Apparatus, systems and methods for the production of electrodes for use in batteries

A process for delineating a population of electrode structures in a web, the web having a down-web direction and a cross-web direction, the down-web and cross-web directions being orthogonal to each other, the process comprising:

• moving the web over a support surface, the support surface comprising a thermally conductive material;
• forming a series of alignment features in the web that are disposed in the cross-web or down-web direction;
• laser machining the web to form a series of patterns in the web in the down-web direction, the cross-web direction, or each of the cross-web direction and down-web direction that delineate members of the electrode structure population, each of the delineated members being individually bounded, at least in part, by a member of the series of patterns that is adapted to facilitate separation of delineated members, individually, from the web by an application of a force, the series of alignment features being used to aid in the formation of the series of patterns;
• and
• dissipating thermal energy from the laser machining using the support surface.

A process for delineating a population of electrode structures in a web, the web having a down-web direction and a cross-web direction, the down-web and cross-web directions being orthogonal to each other, the process comprising:

• forming a series of fiducial through-holes in the web that are disposed in the cross-web or down-web direction;
• laser machining the web to form a series of patterns in the web in the down-web direction, the cross-web direction, or each of the cross-web direction and down-web direction that delineate members of the electrode structure population, each of the delineated members being individually bounded, at least in part, by a member of the series of patterns that is adapted to facilitate separation of delineated members, individually, from the web by an application of a force, the series of alignment features being used to aid in the formation of the series of patterns;
• controlling a tension in the web in the down-web direction during the laser machining;
• and
• conveying the web in the down-web direction after the laser machining without releasing the delineated members from the web.