined receiving order, respectively, and the removal device delivers the segments to at least one discharge device, respectively, during a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, so that a stack can be formed and constructed from segments of the at least two supply devices in a predefined sequence.

[0014] The device according to the invention ensures that the segments are received by the removal device from one of the at least two feeders at the feed speed and then transferred to the discharge device at a lower speed or even at a standstill due to the slowing down of the movement of the removal device. Forming the device with at least two feeders allows, on the one hand, a flexible reception of the segments from at least one of the feeders, and on the other hand, a continuous supply of the segments and their subsequent stacking is ensured. This allows the segments to be provided by at least one of the feeders at a high conveying speed, while only a small load of the segments occurs during reception. On the other hand, due to the reduced speed of the removal device or due to the standstill of the removal device, a discharge of the segments to the discharge device can be realized with a comparatively low input lateral force acting on the segments. The reduced lateral force during the discharge of the segments to the discharge device is then particularly significant, since the segments can thereby be stacked in the discharge device in a more precise position into the stack. This allows relative movements, particularly abrasive, between the already transferred segments and the segments currently present during the ejection movement to be minimized. The feeding and ejection of the segments is particularly important if the segments are provided by at least two feeding devices. The feeding of the segments can in an advantageous configuration be performed approximately simultaneously, so that the removal device is provided with the segments approximately simultaneously. Further preferably, an approximately simultaneous reception of the segments by the removal device of the cell stacking device is also performed. The ejection of the segments is however preferably performed during the decelerated movement or in a stationary state, such that the segments are ejected in a predefined sequence onto a single stack. The segments are further preferably ejected from the at least two feeding devices onto one stack in an alternating manner.

[0015] By means of at least two supply devices, the removal device can be provided with segments, preferably each having a different configuration and / or different material composition, in order to form and configure a stack by the cell stacking device with a predetermined stacking sequence of the different segments. Preferably, by one of the at least two supply devices, segments with a different sequence of anode or cathode sheets and at least one separator sheet are provided in order to form and configure a stack by the removal device with the corresponding sequence of the segments. In this way, it is possible to provide a stack of different segments for energy cells, the different segments having, for example, a different sequence of anode or cathode sheets and at least one separator sheet. Alternatively and more preferably, the segments can be, for example, different single sheets (anode sheets, cathode sheets or separator sheets).

[0016] Any continuous feed rate of segments by the feeders means in the context of the present invention that the segments can be provided continuously at a pre-given feed rate. "Continuous" should not be directly interpreted as meaning that the segments must be provided at a constant feed rate, however. Preferably, at least one of the feeders is formed and configured to implement an accelerating speed profile. For this purpose, other means (e.g. open-loop and / or closed-loop control means) and / or mechanisms are optionally provided to provide a change in the feed rate. Thus, for example, a discharge of segments at a feed rate A and alternatively at a feed rate B is provided. Preferably, at least two feeders are operable at the same or identical feed rates.

[0017] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the device comprises three feeders, each configured and arranged to feed the segments at any continuous feed rate, and the removal device receives the segments from at least one of the three feeders in a predefined receiving order, respectively, so that the stack can be formed and constructed from the segments in a predefined sequence. With three feeders, a further variant is provided for forming the stack from more different segments. With three feeders, for example, the raw materials for the stack of energy cells, anode sheets, cathode sheets and separator sheets, can each be independently fed, so that the stack can be formed and constructed from these raw materials in a predefined sequence. Preferably, in this way, stacks can be produced in which the anode and cathode sheets are covered on the top and / or bottom by at least one separator sheet. Even more preferably, at least four feeders can be provided, and in this type of configuration, preferably the segments to be fed by the feeders are provided as an anode sheet, a cathode sheet and two separator sheets.

[0018] An advantageous development is characterized in that the removal device is formed by a rotatably driven rotor and the repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration is formed by an accelerated and decelerated rotational movement of the rotor. The realization of the removal device as a rotatably driven rotor has the advantage that the receiving speed of the segments by the removal device during the continuous feeding movement is very high. Furthermore, the use of a rotatably driven rotor has the advantage that the structural form of the cell stacking device is very compact. Preferably, the rotatably driven rotor is formed and configured as a rotatably driven drum. The advantages of drums as a transport medium are well known. Surprisingly, the use of drums has led to positive production speeds and production accuracy both in the field of the production of energy cells and as removal devices. Furthermore, the at least two feeding devices can thereby each be formed and configured as a drum path in the form of more drums connected one after the other, whereby a feeding of the segments at a very high feeding speed is provided.

[0019] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotating body has at least one receiving punch for receiving the segments, and the rotating body can be decelerated and accelerated during one revolution depending on the number of receiving punches. In the case of an embodiment with a single receiving punch, the rotating body is preferably rotatable in such a way that the receiving punch receives the segments from different locations, i.e. from different feed devices, according to a predefined sequence and releases them accordingly to the release device. In this type of embodiment, higher demands are placed on the dynamics, since the overall movement of the rotating body or drum must be guaranteed. A single receiving punch allows for precise receiving and release of the corresponding segments, so that, for example, the timing complexity during the receiving and release of the segments is lower, since a smaller number of possible open-loop and / or closed-loop control steps have to be taken into account.

[0020] An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rotating body has at least three receiving punches, and in the case of more than two receiving punches, the receiving punches are preferably arranged at approximately the same angle to each other. In the case of the preferred multiple receiving punches, the rate of receiving the segments by the rotating body is increased or, conversely, the required rotation speed of the rotating body can be reduced if the number of segments to be received per unit time is predefined. Starting from approximately the same arrangement, if the angles between the receiving punches deviate, a preferably electric and / or electronic closed-loop / open-loop control can be provided to form and configure the synchronous supply of the receiving punches when using the rotating body according to the invention. With more than one receiving punch, in addition, more than one segment can be fed in parallel from at least two feed devices to the removal device, so that a higher feed speed and processing can be realized with the device. In an embodiment with two feed devices, four receiving punches are preferred, whereas in an alternative embodiment with three feed devices, five receiving punches are preferred. In another alternative embodiment with four feeders, six receiving punches are advantageous. The number of receiving punches depends crucially on the positioning of the feeders and the subsequent release of the segments as a function of the arrangement of the stacking device or the rotating body with the corresponding feeders. In a preferred embodiment, the at least two receiving punches can be variably positioned on the rotating body, since the rotation forms and configures the desired arrangement of the rotating body, preferably by additional electric and / or electronic open-loop and / or closed-loop control means, inherently with respect to position and time, at the at least two feeding devices. When releasing the segments in a standstill state, the device is preferably formed in such a way that the remaining segments are not positioned in the receiving area, and the respective mechanisms are preferably positioned relative to one another in this way. In another advantageous embodiment, the number of receiving punches corresponds at least to the number of feeding devices, and the number of receiving punches preferably corresponds to a plurality of the feeding devices.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the four receiving punches are arranged opposite each other, i.e. at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor. More preferably, the two feed devices are oriented relative to each other in such a way that they ensure simultaneous reception of the segments by the receiving punches. Thus, the receiving punches are simultaneously present at the receiving station, and when a segment is discharged, more preferably, none of the receiving punches is present at the receiving station with the removal device. With this proposed development, the receiving station and the transfer station are offset relative to each other, thereby ensuring a continuous lamination process without the need for two receiving punches to provide simultaneous discharge.

