Pole piece cleaning apparatus and cleaning method thereof

Abstract

The application provides an electrode sheet cleaning device and a cleaning method thereof. The electrode sheet cleaning device comprises a unwinding mechanism, a first tension control mechanism, a fourth tension control mechanism and a winding mechanism arranged in sequence along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet. At least one liquid spraying mechanism, at least one scraping mechanism and at least one drying mechanism are arranged between the first tension control mechanism and the fourth tension control mechanism. The scraping mechanism is arranged between the liquid spraying mechanism and the drying mechanism. The liquid spraying mechanism is arranged after the first tension control mechanism. The liquid spraying mechanism can move along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet, and the distance between the liquid spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism can be adjusted. The electrode sheet cleaning device and the cleaning method thereof can clean wide-width electrode sheets, can meet the continuous production requirements, and can improve the cleaning effect of the electrode sheets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium battery production equipment technology, and more specifically, to an electrode cleaning device and a cleaning method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] To meet the fast charging performance of batteries, some electrode preparation processes require cleaning and slotting on the electrode to remove the slurry on the electrode surface, exposing the empty foil. When the electrode is wound or stacked, the empty foil of multiple layers of electrode is connected to achieve the fast charging function of the battery.

[0003] In existing technologies, a slurry is typically applied first to the area where the electrode tabs need to be welded, followed by the peeling off of the coating (also known as electrode cleaning). Commonly used cleaning methods include laser cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and scraper cleaning. Scraper cleaning is divided into dry and wet cleaning. In dry cleaning, the scraper directly peels off the dry coating, requiring significant force, which can easily damage the electrode and generate dust. While existing wet cleaning methods overcome some of the drawbacks of dry cleaning, with the trend towards lighter batteries and the continuous advancement of the fast-moving consumer goods market, the length of individual electrode sheets required in battery cells is gradually shortening. Existing electrode cleaning equipment is prone to incomplete cleaning when cleaning shorter individual electrode sheets, potentially leaving residue in the electrode slots and affecting battery safety. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned defects in existing equipment by providing an electrode cleaning device and a cleaning method thereof. The electrode cleaning device can improve the cleaning effect of the electrode and thus improve the safety of the battery.

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides an electrode cleaning device, comprising: an unwinding mechanism, a first tension control mechanism, a fourth tension control mechanism, and a winding mechanism arranged sequentially along the electrode conveying direction;

[0006] At least one spraying mechanism, at least one scraping mechanism, and at least one drying mechanism are provided between the first tension control mechanism and the fourth tension control mechanism. The scraping mechanism is located between the spraying mechanism and the drying mechanism, and the spraying mechanism is located after the first tension control mechanism. The spraying mechanism can move along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet, and the distance between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism can be adjusted.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention provides an electrode cleaning method, wherein the electrode is scraped and grooved using the electrode cleaning equipment described in the first aspect, and the electrode cleaning method includes:

[0008] The electrode sheet is conveyed from the unwinding mechanism to the spraying mechanism, and the spraying mechanism sprays a wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be coated.

[0009] The electrode sheet after being sprayed with wetting liquid is conveyed to the scraping mechanism, which scrapes the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be scraped.

[0010] The coated electrode is then conveyed to a drying mechanism, which dries the coated area of ​​the electrode.

[0011] The electrode cleaning equipment of this invention, by separately setting up a spraying mechanism and a scraping mechanism, can clean wide-width electrodes. The scraping mechanism can scrape multiple grooves on the wide-width electrode, which helps to improve the cleaning efficiency of the electrode. Moreover, the spraying mechanism can move along the conveying direction of the electrode, and the distance between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism can be adjusted, so that the spraying mechanism can be closer to the scraping mechanism, making the spraying of the wetting liquid more precise. This not only reduces the buffer amount of a single electrode between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism to avoid the evaporation of the wetting liquid sprayed by the spraying mechanism, which would affect the cleaning effect of the electrode, but also is compatible with shorter electrode lengths. This allows the electrode cleaning equipment to clean electrode lengths from short to long, thus expanding the application range of the electrode cleaning equipment.

[0012] The electrode cleaning method described in this invention can clean wide-width electrodes, meeting the needs of continuous production of wide-width electrodes and improving the cleaning effect of the electrodes. It achieves both improved cleaning efficiency and guaranteed cleaning effect, which is beneficial to improving the production efficiency and quality of batteries. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the electrode cleaning equipment provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the spraying mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the drying adjustment mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the defective product marking mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the continuous cleaning of the electrode sheet in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the intermittent cleaning of the electrode sheet in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and thoroughly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this description, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. Additionally, in the description of the present invention, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0020] In this specification, the term "as an alternative embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one alternative embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same implementation or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0021] Combination Figure 1 As shown, a first aspect of this embodiment provides an electrode cleaning device, comprising: an unwinding mechanism 1, a first tension control mechanism 2, a fourth tension control mechanism 3, and a winding mechanism 4 arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the electrode 100. The unwinding mechanism 1, the first tension control mechanism 2, the fourth tension control mechanism 3, and the winding mechanism 4 are all mounted on a frame (not shown in the figure), wherein:

[0022] At least one spraying mechanism 5, at least one coating mechanism 6, and at least one drying mechanism 7 are provided between the first tension control mechanism 2 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3. The coating mechanism 6 is located between the spraying mechanism 5 and the drying mechanism 7, and the spraying mechanism 5 is located after the first tension control mechanism 2, that is, along the conveying direction of the electrode 100 (i.e., the length direction of the electrode). Figure 1 The arrows in the text point to and Figure 2(in the x-axis direction), the first tension control mechanism 2, at least one spraying mechanism 5, at least one scraping mechanism 6, at least one drying mechanism 7 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3 are arranged in sequence; the spraying mechanism 5 can move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100 and the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 can be adjusted.

