Apparatus and method for producing an electrode assembly

Abstract

The present application relates to an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus comprising: a winding assembly; a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices configured to supply a plurality of first electrode pieces to the winding assembly; and at least one second electrode piece unwinding device configured to supply at least one second electrode piece to the winding assembly, the second electrode piece having an opposite polarity to that of the first electrode piece, wherein the winding assembly is configured to wind the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly. The present invention is used to improve the winding efficiency of the electrode assembly.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to an apparatus for making an electrode assembly and a method for making an electrode assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] In the prior art, battery preparation requires winding positive and negative electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly, and then placing the electrode assembly into a battery housing to form the battery. Winding is an important part of the battery preparation process, and those skilled in the art have worked to improve the efficiency of winding. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Some embodiments of the present application provide an apparatus for making an electrode assembly and a method for making an electrode assembly to improve winding efficiency.

[0004] Some embodiments of the present application provide an apparatus for making an electrode assembly. The creation device is a winding assembly; a plurality of first electrode strip unwinding devices configured to supply a plurality of first electrode strips for the winding assembly; and at least one second electrode piece unwinding device configured to supply at least one second electrode piece for at least one of the winding assemblies; the polarity of the first electrode piece is opposite to the polarity of the second electrode piece; The winding assembly is configured to wind the plurality of first electrode pieces and the at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly.

[0005] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further comprises a plurality of separator unwinding devices configured to supply a plurality of separators for the wound assembly, the separators configured to insulate the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece.

[0006] In some embodiments, the winding assembly includes a winding core configured to wind the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators.

[0007] In some embodiments, the winding core is provided with at least one negative pressure opening for adsorbing an initial winding portion of at least one of the plurality of separators.

[0008] In some embodiments, the negative pressure opening comprises a recess or a through hole disposed in a winding surface of the winding core.

[0009] In some embodiments, the negative pressure openings are triangular, circular, square, or irregularly shaped.

[0010] In some embodiments, the negative pressure openings are distributed in an array on the winding surface of the winding core.

[0011] In some embodiments, an apparatus for preparing an electrode assembly comprises: a press roller configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one of the plurality of separators toward the winding core; and a spray blow mechanism configured to blow an end of the initial winding portion onto a surface of the winding core so that the winding core winds the initial winding portion, thereby driving the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators to be wound.

[0012] In some embodiments, the winding assembly further includes a switching device, the winding core being disposed on the switching device, and the switching device configured to switch the winding core between a loading station and an unloading station.

[0013] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus comprises: a first cutter configured to cut at least one separator of the plurality of separators and retain the at least one separator when the winding core winds the electrode assembly a predetermined number of turns; a second cutter configured to cut the held at least one separator when the winding core is in the unloading station.

[0014] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a first loading piece configured to supply an initial portion of a winding of at least one separator of the plurality of separators to the winding core.

[0015] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a second loading piece configured to clamp at least one cut separator when at least one separator of the plurality of separators is cut.

[0016] In some embodiments, an apparatus for preparing an electrode assembly comprises: a plurality of first composite mechanisms, each of which is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces and one separator of the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece; at least one second composite mechanism, each second composite mechanism of the at least one second composite mechanism configured to combine one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece and another separator of the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece; The winding assembly is configured to wind all of the first composite electrode pieces and all of the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly.

[0017] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes at least one third composite mechanism, each third composite mechanism of the at least one third composite mechanism configured to combine a first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces, a second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators into a third composite electrode piece, and the winding assembly configured to wind all the third composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly.

[0018] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a fourth combining mechanism configured to combine the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators into a fourth composite electrode piece; The winding assembly is configured to wind the fourth composite electrode piece to form an electrode assembly.

[0019] Some embodiments of the present application provide methods of making an electrode assembly. The method for creating an electrode assembly is as follows: providing a plurality of first electrode strips; providing at least one second electrode strip, the polarity of the first electrode strip being opposite to the polarity of the second electrode strip; winding the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly; Includes.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method of making an electrode assembly further comprises providing a plurality of separators, the separators configured to insulate the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of adsorbing an initial winding portion of at least one separator among the plurality of separators, and winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators.

[0022] In some embodiments, after an initial winding portion of at least one separator of the plurality of separators is supplied to a winding core of a winding assembly at a specific length, the remaining separators of the plurality of separators are supplied to the winding core and driven by the at least one separator being wound.

[0023] In some embodiments, a method of making an electrode assembly includes: Each of the first composite mechanisms of the plurality of first composite mechanisms combines one of the first electrode pieces of the plurality of first electrode pieces and one of the separators of the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece; Each second composite mechanism of the at least one second composite mechanism combines one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece and another separator of the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece; A winding assembly winds all of the first composite electrode pieces and all of the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly.

[0024] In some embodiments, a method of making an electrode assembly includes: Each of the at least one third composite mechanisms combines one first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces, one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators into a third composite electrode piece; A winding assembly winds all the third composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method of preparing an electrode assembly includes: a fourth composite mechanism for combining the first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the separators into a fourth composite electrode piece; A winding assembly winds the fourth composite electrode piece to form an electrode assembly.

[0026] In the above-mentioned electrode assembly producing device and electrode assembly producing method, the electrode assembly producing device can obtain an electrode assembly having a wound structure by winding a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece. That is, by simultaneously winding a plurality of first electrode pieces onto a winding assembly and making the length of the first electrode piece obtained after winding one turn of the winding assembly equal to the length of one first electrode piece wound by the winding assembly of multiple turns, the number of windings can be reduced and the winding efficiency of the electrode assembly can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] The drawings in this specification provide further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The exemplary embodiments of the present application and their description are not intended to constitute undue limitations thereon, but are used to interpret the present application.

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a first embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a second embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a third embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a fourth embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a fifth embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a sixth embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a seventh embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in an eighth embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wound core having negative pressure openings provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 10] 1 is a partial schematic diagram of an electrode assembly making apparatus provided in some embodiments of the present application, the apparatus including a press roller and a spray blow mechanism. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram of one of the configuration methods of the loading assembly provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of a loading assembly provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly including a composite mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for making an electrode assembly with a composite mechanism provided in some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly including a composite mechanism provided in yet some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a first embodiment of the present application. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a second embodiment of the present application. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a winding core with a negative pressure opening of an electrode assembly making apparatus provided in a second embodiment of the present application. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a third embodiment of the present application. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 20. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly producing apparatus provided in a second embodiment of the present application, the apparatus comprising a press roller and a spray blow mechanism. [Diagram 23]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a fourth embodiment of the present application. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing an electrode assembly provided in a fifth embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 25] 1 is a flowchart of a method of making an electrode assembly provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 26] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly provided in some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 27] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly provided in some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 28] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly provided in yet some other embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the following, in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but it is clear that the embodiments described below are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and are not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments that can be conceived by those skilled in the art without inventive efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0030] In describing the invention, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", and "outside" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and does not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must be placed in a particular orientation or constructed or operated in a particular orientation, merely to facilitate and simplify the description of the invention. Therefore, these terms cannot be understood as limitations on the protection scope of the invention.

[0031] Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in the present specification have the same meaning as understood by those skilled in the art of the invention, the terms used in the present specification are not intended to limit the invention, but are merely intended to describe certain embodiments, the terms "including" and "having" in the description and any variations thereof, as well as the above brief description of the drawings of the invention are intended to include non-exclusive inclusion, and in the description of the invention, terms such as "first", "second" and "third" are used to define parts and components, and are only intended to facilitate the distinction of the above parts and components, and unless otherwise specified, the above terms have no special meaning. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the protection scope of the invention.

[0032] Reference to "embodiments" in this specification means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in combination with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various positions in the description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it refer to an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art can explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0033] The term "and / or" in the text merely describes the occurrence relationship of related objects, e.g., A and / or B means that only A exists, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone; furthermore, the character " / " in the text generally represents an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly production apparatus provided in some embodiments of the present application, which comprises a winding assembly 11, a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices 12, and at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13.

[0035] Each of the multiple first electrode piece unwinding devices 12 is configured to supply a first electrode piece for the winding assembly 11. That is, the multiple first electrode piece unwinding devices 12 are configured to supply a plurality of first electrode pieces to the winding assembly 11.

[0036] Each second electrode piece unwinding device 13 in the at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13 is configured to supply a second electrode piece for the winding assembly 11. That is, the at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13 is configured to supply at least one second electrode piece to the winding assembly 11.

[0037] The polarity of the first electrode piece is opposite to the polarity of the second electrode piece.

[0038] The winding assembly 11 is configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly.

