Method for manufacturing a dry electrode on a current collector using a roller device, roller device, dry electrode, computer program product and computer readable medium

Abstract

To provide a method for manufacturing dry electrodes on a current collector with the aid of a roller device.SOLUTION: A method for manufacturing dry electrodes on a current collector with the aid of a roller device, the roller device including at least three rollers and a current collector 12, includes the steps of: rotating a first roller 13 and a second roller 14 in opposite rotational directions; pouring powder into a calendar gap 20 formed by the first rotating roller 13 and the second rotating roller 14 and guiding the powder on the second roller 14; triggering a signal with the aid of a control unit for adjusting a laminating gap 18 between the second roller 14 and a third roller 15, and moving the third roller 15 and / or the first roller 13 and the second roller 14 toward each other in the direction of the current collector 12; moving at least the third roller 15 in the opposite direction of the second roller 14; and moving the current collector 12 through the laminating gap 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of electrode manufacturing, and more particularly to dry electrode manufacturing. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dry electrode on a current collector using a roller apparatus, a roller apparatus, a dry electrode, a computer program product, and a computer-readable medium.

[0002] When manufacturing dry electrodes using a multi-roller calender or roller apparatus, there are situations where imperfect layers are present on the rollers at the start of the process, and when these imperfect layers are applied to the current collector, they result in the production of poor quality or even unusable electrodes.

[0003] Furthermore, situations can arise where an incomplete layer is not completely transferred to the current collector, and thus coating material remains on the roller, and if new material is fed into the film-forming gap, the roller gap may become clogged, requiring the process to be stopped, or in the worst case scenario, damaging the roller.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, the object of the present invention is to increase the efficiency and reliability of the method for producing dry electrodes and to reduce the costs involved in producing dry electrodes by said method. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to increase the quality of the dry electrodes produced by said method.

[0005] The above-mentioned problem is solved by a method for producing a dry electrode on a current collector by means of a roller device having the features of claim 1, a roller device having the features of claim 8, a dry electrode having the features of claim 10, a computer program product having the features of claim 11, and a computer-readable medium having the features of claim 12. Further features and details of the invention can be taken from the respective dependent claims, the description and the drawings, whereby the features and details explained in relation to the method according to the invention naturally also apply in relation to the roller device, the dry electrode, the computer program product and / or the computer-readable medium according to the invention and vice versa, so that the disclosures of the individual aspects of the invention are always mutually associated or can be associated with each other.

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide an improved method for manufacturing dry electrodes on a current collector using a roller apparatus, which method allows for the reliable production of high quality dry electrodes at low cost.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a dry electrode on a current collector using a roller apparatus, the roller apparatus comprising at least three rollers and a current collector disposed between a second roller and a third roller of the at least three rollers, the method comprising the steps of: rotating a first roller and a second roller of the at least three rollers in opposite rotational directions; shaking the powder into a calender gap formed by a rotating first roller and a rotating second roller and guiding the powder at the second roller; triggering a signal using the controller unit to adjust a lamination gap between the second roller and the third roller, and moving the third roller and / or the first roller and the second roller relative to each other toward the current collector; rotating at least a third roller of the at least three rollers in a counter-rotating direction relative to the second roller; moving the current collector through the laminate gap; wherein the lamination gap is adjusted so that the powder is deposited as a thin layer onto the current collector to form a dry electrode.

[0008] In other words, the method for producing a dry electrode on a current collector using a roller device proposes starting the roller device before the powder is applied as a thin layer to the current collector. Therefore, two states or operating conditions can be distinguished: before the signal for adjusting the lamination gap is triggered, the roller device can be operated in a starting mode or starting state; and after the signal for adjusting the lamination gap is triggered, the roller device can be operated in a normal operating mode or normal operating state.

[0009] The lamination gap can be a gap between two rollers through which the current collector is placed, preferably through which it can be passed. Unlike the lamination gap, the calender gap is a gap between two rollers through which the powder can be shaken. There is usually only one roller between the lamination gap and the calender gap. In the post-compression process, two rollers can be placed between the lamination gap and the calender gap.

[0010] The powder may be a powder-like material. The powder is preferably solvent-free and is transferred into layers using a roller device. The powder includes, among other things, an active material, a conductive additive, and a binder. The components of the powder may be mixed in a preliminary step of the process for producing a dry electrode. The electrode may be referred to as a bilayer or a monolayer deposited on a substrate. The electrode may be, for example, a bilayer cathode material and / or a bilayer anode material.

