Lithium battery winding core R angle hot-pressing shaping device
The four-plate hot pressing structure achieves effective hot pressing shaping of the R corner of the lithium battery core, solving the problem of uneven temperature and pressure at the R corner of the core and improving the internal space utilization and battery performance of the battery.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422603035.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing lithium battery winding devices are unable to effectively hot-press and shape the R corners of the core, resulting in insufficient utilization of the internal space of the battery and excessive contact spacing between the R corner pole pieces. This may cause black spots and lithium precipitation, and the heating temperature inside and outside the core is uneven, resulting in defective products.
A four-plate hot pressing structure is adopted, including a pressurizing mechanism, a telescopic mechanism, the first and second internal hot pressing plates, and the first and second external hot pressing plates. It is controlled by a heating device and a pressure sensor to ensure that the R angle of the core is hot-pressed and shaped at the preset temperature and pressure, so that the temperature inside and outside the core is consistent.
It effectively solves the problem of loose fit between the diaphragm and the electrode, reduces the gap between the electrode layers, improves the battery qualification rate, increases the volume energy density and internal space utilization, and avoids the phenomenon of black spot lithium precipitation.
Smart Images
Figure CN223321311U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of battery production equipment, in particular to a device for hot-pressing and shaping the R angle of a lithium battery winding core. Background Art
[0002] With the rapid development of electric vehicles, smartphones, and other electronic devices, lithium-ion batteries have become one of the most widely used battery types today due to their high energy density, long life, and low self-discharge rate. In the production process of lithium batteries, the manufacturing quality of the battery core is crucial to the overall performance and safety of the battery. In the current lithium battery manufacturing process of wound cells, most companies use a coated separator. The adhesive layer melts during hot pressing, allowing the separator to fit tightly to the electrode, reducing the gap between the electrode layers and shaping the core. The current hot pressing device for lithium batteries mainly uses an upper and lower pressure device to hot press the core. This hot pressing method cannot achieve effective hot pressing and shaping for the R corners on both sides of the core (i.e., the bending radius of the core edge). The R corners are still in an unshaped state, which may cause insufficient utilization of the internal space of the battery and excessive contact distance between the R corner pole pieces, resulting in black spots and lithium precipitation in the battery. Moreover, the upper and lower hot pressing plates have different heating temperatures for the inside and outside of the core. The temperature inside the core will be relatively low. The actual core shaping situation does not conform to the expected internal R corner of the core, which is prone to defective products and a low pass rate. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a device for hot pressing and shaping the R corner of a lithium battery winding core, so as to solve the technical problem of effectively hot pressing and shaping the R corner of the winding core in the prior art.
[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the utility model provides a lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device, which includes: a pressurizing mechanism, a telescopic mechanism, a first internal hot pressing plate, a second internal hot pressing plate, a first external hot pressing plate and a second external hot pressing plate; the telescopic mechanism is telescopic along a first straight line direction, and the telescopic mechanism is provided with a first telescopic end and a second telescopic end arranged opposite to each other in the first straight line direction; the first internal hot pressing plate is arranged at the first telescopic end, and the second internal hot pressing plate is arranged at the second telescopic end; the first external hot pressing plate is arranged on the side of the first internal hot pressing plate away from the second internal hot pressing plate; the second external hot pressing plate is arranged on the side of the second internal hot pressing plate away from the first internal hot pressing plate; wherein the first internal hot pressing plate, the second internal hot pressing plate, the first external hot pressing plate and the second external hot pressing plate are all provided with a heating device, the pressurizing mechanism is connected to the first external hot pressing plate and the second external hot pressing plate, and the pressurizing mechanism is used to drive the first external hot pressing plate and the second external hot pressing plate to move closer to each other.
[0005] Preferably, a first arc surface is provided on a side of the first internal hot pressing plate facing away from the second internal hot pressing plate, and a second arc surface is provided on a side of the second internal hot pressing plate facing away from the first internal hot pressing plate.
[0006] Preferably, a third arc surface is provided on a side of the first external hot pressing plate facing the first internal hot pressing plate; and a fourth arc surface is provided on a side of the second external hot pressing plate facing the second internal hot pressing plate.