[0022] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the receiving punches each have a receiving surface which, when viewed in a cross section of the rotating body, is in the shape of a circular arc section and the receiving surfaces of the receiving punches are arranged on the same diameter when viewed in this cross section, the receiving surfaces of the receiving punches thereby forming a receiving radius and passing through the receiving station and the transfer station, thereby preferably on the same diameter with respect to the rotating body.

[0023] In another advantageous configuration of the invention, the removal device has at least two carrying zones arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and extending in the circumferential direction with a length Y, which receive the segments at at least two receiving stations and release the segments at a release point. Between the carrying zones, a free zone is further preferably provided which extends in the circumferential direction with a length Z. The free zone is intentionally not formed for receiving the segments and allows, for example, for the segments to pass through at least one transfer station and / or at least one of the feed devices without being released at the transfer station and / or at one of the feed devices. The carrying zones and the free zone are preferably arranged in such a way that during a receiving phase in which the removal device receives the segments by the carrying zones at the at least two receiving stations, it passes through the release device and / or at least one of the at least two transfer stations with the free zone. With this type of arrangement and configuration of the cell stacking device, stacking of segments at extremely high piece rates is made possible by receiving the segments in a continuous rotational movement through the carrying zone in at least two receiving stations, since the removal device is configured as a rotating body having a carrying zone and a free zone.

[0024] By forming the cell stacking device as proposed, an improved receiving and transferring of the segments and thus an improved stacking of the segments is provided. Since the receiving and transferring of the segments is not performed simultaneously at a single position of the removal device due to the proposed carrying zone, free zone and their arrangement, the removal device can be provided for an improved receiving of the segments from the supply and an optimization of the release and stacking of the segments in terms of the movement behavior of the removal device during receiving and transferring of the segments, by this movement behavior being designed accordingly and individually at the positions when the removal device passes through the transfer station and at least one receiving station with the carrying zone.

[0025] It is further proposed that the length Y of the or each carrying zone is smaller, equal to or greater than the length Z of the or each free zone. If the length Y of the carrying zone is smaller, this is advantageous for the transfer of the segments, since in this case, due to the larger length of the free zone, a larger rotation angle is provided for the adaptation of the movement behavior of the removal device to the receiving and transferring of the segments. If the length Y of the carrying zone is equal to the length Z of the or each free zone, this allows the advantage of a change in the movement behavior as uniform as possible to be realized, in particular with the same acceleration and deceleration of the removal device. If the length Y of the carrying zone is larger than the length Z of the free zone, this is advantageous in terms of the capacity of the removal device, since the outer surface of the rotor can be designed for the receiving and transferring of a larger number of segments.

[0026] It is further proposed that the lengths Z of the free zones between the bearing zones are equal or different. If the lengths Z of the free zones are equal, this allows for a repeatable, as far as possible, identical movement sequence of the rotating body between the receipt and delivery of the segments (and vice versa). If the lengths Z of the free zones are different, this allows for individually different movement sequences to be realized, whereby deviations in, for example, the feed or discharge movement of the segments can be taken into account.

[0027] It is further proposed that the or each carrying zone has a receiving surface by means of which the segments are held in the carrying zone in a surface manner and can be transported by the rotating body from at least one of the receiving stations to the transfer station, whereby a particularly soft transport of the segments can be achieved with as low as possible local maximum forces acting on the segments with respect to the surface.

[0028] It is further proposed that the or each free zone is formed on the rotating body by a cavity extending radially inwards. By forming the free zone as proposed, a free space is provided on the rotating body, which allows a collision-free overlapping relative movement with respect to the rotating body, for example of a discharge device or of at least one of the feed devices. Furthermore, the mass of the rotating body that has to be moved can be reduced, which on the other hand simplifies the movement control and the energy that has to be expended to drive the rotating body can be reduced.

[0029] It is further proposed that the or each free zone has a radially inwardly offset delimitation relative to the or each bearing zone, whereby a uniquely defined spatial separation of the free zone from the bearing zone is provided, which allows for example a simplified detection of the rotational movement of the rotating body.

[0030] Another expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least one ejection device has a linearly movable receiving part, which removes the stack from the removal device in the direction of the surface normal of the segments. The linearly movable receiving part allows the stack and / or the segments stacked in the stack to be removed without any lateral forces acting on them. This prevents the segments or stacks from losing their correct position during removal. The "receiving part" of the ejection device in the sense of the invention is to be understood as a means for forming and configuring a receiving part for the segments from the removal device, for example by applying a vacuum. The receiving part can be formed and configured, for example, as a transfer lever for removing the segments from the removal device.

[0031] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the removal device and / or the receiving part of at least one ejection device have one or more vacuum lines to which a negative pressure can be applied, which aids the receiving of the segments by the removal device from at least one of the supply devices and / or by the at least one ejection device from the removal device and the transport on the removal device by applying a negative pressure. By means of the vacuum lines to which a negative pressure can be applied, the transfer of the segments and the transport of the segments on the removal device can be realized with a very low input force acting on the segments. Furthermore, the force exerted on the segments can be controlled very simply by switching the negative pressure in the vacuum lines on and off. Thus, for example, the receiving of the segments by the removal device from at least two supply devices can be controlled very simply by activating the negative pressure in the vacuum lines of the removal device and switching off the negative pressure in the vacuum lines of the supply device at the transfer position. The ejection of the segment from the removal device to the ejection device is then likewise performed by switching off the negative pressure in the vacuum lines of the removal device and activating the negative pressure in the vacuum lines of the receiving part of the ejection device. In another configuration, a holding vacuum is applied to the or each vacuum line of the removal device which opens into the carrying zone, the holding vacuum being switched off with a delay at or during the transfer of the segment to the ejection device and the segment to be transferred is peeled off against the still at least partially applied holding vacuum, which ensures the holding of the segment to be transferred in a fixed and accurate position and helps to prevent position changes due to possible floating or falling movements.

[0032] A suitable embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least one of the at least two feed devices has a buffer device for providing the segments and / or the previous product of the segments at a reduced speed, the previous product being preferably an endless web with a plurality of segments. A buffer device of this kind allows the segments and / or the previous product of the segments to be provided as required in order to provide the segments in accordance with the further device components and with the device steps associated with these device components. The buffer device is preferably shaped and configured in order to adapt the section of the segments in such a way that the section of the feed section can be changed during the feeding. In this way, the segments have to pass through a larger section, so that the segments can be provided at a reduced speed, for example, to a take-off device. Furthermore, the buffer device preferably has a tensioner in order to adjust the desired web tension in the (endless) web or in the (endless) web with segments. The buffer device is preferably shaped and configured as a so-called "dancer".

[0033] An advantageous development is characterized in that at least one of the at least two feed devices has a cutter device that is shaped and configured to cut the segments and / or the pre-product into segments, the pre-product being preferably an endless web with a plurality of segments. This allows for a wider range of application for the device, for example by segmenting the pre-product into segments. Furthermore, the segments can be cut according to a predefined cut pattern.

