Patent ID: 12202074

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1is a schematic plan view of a continuous battery electrode material10which is machined according to a presented method. The continuous battery electrode material10has a coated region12in the middle and an uncoated region14on each outer side. In relation to the image plane, a first transport unit16in the form of a vacuum belt is shown on the left below the continuous battery electrode material10. This first transport unit16is part of a transport device17, with further components of this transport device17being presented below. In this plan view it can be seen that a width dimension of this first transport unit16is narrower than a width dimension of the continuous battery electrode material10. In other words, the continuous battery electrode material10lying substantially centrally on the first transport unit16overlaps the respective edges of the first transport unit16, such that the overlapping material can be freely machined there. In particular, free machining in the uncoated regions14and/or in a transition region between the coated region12and uncoated regions14can thus also be made possible, such that in this case a corresponding focusing of process parameters, for example in conjunction with the laser to be coupled in, can be ensured in a user-defined manner in terms of particularly high quality of the cutting process. For machining purposes, a laser cutting device18is shown which comprises two laser cutting elements20,22, one on each side of the continuous battery electrode material10. The laser cutting device18is a special type of cutting device. The laser cutting elements20,22each have a limited radius of action, which is shown schematically by auxiliary lines24. Within this particular radius of action, the continuous battery electrode material10can be machined within the meaning of a cutting process, using a schematically illustrated laser beam26. The laser cutting element20in this case cuts an upper electrode region28including conductor tabs and radii, and the laser cutting element22cuts a lower electrode region30to a corresponding target length including radii. A block arrow32also shows a movement direction of the continuous battery electrode material10. In other words, the continuous battery electrode material10is moved from left to right in relation to the image plane by means of the first transport unit16in the form of a vacuum belt, so that, during this movement, corresponding cutting processes can be carried out according to the presented method by means of the laser cutting device18comprising the two laser cutting elements20,22. Furthermore, a sensor device34comprising a first sensor element36and a second sensor element38is shown schematically. The first sensor element36is provided in particular for web edge control of the continuous battery electrode material10. For example, an upper face and a lower face can be monitored. The first sensor element36can be in the form of an optical sensor, for example. The second sensor element38is provided for detecting a transverse cut of the continuous battery electrode material10. Ultimately, by means of the transverse cut, individual battery electrodes40are cut out from the already pre-machined continuous battery electrode material10. According to the method presented, a second transport unit42is provided in this embodiment, which second transport unit has a substantially triangular shape with a tip oriented centrally counter to the movement direction. This second transport unit42can also be designed, for example, as a vacuum belt. At a broad end of the second transport unit42and correspondingly above the second transport unit42, two further laser cutting elements44,46can be seen, with further auxiliary lines24showing respective radii of action in the illustration shown. Laser beams26from each of the two laser cutting elements44,46aim at a starting position48that is located substantially centrally on the approaching continuous battery electrode material10. From this starting position48, the two respective laser beams26then travel substantially parallel to the outer edges50of the second transport unit42, with the cutting process not being carried out over the second transport unit42but instead on the overlapping region of the continuous battery electrode material10. Movement arrows52indicate the particular course of the laser beams26from the laser cutting elements44,46. This tapered second transport unit42is advantageous because, during the so-called on-the-fly cut, it allows a cut gap to be kept small or allows the battery electrode40to be cut to be stabilized during the process. Alternatively, although not shown in greater detail, the vacuum belt could be inclined, in which case a tip would then point to an edge region of the continuous battery electrode material10to be selected. This is particularly favorable if only one laser or scanner is intended to be used for the transverse cut.