[0007] Preferably, the arc radius of the first arc surface, the arc radius of the second arc surface, the arc radius of the third arc surface and the arc radius of the fourth arc surface are all equal.
[0008] Preferably, the arc radius of the fourth arc surface is 10 mm to 15 mm.
[0009] Preferably, it also includes: a controller; the first internal hot pressing plate, the second internal hot pressing plate, the first external hot pressing plate, and the second external hot pressing plate are all provided with temperature sensors connected to the controller signal, and the controller is connected to the heating device signal.
[0010] Preferably, pressure sensors are provided inside the first external hot pressing plate and inside the second external hot pressing plate, and the pressure sensors and the pressurizing mechanism are signal-connected to the controller.
[0011] Preferably, the telescopic mechanism includes a telescopic plate body and multiple telescopic cylinder rods; the multiple telescopic cylinder rods are all slidably connected to the telescopic plate body, and the multiple telescopic cylinder rods can be telescoped along the first straight line direction, and the telescopic plate body is connected to the first internal hot pressing plate through at least one telescopic cylinder rod; the telescopic plate body is connected to the second internal hot pressing plate through at least one telescopic cylinder rod.
[0012] Preferably, it further comprises a high-pressure gas source; the telescopic plate is connected to the high-pressure gas source via a compressed air pipe.
[0013] The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing shaping device provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the telescopic mechanism drives the first internal hot pressing plate and the second internal hot pressing plate, so that the core is stretched to a preset width, and the first external hot pressing plate is used in conjunction with the first internal hot pressing plate to perform hot pressing shaping on one of the R angles of the core, and the second external hot pressing plate is used in conjunction with the second internal hot pressing plate to perform hot pressing shaping on the other R angle of the core, so that both R angles of the core are at a preset temperature and preset pressure for hot pressing shaping, so that the heating temperature inside and outside the core is the same, so that the diaphragm and the electrode of the core are better and more tightly fitted together, reducing the gap between the electrode layers, effectively solving the problem in the prior art that the diaphragm and the electrode are not tightly fitted enough, the battery may have black spots and lithium precipitation, etc., is less likely to produce defective products, and the qualified rate is improved. Moreover, the volume energy density of the battery can be improved to a certain extent, and the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery cell is increased.
[0014] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and will become apparent from the following description or learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a device for hot-pressing and shaping the R angle of a lithium battery winding core according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram from a top view of the R-angle hot pressing and shaping device for a lithium battery winding core according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] In the figure, 100, telescopic mechanism; 110, first telescopic end; 120, second telescopic end; 130, telescopic plate; 140, telescopic cylinder rod; 150, compressed air pipe; 200, first internal hot pressing plate; 210, first arc surface; 300, second internal hot pressing plate; 310, second arc surface; 400, first external hot pressing plate; 410, third arc surface; 500, second external hot pressing plate; 510, fourth arc surface; 600, high-pressure air source; 700, winding core. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended only to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0019] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.
[0020] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "many" means more than two, "greater than," "less than," and "exceed" are understood to exclude the number itself, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the number itself. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is solely for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and is not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features, or implicitly specifying the order of the indicated technical features.
[0021] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, and connecting should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.
[0022] Please also refer to Figures 1 to 2 Now, the lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device provided by the embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing shaping device of the embodiment of the present invention includes: a pressurizing mechanism, a telescopic mechanism 100, a first internal hot pressing plate 200, a second internal hot pressing plate 300, a first external hot pressing plate 400 and a second external hot pressing plate 500; the telescopic mechanism 100 is telescopic along a first straight line direction, and the telescopic mechanism 100 is provided with a first telescopic end 110 and a second telescopic end 120 arranged opposite to each other in the first straight line direction L; the first internal hot pressing plate 200 is provided at the first telescopic end 110, and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 is provided at the second telescopic end 120; the first external hot pressing plate 400 is provided On the side of the first internal hot press plate 200 away from the second internal hot press plate 300; the second external hot press plate 500 is arranged on the side of the second internal hot press plate 300 away from the first internal hot press plate 200; wherein the first internal hot press plate 200, the second internal hot press plate 300, the first external hot press plate 400, and the second external hot press plate 500 are all provided with heating devices, and the pressurizing mechanism is connected to the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500, and the pressurizing mechanism is used to drive the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 to move closer to each other.