[0034] Another preferred development of the invention is characterized in that at least one of the at least two feed devices has at least one separator device which is shaped and configured for continuously providing the segments to the cell stacking device at a predetermined distance from one another. Thus, the segments can be provided to the removal device at a predetermined distance, the distance between the segments increasing in particular during the course of the transport or feeding by the feed device. By means of the separator device, the feeding of the segments to the removal device can be controlled in an open loop and / or in a closed loop, since the provision of the segments at a predetermined distance on the removal device is determined by the feeding speed. The removal device thus delivers the segments to at least one discharge device at a predetermined time, with a reduced movement or in a stationary state, and the sequence of this provision can be changed on the basis of the delivery by the feed device. This leads on the one hand to an efficient utilization of the existing feed device by the removal device and on the other hand allows a desired sequence of discharge of the segments. Preferably, the separator device is shaped and configured as a pitch-changing drum. A further advantage of the dividing device is that the cell stacking device or the removal device can be received and stacked by the removal device in a predefined sequence based on the division or spacing of the segments supplied. For example, a number A of segments on the first supply device and a number B of segments on the second supply device can be provided with different spacings. By successive use of the removal devices, a defined stacking can preferably be performed in a predefined sequence. As a result, the spacing of the segments on both supply devices can be adapted, if necessary, to provide a desired stacking sequence. A further advantage of the at least one dividing device is that the segments are released by the removal device at a lower stacking rate than the segments are supplied to the removal device by the supply device. As a result, the conveying rate of the supply device can be designed accordingly high, and the stacking rate can be designed accordingly low at the same time for a high positional accuracy of the segments to be stacked and thus of the stack itself.A pitch change in the sense of the present invention is to be understood in particular as a change in the distance between the segments on a corresponding feed device, which can be used, for example, to increase or decrease the distance between the segments, in particular so that the segments can be positioned by the feed device on the removal device depending on the movement of the rotor and / or depending on the arrangement and number of the receiving punches.

[0035] According to another preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least two feeding devices has at least one transfer drum that is shaped and configured to transfer the segments to the cell stacking device and / or to receive the segments from the buffer device or the cutter device. Drum-like transfer devices are particularly suitable for continuous transfer processes at high process speeds. Preferably, the at least one transfer drum is shaped and configured to also provide the segments at a reduced speed. In other words, the transfer drum allows the separation of the segments by the transfer drum, for example, by the transfer drum having a different speed or a different diameter with respect to the other rotating body and / or drums that are preferably provided for providing the segments upstream.

[0036] The above problem is also solved by the method mentioned at the beginning in that the removal device is driven to perform a repeated alternating movement consisting of acceleration and deceleration and the removal device receives the segments at a supply speed from one of the at least two supply devices in accordance with a predetermined receiving order, respectively, and the removal device delivers the segments to at least one discharge device, respectively, during a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, so that a stack can be formed and constructed from segments of the at least two supply devices in a predetermined sequence.

[0037] One of the advantages of the proposed method is found in that the segments are received in a continuous supply by the removal device at the feed speed of at least two feed devices and then, due to the slowing down of the movement of the removal device, are transferred to the discharge device for stacking of the segments at a lower speed or even in a stopped state. By means of at least two feed devices, a flexible and at the same time efficient provision of the segments is realized, preferably with different segment arrangements. When receiving the segments at the feed speed of the feed device, and on the one hand, an uninterrupted take-over of the segments at the high conveying speed of the feed device in a predefined sequence by the removal device is realized with the lowest possible load of the segments during reception. On the other hand, due to the reduced speed of the removal device or due to the standstill state of the removal device, a transfer of the segments to the discharge device can be realized with a comparatively low input lateral force acting on the segments. When releasing the segments to the discharge device, the reduced lateral force is particularly significant, since the segments can thereby be stacked in a predefined sequence in the transfer device in a more accurate position into the stack. The cell stacking device forms the interface between the continuous feeding of the segments via the feeding device and the stacking of the segments based on the proposed control.

[0038] In order to avoid repetition, reference is also made to the advantages which have already been explained in detail in connection with the method according to the invention, and in particular in connection with the device according to the invention, which also apply analogously to the method according to the invention described below.

[0039] One development is characterized in that three supply devices are provided, each supplying the segments at any continuous supply speed, and the segments are received from one of the three supply devices, respectively, by a removal device in a predefined receiving order, so that a stack can be formed and constructed from the segments in a predefined sequence.

[0040] In another advantageous configuration of the invention, the removal device has a controllable drive, which is controlled in such a way that the removal device is accelerated for receiving segments of the at least two feed devices and decelerated for releasing the segments into the release device.

[0041] An expedient configuration of the invention is characterized in that the removal device is formed by a rotatably driven rotor, and the repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration is formed by an accelerated and decelerated rotational movement of the rotor.

[0042] Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rotating body has at least one receiving punch for receiving the segment, in the case of two or more receiving punches, the receiving punches are arranged at the same angle to each other, and the rotating body is decelerated and accelerated during one revolution depending on the number of receiving punches.

[0043] Another expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the stack is removed from the removal device in the direction normal to the surface of the segments by means of a linearly movable receiving part of at least one ejection device.

[0044] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the segments and / or the previous product of the segments are provided slowed down by at least one buffer device which at least two supply devices have, the previous product being preferably an endless web having a plurality of segments.

[0045] Another expedient configuration of the present invention is characterized in that the segments and / or the precursor product of the segments are cut by at least one cutter device of at least two feed devices, the precursor product being preferably an endless web having a plurality of segments.

[0046] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the segments are provided to the cell stacking device successively with a predefined spacing from one another by at least one dividing device which at least two feeding devices comprise.

[0047] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the at least two supply devices has at least one transfer drum for transferring the segments to the cell stacking device and / or for receiving the segments from the buffer device or the cutter device.

[0048] Further expedient and / or advantageous features and developments as well as preferred device objects can be seen from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained in more detail with the aid of the attached drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is another view of the device shown in FIG. 1, in cross section. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an excerpt from the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 together with the sequence of stacking of the segments. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention comprising three supply devices; [Diagram 5] 5 is another view, in cross section, of the alternative embodiment of the device according to the present invention shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention, comprising three feed devices and three take-up devices; [Figure 7] 7 is another view, in cross section, of the alternative embodiment of the device according to the present invention shown in FIG. 6. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures shown.

[0051] The device 10 shown in the drawings is exemplarily formed and constructed as an independent and separately constructed device 10. The invention, however, also relates to a comparable device 10 integrated in a more complex installation with more components or further upstream and / or downstream device or machine components. Devices 10 of this kind can in particular be formed and constructed with a variable (machine) width, so that more segments can be formed into a stack in parallel. In other words, preferably several or many segments 11 are processed in parallel on the device 10, with the device components being correspondingly adapted in width. For this, the mechanisms and the respective means provided must be correspondingly adapted to provide scalability in width.