[0039] Each electrode assembly includes a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece stacked along a direction perpendicular to the winding axis direction of the winding assembly.

[0040] In another embodiment of the present application, a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices 12 and at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13 are arranged along the circumference of the winding assembly 11 so as to prevent the electrode pieces supplied thereto from unwinding before entering the winding assembly 11.

[0041] The number of the first electrode pieces and the at least one second electrode piece included in the electrode assembly may be the same or may be different. For example, one electrode assembly may include two, three, four, or five first electrode pieces and one, two, three, or four second electrode pieces. In the following embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, the number of first electrode pieces is the same as the number of second electrode pieces.

[0042] In another embodiment of the present application, the shape of each of the first electrodes is basically the same as the shape of each of the second electrodes. For example, after flattening the wound structure of the electrode assembly, the first and second electrodes are basically strip-shaped, for example, 5 to 20 m long. The difference in length between the first and second electrodes is within a preset range, and the width dimensions are basically the same. After stacking a plurality of first electrodes and at least one second electrode, the plurality of first electrodes and at least one second electrode are wound along the strip direction to obtain an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly has a wound structure in which a winding axis is provided that is basically parallel to the overlapping surface where the plurality of first electrodes and at least one second electrode are stacked.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present application, the multiple first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece included in the electrode assembly can be overlapped in multiple forms. For example, in the winding structure of the electrode assembly, one first electrode piece and one second electrode piece can be overlapped alternately in sequence, or two or more first electrode pieces and one second electrode piece can be overlapped alternately in sequence, or one first electrode piece and two or more second electrode pieces can be overlapped alternately in sequence. Also, the overlapping of the multiple first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece in the electrode assembly can be understood as at least one second electrode piece being included between two adjacent first electrode pieces, or at least one first electrode piece being included between two adjacent second electrode pieces, respectively.

[0044] In another embodiment of the present application, when there are no other electrode pieces having a different polarity between two or more electrode pieces having the same polarity, the two or more electrode pieces having the same polarity can be regarded as one electrode piece group, and when the electrode pieces are stacked, an electrode piece group having the same polarity and another electrode piece group or a single electrode piece having a different polarity are stacked alternately, for example, two or more positive electrode pieces form a positive electrode piece group, and two or more negative electrode pieces form a negative electrode piece group. The stacking can be performed by stacking a positive electrode piece group and a negative electrode piece group alternately, stacking a positive electrode piece group and a single negative electrode piece alternately, or stacking a negative electrode piece group and a single positive electrode piece alternately.

[0045] Therefore, since a group of electrode pieces of the same polarity can be treated as one electrode piece, for ease of explanation, the one electrode piece described below can be not only a single electrode piece, but also an electrode piece group formed of multiple electrode pieces of the same polarity.

[0046] In other embodiments of the present application, two adjacent electrode pieces of the same polarity means that only one electrode piece of the other polarity is present between two electrode pieces of the same polarity, for example, two adjacent first electrode pieces means that only one second electrode piece is present between two first electrode pieces, and two adjacent second electrode pieces means that only one first electrode piece is present between two second electrode pieces.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present application, the first electrode piece is a positive electrode piece having an insulating layer and the second electrode piece is a negative electrode piece having an insulating layer, the positive electrode piece being insulated from the negative electrode piece via the insulating layer to prevent short circuits.

[0048] In some of the other embodiments of the present application, the first electrode piece is a negative electrode piece having an insulating layer and the second electrode piece is a positive electrode piece having an insulating layer, the positive electrode piece being insulated from the negative electrode piece via the insulating layer to prevent short circuits.

[0049] In addition, in some other embodiments of the present application, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece may be electrode pieces without an insulating layer, and the electrode pieces of opposite polarity may be insulated via a separator to prevent short circuiting.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present application, the winding assembly 11 includes a winding core 112 configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece.

[0051] In some other embodiments of the present application, the winding assembly 11 includes a switching device 111, the winding core 112 is disposed on the switching device 111, and the switching device 111 is configured to switch the winding core 112 between a loading station and an unloading station. The winding core 112 is configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece corresponding to the loading station at the corresponding loading station to form an electrode assembly having a winding structure. The unloading station can refer to a station where the electrode assembly is uninstalled from the winding core 112, and can also refer to a next station where the electrode assembly still needs to perform other processes after finishing winding. The other processes may be tape attachment, etc.

[0052] For example, the switching device 111 includes two winding cores 112, one winding core 112 is arranged correspondingly at the loading station A, and the other winding core 112 is arranged correspondingly at the unloading station B. The number of the winding cores 112 on the switching device 111 is not limited, and the winding cores 112 can be added according to actual requirements.

[0053] In some other embodiments of the present application, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus includes at least one tensioning mechanism 18, which is configured to adjust the tension of the first electrode piece and / or the second electrode piece.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, in some other embodiments of the present application, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus includes at least one first combining mechanism 101 configured to combine at least one first electrode piece and at least one second electrode piece to form a first composite electrode piece, and a winding assembly 11 configured to wind all of the first composite electrode pieces.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, in some other embodiments of the present application, the electrode assembly creation apparatus includes at least one second combining mechanism 102 configured to combine all the first electrode pieces and all the second electrode pieces to form a second composite electrode piece, and the winding assembly 11 configured to wind all the second composite electrode pieces.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a plurality of separator unwinding devices 14 configured to supply a plurality of separators to the winding assembly 11, the separators being configured to insulate the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece to prevent short circuits.

[0057] Each electrode assembly includes at least a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators stacked along a direction perpendicular to the winding axis direction of the winding structure, and adjacent first electrode pieces and second electrode pieces are insulated via at least one separator.

[0058] In another embodiment of the present application, a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices 12, at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13 and a plurality of separator unwinding devices 14 are distributed along the circumference of the winding assembly 11 such that the electrode pieces and separators respectively supplied are not unwound before entering the winding assembly 11.

[0059] In yet another embodiment of the present application, an electrode assembly is obtained when a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators are stacked together, and then the plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators are wound along a belt-like direction. The electrode assembly has a winding structure with a winding axis and the winding axis is essentially parallel to the stacking surface where the plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators are stacked together.

[0060] When a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece of an electrode assembly are stacked together, a separator can be further disposed between any adjacent first electrode piece and one second electrode piece to insulate the adjacent first electrode pieces from the second electrode pieces, thereby preventing them from shorting out with each other.

[0061] In another embodiment of the present application, the electrodes of different polarities are adjacent, i.e., the first electrode piece is adjacent to the second electrode piece. This means that there is at least one layer of separator between the first and second electrode pieces without other electrode pieces, e.g., there is no other first or second electrode piece between the first and second electrode pieces. This can also be understood as the first and second electrode pieces being most directly adjacent to each other, e.g., taking an electrode piece (e.g., a positive electrode piece) as an example, and the first layer of electrode pieces (e.g., a negative electrode piece) of different polarity adjacent to the electrode piece, as adjacent electrode pieces.

[0062] Regardless of the method for overlapping the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece, at least one layer of separator is disposed between adjacent first and second electrode pieces.

[0063] In another embodiment of the present application, the winding assembly 11 includes a winding core 112 configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators.

[0064] In another embodiment of the present application, the winding assembly 11 includes a switching device 111, the winding core 112 is disposed on the switching device 111, and the switching device 111 is configured to switch the winding core 112 between a loading station and an unloading station. The winding core 112 is configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators corresponding to the loading station A at the corresponding loading station A to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure.

[0065] For example, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a loading station A and an unloading station B, and the switching device 111 includes at least one winding core 112. The switching device 111 moves one of the at least one winding cores 112 to the loading station A, and then the winding core 112 corresponding to the loading station A can wind a plurality of first electrode pieces supplied by a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices 12 corresponding to the loading station A, at least one second electrode piece supplied by at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13, and a plurality of separators supplied by a plurality of separator unwinding devices 14 to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure. After the winding is completed, the switching device 111 moves the winding core 112 with the electrode assembly to an unloading station B of the electrode assembly to facilitate unloading of the electrode assembly. Here, unloading refers to transferring the winding core 112 with the electrode assembly to the next process. The next process may be a process subsequent to the winding process, such as taping, or a process subsequent to the winding process, such as hot pressing. If the switching device 111 is further provided with at least another winding core 112, the other winding core 112 is moved to the loading station A to continuously form another electrode assembly having a winding structure.

[0066] 4, the switching device 111 includes two winding cores 112, and a loading station A and an unloading station B are provided at positions corresponding to the winding cores 112. The switching device 111 includes a rotating disk, and the two winding cores 112 are distributed along the circumference of the switching device 111, and the two winding cores 112 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of the rotation axis of the switching device 111 on the diameter of the switching device 111.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 5, two winding cores 112 are arranged on different diameters of the switching device 111 around the rotation axis of the switching device 111, and the switching device 111 moves one of the winding cores 112 to the loading station A to wind the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece and the separator corresponding to the loading station A to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure. After the winding is completed, the switching device 111 continues to rotate, moves the winding core 112 with the electrode assembly to the unloading station B to facilitate the unloading of the electrode assembly, and moves the other winding core 112 to the loading station A to form another electrode assembly having a wound structure.

[0068] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching device 111 includes a rotating disk, and the switching device 111 includes three winding cores 112, and the three winding cores 112 are arranged along the circumference of the switching device 111. For example, the three winding cores 112 are equiangularly arranged around the switching device 111, and the switching device 111 moves one winding core 112 to the loading station A to wind the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, and the separator corresponding to the loading station A to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure. After the winding is completed, the switching device 111 continues to rotate, and the winding core 112 having the electrode assembly moves to the tape attachment station B', where the ending tape is attached. The winding core 112 having the electrode assembly after being moved to the tape attachment station B' and attached with the ending tape moves to the unloading station C to facilitate removal of the electrode assembly. The unloading stations include the tape attachment station B' and the unloading station C.

[0069] When the winding core 112 with the electrode assembly moves to the tape attachment station B', the other winding core 112 moves to the loading station A to form another electrode assembly with a winding structure. Meanwhile, the last winding core 112 is in the unloading station C and functions as a standby winding core 112 to wait for the rotation of the switching device 111 to enter the loading station A.

[0070] That is, the station where the last winding core 112 is located can serve as a waiting station and, if an electrode assembly is located on the winding core 112, can also serve as an unloading station C. That is, the switching device 111 rotates to unload the electrode assembly to the unloading station C, i.e. to move the winding core 112 together with the electrode assembly to unload the electrode assembly. After the winding core 112 with the electrode assembly is unloaded at the unloading station C, the empty winding core 112 can be placed at the unloading station C and wait to enter the loading station A.

[0071] In another embodiment of the present application, two or more loading stations A are provided at a position corresponding to the winding core 112. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, two loading stations A are provided at a position corresponding to the winding core 112, and then the switching device 111 can move the winding core 112 having the same number as the loading station A to each loading station A. The winding core 112 corresponding to each loading station A is wound to form an electrode assembly having a winding structure having the same number as the loading station A. At that time, each loading station A corresponds to a set of a loading system consisting of a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices 12, at least one second electrode piece unwinding device 13, and a plurality of separator unwinding devices 14. In this embodiment, the number of unloading stations B is not limited, and for example, the number of unloading stations B may be one or the same as the number of loading stations A.

[0072] In another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 8, the device for producing an electrode assembly further includes a first cutter 151 and a second cutter 152. The first cutter 151 is configured to cut at least one separator among the multiple separators and hold at least one separator when the winding core 112 has wound a predetermined number of turns of the electrode assembly. The second cutter 152 is configured to cut at least one held separator when the winding core 112 is in an unloading station B (where a tape can be attached).

[0073] In yet another embodiment of the present application, each loading station A corresponds to one first cutter 151 and one second cutter 152. For example, one first cutter 151 and one second cutter 152 can be arranged toward each loading station A, and when the winding core 112 corresponding to any loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) winds the electrode piece in the electrode assembly to be wound to a predetermined number of turns, the first cutter 151 corresponding to the loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) cuts other separators entering the loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) based on holding at least one separator. For example, the first cutter 151 holds the separator in the outermost layer of the winding structure of the electrode assembly and cuts all other separators. Here, winding to a predetermined number of turns means that the length of the first electrode piece or the second electrode piece wound around the winding core reaches the length required by the electrode assembly.

[0074] The second cutter 152 is configured to cut at least one retained separator disposed between the loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) and the loading station B (e.g., the first unloading station) after the at least one retained separator is successfully loaded again at the loading station A (e.g., the first loading station). For example, when the switching device 111 transfers the winding core 112 corresponding to the first loading station to the first unloading station, the electrode assembly of the winding core 112 on the first loading station also holds at least one separator, so that the friction effect between the retained separator and the adjacent first electrode piece and the second electrode piece or separator, and between the first electrode piece and the separator and between the second electrode piece and the separator are utilized. The retained separator can be driven to load all the first electrode pieces, the second electrode pieces, and other separators at the loading station A. After the loading is completed, the second cutter 152 cuts at least one of the held separators between the first loading station and the first unloading station so that the winding core 112 moving to the loading station A can wind a new electrode assembly. Here, the completion of loading at the loading station means that the other cut separator is completely wound on the winding core, and the winding core 112 moves to the loading station together with the switching device, at which time one of the held separators is successfully loaded again at the loading station. That is, the part of it placed at the loading station is fixed to the winding core at the loading station.After a portion of at least one retained separator disposed between the loading station and the unloading station is cut by the second cutter 152, an end portion of one retained separator is longer than an end portion of the corresponding first electrode piece or second electrode piece, and the winding core 112 at the unloading station rotates continuously to wind the one retained separator and its corresponding first electrode piece or second electrode piece into the outermost layer of a winding structure to form an electrode assembly.

[0075] In another embodiment of the present application, the at least one retained separator includes at least one layer of the separator calculated from the outermost layer of the separator of the electrode assembly. For example, the separator of the electrode assembly may be called in order from outside to inside in the winding structure, such as the outermost layer of the separator (i.e., the first outer layer), the second outer layer of the separator, the third outer layer of the separator, the nth outer layer of the separator, etc., where n is related to the number of separators for separating the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece. For example, n is equal to or greater than the sum of the number of the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece, and the outermost layer separator refers to the separator attached to the outside of the outermost ring of the electrode piece (generally the second electrode piece) of the winding structure. The outermost ring of the electrode piece may be not only the electrode piece of the outermost layer after the winding structure is flattened, but also the electrode piece formed by the outermost ring of the winding structure when any electrode piece of the winding structure continues to wind after other electrode pieces finish winding.

[0076] In another embodiment of the present application, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are provided with an insulating layer, and no separator is required. When the plurality of first electrode pieces and the at least one second electrode piece are wound, the first cutter 151 is configured to cut at least one electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces and the at least one second electrode piece, and to hold at least one first electrode piece or one second electrode piece when the winding core winds the electrode assembly for a predetermined number of turns.

[0077] The second cutter 152 is configured to cut at least one of the first electrode piece or the second electrode piece held when the winding core is at the unloading station.

[0078] In another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 9, the winding surface of each winding core 112 is provided with at least one negative pressure opening 1121 for adsorbing the initial winding portion of at least one separator among the multiple separators. For example, two or more negative pressure openings 1121 are generally available, and at least one negative pressure opening 1121 is configured to adsorb a separator for the load of the winding core 112 to which the at least one negative pressure opening 1121 belongs. The initial winding portion refers to the head portion of the separator at the start of winding.

[0079] In some other embodiments of the present application, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are provided with an insulating layer, and no separator is required. When the multiple first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece are wound, at least one negative pressure opening 1121 arranged on the winding surface of the winding core 112 is configured to adsorb at least one electrode piece of the multiple first electrode pieces or at least one second electrode piece.

[0080] In another embodiment of the present application, the negative pressure openings 1121 include pits or through-holes disposed on the winding surface of the winding core 112. The size and shape of the pits or through-holes are not limited in this embodiment, for example, the pits or through-holes may be circular, triangular, or rectangular.

[0081] In yet another embodiment of the present application, the negative pressure openings 1121 may be triangular, circular, square, or other irregular shapes.

[0082] In yet another embodiment of the present application, the negative pressure openings 1121 are distributed in an array on the winding surface of the winding core 112. The array distribution of the negative pressure openings 1121 makes the suction force acting on the separator uniform and ensures the flatness of the separator or electrode piece (the first electrode piece or the second electrode piece) during winding.

[0083] In yet another embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 10, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a press roller 161 and a spray blow mechanism 162. The press roller 161 is configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one separator among the multiple separators toward the winding core. The spray blow mechanism 162 is configured to blow an end of the initial winding portion on the surface of the winding core so that the winding core winds the initial winding portion, and drives the multiple first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and multiple separators. Each loading station A corresponds to one press roller 161 and one spray blow mechanism 162, and the press roller 161 is configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one separator among the multiple separators of the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) toward the winding core 112 corresponding to the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station). The spray blow mechanism 162 is configured to blow an end of the initial winding portion of at least one separator onto the winding surface of the winding core 112 corresponding to the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) so that the initial winding portion of the winding core 112 on the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) winds, and drives the multiple first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and multiple separators corresponding to the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure.

