Apparatus and method for manufacturing electrodes

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (2) for producing electrodes (4), in particular for lithium-ion battery cells, comprising a belt conveyor (8) with a belt (10) and having a first recess (24) extending in a belt transverse direction (Q) on a rest surface (22) of the belt (10), and a laser cutting device (14) for cutting a strip-shaped electrode sheet (6) resting on the belt (10) in the region of the first recess (24). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing electrodes (4), in particular by using the apparatus (2).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing electrodes for lithium-ion battery cells, the apparatus comprising a belt conveyor and a laser cutting device. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing electrodes, in particular using the apparatus.

[0002] Electrically powered vehicles typically have a traction battery (high-voltage battery, or HV battery) that supplies energy to the electric motor that drives the vehicle. Electrically powered vehicles are understood here to mean, in particular, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), in which the energy required for driving is stored exclusively in the traction battery, range extended electric vehicles (REEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and / or fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), in which the electric energy generated by a fuel cell is temporarily stored in the traction battery.

[0003] Such traction batteries, configured as lithium-ion batteries, have at least one battery cell, which itself includes at least one anode and at least one cathode. To produce such an anode or such a cathode, a coating containing an active material is typically applied to a sheet-like, strip-shaped electrode sheet, particularly on both sides. The coating is then compressed by at least one pair of rollers of a calender. Following compression, the coated electrode sheet is cut and / or shredded to form individual anodes or individual cathodes.

[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-136437 discloses an apparatus with a belt conveyor for separating electrodes from an electrode sheet that is intermittently coated in the longitudinal direction. The electrode sheet is then cut to length, forming contact areas (contact flanges, conductor track pieces) in the areas without the coating. The belt of the belt conveyor, made of steel plate, has through holes that prevent a cutting tool from acting on the belt during the cutting process.

[0005] Furthermore, methods are known in which a strip of electrode sheet is continuously coated and provided with uncoated areas for contact areas (conductor tracks) in the transverse direction (of the electrode sheet). However, when the contact areas are first cut out ("notching"), there is a risk that the cut-out contact areas will break or bend when the electrode sheet is deflected and / or wound onto a storage roller, especially at relatively high transport speeds and / or if the electrode sheet is relatively thin. For this reason, the contact areas are stamped to increase their bending stiffness.

[0006] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing electrodes for lithium-ion batteries that are particularly suitable, in particular by means of which the electrode production is as time-saving as possible and / or damage to the belt of the belt conveyor is avoided.

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved, with respect to the device, by the features of claim 1. The object of the present invention is achieved, with respect to the method, by the features of claim 9. Advantageous configurations and developments are the subject of the respective dependent claims, whereby statements made regarding the device equally apply to the method and vice versa.

[0008] The apparatus is provided and configured for producing electrodes for lithium-ion battery cells. Such electrodes include a sheet-like substrate, hereinafter also referred to as an electrode sheet. The substrate is formed, for example, as a metal sheet, in particular an aluminum sheet or a copper sheet, or as a coated plastic sheet or a carbon sheet. Preferably, the electrode sheet has a first portion, preferably on both sides, with a coating containing an active material. Furthermore, such electrodes include contact portions that allow electrical connection to another electrode, a cell conductor, or the like.

[0009] The device in this case comprises a belt conveyor with a belt, also referred to as a strip or transport belt, which is particularly preferably configured as a vacuum belt conveyor, where the belt preferably has through-holes or perforations so that a negative pressure can be created on the bearing surface of the belt on which the articles to be transported (here, coated electrode sheets and / or electrodes) rest, and the articles can be accordingly fixed to the belt.

[0010] In this case, the belt has a first recess on its support surface (outer surface, upper surface) that extends in the belt transverse direction. The recess does not penetrate the belt, but is formed in the shape of a groove or a seam. For example, the depth of the recess is in the range of 1 / 4 to 3 / 4 of the belt thickness. For example, the depth of the recess is in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

[0011] In this case, the transverse direction of the belt is to be understood as the direction oriented perpendicular to the running direction (conveying direction, longitudinal direction) of the belt, i.e. perpendicular to the normal to the plane extending over the belt.

[0012] Preferably, the belt has a plurality of first recesses spaced at equal intervals from one another in the longitudinal direction of the belt, in which case the spacing between the first recesses defines the width of the electrode to be manufactured.

[0013] The apparatus further includes a laser cutting device (laser beam cutting device) for cutting the electrode sheet, which is placed on a belt and transported by a belt conveyor, in the region of the first recess, particularly along the first recess. That is, the electrode sheet is cut along the recess. In other words, the laser beam generated by the laser cutting device is guided along the recess during cutting.

