DEVICE FOR PROVIDING INSERTS AS SUPPORTING MESHES ON A TABLET MACHINE, AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PELLET WHICH INCLUDES A SUPPORTING MESH

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for providing supporting meshes for use as inserts in a pellet on a tablet machine, and a method for producing a pellet which includes an insert or supporting mesh.

Claims

1. A device (10) for providing supporting meshes for use as inserts (12) in a pellet on a tablet machine (14), characterized in that the device (10) comprises a stamping unit (16) and a transport unit (18) having carriers (20), wherein the stamping unit (16) is designed to stamp the inserts (12) out of a strip-shaped material (22), wherein the strip-shaped material (22) is a wire mesh strip, and to transfer the inserts to the carriers (20) of the transport unit (18), wherein the stamped-out inserts (12) are transported on the carriers (20) to a transfer unit (24), wherein the transfer unit (24) is designed to accept the stamped-out inserts (12) from the carriers (20) and insert them into openings (26) of a die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14), so that the stamped-out inserts (12) form supporting meshes, which are processable by the tablet machine (14) with a tablet material to form a pellet.

2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the stamping unit (16) comprises a number of N stamping means (16), wherein the stamping means (16) are designed to stamp the inserts (12) as supporting meshes out of the strip-shaped material (22).

3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the stamping unit (16) is designed to stamp the inserts (12) as supporting meshes having a circular footprint out of the strip-shaped material (22), wherein the inserts (12) preferably have a diameter of 10 cm to 22 cm.

4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the carriers (20) can be raised in the region of the stamping unit (16) using a lifting apparatus (30).

5. The device (10) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the device (10) comprises means (32) for supplying the strip-shaped material (22) and means (34) for receiving a stamped-out strip-shaped material (36).

6. The device (10) as claimed in the preceding claim characterized in that the means (32) for supplying the strip-shaped material (22) comprise a feed roll, on which a wire mesh strip is provided rolled up, and a holding-down unit (23) for providing the strip-shaped material (22) for the stamping unit (16) at a suitable height.

7. The device (10) as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the means (34) for receiving a stamped-out strip-shaped material (36) comprise a receiving roll and a holding-down unit (23) for accepting the stamped-out strip-shaped material (22) from the stamping unit (16) at a suitable height.

8. The device (10) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the transfer unit (24) includes transfer means (40) for accepting the stamped-out inserts (12) from the carriers (20) and for transferring the stamped-out inserts (12) into the openings (26) of a die plate (28).

9. The device (10) as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the transfer unit (24) comprises a gear rim (38), wherein the gear rim (38) is provided arranged below the transfer means (40) and is designed to accept the carriers (20) from the transport unit (18).

10. The device (10) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the transport unit (18) comprises two essentially parallel transport sections (42, 44), wherein the stamping unit (16) is provided arranged in a first transport section (42).

11. A system comprising a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a tablet machine, wherein the device is designed to provide supporting meshes for use as inserts (12) in a pellet and to transfer them to the tablet machine (14).

12. The system as claimed in the preceding claim characterized in that the tablet machine (14) comprises a die plate (28) and the system is designed so that a movement of the transfer unit (24) of the device (10) takes place synchronously with a movement of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14).

13. The system as claimed in one of preceding claim 11 or 12 characterized in that the transfer unit (24) is designed so that transfer means (40) in an extended state pass over a pitch circle of the die plates (28) of the tablet machine (14).

14. The system as claimed in one of preceding claims 11 to 13 characterized in that the tablet machine comprises a die plate (28) having die bores (26) and the stamping unit (16) is designed to stamp the inserts (12) as supporting meshes having a circular footprint out of the strip-shaped material (22), wherein the inserts (12) have a diameter which is smaller by 0.02 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, particularly preferably approximately 0.1 mm, than the diameter of the die bores (26).

15. A method for producing a pellet, which includes an insert (12) as a supporting mesh, comprising the following steps: a) providing a strip-shaped material (22), which is a wire fabric, to a stamping unit (16), b) stamping inserts (12) as supporting meshes out of the strip-shaped material (22) in the stamping unit (16), c) transporting the stamped-out inserts (12) to a transfer unit (24), d) transferring the stamped-out inserts (12) by way of the transfer unit (24) into openings (26) of a die plate (28) of a tablet machine (14), e) producing a pellet which includes an insert (12).