[0052] Such segments 11 are produced by a manufacturing machine, exemplarily described below, which can comprise and / or is followed by the device 10 according to the invention. A manufacturing machine of this kind, not shown in the drawings, preferably has a supply of four endless webs, two of which are made of separator material, one endless web of anode material and one endless web of cathode material. The cathode material or the endless web of anode material are further preferably cut by a cutter device to a predetermined length or width, respectively, into anode (sheets) and cathode (sheets), which are then placed on each one of the endless webs of separator material after cutting. The joining is carried out in such a way that first the anodes or cathodes cut off from the lowest endless web are separated and laid on a transport belt, then the endless web of separator material is laid on top of it, then again the anodes or cathodes cut off from the endless web are separated and laid on the endless web of separator material, which are then covered on the top side by the laying on of another topmost endless web of separator material to form one preferred four-layer endless web. This four-layer endless web with the anodes or cathodes on the top side is then fed into a lamination unit, also not shown, in which the four endless webs are bonded to one another by the action of thermal and / or mechanical energy to form a solid bond. Alternatively, each such segment may consist of only one (raw) material for the production of energy cells, so that a separate type material web of a single material is provided, which is cut by a cutter device to a predetermined length or width into separator, anode or cathode sheets. Individualized separator, anode or cathode sheets of this type are then, for example, individualized and placed on a transport belt for feeding to the device 10, in particular by at least one of the feeding devices 12, 13, 14.

[0053] If the segments 11 are fed to the device 10 as a laminated four-ply endless web, as in a preferred embodiment, the segments 11 can be cut by the cutting device 20 into segments 11 of a predetermined length or width, which may also be called monocells. However, it is also possible to feed the device 10 with single-layer segments 11, double-layer segments 11 and multi-layer or multi-layer segments 11 as an endless web 19 or separately, if it is desired to stack them accordingly and further process them in the manufacturing machine. Alternatively, the device 10 can be provided with only already singulated segments 11, which have been produced into segments 11 from the endless web 19, for example in a previous processing step or by a previous cutting device 20.

[0054] 1 and 2 each show a first embodiment of an apparatus 10 according to the invention for stacking segments 11 of energy cells (not shown in the drawings), comprising at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, each of which is shaped and configured to feed the segments 11 at any continuous feed rate, and at least one cell stacking device 15, which is shaped and configured to receive the segments 11 from the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14 and stack the segments 11 into a stack 16, the cell stacking device 15 having at least one removal device 17 for receiving the segments 11 and at least one discharge device 18 for discharging the segments 11. FIG 3 shows a schematic diagram of the process according to the invention of receiving the segments 11 by the removal device 17 from the at least two feeders 12, 13 and discharging the segments 11 into the discharge device 18. For this purpose, the removal device 17 receives one segment 11 in each case from at least one of the feed devices 12 , 13 so that the segment 11 can subsequently be correspondingly discharged to the discharge device 18 .

[0055] The device 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the take-off device 17 is shaped and configured to be driven in a repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration, and that the take-off device 17 receives the segments 11 at a feed speed from one of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, respectively, according to a pre-given receiving order, and the take-off device 17 delivers the segments 11, respectively, during a decelerated movement or in a stationary state, to at least one discharge device 18, so that the stack 16 can be formed and constructed from the segments 11 of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, in a pre-given sequence. More preferably, the segments 11 are delivered by the take-off device 17 to at least one discharge device 18, also according to a pre-given delivery order. In this way, the stack 16 can be produced in a desired sequence of the segments 11 from the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14.

[0056] 1 exemplarily shows one segment 11 on each of the feed devices 12, 13. During normal use, such an apparatus 10 comprises a number of segments 11, which are simultaneously present in the apparatus 10 and can be transported and processed by the apparatus components.

[0057] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two feed devices 12, 13, 14 has a cutter device 20 which is shaped and configured to cut the segments 11 and / or the previous product of the segments 11, which is preferably an endless web 19 with a plurality of segments 11. The cutter device 20 is formed in each of FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 by a cutting means 21 and a counter drum 22. The cutter device 20 cuts the endless web 19 guided over the counter drum 22 into segments 11 of a predetermined length, which length is determined by a cutting process and / or by a corresponding cutting means 21. Starting from the cutter device 20, the cut segments 11 are fed to the respective corresponding feed device 12, 13, 14. The counter drum 22 further preferably simultaneously functions as a transport drum, by means of which the segments 11 and / or the endless web 19 with the segments 11 can be transported in the transport direction.

[0058] Preferably, at least one of the at least two feed devices 12, 13, 14 has at least one transfer drum 23 that is formed and configured to transfer the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 and / or to receive the segments from the buffer device 32 or the cutter device 20. In a preferred embodiment, at least one or each feed device 12, 13, 14 is formed by one drum 23, e.g. a transfer drum 23, or by a drum path with more (transport) drums, not shown in the drawing, on which the segments 11 are held, e.g. by negative pressure. If the endless web 19 fed is a four-layer endless web 19, the segments 11 cut from the four-layer endless web 19 correspond to monocells. If the endless web 19 is a separate type material web, the segments 11 cut from the separate type material web preferably correspond to one separator sheet, anode sheet or cathode sheet, respectively.

[0059] 4 and 5 show a preferred embodiment, according to which the apparatus 10 comprises three feeders 12, 13, 14 each formed and configured to feed the segments 11 at any continuous feed rate, and the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from at least one of the three feeders 12, 13, 14, respectively, in a predefined receiving order, so that the stack 16 can be formed and constructed from the segments 11 in a predefined sequence.

[0060] In an advantageous embodiment, the removal device 17 is formed by a rotatably driven rotor 24, and the repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration is formed by an accelerated and decelerated rotational movement of the rotor 24. An advantageous development is characterized in that the rotor 24 has at least one receiving punch 25 for receiving the segments 11, and that the rotor 24 can be decelerated and accelerated during one revolution depending on the number of receiving punches 25. Preferably, the rotor 24 has at least three receiving punches 25, and in the case of more than two receiving punches 25, the receiving punches 25 are preferably arranged at the same angle to one another. The embodiment of the device 10 of Figs. 1 to 3 by way of example has four receiving punches 25, the further preferred embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5 each have five receiving punches 25.

[0061] In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 3, the four receiving punches 25 are oriented at an angle of approximately 90° to one another. The receiving punches 25 then each have a bearing zone 26 in the form of a receiving punch 25. The receiving punches 25 have an outer surface, which in terms of its outer dimensions can be dimensioned at least to the outer shape of the segment 11 or larger. The receiving punches 25 furthermore preferably each have a receiving surface 27 in the shape of a circular arc section as viewed in the cross section of the rotor 24, and the receiving surfaces 27 of the receiving punches 25 are arranged on the same diameter as viewed in this cross section. Preferably, the receiving punches 25 have a contour in the shape of a circular arc section, each with the same radius, in a cross section of the receiving punch 25 perpendicularly intersecting the rotation axis of the take-out device 17, so that they complement each other to form a virtual circle. Furthermore, the removal device 17 is arranged with a receiving punch 25 of the removal device 17 and is dimensioned with respect to the radius in such a way that, during the rotational movement, the removal device 17 engages with the outer surface of the receiving punch 25 at least in the transfer area of ​​the at least two feed devices 12, 13, 14, preferably against the outer surface of the transfer drum 23 with a gap that corresponds at least to the thickness of the segment 11. The rotational movement of the removal device 17 is controlled with respect to the respective transfer drum 23 in such a way that the receiving punch 25 receives exactly one segment 11 from the transfer drum 23 during each revolution. For this purpose, the movement of the removal device 17 is preferably open-loop and / or closed-loop controllable so that the outer surface of the receiving punch 25 has a circumferential speed corresponding to the circumferential speed of the segment 11 held on the transfer drum 23 at the point of shortest distance to the transfer drum 23 (preferably corresponding to the receiving station) and the segment 11 can be received by the receiving punch 25, in the ideal case, without any relative velocity in the circumferential direction.