[0084] In another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 10, an insulating layer is provided on the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece, and a separator is not required. When a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece are wound, the press roller 161 is configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one electrode piece among the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece toward the winding core. The spray blow mechanism 162 is configured to blow an end of the initial winding portion onto the surface of the winding core so that the winding core winds the initial winding portion, thereby driving the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to be wound.

[0085] In another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 11, the electrode assembly making apparatus further includes a loading assembly 17. Each loading station A can correspond to one loading assembly 17. The loading assembly 17 is configured to supply at least one initial winding portion of a separator entering the loading station A (e.g., the first loading station) corresponding to the loading assembly 17 to the winding surface of the winding core 112 corresponding to the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station). The loading assembly 17 is further configured to clamp the end portion of the separator after the electrode piece in the electrode assembly is wound to a predetermined number of turns and the separator is cut, and clamp the initial winding portion of the separator of the next pre-formed electrode assembly at the loading assembly 17.

[0086] 12, the loading assembly 17 includes a first loading piece 171 configured to supply an initial winding portion of at least one separator to the winding core 112. The first loading piece 171 is configured to supply an initial winding portion of at least one separator entering a loading station A (e.g., a first loading station) corresponding to the first loading piece 171 to a winding surface of the winding core 112 corresponding to the corresponding loading station A (e.g., the first loading station). The first loading piece 171 is further configured to clamp an end portion of the separator after the electrode piece in the electrode assembly is wound to a predetermined number of turns and the separator is cut.

[0087] The loading assembly 17 further includes a second loading piece 172 configured to clamp an initial portion of the separator winding of the next preformed electrode assembly in the loading assembly 17 after the electrode pieces in the electrode assembly have been wound a predetermined number of turns and the separator has been cut. The first cutter 151 is disposed between the first loading piece 171 and the second loading piece 172.

[0088] 12, the loading assembly 17 includes a first loading piece 171 and a second loading piece 172, and a first cutter 151 is disposed between the first loading piece 171 and the second loading piece 172. The first loading piece 171 is configured to clamp an initial winding portion of a separator at a corresponding loading station and feed the initial winding portion to the winding core 112. After the first cutter 151 cuts the separator, the first loading piece 171 is configured to clamp a wound end portion of the separator and move the wound end portion of the separator to the winding core 112, and the second loading piece 172 is configured to clamp the initial winding portion of the separator of a preformed electrode assembly thereafter.

[0089] In another embodiment of the present application, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are provided with an insulating layer, and no separator is required. When the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece are wound, the first loading piece 171 is configured to clamp the initial winding portion of the at least one electrode piece to the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece, and to supply the initial winding portion to the winding core 112. The second loading piece 172 is configured to clamp the at least one cut first electrode piece or second electrode piece when the at least one first electrode piece or second electrode piece and the at least one second electrode piece in the plurality of first electrode pieces are cut.

[0090] In yet another embodiment of the present application, each loading assembly 17 is disposed below the winding core 112 corresponding to the corresponding loading station A and supplies the separator from the bottom up to the winding core 112 corresponding to the loading station A. For example, the loading assembly 17 is disposed below the winding core 112 corresponding to the first loading station, and the loading assembly 17 is configured to supply the separator from the bottom up to the winding core 112 corresponding to the first loading station.

[0091] In yet another embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 13 , the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a plurality of first composite mechanisms 181 and at least one second composite mechanism 182, and each of the plurality of first composite mechanisms 181 is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces and one separator of the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece.

[0092] Each second composite mechanism 182 of the at least one second composite mechanism 182 is configured to combine one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece and another separator of the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece.

[0093] The winding assembly 11 is configured to wind all the first composite electrode pieces and all the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly having a wound structure.

[0094] In another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 14, the electrode assembly making device further includes at least one third combining mechanism 183, and each of the at least one third combining mechanism 183 is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces, one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators into a third composite electrode piece. The winding assembly 11 is configured to wind all the third composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly having a winding structure.

[0095] In yet another embodiment of the present application, as shown in Fig. 15, the electrode assembly making apparatus further includes a fourth combining mechanism 184, which is configured to combine the plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators into a fourth composite electrode piece. The winding assembly 11 is configured to wind the fourth composite electrode piece to form an electrode assembly having a winding structure.

[0096] According to the above-mentioned electrode assembly producing device, a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators are wound to obtain an electrode assembly having a wound structure. That is, a plurality of first electrode pieces and a plurality of second electrode pieces are simultaneously wound around the winding assembly 11, and when the winding assembly 11 winds one electrode piece, the length of the electrode piece obtained when the winding assembly 11 rotates once is equivalent to the length of the rotation for the plurality of windings when the winding assembly 11 winds one electrode piece. This reduces the number of windings and improves the winding efficiency of the electrode assembly. As a result, the second electrode piece can be designed so that one second electrode piece corresponds to a plurality of first electrode pieces.

[0097] In addition, compared to an electrode assembly obtained by winding a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of a plurality of first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of at least one second electrode piece in order to achieve the same energy as the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment, the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment is formed by overlapping and winding a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators. That is, the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment is obtained by dividing a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of a plurality of first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of at least one second electrode piece into a plurality of pieces and then winding them in parallel. A plurality of electrode pieces of the same polarity are produced inside the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment, and the internal resistance of the electrode assembly is reduced, so that the amount of heat generated by the electrode assembly during the use process can be reduced and the performance of the electrode assembly can be improved.

[0098] In addition, compared to the condition of achieving the same energy by winding a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the sum of the lengths of a plurality of first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the sum of at least one second electrode piece, the winding should be controlled to align a plurality of tabs having the same polarity to ensure electrical connection after the subsequent electrode assembly is assembled into a battery. In order to ensure the alignment of the tabs, the position of the tabs is calculated according to the winding radius corresponding to the tabs, and therefore, the more the number of windings, the greater the change in the winding radius, making it difficult to accurately calculate the position between the tabs, and making it difficult to control the misalignment of the tabs (i.e., the degree of misalignment of the tabs). In the electrode assembly of this embodiment, the length of the electrode pieces is shortened and the number of windings is reduced, thereby improving the control ability of the misalignment of the tabs in the winding process and improving the quality of the electrode assembly.

[0099] For ease of explanation, the following embodiment will be described by taking one winding assembly, two first electrode piece unwinding devices and two second electrode piece unwinding devices as an example.

[0100] 16 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly preparation device provided in the first embodiment of the present application. In the first embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a winding assembly 101, two first electrode piece unwinding devices 102, and two second electrode piece unwinding devices 103.

[0101] The two first electrode piece unwinding devices 102 are configured to supply two first electrode pieces for the winding assembly 101 .

[0102] The two second electrode piece unwinding devices 103 are configured to supply two second electrode pieces for the winding assembly 101 .

[0103] The winding assembly 101 is configured to overlap two first electrode pieces and two second electrode pieces and wind them into an electrode assembly having a winding structure. The electrode assembly includes one first electrode piece, one second electrode piece, the other first electrode piece, and the other second electrode piece, and these electrode pieces are overlapped along a direction perpendicular to the winding axis direction of the winding structure.

[0104] The polarity of the first electrode piece is opposite to that of the second electrode piece, and both the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are provided with an insulating layer. The first electrode piece is separated from the second electrode piece by the insulating layer to prevent short circuit.

[0105] For example, the first electrode piece is a positive electrode piece having an insulating layer and the second electrode piece is a negative electrode piece having an insulating layer, or the first electrode piece is a negative electrode piece having an insulating layer and the second electrode piece is a positive electrode piece having an insulating layer.

[0106] The winding assembly 101 includes a switching device 1011, and the switching device 1011 is provided with three winding cores. For the sake of distinction, the three winding cores are defined as a first winding core 1012, a second winding core 1013, and a third winding core 1014, and the first winding core 1012, the second winding core 1013, and the third winding core 1014 are spaced apart along the rotation axis of the switching device 1011. The first station, the second station, and the third station are arranged along the circumferential direction of the switching device 1011. When the first winding core 1012 is arranged in the first station, the second winding core 1013 is arranged in the second station, and the third winding core 1014 is arranged in the third station, the switching device 1011 rotates. When the first winding core 1012 is located at the second station, the second winding core 1013 is located at the third station, the third winding core 1014 is located at the first station, and the switching device 1011 rotates. When the first winding core 1012 is located at the third station, the second winding core 1013 is located at the first station, the third winding core 1014 is located at the second station, and so on.

[0107] Assume that the first station is a loading station, the second station is a tape attachment station, and the third station is an unloading station. The second and third stations can be combined into a station called the unloading station.

