Patent ID: 7513136
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: B21B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for laminating a lithium or lithium alloy sheet into a thin film, said apparatus comprising: a main frame; a lithium or lithium alloy sheet feed roller; a first encoder roller adapted to measure a speed of the lithium or lithium alloy sheet at an entrance of the lamination apparatus; a first tension roller having a load cell adapted to measure the tension on the lithium or lithium alloy sheet at the entrance of the lamination apparatus; a lamination lubricant dispensing unit; a pair of working rollers mounted onto supporting members operatively connected to the main frame via hydraulic actuators, each working roller of the pair of working rollers having end portions and a generally convex curvilinear cylindrical shape including a flat central portion; the meeting surfaces of the flat central portions of the pair of working rollers defining a lamination surface adapted to reduce the thickness of the sheet of lithium or lithium alloy to form a lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness; at least one actuator operatively connected to each end portion of each working rollers a measurement system for measuring the evenness of the thickness of the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness; the actuators being linked to the optical measurement system for adjusting the profile of the lamination surface in response to measurement of the measurement system by applying forces to the end portions of the working rollers such that each said working rollers bends thereby modifying the shape and profile of said lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness being laminated; a second encoder roller adapted to measure the speed of the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness at an exit of the lamination apparatus; wherein the thickness of the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness is determined by a speed differential between the first and second encoder roller; a second tension roller having a load cell adapted to measure the tension on the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness at the exit of the lamination apparatus; and; a winding roll for winding the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness, said winding roll connected to a driving means, the driving means responsive to signals from the load cell of the second tension roller for winding the lithium or lithium alloy film of reduced thickness under a controlled tension.