A lithium metal laser cutting device and method

Abstract

The application provides a lithium metal laser cutting device and a cutting method, relates to the technical field of laser cutting processing, and aims to solve the technical problem of the physical cutting of existing lithium metal, the sticking of the tool surface, and the low efficiency of cutting waste removal and collection. The device comprises a rack, a laser cutting mechanism, a cutting work bin, a waste removal mechanism, and a waste collection mechanism installed on the rack; the laser cutting mechanism can accurately adjust the cutting position, the cutting work bin realizes closed cutting of lithium strips and is matched with a dust removal structure, the waste removal mechanism completes the pressing of lithium strips and the adsorption and removal of waste, and the waste collection mechanism classifies and collects cutting dust and foil waste. The application replaces physical cutting with laser cutting, completely solves the sticking problem, realizes integrated operation of cutting, dust removal, and waste treatment, has high cutting precision and efficiency, has a compact device structure and low cost, the matched cutting method has consecutive processes and high automation, and is suitable for large-scale production of lithium metal pole pieces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser cutting technology, and more specifically, to a lithium metal laser cutting device and cutting method. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy technologies, all-solid-state batteries, as the core development direction of the next generation of high-energy-density batteries, have become an important support for the transformation of the energy structure. Lithium metal, due to its excellent electrochemical performance, has become an ideal anode material for all-solid-state lithium rechargeable batteries, and is key to achieving a battery energy density greater than 400Wh / kg. However, lithium metal is a silvery-white, soft metal that is extremely prone to tearing and fracture, and it has strong adhesive properties, adhering to almost all materials, posing a significant challenge to its cutting and fabrication.

[0003] Currently, most electrode cutting in the industry uses physical cutting tools. When applied to lithium metal cutting, the lithium metal severely adheres to the cutting tool, resulting in uneven cut edges, low electrode precision, tool clogging, and accelerated wear, significantly reducing cutting efficiency and failing to meet the demands of large-scale production. While existing laser cutting equipment for lithium metal overcomes the adhesion defects of physical cutting, it still has several shortcomings: First, some equipment requires multiple lasers to complete electrode production, leading to high equipment investment costs; second, there is no effective treatment for the lithium metal dust generated during laser cutting, which poses flammable and explosive safety risks and easily contaminates lithium metal electrodes, affecting the safety performance of subsequent batteries; third, the waste removal and collection structure is poorly designed, resulting in incomplete waste removal and low collection efficiency, easily causing waste accumulation that affects cutting operations and further reduces production efficiency.

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, there is an urgent need to develop an integrated lithium metal laser cutting device that replaces physical cutting with laser cutting, while also providing an efficient dust removal, waste removal and collection structure to achieve high-precision and high-efficiency cutting of lithium metal electrodes. The device should also have a simple structure, low cost, and be suitable for large-scale production needs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the technical problems of existing lithium metal physical cutting where the cutting blade sticks and the efficiency of waste removal and collection is low.

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a lithium metal laser cutting device, comprising a frame, and further comprising: a laser cutting mechanism fixedly installed in the frame, with its laser emission direction perpendicular to the lithium strip; a cutting chamber disposed on one side of the frame, with the lithium strip to be cut transversely penetrating the cutting chamber, the cutting chamber including a chamber cover; and a waste removal mechanism disposed on both sides of the cutting chamber, used to press the lithium strip during cutting and remove waste generated after cutting, the waste removal mechanism including fixed beams symmetrically disposed on the left and right sides of the chamber cover, each fixed beam having a first cylinder fixedly installed therein. A cylinder connecting plate is fixedly installed at the telescopic end of the cylinder. A sliding plate is fixedly installed on the side wall of the cylinder connecting plate, and a second cylinder is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the sliding plate. A rejection plate is fixedly installed at the telescopic end of the second cylinder, and the ends of the rejection plates located on both sides of the working chamber cover are located inside the working chamber cover. The bottom of the rejection plate has equally spaced adsorption holes, and the side wall of the rejection plate has through holes communicating with the adsorption holes. An exhaust pipe communicating with the through holes is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the rejection plate. A waste collection mechanism is set at the bottom of the cutting working chamber to collect some of the metal dust generated during cutting and lithium metal foil waste rejected by the waste rejection mechanism.