[0024] The telescopic mechanism 100 is flat and can be extended into the middle of the core 700 to be hot pressed. The telescopic mechanism 100 can be a pneumatic telescopic device, which drives the first telescopic end 110 and the second telescopic end 120 to be telescoped along the first straight line direction. The distance between the first internal hot pressing plate 200 on the first telescopic end 110 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 on the second telescopic end 120 can be adjusted, so that the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 can open the core 700 to be hot pressed to a preset width, and then place the core 700 opened to the preset width between the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300. Then, the pressing mechanism adjusts the position of the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300, so that the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 apply pressure to the core 700, so that the pressure on the core 700 reaches the pressure of the hot pressing shaping process.
[0025] During use, the heating device is used to heat the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500, so that the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500 reach the preset temperature of the hot pressing shaping process; when the temperature reaches the preset requirement, the telescopic mechanism 100, the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 are placed in the middle of the winding core 700 to be hot pressed, and the telescopic mechanism 100 is used to drive the first telescopic end 110 and the second telescopic end 120 to extend outward along the first straight line direction L, so that the distance between the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 can be increased, so that the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 can push the winding core 700 outward, so that the winding core 700 can be opened. The width is increased to a preset width, and the first straight line direction is the width direction of the core 700; finally, the core 700, the telescopic mechanism 100, the first internal hot pressing plate 200, and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 are placed between the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500, so that the core 700 is in the first, and the pressure mechanism is used to adjust the pressure of the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500 on the core 700 to a preset pressure, then the R corner of the core 700 will be at a preset temperature and a preset pressure, so that the core 700 can be hot-pressed and shaped under preset conditions, so that the diaphragm and the electrode can be better and more tightly fitted together, and the gap between the electrode layers can be reduced, which effectively solves the problem in the prior art that the diaphragm and the electrode are not tightly fitted, and the battery may have black spots and lithium precipitation. It can also improve the volume energy density of the battery to a certain extent and increase the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery cell.
[0026] The telescopic mechanism 100 of this embodiment drives the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300, so that the core 700 is stretched to a preset width, and the first external hot pressing plate 400 cooperates with the first internal hot pressing plate 200 to perform hot pressing and shaping on one R corner of the core 700, and the second external hot pressing plate 500 cooperates with the second internal hot pressing plate 300 to perform hot pressing and shaping on the other R corner of the core 700, so that both R corners of the core 700 are at a preset temperature and preset pressure for hot pressing and shaping, so that the heating temperature inside and outside the core 700 is the same, so that the diaphragm and the electrode of the core 700 are better and more tightly fitted together, reducing the gap between the electrode layers, effectively solving the problem in the prior art that the diaphragm and the electrode are not tightly fitted enough, the battery may have black spots and lithium precipitation, etc., is less likely to produce defective products, and the qualified rate is improved. Moreover, it can improve the volume energy density of the battery to a certain extent and increase the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery cell.
[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first arcuate surface 210 is provided on the side of the first internal hot press plate 200 facing away from the second internal hot press plate 300, and a second arcuate surface 310 is provided on the side of the second internal hot press plate 300 facing away from the first internal hot press plate 200. Both the first arcuate surface 210 and the second arcuate surface 310 are configured to abut against the inner side surface of the rounded corner of the core 700, thereby ensuring a closer fit between the first and second internal hot press plates 200, 300, and the core 700, facilitating consistent internal temperature of the core 700 with that of the first and second internal hot press plates 200, 300, and reducing friction between the first and second internal hot press plates 200, 300, and the core 700, thereby preventing damage to the core 700. Furthermore, the curvature of the inner side of the rounded corner of the core 700 is maintained to the same degree as that of the first and second arcuate surfaces 210, 310, allowing the inner rounded corner of the core 700 to be hot-pressed to a predetermined shape.