[0023] In this embodiment, by separately setting the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6, multiple slots can be scraped on the wide electrode sheet, which is beneficial to improving the cleaning efficiency of the electrode sheet. Moreover, the spraying mechanism 5 can move along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet 100, and the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 can be adjusted, so that the spraying mechanism 5 can be closer to the scraping mechanism 6, making the spraying position of the wetting liquid more precise. In existing electrode sheet cleaning equipment, the spraying mechanism is far from the scraping mechanism, and the spraying mechanism cannot move with the conveying direction of the electrode sheet 100. When the length of a single electrode sheet is shortened, the buffer amount of a single electrode sheet between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism is large. Since the wetting liquid is generally volatile, when the electrode sheet at the end reaches the scraping mechanism, the wetting liquid on the surface of the electrode sheet evaporates, leaving little or no wetting liquid on the surface of the area to be scraped, resulting in incomplete cleaning and affecting the cleaning effect, thus making it easy for residues to appear on the surface of the electrode sheet. Compared with existing electrode cleaning equipment, the electrode cleaning equipment in this embodiment can not only reduce the buffer amount of a single electrode between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 to avoid the evaporation of the wetting liquid sprayed by the spraying mechanism 5 from affecting the cleaning effect of the electrode, but also be compatible with shorter electrode lengths, so that the electrode cleaning equipment can clean electrode lengths from short to long, thus expanding the applicability of the electrode cleaning equipment.

[0024] It is understandable that the length P of a single electrode 100 refers to the length of the individual electrodes that are subsequently cut from electrode 100. Combined with... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, each electrode sheet after slicing includes a paste-coated area 120 and an empty foil area 110. Any two paste-coated areas 120 are separated by an empty foil area 110. The length P of a single electrode sheet 100 refers to the sum of the lengths of a paste-coated area 120 and an empty foil area 110.

[0025] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, two spraying mechanisms 5, two coating mechanisms 6, and two drying mechanisms 7 are arranged between the first tension control mechanism 2 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3. Each coating mechanism 6 has a spraying mechanism 5 in front of it for spraying before each coating operation, and a drying mechanism 7 in front of it for drying after each coating operation. One spraying mechanism 5, one coating mechanism 6, and one drying mechanism 7 treat one surface of the electrode 100, while the other spraying mechanism 5, another coating mechanism 6, and another drying mechanism 7 treat the other surface of the electrode 100. Specifically, in conjunction with... Figure 1 As shown, in the first spraying mechanism 5 and the first coating mechanism 6 on the right side of the frame, the electrode 100 is fed from right to left, processing the first surface of the electrode 100. After passing through tension control, correction mechanism, and other auxiliary mechanisms, the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode 1 are reversed. In the second spraying mechanism 5 and the second coating mechanism 6 on the left side of the frame, the electrode 100 is fed from left to right, processing the second surface of the electrode 100. Finally, it passes through the fourth tension control mechanism 3 and reaches the winding mechanism 4. The first and second surfaces of the electrode 100 are two surfaces of the electrode 100 that are set opposite to each other. The following description of the embodiments of the spraying mechanism 5 and the coating mechanism 6 will all take the second spraying mechanism 5 and the second coating mechanism 6 on the left side of the frame as an example. The structure of the first spraying mechanism 5 and the first coating mechanism 6 on the left side of the frame is the same as that of the second spraying mechanism 5 and the second coating mechanism 6, except that the left and right installation directions are reversed. Of course, when only one surface of the electrode 100 needs to be treated, a spraying mechanism 5, a scraping mechanism 6 and a drying mechanism 7 can be provided between the first tension control mechanism 2 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3.

[0026] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation method, combined with Figure 2 As shown, the liquid spraying mechanism 5 includes a first moving module 51, a second moving module 52, and a liquid spraying module 53. The liquid spraying module 53 is disposed on the second moving module 52, and the second moving module 52 is used to drive the liquid spraying module 53 along the width direction of the electrode 100 (i.e., Figure 2The first moving module 51 moves along the y-axis direction of the electrode 100. The second moving module 52 is mounted on the first moving module 51. The first moving module 51 drives the second moving module 52 to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100, so that the second moving module 52 can drive the liquid spraying module 53 to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100. Therefore, the first moving module 51 can drive the spraying module 53 to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100. This not only allows the spraying module 53 to move with the electrode 100 during the conveying process, but also adjusts the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6. The second moving module 52 can drive the spraying module 53 to move along the width direction of the electrode 100, allowing the spraying module 53 to move back and forth in the width direction of the electrode 100 to spray wetting liquid onto the surface of the electrode 100. Furthermore, the first moving module 51 and the second moving module 52 are set independently, so that the spraying module 53 can move along the width direction of the electrode 100 as well as along the length direction of the electrode 100. This makes the spraying position of the wetting liquid more precise, which is beneficial to further improve the cleaning effect and avoids the spraying tilt during the spraying of the wetting liquid, which would cause the sprayed wetting liquid to exceed the area to be scraped, thus affecting the cleaning effect.

