Coating system and coating method

Abstract

The invention discloses a coating system and a coating method. The coating system comprises a conveying roller, a coating device, a marking device and a detection device. The marking device is located on the downstream side of the detection device and comprises an installation support, a marking assembly, a state obtaining assembly and a controller. The marking assembly is arranged on the installation support in the mode of moving in the first direction. The state acquisition unit is provided on the mounting bracket, and is configured to acquire the state of the substrate and output an output signal indicating the state when the detection result of the detection device indicates that the target region of the substrate needs to be marked. The controller is configured to calculate position information of the base material based on the output signal and control the marking assembly to mark the base material based on the position information. According to the coating system, the target area, needing to be marked, of the base material can be marked in an automatic mode, and the marking precision is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery manufacturing technology, and in particular to a coating system and a coating method. Background Art

[0002] New energy batteries are being used more and more widely in life and industry. For example, new energy vehicles equipped with batteries have been widely used. In addition, batteries are also being increasingly used in energy storage fields.

[0003] Coating is a crucial process in battery manufacturing, and its quality impacts battery cycle life, capacity, and performance. During the coating process, coating defects may occur. If these defects cannot be removed in subsequent steps, they may affect the quality of the electrode and, in turn, the battery. Furthermore, the coating process also involves certain areas of special coating requirements.

[0004] Therefore, how to mark areas with coating defects or special coating areas to facilitate subsequent processing is one of the topics that the industry needs to study. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a coating system and coating method that can mark coating defect areas or special process areas in an automated manner with high marking accuracy.

[0006] This application is implemented through the following technical solutions.

[0007] The first aspect of the present application provides a coating system, which includes: a conveying roller for conveying a substrate; a coating device for coating a slurry onto the substrate to form a coating layer; a marking device for marking the substrate; and a detection device for detecting the coating state of the coating layer applied to the substrate and sending the detection result to the marking device; wherein the marking device is located on the downstream side of the detection device, and includes: a mounting bracket; a marking component, which is arranged on the mounting bracket in a manner capable of moving along a first direction; a state acquisition component, which is arranged on the mounting bracket and is configured to acquire the state of the substrate and output an output signal indicating the state when the detection result of the detection device indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked; and a controller, which is configured to calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and control the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

[0008] Since the marking component can move along the first direction, the position of the marking component along the first direction can be flexibly adjusted, so that it can adapt to substrates of various specifications and sizes in an automated manner, or can adapt to strip-shaped partitioned areas of different sizes on the substrate without the need for manual changes and other operations, and has better compatibility.

[0009] In addition, since the marking device also includes a state acquisition component, the state acquisition component can obtain the state of the substrate in real time and send an output signal representing the state to the controller. The controller can calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal, and can control the marking component to mark the position based on the position information, so that the area of ​​the substrate that needs to be marked can be marked in an automated manner, and the consistency tracking of the substrate tape can be achieved, thereby improving the marking accuracy of the marking component.

[0010] In some embodiments, the state of the substrate includes a motion state and / or a relative position; and the position information includes a start position and an end position of the target area.

[0011] Thus, the controller can obtain the motion state and relative position of the substrate through the state acquisition component, and obtain the starting position and ending position of the target area on the substrate by calculation, thereby controlling the marking component to perform marking, thereby improving the marking accuracy.

[0012] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to mark the end position or the starting position of the target area, and the mark shows the range of the target area; wherein, along the conveying direction, the end position is located on the upstream side of the target area, and the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area; the mark includes an arrow mark and a numerical mark, the arrow mark points to the side where the target area is located, and the numerical mark indicates the length of the target area along the conveying direction.

[0013] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the marking range indicated by the arrow mark and the digital mark, which makes it easier for the operator to perform corresponding processing.

[0014] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to mark the starting position and the ending position of the target area; wherein, along the conveying direction, the ending position is located on the upstream side of the target area, the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area, and the mark of the starting position of the target area is different from the mark of the ending position.

[0015] Therefore, in the subsequent process, by identifying the start mark and the end mark, the area between the two marks can be identified as a defective area or an area that has undergone special processing, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0016] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to continuously mark a predetermined area including the target area along the conveying direction.

[0017] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the range of continuous marking, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0018] In some embodiments, the marking device includes a screw extending along a first direction, the screw is rotatably arranged on the mounting bracket, the marking assembly is connected to the screw via a connecting member, and the connecting member can drive the marking assembly to reciprocate along the first direction through the rotation of the screw.

[0019] Thus, the marking assembly can be moved in the first direction by rotating the screw, thereby easily adjusting the position of the marking assembly in the first direction in a simple and automated manner. In addition, the screw drive has high transmission efficiency and low energy consumption, which is more conducive to energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0020] In some embodiments, the marking device includes a guide rod provided on the mounting bracket, the guide rod is arranged parallel to the screw rod at a distance; the connecting member is formed with a groove, and the connecting rod can slide along the guide rod through the cooperation between the groove and the guide rod.

[0021] In this way, a good guiding effect can be provided for the marking component, so that the marking component is not prone to rotational deviation when moving along the first direction, thereby improving the marking stability and reliability of the marking component.

[0022] In some embodiments, a guide rail extending along a second direction is formed on the connecting member, and the marking assembly is supported on the guide rail in a manner capable of moving along the guide rail; the second direction intersects with the first direction.

[0023] As a result, the marking assembly can move in the second direction, making it easy to adjust its position in the second direction using a simple mechanism and in an automated manner, further improving the compatibility and versatility of the marking assembly. Furthermore, the provision of the guide rail can reduce friction and shaking when the marking assembly moves in the second direction, thereby making the movement of the marking assembly smoother and more stable, with higher reliability, and lower energy consumption, which is more conducive to energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0024] In some embodiments, the marking component includes: a nozzle terminal, which is formed with an ink outlet; an ink cartridge, which is connected to the nozzle terminal and contains ink for marking; and a shielding member, which is configured to be switchable between a first position and a second position; wherein, when the shielding member is in the first position, the ink outlet is exposed, and when the shielding member is in the second position, the ink outlet is revealed.

[0025] Thus, the marking assembly can mark the substrate using an inkjet method. Inkjet marking is fast, is less likely to damage the substrate, and can also use different colors of ink to create different markings. Furthermore, because the marking assembly also includes a shielding member, the shielding member can shield the ink outlet when marking is not required, reducing the possibility of ink dripping and contaminating the substrate.

[0026] In some embodiments, the shielding member includes a cleaning member, and when the shielding member moves between the first position and the second position, the cleaning member is used to brush across the ink outlet.

[0027] In this way, the ink remaining at the ink outlet can be cleaned by brushing the cleaning piece across the ink outlet, reducing the possibility of contaminating the substrate due to ink dripping, and also reducing the possibility of the ink at the ink outlet drying up due to the long-term standby of the inkjet printer, thereby reducing the possibility of the ink outlet being blocked.

