APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BATTERY CELL ELECTRODE PREPARATION, ASSEMBLY AND LAMINATION

摘要

A battery cell manufacturing apparatus (10) comprises a vacuum indexing conveyor (42) for vertically suspending an anode material web (36), wherein a die punch (44) is used to form a discrete anode (12) from the anode material web (36). A pick and place mechanism (68) is operable with the die punch (44) for positioning the discrete anode (12) between first and second separator webs (14, 16) for subsequent lamination. A laminator (62) vertically receives the separator webs (14, 16) suspended for longitudinally extending them a force of gravity for smoothing out web surfaces adjacent the discrete anode (12) carried therebetween prior to lamination of the separator webs (14, 16) to the discrete anode (12). A cathode assembly section (74) includes a vacuum conveyor for guiding cathode material webs (37) and vertically suspending them for die punching discrete cathodes (18, 20) which are then placed onto exposed outside surfaces of the vertically suspended separator webs (18, 20) in alignment with the anode (12) laminated therewith. The discrete cathodes (18, 20) are then laminated to the vertically suspended separator webs (14, 16) for forming a laminated battery cell, which webs are then cut to form a discrete battery cell (24).