[0014] The laser beam is preferably directed towards the mounting surface, i.e. the laser cutting device is directed towards a recess in the mounting surface.

[0015] The laser cutting device may, for example, be a laser scanner or include multiple laser scanners. Alternatively, the laser cutting device may be a polygon laser scanner.

[0016] The device can produce electrodes by cutting, i.e., cutting, the coated electrode sheet to a predetermined length along a cross section extending transversely of the belt corresponding to the first recess. The laser cutting device is therefore adjusted and / or oriented so that cutting of the electrode sheet occurs through the recess. That is, the recess causes the point at which the laser beam impinges on the electrode sheet to be spaced apart from the belt. In summary, the first recess advantageously prevents the laser beam from impinging on the belt, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the belt and / or welding the electrode to the belt.

[0017] Compared to the prior art described in JP 2013-136437 A, mentioned at the outset, in which through holes are introduced into the belt, the present invention also provides a particularly stable belt. The increased stability of the belt conveyor reduces height variations in the processing plane and therefore leads to a more uniform quality of the cut edge.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the belt has an L-shaped or step-shaped second recess. The second recess is provided for cutting out the electrode contact portion from the electrode sheet using a laser cutting device. In other words, the second recess is used for "notching." In this case, a first portion of the second recess extends from the first recess in the longitudinal direction of the belt, i.e., transversely to the first recess. A second portion of the second recess extends parallel to the first recess toward the side edge of the belt, i.e., from the center of the belt to the outside in the transverse direction of the belt.

[0019] The second recess is preferably arranged eccentrically in the belt, i.e. with the belt transverse direction offset relative to the belt mid-plane.

[0020] When the second recess is L-shaped, the second recess is formed from a first portion as a vertical leg of the L-shape and a second portion as a horizontal leg of the L-shape.When the second recess is stepped, the second recess is formed from a first portion and a second portion similar to the L-shape, and a third portion extending from a free end of the second portion to an end of another adjacent first recess.

[0021] Preferably, the belt includes a plurality of second recesses, and the first portions of these second recesses each extend from one of the first recesses.

[0022] In summary, the first recess and the second recess are formed in combination, in other words the first recess and the second recess, and possibly further first recesses and further second recesses, form a common recess in the belt without interruptions.

[0023] In summary, the conveyed article, i.e., the electrode sheet in this case, is cut so that the contact portions of the electrodes protrude in the transverse direction of the belt. For this purpose, a continuously coated electrode sheet is preferably used, which has non-coated areas for the contact portions on its end sides in the transverse direction of the belt.

[0024] Preferably, a laser cutting device is additionally provided and arranged to cut the conveyed article in the area of ​​the second recess, in particular along the second recess.

[0025] That is, it is particularly advantageous that the transverse cut, i.e., cutting the electrode sheet to length and cutting out the contact portions, are both performed on the belt by a laser cutting device. Compared to methods and devices in which the contact portions are cut out first and then the electrode sheet is wound up and subsequently fed to a separate device for cutting to length, in the present invention, the relative positions of the cutting of the contact portions and the transverse cut, and therefore the relative positions of the electrode ends in the longitudinal direction of the belt, are already determined by the common cutting process by the laser cutting device. Undesirable deviations from the set relative positions are therefore advantageously avoided. Furthermore, since the step of winding the electrode sheet onto a storage roller after notching is no longer present when cutting to length and cutting out the contact portions in a common cutting process, it is advantageously possible to avoid stamping the contact portions or the uncoated areas of the electrode sheet.

[0026] According to an advantageous configuration of the device, the belt has a layer structure with a support layer and a bearing layer for the electrode sheets. In particular, the belt is formed on the basis of a layer structure.

[0027] In this case, the support layer is preferably made of metal, metal alloy, or glass fiber, or contains at least one of these materials, so that the belt has a relatively high shape stability. Additionally or alternatively, a material having a relatively low absorption coefficient for the laser radiation used or being completely transparent is used for the support layer. The support layer forms the support surface of the belt, in other words, the support layer is arranged on the outside of the belt and faces the laser cutting device.

