Method of multicell battery production using pocketed continuous strip

Claim 1

A method of constructing multicell batteries utilizing a continuous web, the web comprising at least one Zone No. 1, at least one Zone No. 2, and at least one Zone No. 3 which are structurally connected together, at least one of the Zones comprising a continuous strip of metal, the method comprising the steps of: a. placing intermittent deposits of electrodes along the continuous web by i. placing intermittent deposits of positive electrodes along one side of each Zone No. 1. ii. placing intermittent deposits of negative electrodes along one side of each Zone No. 2, and iii. placing intermittent deposits of positive and negative electrodes along each Zone No. 3, each deposit of positive electrode being on the other side of a Zone No. 3 from and substantially opposite a deposit of negative electrode; b. cutting the continuous web having the electrode deposits thereon so that the Zones No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 are continuous strips which are structurally unconnecteD from each other; c. indenting pockets in a Zone comprising a continuous strip of metal, each pocket being indented between a pair of predetermined positions along the Zone, each pocket being formed while gripping the continuous strip sufficiently to maintain the distance between the pair of predetermined positions constant during the indenting action: d. collating the continuous Zones No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 so that at least one Zone No. 3 is between a Zone No. 1 and a Zone No. 2, so that the positive electrodes along Zone No. 1 and the negative electrodes along Zone No. 2 are facing the inside of the collation, and so that a deposit of positive electrode on one Zone is opposite a deposit of negative electrode on an adjacent Zone; e. placing a separator and electrolyte between each adjacent pair of electrodes in the collation; and f. sealing around the electrodes on the Zones.

Claim 4

A method of constructing multicell batteries utilizing a continuous web comprising a plurality of structurally connected continuous Zones, at least one of the Zones comprising a continuous strip of metal, the method comprising the steps of: a. cutting the continuous web so that the continuous Zones are continuous strips which are structurally unconnected from each other; b. cutting a pair of slits partially across the Zone comprising a continuous strip of metal; c. indenting a pocket between the slits in the slitted Zone, the indenting being done in a manner which results in the width of the slits being increased but the center lines of the slits remaining in fixed relative longitudinal position by the indenting action; and, d. collating the pocketed Zone into an assembly of battery components which assembly includes at least one other Zone cut from the web.

Claim 5

A method of constructing multicell batteries utilizing a continuous web, the web comprising at least one Zone No. 1, at least one Zone No. 2, and at least one Zone No. 3 which are structurally connected together, at least one of the Zones comprising a continuous strip of metal, the method comprising the steps of: a. placing intermittent deposits of electrodes along the continuous web by i. placing intermittent deposits of positive electrodes along one side of each Zone No. 1, ii. placing intermittent deposits of negative electrodes along one side of each of Zone No. 2, and iii. placing intermittent deposits of positive and negative electrodes along each Zone No. 3, each deposit of positive electrode being on the other side of a Zone No. 3 from and substantially opposite a deposit of negative electrode; b. cutting the continuous web having the electrode deposits thereon so that the Zones No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 are continuous strips which are structurally unconnected from each other; c. cutting a pair of slits partially across the Zone comprising a continuous strip of metals; d. indenting a pocket between the slits in the slitted Zone, the indenting being done in a manner which results in the width of the slits being increased but the center lines of the slits remaining in fixed relative longitudinal position by the indenting action; e. collating the continuous Zones No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 so that at least one Zone No. 3 is between a Zone No. 1 and a Zone No. 2, So that the positive electrodes along Zone No. 1 and the negative electrodes along Zone No. 2 are facing the inside of the collation, and so that a deposit of positive electrode on one Zone is opposite a deposit of negative electrode on an adjacent Zone; f. placing a separator and electrolyte between each adjacent pair of electrodes in the collation; and, g. sealing around the electrodes on the Zones.