[0011] The current collector may also be referred to as a current collector or a substrate. The current collector may have a main function of being used as a substrate for a thin layer.

[0012] The quality of the produced electrode may depend on the distribution of the powder or powder-like material as a thin layer. A high-quality electrode is preferably formed from a homogeneous thin layer. Therefore, it has been found to be advantageous to apply the powder to the current collector only when the powder guided onto the second roller has formed a homogeneous thin layer.

[0013] For this purpose, the method provides for rotating rollers that together form a calender gap. In the calender gap, powder is preferably already being agitated, guided against or on a second roller. The calendering process in the calender gap thus allows the powder to at least partially form a thin layer. However, the powder usually initially only forms an incompletely thin layer or a layer that may have defects. A partially thin layer of powder may have cracks, pores, etc. Therefore, such an incomplete or defective layer is unusable for the electrode or results in a low-quality electrode.

[0014] Therefore, the method is configured to adjust the lamination gap only after a signal is triggered by the controller unit. Triggering the signal may be synonymous with transitioning to a normal operating state. The signal is preferably triggered when the powder forms a homogeneous thin layer on the second roller. The signal is preferably triggered when the layer supported by the roller is completely present on the roller.

[0015] Specifically, the controller unit can trigger a signal upon command of a user, and the user of the roller device can determine by observing the powder or thin layer that the lamination gap should be adjusted accordingly, particularly to allow the powder to be deposited as a thin layer on the current collector to form a dry electrode.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, the controller unit can trigger a signal according to a set number of roller rotations based on empirical values.Alternatively or additionally, a removal device, for example arranged on the second roller, can calculate how much powder has been removed from the corresponding roller, so that the controller unit can trigger a signal based on the calculated amount of powder removed.

[0017] When a signal for adjusting the lamination gap is triggered, the controller unit can control the rollers of the roller device so as to reduce the lamination gap between the current collectors. All rollers arranged on one side of the current collector can be moved synchronously in a radial direction toward the current collector. Alternatively, the rollers on one side of the current collector and the rollers on the other side can be moved radially toward the current collector. When the powder is applied to the current collector as a thin layer on both sides, it has been found to be advantageous to move the rollers from both sides of the current collector toward the current collector. When adjusting the lamination gap, the distance between two adjacent rollers arranged on either side of the current collector can be adjusted and made particularly small. It should be noted that the lamination gap does not need to be constant when the roller device is driven.

[0018] The width of the laminating gap can be subsequently adjusted under normal operating conditions by the controller unit. The laminating gap adjustment can be performed by force control or by displacement control.

[0019] The lamination gap can be varied when applying the powder as a thin layer. The lamination gap can be varied as long as the powder can still be applied as a thin layer when the lamination gap is varied. The force-controlled adjustment of the lamination gap takes into account the force or pressure applied to the current collector when applying the powder as a thin layer. As the force and / or pressure applied to the current collector increases, the lamination gap is adjusted to be wider. However, this also means that the thin layer becomes thicker. Therefore, the force-controlled adjustment of the lamination gap can be configured to post-process the manufactured electrode to adapt the electrode thickness.

[0020] When the lamination gap is adjusted by displacement control, the actual gap between the current collector and the adjacent roller or the actual gap between two adjacent rollers with the current collector in between is adjusted. When the lamination gap is adjusted by displacement control, it can be kept constant throughout the normal operating mode or normal operating conditions.

[0021] The remaining rollers of the roller device can be rotated so that the lamination gap can be adjusted immediately, and at this point the powder can be deposited as a thin layer on the current collector. Alternatively, the remaining rollers of the roller device can be moved simultaneously relative to the current collector. However, it is important that the remaining rollers upstream of the lamination gap junction rotate first, or at least be able to rotate freely, since otherwise cracks in the web may occur. In embodiments in which a thin layer is deposited on only one side of the current collector, the third roller is rotated at this point. In embodiments of roller devices symmetrical about the current collector, it is also conceivable that all rollers of the roller device rotate before the lamination gap is adjusted. It is important that all rollers adjacent to the shaking device are already rotated before the lamination gap is adjusted.