[0027] Specifically, the spraying module 53 is used to spray the wetting liquid onto the surface of the electrode 100. The spraying module 53 includes a storage tank, a spray control valve, and a nozzle. The spray control valve is connected to both the storage tank and the nozzle, and controls the spraying dosage. A level detector can be installed on the storage tank, allowing for precise control of the spraying dosage. This avoids waste due to excessive spraying and poor cleaning results due to insufficient spraying. The nozzle is used to spray the wetting liquid onto the surface of the electrode 100. Driven by the first moving module 51 and the second moving module 52, the nozzle can continuously or intermittently spray the surface of the electrode 100 in the width direction. Figure 2As shown, a) represents continuous spraying on the surface of electrode 100, and b) represents intermittent spraying on the surface of electrode 100. Continuous spraying facilitates the subsequent application of continuously set grooves on the surface of electrode 100, while intermittent spraying facilitates the subsequent application of spaced grooves on the surface of electrode 100. In this embodiment, the spray module 53 can precisely control the spray dosage of the nozzle through the spray control valve during both continuous and intermittent spraying, effectively avoiding spraying in areas where spraying is unnecessary. It can be understood that during continuous spraying, the spray control valve is always active, allowing the wetting liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle. During intermittent spraying, the spray control valve is active when spraying is needed, allowing the wetting liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle; when spraying is not needed, the spray control valve stops the nozzle from spraying the wetting liquid. Furthermore, during intermittent spraying, the distance between any two adjacent sprayed areas can be equal or unequal, and the specific distance range can be set according to process requirements. In this embodiment, the surface of electrode 100 can be continuously or intermittently sprayed according to the process requirements for the subsequent slit single electrode sheets. The specific structures of the liquid storage tank, spray control valve, nozzle, and level detector in this embodiment are not further described. Those skilled in the art can choose commonly used structures in the field. The structures of the above components are not improved in this embodiment and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first moving module 51 may include a first driving member and a first sliding member. The second moving module 52 is connected to the first sliding member. The first driving member drives the first sliding member to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100, thereby driving the spraying module 53 to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100. The second moving module 52 includes a second driving member and a second sliding member. The spraying module 53 is connected to the second sliding member. The second driving member drives the second sliding member to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100, thereby driving the spraying module 53 to move along the width direction of the electrode. Both the first driving member and the second driving member can be motors. Both the first sliding member and the second sliding member can be cooperating sliders and slide rails. The first moving module 51 and the second moving module 52 may also include transmission components such as chains or synchronous belts to achieve transmission connection.

[0029] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, the coating mechanism 6 includes multiple scraper modules spaced apart along the width direction of the electrode 100. Each scraper module is independently configured, and the multiple scraper modules can simultaneously perform coating along the width direction of the electrode 100, so that the surface of the electrode 100 forms multiple spaced grooves, or forms a continuous groove. If the surface of the electrode 100 forms multiple spaced grooves, the distance between any two adjacent grooves can be equal or unequal, and the specific distance range can be set according to process requirements. Therefore, by arranging multiple scraper modules at intervals along the width direction of the electrode 100, wide-width electrodes can be scraped and coated simultaneously, with multiple grooves scraped onto the wide-width electrode. Subsequently, the wide-width electrode is cut into multiple narrower single-piece electrodes. Compared with narrow-width electrode cleaning equipment, this electrode cleaning equipment greatly improves the cleaning efficiency of the electrodes. For example, this electrode cleaning equipment can simultaneously scrape 24 grooves on the surface of the electrode 100, which is equivalent to 48 narrower single-piece electrodes. Compared with narrow-width electrode cleaning equipment, the cleaning efficiency is increased by tens of times.

[0030] It is understood that wide-width electrode sheets refer to electrode sheets with a larger width, while narrower-width single-piece electrode sheets refer to electrode sheets with a smaller width. As an optional implementation, the width of the wide-width electrode sheet can be 500mm to 650mm, and the width of the narrower-width single-piece electrode sheet can be 30mm to 150mm. Of course, those skilled in the art can also set the width of the wide-width electrode sheet and the single-piece electrode sheet according to the actual situation. Those skilled in the art can determine the width of each slot and the spacing between any two adjacent slots based on the width of the wide-width electrode sheet and the slit single-piece electrode sheet.

[0031] In this embodiment, those skilled in the art can determine the number of scraper modules on the scraping mechanism 6 based on the width of the wide electrode sheet and the number of grooves to be scraped. For example, if the surface of the electrode sheet 100 forms 24 spaced grooves, then 12 scraper modules can be set. Each scraper module scrapes two grooves on the surface of the electrode sheet 100. Each scraper module can first scrape one groove on the surface of the electrode sheet 100, and then each scraper module moves along the width direction of the electrode sheet 100 by a first preset distance (i.e., the distance between any two adjacent grooves) and then scrapes another groove on the surface of the electrode sheet 100. A standard spacer can be used to separate any two adjacent scraper modules to ensure the distance between the two adjacent grooves. If the surface of the electrode 100 forms a continuous series of slots, then n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 1) scraper modules can be set. Each scraper module scrapes a second preset distance along the width direction of the electrode 100 on the surface of the electrode 100, and the slots scraped by two adjacent scraper modules are connected, so that the n slots are connected to form a continuous series of slots, that is, the width of the wide electrode is equal to n second preset distances. Of course, those skilled in the art can also set it according to the actual situation.

