Abstract: A system for encapsulating electrodes for a battery includes lower path rollers, a conveyor frame, conveyor drives, a continuous track, and a heat press. The lower path rollers are operable to guide a first web of separator material along a lower web path. The conveyor frame supports the lower path rollers. The conveyor drives are supported on the conveyor frame. The continuous track is driven by the conveyor drives and is positioned beneath the lower web path. The continuous track includes conveyor magnets embedded within pallets. The magnets are operable to secure electrode material against the first web. The heat press is positioned above the continuous track and includes a heated surface configured to heat and press a second web of separator material against the first web to encapsulate at least a portion of the electrode material within the first web and the second web.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method is provided for high pressure, solid phase forming of an image bearing relatively thin sheet. Each sheet to be formed is moved to a pickup station, the sheet is picked up by a heated vacuum pickup, and then transferred to a preheat station while held by the heated vacuum pickup. The heated vacuum pickup is lowered at the preheat station to bring the sheet into engagement with preheater structure therebelow so that heat is applied by direct engagement to both sides of the sheet at the preheat station. The preheated sheet, still attached by vacuum to the heated vacuum pickup is then moved into a forming station of a floating bolster supported die set assembly while the pressure chamber die set unit and a forming die set unit of the die set assembly are in vertically spaced relationship.