[0022] Immediately after adjusting or triggering the signal to adjust the lamination gap, the current collector can be moved or run through the second and third rollers. The current collector and current collecting film can be stationary for the entire time the lamination gap is too wide to allow the powder to deposit on the current collector in the first place, thereby saving energy.

[0023] It should be noted that a double-sided dry electrode can be produced if the roller arrangement is configured symmetrically around the current collector, which allows the powder to be shaken in two calender gaps and the two layers to be guided accordingly on each roller adjacent to the current collector.

[0024] The method can efficiently and accurately provide high quality electrodes, can also avoid or at least reduce clogging of the roller device, and can reduce maintenance efforts of the roller device for manufacturing dry electrodes.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the following steps: - calculating the thickness of the thin layer of powder on the second roller; and triggering a signal by the controller unit based on the calculated thickness; Contains at least one of the following:

[0026] To avoid the powder being applied to the current collector as an incompletely thin layer, the thickness of the thin layer of powder can be calculated at the second roller or additionally at the third roller. This calculation can be performed by a layer thickness sensor. Alternatively or additionally, a camera can take images of the second roller and alternatively the third roller, and the images can be played back on a user interface. Based on the images of the second roller and / or the third roller, the user can determine whether the thickness of the thin layer of powder meets a set criterion, for example, a set thickness. Alternatively or additionally, an artificial intelligence-based program can be executed via the images taken by the camera.

[0027] It should be noted that the layer here should not only have a set thickness, but also have a constant thickness (at least for the most part) over a set interval. In other words, if the calculated thickness meets a set criterion, a signal can be triggered using the controller unit. The set criterion can be a surface load, a minimum defect-free area, etc.

[0028] This allows for more precise adjustment of the time at which the signal is triggered, which can further improve the quality of the electrodes produced.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the following step: removing the powder guided on the second roller, in particular the powder resulting from the defective layer, by a removal device arranged downstream of the lamination gap in the direction of rotation. If the powder guided on the second roller is removed, this may be a defective layer present on the second roller, i.e., a layer with an incorrect or irregular thickness, for example. The removal of the powder guided on the second roller, preferably the powder resulting from the at least partially defective layer, can be performed during the start-up mode.

[0030] This allows the material or powder not deposited on the current collector to be removed at the corresponding roller during the start-up mode or normal operation mode of the roller device, thereby minimizing the risk of clogging at the corresponding roller of the roller device.

[0031] The powder or material removed from the removal device can be fed back to the shaking device. The powder can thus be reused, reducing powder consumption during electrode production. It has proven advantageous to treat the removed powder in a previous process step before it can be guided again.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the method, the rotation speed of the first roller, the second roller, the third roller and / or the running speed of the current collector are controlled by the controller unit, preferably based on the calculated thickness of the thin layer of powder.

[0033] In other words, the roller device, and in particular the rollers of the roller device, can be controlled so that set criteria are met, such as the surface load of the thinned powder layer, the thickness of the thinned layer, etc. The thickness of the thinned powder layer may depend on the rotation speed of the rollers of the roller device, and conversely, the rotation speed of the rollers of the roller device may depend on the thickness of the thinned powder layer.

[0034] This allows the production of high quality electrodes.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the method, when removing the guided powder at the second roller, in particular the powder in the defective thin layer, the powder is captured and / or sucked by a removal device.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the method, a signal to adjust the lamination gap between the second roller and the third roller is triggered after a predetermined time.

[0037] The roller device may have, for example, a virtual hyperbola. Based on simulations or tests using the virtual hyperbola of the roller device, it may be known that after a predetermined time, the thickness of the thinned powder, the surface load, and / or other parameters will meet the set criteria. Such a predetermined time may be stored, for example, in a storage medium of the controller unit. Thus, a signal for adjusting the lamination gap can be automatically triggered after the predetermined time.

[0038] The predetermined time may likewise be based on experimental and / or empirical data and may therefore be stored by a user in a storage medium of the controller unit, for example, using a user interface.

[0039] Furthermore, the predetermined time can be configured to define a maximum time. In other words, the signal can be triggered after the maximum time, for example, independently of the calculated thickness. This has proven advantageous, for example, if the controller unit is configured to trigger the signal only upon receiving, for example, a command from a user. In this way, even if the user forgets to issue a command, it is possible to avoid the roller device operating in the starting mode or in the starting state for an unnecessarily long time.