[0032] The coating mechanism in this embodiment can be a conventional coating mechanism on existing electrode manufacturing equipment. For example, the coating mechanism 6 in this embodiment includes a frame, an electrode positioning module, a moving module, a scraper module, a dust collection component, a dust blowing component, an interface module, and rollers. The moving module includes a slide rail and a slider. The slide rail is fixedly mounted on the frame, and the slider is movably mounted on the slide rail. The scraper modules are mounted on the sliders. There can be 12 sliders arranged parallel to each other along the axis of the slide rail. The movement direction of the sliders and scraper modules is perpendicular to the movement direction of the electrode 100. There are 12 scraper modules 40, mounted on the sliders and arranged parallel to each other along the axis of the slide rail (the number of sliders and scraper modules corresponds and can be increased or decreased according to actual process requirements). The scraper module includes a blade holder, a scraper lifting mechanism, a scraper, and a pressure sensor. The scraper lifting mechanism is mounted on the blade holder, the scraper is mounted on the scraper lifting mechanism, and the pressure sensor is mounted on the scraper. The scraper moves up and down under the control of the scraper lifting mechanism. The pressure sensor sends a motion signal to the scraper lifting mechanism by sensing the pressure between the scraper and the electrode. The dust collection assembly includes a support, linear bearings, and dust collection hoses. There are 12 dust collection hoses and 12 linear bearings (the number of linear bearings and dust collection hoses corresponds to the number of scraper modules). The support is fixedly mounted on the frame, and the dust collection hoses are movably mounted on the support via the linear bearings. Each linear bearing houses one dust collection hose, and the 12 hoses are independent of each other. One end of the dust collection hose is mounted on the scraper module, vertically positioned between the scraper and the electrode plate, and moves with the scraper module. The dust collection hose has a scraper channel, through which the scraper contacts the electrode plate below the dust collection hose under the control of the scraper lifting mechanism. The dust blowing assembly includes a dust blowing hose, mounted on the scraper module, and moves with the scraper module. The dust blowing port of the dust blowing hose is located on the side of the dust collection hose and faces the scraper. The interface module includes an aviation plug and a pressure sensor terminal block, fixedly mounted on the frame. Multiple rollers are mounted on the bottom of the frame. Of course, the coating mechanism in this embodiment can also be other commonly used coating mechanisms in the art, as long as it can ensure that multiple grooves are opened on the surface of the electrode 100 at the same time.

[0033] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, a drying adjustment mechanism 8 is provided between the coating mechanism 6 and the drying mechanism 7, combined with... Figure 3As shown, the drying adjustment mechanism 8 includes an adjustment roller 81, which is used to adjust the length of the electrode 100 between the coating mechanism 6 and the drying mechanism 7. This allows the coating mechanism 6 to coat the grooves of the electrode 100 while the drying mechanism 7 dries the coated grooves. Therefore, by setting the drying adjustment mechanism 8 between the coating mechanism 6 and the drying mechanism 7, it is ensured that the distance between them is an integer multiple of the length of a single electrode 100. This allows the drying mechanism 7 to dry the electrode 100 simultaneously with the coating mechanism 6, improving the cleaning efficiency of the electrode 100.

[0034] Specifically, the drying adjustment mechanism 8 includes an adjusting roller 81, a third drive member 82, and a lead screw. The adjusting roller 81 is connected to the lead screw, and the third drive member 82 is connected to the lead screw. The third drive member 82 drives the adjusting roller 81 to move via the lead screw, thereby moving the electrode sheet 100 wrapped around the adjusting roller 81, thus adjusting the length of the electrode sheet 100 between the coating mechanism 6 and the drying mechanism 7. The third drive member 82 can be a motor.

[0035] In this embodiment, the drying mechanism 7 is used to dry the coated groove. The drying mechanism 7 can dry the electrode 100 through the upper heating plate and the lower heating plate. The electrode 100 is located between the two heating plates. The lower heating plate is connected to the lifting drive component. The distance between the two heating plates can be adjusted by the lifting drive component. The drying mechanism 7 is also provided with an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet can preheat the drying mechanism 7 in advance, which is beneficial to speed up the drying process. The gas containing dust and moisture is discharged through the air outlet. The air outlet can be set as a negative pressure air outlet channel to enhance the dust removal effect and ensure the cleanliness of the electrode 100 surface.

[0036] The drying mechanism in this embodiment can be a conventional drying mechanism used in existing electrode manufacturing equipment. For example, the drying mechanism in this embodiment includes a frame, a heating module, a gas preheating module, a lifting module, and a dust removal module. The heating module includes an upper heating plate, a lower heating plate, and a temperature sensor. The upper heating plate is fixedly mounted on the frame and located above the frame. The lower heating plate is connected to the lifting module. Heating elements are provided on the upper and lower heating plates, and the temperature sensor is installed inside the upper and lower heating plates. An air pipe is provided inside the lower heating plate and connected to an air outlet on one surface of the lower heating plate, with the side having the air outlet facing the upper heating plate. The lifting module is a pneumatic lifting module. The fixed end of the lifting module is located on the frame, and the movable end is connected to the side of the lower heating plate without an air outlet. The upward and downward air inlets of the lifting module are connected to external devices through air pipes. The fixed end of the lifting module is fixedly installed on the inner bottom surface of the frame, and the lower heating plate connected to the moving end of the lifting module is located directly below the upper heating plate. The air outlet on the lower heating plate faces the upper heating plate, and the lower heating plate moves vertically under the drive of the moving end. The gas preheating module is a gas preheating plate, on which gas preheating pipes are installed. The gas preheating pipes are arranged in an S-shape on the gas preheating plate to make full use of the area of ​​the gas preheating plate, thereby increasing the length of the gas preheating pipes on the gas preheating plate and extending the movement distance and movement time of the gas on the gas preheating plate. The inlet end of the gas preheating pipe is connected to an external device, and the outlet end is connected to the air inlet of the lower heating plate through an air pipe (if the upper heating plate is also equipped with an air pipe and an air outlet, the outlet end is also connected to the air inlet of the upper heating plate). A thermocouple is installed on the gas preheating plate to detect the temperature of the gas output from the outlet end. When the gas temperature does not reach the preset temperature value, the output of gas from the outlet end to the lower heating plate is suspended. The dust removal module includes multiple dust removal pipes, each a square tube closed at one end and an exhaust port at the other, which is connected to an external suction device. Of course, the drying mechanism 7 in this embodiment can also employ other commonly used drying mechanisms in the art, as long as it ensures that the slots of the electrode 100 are dried.