16. The method as claimed in the preceding claim characterized in that: the transfer of the inserts (12) into openings (26) of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14) takes place after filling of a pressing material into the openings (26), so that during subsequent compression, the inserts (12) are pressed as supporting meshes into the surface of the pellet and stabilize the pellet.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 characterized in that the stamping out of the inserts (12) takes place cyclically, while the feed of the stamped-out inserts (12) to the tablet machine (14) takes place continuously.

18. The method as claimed in any one of preceding claims 15 to 17 characterized in that after production of the pellet having the insert (12) in the tablet machine, the pellets are dried by means of a heat treatment, wherein the heat treatment preferably takes place over a time period of more than 6 hours, preferably more than 12 hours.

19. The method as claimed in any one of preceding claims 15 to 18 characterized in that the transport of the stamped-out inserts (12) to the transfer unit (24) comprises the following further steps: c1) providing carriers (20) by way of the transport unit (18), c2) receiving the stamped-out inserts (12) by way of the carriers (20) in the stamping unit (16).

20. The device (20) as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 10, the system as claimed in one of claims 11 to 14, or the method as claimed in one or more of claims 15 to 19 characterized in that the pellets comprise a metal oxide powder.

21. The device (10) or the method as claimed in the preceding claim characterized in that the metal oxide powder comprises manganese dioxide.

Description

[0103] The invention is described in greater detail on the basis of the following figures; in the figures:

[0104] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a preferred embodiment of an insert

[0105] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a device and a rotor of a tablet machine

[0106] FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a stamping unit and a material unit

[0107] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a transfer unit

[0108] FIG. 5 shows an illustration of an exemplary transfer process of the inserts from the transport unit to the tablet machine by the transfer unit

[0109] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an insert (12), which is located on a manganese dioxide pellet. The pellets can in particular be pellets for producing button cells, wherein such button cells are frequently used as batteries in electrical or electronic devices. A subgroup of these button cells is produced from cathodes comprising a metal oxide powder, wherein manganese dioxide is very particularly preferred as a starting material for some button cell types due to its favorable chemical properties. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a top view of a housing lower part of a lithium-manganese round cell, in which a manganese dioxide pellet having a pressed-in supporting mesh (12) is located in the middle. The pellet and the supporting mesh (12) have essentially similar diameters, which differ from one another by 0.1 mm, for example. The supporting mesh (12) is preferably formed flat and can comprise, for example 20 to 25 mesh rods in the two spatial directions which span a mesh plane. The mesh rods are symbolized in FIG. 1 by the black lines, while the tablet material is visible through the mesh openings illustrated in white. The housing of a lithium-manganese dioxide round cell is shown circularly around the wire mesh (12), in which the pellet having the supporting mesh (12) is located in the center.

[0110] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a device (10) and a rotor (no reference sign) of a tablet machine (14), wherein the device (10) preferably interacts with the tablet machine (14) to carry out the proposed method. The tablet machine (14) is preferably not a component of the device (10), but together with the device (10) can form a system which is capable in particular of carrying out the proposed method.

[0111] The preferred embodiment of a device (10) shown in FIG. 2 comprises a stamping unit (16), a transport unit (18), and a transfer unit (24), wherein the transfer unit (24) can preferably also be referred to as a transfer device. The illustrated stamping unit (16) comprises a material unit (no reference sign), which in turn comprises a feed roll (32) for fresh strip-shaped material (22), a first tensioning roll (no reference sign) for holding down the strip-shaped material (22), a second tensioning roll (no reference sign) for holding down the stamped-out strip-shaped material (36), and a waste roll (34). It is preferred in terms of the invention that the material unit is provided in spatial proximity to the stamping unit (16).