[0028] For example, the layer structure may include a separate lower layer, with the support layer disposed between the support layer and the lower layer. The lower layer is optional. Preferably, the material used for the lower layer is relatively wear-resistant, flexible, thermally stable, and / or easily cleanable. Suitable materials include, for example, thermoplastics. The lower layer thus formed offers tribological advantages, particularly with regard to higher adhesion strength, so that slippage at the drive rollers does not occur or is at least significantly reduced. Furthermore, the lower layer reduces or can reduce wear on the belt, particularly wear on the support layer, resulting in higher running stability and / or reducing or can reduce noise levels.

[0029] The first and / or second recesses are suitably formed by groove-like cutouts in the support layer, for example, cutouts that penetrate the support layer in the normal direction of the belt, and are therefore particularly shape-stable since they are not formed by the support layer.

[0030] According to a preferred development, markings are arranged on the belt for determining the positions of the first recesses and / or the second recesses for the cutting process by the laser cutting device. Preferably, one marking is arranged on the belt for each first recess, with each marking having the same relative position with respect to each corresponding first recess. Thus, the markings are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the belt.

[0031] Preferably, the marking(s) are arranged on the edge side, i.e., on the outer side in the lateral direction of the belt, particularly on the support layer, so that the marking(s) are not obscured by the electrode layer when the electrode sheet is transported.

[0032] The marking is for example a pattern on the belt, in particular a QR code, or the structure of the belt, in particular the hole pattern of the belt.

[0033] Based on the marking(s), it is advantageously possible to determine and, if necessary, correct slippage of the electrode sheet relative to the belt conveyor, which is caused in particular by feeding the electrode sheet onto the belt conveyor, in order to avoid unevenness in the width of the electrodes to be produced, i.e., expansion of the electrodes in the longitudinal direction of the belt.

[0034] According to an advantageous development, the device comprises a receiving unit that is driven in rotation and receives the electrodes from the belt. Due to the driven in rotation receiving unit, a relatively quick receiving of the electrodes can be realized, which advantageously increases the production rate.

[0035] For example, the receiving unit is configured as a paddle wheel, to which electrodes are supplied for belt conveyor purposes.

[0036] Alternatively, the receiving unit includes one, preferably two or more, grippers or suckers that can remove electrodes transported by the belt from the belt. In this case, the grippers or suckers can move on a circular path about a common (first) axis of rotation. Preferably, each gripper or sucker can also rotate about another (second) axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation. Depending on the rotation of each gripper or sucker, its speed can be adapted to the speed of the belt conveyor.

[0037] Due to the respective second axis of rotation, no driving forces act on the electrodes, since they rest at their locations without slippage, which is advantageously achieved even with a relatively high placement accuracy.

[0038] According to a preferred configuration, downstream of the cutting zone provided for laser cutting, the belt is deflected by a storage unit in the range of 90° to 180°, in particular by 135°, to form a removal zone for removing the electrodes. In other words, the direction of movement of the belt in the cutting zone is inclined by a deflection roller, in particular of the belt conveyor, in the range of 90° to 180°, in particular by 135°, relative to the direction of movement of the belt in the removal zone. This advantageously allows both removal of the electrodes from the belt and stacking or storage of the electrodes in a magazine using a rotating storage unit with grippers or suckers.

[0039] In a preferred configuration, a channel extends from the first recess and / or the second recess for conveying the ablation products of the laser cutting process to the underside of the belt. The recesses therefore have a dual function: on the one hand, they are used to avoid laser action on the belt, and on the other hand, they are used for conveying the ablation products of the laser cutting process.

[0040] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing electrodes configured as a "roll-to-sheet process", i.e., in which individual electrodes (electrode sheets) are produced from a strip of coated electrode sheet unwound from a storage roll. Preferably, for this purpose, an apparatus configured as one of the above-mentioned variants having a first recess and a second recess is used.

[0041] In this case, the electrode sheet is continuously coated and has non-coated areas for contact portions on the end sides in the lateral direction of the electrode sheet.

[0042] According to the method, the electrode sheet is fed after unwinding onto a belt conveyor, in particular configured as a vacuum belt conveyor, so that the electrode sheet is placed on the belt of the belt conveyor and transported by the belt conveyor, with the electrode strips not protruding beyond the belt in the transverse direction.

[0043] Furthermore, both the contour cuts to form the electrode contacts and the transverse cuts to separate the electrodes from the electrode sheet are performed using a laser beam, with the corresponding cut areas of the electrode sheet being positioned completely on the belt.

[0044] As already shown in connection with the device, cutting to length and notching in a common cutting process fixedly defines the relative position of the contact portion to the coated area, preventing any relative displacement of these areas, and stamping of the uncoated areas of the electrode sheet or contact portion is no longer necessary.

