Patent ID: 6951576

Claim:
A method of making an electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell comprising: a) providing a combination of an elongated anode electrode, an elongated cathode electrode and separator therebetween in a face-to-face relationship wherein one of the anode and cathode electrodes is shorter in length than the other of the anode and cathode electrodes; b) folding the combination using a mandrel to form an anode-cathode electrode assembly having a jellyroll configuration, said mandrel being of substantially rectangular cross-section having a pair of substantially parallel and planar oppositely-facing surfaces; c) said folding the combination including a first step of folding the longer one of the electrodes on itself about the mandrel so that the separator on said longer one of the said electrodes contacts both of said oppositely-facing surfaces of said mandrel and subsequent steps of folding both of the electrodes about the mandrel to form the anode-cathode electrode assembly; and d) so that upon removal of the mandrel in the event any portion of the separator contacted by the mandrel is impaired only portions of the longer one of the electrode can contact each other thereby preventing any electrical short circuit due to the separator being impaired in a cell containing said anode-cathode electrode assembly.