[0007] The lithium metal laser cutting device provided by this invention has, but is not limited to, the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art: To address the technical problems of existing physical cutting methods for lithium metal where the cutting blade adheres poorly and waste collection efficiency is low, this device employs a welded steel frame. A laser cutting mechanism is bolted to one side of the upper part of the frame, with its laser emitter pointing vertically downwards, perpendicular to the lithium strip conveying path. A cutting chamber is fixedly installed in the middle of the frame, through which the lithium strip, made of lithium metal foil, is passed laterally, with the cutting position corresponding vertically to the laser emitter of the laser cutting mechanism. Waste removal mechanisms are symmetrically installed on the left and right sides of the cutting chamber, with their working ends extending into the chamber and corresponding to the upper surface of the lithium strip. A waste collection mechanism is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cutting chamber via a flange, with its feed end connected to the interior of the chamber. All mechanisms are integrated into a compact structure via the frame. After power-on, the lithium strip to be cut is unwound and passes laterally through the cutting chamber, reaching the designated cutting position. The laser cutting mechanism then... The laser cutter is directed vertically towards the lithium strip to perform laser cutting. During the cutting process, the working end of the waste removal mechanism presses down onto the surface of the lithium strip to press and position it, preventing displacement caused by vibrations from laser cutting. After cutting, the waste removal mechanism removes the lithium metal foil waste generated during cutting from the lithium strip and transfers it to the waste collection mechanism. Some of the lithium metal dust generated during laser cutting falls directly to the waste collection mechanism, while the rest is collected through the dust removal structure of the cutting chamber. This achieves integrated operation of lithium metal cutting, dust removal, waste removal, and collection, with smooth coordination among the various mechanisms and continuous cutting operations, significantly improving the efficiency of lithium metal electrode sheet production. The laser cutting mechanism is directed vertically towards the lithium strip, ensuring the verticality of the laser cutting and improving the electrode sheet cutting accuracy. The waste removal and collection mechanisms respectively remove and collect waste, eliminating waste accumulation and preventing waste from affecting subsequent cutting operations. The overall device has a compact structure, occupies little production space, is easy to connect with lithium battery production lines, and is suitable for large-scale production.

[0008] Furthermore, the laser cutting mechanism includes a mounting assembly and a laser cutter. The laser cutter is mounted on one side of the mounting assembly. The outer wall of the frame has a mounting opening, and the laser cutter passes through the mounting opening. The mounting assembly is fixedly mounted on one side of the frame and is used to adjust the initial position of the laser cutter.

[0009] Furthermore, the installation assembly includes a manual displacement stage, a mounting base, a fixing plate, and a lifting plate. The outer wall of the mounting base has a first waist groove. The frame is connected to the first waist groove of the mounting base by fixing bolts. The fixing plate is fixedly installed on one side of the mounting base, and the manual displacement stage is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the fixing plate. The lifting plate is fixedly installed on the outside of the lifting end of the manual displacement stage. The laser cutter has a second waist groove on one side, and the lifting plate is connected to the second waist groove of the laser cutter by limiting bolts.

[0010] Furthermore, the cutting chamber also includes a support beam, a base plate, and an observation cover. The support beam is fixedly installed on one side of the frame, and the base plate is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the support beam. The outer wall of the base plate has a fixing opening, and the working chamber cover is fixedly installed in the fixing opening. The top of the working chamber cover has a cutting opening for laser to enter the working chamber cover. The two sides of the working chamber cover have through openings for lithium strips to enter and exit the working chamber cover. The observation cover is located on the front and rear sides of the working chamber cover.

[0011] Furthermore, a support plate is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the base plate, an mounting plate is fixedly installed on one outer wall of the support plate, and a cutting platform is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the mounting plate. The cutting platform is located in the working chamber cover and is used to support the lithium strip.

[0012] Furthermore, a dust suction port is provided on one side of the outer wall of the work chamber cover, and a dust suction pipe is connected to the dust suction port, with a vacuum cleaner connected to the end of the dust suction pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, a guide rail is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the fixed beam, and a slider is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the slide plate, with the slider slidably disposed outside the guide rail.

[0014] Furthermore, the waste collection mechanism includes a waste box, a waste middle cylinder, and waste side cylinders. The waste box is fixedly installed on one side of the frame, and the waste side cylinders are located on both sides of the waste middle cylinder. The bottoms of the waste middle cylinder and the waste side cylinders are connected to the waste box. The top of the waste middle cylinder is connected to the bottom of the working chamber cover. A material picking sealing plate is also movably installed on one outer wall of the waste box.

[0015] The present invention also provides a laser cutting method for lithium metal, which uses the above-mentioned laser cutting device for cutting and includes the following steps: S1: The lithium strip is unwound and enters the cutting chamber, where it remains stationary. The scrap removal mechanism presses down the lithium strip in the cutting chamber. S2: The laser cutting mechanism cuts the lithium strip according to the required electrode size. During the cutting process, some lithium metal dust falls directly into the waste collection mechanism, and some dust is collected by the dust removal equipment in the cutting work chamber. S3: After the lithium metal foil is cut, the excess lithium metal foil waste is removed by the waste removal mechanism and moved to the waste collection mechanism. The size of the cut lithium metal foil is the required lithium metal electrode. S4: The cutting lithium metal electrode sheets are adsorbed and moved to the next station by the material handling plate in the material handling equipment for further processing.

