Manz has filed a patent for a support apparatus used in the production of electric energy storage devices. The apparatus includes a support element that moves intermittently along a feeding plane, driven by an actuator system. It also features two rollers, with the first roller being driven at a variable speed by another actuator system. This system controls the speed of the first roller to compensate for the intermittent movement of the support element, ensuring a continuous rolling condition between the first roller and the material being fed. GlobalData’s report on Manz gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData s company profile on Manz, Li-ion batteries was a key innovation area identified from patents. Manz's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Support apparatus for production of electric energy storage devices
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230170518A1) describes a support apparatus for the production of electric energy storage devices. The apparatus includes a support element that can move linearly along a feeding plane, supporting the material in a continuous manner. It also includes a first actuator system and a second actuator system, with the second actuator system driving the support element in an intermittent manner along a predefined stroke. The apparatus further includes a first roller mounted on the support element, which can be driven to rotate at a variable speed by the first actuator system. A second roller is positioned opposite the first roller, causing the material to move between them. The first actuator system controls the speed of the first roller, compensating for the intermittent movement of the support element and maintaining a rolling condition between the first roller and the material.
The patent also describes an apparatus that includes additional rollers connected by oblong motion transmission elements, such as belts or chains. The second actuator system is a linear electric motor that moves the support element along the predefined stroke. The first actuator system is an electric motor, specifically a brushless motor, located on the support element. The first and second rollers are configured to move at the same speed, connected by a motion transmission system. The second roller is an idler roller, and both rollers have a size smaller than 20 mm.
Furthermore, the patent describes a machine for the production of energy storage devices that incorporates the support apparatus. The machine includes a feeding system that feeds the material at a constant speed along the feeding plane. It also includes a winding apparatus with a support and a third actuator device. The material is wound on a core with an oblong shape, forming a winding with multiple electrodes. The core is arranged on the support and can rotate around a first rotation axis controlled by the third actuator device. The winding apparatus includes holding elements that can assume a closing configuration, holding a portion of the material in contact with the winding, and an opening configuration, allowing the material to be wound on the core.
The patent also outlines a method for the production of electric energy storage devices. The method involves a feeding step, a supporting step using the support apparatus, and a recovery step to avoid collision with the rotating core. The method includes a winding step, where the material is wound on the oblong-shaped core to form a winding with multiple electrodes. The accompanying sub-step of the supporting step is simultaneous with the first sub-step of the winding step, and the recovery sub-step is simultaneous with the second sub-step of the winding step. The first roller is driven by a second actuator system at a variable speed, compensating for the difference between the constant feeding speed and the variable speed of the support apparatus.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies
