Apparatus and method for separating a stack of electrodes from a workpiece support

Abstract

An apparatus serves for separating a stack of electrodes from a workpiece support by pressurized fluid, which is introduced into the workpiece support. At least one opening of a respective fluid channel is provided on one or more side surfaces of the workpiece support. Each fluid channel has at least one outlet on an upper side surface of the workpiece support, the upper side surface supporting the stack of electrodes. The fluid is blown in a controlled manner into the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel. A lifting tool serves for lifting off the stack of electrodes following separation of the stack of electrodes from the upper side surface of the workpiece support.

Description

[0001] Device and method for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier

[0002] Description

[0003] background

[0004] Disclosed here is a device and a method for separating a module or a precursor to a module from a workpiece carrier. These modules or precursors of modules can, in particular, be electrode stacks containing layered material, for example, fuel or battery cells. Details are defined in the claims. The description also contains relevant information on the structure and mode of operation, as well as on variants of the device and method.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] WO 2012 / 017336 A1 relates to a device for unloading sheet materials from a work surface, on which sections with patterns or lettering are depicted. This device is connected to a loading magazine in which the sheet materials are stacked, to means for transferring a sheet material located in the first position of the stack from the loading magazine to the work surface, to a cutting unit that cooperates with the work surface to cut the sheet material lying thereon, and to at least one collecting magazine. The work surface is defined by zones, each having at least one first opening. The first openings can be selectively connected to a compressed air source. A horizontally arranged plate is divided into sections, each having a second opening opening on the lower surface of the plate. These second openings can be selectively connected to a suction source.Drive means for vertically and horizontally moving the plate define a first position in which the lower surface of the plate adheres to the sheet located on the work surface and a second position in which the plate is located above the collecting magazine.A control of the drive means, the compressed air source, and the suction source is provided to connect the suction source to at least a fraction of the second openings facing the sheet material in order to assume the first position, and to connect the compressed air source to a portion of the first openings covered by the sheet material, in order to subsequently effect the lifting of the plate, which occurs with the separation of the first openings from the compressed air source, with a consequent adhesion of the sheet material to the plate, in order to arrange the plate in the second position, and finally to separate the second openings from the suction source, with the consequent detachment of the sheet material from the plate. EP 2 583 787 B1 relates to a workpiece positioning device. This device has a workpiece holder for holding a battery cell pack containing unit batteries accommodated in an outer pack.A workpiece holder lifting / lowering mechanism is used to lift and lower the workpiece holder. A pallet free movement mechanism has an air ejection device for lifting a pallet from a platform and freely moving the pallet lifted from the platform parallel to an upper surface of the platform. Thus, the pallet lifted from the platform is moved to a position where the workpiece held by the workpiece holder is lowered, so that a positioning pin of the pallet is inserted into a positioning hole in the outer package of the workpiece. The upper surface is a reference plane, and a plurality of air outlets are formed in the reference plane. A plurality of air supply channels and air exhaust channels are formed in the platform. The pallet, on which the workpiece is placed, is placed on a platform of a device for a subsequent process.The pallet free movement mechanism is used to lift the pallet by expelling air from an opening formed in the upper surface of the platform.

[0007] DE 20 2010 005 241 U1 relates to an air table for transporting a stack of sheet-like material. This table has a cover plate with openings penetrating it, forming a transport plane, a support plate connected to the cover plate, and a gap extending between the cover plate and the support plate, which gap can be connected to a compressed air source. A porous material through which the compressed air can flow is arranged between the compressed air source and outlets of the openings on the side of the transport plane. One or more flat elements made of the porous material, each assigned to a plurality of openings, are arranged in the gap. Flat elements close the gap between the cover plate and the support plate vertically. Flat elements assigned to a plurality of openings are cut out in the area of ​​the openings.The flat elements arranged in the intermediate space form channels through which the compressed air can flow, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the intermediate space.

[0008] The modules or precursors to modules discussed here form stacks of layered material containing fuel or battery cells. This layered material is a film coated with electrode material, is extremely fragile and tears very easily. After the individual layers have been stacked on the workpiece carrier, each stack of layered material is laminated by applying heat and pressure to bond the individual layers together. After this lamination process, the stacks are occasionally difficult to remove from the surface of a workpiece carrier on which the lamination process took place. This also applies to surfaces with a non-stick coating. If the bottom layer of the stack adheres too tightly to the surface, there is a risk that the stack will be torn apart when the stack is lifted from above, for example, using a vacuum gripper.One reason for this is that the individual layers are made of very thin foils to which the electrode material is attached.

[0009] EP 2 583 787 B1 relates to a workpiece positioning device and a method for producing a workpiece. The workpiece positioning device comprises a platform 100 in which air supply channels 101 and air exhaust channels 102 are formed. The air supply channels 101 have openings in the side surfaces of the platform 100. This platform 100 is configured to receive a pallet 300, on which the battery cell pack 200 is placed. While the battery cell pack 200 is being placed on the pallet 300 by a robot arm, air is directed from the air exhaust channels 102, whereby the pallet 300 can be slightly lifted and moved freely relative to the battery cell pack 200 to be placed. A production line using the workpiece positioning device is also addressed here.The document depicts the platforms 100 as upstream and downstream production lines on which the individual pallets 300 and subsequently the battery cell packs 200 are placed. The platform 100 forms part of the conveyor line and thus represents, at most, part of a conveyor system. The workpiece positioning device shown in the document has air exhaust ducts on a side surface of the platform supporting the pallet.