[0040] Similarly, if it is not possible to reliably trigger a signal based on the calculated thickness, for example because the layer thickness sensor has malfunctioned, it has proven advantageous to trigger the signal after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the following steps: Calculating the amount of powder shaken into the calender gap, and / or calculating the rotations made by the second roller; triggering a signal by the controller unit based on the calculated powder amount and / or the calculated number of rotations made by the second roller; Contains at least one of the following:

[0042] It can be configured to calculate the amount of powder removed from the metering unit in order to calculate how much powder has been shaken into the calender gap.

[0043] It should be noted that the opposite approach can be taken to prevent unusable coating from being transferred to the current collector when the roller device is stopped. In other words, when the roller device is stopped, the lamination gap can first be adjusted so that the powder cannot be deposited on the current collector as a thin layer. Only after the lamination gap has been adjusted accordingly, i.e., after the lamination gap has been widened, can the corresponding roller be stopped.

[0044] A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a roller apparatus for manufacturing a dry electrode on a current collector. The roller apparatus includes a controller unit, at least three rollers, and a current collector disposed in a lamination gap configured to capture a thin layer of powder. The lamination gap defines a gap between a first roller and a second roller of the at least three rollers. The roller apparatus further includes a shaking device configured to shake the powder into a calender gap. The calender gap defines a gap between the first roller and the second roller. The roller apparatus further includes a removal device configured to remove the powder guided by the second roller. The removal device is disposed downstream of the lamination gap in the direction of rotation. In this case, the controller unit is configured to trigger a signal for adjusting the lamination gap, particularly a signal for adjusting the thickness of the lamination gap.

[0045] The advantages described above and below for the method apply equally to the roller device.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the roller device, the roller device further comprises a layer thickness sensor configured to determine the thickness of the thin layer of powder at the second roller, in particular upstream of the lamination gap in the direction of rotation.

[0047] A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to dry electrodes manufactured using the methods described above and below.

[0048] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a controller unit of a roller device to perform at least partial steps of the methods described above and below as described above and below.

[0049] A fifth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program product described above.

[0050] All of the disclosures and advantages discussed above and below with respect to one aspect of the present disclosure apply equally to all further aspects of the present disclosure.

[0051] In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0052] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a roller device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a roller of a roller device according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a roller of a roller device according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a roller device according to another embodiment.

[0053] In the figures, similar elements, elements with similar functions, identical elements or elements with equivalent functions are provided with similar or identical reference signs. The figures are only schematic and are not drawn to scale.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a roller apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. Such a roller apparatus 100 can be used to perform a method for manufacturing a dry electrode 10 on a current collector 12. The roller apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 includes four rollers. A gap called a calender gap 20 is provided between the first roller 13 and the second roller 14. The first roller 13 may also be referred to as an application roller. The gap between the third roller 15 and the fourth roller 16 is also referred to as a calender gap 20. Such a pressure roller unit can include one or more rollers. Meanwhile, a gap called a lamination gap 18 is provided between the second roller 14 and the third roller 15. The current collector 12 is disposed within the lamination gap 18. The second roller 14 and the third roller 15 may be part of the pressure roller unit. Therefore, the second roller 14 and the third roller 15 may also be referred to as pressure rollers. The lamination gap 18, which may also be called a compression gap, can be configured to transfer the thin layer of powder 11 from the rollers of the compression roller unit, i.e., from the second roller 14 and / or the third roller 15, onto one side, or possibly both sides, of the current collector 12 by means of a compression force. It should be noted that the rollers are cylindrically shaped and are preferably arranged parallel to one another with respect to their axes.

[0055] The roller apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is configured substantially symmetrically about the current collector 12. That is, a thin layer of powder 11 can be deposited on both sides of the current collector 12. It should be noted that the elements and / or components described with respect to one side of the current collector 12 of the roller apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 can be similarly located in a mirror image on the other side of the current collector 12 of the roller apparatus 100 of FIG. 1. By depositing a thin layer on both sides of the current collector 12, the efficiency of the dry electrode 10 can be improved. The fabricated dry electrode 10 is comprised of a thin layer and the current collector 12. Depending on whether a thin layer is deposited on both sides of the current collector 12, it can be referred to as a one-sided dry electrode 10 or a two-sided dry electrode 10. Asymmetric embodiments are also possible (see FIG. 7).