[0028] In some embodiments, the substrate includes at least one strip-shaped area; the marking component includes a sensor for detecting an edge position of the strip-shaped area, and the controller determines an initial position of the marking component based on the edge position detected by the sensor.

[0029] This reduces the possibility that the marking unit fails to mark at the specified position, further improving the marking accuracy of the marking unit.

[0030] In some embodiments, there are multiple marking assemblies, and the multiple marking assemblies are spaced apart from each other on the mounting bracket in a manner that allows them to move along the first direction.

[0031] Therefore, for a substrate with a large width and multiple strip-shaped areas, the multiple strip-shaped areas of the substrate can be marked at the same time, thereby improving marking efficiency.

[0032] In some embodiments, the detection device includes at least one of an areal density detection device for detecting the surface density of the coating layer, a thickness detection device for detecting the thickness of the coating layer, and a visual detection device for detecting the appearance of the coating layer.

[0033] In this way, the surface quality of the coating layer on the substrate, such as surface density, thickness and appearance, can be detected, and the detection results can be sent to the controller, so that the controller can control the marking device to mark the defective position of the substrate or the position of the special process.

[0034] The second aspect of the present application provides a coating method, which includes: applying a slurry onto a substrate to form a coating layer through a coating device; detecting the coating state of the coating layer coated on the substrate through a detection device; sending the detection result to a marking device based on the coating state; when the detection result indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked, causing the marking device to perform the marking step, wherein the marking device includes a marking component, a state acquisition component and a controller, and the marking step includes: acquiring the state of the substrate through the state acquisition component and outputting an output signal representing the state; causing the controller to calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and control the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

[0035] Thus, the marking device can automatically mark defective areas of the substrate or areas requiring special processes, thereby facilitating removal of defective parts in subsequent processes or performing corresponding processing on the areas requiring special processes.

[0036] In some embodiments, the state of the substrate includes a motion state and a relative position; and the position information includes a start position and an end position of the target area.

[0037] Thus, the controller can obtain the motion state and relative position of the substrate through the state acquisition component, and calculate the starting position and ending position of the target area on the substrate, thereby controlling the marking component to perform marking, thereby improving the marking accuracy.

[0038] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to mark the end position or the starting position of the target area, and the mark shows the range of the target area; wherein, along the conveying direction, the end position is located on the upstream side of the target area, and the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area; the mark includes an arrow mark and a numerical mark, the arrow mark points to the side where the target area is located, and the numerical mark indicates the length of the target area along the conveying direction.

[0039] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the marking range indicated by the arrow mark and the digital mark, which makes it easier for the operator to perform corresponding processing.

[0040] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to mark the starting position and the ending position of the target area; wherein, along the conveying direction, the ending position is located on the upstream side of the target area, the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area, and the mark of the starting position of the target area is different from the mark of the ending position.

[0041] Therefore, in the subsequent process, by identifying the start mark and the end mark, the area between the two marks can be identified as a defective area or an area that has undergone special processing, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0042] In some embodiments, the substrate is in a strip shape and extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; the controller controls the marking component to continuously mark a predetermined area including the target area along the conveying direction.

[0043] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the range of continuous marking, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0044] Effects of the Invention

[0045] The present application provides a coating system and coating method that can mark defective areas or special process areas in an automated manner with high marking accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference made to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same components throughout the text. In the drawings:

[0047] Figure 1 A perspective view of a marking device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0048] Figure 2 Another perspective view of a marking device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0049] Figure 3 An enlarged view of a portion of a marking device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0050] Figure 4 A plan view of a marking device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0051] Figure 5 A simplified view of a coating system according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0052] Figure 6 A plan view of a marked substrate according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0053] Figure 7 Another plan view of a marked substrate according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0054] Figure 8 Yet another plan view of a marked substrate according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0055] Figure 9 A flowchart of a coating method according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0056] Explanation of reference signs

[0057] 1-mounting bracket; 11-plate body; 2-marking assembly; 21-ink jet head; 211-ink outlet; 22-ink cartridge; 23-shielding member; 231-cleaning member; 24-sensor; 3-state acquisition assembly; 31-encoding roller; 32-encoder; 4-controller; 5-screw; 6-connecting member; 61-engaging member; 62-groove; 63-guide rail; 64-sliding member; 7-guide rod; 1000-coating system; 100-marking device; 200-substrate; 201-strip region; 202-mark; 203-target region; 204-coating layer; 300-conveying roller; 400-coating device; 500-detecting device; 501-area density detecting device; 502-thickness detecting device; 503-vision detecting device; 600-drying device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The embodiments of the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and therefore only serve as examples, and cannot limit the protection scope of the present application.

[0059] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application; the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof in the present application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0060] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are only used to distinguish different objects, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise explicitly and specifically limited.

[0061] Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, nor is it necessarily independent or alternative embodiments to other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0062] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "and / or" is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the three cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone. In addition, the character " / " in this paper generally represents the "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0063] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by technical terms such as "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", and "circumferential" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, operated or used in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present application.

[0064] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0065] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the technical term "contact" should be understood in a broad sense, and can be direct contact, contact through an intermediate medium layer, contact with essentially no interaction force between the two contacting parties, or contact with interaction force between the two contacting parties.

[0066] Below, this application is described in detail.

[0067] Currently, new energy batteries are increasingly being used in everyday life and industry. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in a variety of fields such as aerospace. As the application of power batteries continues to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0068] Coating is a crucial process in battery manufacturing, and its quality impacts battery cycle life, capacity, and performance. Coating involves applying a prepared, viscous, liquid slurry evenly, continuously, or intermittently to the surface of a substrate. During the coating process, coating defects such as uneven or inconsistent coating thickness, or surface defects may occur. If these defects are not removed in subsequent steps, they can affect the quality of the electrode, and ultimately the battery.

[0069] In addition, in some special processes, there will be some special coating areas in the coating process. For example, the substrate may be locally thinly coated, or some areas may not be coated with slurry. If these special areas cannot be marked before winding, it may take a lot of manpower to find these special areas in the subsequent process, thereby reducing production efficiency.

[0070] The marking devices in existing coating systems can only mark substrates of a single size, making them less versatile. Marking substrates of varying sizes requires replacing accessories or manually adjusting the marking device's position. This process requires pausing operations, reducing efficiency.

[0071] Moreover, different substrates may have different conveying speeds or modes. If the status and position information of the substrate cannot be obtained in real time, the marking accuracy of the marking device may be inaccurate, thereby affecting the processing of subsequent processes.