[0010] DE 38 00 907 C2 relates to a method for unstacking sheets, wherein the sheets are lifted from the stack of sheets lying on the base element by suction cups. Furthermore, a plate is disclosed that is movable between an advanced position, in which it is located between the base element and the associated upper element comprising the suction cups, and a return position, in which it is located between a bed and the conveyor. This plate comprises compressed air-controlled lifting pistons that can protrude from the upper side of the plate.

[0011] DE 10 2018 221 571 A1 discloses a method and a device for producing an electrode stack of anodes and cathodes for a lithium-ion battery. Sheet-like cathodes from a first magazine and sheet-like anodes from a second magazine are stacked alternately in a chamber and pressed to the bottom of the chamber by an air stream, thereby increasing the descent speed of the anodes and cathodes. The documents cited above do not provide satisfactory examples or indications for the efficient separation of an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier in a continuous or intermittent process embedded in a production line.

[0012] Technical problem

[0013] Based on this situation, a cost-effective and robust device arrangement and a procedure for separating an electrode stack from an upper side surface of a workpiece carrier at high processing speed are to be provided.

[0014] Proposed solution

[0015] To solve this problem, a device and a method for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier (separation device) according to the independent claims are proposed. The electrode stack is separated from the workpiece carrier using pressurized fluid that is introduced into the workpiece carrier. For this purpose, at least one opening of a respective fluid channel is provided on one or more side surfaces of the workpiece carrier. Each fluid channel has at least one outlet on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier supporting the electrode stack. Through this at least one outlet, pressurized fluid can spread between the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier and the lowermost layer of the electrode stack.The solution presented here provides that, for example, in a station between two consecutive transport lines, the fluid is blown into at least one opening of at least one fluid channel in a controlled manner. The electrode stack, which was previously laminated to the workpiece carrier under the influence of pressure and temperature in a preceding process step, is thus separated safely, quickly and intact from the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier in such a way that a lifter, for example a vacuum gripper to be positioned above the electrode stack and which engages the upper side of the electrode stack in a controlled manner, can safely lift the electrode stack after the fluid has been blown in to separate the electrode stack from the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier.

[0016] In one variant, the workpiece carrier has a carrier plate in which at least one opening of the respective fluid channel and at least one outlet of the respective fluid channel are incorporated on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier supporting the electrode stack. The fluid channels themselves can also be provided in the carrier plate.

[0017] In another variant, a support plate for the electrode stack is detachably arranged on the support plate of the workpiece carrier. At least one opening of the respective fluid channel and at least one outlet of the respective fluid channel are incorporated into the support plate. The fluid channels themselves can also be provided in the support plate.

[0018] The carrier plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier can be coated with a layer of temperature-resistant non-stick coating. This non-stick coating can be, for example, a fluoropolymer coating, which forms a highly wear-resistant, smooth functional surface with permanent transport and sliding properties. One example of such a non-stick coating is Protec 9005 from Inometa GmbH, 32052 Herford, Germany (www.inometa.de).

[0019] In one variant, the carrier plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier is approximately rectangular in plan view and has several openings on one or both longitudinal edges and / or on one or both transverse edges (depending on the dimensions of the electrode stack, for example, approximately 4-8). These openings lead into respective fluid channels, each of which has several outlets. For example, each of the fluid channels has approximately 4-8 outlets, depending on the dimensions of the electrode stack. The more outlets pressurized fluid flows out of, the faster it detaches the electrode stack from the carrier plate of the workpiece carrier or its receiving plate.

[0020] In particular, one variant provides that, for the rapid separation of the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier, at least one opening of the respective fluid channel for the controlled injection of fluid is arranged on at least one longitudinal or transverse edge of an edge of the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier. In one variant, the carrier plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier is approximately cuboid-shaped and has the openings in the region of the longitudinal edges and the transverse edges of the upper side surface. The openings open into the respective fluid channels, which bring the fluid to the respective multiple outlet(s) on the upper side surface of the carrier plate or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier.

[0021] Other variants of the workpiece carrier have openings in the area of ​​one of the longitudinal edges of the upper side surface and / or one of the transverse edges of the upper side surface. Other variants have openings in the long side surfaces and / or the short side surfaces. Other variants have openings in the area of ​​one or both of the longitudinal edges of the lower side surface or one or both of the transverse edges of the lower side surface.

[0022] The planned number, spatial arrangement, and any interconnections of the fluid channels depend, among other things, on the speed at which the fluid is to spread between the upper side surface and the bottom layer of the electrode stack in order to separate the electrode stack from the supporting upper side surface of the workpiece carrier. Another aspect is the spatial conditions in which fluid dispensers can be brought to the workpiece carrier, or more precisely, to the openings of the fluid channels.