[0108] The winding core corresponding to the loading station winds the two first electrode pieces and the two second electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly having a winding structure. The switching device 1011 moves the winding core with the electrode assembly to the tape mounting station, where the ending tape is attached. Finally, the switching device 1011 moves the winding core with the electrode assembly to the unloading station to facilitate the unloading of the electrode assembly.

[0109] In the first embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a first cutter 104 and a second cutter 105. The first cutter 104 is disposed in the loading station and configured to cut the other first and second electrode pieces based on holding at least one of the first or second electrode pieces when the winding core winds the electrode assembly a predetermined number of turns.

[0110] The second cutter 105 is disposed between the first station and the second station, and is configured to cut at least one of the first electrode piece or the second electrode piece held when the winding core is disposed in the second station.

[0111] In the first embodiment, at least one negative pressure opening can be provided on the winding surface of the winding core 112 to allow at least one of the multiple first electrode pieces or at least one second electrode piece to be adsorbed.

[0112] In the first embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device may further include a press roller and a spray blow mechanism. When the two first electrode pieces and the two second electrode pieces are wound, the press roller is configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one of the two first electrode pieces and the two second electrode pieces toward the winding core. The spray blow mechanism is configured to blow an end of the initial winding portion against the surface of the winding core to wind the initial winding portion, thereby driving the other first electrode piece and the second electrode piece.

[0113] In the first embodiment, the electrode assembly making apparatus further includes a tape preparation mechanism 106 and a tape attachment mechanism 107. The tape preparation mechanism 106 is configured to supply an end tape to the tape attachment mechanism 107. The tape attachment mechanism 107 is disposed downstream of the loading station, i.e., the second station, and attaches the ending tape onto the winding structure after the winding is completed.

[0114] The following embodiment will be described taking one winding assembly, two first electrode piece unwinding devices, two second electrode piece unwinding devices, and four separator unwinding devices as an example.

[0115] 17 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly preparation device provided in a second embodiment of the present application. In the second embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a winding assembly 201, two first electrode piece unwinding devices 202, two second electrode piece unwinding devices 203, and four separator unwinding devices 204.

[0116] The two first electrode piece unwinding devices 202 are configured to supply two first electrode pieces a1 and a2 for the winding assembly 201.

[0117] The two second electrode piece unwinding devices 203 are configured to supply two second electrode pieces b1, b2 for the winding assembly 201.

[0118] The four separator unwinders 204 are configured to supply four separators c1, c2, c3 and c4 for the winding assembly 201.

[0119] The winding assembly 201 is configured to stack a pair between a first separator c1 and one of the first electrode pieces a1, a pair between a second separator c2 and one of the second electrode pieces b1, a pair between a third separator c3 and the other of the first electrode pieces a2, and a pair between a fourth separator c4 and the other of the second electrode pieces b2, and wind them into an electrode assembly having a winding structure. The electrode assembly includes a first separator c1, a first electrode piece a1, a second separator c2, a second electrode piece b1, a third separator c3, another first electrode piece a2, a fourth separator c4, and another second electrode piece b2. These are alternately stacked along a direction perpendicular to the winding axis direction of the winding structure. That is, adjacent first and second electrode pieces are insulated via one separator.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the winding assembly 201 includes a switching device 210. The switching device 210 includes three winding cores, and in order to distinguish between the three winding cores, the three winding cores are defined as a first winding core 211, a second winding core 212, and a third winding core 213, respectively. The first station, the second station, and the third station are arranged along the rotation direction of the switching device 210. When the first winding core 211 is arranged in the first station, the second winding core 212 is arranged in the second station, and the third winding core 213 is arranged in the third station. When the first winding core 211 is arranged in the second station, the second winding core 212 is arranged in the third station, and the third winding core 213 is arranged in the first station, the switching device 210 rotates. The switching device 210 rotates when the first winding core 211 is located at the third station, the second winding core 212 is located at the first station, the third winding core 213 is located at the second station, and so on.

[0121] Suppose the first station is a loading station, the second station is a tape mounting station, and the third station is an unloading station. The tape mounting station and the unloading station can be combined into an unloading station. That is, the unloading station includes a tape mounting station and an unloading station.

[0122] The first winding core 211 , the second winding core 212 and the third winding core 213 are spaced apart along the rotation axis of the switching device 210 .

[0123] Of course, four or more winding cores can be arranged on the switching device 210, and each winding core can be operated sequentially at the loading station and the unloading station with the rotation of the switching device 210, thereby improving the operation efficiency.

[0124] In this embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a first cutter 221 and a second cutter 222 .

[0125] The first cutter 221 is disposed at a position corresponding to the first station, and a knife holder 223 is disposed outside the switching device 210 in correspondence with the first cutter 221. The first cutter 221 cuts the separator by mating with the knife holder 223. The second cutter 222 is disposed outside the switching device 210 in correspondence with a position between the first station and the second station.

[0126] When the first winding core 211 is placed in the first station, the first winding core 211 receives and winds two first electrode pieces, two second electrode pieces and four separators. After being wound to a preset length, based on holding one separator, the other three separators that entered the first winding core 211 are cut through the first cutter 221. When the first winding core 211 is placed in the second station, the one remaining separator is cut through the second cutter 222.

[0127] The first winding core 211 rotates continuously and winds one remaining separator into the outermost layer of the winding structure. Optionally, one retained separator is the innermost layer of the separator of the electrode assembly, and the innermost layer of the separator of the electrode assembly as the retained separator is finally wound to form the outermost layer of the electrode assembly, thereby avoiding the problem of lithium precipitation when the electrode assembly is applied to a battery caused by a phenomenon such as end stage when the retained separator surrounds the other separator and the corresponding first and second electrode pieces.

[0128] In this embodiment, the electrode assembly producing apparatus further includes a first group of loading assemblies 231, a second group of loading assemblies 232, a third group of loading assemblies 233, and a fourth group of loading assemblies 234.

[0129] The first group of the loading assembly 231 supplies the initial winding portion of the first separator c1 and the initial winding portion of one first electrode piece a1 to the first winding core 211 corresponding to the loading station.

[0130] The second group of the loading assembly 232 supplies the initial winding portion of the second separator c2 and the initial winding portion of one second electrode piece b1 to the first winding core 211 corresponding to the loading station.

[0131] The third group of the loading assembly 233 supplies the initial winding portion of the third separator c3 and the initial winding portion of another first electrode piece a2 to the first winding core 211 corresponding to the loading station.

[0132] The fourth assembly 234 supplies the initial winding portion of the fourth separator c4 and the initial winding portion of the other second electrode piece b2 to the first winding core 211 corresponding to the loading station.

[0133] In this embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes an induction plate 240. The induction plate 240 is disposed in a loading station of the winding assembly 201, and the induction plate 240 is configured to induce the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, and the separator to the loading station of the winding assembly 201.

[0134] In this embodiment, the electrode assembly making apparatus further includes a tape preparation mechanism 251 and a tape attachment mechanism 252. The tape attachment mechanism 252 is disposed downstream of the loading station corresponding to the tape attachment station of the unloading station, and is configured to attach an ending tape to the winding structure after the winding is completed. The tape preparation mechanism 251 is disposed downstream of the tape attachment station, i.e., the third station, to supply the ending tape to the tape attachment mechanism 252.

[0135] When the first winding core 211 is placed at the unloading station as the switching device 210 moves, the tape attachment mechanism 252 attaches an ending tape to the winding structure, and the production of the electrode assembly is completed.

[0136] The operation steps of the second winding core 212 and the third winding core 213 are the same as those of the first winding core 211, and are not repeated here.

[0137] 19 , the first group of loading assemblies 231, the second group of loading assemblies 232, the third group of loading assemblies 233, and the fourth group of loading assemblies 234 all include first loading pieces 2301 and second loading pieces 2302 corresponding to each other to work in cooperation. A first cutter 221 is disposed between each first loading piece 2301 and its corresponding second loading piece 2302. A knife holder 223 is disposed corresponding to the first cutter 221, and the first cutter 221 is mated with the knife holder 223 to cut the separator.

[0138] The first loading piece 2301 is configured to clamp the initial winding portion of the separator of the corresponding loading station and supply the initial winding portion to the first winding core 211. After the first cutter 221 cuts the separator, the first loading piece 2301 is configured to first clamp the end portion of the preformed electrode assembly and move the end portion of the separator to the first winding core 211, and the second loading piece 2302 is configured to thereafter clamp the initial winding portion of the separator of the preformed electrode assembly.

[0139] The surfaces of the first winding core 211, the second winding core 212 and the third winding core 213 are all distributed with a number of small vacuum negative pressure openings 214. Each negative pressure opening 214 is configured to adsorb the separator, which is advantageous for smooth feeding.