[0072] In response to the problems existing in the above-mentioned related technologies, the present application proposes a coating system. The coating system includes a conveying roller, a coating device, a marking device and a detection device. The conveying roller is used to convey a substrate. The coating device is used to apply a slurry to the substrate to form a coating layer. The marking device is used to mark the substrate. The detection device is used to detect the coating state of the coating layer applied to the substrate and send the detection result to the marking device. The marking device is located on the downstream side of the detection device, and includes a mounting bracket, a marking component, a state acquisition component and a controller. The marking component is arranged on the mounting bracket in a manner capable of moving along a first direction. The state acquisition component is arranged on the mounting bracket, and is configured to obtain the state of the substrate and output an output signal indicating the state when the detection result of the detection device indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked. The controller is configured to calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and control the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

[0073] Since the marking component can move along the first direction, the position of the marking component along the first direction can be flexibly adjusted, so that it can adapt to substrates of various specifications and sizes in an automated manner, or can adapt to partitions of different sizes on the substrate without the need for manual changing operations, and has better compatibility.

[0074] In addition, since the marking device also includes a state acquisition component, the state acquisition component can obtain the state of the substrate in real time and send an output signal representing the state to the controller. The controller can calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal, and can control the marking component to mark the position based on the position information, so that the substrate can be marked in an automated manner, and the consistency of the substrate tape can be tracked, thereby improving the marking accuracy of the marking component.

[0075] The marking device of the embodiment of the present application can be used in the production process of the battery, for example, in the process of processing the electrode sheet, after applying the positive electrode active material or the negative electrode active material to the positive electrode current collector or the negative electrode current collector, the marking device is used to mark the areas on the positive electrode current collector or the negative electrode current collector where the coating has defects or special coating. Of course, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the marking device of the embodiment of the present application is not only used to mark the surface of the current collector in the battery production process, but can also be used to mark the surface of the substrate that needs to be marked in other processes of other production lines.

[0076] In the embodiment of the present application, the battery may be a battery cell.

[0077] A battery cell refers to a basic unit that can realize the mutual conversion of chemical energy and electrical energy. It can be used to make battery modules or battery packs, which are used to power electrical devices.

[0078] The battery cell may be a secondary battery. A secondary battery refers to a battery cell that can be recharged to activate the active material after the battery cell is discharged and can be used continuously.

[0079] The battery cells can be lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries, sodium metal batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, lead-acid batteries, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0080] A battery cell typically includes an electrode assembly. This assembly includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. During the charge and discharge process, active ions (such as lithium ions) move back and forth between the positive and negative electrode sheets. A separator, placed between the positive and negative electrode sheets, prevents short circuits between the positive and negative electrodes while allowing the active ions to pass through.

[0081] In some embodiments, the battery cell also includes an electrolyte, which acts as a conductor of ions between the positive and negative electrodes. This application does not specifically limit the type of electrolyte, and the electrolyte can be selected based on needs. The electrolyte can be liquid, gel, or solid.

[0082] In some embodiments, the separator is a separator. The present application has no particular limitation on the type of separator, and any known separator with a porous structure having good chemical and mechanical stability can be selected.

[0083] As an example, the main material of the isolation membrane can be selected from at least one of glass fiber, non-woven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and ceramics.

[0084] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a wound structure, wherein the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are wound into the wound structure.

[0085] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a laminate structure.

[0086] As an example, multiple positive electrode sheets and multiple negative electrode sheets can be provided respectively, and the multiple positive electrode sheets and the multiple negative electrode sheets can be alternately stacked.

[0087] As an example, a plurality of positive electrode sheets may be provided, and the negative electrode sheet may be folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments, with a positive electrode sheet being sandwiched between adjacent folded segments.

[0088] As an example, both the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments.

[0089] As an example, a plurality of separators may be provided, each of which is disposed between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets.

[0090] As an example, the separator may be provided continuously, and may be provided between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets by folding or winding.

[0091] In some embodiments, the shape of the electrode assembly can be cylindrical, flat, or polygonal.

[0092] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with tabs that can conduct current from the electrode assembly. The tabs include a positive tab and a negative tab.

[0093] In some embodiments, a battery cell may include a housing. The housing is used to encapsulate components such as the electrode assembly and the electrolyte. The housing may be a steel housing, an aluminum housing, a plastic housing (e.g., polypropylene), a composite metal housing (e.g., a copper-aluminum composite housing), or an aluminum-plastic film.

[0094] As an example, the battery cell can be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a soft-pack battery cell or a battery cell of other shapes. The prismatic battery cell includes a square-shell battery cell, a blade-shaped battery cell, and a polygonal battery. The polygonal battery is, for example, a hexagonal battery, etc. There is no special limitation in this application.

[0095] In some embodiments, the housing includes an end cap and a shell. The shell has an opening, and the end cap closes the opening to form a sealed space for accommodating the electrode assembly, electrolyte, and other substances. The shell may have one or more openings. One or more end caps may also be provided.

[0096] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with at least one electrode terminal, which is electrically connected to the tab. The electrode terminal may be directly connected to the tab or indirectly connected to the tab via an adapter. The electrode terminal may be provided on the end cap or on the housing.

[0097] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell.

[0098] In the embodiment of the present application, the battery may also be a single physical module including one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. When there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are connected in series, in parallel or in hybrid through a busbar component.

[0099] Below, refer to Figures 1 to 9 Some embodiments of the present application are described in detail.

[0100] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a marking device provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 2 Another schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the marking device provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 3 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of a marking device provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 4 A schematic planar structural diagram of a marking device provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 5 A simplified schematic diagram of the coating system provided for some embodiments of the present application. Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the planar structure of a marked substrate provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the planar structure of another marked substrate provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the planar structure of another marked substrate is provided for some embodiments of the present application. Figure 9 A schematic flow chart of a coating method provided for some embodiments of the present application.

[0101] In some embodiments of the present application, for ease of description, a first direction and a second direction are set, and the first direction and the second direction intersect each other. In some embodiments, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other, but those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the case where the two directions are perpendicular to each other. Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown by the arrows in , the direction of arrow X is the first direction, and the direction of arrow Y is the second direction.

[0102] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, the first aspect of the present application provides a coating system 1000, which includes a conveying roller 300, a coating device 400, a marking device 100 and a detection device 500. The conveying roller 300 is used to convey the substrate 200. The coating device 400 is used to apply a slurry to the substrate 200 to form a coating layer 204. The marking device 100 is used to mark the substrate 200. The detection device 500 is used to detect the coating state of the coating layer 204 applied to the substrate 200 and send the detection result to the marking device 100. The marking device 100 is located on the downstream side of the detection device 500, and includes a mounting bracket 1, a marking component 2, a state acquisition component 3 and a controller 4. The marking component 2 is provided on the mounting bracket 1 in a manner that can move along a first direction. The state acquisition component 3 is provided on the mounting bracket 1 and is configured to acquire the state of the substrate 200 and output an output signal indicating the state when the detection result of the detection device 500 indicates that the target area 203 of the substrate 200 needs to be marked. The controller 4 is configured to calculate the position information of the substrate 200 based on the output signal and control the marking component 2 to mark the substrate 200 based on the position information.

[0103] The conveying roller 300 is used to drive and convey the substrate 200. The substrate 200 is wound around the conveying roller 300. In the embodiment of the present application, the conveying roller 300 rotates in a clockwise direction.