[0023] In particular, one variant provides for the outlets of the fluid channels on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier, which supports the electrode stack, to be circular-cylindrical in cross-section or to flare conically and have a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm (+ / - approximately 0.15 mm). This ensures that the outlets of the fluid channels are small enough not to damage or deform the bottom layers of the electrode stack during lamination under heat and pressure.

[0024] In one variant, the holes are connected to each other via fluid channels drilled into the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate. The channels are drilled into the lateral surfaces of the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate and sealed on the outside. On the edge of the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier, there are several holes, each several times (e.g., 5-20 times) larger in diameter than the fluid channels. These holes serve as the openings of the fluid channels, into which the fluid (e.g., compressed air or inert gas) is blown in a controlled manner. A fluid dispenser blows the fluid into these openings of the fluid channels in a controlled manner.

[0025] A separating device is designed and intended to separate an electrode stack previously laminated on a workpiece carrier from the workpiece carrier, comprising:

[0026] - an input conveyor, configured and intended to convey a workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack to a cutting point in a timed or continuous manner;

[0027] - at least one lifter, arranged and intended to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier;

[0028] - at least one release actuator, configured and intended to actuate at least one respective holding device assigned to the workpiece carrier and holding the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in the sense of releasing the electrode stack;

[0029] - at least one fluid dispenser, configured and intended to inject fluid into at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, which fluid spreads out when emerging from at least one outlet of the fluid channel in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier;

[0030] - an output conveyor, configured and intended to convey a workpiece carrier without the electrode stack away from the cutting point in a timed or continuous manner;

[0031] - a controller configured and designed to coordinate the temporal and spatial sequence of operations of the input conveyor, the lifter, the release actuator, the fluid dispenser, and / or the output conveyor.

[0032] In one variant, the control is set up and determined to

[0033] - to cause the input conveyor with the workpiece carrier carrying the laminated electrode stack to convey the workpiece carrier to the cutting point;

[0034] - to cause the lifter to engage with the electrode stack without lifting the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier;

[0035] - to actuate the at least one release actuator in order to actuate the respective at least one holding device assigned to the workpiece carrier and holding the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in the sense of releasing the electrode stack;

[0036] - to bring the at least one fluid dispenser into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier;

[0037] - to cause the fluid dispenser to blow fluid into the at least one opening of the at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, which fluid spreads out when it emerges from at least one outlet of the fluid channel in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier;

[0038] - to cause the lifter to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier;

[0039] - to actuate the at least one release actuator in order to release from the respective at least one holding device; and

[0040] - to cause the output conveyor to convey the empty workpiece carrier away from the separation point.

[0041] In one variant, the fluid dispenser has an elastic fluid head, preferably parabolic in longitudinal cross-section, which is designed and intended to come into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier, or the fluid dispenser has an elastic, preferably a substantially cylindrical fluid head with an O-ring seal, which is designed and intended to come into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier.

[0042] In one variant of the separating device, at least one release actuator is provided, which is designed to open or close at least one holding device, for example in the form of a clamp, on the workpiece carrier. In one variant, the release actuator is designed to move the holding device into an open position during stacking of the individual electrode layers of the electrode stack. In one variant, the holding device is designed to hold the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier without actuation by the release actuator during conveyance of the workpiece carrier from a previous process station to the separating device. In one variant, the separating device has several separating points, to each of which several workpiece carriers are conveyed in parallel and the electrode stacks are separated from the workpiece carrier.In a variant of the separation device, respective lifting devices are provided and configured to move the at least one lifter (vertically) in the z-direction in order to engage it with the electrode stack, and to move the at least one fluid dispenser (vertically) in the z-direction in order to bring it into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel.

[0043] In one variant, each separation device is provided with multiple separation points, each configured to convey a workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack on multiple input conveyors, separate the respective electrode stacks from their workpiece carriers, convey the empty workpiece carriers away from the respective separation point, and feed the separated electrode stacks for further processing. This achieves increased throughput compared to a design with only one separation point.

[0044] In one variant of the separation device, the lifting device for moving the lifter toward and away from the tool carrier with the electrode stack ES and / or the lifting device for engaging the fluid dispenser with the opening in the tool carrier comprises a controlled servo motor or a linear drive, which are provided and configured to lower the lifter or the fluid dispenser by a required distance and then raise it again. This allows for rapid separation of the individual electrode stacks.

[0045] In one variant of the cutting device, a stop is provided at each cutting point and is configured to receive at least one workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack and to hold it in a precisely positioned position in at least one direction. In one variant of the cutting device, each workpiece carrier has an upper side surface on which one or more clamps are arranged and configured to clamp electrode stacks located on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier during transport from the previous process station. In one variant of the cutting device, each clamp has at least one clamping jaw, which is configured to bear on the electrode stack in a first position and to release a storage space for the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in a second position.In a variant of the separating device, each clamp has a spring device which is designed to urge the clamping jaw into the first position on the electrode stack, and has a pressing point which is designed to absorb a force introduced by the release actuator of the separating device, wherein the introduced force is directed against the spring device and causes the clamping jaw to release the storage space.