[0045] According to one preferred configuration of the method, the electrodes are removed from the belt by a rotationally driven storage unit, in particular a storage unit according to one of the variants indicated in connection with the device.

[0046] Thus, removal of the electrodes from the belt and, if necessary, stacking or storing the electrodes in a magazine is possible relatively quickly.

[0047] A further advantage of the present invention, i.e., the device and method, is that the electrode strip and belt conveyor can move continuously and preferably at a constant transport speed, thus increasing the process rate compared to stop-and-go methods.

[0048] In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrode manufacturing apparatus that includes a belt conveyor that transports an electrode sheet, a laser cutting device that cuts the electrode sheet while forming electrodes, and a storage unit that is driven to rotate and removes the electrodes from the belt conveyor. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a belt of a belt conveyor according to a first variant, the belt having recesses extending in the belt transverse direction. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic plan view of a belt of a belt conveyor according to a second variant, which additionally has second recesses extending in a stepped manner. [Figure 4a] 4 is a diagram showing a schematic cross section of the belt taken along the cutting plane IVa-IVa of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 4b] 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section of the belt taken along the cutting plane IVb-IVb in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method flow for manufacturing an electrode using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the belt shown in FIG. 3 . [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coated electrode sheet and electrodes cut from the electrode sheet.

[0050] Corresponding parts and quantities are always given the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0051] 1 shows a schematic side view of an apparatus 2 for producing an electrode 4 for a lithium-ion battery cell. The apparatus 2 is configured here to produce at least one electrode, preferably a plurality of electrodes, from a strip-shaped electrode sheet 6 (see also FIG. 6) in a roll-to-sheet process.

[0052] The device 2 has a belt conveyor 8 configured as a vacuum belt conveyor, whose belt 10 is guided and / or driven by deflection rollers 12. Furthermore, the device 2 comprises a laser cutting device 14 for cutting the electrode sheet 6 that is placed on the belt 10 and transported thereon. In this case, the device 2 comprises, to the side of the laser cutting device relative to the belt 10, a suction device 16 for removing ablation products that arise during the cutting process. The belt is shown in FIG. 1 by a dashed line in order to better visualize the electrode sheet 6.

[0053] 2 and 3 show a schematic plan view of a first or second variant of the belt 10. In both variants, the belt 10 has penetrating vacuum channels 18, which allow a negative pressure to be generated on the support surface 22 of the belt 10 using a pump 20, compressor, or the like, thereby fixing the electrode sheet 6 or electrode 4 onto the belt 10. Furthermore, both variants have in common that the belt 10 has, on its support surface 22, a plurality of first recesses 24 extending in the belt transverse direction Q. In this case, the first recesses 24 are arranged at equal intervals on the belt 10, and the width b of the electrode 4 to be manufactured is determined based on the spacing between the first recesses 24.

[0054] In a second variant of the belt 10 according to Fig. 3, in addition to the first recesses 24, several second recesses 26 are provided. Each of the second recesses 26 is formed in a stepped manner. In this case, each second recess 26 extends from one of the first recesses 24 to the first recess 24 adjacent to this first recess 24. In this case, the first portion 26a of each second recess 26 starts from the respective first recess 24 and extends in the longitudinal belt direction L of the belt 10. The second portion 26b of each second recess 26 starts from the end of the first portion 26a remote from the first recess 24 and extends in the transverse belt direction Q away from the central plane of the belt 10. In summary, the first portion 26a and the second portion 26b form an L-shaped recess, with the first portion 26a forming the vertical leg of the L and the second portion 26b forming the horizontal leg of the L. In this case, the first portion 26a extends continuously from the first recess 24 to the second portion 26b.

[0055] The third portion 26c of the second recess 26 extends in the belt longitudinal direction L while forming a stepped shape of the second recess 26, and extends from the end of the second portion 26b farther from the first portion 26a to the adjacent first recess 24. Here, the third portion 26c is an optional feature. In particular, the third portion 26c has a height h of the uncoated portion 28 of the electrode sheet 6. B is the set height h of the contact portion 30 K In other words, the electrode sheet transverse direction Q E 6. In the case where the contact portion 30 extends in the direction of the arrow .theta.