[0104] The coating device 400 is a device for coating a fluid slurry onto the surface of the substrate 200 to form a coating layer 204. The coating device 400 can be a single-layer coating device or a multi-layer coating device.

[0105] The detection device 500 is used to detect the coating state of the coating layer 204 and send the detection result to the controller 4 of the marking device 100. Therefore, the controller 4 can enable the marking device 100 to mark the substrate 200 in an automated manner based on the detection result of the detection device 500, thereby achieving a higher degree of automation.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present application, the marking device 100 is located in the downstream area of ​​the detection device 500. The number of marking devices 100 can be one or multiple (more than one). When the number of marking devices 100 is multiple, the multiple marking devices 100 can be arranged at intervals along the conveying direction of the substrate 200.

[0107] The coating system 1000 further includes a drying device 600 for drying the slurry coating layer 204 coated on the substrate 200. In the embodiment of the present application, the drying device 600 is located in an upstream region of the detection device 500.

[0108] The coating layer 204 may also crack and exhibit uneven defects during the drying process. Therefore, placing the drying device 600 in the upstream area of ​​the detection device 500 enables the coating layer 204 to be inspected after drying. In this way, the detection device 500 can not only detect coating defects caused by the coating device 400, but also detect defects caused by drying. Moreover, the defects caused by drying can also be marked by the marking device 100, thereby further improving the reliability of the coating system 1000.

[0109] The mounting bracket 1 is a supporting bracket for the marking device 100, and is used to support various functional components that realize the functions of the marking device 100. Specifically, the mounting bracket 1 includes two generally flat plates 11, which are spaced apart along a first direction, and various functional components are clamped between the two plates 11.

[0110] The mounting bracket 1 can be arranged above the substrate 200 in a direction perpendicular to the transmission path of the substrate 200 by a rack (not shown), for example, to mark the target area 203 of the substrate 200 .

[0111] The target area 203 may be, for example, an area where coating defects exist, or an area where a special coating process is performed (eg, partially thin coating or partially no coating, etc.).

[0112] In the embodiment of the present application, the spacing direction between the two plates 11 of the mounting bracket 1 can be referred to as the first direction, or the width direction of the substrate 200 can also be referred to as the first direction, or the direction perpendicular to the transmission path of the substrate 200 can also be referred to as the first direction. Figure 4 In the specific example shown, the left-right direction in the figure is the first direction of the present application.

[0113] The marking component 2 is a component that realizes the marking function of the marking device 100 .

[0114] Exemplarily, the marking component 2 may be a laser marking component.

[0115] As another example, the marking component 2 may be an inkjet marking component.

[0116] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific type of the marking component 2, as long as it can mark the substrate 200.

[0117] In an embodiment of the present application, the substrate 200 can be a positive electrode current collector or a negative electrode current collector, and the slurry coated on the substrate 200 can be a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode active material. A positive electrode sheet is formed by coating the positive electrode active material on the positive electrode current collector, and a negative electrode sheet is formed by coating the negative electrode active material on the negative electrode current collector.

[0118] As an example, the positive electrode current collector may be a metal foil or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel with a silver surface treatment, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel or titanium, etc. may be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

[0119] As an example, the positive electrode active material may include at least one of the following materials: lithium-containing phosphates, lithium transition metal oxides, and their respective modified compounds. However, the present application is not limited to these materials, and other traditional materials that can be used as positive electrode active materials for batteries may also be used. These positive electrode active materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of lithium-containing phosphates may include, but are not limited to, at least one of lithium iron phosphate (such as LiFePO4 (also referred to as LFP)), a composite material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, lithium manganese phosphate (such as LiMnPO4), a composite material of lithium manganese phosphate and carbon, lithium iron manganese phosphate, and a composite material of lithium iron manganese phosphate and carbon.

[0120] In some embodiments, a positive electrode may be a metal foam. The metal foam may be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, or alloy foam, among others. When a metal foam is used as the positive electrode, the surface of the metal foam may or may not be provided with a positive electrode active material. For example, a lithium source material, potassium metal, or sodium metal may be filled and / or deposited within the metal foam, where the lithium source material is lithium metal and / or a lithium-rich material.

[0121] As an example, the negative electrode current collector may be a metal foil, a metal foam, or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel with a silver surface treatment, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, or titanium, etc., may be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The metal foam may be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, or alloy foam, etc. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (copper, copper alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.). In some embodiments, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper.

[0122] Conventional marking devices can only mark substrates of a single size, limiting their versatility. Marking substrates of varying sizes requires replacing accessories or manually adjusting the marking device's position. This requires pausing operations during these changes, reducing efficiency.

[0123] Moreover, different substrates may have different conveying speeds or modes. If the status and position information of the substrate cannot be obtained in real time, the marking accuracy of the marking device may be inaccurate, thereby affecting the processing of subsequent processes.

[0124] In the implementation of the present application, the marking assembly 2 for achieving the marking function can reciprocate along the first direction, thereby flexibly adjusting the position of the marking assembly 2 along the first direction, thereby being able to adapt to a variety of substrates 200 of different specifications and sizes. Moreover, when the width (dimension along the first direction) of the substrate 200 is large, the substrate 200 is usually partitioned into multiple strip-shaped areas 201, and the dimensions of the strip-shaped areas 201 of different substrates 200 may also vary. Since the position of the marking assembly 2 along the first direction can be flexibly adjusted, the marking assembly 2 can also adapt to partitions of different sizes on the substrate 200, thereby improving compatibility.

[0125] The marking assembly 2 can achieve movement in the first direction, for example, by means of a screw drive, or by means of a guide rail slider. The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the method by which the marking assembly 2 achieves movement in the first direction, as long as the marking assembly 2 can reciprocate in the first direction.

[0126] The state acquisition component 3 is a component capable of acquiring state information of the substrate 200 . Since the marking device 100 further includes the state acquisition component 3 , the state acquisition component 3 can acquire at least one state of the substrate 200 in real time and send an output signal representing the state to the controller 4 .

[0127] The state acquisition component 3 may acquire only one state of the substrate 200 or may acquire multiple states simultaneously.

[0128] In the embodiment of the present application, the state acquisition component 3 includes an encoding roller 31 and an encoder 32 . The encoding roller 31 and the encoder 32 can respectively acquire different states of the substrate 200 , for example.

[0129] In some other embodiments, the state acquisition component 3 may also include only the encoding roller 31 or only the encoder 32, or include more other suitable state acquisition components. The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the number and type of the state acquisition component 3, as long as the state of the substrate 200 can be acquired.

[0130] After acquiring the state of the substrate 200, the state acquisition component 3 sends an output signal representing the state to the controller 4. The controller 4 can calculate the position information of the substrate 200 based on the output signal, and can control the marking component 2 to mark the position based on the position information, thereby being able to mark the substrate 200 in an automated manner. Moreover, since the state acquisition component 3 can acquire the output signal representing the state of the substrate 200 in real time, it can achieve consistent tracking of the tape movement of the substrate 200, thereby improving the marking accuracy of the marking component 2, so that the marking accuracy can reach ±2mm.

