System and method for die cutting manifold including a lubrication channel

Abstract

One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an assembly. The assembly includes a stripper plate having a stripper plate face and defining and elongate opening extending through the stripper plate face and into the stripper plate. A punch of the assembly is slidably disposed in the elongate opening, the punch having a punch profile shaped to conform to the elongate opening. The assembly includes a die in alignment with the stripper plate, the die having a die face opposed to the stripper plate face, the face defining a die opening which is substantially coextensive with the elongate opening of the stripper plate, the die defining a plurality of wetting lumens extending through the die, with each lumen terminating in the die face near the die opening, each of the lumens adapted to dispense a lubricant to the die face and along the die opening.

1 . An assembly for punching a web, comprising:
 a stripper plate having a stripper plate face defining an opening which extends into the stripper plate;   a punch slidably disposed in the opening, the punch having a punch profile shaped to conform to the opening;   a die in alignment with the stripper plate, the die having a die face opposed to the stripper plate face, the face defining a die opening which is substantially coextensive with the opening of the stripper plate, the die defining a plurality of wetting lumens extending through the die, with each lumen terminating in the die face near the die opening, each of the lumens adapted to dispense a lubricant to the die face and along the die opening.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubrication manifold sealed to the die with a seal, the lubrication manifold comprising a plurality of channels each having at least one respective inlet, the plurality of channels in fluid communication with the plurality of wetting lumens. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gas lumens adapted to direct air toward the web to push the web away from the die. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wetting lumens includes a nozzle. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a punch block coupled to the punch and a punch holder coupled to the stripper plate, the punch block being slidably disposed in the punch holder. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the punch holder includes carbide alloy. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the punch is elongate, having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion oriented toward the die, and further comprising a vacuum manifold coupled to the punch at the distal portion, the vacuum manifold including a plurality of manifold lumens which terminate at the distal portion of the punch. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the punch includes a plurality of vacuum lumens. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the manifold lumens are in fluid communication with a first vacuum coupling, and the vacuum lumens are in fluid communication with a second vacuum coupling. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the die further defines an access opening connecting the die opening to a second die face. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second die face opposes the die face. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the access opening is at least as big as the die opening. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the access opening is larger than the die opening, and a step connects the die opening and the access opening. 
   
   
       14 . A method for punching an electrode web with a punch assembly, the method comprising:
 placing an electrode web between a punch and a die, the punch in alignment with the die to cut the web along an cutting opening to define an electrode with the cutting opening;   lubricating the die with a lubricant, the lubricant flowing from a plurality of lubricant lumens in the die, the lubricant lubricating the die by wetting the electrode web and the die along the cutting opening; and   punching the electrode from the electrode web by pressing the punch through the electrode web and into a die opening in the die.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising applying a lubricative film on one side of the electrode. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising picking the electrode off the punch through an access opening in the die. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising registering a vacuum pick to the electrode web during punching. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning the electrode into a stack of electrodes in alignment. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising holding the electrode web to the punch with a punch vacuum. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the punch vacuum is a first punch vacuum, and further holding the electrode with a second punch vacuum which at a different pressure than the first punch vacuum. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising blowing the electrode web away from the die with a gas. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising directing the air toward the electrode web outside the cutting opening by positioning a plurality of gas lumens in the die outside a cutting opening defined by the die for cutting the electrode from the electrode web. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electrode web includes lithium. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the electrode web includes nickel sandwiched between two layers of lithium. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising lubricating the punch with lubrication as the punch slides in a stripper plate, the lubrication flowing through a lubrication channel in the stripper plate which surrounds a stripper opening through which the punch slides. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising sliding a punch block through a punch holder which is connected to the stripper plate, the punch block sliding through the punch holder while the punch block is coupled to the punch. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising cutting the die opening and the stripper opening into a monolithic block, and cutting the die and the stripper block from the monolithic block. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , cutting the die opening and the stripper opening includes EDM cutting. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus, comprising:
 die means for lubricating a die cutting edge by wetting; and   punch means for punching an electrode out of an electrode web by sliding through the electrode web and into the die means.   
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a stripper plate having a stripper plate face and defining and elongate opening extending through the stripper plate face and into the stripper plate,
 wherein the die means include a die in alignment with the stripper plate, the die having a die face opposed to the stripper plate face, the face defining a die opening which is substantially coextensive with the elongate opening of the stripper plate.   
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the die defines a plurality of wetting lumens extending through the die, with each lumen terminating in the die face near the die opening, each of the lumens adapted to dispense a lubricant to the die face and along the die opening.