[0016] With the above technical solution, the cutting platform is located in the working chamber and is used to support the lithium strip. This ensures that the lithium strip remains flat, stretched, and stable after entering the cutting chamber, preventing the cutting accuracy from being affected by local suspension, wrinkles, or sagging during laser cutting. The laser emission direction of the laser cutter is perpendicular to the lithium strip, and its initial position can be adjusted by the mounting components so that the laser cutting position corresponds to the position to be cut on the lithium strip. This improves the cutting accuracy of lithium metal electrodes and the adaptability to the production of electrodes of different specifications. During the cutting process, the rejection plate moves downward under the action of the second cylinder and adheres to the surface of the lithium strip, pressing and positioning it to prevent displacement caused by vibration or heat from laser cutting. After cutting, the adsorption holes at the bottom of the rejection plate, the through holes connected to the adsorption holes, and the exhaust pipe work together to create a negative pressure adsorption effect at the bottom of the rejection plate. This reliably adsorbs the lithium metal foil waste generated during cutting and moves it with the rejection plate to the top of the waste side cylinder. Then, by releasing the negative pressure, the waste falls into the waste side cylinder. This achieves continuous operation of cutting positioning and waste removal, reducing manual intervention and avoiding secondary contact contamination between waste and electrode sheets. The top of the waste middle cylinder is connected to the bottom of the working chamber cover, which can receive lithium metal dust falling during the cutting process. The waste side cylinders are located on both sides of the waste middle cylinder and are connected to the waste box, which can receive the foil waste transferred and released by the rejection plate. This allows dust and foil waste to enter the waste box for centralized collection through different channels, reducing the risk of dust diffusion, waste scattering, and waste accumulation. The above structures work together to enable this device to complete lithium strip stable support, laser cutting, pressing and positioning, negative pressure adsorption and material removal, and dust and foil waste collection within the same working area, forming an integrated operation process for lithium metal cutting and waste treatment. This improves the efficiency of lithium metal electrode sheet production, cutting stability and production safety, and facilitates continuous connection between the equipment and the lithium battery production line. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a lithium metal laser cutting device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the laser cutting mechanism in a lithium metal laser cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting chamber in a lithium metal laser cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the waste removal mechanism in a lithium metal laser cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the waste collection mechanism in a lithium metal laser cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6A planar schematic diagram showing the lithium strip cutting sequence in a laser cutting method for lithium metal provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of a laser cutting method for lithium metal provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Frame; 2. Laser cutting mechanism; 201. Laser cutter; 202. Manual displacement table; 203. Mounting base; 204. Fixing plate; 205. Lifting plate; 3. Cutting work chamber; 301. Work chamber cover; 302. Observation cover; 303. Dust suction pipe; 304. Base plate; 305. Support beam; 306. Support plate; 307. Mounting plate; 308. Cutting platform; 4. Scrap removal mechanism; 401. Fixing beam; 402. Support plate; 403. First cylinder; 404. Cylinder connecting plate; 405. Slide plate; 406. Second cylinder; 407. Removal plate; 408. Guide rail; 409. Slider; 410. Air extraction pipe; 5. Scrap collection mechanism; 501. Scrap box; 502. Removal cover; 503. Scrap middle cylinder; 504. Scrap side cylinder; 6. Lithium strip. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, specific embodiments of this application are described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments described in this application without creative effort will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application; the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "comprise," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are open-ended terms, indicating that a method comprises one or more steps, or an apparatus comprises one or more elements, but do not exclude the inclusion of other steps or elements. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or primary / secondary relationship. 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, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0021] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0024] See Figures 1-5An embodiment of the present invention provides a lithium metal laser cutting device, comprising a frame 1, and further comprising: a laser cutting mechanism 2, which is fixedly installed in the frame 1 and its laser emission direction is perpendicular to the lithium strip 6; a cutting working chamber 3, which is disposed on one side of the frame 1, and the lithium strip 6 to be cut passes through the cutting working chamber 3 laterally; a waste removal mechanism 4, which is disposed on both sides of the cutting working chamber 3, for pressing the lithium strip 6 during cutting and removing the waste generated after cutting; and a waste collection mechanism 5, which is disposed at the bottom of the cutting working chamber 3, for collecting some of the metal dust generated during cutting and the lithium metal foil waste removed by the waste removal mechanism 4.

[0025] In this embodiment, addressing the technical problems of existing physical cutting of lithium metal resulting in sticking to the blade surface and low efficiency in collecting and removing cutting waste, this device employs a vertical frame 1 welded from steel profiles. A laser cutting mechanism 2 is bolted to one side of the upper part of the frame 1, with the laser emitting end of the laser cutting mechanism 2 pointing vertically downwards and perpendicularly towards the lithium strip 6 conveying path below. A cutting chamber 3 is fixedly installed on one side of the middle of the frame 1, and the lithium strip 6, made of lithium metal foil to be cut, passes laterally through the cutting chamber 3, with the cutting position of the lithium strip 6 aligned with the laser of the laser cutting mechanism 2. The transmitter is positioned vertically; the waste removal mechanism 4 is symmetrically fixedly installed on the left and right sides of the cutting chamber 3, with the working end of the waste removal mechanism 4 extending into the interior of the cutting chamber 3 and corresponding to the upper surface of the lithium strip 6; the bottom of the cutting chamber 3 is fixedly connected to the waste collection mechanism 5 via a flange, and the feeding end of the waste collection mechanism 5 is connected to the interior of the cutting chamber 3. All mechanisms of the overall device are integrated and installed through the frame 1, resulting in a compact structure; after the device is powered on and started, the lithium strip 6 to be cut is unwound and passes through the cutting chamber 3 laterally, reaching the designated cutting position; Laser cutting mechanism 2 emits a laser, perpendicularly facing the lithium strip 6 to complete the laser cutting operation. During the cutting process, the working end of waste removal mechanism 4 presses down onto the surface of lithium strip 6 to press and position it, preventing displacement caused by vibrations from laser cutting. After cutting, waste removal mechanism 4 removes the lithium metal foil waste generated during cutting from lithium strip 6 and transfers it to waste collection mechanism 5. Lithium metal dust generated during laser cutting is partially collected directly by waste collection mechanism 5 and partially collected by the dust removal structure of cutting chamber 3. Ultimately, it achieves integrated operation of lithium metal cutting, dust removal, waste removal and collection. The various mechanisms work together smoothly, and the cutting operation is continuous, which greatly improves the production efficiency of lithium metal electrodes. The laser cutting mechanism 2 is vertically oriented towards the lithium strip 6 to ensure the verticality of the laser cutting and improve the cutting accuracy of the electrode. The waste removal mechanism 4 and the waste collection mechanism 5 respectively realize the removal and collection of waste, eliminating the problem of waste accumulation and avoiding waste from affecting subsequent cutting operations. The overall device has a compact structure, occupies little production space, is easy to connect with lithium battery production lines, and is suitable for large-scale production.