[0131] The controller 4 includes but is not limited to a programmable logic controller (PLC), a host computer, an intermediate computer, a single chip microcomputer, etc. In practice, the controller 4 may also include a processor, a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, etc.

[0132] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, the state of the substrate 200 includes a motion state and / or a relative position. The position information includes a start position and an end position of the target area 203 .

[0133] For example, the motion state may be the motion speed or acceleration of the substrate 200 .

[0134] As another example, the relative position may be, for example, the relative position between the current position and a bad position (NG position, ie, a position to be marked).

[0135] As an example, when the detection device 500 detects an abnormality in the coating layer 204, it will send a series of NG signals representing the detection results to the marking device 100. The status acquisition component 3 of the marking device 100 will obtain the relative position between the current position corresponding to the marking device 100 and the position of each NG signal in real time. The controller 4 can calculate the specific position of the target area 203 based on these relative positions. For example, the starting position of the target area 203 can be calculated based on the relative position of the first NG signal and the current position, and the end position of the target area 203 can be calculated based on the relative position of the last NG signal and the current position.

[0136] Thus, the controller 4 can obtain the motion state or relative position of the substrate 200 through the state acquisition component 3, and calculate the starting position and ending position of the target area 203 on the substrate 200, thereby controlling the marking component 2 to perform marking, thereby improving the marking accuracy.

[0137] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 6As shown, substrate 200 is in the form of a strip and extends along the conveying direction of coating system 1000. Controller 4 controls marking assembly 2 to mark 202 the end position or the start position of target area 203. Mark 202 indicates the extent of target area 203. Along the conveying direction, the end position is located upstream of target area 203, and the start position is located downstream of target area 203. Mark 202 includes an arrow mark and a number mark. The arrow mark points to the side where target area 203 is located, and the number mark indicates the length of target area 203 along the conveying direction.

[0138] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the marking range indicated by the arrow mark and the digital mark, which makes it easier for the operator to perform corresponding processing.

[0139] In the embodiment of the present application, the direction indicated by arrow Z is used as the conveying direction. The mark 202 can be, for example, an arrow mark and a number mark. The direction of the arrow mark is the direction of the target area 203, and the number mark represents the length of the target area 203. The range of the target area 203 is shown by the direction and distance.

[0140] Of course, in some other embodiments, the mark 202 may be a text mark, for example, to directly indicate the range of the target area 203 with a text mark.

[0141] In addition, the controller 4 can also control the marking component 2 to mark the starting position of the target area 203 .

[0142] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 7 As shown, the substrate 200 is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system 1000. The controller 4 controls the marking assembly 2 to mark 202 the starting position and the ending position of the target area 203. In the conveying direction, the ending position is located upstream of the target area 203, and the starting position is located downstream of the target area 203. The mark 202 at the starting position of the target area 203 is different from the mark 202 at the ending position.

[0143] Therefore, the position between the two marks 202 is the area where defects exist or the area where special processes have been performed. In the subsequent process, the target area 203 can be identified by identifying the mark 202 at the starting position and the mark 202 at the ending position, which makes it easier for the operator to perform corresponding processing.

[0144] For example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be indicated by marks of different colors, so as to facilitate distinction.

[0145] As another example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be represented by different symbols to facilitate distinction.

[0146] As another example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be directly represented by text marks.

[0147] The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the type of mark, as long as the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position can be distinguished.

[0148] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 8 As shown, the substrate 200 is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system 1000. The controller 4 controls the marking assembly 2 to continuously mark 202 a predetermined area including a target area 203 along the conveying direction.

[0149] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the range of the continuous mark 202, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0150] Here, the predetermined area including the target area 203 means that the mark 202 may exist only in the target area 203 or may appropriately exceed the target area 203 . For example, a certain mark may also be made in the leading part or the lagging part of the target area 203 .

[0151] Those skilled in the art should understand that the way in which the controller 4 controls the marking component 2 to mark the target area 203 is not limited to the three methods described above, and any other suitable method can also be used to mark 202 the target area 203, and during a coating process, the marking method can be changed according to actual conditions, that is, different marking methods can be used in combination.

[0152] In addition, the mark 202 is usually marked on an area of ​​the substrate 200 where the slurry is not applied.

[0153] In some embodiments of the present application, the marking device 100 includes a screw rod 5 extending along a first direction, the screw rod 5 is rotatably arranged on the mounting bracket 1, the marking component 2 is connected to the screw rod 5 through a connecting member 6, and the connecting member 6 can drive the marking component 2 to reciprocate along the first direction through the rotation of the screw rod 5.

[0154] In an embodiment of the present application, the screw rod 5 is rotatably arranged between the two plates 11 of the mounting bracket 1, the marking assembly 2 is connected to the connecting member 6, and is indirectly connected to the screw rod 5 through the connecting member 6. In this way, when the connecting member 6 reciprocates along the first direction through the rotation of the screw rod 5, it can drive the marking assembly 2 to reciprocate along the first direction.

[0155] For example, the connecting member 6 may be a generally plate-shaped connecting plate, so that the bearing area is larger and the marking assembly 2 connected thereto can be better supported.

[0156] In some other embodiments, the marking component 2 can also be directly connected to the screw rod 5. The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the connection method between the marking component 2 and the screw rod 5, as long as the marking component 2 can reciprocate along the first direction under the rotation of the screw rod 5.

[0157] Thus, the connecting member 6 can drive the marking assembly 2 to move in the first direction through the rotation of the screw 5, thereby easily achieving position adjustment of the marking assembly 2 in the first direction in a simple and automated manner. In addition, the screw drive has high transmission efficiency and low energy consumption, which is more conducive to energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0158] Specifically, the connecting member 6 is formed with an engagement member 61 that engages with the screw rod 5. The connecting member 6 is connected to the screw rod 5 via the engagement member 61. The screw rod 5 can rotate forward or reverse under the drive of a driving device (not shown in the figure). The engagement member 61 reciprocates along the first direction as the screw rod 5 rotates forward or reverse, thereby driving the connecting member 6 to reciprocate along the first direction, and further driving the marking assembly 2 to reciprocate along the first direction.

[0159] For example, the engagement member 61 may be a nut engaged with the threaded rod 5 .

[0160] Illustratively, the driving device may be a motor, for example. As a specific example, the driving device may be a servo motor.

[0161] In some embodiments of the present application, the marking device 100 includes a guide rod 7 provided on the mounting bracket 1, and the guide rod 7 is spaced apart and arranged parallel to the screw rod 5. The connecting member 6 is formed with a groove 62, and the connecting member 6 can slide along the guide rod 7 through the cooperation between the groove 62 and the guide rod 7.

[0162] In the embodiment of the present application, the marking component 2 is tilted on the screw rod 5 at a certain rotation angle through the connecting member 6 , that is, the outlet of the marking component 2 is not perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 200 .