[0046] A method for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier comprises - in any order, for example the following - the steps:

[0047] - using an input conveyor to transport the workpiece carrier carrying a laminated electrode stack to a cutting point;

[0048] - engage a lifter with the electrode stack without lifting the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier;

[0049] - actuate a release actuator so that at least one holding device assigned to the workpiece carrier and holding the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier releases the electrode stack;

[0050] - bringing at least one fluid dispenser into fluid-tight engagement with at least one opening of a respective fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier;

[0051] - using the fluid dispenser to inject fluid into the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, said fluid being intended to spread out in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier when it emerges from at least one outlet of the fluid channel;

[0052] - Use the lifter to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier;

[0053] - actuate the at least one release actuator to release from the respective at least one holding device; and

[0054] - use an output conveyor to transport the empty workpiece carrier away from the cutting point.

[0055] In one variant, when the lifter engages the electrode stack, the lifter secures the electrode stack to the workpiece carrier. This ensures that the electrode stack remains securely positioned on the workpiece carrier even after the electrode stack has been released by the respective at least one holding device of the electrode stack.

[0056] In one variant, the at least one fluid dispenser is brought into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of a respective fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier before or after the lifter is brought into engagement with the electrode stack and / or the release actuator is actuated so that the holding device releases the electrode stack.

[0057] Above, process aspects are presented in terms of device terminology and vice versa. Both the process aspects and the device terminology serve to explain the separation device and its operation.

[0058] Short description of the characters

[0059] Further features, properties, and advantages of the devices and methods can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawings. Possible modifications will become clear to a person skilled in the art from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings. The figures schematically show the separating devices discussed here and their components, and illustrate the procedure for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier.

[0060] Here we show:

[0061] Fig. 1 shows a workpiece carrier without holding devices in a schematic plan view, as used in the production of an electrode stack;

[0062] Fig. 2a shows a variant of the workpiece carrier from Fig. 1, in which a receiving plate for the electrode stack is detachably arranged on the carrier plate of the workpiece carrier and with holding devices fixing the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in a schematic front view;

[0063] Fig. 2b shows the workpiece carrier from Fig. 2a with the holding devices releasing the electrode stack in a schematic front view;

[0064] Fig. 3 shows a separating device in which the workpiece carrier and the electrode stack are to be separated from each other in a schematic view; and Figs. 4a - 4f show the separating device from Fig. 3 in different operating states during the separation of the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier.

[0065] Detailed description of variants of devices and procedures

[0066] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a variant of a workpiece carrier 100 in a schematic plan view, which is used in the production and further processing of an electrode stack ES disclosed here, for example in a separating device 10 (Fig. 4). This workpiece carrier 100 is specially designed for separating the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100 with pressurized fluid. For this purpose, a fluid—for example, compressed air or inert gas—is introduced into the workpiece carrier 100 by means of a fluid dispenser described in detail below. On one or more side surfaces of the essentially cuboid-shaped workpiece carrier 100—in the variant of the workpiece carrier illustrated here, on the upper side surface 100a—a plurality of fluid channels 102 with respective openings 102a are provided.In the variant illustrated here, each fluid channel 102 has a plurality of outlets 102b within the region 100' on the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100 carrying the electrode stack ES. The fluid is blown into the openings 102a of the respective fluid channel 102 in a controlled manner in order to separate the electrode stack from the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100.

[0067] In the variant illustrated in Fig. 1, the workpiece carrier 100 has a carrier plate 106 in which the openings 102a of the respective fluid channel 102 and the outlets 102b of the respective fluid channel 102 are machined, for example, by drilling, on the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100 supporting the electrode stack ES. The fluid channels 102 are also provided in the carrier plate 106.

[0068] In the variant illustrated in Fig. 2a, 2b, the workpiece carrier 100 has a carrier plate 106. A receiving plate 108 for the electrode stack ES is located in a recess in the carrier plate 106 of the workpiece carrier 100. The receiving plate 108 is removably arranged in a correspondingly shaped recess in the carrier plate 106. In this variant, the openings 102a of the fluid channels 102 and the outlets 102b of the fluid channels 102 are incorporated into the receiving plate 108. The fluid channels 102 are also provided in the receiving plate 108 in this variant.

[0069] In both variants of the workpiece carrier 100 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a, 2b), the carrier plate 106 of the workpiece carrier 100 or the receiving plate 108 of the workpiece carrier 100 is provided with a layer of preferably temperature-resistant non-stick coating 101 - for example, made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) - or the like. The carrier plate 106 of the workpiece carrier 100 or the receiving plate 108 of the workpiece carrier 100 is approximately cuboid-shaped and, in the variants shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, has openings 102a in the region of the longitudinal edges and the transverse edges of the upper side surface 100a. The openings 102a open into the respective fluid channels 102, which each have a plurality of outlets 102b on the upper side surface 100a of the carrier plate 106 or the receiving plate 108 of the workpiece carrier 100.

