Device and method for uniformly distributing electrode particles

A drop-fill assembly for providing an electrode for an electrical energy storage device comprises: a support for a current collector; a conduit in flow communication with platform openings and the current collector; and planar sifting screen(s) supported by the conduit generally normal to the longitudinal axis and spaced vertically above the current collector and the first conduit end. A drop-fill assembly (10) for providing an electrode for an electrical energy storage device comprises: a support for a current collector comprising: upper and lower support plates having aligned openings, the support plates being manipulatable with respect to each other to capture a current collector intermediate the openings; a conduit having a surrounding sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis to opposed first and second conduit ends, the conduit being in flow communication with the platform openings and the current collector with the first conduit end adjacent to the current collector and the second conduit end spaced vertically above the first conduit end; and planar sifting screen(s) (28A, 28B) supported by the conduit generally normal to the longitudinal axis and spaced vertically above the current collector and the first conduit end. The conduit provides for an electrode active material introduced into the second conduit end to fall through the conduit, through the sifting screen(s) and onto the current collector as a generally uniform layer. An independent claim is included for a method for providing an electrode for an electrical energy storage device, comprising: providing a support for a current collector as above; positioning the current collector captured between the upper and lower support plates intermediate the aligned openings; providing a conduit as above; positioning the conduit in flow communication with the platform openings and the current collector with the first conduit end adjacent to the current collector and the second conduit end spaced vertically above the first conduit end; and introducing an electrode active material into the second conduit end and letting it fall through the conduit, through the sifting screen(s) and onto the current collector as a generally uniform layer.