[0163] Because the marking device 100 further includes a guide rod 7 extending in the first direction, parallel to and spaced from the lead screw 5, and the connector 6 includes a groove 62 for mating with the guide rod 7, the guide rod 7 provides excellent guidance for the marking assembly 2, making it less likely for the marking assembly 2 to rotate and deviate during movement in the first direction. The marking assembly 2 can always reciprocate in the first direction at a fixed rotation angle as the lead screw 5 rotates, thereby improving the marking stability and reliability of the marking assembly 2. Furthermore, the guide rod 7 offers stable and reliable guidance performance and is easy to manufacture, which helps reduce production costs.

[0164] Of course, those skilled in the art should understand that the marking component 2 may not rotate or tilt relative to the screw 5, that is, the outlet of the marking component 2 may be set perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 200, and the specific setting may be made according to actual conditions.

[0165] In addition, in some other embodiments, the marking device 100 can also guide the marking component 2 by means of a slide groove or a guide rail.

[0166] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 3 As shown, a guide rail 63 extending along the second direction is formed on the connecting member 6, and the marking assembly 2 is supported on the guide rail 63 in a manner of being able to move along the guide rail 63. The second direction intersects the first direction.

[0167] In the embodiment of the present application, the extension direction of the guide rail 63 can be referred to as the second direction. Since the connecting member 6 is tilted relative to the screw rod 5 at a certain rotation angle, the first direction and the second direction are not perpendicular to each other, and the angle between the first direction and the second direction is the rotation angle at which the connecting member 6 is tilted relative to the screw rod 5.

[0168] Of course, those skilled in the art should understand that in some other embodiments, the connecting member 6 may also be non-rotatably tilted relative to the screw rod 5. In this case, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0169] The guide rail 63 is usually a groove or ridge made of metal or other suitable materials, and is mainly used in situations where linear reciprocating motion occurs. The guide rail 63 can support, fix, and guide moving parts or devices and reduce friction during their movement.

[0170] Since the marking assembly 2 can also reciprocate along the second direction through the guide rail 63, the position adjustment of the marking assembly 2 along the second direction can be easily achieved with a simple mechanism and in an automated manner, further improving the compatibility and versatility of the marking assembly 2.

[0171] In addition, the guide rail 63 can limit the movement trajectory of the marking component 2 while reducing the friction and shaking of the marking component 2 when it moves along the second direction, thereby making the movement of the marking component 2 smoother and more stable, more reliable, and with less energy consumption, which is more conducive to energy saving and environmental protection.

[0172] Specifically, the marking assembly 2 is connected to the slide 64, and the slide 64 is arranged on the guide rail 63 in a manner that it can reciprocate in the second direction along the guide rail 63. The slide 64 includes but is not limited to a sliding plate, a sliding block, a sliding rod, or a sliding assembly composed of multiple structures.

[0173] In the embodiment of the present application, the sliding member 64 is a sliding plate, which can reciprocate along the guide rail 63 under the drive of the driving device, thereby driving the marking assembly 2 to reciprocate along the second direction. The driving device includes but is not limited to a motor.

[0174] In the embodiment of the present application, the guide rail 63 is a ridge-shaped protrusion structure, and the sliding member 64 is provided with a groove. The sliding member 64 can reciprocate along the guide rail 63 through the cooperation between the groove and the ridge-shaped protrusion structure of the guide rail 63.

[0175] In some other embodiments, the guide rail 63 may also be in a groove shape, and the sliding member 64 is provided with a protrusion, and the sliding member 64 can drag the protrusion through the cooperation with the groove of the guide rail 63 to perform reciprocating motion along the guide rail 63.

[0176] Although not shown in the figures, the connecting member 6 may also be provided with blocking members, which are located along the second direction on opposite sides of the guide rail 63. Thus, when the marking assembly 2 reciprocates along the second direction, the blocking members can play a certain role in limiting the marking assembly 2, preventing it from falling off the guide rail 63, and improving the reliability of the movement of the marking assembly 2 along the second direction.

[0177] In some embodiments of the present application, the marking assembly 2 includes a nozzle 21, an ink cartridge 22, and a shielding member 23. The nozzle 21 is formed with an ink outlet 211. The ink cartridge 22 is connected to the nozzle 21 and contains ink for marking. The shielding member 23 is configured to be switchable between a first position and a second position. When the shielding member 23 is in the first position, the ink outlet 211 is blocked. When the shielding member 23 is in the second position, the ink outlet 211 is exposed.

[0178] The ink cartridge 22 is used to store marking ink and to supply the ink to the inkjet printer 21 .

[0179] For example, the ink may be a volatile ink that can dry in a short time.

[0180] As another example, the ink may be, for example, UV ink that can be quickly dried through a photochemical reaction caused by ultraviolet energy.

[0181] The inkjet terminal 21 can spray code marks on the surface of the substrate 200 through the ink outlet 211. Thus, the marking component 2 can mark the substrate 200 by inkjet. The inkjet marking has a fast marking speed and is not easy to damage the substrate 200. Different colors of ink can also be used for different markings.

[0182] In addition, since the marking component 2 also includes a shielding member 23, the shielding member 23 can switch between a first position that blocks the ink outlet 211 and a second position that exposes the ink outlet 211. Thus, when the marking component 2 needs to be marked, the ink outlet 211 can be exposed, thereby marking the corresponding area of ​​the substrate 200. When the marking component 2 does not need to be marked, the ink outlet 211 can be blocked by the shielding member 23, thereby reducing the possibility of ink dripping from the ink outlet 211 and contaminating the substrate 200.

[0183] In some embodiments, the shielding member 23 can be provided on an output shaft of a rotary drive device (not shown in the figures), and can be switched between the first position and the second position by rotating under the drive of the rotary drive device.

[0184] Of course, in some other embodiments, the shielding member 23 can also be switched between the first position and the second position in any other suitable manner.

[0185] In some embodiments of the present application, the shielding member 23 includes a cleaning member 231 . When the shielding member 23 moves between the first position and the second position, the cleaning member 231 is used to brush across the ink outlet 211 .

[0186] After each marking operation of the marking assembly 2, some ink may remain and accumulate at the ink outlet 211. If it is not cleaned promptly, the remaining ink may drip randomly onto the surface of the substrate 200 during the next marking operation of the inkjet printer 21, causing contamination of the substrate 200. Alternatively, if the inkjet printer 21 is idle for a long time, the ink remaining at the ink outlet 211 may dry up, thereby blocking the ink outlet 211.

[0187] Therefore, the shielding member 23 of the embodiment of the present application also includes a cleaning member 231. The cleaning member 231 can be arranged on the side of the shielding member 23 facing the ink outlet 211 along the second direction, so that the cleaning member 231 can continuously brush over the ink outlet 211 when the shielding member 23 moves between the first position and the second position, thereby playing a certain cleaning role on the ink outlet 211, reducing the residual ink at the ink outlet 211 as much as possible, thereby reducing the possibility of contamination of the substrate 200, or the ink drying up and blocking the ink outlet 211, and improving the reliability of the inkjet printer 21.