[0112] The stamping unit (16) can comprise, for example 10 stamping punches, which stamp out the inserts (12) from the fed strip-shaped material (22) in the interior of the stamping unit (16). The strip-shaped material (22) is preferably fed using the feed roll (32). It is preferred in terms of the invention that the carriers (20) in the region of the stamping unit (16) can preferably be raised simultaneously by lifting devices until they reach the stamping dies. This preferably takes place when the preferred 10 carriers (20) are located within the stamping unit (16). The stamping means can be moved downward using a drive device, so that the inserts (12) are stamped out of the fed metal strip (22), wherein the stamped-out inserts (12) advantageously fall onto the carriers (20) or guides on the carriers (20) due to the structure of the stamping unit (16). The stamping tools preferably subsequently move back into an upper idle position, a strip holding-down unit (23) is raised, and the stamped-out strip (36) is transported in the direction of the waste coil (34) until fresh strip (22) is located under the stamping tools again. A new stamping process can then be initiated. For example, approximately 200 carriers (20) can be provided in the transport unit (18), which are preferably continuously in circulation. The stamping process takes place cyclically, the insertion of the stamped-out wire mesh disks (12) preferably takes place continuously. When the preferred 10 filled carriers (20) are deposited on the transport unit (14) in the region of the stamping unit (16), they are transported in the direction of the transfer device (24). The space below the stamping unit (16) thus becomes free and can be filled by preferably 10 empty carriers (20), which are then again loaded with preferably 10 stamped-out wire mesh plates (12). The carriers (20) loaded with the inserts (12) are transported by the transport unit (18) to the transfer unit (24). The carriers (20) are preferably accepted individually in succession there by a gear rim (38) and transported in the direction of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14). The non-extended or retracted heads (46) of the transfer arms (40) of the transfer unit (24) are located above the carriers (20) preferably precisely centrally above the inserts (12). During the rotation of the unit (24) in the direction of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14), the heads (46) can be lowered. Furthermore, a vacuum can be activated which suctions on the inserts (12) and separates them from the carriers (20). Subsequently, the heads (46) are slightly raised and extended enough that the pitch circle of the arms (40) overlaps, for example two times with a pitch circle of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14). The transfer unit (24) rotates synchronously with the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14), so that the stitch spacing of the dies (26) is preferably essentially always equal to the spacing of the transfer arms (40). The transfer arms (40) are guided on the die pitch circle via a curve controller from the overlap point of the two pitch circles. Over this angle range, the transfer arms (40) are lowered and a vacuum can be switched on as soon as an insert (12) are located within the die bore (26) above the smoothed pressing material. The insert (12) thus falls on the pressing material in the opening (26) of the die plate (28). The transfer arms (40) are subsequently raised again and a new insert (12) moves on its own pitch circle to the acceptance position. The filled dies (26) now pass the pre-pressing and/or main pressing station of the tablet machine (14) and/or thus compacted to form a pellet which is stabilized by the pressed-in wire mesh (12). The pellets are subsequently ejected from the die (26). It is checked beforehand by the pressing force whether a wire mesh (12) has been inserted and whether the weight of the pellet is correct. If one of the two criteria is not met, this pellet is sorted out as a reject. The “good” pellets leave the tablet machine (14) via a transport belt or a chute. The empty carriers (20) are guided back via the second transport belt section (44) of the transport unit (18) preferably essentially in parallel to the first transport belt section (42) and conducted by a cross transport device (48) back to the first transport belt section (42), on which they are fed to the stamping unit (16) again for a new circulation. This cross transport device (48) is also referred to as a third transport belt section (48) in terms of the invention.

[0113] The transport unit (18) comprises carriers (20), wherein one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention comprises, for example approximately 200 carriers. The carriers (20) can be designed as hollow cylinders or cylinders having longitudinal bores and/or center bores. A vacuum, a negative pressure, or compressed air blasts can be applied to them in particular. The vacuum or the negative pressure can be used to suction the inserts (12) onto the carriers (20) and thus fasten them strongly and stably, but releasably on the carriers (20). The inserts (12) can be removed or released particularly easily from the carrier upper sides using the compressed air blasts. The transport unit (18) can therefore comprise fittings and/or feed and exhaust lines for the vacuum, the negative pressure, or the compressed air. The carriers (20) preferably move along transport rails, which can preferably also be designed as transport belts. In particular, the transport unit (18) comprises two essentially parallel transport sections (42, 44), wherein the stamping unit (16) is provided arranged in a first transport section (42), wherein the transport sections can preferably also be referred to as transport belt sections (42, 44). It is preferred in terms of the invention that the first transport section (42) represents the path of the carriers (20) on the way to the tablet machine (14). The transition between the second transport section (44) and the first transport section (42) is formed by a third transport belt section (48), using which the empty carriers (20) are transferred from the second rear transport belt section (44) for renewed loading at the front first transport belt section (42).

[0114] The transfer unit (24), using which the inserts (12), which are held by the transfer heads (46), can be inserted into the openings (26) of the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14), forms the transition between the first transport section (42) and the second transport section (44). The dies (26) have preferably been filled with a tablet material before the insertion of the inserts (12), so that the inserts (12) are preferably deposited on the tablet material. It is preferred in terms of the invention that the tablet material comprises manganese dioxide powder, which can be filled, for example, using a filling device in the dies (26) of the die plate (28). When the supporting mesh has been deposited on the tablet material, the pressing material can be compressed together with the supporting mesh to form a pellet, for example using the pre-pressing and/or main pressing station (not shown) of the tablet machine (14).