[0062] The outer surface of the receiving punch 25 has an arc length in the circumferential direction that corresponds at least to the width of the segment 11 in the circumferential direction of the transfer drum 23, so that the segment 11 is received by the receiving punch 25 over its entire surface. Furthermore, the receiving punch 25 has a length in the axial direction of the removal device 17 that corresponds at least to the axial length of the segment 11. The receiving punch 25 preferably has a comb-like structure with a number of teeth 31 oriented parallel to one another in the circumferential direction, between which gaps are respectively arranged with constant and identical widths. The end faces of the teeth 31 together form in this case the outer surface of the receiving punch 25.

[0063] The receiving punches 25 each form a receiving surface 27 on the outer side of the receiving punch 25, which receiving surfaces 27 are separated from one another by free zones 28 due to the plurality of receiving punches 25. The removal device 17 is formed in these exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 by a rotating body 24 which can be driven to a rotational movement and which has at least two bearing zones 26 which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction (and preferably fixed in the circumferential direction) and extend in the circumferential direction with a length Y, which receive the segments 11 in at least one of the receiving stations. The bearing zones 26 are formed here by the receiving surfaces 27 of the receiving punches 25. Between the bearing zones 26, free zones 28 are provided which extend in the circumferential direction with a length Z, which in this exemplary embodiment are each formed by a cavity extending radially inwards, thereby forming a free space. The carrying zones 26 are preferably designed for receiving one segment 11 in each case, whereas the free zones 28 are not designed for receiving a segment 11 but merely form intentionally unused intermediate zones between the carrying zones 26, which can form advantageous movement characteristics and / or movement states of the rotor 24 for the realization of various movement states of the removal device 17 and for the receipt and transfer of the segments 11. For this purpose, the carrying zones 26 and the free zones 28 are arranged in such a way that the removal device 17, during a receiving phase in which the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 by the carrying zone 26 in at least one of the receiving stations, passes through the discharge device 18 and / or through at least one of the at least two feed devices 12, 13, 14 with the free zone 28.

[0064] The free zone 28 is realized here by a void. Alternatively, however, the free zone 28 can also generally be formed by a passive surface of the rotor 24. The passive surface does not have a vacuum line and is therefore not formed for receiving the segments 11. The free zone 28 is characterized in that it does not carry the segments 11 and thus does not discharge the segments 11 at the transfer station. As a result, it is not necessary for the removal device 17 to fulfill special movement conditions in the receiving phase in which the removal device 17 passes through the transfer station with the free zone 28, and the movement behavior of the removal device 17 can be designed exclusively for receiving the segments 11 at the transfer station.

[0065] The carrying zone 26 and the free zone 28 are arranged in such a way that while one carrying zone 26 passes through at least one of the receiving stations, the free zone 28 passes through the transfer station and / or at least one of the other receiving stations of the corresponding other supplying device 12, 13, 14. While one carrying zone 26 is directed towards the transfer station, one free zone 28 is preferably directed towards at least one of the receiving stations. In this case, the free zone 28 may have a greater length Z in the circumferential direction of the rotor 24 than the carrying zone 26, so that the rotation angle during which the free zone 28 passes through the transfer station and / or at least one of the receiving stations is greater than the rotation angle during which the carrying zone 26 passes through the transfer station and at least one of the receiving stations. As a result, the available rotation angle, which is available for acceleration and deceleration of the take-out device, is greater than the rotation angle required for the receipt and transfer of the segments 11. Due to the larger rotation angle, the maximum acceleration and deceleration for switching between two given speeds can be reduced. The free zone 28 then has a length Z which covers at least two receiving and transferring stations. The length Y of the or each carrying zone 26 can then be smaller, equal or larger than the length Z of the or each free zone 28. Furthermore, the lengths Z of the free zones 28 between the carrying zones 26 can be equal or different, whereby the advantages explained at the beginning can be achieved.

[0066] What is considered as the rotating body 24 is a drum having a cylindrical outer surface and in which a support zone 26 and a free zone 28 are formed, the support zone being purposely formed for the support or reception of the segments 11, while the free zone 28 is not configured for this and can also be called a passive zone. Furthermore, what is considered as the rotating body 24 is any object which receives the segments 11 during a rotational movement at a receiving station and which further conveys the same by means of the rotational movement to a transfer station, where it is discharged as described above.

[0067] The rotor 24 may be formed as a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms, one or each of which may have a receiving surface at its free end. Furthermore, one or each of the rotor arms may be provided with a vacuum channel, which may open into the free end of the rotor arm, in particular into a receiving surface arranged at this free end. The rotor arms of the rotor are preferably fixedly positioned relative to one another in the direction of the orbit of the rotor, in particular fixed relative to one another with respect to the spacing of the rotor arms in the direction of the orbit, in particular invariable with respect to the spacing of the rotor arms in the direction of the orbit.

[0068] In an advantageous embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, at least one ejection device 18 has a linearly movable receiving part 29 which removes the stack 16 from the removal device 17 in the direction normal to the surface of the segment 11. The ejection device 18 preferably has a linearly movable receiving part 29 by means of a lifting device 30, the movement of which is triggered by the action of the lifting device 30 and guided by a guide device, for example a guide rod. The receiving part 29 is linearly movable between a receiving position and a releasing position, the receiving position of the receiving part 29 being arranged as closely as possible to the transfer station of the segment 11, whereas the releasing position of the receiving part 29 corresponds to a more remote position of the receiving part 29 assigned to the ejection device 18.

[0069] Another advantageous embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the removal device 17 and / or the receiving part 29 of at least one ejection device 18 have one or more vacuum lines to which a negative pressure can be applied, which aids the reception of the segments 11 by the removal device 17 from at least one of the feed devices 12, 13, 14 and / or by the at least one ejection device 18 from the removal device 17 and the transport on the removal device 18. The vacuum lines can be arranged, for example, in the toothing 31 of the receiving punch 25, to which a negative pressure can be applied, and which open with their openings into the outer jacket surface of the toothing 31 and / or the end face of the receiving punch 25, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4. Furthermore, corresponding openings of vacuum lines to which a negative pressure can be applied can also be arranged in the outer jacket surface of the transfer drum 23. The segments 11 are in this case held on the outer surface of the transfer drum 23 by applying underpressure in the vacuum lines and are received by the removal device 17 by switching off the underpressure in the vacuum lines of the transfer drum 23 and switching on the underpressure in the vacuum lines of the receiving punch 25 running through the receiving station. For providing the vacuum it is expedient if the device 10 comprises at least one vacuum device 34 for providing underpressure.