[0056] In the roller device 100 of FIG. 1 , two rollers, namely a first roller 13 and a second roller 14, are arranged on a first side or to the left of the current collector 12. A shaking device 26 configured to shake the powder 11 may be arranged at least partially within the two calender gaps 20 of the roller device 100. The shaking device 26 may also be referred to as a metering unit. A separate removal device 22 may be provided on each of the two sides of the current collector 12. The two rollers arranged closest to the current collector 12 may be provided with such a removal device 22. The removal device 22 may include a doctor blade 23 and a capture device 24.

[0057] The first roller 13 and the second roller 14 are configured to rotate in opposite directions of rotation. The powder 11 can be shaken into the calender gap 20 between the first roller 13 and the second roller 14 by a shaking device 26. The powder 11 is then guided in the second roller 14.

[0058] The roller apparatus 100 of Figure 1 is in operation, specifically in a normal operating mode, as can be seen from Figure 1 because the lamination gap 18 is adjusted so that the powder 11 shaken into each calender gap 20 forms a thin layer that is then deposited onto the current collector 12 to form the dry electrode 10. That is, the lamination gap 18 is small enough to allow the powder 11 to be deposited onto the current collector 12 in a thin layer.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a roller device 100 according to one embodiment. The roller device 100 in FIG. 2 may be, for example, the roller device 100 in FIG. 1. Unless otherwise specified, the roller device 100 in FIG. 2 has the same elements and features as the roller device 100 in FIG. 1. In this case, two thin layers are deposited on the current collector 12, guided respectively on the second roller 14 and the third roller 15. To enable adjustment of the predetermined width of the dry electrode 10, at least one edge section 30, preferably two edge sections 30 per roller, is provided. The edge section 30 can precisely define or cut the edge or border of the dry electrode 10. The edge section 30 allows the width of the electrode 10 to be adjusted. To remove the remaining material or powder 11 beyond the edge or the layered powder 11, a removal unit 28 is preferably located directly adjacent to the edge section 30. The removal unit 28 can remove or capture the material. The removal unit 28 can have a capture container. The removal unit 28 may further comprise a doctor blade 23, by means of which the corresponding roller can be cleaned.

[0060] The powder 11 guided onto the second roller 14 and the third roller 15 forms a thin layer. As soon as the thin layer is deposited on the current collector 12, this thin layer can be called a dry electrode 10. To be able to produce a functional dry electrode 10, the thin layer must be formed as uniformly as possible. The thin layer must be formed without defects or flaws. For example, cracks, holes, and / or breaks in the layer can be considered defects. Preferably, the thin layer also has a set minimum layer thickness. The thin layer or dry electrode 10 of FIG. 2 is defect-free. The roller device 100 of FIG. 2 can be seen in operation, similar to the above example, specifically in normal operating mode. This is because the roller device 100 according to the present invention is configured so that the thin layer of powder 11 can be captured by the current collector 12 only in normal operating mode.

[0061] A roller apparatus 100 according to one embodiment is shown diagrammatically in side view in Figure 3. Unless otherwise noted, the roller apparatus 100 of Figure 3 has the same elements and features as the roller apparatus 100 of Figures 1 and 2.

[0062] Unlike the roller apparatus 100 of Figures 1 and 2, the roller apparatus 100 of Figure 3 is in a start-up mode, i.e., has not yet entered a normal operating mode. The gap between the second roller 14 and the third roller 15, i.e., the lamination gap 18, is larger in the start-up mode than in the normal operating mode. The lamination gap 18 of the roller apparatus 100 of Figure 3 is adjusted so that the powder 11 and / or a partially laminated layer of the powder 11 cannot be deposited on the current collector 12. Therefore, it has been found advantageous to not move the current collector 12 through the lamination gap 18 during the start-up mode, e.g., to save energy.

[0063] Blocks 19 or small pieces of powder 11 are shown on the second roller 14 and the third roller 15 of the roller apparatus 100 in FIG. 3 . The blocks 19 can form a defective layer. The powder 11 shaken into the calender gap 20 has not yet formed into a thin layer in the start-up mode. Rather, the thin layer itself is just beginning to form, which results in the formation of blocks 19 or small pieces of powder 11. The powder 11 is only partially thinned in the start-up state. In other words, the quality of the thin layer is not yet sufficient to form a dry electrode 10 from this thin layer. Therefore, it is advantageous to remove the blocks 19 or small pieces of powder 11. This is achieved by the removal device 22. The removal device 22 can be configured to remove the powder 11 from the second roller 14 and / or the third roller 15, preferably downstream of the lamination gap 18 in the direction of rotation. Additionally, the removal device 22 can be configured to wash or clean the corresponding roller when removing the powder 11 or the block 19. For this purpose, the removal device 22 can have a doctor blade 23. To remove material, i.e., the powder 11 and / or the block 19, from the corresponding roller, the removal device 22 preferably has a catcher 24. The catcher 24 can mechanically catch the material and / or suck the material.