[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, a third arcuate surface 410 is provided on the side of the first external hot press plate 400 facing the first internal hot press plate 200, and a fourth arcuate surface 510 is provided on the side of the second external hot press plate 500 facing the second internal hot press plate 300. Both the third arcuate surface 410 and the fourth arcuate surface 510 are configured to abut against the outer side of the rounded corner of the core 700, thereby ensuring a closer fit between the first and second external hot press plates 400, 500, and the core 700, facilitating consistent external temperature control between the core 700 and the first and second external hot press plates 400, 500, and reducing friction between the first and second external hot press plates 400, 500, and the core 700, thereby preventing damage to the core 700. Furthermore, the curvature of the outer side of the rounded corner of the core 700 is maintained to the same degree as that of the third and fourth arcuate surfaces 410, 510, allowing the outer rounded corner of the core 700 to be fixed to a predetermined shape during hot pressing.
[0029] In some embodiments of the present invention, the arc radius of the first arc surface 210, the arc radius of the second arc surface 310, the arc radius of the third arc surface 410 and the arc radius of the fourth arc surface 510 are all equal, which can maximize the guarantee that the core 700R corner can be hot-pressed into place and ensure the hot-pressing effect.
[0030] In some embodiments of the present invention, the arc radius of the fourth arc surface 510 is 10 mm to 15 mm. That is, the arc radius of the first arc surface 210, the arc radius of the second arc surface 310, the arc radius of the third arc surface 410, and the arc radius of the fourth arc surface 510 are 10 mm to 15 mm, so that the R-angle hot pressing operation can be performed on most types of battery cores 700. In addition, the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500 can be made of tungsten steel. The first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300 can be made of tungsten steel or ceramic.
[0031] Some embodiments of the present invention further include a controller; the first internal heat platen 200, the second internal heat platen 300, the first external heat platen 400, and the second external heat platen 500 are each equipped with a temperature sensor signal-connected to the controller. The controller is signal-connected to the heating device, and the signal connection can be a Bluetooth signal connection, an electrical signal connection, or a WiFi signal connection. The controller can be a PLC controller or an MCU control chip to process and transmit signals. When the heating device preheats the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400, and the second external hot pressing plate 500, the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400, and the second external hot pressing plate 500 in real time. When the temperature of one of the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400, and the second external hot pressing plate 500 reaches a preset temperature, the controller will control the heating device of the corresponding hot pressing plate to be turned off until the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400, and the second external hot pressing plate 500 reach a preset temperature. 00, the temperatures of the second internal hot press plate 300, the first external hot press plate 400, and the second external hot press plate 500 all reach the preset temperature. At this time, all heating devices are turned off. Moreover, during hot pressing and shaping, the temperature sensor also detects the temperature of the first internal hot press plate 200, the second internal hot press plate 300, the first external hot press plate 400, and the second external hot press plate 500 in real time. When the temperature of one of the first internal hot press plate 200, the second internal hot press plate 300, the first external hot press plate 400, and the second external hot press plate 500 is lower than the preset temperature, the controller controls the corresponding heating device to heat the corresponding hot press plate. It should be noted that the heating device can be a heating device such as an electric heating tube.
[0032] In some embodiments of the present invention, pressure sensors are installed inside the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500. The pressure sensors and the pressurizing mechanism are connected to the controller. The pressure sensors detect the pressure applied to the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 in real time, thereby feeding back the real-time pressure applied to the core 700 to the controller. When the pressure applied to the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 reaches a preset pressure, the controller controls the pressurizing mechanism to maintain the current state so as to perform the hot press setting process on the core 700. If the pressure applied to the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 does not reach the preset pressure range, the controller controls the pressurizing mechanism to adjust the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 until the pressure applied to the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 reaches the preset pressure range. It should be noted that the pressurizing mechanism can use a driving device such as a cylinder or an oil cylinder to adjust the position of the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500 to adjust the pressure exerted on the first external hot press plate 400 and the second external hot press plate 500.