[0056] In this case, the first recesses 24 and the second recesses 26 form a periodically repeated pattern in the belt longitudinal direction L, along which the laser cutting device 14 cuts the electrode sheet 6 transported by the belt 10. In other words, the electrode sheet 6 is particularly cut by the laser cutting device 14 in predetermined areas, particularly along the first and second recesses, while forming electrodes. The first recesses 24 extending in the belt transverse direction Q are provided in this case for transverse cutting, i.e., cutting the electrode sheet 6 to a predetermined length. Correspondingly, the second recesses 26 are provided for cutting out the contact portions 30 of each electrode 4. Due to the recesses 24, 26, the electrode sheet 6 is spaced from the belt 10 in the areas where the electrode sheet 6 is cut by the laser cutting device 14, so that the laser beam output from the laser cutting device 14 does not impinge on the belt 10.

[0057] As can be seen in particular from Figures 4a and 4b, the belt 10 has a layer structure including a support layer 32 made of a metal, alloy, glass fiber, or a material with a very low absorption coefficient for the laser radiation used or a material that is completely transparent. On one side of the support layer is arranged a mounting layer 34, which in this case forms the mounting surface 22 of the belt on which the electrode sheet 6 rests during transport. On the other side of the support layer 32 is arranged an optional lower layer 36, which contacts the deflection roller 12.

[0058] The first recess 24 and the second recess 26 are formed in a groove shape. That is, the first recess 24 and the second recess 26 extend from the mounting surface 22 toward the (belt) lower surface 38. That is, the first recess 24 and the second recess 26 are each formed using a groove-shaped cutout portion 40 in the mounting layer 34. In other words, the first recess 24 and the second recess 26 each extend only inside the mounting layer 34.

[0059] Furthermore, from the recesses 24, 26, a channel 42 extends through the belt BD, i.e. through the support layer and the bottom layer, said channel 42 being used to carry away the ablation products of the laser cutting process.

[0060] For cutting the electrode sheet 6, markings 44 are arranged in the edge region of the belt 10, one for each first recess 24. The markings 44 are formed here, for example, as QR codes, and are used to determine the position of the first recesses 24 for the cutting process, since the recesses 24, 26 are covered by the electrode sheet 6. The laser cutting device 14 therefore includes a detection unit (not shown in detail), for example a camera, and an evaluation unit, by means of which the position of the first recesses 24, 26 and thus the orientation or direction of the laser beam generated by the laser beam device 14 for cutting are adjusted.

[0061] 1, the belt 10 is deflected by a deflection roller 12 at an angle ranging from 90° to 180°, for example, about 135°, downstream of a cutting region 46 where the electrode sheet 6 is cut. This forms a receiving region 48 into which a rotationally driven receiving unit 50 can receive the electrodes 4 from the belt 10.

[0062] The storage unit 50 stores the stored electrodes 4 in a magazine 58 and stacks them.

[0063] The receiving unit 50 includes a plurality of grippers or suckers 60, which remove the electrodes 4 transported by the belt 10. The grippers or suckers 60 can move on a circular track around a common first rotation axis R1 (pivot axis). Additionally, each of the grippers / suckers can also rotate around a second rotation axis R2 that is parallel to the first rotation axis R1 and extends on the circular track. The speed of each gripper / sucker can be adapted to the speed of the belt 10 by rotating around the second rotation axis R2. In this case, the first rotation axis R1 of the receiving unit 50 is always parallel to the transverse belt direction Q of the belt 10. FIG. 1 shows only one direction of rotation around the second rotation axis R2 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). Preferably, each gripper / sucker is rotatable in two directions of rotation about a second axis of rotation R2.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart summarizing a method for manufacturing the electrode 4 using the above-described apparatus configured as a roll-to-sheet.

[0065] Here, in the first step I, a strip-shaped electrode sheet 6 (see FIG. 6) is unwound from a storage roller 52 by a unwinding device 54 and supplied to a belt conveyor 8.

[0066] The strip-shaped electrode sheet 6 is transported on the belt 10 of the belt conveyor 8 in the transport direction F to the cutting area 46, where a laser cutting device 14 performs both contour cuts to form the contact portions 30 of each electrode 4 and transverse cuts to separate each electrode 4 from the electrode sheet 6 (Step II.). In this case, the belt 10 is preferably moved at a constant speed.

[0067] Since the electrode sheet 6 does not protrude beyond the belt 10 in the belt cross direction Q, the corresponding cutting areas for the cross cuts and the contour cuts to form the contact portions 30 are located entirely on the belt.

[0068] Residues of the electrode sheet 6 remaining from the cutting are removed from the belt conveyor 8 via a cleaning concept not shown.

[0069] The cut electrodes 4 are then transported from the cutting area 46 to the storage area 48, where they are removed from the belt 10 by a rotationally driven storage unit 50, and then stored and stacked in a magazine 58 by the storage unit 50 (Step III.).