[0140] 20 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly preparation device provided in the third embodiment of the present application. In the third embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a winding assembly 301, two first electrode piece unwinding devices 302, two second electrode piece unwinding devices 303, and four separator unwinding devices 304.

[0141] The effects of the winding assembly 301, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 302, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 303 and the four separator unwinding devices 304 are similar to the effects of the winding assembly 201, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 202, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 203 and the four separator unwinding devices 204, which are not repeated redundantly in this specification.

[0142] The distinction between the third and second embodiments can be at least as follows:

[0143] In the third embodiment, the electrode assembly producing apparatus further includes two first composite mechanisms 311 and two second composite mechanisms 312 .

[0144] Each of the two first composite mechanisms 311 is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the two first electrode pieces and one separator of the four separators into a first composite electrode piece.

[0145] The first composite mechanism 311 can connect the first electrode piece and the separator by a composite method such as electrostatic adsorption, hot pressing, tape attachment, etc. The first electrode piece and the separator are arranged in a layered manner along the thickness direction of the first electrode piece.

[0146] Two first electrode piece unwinding devices 302 supply two first electrode pieces, and four separator unwinding devices 304 supply four separators, and each first electrode piece and one separator are combined via a first combining mechanism 311 to form two first combined electrode pieces.

[0147] Each of the two second composite mechanisms 312 is configured to combine one second electrode piece of the two second electrode pieces and another separator of the four separators into a second composite electrode piece.

[0148] The second composite mechanism 312 can connect the second electrode piece and the separator by a composite method such as electrostatic adsorption, hot pressing, tape attachment, etc. The second electrode piece and the separator are arranged in a layered manner along the thickness direction of the second electrode piece.

[0149] Two second electrode piece unwinding devices 303 supply two second electrode pieces, and four separator unwinding devices 304 supply four separators, and each second electrode piece and one separator are combined via a second combining mechanism 312 to form two second combined electrode pieces.

[0150] The winding assembly 301 is configured to wind two first composite electrode pieces and two second composite electrode pieces to form a winding structure.

[0151] Before the winding assembly 301 winds, the first electrode piece and the separator are first combined via a first combining mechanism 311, and the first electrode piece and the separator are connected together to form an overall first composite electrode piece. The second electrode piece and the separator are combined via a second combining mechanism 312 to form an overall second composite electrode piece. Then, the first composite electrode piece and the second composite electrode piece are all fed to the winding assembly 301 to be wound.

[0152] In one embodiment, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are driven by their corresponding separators to enter the winding assembly 301 and are wound. Compared with an embodiment in which the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, and the separator enter the winding assembly 301 independently, the number of layers supplied to the loading station of the winding assembly 301 is reduced, which avoids mutual interference caused by supplying multiple layers, reduces the difficulty of aligning the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, and the separator, and reduces the possibility of misalignment of the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece. This improves the alignment accuracy in winding, simplifies the work, and makes it more efficient. The alignment here means that the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, and the separator are aligned with each other along their respective width directions.

[0153] In another embodiment, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are driven by their respective separators and enter the winding assembly 301 for winding, thereby reducing the possibility of the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece being crimped or folded when they enter the winding process, and effectively improving the yield of the electrode assembly.

[0154] In yet another embodiment, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are respectively driven by their corresponding separators to enter and be wound in the winding assembly 301. The number of feeding layers to the loading station of the winding assembly 301 can be correspondingly reduced, and the number of winding assist mechanisms for guiding the winding of each of the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece and the separator in the loading station of the winding assembly 301 can be reduced, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the winding assembly 301, having enough space to set the assist mechanisms of each feeding layer, which is more advantageous to improving the operation efficiency in winding.

[0155] The electrode assembly making device includes four heating pieces 320. The heating pieces 320 are configured to heat the separator supplied by the separator unwinding device 304.

[0156] Before the separator is fed into the compounding mechanism, the separator is first heated through the heating piece 320 so that the separator is subjected to physical or chemical changes, and then the separator is compounded with the first electrode piece, thereby favoring better interfitting between the separator and the first electrode piece, improving the flatness of the formed first compound electrode piece, and reducing the possibility of separation of the first electrode piece from the corresponding separator.

[0157] One heating piece 320 of the four heating pieces 320 is disposed between one separator unwinding device 304 and one first combining mechanism 311. One heating piece 320 of the four heating pieces 320 is disposed between one separator unwinding device 23 and one second combining mechanism 312. The heating piece 320 is configured to heat the separator provided by the separator unwinding device 23.

[0158] Before the separator is fed to the first compounding machine 311 and the second compounding machine 312, the separator is first heated through the heating piece 320 so that the separator undergoes a physical or chemical change, and then the separator is compounded with the second electrode piece, thereby favoring better interfitting between the separator and the second electrode piece, improving the flatness of the formed second compound electrode piece, and reducing the possibility of separation of the second electrode piece from the corresponding separator.

[0159] In the third embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a third cutter 331. The third cutter 331 is disposed between the first electrode piece unwinding device 302 and the first combining mechanism 311, and is configured to cut the first electrode piece supplied by the first electrode piece unwinding device 302. The cutting station for the first electrode piece is disposed upstream of the first combining mechanism 311 and is far away from the first combining mechanism 311. Meanwhile, the station where the first electrode piece is combined with the separator via the first combining mechanism 311 is far away from the station where the winding assembly 301 is wound. Therefore, the first electrode piece is cut upstream of the first combining mechanism 311, which more effectively reduces the possibility that dust generated when the first electrode piece is cut will enter the winding assembly 301, and the risk of a short circuit between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece that occurs when the separator is penetrated by dust present in the winding assembly 301 can be reduced.

[0160] In the third embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a fourth cutter 332. The fourth cutter 332 is disposed between the second electrode piece unwinding device 303 and the second combining mechanism 312, and is configured to cut the second electrode piece supplied by the second electrode piece unwinding device 303. The station where the second electrode piece is cut is disposed upstream of the second combining mechanism 312 and is far away from the second combining mechanism 312. On the other hand, the station where the separator is combined with the second electrode piece via the second combining mechanism 312 is far away from the station where the winding assembly 301 winds. Therefore, the second electrode piece is cut upstream of the second combining mechanism 312, which more effectively reduces the possibility that dust generated when the second electrode piece is cut will enter the winding assembly 301, and reduces the risk of a short circuit between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece that occurs when the separator is penetrated by dust present in the winding assembly 301.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 21 , in the third embodiment, the winding assembly 301 includes a rotating disk 3011 and three winding cores 3012, and the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a first cutter 351, a second cutter 352 and two or more loading assemblies 340.

[0162] The first cutter 351 is configured to cut three separators, and the second cutter 352 is configured to cut one separator. One of the loading assemblies 340 is configured to clamp one separator, and the other loading assembly 340 is configured to clamp the other three separators.

[0163] The loading assembly 340 is configured to feed an initial winding portion of the separator entering a loading station associated with the loading assembly 340 to a winding core 3012 associated with the loading station, providing a high degree of automation.

[0164] The loading assembly 340 is further configured to clamp a terminal portion of the first separator and clamp an initial portion of the separator winding in the loading assembly 340 of the next preformed electrode assembly after the winding structure has been wound to a predetermined number of turns and the first separator has been cut.

[0165] In the above embodiment, the loading assembly 340 can apply a controllable tensile force to the separator's initial or end winding portion when clamping and feeding the separator to the winding core 3012, thereby improving the winding quality of the electrode assembly by reducing the possibility of problems such as displacement, bending, and crimping when the separator enters the winding core 3012 while the separator is in a free-hanging state.

[0166] As optionally shown in Fig. 22, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a press roller 361 and a spray blow mechanism 362 corresponding to each loading station. The press roller 361 is configured to press the winding initial portions of the four separators corresponding to the loading station corresponding to the press roller 361 toward the winding core 3012. The spray blow mechanism 362 is configured to blow the ends of the winding initial portions of the four separators onto the winding core 3012 so that the winding core 3012 winds the winding initial portions of the separators, and drives the two first electrode pieces and the two second electrode pieces to form a winding structure.

[0167] 23 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly preparation device provided in the fourth embodiment of the present application. In the fourth embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device includes a winding assembly 401, two first electrode piece unwinding devices 402, two second electrode piece unwinding devices 403, and four separator unwinding devices 404.

[0168] The effects of the winding assembly 401, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 402, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 403 and the four separator unwinding devices 404 are not redundantly repeated in this specification, but are similar to the effects of the winding assembly 301, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 302, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 303 and the four separator unwinding devices 304.

[0169] The distinction between the fourth and third embodiments can be at least as follows:

[0170] The electrode assembly making device further includes two first composite mechanisms 411 , two second composite mechanisms 412 , and two third composite mechanisms 413 .