[0064] The roller arrangement 100 of Fig. 3 further comprises a layer thickness sensor 17, which is preferably arranged upstream of the lamination gap 18 in the direction of rotation. It is also conceivable to arrange another layer thickness sensor 17 on the third roller 15 of the roller arrangement 100 of Fig. 3, since the thin layer of powder 11 is also guided on the third roller 15.

[0065] The layer thickness sensor 17 can calculate or measure the thickness of the at least partially laminated powder 11. When the thickness of the powder 11 and / or the at least partially laminated powder 11 is calculated, it can be determined or determined by the controller unit whether the calculated thickness meets a set criterion. If the calculated thickness meets the set criterion, the controller unit can trigger a signal to adjust the lamination gap 18. When adjusting the lamination gap 18, the third roller 15, in particular together with the fourth roller 16, and / or the first roller 13 and the second roller 14 can be moved relative to one another towards the current collector 12.

[0066] A roller device 100 according to one embodiment is shown schematically in side view in Figure 4. Unless otherwise noted, the roller device 100 of Figure 4 has the same elements and features as the roller device 100 of Figures 1-3.

[0067] 4, it is clear that no dry electrode 10 or thin layer has been deposited on the current collector 12. Therefore, it can be seen from this that the roller device 100 in FIG. 4 is still in the start-up mode. However, unlike FIG. 3, the powder 11 guided by the second roller 14 and the third roller 15 has formed a uniform thin layer. In other words, the roller device 100 has been driven in the start-up mode for a sufficient period of time and is therefore ready to transition to the normal operation mode. Therefore, the controller unit (not shown here) of the roller device 100 can trigger a signal to adjust the lamination gap 18 so that the thin layer of powder 11 can be deposited on the current collector 12 at this point. To adjust the lamination gap 18, the rollers can be moved in pairs, i.e., the first roller and the second roller 14 together and / or the third roller and the fourth roller 16 together, radially toward the current collector 12. By moving the roller pairs, the respective calender gaps 20 can be kept constant. In an embodiment in which the roller device 100 is asymmetric, it is conceivable, for example, to move only two rollers on one side of the current collector 12 towards the current collector 12. The corresponding roller is moved radially towards the current collector 12 until a thin layer of powder 11 can be deposited on the current collector 12. The radial movement or movements are indicated by arrows in FIG.

[0068] Figures 5 and 6 show schematic views of rollers of roller device 100 according to one embodiment. The roller shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be third roller 15. If the roller in Figures 5 and 6 were viewed in a mirror image, it could be second roller 14 of roller device 100.

[0069] As described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 , a removal device 22 can be arranged on the second roller 14, or alternatively, on the third roller 15. The removal device 22 is used, on the one hand, to remove material from the corresponding roller and, on the other hand, to clean the corresponding roller. To clean the corresponding roller, the removal device 22 can have a brush 25. The brush 25 can be a rotating brush. A cleaning device 34 can also be provided downstream of the removal device 22 in the direction of rotation of the roller. The cleaning device 34 can clean the surface of the roller in addition to the removal device 22. The cleaning device 34 can have one or more cleaning rollers 38 configured to apply a woven or nonwoven fabric to the surface of the corresponding roller or to press the fabric against the roller. This can achieve a better cleaning effect. The woven fabric can be unwound from one bobbin 33 to another via the cleaning roller 38 and then rewound. The embodiment of FIG. 6 can also be configured to apply a cleaning agent to the woven fabric and / or the surface of the corresponding roller. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, cleaning of the rollers can be performed dry.

[0070] 7-9 show schematic side views of another embodiment of a roller device 100. Unless otherwise specified, the roller device 100 of FIGS. 7-9 has the same elements and features as the roller device 100 of FIGS. 1-4.

