Battery cell and method of manufacturing the same, battery and electrical device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- ES2022917713T
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-01-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-01-05
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Battery cell and method of manufacturing the same, battery and electrical device TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the technical field of batteries and, in particular, to a battery cell, as well as to a method and apparatus for its manufacture, a battery and an electrical apparatus. BACKGROUND Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used due to their advantages, such as their high energy density, high power density, high reusability, and long storage time. In current battery cells, the electrode assembly is usually integrated directly into the casing; however, this assembly can be damaged during the installation process in the casing or during battery use, which limits its reliability. Documents KR 20160044322 A and WO 2017 / 179768 A1 disclose known battery cells from the related technique. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objectives of this application is to improve the reliability of battery cells during assembly and use. In a first aspect of the present application, a battery cell according to claim 1 is provided.The battery cell comprises: an electrode assembly including a main body portion and a flange, the flange being connected to a side portion of the main body portion in a first direction; and a protective frame, including three integrally joined shield plate segments used respectively to protect three side faces of the main body portion, wherein the three shield plate segments comprise a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, the third plate being situated between the first plate and the second plate, the two ends of the third plate being connected respectively to a first end of the first plate and a first end of the second plate, and at least one of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate being provided with an opening; wherein the flange protrudes through the opening. In this embodiment, a protective frame is provided around the electrode assembly, protecting its side faces both during and after installation in the housing, thus preventing damage. Furthermore, the frame's integrated structure ensures overall rigidity, enhancing the electrode assembly's overall rigidity and simplifying assembly. The frame is compact and has minimal impact on the battery cell's energy density, making it well-suited for slim-profile batteries. Furthermore, the tab is pulled through the opening in the protective frame, which compresses the tab, joins the flexible tab, and facilitates electrical connection to the electrode terminal via soldering. This also prevents the tab from being inserted into the main body and causing the active material to fall out. By placing the protective frame on the outside of the electrode assembly, interference between the electrode assembly and the rounded corners on the edges of the housing is avoided. These advantages contribute to improved reliability and safety of the battery cells during assembly and use. In some embodiments, the first, second, and third plates are arranged parallel to a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first. In these embodiments, the first plate and the second plate can be used, respectively, to protect the two side faces of the main body portion adjacent to the side face from which the tab emerges, and these two side faces are arranged opposite each other in a third direction, which facilitates the installation of the protective frame on the outside of the electrode assembly and helps to reinforce the attachment at the root portion of the tab. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly has a laminated structure; said assembly has a first electrode sheet and a second electrode sheet with opposite polarities, stacked along the second direction; and the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet protect, respectively, two side faces of the main body portion perpendicular to the third direction, the latter being perpendicular to the first and the second direction. These embodiments utilize a stacked electrode assembly with flexible dimensions. The first and second electrode sheets can be cut into rectangular shapes, optimizing space within the housing and improving the battery cell's energy density. Because the first and second electrode sheets are relatively independent of the stacked electrode assembly, the protective frame can be used to define the outer perimeter of each, ensuring alignment of all first and second electrode sheets.The first plate and the second plate protect, respectively, two side faces of the main body portion perpendicular to the third direction, which is equivalent to protecting three end faces of the electrode assembly by means of the protective plate. It is able to prevent impurities from entering the interior of the main body portion through the space between the electrode sheets, and to prevent the electrode assembly from being damaged because the end portions may not be completely aligned during the installation process in the housing. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes two tabs, which are located respectively on both sides of the main body portion in the first direction, and the opening is arranged on the third plate, so that one of the tabs comes out through said opening. In these designs, one of the tabs protrudes from the opening of the protective frame, which facilitates the installation of the protective frame from this side of the tab, making assembly simple. In some embodiments, the first, second, and third plates completely cover the corresponding side face of the main body portion. In these embodiments, sufficient protection can be provided to the side faces of the main body portion by means of the protective plate, which offers greater protection and allows maximizing the overall rigidity of the electrode assembly. Optionally, the first, second, and third plates can also partially cover the respective side faces that require protection. In some embodiments, both the joint between the third plate and the first plate and the joint between the third plate and the second plate are provided with a first preliminary fold. In these embodiments, by making the initial pre-folds, as shown in the figure, before assembly, the protective frame adopts an elongated strip structure, thus preventing it from easily deforming during storage and transport. As shown in the figure, during assembly, the protective frame is first folded along the pre-folds to form a predetermined structure. Since the strength of the protective frame at the first pre-fold is lower than at other positions, the shape of the frame conforms better to the electrode assembly after folding, allowing the frame to provide greater protection to the electrode assembly. In some embodiments, the thickness of the third plate is greater than the thickness of the first and second plates; alternatively, the protective frame further includes a reinforcing plate, which is fixed to a side face of the third plate, and the sum of the thicknesses of the reinforcing plate and the third plate is greater than the thickness of the first and second plates. In these embodiments, by increasing the thickness of the third plate, the overall strength of the protective frame can be increased, the overall protection effect on the electrode assembly can be improved, and the protection effect on the flange can be enhanced. According to the invention, the opening extends along the transverse direction of the flange, at least one of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate is provided with a cutout at each end of the opening along the direction of the width of the flange, and each cutout extends a predetermined distance on both sides of the opening, so that the opening and the two cutouts define two door structures, and the two door structures are configured to be able to open relatively in a direction away from the main body portion. In these embodiments, by providing two cutouts at both ends of the opening, the cutouts and the opening together define two gate structures. These two gate structures can open outwards, facilitating the passage of the tab through the opening. Once the tab has passed, the gate structure returns to its original position under the action of the material's elastic force or an external force, in order to better secure the tab. This structure not only facilitates assembly between the protective frame and the electrode assembly but also ensures a secure grip on the tabs, thus improving assembly performance. In some embodiments, a second pre-fold is included at the joining line between the end portions of the two cutouts on the same side. In these embodiments, by incorporating the second pre-fold, the resistance at the second pre-fold is less than in other positions. It is easier to open the door structure outwards using this fold as a pivot point when passing the tab through the opening, thus facilitating the tab's passage. Furthermore, once the tab has passed through the opening, it is also advisable to push the door structure backwards, towards the main body portion, to ensure the tab is held securely. In some embodiments, the protective frame also includes a reinforcing plate. This reinforcing plate is fixed to an outer side face of the third plate and is provided with a through-slot. The size of the through-slot is no smaller than the area defined by the two cutouts. In these designs, incorporating the reinforcing plate allows for increased thickness of the third plate, enhanced overall strength of the protective frame, improved overall protection of the electrode assembly, and improved protection of the tabs. Based on this, the door structure can be bypassed by placing the through-slot in the reinforcing plate, thus ensuring the door structure's opening and closing is not obstructed and guaranteeing smooth passage of the tab through the opening. In some embodiments, an adhesive layer is also included, and the adhesive layer is fixed to the outer face of the tab, in order to fix the tab to the protective plate provided with the opening. In these designs, before installing the protective frame, the adhesive layer is fixed to both sides of the tab, so that, once the tab has passed through the opening and the protective frame has been placed in position, the protective plate and the tab are fixed together, which allows for better holding of the tab, and it is also easy to place the adhesive layer without complicating the assembly. In some embodiments, the battery cell also includes two plastic plates; these two plastic plates are located on either side of the opening; the plastic plates are fixed, using hot-melt adhesive, to the outer face of the protective plate provided with the opening; and the tab comes out through the gap between the opening and the two plastic plates. In these embodiments, once the tab has passed through the opening, the two plastic plates are attached to either side of the tab on the protective plate using hot-melt adhesive. This secures the protective plate and the tab together, providing a more secure hold. Furthermore, the plastic plates are attached after the tab has passed through the opening, allowing it to pass easily. These plates also reinforce the protective plate, increasing its rigidity and providing a more secure hold for the tab. In some embodiments, the opening is located on the third plate, and both the first end of the first plate and the first end of the second plate are positioned above the outer side face of the third plate in the first direction. In these embodiments, the tab is protected by the portions of the first and second plates that rise above the third plate, so as to prevent the end portion of the tab in the width direction from being damaged during assembly or use, thus providing better protection to a structure in which the width of the