[0115] The transfer unit (24) can preferably comprise transfer means (40), which can be designed, for example as transfer arms. The transfer arms (40) can be provided in an extended or in a non-extended state, wherein they have a working length in the extended state. Furthermore, the transfer means (40) can be raised. For this purpose, the acceptance device (26) can have control means, which are designed as control curves, for example. In the front region, the transfer means (40) can comprise heads (46), which can be designed to accept the inserts from the carriers. The transfer heads (46) can include bores, to which vacuum, negative pressure, or compressed air can be applied. For this purpose, the transfer unit (24) can preferably comprise fittings and/or feed and exhaust lines for the vacuum, the negative pressure, or the compressed air. The transfer unit (24) can furthermore comprise a gear rim (38), wherein the gear rim (38) is provided arranged below the transfer means (40) and is designed to accept the carriers (20) from the transfer unit (18).

[0116] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a stamping unit (16) and a material unit. The material unit comprises, in a region upstream of the stamping unit (16), a feed roll (32) for fresh strip-shaped material (22) for the production of the inserts (12), and a tensioning roll (23), which holds the strip-shaped material (22) to be fed at a height for the stamping unit (16). In a region downstream of the stamping unit (16), the material unit comprises a further tensioning roll (23) for holding down the stamped-out residual strip (36), and a roll (34) for receiving it. In particular, FIG. 3 shows a stamping unit (16) having strip feed (32) and strip discharge (34). It is preferred in terms of the invention that the stamping unit (16) is provided arranged between the elements of the material unit, and that the stamping unit (16) and the material unit are provided in the region of the first transport belt section (42) of the transport unit (18).

[0117] FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a transfer unit (24). In particular, FIG. 4 shows the transport of the carriers (20) filled with the stamped-out inserts (12) to the transfer unit (24), which can comprise movable transfer arms (40). The carriers (20) loaded with the stamped-out inserts (12) are accepted at the end of the first transport belt section (42) of the transport unit (18) by the gear rim (38) of the transfer unit (24) and guided in a circle in recesses of the gear rim (38). In particular, the gear rim (38) for guiding the carriers (20) is provided below the transfer arms (40). The transfer arms (40) are initially provided in the non-extended state and in this state accept the inserts (12) from the upper sides of the carriers (12), which can include guides, for example, for better holding of the inserts (12). After completed acceptance of the inserts (12) by the transfer means (40) or the heads (46) of the transfer heads (40), the transfer arms (40) move and enter a working state. Vacuum or negative pressure can be applied to the transfer heads (46), for example, to be able to hold the inserts (12) better. In the extended states, the transfer arms (40) or their heads (46) pass over a subregion of the die plate (28) for a certain time span, so that a sufficiently long time period for a reliable and precise transfer of the inserts (12) into the openings (26) of the die plate (28) remains. The transfer arms (40) go back into the retracted state after completed delivery of the inserts, until a new insert (12) is received again at the end of the first transport belt section (42). The empty carriers (20) are initially conveyed further using the gear rim (38), preferably up to the beginning of the second transport belt section (44). The carriers (20) are transferred there to the second transport belt (44) and transported by the transport unit (18) along the second transport belt section (44).

[0118] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary transfer process of the inserts (12) from the transport unit (18) to the tablet machine (14) by the transfer unit (24). In particular, FIG. 5 shows the movement of the transfer arms (40) with the acceptance of the inserts (12) by means of vacuum, the feed of the carriers (20) filled with the inserts (12) to the die plate (28) of the tablet machine (14), wherein the die plate (28) comprises the dies (26) filled with the pressing material, wherein the inserts (12) are inserted on the tablet material. The extension process of the transfer arms (40) from a retracted or non-extended state into an extended state, in which the inserts (12) are transferred to the openings (26) of the die plate (28), can be seen clearly in FIG. 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0119] 10 device [0120] 12 insert, in particular supporting mesh [0121] 14 tablet machine, for example rotary press [0122] 16 stamping unit [0123] 18 transport unit [0124] 20 carrier [0125] 22 strip-shaped material [0126] 24 transfer unit [0127] 26 openings [0128] 28 die plate [0129] 30 lifting apparatus for the carriers [0130] 32 means for supplying the strip-shaped material [0131] 34 means for receiving a stamped-out strip-shaped material [0132] 36 stamped-out strip-shaped material [0133] 38 gear rim [0134] 40 transfer means [0135] 42 first transport belt section [0136] 44 second transport belt section [0137] 46 transfer heads [0138] 48 third transport belt section/cross transport device