[0026] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The laser cutting mechanism 2 includes a mounting assembly and a laser cutter 201. The laser cutter 201 is mounted on one side of the mounting assembly. The outer wall of the frame 1 has a mounting opening, and the laser cutter 201 passes through the mounting opening. The mounting assembly is fixedly mounted on one side of the frame 1 and is used to adjust the initial position of the laser cutter 201.

[0027] In this embodiment, the laser cutting mechanism 2 consists of a mounting assembly and a laser cutter 201. The laser cutter 201 is a fiber laser cutting machine. The upper outer wall of the frame 1 has a square mounting opening adapted to the emitting end of the laser cutter 201. The laser emitting end of the laser cutter 201 faces downwards directly towards the cutting chamber 3 below. The mounting assembly is a steel frame structure, fixedly mounted to the outer wall of the frame 1 with bolts. The body of the laser cutter 201 is fixed to one side of the mounting assembly with bolts. The adjusting components of the mounting assembly can drive the laser cutter 201 to adjust its position. The system achieves precise setting of the initial cutting position. Based on the size requirements of the lithium metal electrode to be cut, the spatial position of the laser cutter 201 is adjusted through the mounting components, so that the laser emitting end of the laser cutter 201 is precisely aligned with the cutting position of the lithium strip 6. After adjustment, the laser cutter 201 is powered on and emits a high-energy laser beam. The laser beam acts perpendicularly on the surface of the lithium strip 6, and the lithium metal is melted and cut through the thermal effect of the laser, thus completing the cutting and manufacturing of the electrode. The mounting components can repeatedly adjust the position of the laser cutter 201 according to the cutting requirements of electrode sheets of different specifications, adapting to the production of multiple specifications.

[0028] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The installation assembly includes a manual displacement stage 202, a mounting base 203, a fixing plate 204, and a lifting plate 205. The outer wall of the mounting base 203 has a first waist groove. The frame 1 is connected to the first waist groove of the mounting base 203 by fixing bolts. The fixing plate 204 is fixedly installed on one side of the mounting base 203, and the manual displacement stage 202 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the fixing plate 204. The lifting plate 205 is fixedly installed on the outside of the lifting end of the manual displacement stage 202. The laser cutter 201 has a second waist groove on one side, and the lifting plate 205 is connected to the second waist groove of the laser cutter 201 by limiting bolts.

[0029] In this embodiment, the installation components include a manual displacement platform 202, a mounting base 203, a fixing plate 204, and a lifting plate 205, all of which are steel structures. A first transverse groove is provided on the side wall of the mounting base 203. Fixing bolts pass through the first groove to connect the mounting base 203 to the frame 1. The fixing bolts can slide left and right along the first groove. The fixing plate 204 is vertically fixed to one side wall of the mounting base 203. The manual displacement platform 202 is fixed to the outer wall of the fixing plate 204 by bolts. The manual displacement platform 202 is a hand-cranked lifting platform with its lifting end pointing vertically downwards. The lifting plate 205 is horizontally welded to the outer side of the lifting end of the manual displacement platform 202. A second longitudinal groove is provided on one side of the laser cutter 201's body. Limiting bolts pass through the second groove to connect the laser cutter 201 to the lifting plate 205. The limiting bolts can slide left and right along the first groove. The laser cutter 201 slides back and forth along the second groove. During installation, loosen the fixing bolts of the mounting base 203. The fixing bolts slide left and right along the first groove, causing the mounting base 203 and the laser cutter 201 to move left and right as a whole, thus adjusting the left and right position of the laser cutter 201. Loosen the limiting bolts of the laser cutter 201. The limiting bolts slide back and forth along the second groove, thus adjusting the front and back position of the laser cutter 201. Rotate the hand crank of the manual displacement table 202. The lifting end of the manual displacement table 202 drives the lifting plate 205 and the laser cutter 201 to move up and down, thus adjusting the up and down position of the laser cutter 201. Through the adjustment in three dimensions, the laser emitting end of the laser cutter 201 is precisely aligned with the position to be cut on the lithium strip 6. After the adjustment is completed, tighten the fixing bolts and the limiting bolts to lock the position of the laser cutter 201.

[0030] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 The cutting chamber 3 includes a chamber cover 301, a support beam 305, a base plate 304, and an observation cover 302. The support beam 305 is fixedly installed on one side of the frame 1, and the base plate 304 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the support beam 305. The outer wall of the base plate 304 has a fixing opening, and the chamber cover 301 is fixedly installed in the fixing opening. The top of the chamber cover 301 has a cutting opening for laser to enter the chamber cover 301. The two sides of the chamber cover 301 have through openings for lithium strip 6 to enter and exit the chamber cover 301. The observation cover 302 is disposed on the front and rear sides of the chamber cover 301.