[0070] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two feed devices 12, 13, 14 preferably has a buffer device 32 for providing the segments 11 and / or a precursor product of the segments 11 at a reduced speed, the precursor product being preferably an endless web 19 with a plurality of segments 11. The segments 11 are present for this purpose on the endless web 19 in a regular manner, not yet separated, and are further preferably separated into separate segments 11 by a downstream cutter device 20. For this purpose, the segments 11 can be conveyed, for example, on a conveying track. The buffer device 32 is preferably shaped and configured in such a way that, when feeding, the material web with the segments 11, for example formed as an endless web 19, is adapted to a variable section of the feed section. Due to the adaptation of the section, the segments 11 have to pass, for example, over a longer section, so that the segments 11 can be provided, for example, at a reduced speed to the take-off device 17, especially if a continuous conveying speed is provided. If the section is shortened, the segments 11 can be provided to the feed section at a corresponding increased speed. Further preferably, the buffer device 32 comprises a tensioner for adjusting a desired web tension in the (endless) web 19 or in the (endless) web 19 with segments 11. The buffer device 32 is preferably formed and configured as a so-called "dancer".

[0071] In another advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14 has at least one separator 33 which is shaped and configured to continuously supply the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 at a predefined distance from each other. Preferably, the transfer drum 23 is shaped and configured as a separator 32. The advantage of the separator 33 is that the cell stacking device 15 or the removal device 17 receives the segments 11 from each one of the feeders 12, 13, 14 according to a predefined sequence. It may be expedient to arrange the segments 11 at a distance from each other so that the movements to be performed by the rotor 24 show a lower degree of complexity in order to provide the sequence synchronously and according to the provided receiving punch 25. For example, the segments 11 of the first feeder 12 can be stacked with a lower stacking rate than the segments 11 of the second feeder 13. This allows the conveying rates of the supply devices 12, 13 to be adapted correspondingly to one another and the stacking rate can at the same time be designed correspondingly low for a high positional accuracy of the stacked segments 11 and thus of the stack 16 itself.

[0072] The device 10 according to the invention can preferably be equipped with a dividing device 33 in each of the feeding devices 12, 13, 14 so that the segments 11 are operated with a high conveying rate in the feeding devices 12, 13, 14 and at the same time with a stacking of the segments 11 in a correct position, since the stacking rate of the segments 11 in the cell stacking device 15 can be significantly lower than the feeding rate of the segments 11 in the feeding devices 12, 13, 14 according to the solution according to the invention. When "dividing" the material web / endless web 19 or the segments 11, i.e. a spacing between the cut segments 19 and / or a slowdown in the feeding speed is caused, which can subsequently form the presentation of the segments 11 on the cell stacking device 15 in a defined sequence and speed.

[0073] The method is explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings. The method is used for stacking energy cell segments 11 and comprises the steps of feeding the segments 11 by at least two feeders 12, 13, 14 at any continuous feed rate and receiving the segments 11 from the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14 and stacking the segments 11 into a stack 16 by at least one cell stacking device 15, the segments 11 being received by at least one take-up device 17 of the cell stacking device 15 and being discharged in or by at least one discharge device 18. In particular, in each of the diagrams of FIG. 3, the steps of the stacking process are shown exemplarily on the basis of two feeders 12, 13. The segments 11 are provided by the feeders 12, 13, on the one hand received by the take-up device 17 and finally discharged to the discharge device 18.

[0074] The method is characterized in that the take-off device 17 is driven in a repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration and that the take-off device 17 receives the segments 11 at the feed speed from one of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, respectively, according to a predefined receiving sequence, and that the take-off device 17 delivers the segments 11, respectively, during the decelerated movement or in a stationary state, to at least one discharge device 18, so that the stack 16 can be formed and constructed from the segments 11 of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, respectively, in a predefined sequence. During the sequence of Fig. 3, the take-off device 17 is respectively in a discharge position or a transfer station, which has not yet received the segments 11, respectively, by the receiving punch 25 in Fig. 1. On the first and second feeders 12, 13, respectively, the segments 11 are arranged, which are ready for receiving by the take-off device 17. In the second diagram of FIG. 3, the removal device 17 is again in a discharge position or transfer station, and one segment 11 is respectively received from the first and second supply devices 12, 13 by two of the receiving punches 25, for which the removal device 17 is rotated along the circumferential direction, with the segment 11 being respectively received by the receiving punch 25. The removal device 17 is preferably open-loop and / or closed-loop controlled to form and configure the reception by the receiving punch 25 depending on the supply devices 12, 13, 14. Preferably, a simultaneous reception of the segments 11 from the first and second supply devices 12, 13 is performed, but it may also be expedient for only one segment 11 to be received from the first or second supply device 13, or alternatively for no segment to be received from one of the supply devices 12, 13, 14 during the rotation, which may be provided, for example, by a corresponding spacing between the segments.In the third diagram of FIG. 3, the removal device 17 is again in the discharge position or transfer station, respectively, and by two of the receiving punches 25 a segment 11 is once again received from the first and second feed devices 12, 13, respectively, and for this purpose the removal device 17 is rotated along the circumferential direction, with the segment 11 being received by the receiving punch 25, respectively. During the rotation carried out, the removal device 17 transfers / discharges the previously received segment 11, respectively, in a decelerated motion or in a stationary state, to the discharge device 18, so that the stack 16 can be formed in the discharge device 18. Preferably, the stack 16 is conveyed out of the removal device 17 in the direction normal to the surface of the segment 11 by a linearly movable receiving part 29 of at least one discharge device 18. For the ejection of the corresponding segment 11, the transfer lever of the ejection device preferably performs a linear stroke movement in the radial direction of the removal device 17, entraining the segment 11 in the direction of the surface normal of the segment 11. Depending on the direction of the ejection movement of the segment 11, the forces acting on the segment 11 are as low as possible and a particularly soft ejection movement of the segment 11 can be realized. The linear stroke movement of the transfer lever ends with the ejection of the segment 11 into the receiving part 29 of the ejection device 18. The stroke of the stroke movement of the transfer lever is controlled in such a way that the segment 11 is transferred into the receiving part 29 as far as possible without a falling movement and with as low a pressure force as possible.

[0075] In another advantageous embodiment, three feeders 12, 13, 14 are provided, each of which feeds the segments 11 at any continuous feed rate, and the segments 11 are received by the removal device 17 from one of the three feeders 12, 13, 14 in a predefined receiving order, respectively, so that the stack 16 can be formed and constructed from the segments 11 in a predefined sequence. The stacking process in the case of three feeders 12, 13, 14 is carried out similarly to the process described above, with the segments of the three feeders 12, 13, 14 respectively being received by the removal device 17 and correspondingly discharged to the discharge device 18. Figures 4 and 5 show an apparatus 10 with three feeders 12, 13, 14, with which the method according to the invention can be carried out accordingly. As a rule, in the case of three feeders, more complex closed-loop and / or open-loop control operations are provided for. This is because the removal device 17 and the movements to be carried out by it must be adapted accordingly.