[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the telescopic mechanism 100 includes a telescopic plate body 130 and multiple telescopic cylinder rods 140. The multiple telescopic cylinder rods 140 are slidably connected to the telescopic plate body 130 and can be extended and retracted along the first linear direction. The telescopic plate body 130 is connected to the first internal hot press plate 200 via at least one telescopic cylinder rod 140. The telescopic plate body 130 is connected to the second internal hot press plate 300 via at least one telescopic cylinder rod 140. The telescopic mechanism 100 is a pneumatic telescopic cylinder, and the telescopic cylinder rods 140 form corresponding first and second telescopic ends 110 and 120 to respectively connect the first and second internal hot press plates 200 and 300. It should be noted that the length extension directions of the first internal hot pressing plate 200, the second internal hot pressing plate 300, the first external hot pressing plate 400 and the second external hot pressing plate 500 are all perpendicular to the first straight line direction so as to press and clamp the R angle of the core 700.
[0034] Some embodiments of the present invention further include a high-pressure gas source 600 ; the telescopic plate 130 is connected to the high-pressure gas source 600 via a compressed gas pipe 150 . The high-pressure gas source 600 , which can be a compressed gas pump, is used to provide high-pressure gas to the telescopic plate 130 , thereby driving the first internal hot press plate 200 and the second internal hot press plate 300 to extend outward, thereby supporting the interior of the winding core 700 .
[0035] In summary, the telescopic mechanism 100 drives the first internal hot pressing plate 200 and the second internal hot pressing plate 300, so that the core 700 is stretched to a preset width, and the first external hot pressing plate 400 is used in conjunction with the first internal hot pressing plate 200 to perform hot pressing on one of the R corners of the core 700, and the second external hot pressing plate 500 is used in conjunction with the second internal hot pressing plate 300 to perform hot pressing on the other R corner of the core 700, so that both R corners of the core 700 are at a preset temperature and preset pressure for hot pressing, so that the heating temperature inside and outside the core 700 is the same, so that the diaphragm and the electrode of the core 700 are better and more tightly fitted together, reducing the gap between the electrode layers, effectively solving the problem in the prior art that the diaphragm and the electrode are not tightly fitted enough, the battery may have black spots and lithium precipitation, etc., is less likely to produce defective products, and the qualified rate is improved. Moreover, it can improve the volume energy density of the battery to a certain extent, and increase the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery cell.
[0036] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and replacements can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. These improvements and replacements should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing shaping device, characterized in that: include: The hot pressing plate is pressed against the pressure plate, and the hot pressing plate is pressed against the pressure plate.
2. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first arc surface is provided on a side of the first internal hot pressing plate facing away from the second internal hot pressing plate, and a second arc surface is provided on a side of the second internal hot pressing plate facing away from the first internal hot pressing plate.
3. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A third arc surface is provided on a side of the first external hot pressing plate facing the first internal hot pressing plate; a fourth arc surface is provided on a side of the second external hot pressing plate facing the second internal hot pressing plate.
4. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The arc radius of the first arc surface, the arc radius of the second arc surface, the arc radius of the third arc surface and the arc radius of the fourth arc surface are all equal.
5. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The radius of the fourth arc surface is 10 mm to 15 mm.
6. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: Controller; The first internal hot pressing plate, the second internal hot pressing plate, the first external hot pressing plate, and the second external hot pressing plate are all provided with temperature sensors connected to the controller by signal, and the controller is connected to the heating device by signal.
7. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 6, characterized in that: Pressure sensors are provided inside the first external hot pressing plate and inside the second external hot pressing plate. The pressure sensors and the pressurizing mechanism are connected to the controller by signal.
8. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The telescopic mechanism includes a telescopic plate body and multiple telescopic cylinder rods; the multiple telescopic cylinder rods are all slidably connected to the telescopic plate body, and the multiple telescopic cylinder rods can be extended and retracted along the first straight line direction. The telescopic plate body is connected to the first internal hot pressing plate through at least one telescopic cylinder rod; the telescopic plate body is connected to the second internal hot pressing plate through at least one telescopic cylinder rod.
9. The lithium battery winding core R angle hot pressing and shaping device according to claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a high-pressure gas source; the telescopic plate is connected to the high-pressure gas source through a compressed air pipe.