[0037] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, a belt-connecting mechanism 9, a traction mechanism 10, a second tension control mechanism 11a, and a deviation-correcting mechanism 12 are sequentially arranged between the first drying mechanism 7 and the second spraying mechanism 5 to improve the cleaning accuracy of the second side surface of the electrode 100. Specifically, the belt-connecting mechanism 9 is used to connect the incoming electrode to the existing electrode; the traction mechanism 10 is used to press and pull the electrode 100 during the conveying process; the second tension control mechanism 11a is used to adjust the tension of the electrode 100 to maintain a stable tension during the conveying process and to store the electrode 100 during the conveying process to increase the running speed of the electrode 100; and the deviation-correcting mechanism 12 is used to correct the deviation of the electrode 100 during the conveying process to prevent the electrode 100 from deviating during conveying, ensuring the correct position of the docking mechanism, thereby improving the cleaning accuracy of the electrode 100. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by setting a second tension control mechanism 11a between the first drying mechanism 7 and the second spraying mechanism 5, and placing the traction mechanism 10 before the second tension control mechanism 11a, the tension of different segments is blocked by the traction mechanism, which not only has a large adjustment range but also maintains the tension of the electrode 100 within a small range. The attaching mechanism 9, traction mechanism 10, second tension control mechanism 11a, and correction mechanism 12 in this embodiment all adopt conventional attaching mechanisms, traction mechanisms, tension control mechanisms, and correction mechanisms found on existing electrode manufacturing equipment. The structure of these components is not improved in this embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0038] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, a detection mechanism 13 and a defective product marking mechanism 14 are further provided between the second drying mechanism 7 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3. The defective product marking mechanism 14 is located after the detection mechanism 13. The detection mechanism 13 is used to detect the coating quality of the slots on the electrode sheet 100 and feeds back the areas with poor coating to the PLC. The PLC outputs a signal to the defective product marking mechanism 14, which is used to mark the areas with poor coating on the slots of the electrode sheet 100. Thus, the detection mechanism 13 and the defective product marking mechanism 14 can mark the areas with poor coating on the slots of the electrode sheet 100, so as to facilitate the identification of the individual electrode sheets in the subsequent process of cutting them into single sheets and prevent defective products from flowing into the subsequent process. Specifically, after the second drying mechanism 7, a traction mechanism 10, a third tension control mechanism 11b, a belt-connecting mechanism 9, and a correction mechanism 12 are sequentially arranged. Between the correction mechanism 12 and the fourth tension control mechanism 3, a detection mechanism 13 and a defective product marking mechanism 14 are arranged. The defective product marking mechanism 14 is positioned after the detection mechanism 13. This arrangement improves the detection accuracy of the electrode 100 and the accuracy of defective product detection. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by setting the third tension control mechanism 11b between the second drying mechanism 7 and the detection mechanism 13, and placing the traction mechanism 10 before the third tension control mechanism 11b, the traction mechanism 10 blocks the tension of different segments, resulting in a wide adjustment range and maintaining the tension of the electrode 100 within a relatively small range.

[0039] Specifically, the inspection mechanism 13 can be an inspection mechanism that includes a CCD inspection camera. The CCD inspection camera can be a commonly used CCD inspection camera in the art. CCD stands for Charge-coupled Device, which is a detection element that transmits signals in a coupled manner. The CCD inspection camera takes pictures of the electrode 100 for inspection. The built-in program of the inspection mechanism 13 can compare the groove of the electrode 100 with the set dimensional accuracy to determine whether the coating quality of the groove of the electrode 100 meets the requirements, and feed back the area with poor coating to the defective product marking mechanism 14 through the PLC. In this embodiment, if the groove is cut and coated on one side of the electrode 100, the CCD inspection camera can be a CCD inspection camera that only takes pictures of one side of the electrode 100 for inspection. If the groove is cut and coated on both sides of the electrode 100, the CCD inspection camera can be a CCD inspection camera that can take pictures of both the upper and lower sides for inspection.

