US 12,002,966 B2
Battery electrode continuous casting drum, shoe, machine and method
Michael R. Romeo, St. Clair, MI (US); Jason P. Miller, Cottrellville, MI (US); Aleksander Mrdenovic, Fort Gratiot, MI (US); John O. Wirtz, Fort Gratiot, MI (US); and John W. Wirtz, II, Fort Gratiot, MI (US)
Assigned to Wirtz Manufacturing Company, Inc., Port Huron, MI (US)
Filed by Wirtz Manufacturing Company, Inc., Port Huron, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/675,131.
Application 17/675,131 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/441,053, previously published as PCT/US2019/054796, filed on Oct. 4, 2019.
Application 17/441,053 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2019/027144, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,705, filed on Feb. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/820,580, filed on Mar. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/656,633, filed on Apr. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0209246 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. B22D 11/06 (2006.01); H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 4/66 (2006.01); H01M 4/84 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 4/84 (2013.01) [B22D 11/0634 (2013.01); H01M 4/0485 (2013.01); H01M 4/661 (2013.01); H01M 4/663 (2013.01); H01M 4/667 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for continuous casting a composite strip of an electrically conductive metal attached along at least one edge of an elongate web of carbon fiber material, the system comprising:
a mold comprising a drum rotatable about an axis of rotation;
a circumferentially continuous portion of the drum configured to receive on part thereof a portion of the web of carbon fiber material for movement with the drum;
at least one mold cavity extending circumferentially around the drum and configured in part to underlie an adjacent edge of the portion of the web of carbon fiber material received on the drum and extending transversely outward of the adjacent edge of the portion of the web of carbon fiber material;
the at least one mold cavity configured to cast an elongate ribbon of electrically conductive metal attached to the adjacent edge of the portion of the web of carbon fiber material received on the drum and extending transversely outward thereof with an outer edge of the elongate ribbon of electrically conductive metal having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches therethrough and opening to the outer edge of the elongate ribbon of electrically conductive metal;
a casting shoe in confrontation with the drum of the mold at a first side of the drum, the casting shoe having a guide bar for supporting a portion of the web of carbon fiber material prior to receipt of the portion of the web of carbon fiber material between the casting shoe and the drum; and
a carbon fiber material feed assembly situated at a second side of the drum and opposite of the first side of the drum, the carbon fiber material feed assembly feeding the web of carbon fiber material to the casting shoe and drum, the carbon fiber material feed assembly including a plurality of rollers, and the carbon fiber material feed assembly feeding the web of carbon fiber material from the second side of the drum that is opposite the first side of the drum.