[0070] 6 shows a schematic plan view of a coated electrode sheet 6 and an electrode 4 cut from the electrode sheet 6 in accordance with the apparatus 2 and / or method. The strip-shaped electrode sheet 6 preferably has a first region 62 coated on both sides. In the first region 62, the electrode sheet 6 is aligned in the longitudinal direction L of the electrode strip. E The electrode sheet 6 is coated continuously, i.e., without interruptions, in the longitudinal direction L of the electrode strip. E Electrode sheet oriented perpendicular to the lateral direction Q E (Electrode strip lateral direction Q E ) has an uncoated area 28 provided for forming the contact portion 30. After transverse cutting along the first recess 24 and contour cutting along the second recess 26, the electrode 4 having the contact portion 30 and the coating portion 56 is formed, i.e., manufactured.

[0071] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but rather those skilled in the art can derive other variants of the invention from these embodiments without departing from the subject matter of the invention. Moreover, all individual features described in particular in relation to the embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 2 equipment 4 electrodes 6 Electrode sheet 8. Belt conveyor 10 Belt 12 Deflecting roller 14 Laser cutting equipment 16 Suction device 18 vacuum channels 20 Pump 22 Belt rest surface 24 First recess 26 Second recess 26a: First portion of second recess 26b Second portion of second recess 26c Third portion of second recess 28 Uncoated area of ​​electrode sheet 30 Contact part 32 Support layer 34 Overlying layer 36 layers 38 Underside of belt 40 Notch 42 channels 44 Marking 46 Cutting area 48 Containment Area 50 Containment Units 52 Storage Roller 54 Payout device 56 Coated part of electrode 58 Magazine 60 Grippers / Soccer 62 Coated area of ​​electrode sheet b Electrode width F Conveying direction h K Contact height h B Height of the uncoated area of ​​the electrode sheet L Belt longitudinal direction L E Electrode sheet longitudinal direction Q Belt lateral direction R1 First rotation axis R2 Second rotation axis I. Transporting the electrodes II. Cutting the electrode sheet III. Storing and placing the electrodes

Claims

1. An apparatus (2) for manufacturing an electrode (4), comprising: a belt conveyor (8) comprising a belt (10) and having a first recess (24) extending in the belt transverse direction (Q) on the bearing surface (22) of the belt (10) and not penetrating the belt (10); a laser cutting device (14) for cutting the electrode sheet (6) resting on the belt (10) in the area of ​​the first recess (24); Equipped with The belt (10) has a layer structure having a support layer (32) and a mounting layer (34) for the electrode sheet, The first recess (24) is formed using a groove-shaped notch (40) in the mounting layer (34). Device (2).

2. The belt (10) has an L-shaped or stepped second recess (26) for cutting out the contact portion (30) by the laser cutting device (14); a first portion (26a) of the second recess (26) extending in the belt longitudinal direction (L) from the first recess (24), and a second portion (26b) of the second recess (26) extending parallel to the first recess (24) toward the side edge of the belt; 2. The device (2) according to claim 1.

3. An apparatus (2) as described in claim 2, wherein the second recess (26) is formed using a groove-shaped cutout portion (40) in the mounting layer (34).

4. The apparatus (2) of claim 1, wherein markings (44) are disposed on the belt (10) for determining the location of the first recesses (24) for a cutting process by the laser cutting device.

5. 2. The device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the device (2) comprises a receiving unit (50) driven in rotation to receive the electrodes (4) from the belt (10).

6. 6. The apparatus (2) according to claim 5, wherein the belt (10) is deflected in the range of 90° to 180° downstream of the cutting region (46) to form a receiving region (48) for receiving the electrode (4) by the receiving unit (50).

7. The apparatus (2) according to claim 2, wherein a channel (42) for conveying ablation products of the cutting process by the laser cutting device to the underside of the belt extends continuously from the first recess (24) and / or the second recess (26).

8. 10. A method for producing an electrode (4) from an electrode sheet (6) using an apparatus (2) according to claim 2 configured as a roll-to-sheet process, comprising the steps of: - A strip-shaped electrode sheet (6) is transported on the belt (10) of the belt conveyor (8), - both the contour cuts for forming the contact portions of the electrodes (4) and the transverse cuts for separating the electrodes (4) from the electrode sheet (6) are performed using a laser beam, with the cut areas of the electrode sheet (6) being completely positioned on the belt (10); method.

9. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the electrodes (4) are removed from the belt (10) by means of a rotary driven receiving unit (50).

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