[0188] For example, the cleaning member 231 may include a brush, a scraper, or a wiping cloth.

[0189] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 3 and Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the substrate 200 includes at least one strip area 201 , and the marking component 2 includes a sensor 24 . The sensor 24 is used to detect the edge position of the strip area 201 . The controller 4 determines the initial position of the marking component 2 based on the edge position detected by the sensor 24 .

[0190] The sensor 24 can detect the edge position of the strip area 201, thereby determining the origin (i.e., the initial position) of the marking component 2 moving along the first direction, thereby improving the positioning accuracy, reducing the possibility of the marking component 2 failing to mark at the specified position, and further improving the marking accuracy of the marking component 2.

[0191] After each marking operation, the marking component 2 will, for example, move back to the initial position and wait for the next marking operation. That is, the marking component 2 will move from the initial position during each marking operation.

[0192] For example, the sensor 24 may be a patrol sensor.

[0193] In some embodiments of the present application, there are multiple marking assemblies 2 , and the multiple marking assemblies 2 are spaced apart from each other on the mounting bracket 1 in a manner that allows them to move along the first direction.

[0194] In the embodiment of the present application, in order to further improve production efficiency and reduce production costs, the width of the substrate 200 is usually larger, so that the substrate 200 can be partitioned to form multiple strip areas 201, and slurry is coated on each strip area 201 on the substrate 200. After coating is completed, the coated substrate 200 is divided according to the strip area 201 to form multiple narrower substrates coated with slurry, which serve as battery electrodes. In this way, more electrodes can be formed by one coating, effectively improving production efficiency.

[0195] Since the embodiment of the present application includes multiple marking components 2, each strip area 201 can be correspondingly provided with a marking component 2. Therefore, for a substrate 200 with a larger width, multiple strip areas 201 of the substrate 200 can be marked at the same time, which is conducive to improving marking efficiency.

[0196] In some embodiments of the present application, the detection device 500 includes at least one of an areal density detection device 501 for detecting the surface density of the coating layer 204 , a thickness detection device 502 for detecting the thickness of the coating layer 204 , and a visual detection device 503 for detecting the appearance of the coating layer 204 .

[0197] In this way, the surface density, thickness and appearance of the coating layer 204 on the substrate 200 can be detected, and the detection results can be sent to the controller 4, so that the controller 4 can control the marking device 100 to mark the defect position or special process position of the substrate 200.

[0198] In the embodiment of the present application, the detection device 500 includes three detection devices 500: an area density detection device 501, a thickness detection device 502, and a visual detection device 503. In some other embodiments, the detection device 500 may also include only one or two of the area density detection device 501, the thickness detection device 502, and the visual detection device 503, or the detection device 500 may also include any other suitable detection device.

[0199] The visual detection device 503 includes but is not limited to a CCD (charge coupled device) camera and a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) camera.

[0200] The second aspect of the present application provides a coating method, such as Figure 9 As shown, the coating method includes:

[0201] S100: coating the slurry onto the substrate by a coating device to form a coating layer.

[0202] S200: Detecting the coating state of the coating layer coated on the substrate by a detection device.

[0203] S300: Sending a detection result to a marking device based on the coating status.

[0204] S400 : When the detection result indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked, the marking device is enabled to perform a marking step S500 .

[0205] The marking device 100 includes a marking component 2 , a state acquisition component 3 and a controller 4 .

[0206] The marking step 500 comprises:

[0207] S501: acquiring the state of the substrate by the state acquisition component and outputting an output signal representing the state.

[0208] S502: causing the controller to calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and control the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

[0209] Thus, the marking device 100 can mark the area of the substrate 200 with defects or the area of some special process in an automated manner, so as to facilitate the rejection of the defective part in the subsequent process, or the corresponding processing of the area of the special process.

[0210] In some embodiments of the present application, the state of the substrate 200 includes a motion state and / or a relative position. The position information includes the start position and the end position of the target area 203.

[0211] For example, the motion state can be the motion speed or acceleration of the substrate 200.

[0212] For another example, the relative position can be the relative position between the current position and the defective position (i.e., the position to be marked).

[0213] The target area 203 can be, for example, an area where the coating is defective, or an area where a special coating process (e.g., local thin coating or local non-coating, etc.) is performed.

[0214] Thus, the controller 4 can obtain the motion state or the relative position of the substrate 200 by the state acquisition component, calculate the start position and the end position of the target area 203 on the substrate 200, and control the marking component 2 to mark, thereby improving the marking accuracy.

[0215] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figure 6 The substrate 200 is in the form of a strip, and the substrate 200 extends along the conveying direction of the coating system 1000. The controller 4 controls the marking component 2 to mark the end position or the start position of the target area 203, and the marking 202 shows the range of the target area 203. Among them, along the conveying direction, the end position is located on the upstream side of the target area 203, and the start position is located on the downstream side of the target area 203. The marking 202 includes an arrow mark and a digital mark, the arrow mark points to the side where the target area 203 is located, and the digital mark represents the length of the target area 203 along the conveying direction.

[0216] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the marking range indicated by the arrow mark and the digital mark, which makes it easier for the operator to perform corresponding processing.

[0217] In an embodiment of the present application, the mark 202 can be, for example, an arrow mark and a digital mark. The direction of the arrow mark is the direction of the target area 203, and the digital mark represents the length of the target area 203. The range of the target area 203 is shown by direction and distance.

[0218] Of course, in some other embodiments, the mark 202 may be a text mark, for example, to directly indicate the range of the target area 203 with a text mark.

[0219] In addition, the controller 4 can also control the marking component 2 to mark the starting position of the target area 203 .

[0220] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 7 As shown, the substrate 200 is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system 1000. The controller 4 controls the marking assembly 2 to mark 202 the starting position and the ending position of the target area 203. In the conveying direction, the ending position is located upstream of the target area 203, and the starting position is located downstream of the target area 203. The mark 202 at the starting position of the target area 203 is different from the mark 202 at the ending position.

[0221] Therefore, the position between the two marks 202 is the area with defects or the area where special processes have been performed. In the subsequent process, the target area 203 can be identified by identifying the start mark and the end mark 202, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0222] For example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be indicated by marks of different colors, so as to facilitate distinction.

[0223] As another example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be represented by different symbols to facilitate distinction.

[0224] As another example, the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position may be directly represented by text marks.

[0225] The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the type of mark, as long as the mark 202 indicating the start position and the mark 202 indicating the end position can be distinguished.

[0226] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 8 As shown, the substrate 200 is in a strip shape and extends along the conveying direction of the coating system 1000. The controller 4 controls the marking assembly 2 to continuously mark 202 a predetermined area including a target area 203 along the conveying direction.

[0227] Therefore, in the subsequent process, the area with defects or the area that has undergone special processing can be identified through the range of the continuous mark 202, which makes it easier for operators to perform corresponding processing.

