Apparatus and method for changing reels in electrochemical cell production

A method for changing reels in electrochemical cell production, including:

• providing a first hollow core of a first reel on a shaft of a mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable and supported by a frame, said shaft being in a working position;
• translating by an extraction system said shaft to a loading/unloading position, moving a loading end of said shaft away from said frame;
• unthreading said first hollow core out of said shaft, through said loading end;
• threading a second hollow core of a second reel onto said shaft, through said loading end;
• translating by said extraction system said shaft to said working position, bringing said loading end of said shaft closer to said frame.

An electrochemical cell production method, wherein the method comprises:

• feeding electrode and separator webs in reels;
• cutting said electrode and separator webs into pieces of electrode and separator webs;
• forming a semi-finished product with an overlapping layer structure with said pieces of electrode and separator webs;
• wherein when a reel of electrode or separator web is running out, it is provided a reel change with the reel change method by:
• providing a first hollow core of a first reel on a shaft of a mandrel, said mandrel being rotatable and supported by a frame, said shaft being in a working position;
• translating by an extraction system said shaft to a loading/unloading position, moving a loading end of said shaft away from said frame;
• unthreading said first hollow core out of said shaft, through said loading end;
• threading a second hollow core of a second reel onto said shaft, through said loading end;
• translating by said extraction system said shaft to said working position, bringing said loading end of said shaft closer to said frame.