During the forward movement of the continuous battery electrode material10, said transverse cut is thus made, so that ultimately respective battery electrodes40are cut out during an ongoing movement. These battery electrodes40can then be transported away via a further transport unit54. As shown inFIG.1, the further transport unit54is seamlessly lined up with the second transport unit42. The further transport unit54has a width dimension which is the same size as a width dimension of the continuous battery electrode material10, such that the finished cut-out battery electrode40can be transported further completely on the further transport unit54. It is therefore conceivable for the continuous battery electrode material10, for example in the form of a coil, while it is being cut by the laser cutting elements44,46, to be gripped by the cascaded second transport unit42or to be gripped in a central region of the continuous battery electrode material10, and thus moved further in the movement direction. The coil feed can be used at least in part as a cutting feed. In the embodiment presented, the laser cutting device18is therefore used in such a way that different laser cutting elements20,22,44,46are used in order to divide the different cutting processes between the relevant laser cutting elements20,22,44,46. The laser cutting elements20,22,44,46can be provided, for example, in the form of scanning lenses. In addition,FIG.1shows a suction device56comprising a first suction element58, a second suction element60, a third suction element62and a fourth suction element64. Overall, the suction elements58,60,62,64are positioned such that they can be used as small and stationary suction means. The feed of the continuous battery electrode material10can be used as a cutting feed. Good suction results can therefore be achieved with low compressor outputs. The suction elements62,64are in this case provided in a substantially elongate shape above the cutting region of the respective laser beams26, so that, during the transverse cut, suction can be achieved as precisely as possible during the movement sequence. The transverse cut can also be referred to as an on-the-fly transverse cut. The battery electrodes40are therefore completely cut out without the belt coming to a standstill. The arrangement of the lasers and the associated scanner job split is advantageous since it allows the coupling processes to be minimized and the spot diameter to be reduced. The shown arrangements and geometries of the individual components to be used in the course of the method presented are only shown by way of example and can be varied accordingly within technically acceptable limits. The number of the particular elements shown in each case is also only shown by way of example, and further variants are also conceivable in this case. By means of the method presented, a wide variety of concepts can be implemented which also have a certain format flexibility owing to the reduced complexity (programming the scanners, without system conversion).

FIG.2is a schematic plan view of a continuous battery electrode material10which is machined according to an alternative of the presented method. The continuous battery electrode material10in this case rests on two roller pairs66,67. On the left (in relation to the image plane) of the continuous battery electrode material10, a further roller pair68is also shown, the individual rollers69,70being connected by means of an axle72. The continuous battery electrode material10is therefore moved from left to right and initially lies on the adjacent roller pairs68,66. The individual rollers69,70(like the other rollers of the roller pairs66,67,68) are each shown as being substantially rectangular, with the continuous battery electrode material10being placed in the middle such that, if the continuous battery electrode material10were still shown as resting thereon, a relevant outer region of the rollers69,70could be seen in this plan view. According to a movement arrow74shown on the continuous battery electrode material10, the continuous battery electrode material10is moved from left to right over the various rollers (for example by means of the various roller pairs66,67,68). During this forward movement, corresponding cutting processes can be carried out by means of an illustrated laser cutting device18which in this case comprises laser cutting elements76,78,80. The laser cutting element76in this case cuts the continuous battery electrode material10in an intermediate region82between the roller pair68and the roller pair66. A radius of action of the laser cutting element76is shown by means of auxiliary lines24. A laser beam26is shown schematically, with cutting movement arrows84indicating a rough route of the laser beam26. The cutting movement arrows84and the movement of the continuous battery electrode material10from left to right in relation to the image plane ultimately result in the illustrated conductor tabs86and the associated radii. The laser cutting elements78,80, however, provide the transverse cut by means of their respective laser beams26, so that ultimately a finished battery electrode40is produced. The radius of action of each of the laser cutting elements78,80is again shown by means of auxiliary lines24. The laser cutting elements78,80also cut in a further intermediate region88, so that free machining is possible. In this variant as well, a suction device56is provided which comprises suction elements90,92and94. The suction elements90,92and94are in this case similar to those inFIG.1. In particular, the suction elements92,94are again shown as being slightly offset with respect to a horizontal image plane, so that constant suction can be achieved as close as possible to the cutting process in accordance with the resulting trajectory of the cutting process, which trajectory is composed of the laser movement and movement direction. In this case as well, cutting movement arrows84indicate an approximate direction of the particular laser beam26. InFIG.2, the battery electrode40which has already been cut out lies on a further transport unit96, which is shown in the form of a vacuum belt. This further transport unit96is larger than the battery electrode40lying thereon. The shown arrangements and geometries of the individual components to be used in the course of the method presented are only shown by way of example and can be varied accordingly within technically acceptable limits. The number of the particular elements shown in each case is also only shown by way of example, and further variants are also conceivable in this case. By means of the method presented, a wide variety of concepts can be implemented which also have a certain format flexibility owing to the reduced complexity (programming the scanners, without system conversion).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10continuous battery electrode material12coated region14uncoated region16first transport unit17transport device18laser cutting device20laser cutting element22laser cutting element24auxiliary line26laser beam28upper electrode region30lower electrode region32block arrow34sensor device36first sensor element38second sensor element40battery electrode42second transport unit44laser cutting element46laser cutting element48starting position50outer edge52movement arrow54further transport unit56suction device58first suction element60second suction element62third suction element64fourth suction element66roller pair67roller pair68roller pair69roller70roller72axle74movement arrow76laser cutting element78laser cutting element80laser cutting element82intermediate region84cutting movement arrow86conductor tabs88intermediate region90suction element92suction element94suction element96further transport unit