[0228] Here, the predetermined area including the target area 203 means that the mark 202 may exist only in the target area 203 or may appropriately exceed the target area 203 . For example, a certain mark may also be made in the leading part or the lagging part of the target area 203 .

[0229] Those skilled in the art should understand that the way in which the controller 4 controls the marking component 2 to mark the target area 203 is not limited to the three methods described above, and any other suitable method can also be used to mark 202 the target area 203, and during a coating process, the marking method can be changed according to actual conditions, that is, different marking methods can be used in combination.

[0230] Below, some specific examples of embodiments of the present application are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0231] As a specific example, the present application provides an automatic coating marking device (marking device 100). The marking device mainly comprises a mounting bracket (mounting bracket 1), a lateral movement mechanism component, an automatic inkjet marking component (marking component 2), and a control system (controller 4).

[0232] The lateral movement mechanism consists of a servo motor or electric cylinder (drive device), a moving guide (guide rod 7), a connecting part 6 and a wiring component (screw rod 5), so that the repeatability of the automatic inkjet marking component is ±0.1mm.

[0233] The automatic inkjet marking assembly includes an inkjet terminal 21, an ink cartridge 22 and a cleaning mechanism (cleaning member 231), and cooperates with the lateral motion mechanism through a connecting member 6 to achieve marking of lateral defective electrodes or marking of special process gaps.

[0234] The marking device also includes an encoder roller assembly (state acquisition component 3) and a control system (controller 4) to achieve online tape consistency tracking and improve marking accuracy. The control system can also collect NG (bad) signals based on the previous area density NG output unit (area density detection device 501), and the corresponding NG content statistics. Through various mathematical models of the system, it can locate and process the marks to be marked, generate corresponding data files, identify the markings, and generate statistics on scrap probability.

[0235] In addition, the control system can calculate the starting and ending positions of NG based on the received NG signal, the real-time running speed and relative position information output by the encoding roller assembly, thereby controlling the coating automatic marking device for marking.

[0236] The above embodiments are intended only to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they may modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. Such modifications or replacements do not deviate from the essence of the corresponding technical solutions and are intended to be included in the scope of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner.

Claims

1. A coating system, characterized in that: The coating system comprises: A conveying roller, wherein the conveying roller is used to convey the substrate; A coating device, used for coating the slurry onto the substrate to form a coating layer; a marking device for marking the substrate; and a detection device for detecting a coating state of the coating layer applied to the substrate and sending the detection result to the marking device; Among them, the marking device is located on the downstream side of the detection device, and includes: a mounting bracket; a marking component, which is arranged on the mounting bracket in a manner that can move along a first direction; a state acquisition component, which is arranged on the mounting bracket and is configured to obtain the state of the substrate and output an output signal representing the state when the detection result of the detection device indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked; and a controller, which is configured to calculate the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and control the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

2. The coating system according to claim 1, characterized in that The state of the substrate includes a motion state and / or a relative position; The location information includes a start location and an end location of the target area.

3. The coating system according to claim 2, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to mark the end position or the start position of the target area, and the mark shows the range of the target area; Among them, along the conveying direction, the end position is located on the upstream side of the target area, and the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area; the mark includes an arrow mark and a numerical mark, the arrow mark points to the side where the target area is located, and the numerical mark represents the length of the target area along the conveying direction.

4. The coating system according to claim 2, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to mark the starting position and the ending position of the target area; The end position is located upstream of the target area along the conveying direction, the start position is located downstream of the target area, and the mark at the start position of the target area is different from the mark at the end position.

5. The coating system according to claim 2, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to continuously mark a predetermined area including the target area along the conveying direction.

6. The coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The marking device includes a screw extending along a first direction, the screw being rotatably arranged on the mounting bracket, the marking assembly being connected to the screw via a connecting piece, and the connecting piece can drive the marking assembly to reciprocate along the first direction through the rotation of the screw.

7. The coating system according to claim 6, characterized in that The marking device includes a guide rod provided on the mounting bracket, wherein the guide rod is spaced apart and arranged in parallel with the screw rod; The connecting member is formed with a groove, and the connecting member can slide along the guide rod through the cooperation between the groove and the guide rod.

8. The coating system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: A guide rail extending along the second direction is formed on the connecting member, and the marking assembly is supported on the guide rail in a manner of being able to move along the guide rail; The second direction intersects the first direction.

9. The coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The marking assembly comprises: The spray terminal is formed with an ink outlet; an ink cartridge, connected to the inkjet printer terminal and containing ink for marking; and a shielding member configured to be switchable between a first position and a second position; Wherein, when the shielding member is located at the first position, the shielding member shields the ink outlet, and when the shielding member is located at the second position, the ink outlet is exposed.

10. The coating system according to claim 9, characterized in that The shielding member includes a cleaning member, and when the shielding member moves between the first position and the second position, the cleaning member brushes across the ink outlet.

11. The coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The substrate includes at least one strip-shaped region; The marking component includes a sensor, and the sensor is used to detect an edge position of the strip area. The controller determines an initial position of the marking component based on the edge position detected by the sensor.

12. The coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that There are multiple marking assemblies, and the multiple marking assemblies are arranged on the mounting bracket in a manner of being movable along a first direction and spaced apart from each other.

13. The coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The detection device includes at least one of a surface density detection device for detecting the surface density of the coating layer, a thickness detection device for detecting the thickness of the coating layer, and a visual detection device for detecting the appearance of the coating layer.

14. A coating method, characterized in that: The coating method comprises: Applying the slurry onto the substrate by a coating device to form a coating layer; detecting a coating state of the coating layer coated on the substrate by a detection device; sending a detection result to a marking device based on the coating status; In the case where the detection result indicates that the target area of ​​the substrate needs to be marked, the marking device is caused to perform the marking step, wherein the marking device includes a marking component, a state acquisition component and a controller, The marking step comprises: The state acquisition component acquires the state of the substrate and outputs an output signal indicating the state; the controller calculates the position information of the substrate based on the output signal and controls the marking component to mark the substrate based on the position information.

15. The coating method according to claim 14, characterized in that The state of the substrate includes a motion state and a relative position; The location information includes a start location and an end location of the target area.

16. The coating method according to claim 15, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to mark the end position or the start position of the target area, and the mark shows the range of the target area; Among them, along the conveying direction, the end position is located on the upstream side of the target area, and the starting position is located on the downstream side of the target area; the mark includes an arrow mark and a numerical mark, the arrow mark points to the side where the target area is located, and the numerical mark represents the length of the target area along the conveying direction.

17. The coating method according to claim 15, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to mark the starting position and the ending position of the target area; The end position is located upstream of the target area along the conveying direction, the start position is located downstream of the target area, and the mark at the start position of the target area is different from the mark at the end position.

18. The coating method according to claim 15, characterized in that The substrate is in a strip shape, and the substrate extends along a conveying direction of the coating system; The controller controls the marking component to continuously mark a predetermined area including the target area along the conveying direction.

Images