PRE-TREATING SEPARATOR TO ENABLE SEPARATOR FOR PICK AND PLACE OPERATION

摘要

The described embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for improving pick and place operations. Pick and place operations involving the movement of flexible substrates can be improved by cooling a flexible substrate below a threshold temperature at which the flexible substrate transitions from a flexible state to a rigid state. Once in the rigid state, the flexible substrate can be handled and maneuvered by pick and place operations for a period of time with a limited risk of the flexible substrate wrinkling and tearing. In some embodiments, the flexible substrate is a thin polymeric substrate used to separate oppositely charged battery cells within a battery assembly.