[0031] In this embodiment, the cutting chamber 3 includes a chamber cover 301, support beams 305, a base plate 304, and an observation cover 302. The support beams 305 are two steel square beams, welded parallel to one side of the middle of the frame 1. The base plate 304 is a steel plate, fixed to the upper surface of the two support beams 305 by bolts. A square fixing opening is provided at the center of the base plate 304. The chamber cover 301 is a transparent plastic closed cover, fixed to the fixing opening of the base plate 304 by buckles. A square cutting opening is provided at the top center of the chamber cover 301, corresponding vertically to the laser emitting end of the laser cutter 201. Long strip-shaped through openings are provided on the left and right sides of the chamber cover 301 for the lithium strip 6 to pass through laterally. The observation cover 302 is made of tempered transparent glass and is installed on the front and rear sides of the chamber cover 301 by bolts. The observation cover 302 is detachable for easy equipment maintenance.

[0032] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 A support plate 306 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the base plate 304. An mounting plate 307 is fixedly installed on one outer wall of the support plate 306. A cutting platform 308 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the mounting plate 307. The cutting platform 308 is located in the working chamber cover 301 and is used to support the lithium strip 6.

[0033] In this embodiment, a steel support plate 306 is bolted to the upper surface of the base plate 304; the mounting plate 307 is an L-shaped steel plate, which is bolted to the side wall of the support plate 306. A cutting platform 308 is bonded to the upper surface of the mounting plate 307 with high-temperature resistant adhesive. The cutting platform 308 is made of high-temperature resistant ceramic material, and its surface is polished, smooth and non-adhesive. The upper surface of the cutting platform 308 is flush with the height of the through-hole of the work chamber cover 301, and the cutting platform 308 is completely located inside the work chamber cover 301. After the lithium strip 6 is inserted into the work chamber cover 301, it is completely attached to the upper surface of the cutting platform 308.

[0034] During operation, after the lithium strip 6 passes through the through-hole of the working chamber cover 301, it falls directly onto the upper surface of the cutting platform 308. The cutting platform 308 provides stable support for the lithium strip 6, keeping it horizontally extended without wrinkles or sagging. During laser cutting, the laser beam acts vertically on the surface of the lithium strip 6 on the cutting platform 308. The high-temperature resistance of the cutting platform 308 can withstand the high temperature of laser cutting, preventing the platform from deforming due to high temperature. At the same time, the smooth and non-sticky surface of the ceramic material prevents the lithium metal from sticking to the platform surface after melting, ensuring the smooth separation of the lithium strip 6 from the platform after cutting.

[0035] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3The outer wall of the working chamber cover 301 is also provided with a dust suction port, and the dust suction port is connected to a dust suction pipe 303, and a vacuum cleaner is connected to the end of the dust suction pipe 303.

[0036] In this embodiment, a square dust suction port is provided on the upper part of one side of the outer wall of the working chamber cover 301. A dust suction pipe 303 is bolted to the outside of the dust suction port. The dust suction pipe 303 is an anti-static plastic hose. The end away from the dust suction port is connected to an industrial vacuum cleaner through a flange. The vacuum cleaner is a high-pressure suction vacuum cleaner, which is placed on one side of the frame 1. The dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner is a sealed structure used to collect lithium metal dust generated by laser cutting. When laser cutting lithium metal, the vacuum cleaner is started. The vacuum cleaner creates a negative pressure environment inside the cutting working chamber 3 through the dust suction pipe 303. Most of the lithium metal dust generated by laser cutting is sucked into the dust suction pipe 303 through the dust suction port under the action of negative pressure and is finally collected in the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner. A small amount of dust that is not sucked away falls to the bottom of the cutting working chamber 3 under the action of gravity and finally enters the waste collection mechanism 5, realizing the all-round collection of cutting dust.

[0037] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 The waste removal mechanism 4 includes fixed beams 401 symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the working chamber cover 301. The fixed beams 401 on the left and right sides of the working chamber cover 301 are fixedly installed on one side of the frame 1. A first cylinder 403 is fixedly installed in each fixed beam 401, and a cylinder connecting plate 404 is fixedly installed at the telescopic end of the first cylinder 403. A sliding plate 405 is fixedly installed on the side wall of the cylinder connecting plate 404, and a second cylinder 406 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the sliding plate 405. A scraping plate 407 is fixedly installed at the telescopic end of the second cylinder 406, and the ends of the scraping plates 407 on the front and rear sides of the working chamber cover 301 are located in the working chamber cover 301. The bottom of the scraping plate 407 is provided with equally spaced adsorption holes, and the side wall of the scraping plate 407 is provided with through holes communicating with the adsorption holes. An exhaust pipe 410 communicating with the through holes is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the scraping plate 407.