[0071] Basically, any configuration of rollers is conceivable that allows for forming a thin layer on one or both sides of the current collector 12. It is also conceivable to produce a dry electrode 10 on only one side. In the latter case, the roller device 100 can have only three rollers. For example, only the lower three rollers of the roller device 100 of FIG. 7 are provided. In FIG. 9, four rollers can be provided to transfer the thin layer to the current collector 12. In other words, it is conceivable to provide a pressure roller unit with four pressure rollers. Thus, in the example of FIG. 9, the powder 11 to be pressed flat is guided by two second rollers 14, 14′ and similarly by two third rollers 15, 15′.

[0072] As an additional note, it should be noted that the words "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that features and steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features and steps of another embodiment described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 electrodes 11 powder 12 Current collector 13 First Roller 14 The Second Roller 15 The Third Roller 16 The Fourth Roller 17 Layer Thickness Sensor 18 Laminate Gap 19 blocks 20 Calendar Gap 22 Removal device 23 Doctor Blade 24 Capture device 25 brushes 26 Shaking device 28 Removal unit 30 Edge Sections 33 Bobbin 34 Cleaning device 38 Cleaning roller 100 Roller device

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a dry electrode (10) on a current collector (12) using a roller apparatus (100), the roller apparatus (100) comprising at least three rollers (13, 14, 15) and a current collector (12) disposed between a second roller (14) and a third roller (15) of the at least three rollers, the method comprising: rotating a first roller (13) and a second roller (14) of the at least three rollers in opposite rotational directions; a step of shaking powder (11) into a calender gap (20) formed by the rotating first roller (13) and the rotating second roller (14) and guiding the powder (11) in the second roller (14); triggering a signal using a controller unit to adjust a lamination gap (18) between the second roller (14) and the third roller (15), and moving the third roller (15) and / or the first roller (13) and the second roller (14) relative to each other towards the current collector (12); rotating at least the third roller (15) of the at least three rollers in a counter-rotating direction relative to the second roller (14); moving the current collector (12) through the lamination gap (18); Including, The lamination gap (18) is adjusted so that the powder (11) is deposited on the current collector (12) as a thin layer to form the dry electrode (10); The method further comprises a step of removing the powder (11) guided in the second roller (14) by a removal device (22) arranged downstream of the lamination gap (18) in the direction of rotation, calculating, using the removal device (22) arranged on the second roller (14), how much powder (11) has been removed from the second roller (14), and triggering, using the controller unit, the signal based on the calculated amount of powder removed. method.

2. The method further comprises: Calculating the thickness of the thin layer of powder (11) on the second roller (14); and triggering a signal by the controller unit based on the calculated thickness; The method of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:

3. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speeds of the first roller (13), the second roller (14), and the third roller (15) and / or the running speed of the current collector (12) are controlled by the controller unit.

4. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when removing the guided powder (11) at the second roller (14), the powder (11) is captured and / or sucked by the removal device (22).

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a signal for adjusting the lamination gap (18) between the second roller (14) and the third roller (15) is triggered after a predetermined time.

6. The method further comprises: Calculating the amount of powder shaken into the calender gap (20), calculating the rotations made by said second roller (14); triggering a signal by said controller unit based on the calculated powder amount and / or the calculated rotations made by said second roller (14); The method of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:

7. A roller apparatus (100) for producing a dry electrode (10) on a current collector (12), comprising: A controller unit; at least three rollers; a current collector (12) configured to capture the thin layer of powder (11) and disposed within a lamination gap (18), wherein the lamination gap (18) defines a spacing between a first roller (13) and a second roller (14) of the at least three rollers; a shaking device (26) configured to shake the powder (11) into a calender gap (20) defining the spacing between the first roller (13) and the second roller (14); a removal device (22) configured to remove the powder (11) guided in the second roller (14) and arranged downstream of the lamination gap (18) in the direction of rotation; Equipped with the controller unit is configured to trigger a signal to adjust the lamination gap (18); the removal device (22) arranged on the second roller (14) is configured to calculate how much powder (11) has been removed from the second roller (14), and the controller unit is configured to trigger the signal based on the calculated amount of powder removal. Roller device (100).

8. 8. The roller device (100) of claim 7, further comprising a layer thickness sensor (17) configured to calculate the thickness of the thin layer of powder (11) at the second roller (14).

9. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a controller unit of a roller device (100) according to claim 7 or 8 to carry out at least part steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer-readable medium storing the computer program of claim 9.

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