[0070] In other variants of the workpiece carrier 100, not further illustrated here, the openings 102a, which open into the respective fluid channels 102, are provided only in the region of one of the longitudinal edges of the upper side surface 100a and / or one of the transverse edges of the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100. In other variants of the workpiece carrier 100, also not further illustrated here, the openings 102a, which open into the respective fluid channels 102, are provided in the long lateral side surfaces 100b, 100c of the workpiece carrier 100 and / or the short lateral side surfaces 100d, 100e of the workpiece carrier 100.In other variants, also not further illustrated here, the openings 102a, which open into the respective fluid channels 102, are provided in the region of only one or both of the longitudinal edges of the lower side surface 100f of the workpiece carrier 100 or one or both transverse edges of the lower side surface 100f of the workpiece carrier 100.

[0071] The outlets 102b of the fluid channels 102 on the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100, which supports the electrode stack ES, have an approximately circular-cylindrical shape (are rectangular in cross-section) or, starting from the fluid channels 102, widen conically toward the upper side surface 100a (are trapezoidal in cross-section). In some variants of the workpiece carrier 100, the outlets 102b have a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm + / - approximately 0.15 mm in the region of the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100.

[0072] The fluid channels 102 are drilled into the support plate 106 of the workpiece carrier 100 or the receiving plate 108 and connect the outlets to each other. The channels are drilled into the lateral surfaces 102b, 102c, 102d, and / or 102e of the support plate 106 of the workpiece carrier 100 or the receiving plate 108 and are sealed on the outside.

[0073] In one variant, several bores, each with a diameter several times larger than the fluid channels 102, are arranged on one or both longitudinal and / or transverse edges on the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100, which bores serve as the openings 102a of the fluid channels 102 into which the fluid is to be blown in a controlled manner (as described in detail below).

[0074] As illustrated in Figs. 2a, 2b, each workpiece carrier 100 has at least one holding device 110 on its upper side surface 102a—in the example illustrated here, in both end regions of the two longitudinal edges—which is configured as actuatable clamps that fixes the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier 100. These holding devices 110 are also present in the workpiece carrier 100 in Fig. 1, but are not shown in detail there; they are fastened in positioning bores 110a of the workpiece carrier 100 in Fig. 1. For example, two holding devices 110 are arranged on each of two opposite sides of the workpiece carrier 100. These holding devices 110 clamp an electrode stack ES located on the workpiece carrier 100 against the upper side surface 102a of the workpiece carrier 100 while it is transported from one process station to the next.For this purpose, each of the holding devices 110 has a spring-loaded, pivoting roller as clamping jaws 112.

[0075] This clamping jaw 112 is mounted on an inner end of a tilting arm 114. It is configured to bear on the electrode stack ES in a first position (see Fig. 2a) and, in a second position, raised in this variant (see Fig. 2b), to release a storage / transport space for the electrode stack ES on the workpiece carrier 100.

[0076] In the second, raised position (see Fig. 2b), the electrode stack ES can be lifted from the workpiece carrier 100. Each of the holding devices 110 has a preloaded helical spring as spring device 116, which serves to urge the clamping jaw 112 into the first position on the electrode stack ES. Furthermore, each holding device 110 has a pivoting roller, mounted on an outer end of the tilting arm 114, as a pressing point 118, which is configured to absorb a force applied by a release actuator 40 in the cutting device 10. The applied force is directed against the spring device 116 and causes the clamping jaw 112 to release the storage space.

[0077] The clamping jaws 112 bear against the electrode stack ES during transport, and in some variants also during the cutting process – at least temporarily – to ensure secure cohesion and prevent the individual electrode layers of the electrode stack ES from slipping against each other and / or the electrode stack ES as a whole from slipping against the upper side surface 102a of the workpiece carrier 100. In the second position (see Fig. 2b), the storage / transport space for the electrode stack ES on the workpiece carrier 100 is released upwards for processing tools, for example, a lifter. In particular, an actuator 40 serves as a linear actuator, for example, in the form of a pneumatic cylinder or linear motor, which is assigned to the cutting device 10.The respective holding devices 110 are aligned within the effective range of the actuator 40 when the workpiece carrier 100 is located at a separation point 30 in the separation device 10 for removing the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100. With the aid of the actuator 40, the holding devices 110 located on the workpiece carrier 100 are to be brought into an open position and held there, so that the electrode stack ES can be lifted off the workpiece carrier 100 without hindrance, for example, using a lifter 26. After the electrode stack ES has been lifted off, the actuator 40 releases the respective holding device 110, so that the clamping jaws 112 return to a closed position (Fig. 2a) without actuator actuation.

[0078] Fig. 3 illustrates a cutting device 10, to which a workpiece carrier 100, as explained above, with an electrode stack ES located thereon is to be fed on a conveyor 20 in an x-direction. This conveyor 20 is implemented here as an endless conveyor belt circulating in one direction. The conveyor 20 is functionally divided into an input conveyor 20a and an output conveyor 20b. A left-hand section of the conveyor 20 in Fig. 3 forms the input conveyor 20a. This input conveyor 20a serves to convey a workpiece carrier 100 with an already laminated electrode stack ES located thereon to a cutting point 30 in a timed or continuous manner. A right-hand section of the conveyor 20 in Fig. 3 forms the output conveyor 20b. This output conveyor 20b serves to convey a workpiece carrier 100 without the electrode stack ES away from the separation point 30 in a timed or continuous manner.In a variant not further illustrated here, the input conveyor 20a and the output conveyor 20b are designed as separate units. In another variant, the input conveyor 20a and the output conveyor 20b are aligned at an angle, for example, 90° to each other.