[0038] In this embodiment, the waste removal mechanism 4 includes fixed beams 401 symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the working chamber cover 301. The fixed beams 401 are steel square beams, which are fixedly installed in the middle of the frame 1 by bolts and located on both sides of the support beam 305. A first cylinder 403 is fixedly installed on the inner side wall of the fixed beam 401 by a cylinder seat. The extension and retraction direction of the first cylinder 403 is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the lithium belt 6. A steel cylinder connecting plate 404 is fixedly installed at the end of the extension and retraction end by bolts. A steel sliding plate 405 is welded and fixed to the outer side wall of the cylinder connecting plate 404. The upper surface of the sliding plate 405 is fixed by the cylinder seat. A second cylinder 406 is fixedly installed, with its telescopic end pointing vertically upwards. A steel scraper plate 407 is welded and fixed to the telescopic end of the second cylinder 406. The ends of both scraper plates 407 extend into the interior of the working chamber cover 301, located directly above the lithium strip 6. The bottom of the scraper plate 407 has equidistantly distributed circular adsorption holes. The side wall of the scraper plate 407 has a transverse through hole that communicates with the adsorption holes. An exhaust pipe 410 is welded and fixed to the outer side wall of the scraper plate 407. One end of the exhaust pipe 410 is connected to the through hole, and the other end is connected to an external negative pressure exhaust device.

[0039] During operation, after the lithium strip 6 is positioned, the telescopic end of the first cylinder 403 retracts, causing the rejection plate 407 to move horizontally above the cutting position of the lithium strip 6. Then, the telescopic end of the second cylinder 406 retracts, causing the rejection plate 407 to move vertically downwards until its bottom is against the upper surface of the lithium strip 6, pressing and positioning the lithium strip 6 to prevent displacement during laser cutting. After laser cutting, the external negative pressure extraction device is activated, creating negative pressure at the adsorption hole through the extraction pipe 410 and the through hole. Under this negative pressure, the foil waste generated during cutting is adsorbed onto the bottom of the rejection plate 407, achieving waste adsorption and fixation. Subsequently... The extension end of the second cylinder 406 extends, driving the rejection plate 407 to move upward. The extension end of the first cylinder 403 extends, driving the rejection plate 407 to move horizontally above the waste collection mechanism 5. The negative pressure extraction equipment is turned off and a small amount of gas is introduced to disrupt the negative pressure environment. The waste falls to the waste collection mechanism 5 under gravity, completing the waste rejection. The above structure effectively realizes the integrated operation of pressing and positioning the lithium strip 6 during cutting and adsorbing and rejecting the waste after cutting. Pressing and positioning avoids the lithium strip 6 from shifting during cutting, improving cutting accuracy. Adsorption-type rejection achieves non-contact waste rejection, avoiding secondary pollution of the electrode sheet and waste, improving the quality of the electrode sheet, and resulting in better performance.

[0040] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 The upper surface of the fixed beam 401 is also fixedly mounted with a guide rail 408, and the lower surface of the slide plate 405 is fixedly mounted with a slider 409, which is slidably disposed on the outside of the guide rail 408.

[0041] In this embodiment, a steel linear guide rail 408 is bolted to the upper surface of the fixed beam 401, and the extension direction of the guide rail 408 is consistent with the extension and retraction direction of the first cylinder 403. A steel slider 409 is bolted to the lower surface of the slide plate 405, and the slider 409 matches the guide rail 408. The slider 409 is slidably engaged with the outside of the guide rail 408 and can slide horizontally along the guide rail 408. The slide plate 405 forms a sliding connection with the fixed beam 401 through the cooperation of the slider 409 and the guide rail 408. When the extension and retraction end of the first cylinder 403 drives the cylinder connecting plate 404 and the slide plate 405 to move horizontally, the slider 409 on the lower surface of the slide plate 405 slides horizontally and linearly along the guide rail 408 on the fixed beam 401. The guide rail 408 supports the slider 409. The movement of the slide plate 405 and the rejection plate 407 forms a guide and limit, ensuring that the slide plate 405 and the rejection plate 407 always move in a straight line in the horizontal direction without deviation or shaking. The guiding cooperation between the guide rail 408 and the slider 409 ensures the straightness of the horizontal movement of the rejection plate 407, allowing the rejection plate 407 to accurately align with the lithium strip 6 and the waste collection mechanism 5, improving rejection accuracy and efficiency. The sliding cooperation between the slider 409 and the guide rail 408 reduces the friction of the slide plate 405, making the movement of the rejection plate 407 smoother and without jamming, reducing the power loss of the cylinder, and extending the service life of the cylinder. The snap-fit ​​structure between the guide rail 408 and the slider 409 makes the movement of the slide plate 405 more stable, without up and down shaking, ensuring that the force is even when the rejection plate 407 presses the lithium strip 6, and preventing the lithium strip 6 from deforming due to uneven force.

[0042] Optional, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 The waste collection mechanism 5 includes a waste box 501, a waste middle cylinder 503, and a waste side cylinder 504. The waste box 501 is fixedly installed on one side of the frame 1. The waste side cylinder 504 is located on both sides of the waste middle cylinder 503. The bottoms of the waste middle cylinder 503 and the waste side cylinder 504 are connected to the waste box 501. The top of the waste middle cylinder 503 is connected to the bottom of the working chamber cover 301. A material picking sealing plate 502 is also movably installed on one outer wall of the waste box 501.