[0040] Specifically, in combination Figure 4As shown, the defective product marking mechanism 14 includes a first marking element 141, a second marking element 142, a fourth driving element, and a fifth driving element arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the electrode 100. The fourth driving element is connected to the first marking element 141, and the fifth driving element is connected to the second marking element 142. The fourth driving element and the fifth driving element are respectively used to drive the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 to move relative to each other or back to back along the width direction of the electrode 100. The first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 can simultaneously mark the area with poor coating on the groove of the electrode 100. More specifically, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 are respectively positioned at both ends of the electrode sheet 100 in the width direction. When poor coating occurs in the grooves of the electrode sheet 100, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 move relative to each other along the width direction of the electrode sheet 100 to mark the poorly coated areas of the grooves on the electrode sheet 100 by inkjet printing, adhesive application, or laser marking, forming a mark 140 for identification in subsequent processes when cutting into narrow strip electrodes. If the surface of the electrode sheet 100 has multiple spaced grooves, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 mark the corresponding poorly coated areas of the grooves detected by the detection mechanism 13. The number of marks is determined by the number of grooves on the surface of the electrode sheet 100. Figure 5 As shown, if a continuous series of slots are formed on the surface of the electrode 100, then according to the defective areas of the slots detected by the detection mechanism 13, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 spray, affix, or laser-code multiple markings 140 on the continuous series of slots. These multiple markings 140 are spaced apart along the width direction of the electrode 100, and the maximum number of markings 140 can reach 64, facilitating identification when the electrode is slit into individual electrodes in subsequent processes. After marking the previous electrode 100, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 move away from each other along the width direction of the electrode 100, resetting their positions to facilitate coding the next electrode. By setting two marking elements that can move relative to each other or away from each other, the efficiency of marking defective areas on the electrode 100 can be improved, thereby increasing the production efficiency of the electrode 100.

[0041] In this embodiment, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 have the same structure. Both the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 can be inkjet printers, adhesive applicators, or laser marking machines. Of course, the first marking element 141 and the second marking element 142 can also be other defect marking elements commonly used in the art. In this embodiment, the inkjet printer, adhesive applicator, or laser marking machine are all conventional inkjet printers, adhesive applicators, or laser marking machines used on existing electrode manufacturing equipment. The structure of the above components is not improved in this embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

[0042] Since the coating area 120 between any two adjacent electrode sheets 100 is separated by the empty foil area 110, in this embodiment, when marking the area with poor coating on the groove of the electrode sheet 100, the marking can be sprayed, pasted or laser-marked on the empty foil area 110, so as to facilitate the subsequent recycling of the poorly coated electrode sheet 100 and reduce the waste of the electrode sheet 100.

[0043] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, a defective product marking adjustment mechanism 15 is provided between the detection mechanism 13 and the defective product marking mechanism 14. The defective product marking adjustment mechanism 15 can adopt the same structure as the drying adjustment mechanism 8, that is, by setting an adjustable roller in the defective product marking adjustment mechanism 15, the length of the electrode sheet 100 between the detection mechanism 13 and the defective product marking mechanism 14 is adjusted. This allows the detection mechanism 13 to detect the coating quality of the grooves of the electrode sheet 100, while the defective product marking mechanism 14 can mark the detected electrode sheet 100 with inkjet printing, adhesive, or laser marking. Thus, the defective product marking adjustment mechanism 15 ensures that the distance between the detection mechanism 13 and the defective product marking mechanism 14 is an integer multiple of the length of a single electrode sheet 100, thereby allowing both the detection mechanism 13 and the defective product marking mechanism 14 to work simultaneously, which is beneficial to improving the cleaning efficiency of the electrode sheet 100.

[0044] In this embodiment, the unwinding mechanism 1 controls the rotation of the electrode roll to achieve unwinding, ensuring the supply of electrode 100 to the subsequent coating mechanism 6. The first tension control mechanism 2 controls the tension of the electrode 100 during unwinding. The cooperation between the first tension control mechanism 2 and the unwinding mechanism 1 ensures smooth transport of the unwound electrode 100, which is beneficial to improving the cleaning effect of the electrode 100. After the electrode 100 is output from the first tension control mechanism 2 and before it is transported to the first spraying mechanism 5, a dust removal mechanism is also included. The dust removal mechanism is used to remove dust from both sides of the electrode 100 to ensure that the electrode 100 is dust-free before coating, which is beneficial to improving the quality of the electrode 100. The fourth tension control mechanism 3 controls the tension of the electrode 100 during winding, and the winding mechanism 4 collects the cleaned electrode 100 into a roll. In this embodiment, both the unwinding mechanism 1 and the rewinding mechanism 4 have built-in correction functions, which can correct the deviation of the electrode 100, ensuring the accuracy of the electrode 100's position during the cleaning process, and further improving the cleaning effect of the electrode 100. This embodiment does not further limit the specific structure of the unwinding mechanism 1, the first tension control mechanism 2, the fourth tension control mechanism 3, and the rewinding mechanism 4; those skilled in the art can select commonly used mechanisms according to actual conditions.

[0045] The second aspect of this embodiment provides an electrode cleaning method, which involves scraping and grooving an electrode using the electrode cleaning setup shown in the first aspect. The electrode cleaning method includes:

[0046] The electrode 100 is conveyed from the unwinding mechanism 1 to the spraying mechanism 5, and the spraying mechanism 5 sprays the wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be coated.

[0047] The electrode 100 after being sprayed with wetting liquid is conveyed to the scraping mechanism 6, and the scraping mechanism 6 scrapes the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be scraped.

[0048] The coated electrode 100 is conveyed to the drying mechanism 7, which dries the coated area of ​​the electrode 100.

[0049] The electrode cleaning method of this embodiment can clean wide-width electrodes, which can meet the needs of continuous production of wide-width electrodes and improve the cleaning effect of electrodes. It can improve the cleaning efficiency of electrodes while ensuring the cleaning effect of electrodes, which is conducive to improving the production efficiency and quality of batteries.