[0079] In the area of ​​the separation point 30, above the conveyor 20, there is a lifter 26 of the separation device 10. This lifter is used to approach the conveyor 20 in a controlled manner and initially engage with the electrode stack ES without lifting the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100. In a later step, the lifter 26 is used to move away from the conveyor 20 with the electrode stack ES in the z-direction and the y-direction, thereby lifting and removing the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier. In a device not further illustrated, the electrode stack ES is taken over by the lifter 26, where the further processing of the electrode stack ES then takes place.A release actuator 40, already explained in connection with the workpiece carrier 100, is also arranged in the region of the separation point 30 and serves to actuate a respective holding device 110 assigned to the workpiece carrier 100 and holding the electrode stack ES on the workpiece carrier 100. By actuating this actuator, the electrode stack ES is released from the workpiece carrier 100 in the manner described above.

[0080] A fluid dispenser 50, already explained in connection with the workpiece carrier 100, is also arranged in the region of the separation point 30 and serves to inject fluid into the openings 102a of the fluid channels 102 located in the workpiece carrier 100 in a controlled manner. The fluid is injected by means of a short, controlled—for example, pneumatic—overpressure pulse and, after exiting the outlets 102b of the fluid channels 102, spreads in the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100 between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack ES and the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100.

[0081] The separation device 10 illustrated in Fig. 3 also includes a control ECU which serves to coordinate the temporal and spatial sequence of actuations of the input conveyor 20a, the lifter 26, the release actuator 40, the fluid dispenser 50, and the output conveyor 20b.

[0082] A control unit (ECU) assigned to the separation device 10 is configured to operate the conveyor 20 in a controlled manner and is connected to corresponding tactile or non-tactile (e.g., optical, inductive, magnetic, or capacitive) sensors 60. These sensors 60 signal the positionally and / or correctly positioned arrival / transportation of the laminated electrode stack ES transported by the conveyor 20 or of the workpiece carrier 100 carrying the laminated electrode stack ES at the separation point 30. The control unit (ECU) is further configured to cause the lifter 26 to engage the electrode stack ES in a controlled manner without lifting the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier 100. The control ECU is further configured to actuate the release actuators 40 in order to cause the holding devices 110 to release the electrode stack ES on the workpiece carrier 100.The control unit ECU is further configured to bring the fluid dispenser 50 into fluid-tight engagement with the opening 102a of the fluid channel 102 located in the workpiece carrier 100 in a controlled manner. The control unit ECU is further configured to subsequently cause the fluid dispenser 50 to inject fluid into the opening 102a of the fluid channel 102 located in the workpiece carrier 100 in a controlled manner, so that the fluid, upon exiting the outlets 102b of the fluid channel 102, spreads in the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100 between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack ES and the upper side surface 102a of the workpiece carrier 100. The control unit ECU is further configured to cause the lifter 26 to lift the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100 in a controlled manner and then to actuate the release actuator 40 in a controlled manner so that the release actuator 40 is released from the respective holding device 110.Finally, the control ECU is further configured to cause the output conveyor 20b to convey the empty workpiece carrier 100 away from the separation point 30.

[0083] In the variant shown, the fluid dispenser 50 has a plurality of elastic fluid heads 50a, preferably parabolic in longitudinal cross-section, for fluid-tight engagement with the openings 102a of the fluid channels located in the workpiece carrier 100. In a variant not further illustrated, the fluid dispenser has an elastic, preferably cylindrical fluid head with an O-ring seal for fluid-tight engagement with the at least one correspondingly shaped opening 102a of a fluid channel 102 located in the workpiece carrier 100.

[0084] In a variant of the separation device 10 not further illustrated, several separation points are provided, to each of which several workpiece carriers are conveyed in parallel to separate the electrode stacks ES from the workpiece carriers. For this purpose, respective lifting devices are provided that move the respective lifters (vertically) in the z-direction toward the conveyor to engage them with the respective electrode stack, and move the respective fluid dispensers (vertically) in the z-direction toward the conveyor to bring them into fluid-tight engagement with the openings of the respective fluid channels of the workpiece carriers.A workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack is conveyed to the multiple separation points on several input conveyors or one input conveyor, the respective electrode stacks are separated from their workpiece carrier, the empty workpiece carriers are conveyed away from the respective separation point, and the electrode stacks separated from their workpiece carrier are fed for further processing.

[0085] In a variant of the cutting device 10, the lifting device 28 for moving the lifter 26 toward and away from the tool carrier 100 with the electrode stack ES, and the lifting device 52 for engaging the fluid dispenser 50 with the opening 102a in the tool carrier 100, have a controlled servo motor or a linear drive. These lifting devices 28 and 52 serve to lower the lifter 26 and the fluid dispenser 50, respectively, by a required distance toward the electrode stack ES and to raise them again. This allows a rapid separation of the individual electrode stacks ES from the workpiece carrier 100. Figs. 4a - 4f illustrate the individual steps of a method for separating an electrode stack ES from a workpiece carrier 100, as they follow one another in and with the separating device 10.