[0043] In this embodiment, the waste collection mechanism 5 includes a waste box 501, a waste cylinder 503, and waste side cylinders 504, all of which are steel structures. The waste box 501 is a rectangular box with an open top, which is fixedly installed on the lower side of the frame 1 by bolts, located directly below the cutting work chamber 3. A steel material picking seal plate 502 is movably installed on the front outer wall of the waste box 501 through a hinge. The material picking seal plate 502 can be opened and closed to facilitate cleaning of dust and waste inside the box. The waste cylinder 503 is a square hollow cylinder, the top of which is connected to the bottom center of the work chamber cover 301 through a flange, and the bottom extends to the opening of the waste box 501, connecting with the interior of the waste box 501. The two waste side cylinders 504 are also square hollow cylinders, symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the waste cylinder 503. Their tops are located outside the work chamber cover 301 and directly below the scraping plate 407, and their bottoms are connected with the interior of the waste box 501.

[0044] During operation, a small amount of lithium metal dust generated by laser cutting that is not removed by the vacuum cleaner falls to the bottom of the work chamber cover 301 under gravity and enters the waste box 501 through the waste cylinder 503. The waste removal mechanism 4 moves the foil waste to the top of the waste side cylinder 504, where it falls and enters the waste box 501, achieving separate collection of dust and foil waste, which is then stored uniformly in the waste box 501. When the dust and waste in the waste box 501 accumulate to a certain amount, the material removal sealing plate 502 is opened to centrally clean the waste inside the box. After cleaning, the material removal sealing plate 502 is closed, and the collection operation continues. This structure achieves the separate collection of lithium metal dust and foil waste. Dust is collected through the waste collection cylinder 503, and waste is collected through the waste collection side cylinder 504, avoiding the cleaning difficulties caused by the mixing and accumulation of dust and waste, and improving the waste cleaning efficiency. The waste collection cylinder 503 is connected to the bottom of the working chamber cover 301, and the waste collection side cylinder 504 is located directly below the scraper plate 407, ensuring that dust and waste can fall accurately into the waste box 501 without spillage or accumulation, thus avoiding pollution of the production environment. The material collection sealing plate 502 of the waste box 501 can be opened and closed, which facilitates the centralized cleaning of waste. When closed, it is a closed structure to prevent the diffusion of lithium metal dust inside the box, further improving production safety. The steel structure of the waste collection mechanism 5 has high strength and good wear resistance, and can withstand the impact of lithium metal waste, resulting in better performance.

[0045] This invention also provides a laser cutting method for lithium metal, using the aforementioned laser cutting device, specifically including the following steps: S1: The lithium strip 6 made of lithium metal foil is unwound by the unwinding device. The lithium strip 6 passes horizontally through the through-hole of the cutting work chamber 3 and falls on the upper surface of the cutting platform 308. The position of the lithium strip 6 is adjusted so that the position to be cut corresponds vertically to the laser emitting end of the laser cutter 201. The scrap removal plate 407 of the waste removal mechanism 4 is controlled to move down and adhere to the surface of the lithium strip 6 to complete the pressing and positioning. S2: Start the laser cutter 201. According to the preset lithium metal electrode size, the laser cutter 201 emits a laser to laser cut the lithium strip 6. The cutting operation steps are as follows: Figure 6 As shown, the cutting is first performed along the ab direction, then along the cd direction, and finally along the ef direction. During the cutting process, the vacuum cleaner is started simultaneously, and the dust inside the cutting chamber 3 is removed through the vacuum pipe 303. Some of the dust is collected by the vacuum cleaner, and some of the dust falls into the waste cylinder 503 and enters the waste box 501. S3: After cutting, the negative pressure air extraction device of the waste removal mechanism 4 is activated. The removal plate 407 adsorbs the foil waste generated by cutting. Then the removal plate 407 moves up and horizontally to the top of the waste side cylinder 504, releasing the waste so that the waste enters the waste box 501 through the waste side cylinder 504. The lithium strip 6 left after cutting is the lithium metal electrode sheet that meets the size requirements. S4: Start the external material handling equipment. The material handling plate of the equipment picks up the cut lithium metal electrode sheet and transfers it from the cutting platform 308 to the next station of lithium battery production for subsequent coating, assembly and other processing to complete the cutting and manufacturing of the lithium metal electrode sheet.

