Cell Segment Stacking with Intermediate Support for Precise Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing production methods for energy cells, such as battery cells, are limited by low production rates and positional accuracy due to the use of machines with clocked movements, which consume significant energy and are limited by the mass of moving parts, making it difficult to achieve high-speed stacking without compromising accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A cell stacking system with a feed device, discharge device, and cell stacking apparatus that includes a rotatably driven cylinder with receiving dogs and a depositing element with a transfer device and depositing lever, allowing for continuous feeding and gentle stacking of segments with minimal transverse forces, using vacuum lines and controlled movements to maintain positional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous feed device is used to increase production rate, then productivity improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device acts as an intermediary between the continuous feed device and the depositing element. It receives segments continuously from the feed device, holds them temporarily, and transfers them to the depositing lever at controlled intervals, thereby decoupling the high-speed feeding from the precision stacking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the stacking process into distinct functional segments: continuous feeding by the feed device, temporary holding by the transfer device, and precision deposition by the depositing lever. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromising overall system performance
2Productivity
If high-speed stacking is implemented, then productivity improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The depositing lever performs periodic deposition actions at controlled intervals, transferring segments one by one from the transfer device to build the stack. This periodic action ensures that each segment is placed with precise alignment while maintaining continuous production flow
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device automatically positions and presents segments to the depositing lever in the correct orientation and location, eliminating the need for additional positioning mechanisms and enabling high-speed operation with maintained precision
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cell stacking system for stacking segments of energy cells, comprising—a feed device which continuously feeds the segments at a feed speed, —a discharge device which discharges the segments in stacks, and—at least one cell stacking apparatus which receives the segments from the feed device and transfers the segments to the discharge device in a stacked manner, wherein—the cell stacking apparatus has at least one removal apparatus and a depositing element, and—the depositing element has a transfer device, a depositing lever, and a receptacle which can be moved from a receiving position into a dispensing position and vice versa, wherein—the depositing lever removes the segments from the removal apparatus and transfers the segments into the receptacle arranged in the receiving position and—the transfer device can be moved from a ready position into a holding position, wherein—the transfer device is arranged in the holding position during the movement of the receptacle from the receiving position into the dispensing position and forms a intermediate support for depositing the segments.