[0086] Fig. 4a shows a workpiece carrier 100 carrying the laminated electrode stack ES, which was conveyed by the input conveyor in the correct position and orientation to the separation point 30.

[0087] Fig. 4b shows how the lifter 26 engages with the electrode stack ES by lowering in the z-direction without lifting the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100.

[0088] Fig. 4c shows how, with the lifter 26 engaged with the electrode stack ES, the release actuator 40 for the holding device 110 is actuated by lowering it in the z-direction. Thus, the holding device 110 assigned to the workpiece carrier 100 and holding the electrode stack ES to the workpiece carrier 100 releases the electrode stack ES.

[0089] Fig. 4d shows how the fluid dispenser 50 is lowered in the z-direction by the lifting device 52 and comes into fluid-tight engagement with the opening 102a of the respective fluid channel 102 located in the workpiece carrier 100. Subsequently, fluid is injected into the opening 102a of the fluid channel 102 in a controlled manner using the fluid dispenser 50. The fluid spreading between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack ES and the upper side surface 100a of the workpiece carrier 100 upon exiting the outlets 102b of the fluid channel 102 separates the electrode stack ES from the workpiece carrier 100. This engagement of the fluid dispenser 50 with the opening 102a and the pressing in of the fluid in the steps shown in Fig. 4c can also take place before the step shown in Fig. 4c.

[0090] Fig. 4e shows how, with the lifter 26 engaged with the electrode stack ES and the holding device 110 actuated by the release actuator 40, the fluid dispenser 50 is lifted in the z-direction by the lifting device 52. For this purpose, the lifter 26 is subjected to a negative pressure p.

[0091] Fig. 4f shows how, with the electrode stack ES raised, the release actuator 40 releases the holding device 110 by detaching itself from the holding device 110 upwards in the z-direction. In this state, the empty workpiece carrier 100 is finally conveyed away from the separation point 30 with the output conveyor. The variants of the separation device described above, their design and operating aspects, as well as the variants of the procedure, serve only to better understand the structure, mode of operation, and properties; they do not limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments. The figures are partly schematic. In some cases, essential properties and effects are shown significantly enlarged in order to clarify the functions, operating principles, technical designs, and features. Each function, principle, technical design, and feature described in the figures can be used in a variety of ways.or is / are disclosed in the text, can be freely and arbitrarily combined with all claims, every feature in the text and in the other figures, other modes of operation, principles, technical designs and features contained in this disclosure or resulting from it, so that all conceivable combinations can be assigned to the described procedure. This also includes combinations between all individual embodiments in the text, i.e. in every section of the description, in the claims and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims and in the figures. The claims do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown with one another. All disclosed features are explicitly disclosed here, both individually and in combination with all other features.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A device for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier with pressurised fluid which is designed and intended to be introduced into the workpiece carrier; wherein - at least one opening of a respective fluid channel is provided on one or more side surfaces of the workpiece carrier; - each fluid channel has at least one outlet on an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier carrying the electrode stack; wherein - the fluid which is designed and intended to be blown into the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel in a controlled manner; - a lifting tool, designed and intended to lift the electrode stack from the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier after the fluid for separating the electrode stack has been blown in.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein - the workpiece carrier comprises a carrier plate in which the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel and the at least one outlet of the respective fluid channel are incorporated on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier carrying the electrode stack; and / or - the fluid channels are provided in the carrier plate.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein - a support plate for the electrode stack is detachably arranged on the support plate of the workpiece carrier; - the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel and the at least one outlet of the respective fluid channel are incorporated into the receiving plate; and / or - the fluid channels are provided in the mounting plate.

4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein - the carrier plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier is provided with a layer of preferably temperature-resistant non-stick coating; and / or wherein - the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier is approximately cuboid-shaped; - the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier have the openings in the area of ​​their longitudinal edges and their transverse edges of the upper side surface, whereby - the openings lead into the respective fluid channels, each of which has one or more outlets on the upper side surface of the carrier plate or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier; and / or - the openings leading into the respective fluid channels are provided only in the area of ​​one of the longitudinal edges of the upper side surface and / or one of the transverse edges of the upper side surface of the carrier plate or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier; and / or - the openings leading into the respective fluid channels are provided in the long lateral surfaces and / or the short lateral surfaces of the support plate or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier; and / or - the openings which lead into the respective fluid channels are provided in the region of one or both of the longitudinal edges of the lower side surface or one or both transverse edges of the lower side surface of the carrier plate or the receiving plate of the workpiece carrier.

5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein - the outlets of the fluid channels on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier carrying the electrode stack are circular-cylindrical in cross-section or widen conically towards the upper side surface and have a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm + / - approximately 0.15 mm.