[0076] Preferably, the take-off device 17 has a controllable drive, which is controlled in such a way that the take-off device 17 is accelerated for the receipt of the segments 11 of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14 and decelerated for the discharge of the segments 11 into the discharge device 18. Decisive for the control by the drive is, in particular, the desired sequence of the segments 11 to be stacked. For example, it can be set in which order the segments 11 should be received from each of the feeders 12, 13, 14. More preferably, the feed speed and / or the provision of the segments can be controlled by the feeders 12, 13, 14 as well.

[0077] In another embodiment, the removal device 17 is formed by a rotatably driven rotor 24, and the repeated alternating movement is formed by an accelerated and decelerated rotational movement of the rotor 24. More preferably, the rotor 24 has at least one receiving punch 25 for receiving the segments 11, and in case of more than one receiving punch 25, the receiving punches 25 are arranged at the same angle to each other, and the rotor 24 is decelerated and accelerated during one revolution depending on the number of receiving punches 25.

[0078] The segments 11 and / or the previous product of the segments 16 may be slowed down and provided by at least one buffer device 32 of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, the previous product being preferably an endless web 19 with a plurality of segments 11. Furthermore, the segments 11 and / or the previous product of the segments 11 may be cut by at least one cutter device 20 of the at least two feeders 12, 13, 14, the previous product being preferably an endless web 19 with a plurality of segments 11. If the segments 11 are provided already individualized, for example individualized on a conveying track, the cutter device 20 is usually no longer provided. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, each of the feeders 12, 13, 14 has a respective cutter device 20 for cutting the endless web 19 with the segments 11 if necessary. Furthermore, each of the feeders 12, 13, 14 has a respective buffer device 32.

[0079] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the at least two supply devices 12, 13, 14 has at least one transfer drum 23 for transferring the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15 and / or for receiving the segments 11 from the buffer device 32 or the cutter device 20.

[0080] In another preferred embodiment, the segments 11 are continuously provided to the cell stacking device 15 at a predefined spacing from one another by at least one dividing device 33 of at least two feeders 12, 13, 14. The spacing in the feeders 12, 13, 14 can be achieved, for example, in that the segments 11 provided are divided by the dividing device 33 in the first feeder 12 into a number B of pieces per unit time and in the second feeder 13 into a number C of pieces per unit time. In this way, the segments 11 of the feeders 12, 13 are formed, in particular at a continuous conveying speed, respectively spaced from one another so that the segments 11 can be received, for example, at a defined distance from one another by the take-off device 17, respectively. An endless web 19 of uncut segments 11 or a flow of segments 11 can be fed at a high speed and the segments 11 cut from the endless web 19 or the segments 11 can be further processed and stacked online. The segments 11 of the bulk flow are reliably and efficiently aligned and, so to speak, transported further without stops and interruptions, advantageously with the desired spacing. In the flow of the number B of segments 11, the spacing between two segments 11 can be greater than the length of one segment 11 or approximately equal to the length of one segment 11. The spacing between two successive segments 11 formed in the flow of the number B of segments 11 makes it possible to provide the desired sequence of segments 11 during the subsequent reception by the removal device 17, in which the spacing and the associated time interval can be utilized for access to the segments 11 during the transport of the flow of segments 11. The spacing between two successive segments 11 formed in the flow of the number C of segments 11 also provides for a corresponding reception by the removal device 17. The dividing device 33 therefore preferably assists in receiving the segments 11 respectively from one of the at least two feeding devices 12, 13, 14 at the feed rate by the take-off device 17 and according to a pre-given receiving order.

[0081] Figures 6 and 7 show another preferred embodiment of the device 10 according to the present invention, which comprises three feeders 12, 13, 14, each of which is formed and configured to feed segments 11 at any continuous feed rate. The device 10 in Figures 6 and 7 further comprises a cell stacking device 15, which is formed and configured to receive the segments 11 from the three feeders 12, 13, 14 and subsequently stack the segments 11 into a stack 16 by means of three take-off devices 17 further comprised by the cell stacking device 15. A preferred embodiment of this type may have more than three supply devices 12, 13, 14 and / or more than three take-up devices 17, and in one particularly preferred further embodiment not shown in the drawings, an apparatus 10 with four supply devices 12, 13, 14 and / or four take-up devices 17 is particularly suitable for supplying four material webs 19 or segments 11, respectively, to one or more cell stacking devices 15 or to multiple take-up devices 17.

[0082] In particular, FIG. 7 shows in detail the process of feeding the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15. Exemplary rotation directions of the drums are indicated by correspondingly marked arrows in the respective drums. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the feed devices 12, 13, 14 respectively feed a material web 19, which is preferably present as an endless web, which can be cut into segments 11 by a cutter device 20 arranged upstream of the cell stacking device 15. The cutter device 20 is formed in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively by a cutting means 21 and a counter drum 22 and cuts the material web 19, which is preferably present as an endless web 19 and is guided over the counter drum 22, into segments 11 of a predetermined length, which length is determined by the cutting process and / or by the corresponding cutting means 21. Starting from the cutter device 20, the cut segments 11 are fed by the corresponding feed devices 12, 13, 14. The counter drum 22 further preferably simultaneously functions as a transport drum, by means of which the segments 11 and / or the endless web 19 comprising the segments 11 can be transported in the transport direction.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the segments 11 are first cut into segments 11 by a cutter device 20. Preferably, the material webs 19 are a separator material web, an anode material web, and a cathode material web, respectively, which are cut into segments 11 by the cutter device 20, so that the separator sheets, anode sheets, and cathode sheets can be stacked into a stack 16, preferably by a cell stacking device 15.