[0050] Specifically, the unwinding mechanism 1 intermittently outputs electrode sheets 100. After passing through the unwinding mechanism 1 and the first tension control mechanism 2, the electrode sheets 100 are conveyed to the first spraying mechanism 5. The first spraying mechanism 5 sprays wetting liquid onto the area to be coated on the first surface of the electrode sheet 100. After spraying the wetting liquid, the electrode sheet 100 is conveyed to the first coating mechanism 6. The first coating mechanism 6 coats the area to be coated on the first surface of the electrode sheet 100. After coating, the electrode sheet 100 is conveyed to the first drying mechanism 7. The first drying mechanism 7 dries the coated area on the first surface of the electrode sheet 100. After drying, the electrode sheet 100 sequentially passes through the tape receiving mechanism 9, the traction mechanism 10, the second tension control mechanism 11a, and the correction mechanism 12. The upper and lower surfaces of the electrode sheet 100 are reversed, and the electrode sheet 100 is conveyed to the second spraying mechanism 5. The second spraying mechanism 5 sprays wetting liquid onto the area to be coated on the second surface of the electrode sheet 100. After spraying the wetting liquid, the electrode sheet 100... The electrode 100 is conveyed to the second coating mechanism 6, which coats the area to be coated on the second surface of the electrode 100. After coating, the electrode 100 is conveyed to the second drying mechanism 7, which dries the coated area on the second surface of the electrode 100. After drying, the electrode 100 passes through the traction mechanism 10, the third tension control mechanism 11b, the tape splicing mechanism 9, and the correction mechanism 12 in sequence. The electrode 100 is then conveyed to the detection mechanism 13, which detects the coating quality of the grooves of the electrode 100 and feeds back the poorly coated areas to the PLC. The PLC outputs a signal to the defective product marking mechanism 14. After passing through the defective product marking adjustment mechanism 15, the electrode 100 is conveyed to the defective product marking mechanism 14. The defective product marking mechanism 14 marks the poorly coated areas of the grooves on the electrode 100 in the empty foil area. After marking, the electrode 100 passes through the fourth tension control mechanism 3 and is then wound up by the winding mechanism 4.

[0051] In this embodiment, the unwinding mechanism 1 intermittently outputs the electrode sheet 100. During the process of conveying the electrode sheet 100 from the unwinding mechanism 1 to the rewinding mechanism 4, the electrode sheet 100 is conveyed intermittently, that is, the electrode sheet 100 is conveyed according to a certain cycle or a certain length, and conveying and stopping alternate during the conveying process. In this embodiment, by intermittently conveying the electrode sheet 100, it is possible to ensure that the spraying mechanism 5, the scraping mechanism 6, and the defective product marking mechanism 14 are in a relatively stationary state relative to the electrode sheet 100 during operation, which is beneficial to further improve the cleaning effect. The interval cycle or conveying length of the intermittent conveying in this embodiment is not further limited; those skilled in the art can set it according to actual conditions.

[0052] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional implementation, both the first spraying mechanism 5 and the second spraying mechanism 5 determine the spraying method of applying the wetting liquid to the area to be coated on the electrode 100 according to the length of the single electrode 100. Specifically:

[0053] If the length of a single electrode 100 is less than or equal to the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5, the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is adjusted so that the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is N times the length of the single electrode 100. The spraying mechanism 5 sprays the wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be scraped at a preset position, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0054] If the length of a single electrode 100 is greater than the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5, then during the conveying of the electrode 100, the spraying mechanism 5 moves with the electrode 100 to spray the wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be coated.

[0055] The stroke of the spraying mechanism 5 is along the conveying direction of the electrode 100, and the maximum distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the coating mechanism 6 is as follows: Figure 1 The spacing L is the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5, and the length of the single electrode 100 is the length of the single electrode after the electrode 100 is cut.

[0056] For example, combined Figure 1As shown, the spraying mechanism 5 can move from point S1 to point S2. When the spraying mechanism 5 is at point S1, the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is L1, the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and point S2 is L2, the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5 is L2+L1=L, and the length of the electrode is P. If P is less than or equal to L, the spraying mechanism 5 moves between S1 and S2, so that the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is N×P. At this time, the position of the spraying mechanism 5 is the preset position. The spraying mechanism 5 does not move with the conveying direction of the electrode 100. That is, the spraying mechanism 5 is fixed at the preset position to spray the wetting liquid on the area to be scraped of the electrode 100, and when the spraying mechanism 5 sprays the wetting liquid on the area to be scraped along the width direction of the electrode 100, the electrode 100 is in a stopped state. If P is greater than L, then when the electrode 100 is transported between points S1 and S2, the spraying mechanism 5 moves with the electrode 100. That is, during the movement of the electrode 100, the spraying mechanism 5 moves synchronously with the electrode 100 along the transport direction of the electrode 100. After the spraying mechanism 5 and the electrode 100 remain relatively stationary, the spraying mechanism 5 starts to spray the wetting liquid in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the electrode 100 (i.e., the width direction of the electrode 100) to spray the wetting liquid on the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be coated.

[0057] In this embodiment, when the length of a single electrode 100 is less than or equal to the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5, the first moving module 51 drives the spraying module 53 to move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100, so that the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is N times the length of the single electrode 100. The spraying mechanism 5 is fixed at a preset position to spray the wetting liquid onto the area to be scraped on the electrode 100. Then, the electrode 100 is intermittently conveyed to the scraping mechanism 6, and the area to be scraped on the electrode 100 just reaches the scraping mechanism 6. The scraping mechanism 6 scrapes the area to be scraped. While the spraying mechanism 5 sprays the wetting liquid onto the area to be scraped on the electrode 100, the scraping mechanism 6 can simultaneously scrape the electrode 100 after spraying and cleaning, so that the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 can work at the same time, improving the cleaning efficiency of the electrode 100. When the length of a single electrode 100 is greater than the stroke of the spraying mechanism 5, the spraying mechanism 5 can move along the conveying direction of the electrode 100 and move with the electrode 100 to spray the wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode 100 to be coated.