[0171] Each of the two first composite mechanisms 411 is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the two first electrode pieces and one separator of the four separators into a first composite electrode piece.

[0172] Each of the two second composite mechanisms 412 is configured to combine one second electrode piece of the two second electrode pieces and another separator of the four separators into a second composite electrode piece.

[0173] Each of the two third composite mechanisms 43 is configured to combine one first composite electrode piece and one second composite electrode piece to form a third composite electrode piece, and the winding assembly 401 is configured to wind each third composite electrode piece to form a winding structure.

[0174] In the fourth embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a third cutter 421. The third cutter 421 is disposed between the first electrode piece unwinding device 402 and the first combining mechanism 411, and is configured to cut the first electrode piece provided in the first electrode piece unwinding device 402. The station where the first electrode piece is cut is disposed upstream of the first combining mechanism 411 and is far away from the first combining mechanism 411. On the other hand, the station where the first electrode piece is combined with the separator via the first combining mechanism 411 is far away from the station where the winding assembly 401 is wound, so that the first electrode piece is cut upstream of the first combining mechanism 411. This further effectively reduces the possibility that dust generated when the first electrode piece is cut will enter the winding assembly 401, and can reduce the risk of a short circuit between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece that occurs when the separator is penetrated by dust present in the winding assembly 401.

[0175] In the fourth embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a fourth cutter 422. The fourth cutter 422 is disposed between the second electrode piece unwinding device 403 and the second combining mechanism 412, and is configured to cut the second electrode piece provided in the second electrode piece unwinding device 403. The station where the second electrode piece is cut is disposed upstream of the second combining mechanism 412 and is far away from the second combining mechanism 412. On the other hand, the station where the second electrode piece is combined with the separator via the second combining mechanism 412 is far away from the station where the winding assembly 401 is wound. Therefore, by cutting the second electrode piece upstream of the second combining mechanism 412, the possibility that dust generated when the second electrode piece is cut will enter the winding assembly 401 is more effectively reduced, and the risk of a short circuit between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece that occurs when the separator is penetrated by dust present in the winding assembly 401 can be reduced.

[0176] In the fourth embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further includes a heating piece 440, which is configured to heat the separator.

[0177] 24 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrode assembly preparation device provided in the fifth embodiment of the present application. In the fifth embodiment, the electrode assembly preparation device further includes a winding assembly 501, two first electrode piece unwinding devices 502, two second electrode piece unwinding devices 503, four separator unwinding devices 504, two fourth composite mechanisms 510 and four heating pieces 520.

[0178] The effects of the winding assembly 501, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 502, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 503 and the four separator unwinding devices 504 are similar to the effects of the winding assembly 201, the two first electrode piece unwinding devices 202, the two second electrode piece unwinding devices 203 and the four separator unwinding devices 204, which are not repeated redundantly in this specification.

[0179] The fourth combining mechanism 510 is configured to combine one of the two first electrode pieces, one of the two second electrode pieces, and two of the separators into a fourth composite electrode piece. The winding assembly 501 is configured to wind all of the fourth composite electrode pieces to form a wound structure. Each heating piece 520 is disposed between the separator unwinding device 504 and the fourth combining mechanism 510 to heat the separator.

[0180] The electrode assembly preparation device includes a third cutter 531 and a fourth cutter 532. The third cutter 531 is disposed between the first electrode piece unwinding device 502 and the fourth composite mechanism 510, and is configured to cut the first electrode piece supplied by the first electrode piece unwinding device 502. The fourth cutter 532 is disposed between the second electrode piece unwinding device 505 and the fourth composite mechanism 510, and is configured to cut the second electrode piece supplied by the second electrode piece unwinding device 505.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 25, some embodiments provide a method for preparing an electrode assembly for the device applied with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 24. The method for preparing the electrode assembly is the same as the operation steps of all the above device embodiments. The method for preparing the electrode assembly includes: providing a plurality of first electrode strips; providing at least one second electrode strip, the polarity of the first electrode strip being opposite to the polarity of the second electrode strip; winding the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly; Includes.

[0182] The method of making the electrode assembly may be consistent with the above process by which the electrode assembly device is made.

[0183] In the method for preparing an electrode assembly provided in the present application, a plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece are wound to obtain an electrode assembly having a wound structure, that is, a plurality of first electrode pieces and a plurality of second electrode pieces are simultaneously wound around a winding assembly, and the length of the electrode piece obtained after the winding assembly has wound one turn is equal to the length of at least two turns when the winding assembly winds one first electrode piece and one second electrode piece, thereby reducing the number of turns and improving the winding efficiency of the electrode assembly.

[0184] In addition, compared to an electrode assembly obtained by winding a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of a plurality of first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of at least one second electrode piece in order to achieve the same energy as the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment, the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment is formed by overlapping and winding a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators. That is, the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment is obtained by dividing a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of a plurality of first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the total length of at least one second electrode piece into a plurality of pieces and then winding them in parallel. A plurality of electrode pieces of the same polarity are produced inside the electrode assembly produced in this embodiment, and the internal resistance of the electrode assembly is reduced, so that the amount of heat generated by the electrode assembly during the use process can be reduced and the performance of the electrode assembly can be improved.

[0185] In comparison with the alignment of multiple tabs on the same polarity electrode pieces when winding a single first electrode piece having a length equal to the sum of the lengths of the multiple first electrode pieces and a single second electrode piece having a length equal to the sum of at least one second electrode piece to achieve the same energy, in the electrode assembly of this embodiment, the tabs on the multiple electrode pieces of the same polarity are overlapped in parallel and aligned before winding. Furthermore, since the length of the electrode pieces is shortened and the number of windings is reduced, the amount of tab misalignment is reduced. This improves the ability to control tab misalignment during the winding process and improves the quality of the electrode assembly.

[0186] The method of making an electrode assembly provided herein further includes providing a plurality of separators, the separators configured to separate the first electrode pieces from the second electrode pieces.

[0187] The winding assembly is configured to wind a plurality of first electrode pieces supplied by a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices, at least one second electrode piece supplied by at least one second electrode piece unwinding device, and a plurality of separators supplied by a plurality of separator unwinding devices to form at least one electrode assembly having a wound structure.

[0188] In some embodiments, in a method of making an electrode assembly, a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators are wound by adsorbing an initial portion of the at least one separator onto the plurality of separators.

[0189] In some embodiments, the method of making an electrode assembly further includes, after an initial winding portion of at least one separator in the plurality of separators is supplied to the winding core of the winding assembly by a certain length, the remaining separators in the plurality of separators are supplied to the winding core and driven by the at least one separator to be wound.

[0190] In some embodiments, the method of making an electrode assembly further includes a step in which, when the wound structure is wound to a predetermined number of turns, each first cutter of the at least one first cutter cuts another separator at the first loading station based on holding the at least one separator and enters the wound structure.

[0191] After the at least one retained separator is successfully fed at the loading station, each second cutter of the at least one second cutter cuts at least one retained separator disposed between the first loading station and the first unloading station.

[0192] In some embodiments, each negative pressure opening in the at least one negative pressure opening of each wound core adsorbs at least one separator of the plurality of separators.

[0193] In some embodiments, each first composite mechanism in the plurality of first composite mechanisms combines one first electrode piece in the plurality of first electrode pieces and one separator in the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece, each second composite mechanism in the at least one second composite mechanism combines one second electrode piece in the at least one second electrode piece and the other separator in the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece, and a winding assembly winds all of the first composite electrode pieces and all of the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly.

[0194] In an embodiment in which two first composite electrode pieces and two second composite electrode pieces are wound, an initial winding portion of a separator corresponding to one first composite electrode piece is supplied to the winding core by a certain length, and then initial winding portions of the separators of the remaining one first composite electrode piece and the two second composite electrode pieces are jointly supplied to the winding core, and the remaining separator is driven to be wound with the separator of the first composite electrode piece supplied earlier.

[0195] In some embodiments, a method of making an electrode assembly includes each third composite mechanism of the at least one third composite mechanism configured to combine a second electrode piece of the plurality of second electrode pieces, a second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators into a third composite electrode piece, and a winding assembly winds all of the third composite electrode pieces to form the electrode assembly.

[0196] In some embodiments, a method of making an electrode assembly includes a fourth composite mechanism combining a plurality of first electrode pieces, at least one second electrode piece, and a plurality of separators into a fourth composite electrode piece, and a winding assembly winding the fourth composite electrode piece to form the electrode assembly.