[0084] The feed devices 12, 13, 14 furthermore each have in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 a transfer drum 23 which is formed and designed to transfer the segments 11 to the cell stacking device 15. In this embodiment, the transfer drum 23 and the counter drum 22 are formed as a single drum, so that the synergy effect can be utilized as best as possible. By means of the transfer drum 23, the cut segments 11 can be transferred to a collecting drum 35 which the cell stacking device 15 further has, which is formed and designed to receive the segments 11 from the transfer drum 23, which are supplied by the three feed devices 12, 13, 14. The collecting drum 35 on the other hand transfers the segments 11 to a drum path 36 which has more distribution drums 37, where the segments 11 are held, for example by negative pressure. The cell stacking device 15 has a distribution drum 37 which is shaped and configured to distribute the segments 11 so that they are respectively received by the removal device 17 by the corresponding receiving punch 25 in a given receiving sequence. For this purpose, the removal device 17 performs a repeated alternating movement of acceleration and deceleration in order to receive a given segment 11 from the distribution drum 37 in a correct position and subsequently transfer it to the corresponding discharge device 18 during the decelerated movement or in a stationary state. The drum path 36 provides a distribution of the segments 11 of the three feed devices 12, 13, 14, so that by each of the removal devices 17 a stack 16 can be formed from the segments 11 in a given sequence. Preferably, each of the take-off devices 17 produces the stack 16 of segments 11 in the same sequence, and more preferably, each every other segment 11 received is a separator sheet, and anode or cathode sheets, respectively, are receivable between the separator sheets in alternating order. More preferably, the separator sheets are provided on the collecting drum 35 in at least twice as many anode or cathode sheets, or in total in at least the same number.The feed rate of the feeders 12, 13, 14 for feeding the separator segments 11 is faster than the feed rate of the feeders 12, 13, 14 for feeding, for example, the anode segments 11 or the cathode segments 11. More preferably, the segments 11 can be held at least temporarily on a provided drum or on a provided mechanism, respectively, by negative pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for stacking energy cell segments (11), Each of the following is formed and configured to supply segments (11) at any continuous supply rate: A cell stacking device (15) is formed and configured to receive the segments (11) from at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) and to stack the segments (11) onto a laminate (16), Equipped with, The cell stacking apparatus (15) includes at least one extraction device (17) for receiving the segments (11) and at least one discharge device (18) for discharging the segments (11). In the apparatus (10), The extraction device (17) is formed and configured to be drivable to perform a repeating alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration, and The extraction device (17) receives the segments (11) at the supply speed, in accordance with a predetermined receiving order, from at least one of the two supply devices (12, 13, 14), The extraction device delivers each segment (11) to at least one of the discharge devices (18) during decelerated motion or while stationary, thereby forming and configuring the laminate (16) from at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) segments (11) in a predetermined sequence. An apparatus (10) for stacking energy cell segments (11), characterized by the above.

2. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, comprising three supply devices (12, 13, 14) each formed and configured to supply segments (11) at any continuous supply rate, the receiving device (17) receives the segments (11) from at least one of the three supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined receiving order, thereby enabling the formation and configuration of a laminate (16) from the segments (11) in a predetermined sequence.

3. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extraction device (17) is formed by a rotating body (24) that is driven to be rotatable, and the repeating alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the accelerated and decelerated rotational motion of the rotating body (24).

4. The apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the rotating body (24) has at least one receiving punch (25) that receives the segment (11), and the rotating body (24) is capable of decelerating and accelerating during one rotation according to the number of receiving punches (25).

5. The apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein the rotating body (24) has at least three receiving punches (25), and in the case of more than two receiving punches (25), the receiving punches (25) are preferably arranged at the same angle to each other.

6. The apparatus (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that each receiving punch has one receiving surface (27) that is arc-shaped when viewed in cross-section of the rotating body (24), and the receiving surfaces (27) of the receiving punch (25) are arranged on the same diameter when viewed in cross-section.

7. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the discharge devices (18) has a linearly traversable receiving portion (29), and the receiving portion (29) discharges the laminate (16) from the removal device (17) in the direction of the surface normal to the segment (11).

8. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extraction device (17) and / or the receiving portion (29) of at least one of the discharge devices (18) has one or more vacuum tubes to which negative pressure can be applied, and the vacuum tubes, by applying negative pressure, assist in the receiving of the segment (11) by the extraction device (17) and / or by at least one of the discharge devices (18) from at least one of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) and in its transport on the extraction device (17).

9. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14) has a buffer device (32) that slows down and provides the segment (11) and / or the pre-product of the segment (11), the pre-product is preferably an endless web (19) having a plurality of segments (11).

10. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) has a cutter device (20) formed and configured to cut a segment (11) and / or a pre-product of the segment (11), the pre-product being preferably an endless web (19) having a plurality of segments (11).

11. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) has at least one dividing device (33) formed and configured to continuously supply segments (11) to the cell stacking device (15) at predetermined intervals from each other.

12. The apparatus (10) according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) has at least one transfer drum (23) formed and configured for transferring segments (11) to the cell stacking device (15) and / or receiving segments (11) from the buffer device (32).

13. The apparatus (10) according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) has at least one transfer drum (23) formed and configured for transferring segments (11) to the cell stacking device (15) and / or receiving segments (11) from the cutter device (20).

14. A method for stacking energy cell segments (11), The steps include supplying the segment (11) at an arbitrary continuous supply rate using at least two supply devices (12, 13, 14), The steps include receiving the segments (11) from at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) and stacking the segments (11) onto a laminate (16) using at least one cell stacking device (15), Equipped with, The segment (11) is received by at least one extraction device (17) of the cell stacking device (15) and discharged in or by at least one discharge device (18). In the method, The extraction device (17) is driven to perform a repeating alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration, The extraction device (17) receives the segments (11) at the supply speed, in accordance with a predetermined receiving order, from at least one of the two supply devices (12, 13, 14), The extraction device (17) delivers the segments (11) to at least one of the discharge devices (18) while in decelerated motion or while stationary, thereby forming and constructing the laminate (16) from the segments (11) of at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined sequence. A method for stacking energy cell segments (11), characterized by the above.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises three supply devices (12, 13, 14), each of which supplies the segments (11) at an arbitrary continuous supply rate, and the segments (11) are received by the removal device (17) from one of the three supply devices (12, 13, 14) in a predetermined receiving order, thereby enabling the formation and construction of a laminate (16) from the segments (11) in a predetermined sequence.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the extraction device (17) has a controllable drive device, the drive device being controlled such that the extraction device (17) is accelerated for the receiving of the segments (11) of at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) and decelerated for the release of the segments (11) to the discharge device (18).

17. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the extraction device (17) is formed by a rotating body (24) that is driven to rotate, and the repeating alternating motion consisting of acceleration and deceleration is formed by the accelerated and decelerated rotational motion of the rotating body (24).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the rotating body (24) has at least one receiving punch (25) that receives the segment (11), and in the case of two or more receiving punches (25), the receiving punches (25) are arranged at the same angle to each other, and the rotating body (24) is decelerated and accelerated during one rotation in accordance with the number of receiving punches (25).

19. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the laminate (16) is discharged from the extraction device (17) in the direction of the surface normal of the segment (11) by a linearly traversable receiving portion (29) of at least one of the discharge devices (18).

20. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the segment (11) and / or the pre-product of the segment (11) is slowed down by at least one buffer device (32) having at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14), the pre-product is preferably an endless web (19) having a plurality of segments (11).

21. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the segment (11) and / or the pre-product of the segment (11) is cut by at least one cutter device (20) having at least two of the feed devices (12, 13, 14), and the pre-product is preferably an endless web (19) having a plurality of segments (11).

22. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the segments (11) are continuously supplied to the cell stacking apparatus (15) by at least one dividing apparatus (33) having at least two of the supply apparatuses (12, 13, 14) at predetermined intervals from each other.

23. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that at least one of the at least two of the supply devices (12, 13, 14) has at least one delivery drum (23) such that the segment (11) is delivered to the cell stacking device (15) and / or the segment (11) is received from the buffer device (32).

24. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that at least one of the at least two feeding devices (12, 13, 14) has at least one delivery drum (23) so that the segment (11) is delivered to the cell stacking device (15) and / or the segment (11) is received from the cutter device (20).

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