6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein - the fluid channels are the fluid channels drilled into the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate, which connect the outlets to each other; and / or - the channels are drilled into the lateral surfaces of the support plate of the workpiece carrier or the receiving plate and are closed on the outside; and / or - on the edge of the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier there are several holes, each with a diameter several times larger than the fluid channels, which serve as the openings of the fluid channels into which the fluid is to be blown in a controlled manner.

7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6 comprises: - an input conveyor, configured and intended to convey a workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack to a cutting point in a timed or continuous manner; - at least one lifter, arranged and intended to engage with the electrode stack and to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier; - at least one release actuator, configured and determined to release at least one respective electrode stack assigned to the workpiece carrier on the workpiece carrier to actuate the holding device in order to release the electrode stack; - at least one fluid dispenser, configured and intended to inject fluid into at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, which fluid spreads out when emerging from at least one outlet of the fluid channel in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier; - an output conveyor, configured and intended to convey a workpiece carrier without the electrode stack away from the cutting point in a timed or continuous manner; - a controller configured and designed to coordinate the temporal and spatial sequence of operations of the input conveyor, the lifter, the release actuator, the fluid dispenser, and / or the output conveyor.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein - the control system is designed and intended to - to cause the input conveyor with the workpiece carrier carrying the laminated electrode stack to convey the workpiece carrier to the cutting point; then - to cause the lifter to engage with the electrode stack without lifting the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier; then - to actuate the at least one release actuator in order to actuate the respective at least one holding device assigned to the workpiece carrier and holding the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in the sense of releasing the electrode stack; subsequently - to bring the at least one fluid dispenser into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier; subsequently - to cause the fluid dispenser to blow fluid into the at least one opening of the at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, which fluid spreads out when it emerges from at least one outlet of the fluid channel in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier; subsequently - to cause the lifter to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier; then - to actuate the at least one release actuator in order to release from the respective at least one holding device; and subsequently - to cause the output conveyor to convey the empty workpiece carrier away from the separation point.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein - the fluid dispenser has an elastic fluid head, preferably parabolic in longitudinal cross-section, which is designed and intended to come into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier, or the fluid dispenser has an elastic, preferably a substantially cylindrical fluid head with an O-ring seal, which is designed and intended to come into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of at least one fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein - at least one release actuator is assigned to the workpiece carrier, which is provided and configured to open or close the at least one holding device on the workpiece carrier; and / or - the release actuator is designed to bring the holding device into an open position during the stacking of the individual electrode layers of the electrode stack; and / or - the holding device is designed to hold the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier without actuation by the release actuator during the conveying of the workpiece carrier.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein - several separation points are provided, which are each designed to receive several workpiece carriers in parallel in order to separate the electrode stacks from the workpiece carrier; whereby - respective lifting devices are provided and configured to move the at least one lifter (vertically) in the z-direction in order to engage it with the electrode stack, and to move the at least one fluid dispenser (vertically) in the z-direction in order to bring it into fluid-tight engagement with the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein - the several separation points are provided and set up to receive a workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack on several input conveyors, to separate the respective electrode stacks from their workpiece carrier, to convey the empty workpiece carriers away from the respective separation point, and to send the electrode stacks separated from their workpiece carrier for further processing to supply.

13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein - the lifting device for moving the lifter onto the tool carrier with the electrode stack ES to and away from the workpiece carrier and / or - the lifting device for engaging the fluid dispenser with the opening in the tool carrier comprises a controlled servo motor or a linear drive, which are provided and designed to lower the lifter or the fluid dispenser by a required distance and to raise it again.

14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein - a stop is provided at each separation point and is configured to receive at least one workpiece carrier with a laminated electrode stack and to hold it in a precisely positioned manner in at least one direction; and / or each workpiece carrier has an upper side surface on which one or more holding devices are arranged and are configured to clamp electrode stacks located on the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier during transport from the previous process station; and / or each holding device has at least one clamping jaw which is configured to bear on the electrode stack in a first position and to release a storage space for the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier in a second position;and / or each holding device has a spring device configured to urge the clamping jaw into a first position on the electrode stack, and a pressing point configured to absorb a force introduced by the release actuator of the separating device, wherein the introduced force is directed against the spring device and causes the clamping jaw to release the storage space; 15. A method for separating an electrode stack from a workpiece carrier comprises the steps: - using an input conveyor to transport the workpiece carrier carrying a laminated electrode stack to a cutting point; - engage a lifter with the electrode stack without lifting the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier; - actuate a release actuator so that at least one holding device assigned to the workpiece carrier and holding the electrode stack on the workpiece carrier releases the electrode stack; - bringing at least one fluid dispenser into fluid-tight engagement with at least one opening of a respective fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier; - using the fluid dispenser to inject fluid into the at least one opening of the respective fluid channel located in the workpiece carrier in a controlled manner, said fluid being intended to spread out in an upper side surface of the workpiece carrier between the lowermost layer of the electrode stack and the upper side surface of the workpiece carrier when it emerges from at least one outlet of the fluid channel; - Use the lifter to lift the electrode stack from the workpiece carrier; - actuate the at least one release actuator to release from the respective at least one holding device; and - use an output conveyor to transport the empty workpiece carrier away from the cutting point.

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