[0197] In some embodiments, an electrode assembly formed through winding four electrode pieces and four separators is taken as an example to describe a method for preparing the electrode assembly, where the four electrode pieces are defined as electrode piece 1, electrode piece 2, electrode piece 3 and electrode piece 4, and the method for preparing the electrode assembly includes:

[0198] The unwinding device includes four separators and four electrode pieces, namely, electrode pieces 1-4, and the four separators are heated through the heating pieces, and the heated four separators and electrode pieces 1-4 are respectively fed to the corresponding compounding mechanisms, which then form the separators and electrode pieces into a compound electrode piece. After the length of the electrode piece meets the set requirements, the electrode piece is cut, and the electrode piece in the unwinding device waits for the next electrode piece to be released.

[0199] The initial winding part of the composite electrode piece is the winding head of the separator combined with the non-electrode piece. First, the winding head of the separator of the composite electrode piece 1, i.e., the initial winding part of the separator, is supplied to the winding position of the winding core via the loading assembly, and the winding core of the first station adsorbs the separator to complete the winding of the winding head.

[0200] The negative pressure openings arranged on the winding core can easily adsorb the winding head of the separator, and after the winding is stabilized, another loading assembly winds the composite electrode pieces 2 to 4 together with the composite electrode piece 1.

[0201] After winding the composite electrodes 2 to 4, the separators where the composite electrodes 2 to 4 are located are cut, and the winding core is switched from the first station to the second station. Then, the separator corresponding to the composite electrode piece 1 is cut, and the composite electrode piece 1 is continuously wound on the winding core, and then wound on the outermost layer of the electrode assembly, and the composite electrode piece is attached to one end, and an ending tape can be attached.

[0202] The winding core can be switched to a third station, and the electrode assembly on the winding core is disassembled when the winding core is at the third station.

[0203] In some embodiments, an initial winding portion of one separator c is supplied to a winding core, and after a certain length is wound, the initial winding portions of the remaining three separators c are jointly supplied to the winding core, and the remaining separators are driven by the separator sent to be wound in advance, and an ending tape f is attached after winding. In an embodiment in which two first electrode pieces a, two second electrode pieces b, and four separators c are wound, the electrode assembly structure formed through the above winding method is as shown in FIG.

[0204] In some other embodiments, the initial winding portions of the four separators c are jointly fed to a winding core for winding. In an embodiment in which two first electrode pieces a, two second electrode pieces b, and four separators c are wound, the initial winding portions of the four separators c are jointly fed to a winding core, and an ending tape f is attached after winding, and the electrode assembly structure formed through the above winding method is as shown in FIG. 27.

[0205] In still other embodiments, the initial winding portions of the multiple separators c are supplied to the winding core for sequential winding, the initial winding portion of the first separator is supplied to the winding core, another separator in the multiple separators is supplied to the winding core for a certain length, and the remaining separators in the multiple separators are supplied to the winding core for sequential winding according to the above method. In an embodiment in which two first electrode pieces a, two second electrode pieces b, and four separators c are wound, the initial winding portion of the first separator is first supplied to the winding core for winding, the first separator is wound to a certain length, and then the initial winding portion of the second separator is supplied to the winding core for winding, the second separator is wound to a certain length, and then the initial winding portion of the third separator is supplied to the winding core for winding, and the third separator is wound to a certain length, and then the initial winding portion of the fourth separator is supplied to the winding core for winding. After winding, an ending tape f is attached, and the electrode assembly structure formed through the above winding method is as shown in FIG.

[0206] The electrode assembly prepared with the electrode assembly preparation device and the electrode assembly preparation method provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure can effectively reduce the internal resistance of the electrode assembly, and can eliminate such problems as the large heat generation of the electrode assembly, the existence of safety risks, and the shortening of the service life of the battery caused when the electrode assembly is charged and discharged at high power. The electrode assembly can be used as a consumer electrode assembly, a power electrode assembly, an energy storage electrode assembly, etc.

[0207] Furthermore, the technical features of one of the embodiments may be usefully combined with one or more of the other embodiments without explicit negation.

[0208] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are not intended to limit the present application, but merely to describe the technical solutions of the present application. Although the present application is described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, the invention should be understood that the specific embodiments of the present application can still be modified, or parts of the technical solutions can be replaced with equivalents, while all modifications or equivalent replacements made without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present application shall all fall within the scope of the technical solutions claimed in the present application.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing an electrode assembly, comprising: a winding assembly; a plurality of first electrode piece unwinding devices configured to supply a plurality of first electrode pieces for the winding assembly; at least one second electrode piece unwinding device configured to supply at least one second electrode piece for at least one of the winding assemblies; the polarity of the first electrode piece is opposite to the polarity of the second electrode piece; the winding assembly is configured to wind the plurality of first electrode pieces and the at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly; the electrode assembly preparation apparatus further comprising a plurality of separator unwinding devices configured to supply a plurality of separators for the winding assembly; the separator is configured to insulate the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece; the winding assembly includes a winding core configured to wind the first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the separators; the winding assembly further includes a switching device, the winding core being disposed on the switching device, the switching device being configured to switch the winding core between a loading station and an unloading station; The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus includes: a first cutter configured to cut at least one separator of the plurality of separators and to retain the at least one separator when the winding core has wound the electrode assembly a predetermined number of turns; a second cutter configured to cut the retained at least one separator when the winding core is at the unloading station; and Further comprising: Device for creating electrode assemblies.

2. The winding core is provided with at least one negative pressure opening for adsorbing an initial winding portion of at least one separator among the plurality of separators. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to claim 1 .

3. The negative pressure opening includes a recess or a through hole disposed on the winding surface of the winding core. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to claim 2.

4. The negative pressure opening is triangular, circular, square or irregular in shape. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The negative pressure openings are distributed in an array on the winding surface of the winding core. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. a press roller configured to press an initial winding portion of at least one of the plurality of separators toward the winding core; and a spray blow mechanism configured to blow an end of the winding initial portion onto a surface of the winding core so that the winding core winds the winding initial portion, thereby driving the first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the separators to be wound. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to claim 1 .

7. a first loading piece configured to supply an initial portion of a winding of at least one of the plurality of separators to the winding core; An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. a second loading piece configured to clamp at least one cut separator of the plurality of separators when the at least one separator of the plurality of separators is cut. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to claim 7.

9. a plurality of first composite mechanisms, each of which is configured to combine one first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces and one separator of the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece; at least one second composite mechanism, each second composite mechanism of the at least one second composite mechanism configured to combine one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece and another separator of the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece; the winding assembly is configured to wind all of the first composite electrode pieces and all of the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. and further comprising at least one third composite mechanism; Each third composite mechanism of the at least one third composite mechanism is configured to combine a first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces, a second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators into a third composite electrode piece; the winding assembly is configured to wind all of the third composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. a fourth composite mechanism configured to combine the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators into a fourth composite electrode piece; the winding assembly is configured to wind the fourth composite electrode piece to form an electrode assembly. An apparatus for producing an electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A method for producing an electrode assembly using the electrode assembly production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of first electrode strips; providing at least one second electrode strip, the polarity of the first electrode strip being opposite to the polarity of the second electrode strip; winding the plurality of first electrode pieces and at least one second electrode piece to form an electrode assembly; providing a plurality of separators; the separator is configured to insulate the first electrode piece from the second electrode piece; The method of making an electrode assembly further comprising winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators.

13. The step of winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators further includes a step of adsorbing an initial winding portion of at least one separator among the plurality of separators. A method for making the electrode assembly of claim 12.

14. The step of winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators includes supplying an initial winding portion of at least one of the plurality of separators to a winding core of a winding assembly at a specific length, and then supplying the remaining separators of the plurality of separators to the winding core, and driving the remaining separators to be wound by the at least one separator. A method for making the electrode assembly of claim 12.

15. The step of winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators includes: Each of the first composite mechanisms of the plurality of first composite mechanisms combines one of the first electrode pieces of the plurality of first electrode pieces and one of the separators of the plurality of separators into a first composite electrode piece; Each second composite mechanism of the at least one second composite mechanism combines one second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece and another separator of the plurality of separators into a second composite electrode piece; a winding assembly winding all of the first composite electrode pieces and all of the second composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly; A method for making the electrode assembly of claim 12.

16. The step of winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators includes: a first electrode piece of the plurality of first electrode pieces, a second electrode piece of the at least one second electrode piece, and two separators of the plurality of separators are combined into a third composite electrode piece; a winding assembly winding all the third composite electrode pieces to form an electrode assembly; A method for making the electrode assembly of claim 12.

17. The step of winding the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators includes: combining the plurality of first electrode pieces, the at least one second electrode piece, and the plurality of separators into a fourth composite electrode piece; a winding assembly winding the fourth composite electrode piece to form an electrode assembly; A method for making the electrode assembly of claim 12.

Images