[0046] While the present invention has been disclosed 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 the present invention, and all such changes and modifications will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lithium metal laser cutting device, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that, Also includes: Laser cutting mechanism (2), which is fixedly installed in frame (1) and whose laser emission direction is perpendicular to the lithium strip (6); A cutting work chamber (3) is provided on one side of the frame (1). The lithium strip (6) to be cut passes through the cutting work chamber (3) laterally. The cutting work chamber (3) includes a work chamber cover (301). Waste removal mechanism (4) is set on both sides of the cutting work chamber (3) and is used to press the lithium strip (6) during cutting and remove the waste generated after cutting. The waste removal mechanism (4) includes fixed beams (401) symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the work chamber cover (301). A first cylinder (403) is fixedly installed in each of the fixed beams (401). The extension and retraction direction of the first cylinder (403) is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the lithium strip (6), and a cylinder connecting plate (404) is fixedly installed at the extension and retraction end of the first cylinder (403). A sliding plate is fixedly installed on the side wall of the cylinder connecting plate (404). A plate (405) is provided, and a second cylinder (406) is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the plate (405). The telescopic end of the second cylinder (406) is vertically upward, and a scraping plate (407) is fixedly installed on the telescopic end of the second cylinder (406). The ends of the scraping plates (407) located on the front and rear sides of the working chamber cover (301) are all located in the working chamber cover (301). The bottom of the scraping plate (407) is provided with equally spaced adsorption holes, and the side wall of the scraping plate (407) is provided with through holes that communicate with the adsorption holes. The outer wall of the scraping plate (407) is fixedly installed with an air extraction pipe (410) that communicates with the through holes. Waste collection mechanism (5), which is located at the bottom of the cutting work chamber (3) and is used to collect some of the metal dust generated during cutting and lithium metal foil waste removed by the waste removal mechanism (4); When the lithium strip (6) is positioned, the telescopic end of the first cylinder (403) retracts, causing the scrap plate (407) to move horizontally to above the position to be cut on the lithium strip (6). Then the telescopic end of the second cylinder (406) retracts, causing the scrap plate (407) to move vertically downward until the bottom of the scrap plate (407) is attached to the upper surface of the lithium strip (6). After the laser cutting is completed, a negative pressure is formed at the adsorption hole through the air extraction pipe (410) and the through hole, so that the foil waste generated by the cutting is adsorbed at the bottom of the scrap plate (407). Then the telescopic end of the second cylinder (406) extends, causing the scrap plate (407) to move upward. The telescopic end of the first cylinder (403) extends, causing the scrap plate (407) to move horizontally above the waste collection mechanism (5).

2. The lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser cutting mechanism (2) includes a mounting assembly and a laser cutter (201). The laser cutter (201) is mounted on one side of the mounting assembly. The outer wall of the frame (1) has an installation opening, and the laser cutter (201) passes through the installation opening. The mounting assembly is fixedly mounted on one side of the frame (1) for adjusting the initial position of the laser cutter (201).

3. The lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The installation assembly includes a manual displacement table (202), a mounting base (203), a fixing plate (204), and a lifting plate (205). The outer wall of the mounting base (203) has a first waist groove. The frame (1) is connected to the first waist groove of the mounting base (203) by fixing bolts. The fixing plate (204) is fixedly installed on one side of the mounting base (203), and the manual displacement table (202) is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the fixing plate (204). The lifting plate (205) is fixedly installed on the outside of the lifting end of the manual displacement table (202). The laser cutter (201) has a second waist groove on one side, and the lifting plate (205) is connected to the second waist groove of the laser cutter (201) by limiting bolts.

4. The lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting work chamber (3) also includes a support beam (305), a base plate (304), and an observation cover plate (302). The support beam (305) is fixedly installed on one side of the frame (1), and the base plate (304) is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the support beam (305). The outer wall of the base plate (304) has a fixing opening, and the work chamber cover (301) is fixedly installed in the fixing opening. The top of the work chamber cover (301) has a cutting opening for laser to enter the work chamber cover (301). The two sides of the work chamber cover (301) have through openings for lithium strip (6) to enter and exit the work chamber cover (301). The observation cover plate (302) is set on the front and rear sides of the work chamber cover (301).

5. A lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, A support plate (306) is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the base plate (304), and an mounting plate (307) is fixedly installed on one side of the outer wall of the support plate (306). A cutting platform (308) is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the mounting plate (307), and the cutting platform (308) is located in the working chamber cover (301) for supporting the lithium strip (6).

6. A lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer wall of one side of the working chamber cover (301) is also provided with a dust suction port, and the dust suction port is connected to a dust suction pipe (303), and a vacuum cleaner is connected to the end of the dust suction pipe (303).

7. A lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper surface of the fixed beam (401) is also fixedly mounted with a guide rail (408), and the lower surface of the slide plate (405) is fixedly mounted with a slider (409), and the slider (409) is slidably disposed on the outside of the guide rail (408).

8. A lithium metal laser cutting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The waste collection mechanism (5) includes a waste box (501), a waste cylinder (503), and a waste side cylinder (504). The waste box (501) is fixedly installed on one side of the frame (1). The waste side cylinder (504) is located on both sides of the waste cylinder (503). The bottoms of the waste cylinder (503) and the waste side cylinder (504) are connected to the waste box (501). The top of the waste cylinder (503) is connected to the bottom of the working chamber cover (301). A material taking sealing plate (502) is also movably installed on one side of the outer wall of the waste box (501).

9. A method for laser cutting lithium metal, comprising using the laser cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: The lithium strip (6) is unwound and enters the cutting chamber (3) and remains stationary. The lithium strip (6) in the cutting chamber (3) is pressed down by the waste removal mechanism (4). S2: The laser cutting mechanism (2) cuts the lithium strip (6) according to the required electrode size. During the cutting process, some lithium metal dust falls directly into the waste collection mechanism (5), and some dust is collected by the dust removal equipment in the cutting work chamber (3). S3: After the lithium metal foil is cut, the excess lithium metal foil waste is removed by the waste removal mechanism (4) and moved to the waste collection mechanism (5). The size of the cut lithium metal foil is the required lithium metal electrode. S4: The cutting lithium metal electrode sheets are adsorbed and moved to the next station by the material handling plate in the material handling equipment for further processing.

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