[0058] In this embodiment, the spraying method for applying the wetting liquid to the area to be coated on the electrode 100 is determined according to the length of the single electrode 100. On the one hand, this ensures that the spraying mechanism 5 accurately sprays the wetting liquid onto the area to be coated on the electrode 100, avoiding the wetting liquid from tilting beyond the area to be coated, which would affect the subsequent cleaning effect. On the other hand, this ensures that the distance between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6 is within a suitable range, which can shorten the number of single electrodes buffered between the spraying mechanism 5 and the scraping mechanism 6, and prevent the wetting liquid on the surface of the electrode 100 from evaporating when it reaches the scraping mechanism 6, resulting in less or no wetting liquid remaining on the surface of the area to be coated, leading to incomplete cleaning and affecting the cleaning effect. In this embodiment, the spraying method of applying the wetting liquid to the area to be coated on the electrode 100 is determined according to the length of the single electrode 100. This method can not only accommodate more electrode 100s of different lengths and reduce the buffer amount of a single electrode, but also improve the cleaning effect and accuracy of the electrode 100, thereby improving the quality of the battery.

[0059] While the disclosure is as stated above, its scope of protection is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and all such changes and modifications will fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning electrode sheets, characterized in that, An electrode cleaning device is used to scrape and groove the electrode. The electrode cleaning device includes: an unwinding mechanism, a first tension control mechanism, a fourth tension control mechanism, and a winding mechanism arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the electrode. At least one spraying mechanism, at least one scraping mechanism, and at least one drying mechanism are provided between the first tension control mechanism and the fourth tension control mechanism. The scraping mechanism is located between the spraying mechanism and the drying mechanism, and the spraying mechanism is located after the first tension control mechanism. The spraying mechanism can move along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet, and the distance between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism can be adjusted. The spraying mechanism includes a first moving module and a spraying module. The spraying module is used to spray the wetting liquid onto the surface of the electrode sheet. The first moving module drives the spraying module to move along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet. The width direction of the electrode sheet is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the electrode sheet. The electrode cleaning method includes: The electrode sheet is conveyed from the unwinding mechanism to the spraying mechanism, and the spraying mechanism sprays a wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be coated. The electrode sheet after being sprayed with wetting liquid is conveyed to the scraping mechanism, which scrapes the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be scraped. The coated electrode sheet is then conveyed to a drying mechanism, which dries the coated area of ​​the electrode sheet. The spraying mechanism sprays a wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode to be coated, including: If the length of a single electrode sheet is less than or equal to the stroke of the spraying mechanism, then the distance between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism is adjusted so that the distance between the spraying mechanism and the scraping mechanism is N times the length of the single electrode sheet. The spraying mechanism is fixed at a preset position to spray wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be scraped, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. If the length of the single electrode sheet is greater than the stroke of the spraying mechanism, then during the electrode sheet transport, the spraying mechanism moves with the electrode sheet to spray the wetting liquid onto the area of ​​the electrode sheet to be coated. The stroke of the spraying mechanism is along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet, the maximum distance between the spraying mechanism and the coating mechanism is the length of the single electrode sheet after the electrode sheet is cut.

2. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid spraying mechanism further includes a second moving module, which is disposed on the second moving module. The second moving module is used to drive the liquid spraying module to move along the width direction of the electrode sheet. The second moving module is disposed on the first moving module.

3. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spray module includes a liquid storage tank, a spray control valve, and a nozzle connected to each other. The spray control valve is used to control the spraying dosage of the nozzle. The nozzle can continuously spray or intermittently spray the surface of the electrode in the width direction of the electrode.

4. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coating mechanism includes multiple scraper modules spaced apart along the width direction of the electrode sheet. Each scraper module is independently configured, and the multiple scraper modules can simultaneously perform coating along the width direction of the electrode sheet, so that the surface of the electrode sheet forms multiple spaced grooves, or forms a continuous groove on the surface of the electrode sheet. If the surface of the electrode has multiple spaced slots, the spacing between any two adjacent slots may be equal or unequal.

5. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that, A drying adjustment mechanism is provided between the coating mechanism and the drying mechanism. The drying adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment roller, which is used to adjust the length of the electrode sheet between the coating mechanism and the drying mechanism, so that while the coating mechanism is coating the grooves of the electrode sheet, the drying mechanism can dry the coated grooves of the electrode sheet.

6. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that, A detection mechanism and a defective product marking mechanism are also provided between the drying mechanism and the fourth tension control mechanism. The defective product marking mechanism is located after the detection mechanism. The detection mechanism is used to detect the coating quality of the grooves on the electrode sheet, and the defective product marking mechanism is used to mark the areas with poor coating on the grooves of the electrode sheet.

7. The electrode cleaning method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The defect marking mechanism includes a first marking element and a second marking element arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the electrode sheet. The first marking element and the second marking element can move relative to each other or move away from each other along the width direction of the electrode sheet, and the first marking element and the second marking element can simultaneously mark the area of ​​poor coating on the groove of the electrode sheet. Both the first and second marking components are inkjet printers, adhesive applicators, or laser marking machines.

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