tab extends to near the end of the main body portion, thereby preventing a short circuit by contact between the tab and the housing due to vibrations or impacts during use. In some embodiments, the protective frame also includes two segments of connection plates; the two ends of the third plate are connected, respectively, to a first end of the first plate and to a first end of the second plate via a segment of the connection plate. In these embodiments, by placing the joining plates at the joints between the two ends of the third plate and the respective joints of the first and second plates, not only is the formation of a specially shaped, one-piece protective frame facilitated, but the strength of the protective frame at the bending points is also increased, thereby improving the overall rigidity of the protective frame and effectively protecting the electrode assembly. In some embodiments, the joint between the first plate and the connecting plate, the joints between the two ends of the third plate and the respective connecting plates, and the joint between the second plate and the connecting plate are provided with a first pre-fold. In these embodiments, prior to assembly, the protective frame can be configured as an elongated strip, preventing it from easily deforming during storage and transport. Specifically, two of the first preliminary folds, separated by a predetermined distance, can be positioned on either side of the third plate. This predetermined distance is the width of the joining plate, and the opening can extend along the third plate to the outermost first preliminary fold. When assembled, the protective frame is first folded along the preliminary folds to form a predetermined structure. Since the strength of the protective frame at the first preliminary folds is lower than at other positions, the shape of the frame conforms better to the electrode assembly after folding, thus providing better protection for the electrode assembly. In a second aspect of the present application, a battery is proposed comprising: the battery cell described in the previous embodiments; and a housing assembly intended to house the battery cell. In a third aspect of the present application, an electrical apparatus comprising the battery of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the battery is configured to supply electrical power to the electrical apparatus. In a fourth aspect of this application, a manufacturing method according to claim 14 is provided. Specifically, the manufacturing method comprises: a component supply stage consisting of providing an electrode assembly and a protective frame; wherein the electrode assembly comprises a main body portion and a flange, the flange being disposed on a side portion of the main body portion in a first direction, the protective frame includes three integrally joined protective plate segments used respectively to protect the three side faces of the main body portion, the three protective plate segments comprising a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, the third plate being situated between the first plate and the second plate, and the two ends of the third plate being connected respectively to a first end of the first plate and a first end of the second plate, at least one of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate being provided with an opening;a step of passing the tab through the opening; and; A frame body assembly stage in which three segments of protective plates are used to protect, respectively, the three side faces of the main body portion. A fifth aspect of this application describes a battery cell manufacturing apparatus, which includes: a component supply device configured to provide an electrode assembly and a protective frame; wherein the electrode assembly comprises a main body portion and a flange, the flange being disposed on a side portion of the main body portion in a first direction, the protective frame having an integrated structure and including three protective plate segments used respectively to protect the three side faces of the main body portion, the three protective plate segments comprising a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, the third plate being situated between the first plate and the second plate, and the two ends of the third plate being connected respectively to a first end of the first plate and a first end of the second plate, at least one of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate being provided with an opening; a tab-passing device configured to pass the tab through the opening; and a frame body mounting device designed to protect the three side faces of the main body portion by using three shield plate segments, respectively. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To illustrate more clearly the technical solutions of the embodiments in this application, the drawings required for said embodiments are briefly described below. It is evident that the drawings described below are only some of the embodiments in this application. Those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings based on the plans without any further creative effort. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of some embodiments in which a battery is mounted in a vehicle according to the present application. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a battery according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 3 is a front view of a battery cell according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view in direction AA of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part B of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an exploded view of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrode array according to some embodiments. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of some embodiments in which a protective frame is installed on an electrode array. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective frame of Figure 8 in an deployed state. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective frame of Figure 8 in a folded state. Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of some embodiments in which a reinforcing plate is arranged on a side face of a third plate. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure in which an adhesive layer has been placed between the third plate and the tab. Figure 13 is a schematic structural diagram showing plastic plates located on the outer side of the third plate. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of other variants in which a protective frame is mounted on an electrode array. Figure 15 is a front view of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective frame of Figure 14 in an deployed state. Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective frame of Figure 14 in a folded state. Figure 18 is a flow diagram of a method for manufacturing a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. Figure 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to some embodiments of the present application. In the drawings, the measurements are not shown to actual scale. Description of the reference numbers: 100. Battery cell; 1. Electrode assembly; 11. Main body portion; 111. First electrode foil; 112. Second electrode foil; 113. Spacer; 12. Tab; 2. Protective frame; 21. First plate; 22. Second plate; 23. Third plate; 231. Opening; 232. Cutout; 233. Door structure; 24. Reinforcing plate; 241. Through slot; 25. First pre-fold; 26. Second pre-fold; 27. Adhesive layer; 28. Plastic plate; 29. Connection plate; 3. Housing; 31. Opening; 4. End cover assembly; 41. End cover body; 42. Electrode terminal; 5. Adapter; 200. Battery; 201. Housing assembly; 201A. Box body; 201B. Cover body; 100'. Battery module; 300. Vehicle; 301. Axle; 302. Wheel; 303. Motor; 304. Controller; 400. Manufacturing apparatus; 410. Component supply device; 420. Tab passing device; 430. Frame body mounting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The implementations of this application are described in more detail in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. The following detailed description of the embodiments and drawings is used to illustrate the principles of this application by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application; that is, this application is not limited to the embodiments described. In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise indicated, the expression "plurality of" means two or more; the orientation or positional relations indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner" and "outer" are solely for the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the description of this application, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and function in a specific orientation, and therefore shall not be interpreted as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as an indication or insinuation of relative importance. "Perpendicular" is not strictly perpendicular but falls within the permissible margin of error. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel but falls within the permissible margin of error. The orientation terms appearing in the following description refer to the directions shown in the figure and do not limit the specific structure of this application. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise stated and clearly defined, the terms "assembly," "communication," and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, which, for example, may refer to a fixed connection, but also to a detachable or integrated connection; or to a direct connection, but also to a connection through an intermediary. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application may be determined based on the specific circumstances. When this document refers to "an embodiment," it is understood that a specific characteristic, structure, or feature described in relation to that embodiment may be included in at least some of the embodiments in this application. The fact that this phrase appears at various points in the description does not necessarily mean that it refers to the same embodiment, nor that it is an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with respect to other embodiments. Those skilled in the art understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments. In the description of the realizations in this application, the term "a plurality of" refers to two or more (including two); likewise, "several groups" refers to two or more (including two) groups, and "multiple sheets" refers to two or more (including two) sheets. This application uses descriptions of orientations or positional relationships indicated by "above", "below", "superior", "inferior", "in front", "behind", "inside" and "outside" and the like, which is done solely to facilitate the description of this application, but does not indicate or imply that the apparatus mentioned must have a specific orientation, or that it must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the scope of protection of this application. The implementations of this application are described in more detail in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. The following detailed description of the embodiments and drawings is used to illustrate the principles of this application by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application; that is, this application is not limited to the embodiments described. The battery referred to in this application is a single physical module comprising multiple battery cells and thus providing higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may consist of a battery module, a battery pack, or something similar. The battery cell may include a secondary lithium-ion battery, a primary lithium-ion battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a lithium-sodium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, etc., without limitation to the embodiments in this application. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or of other shapes, which is also not limited to the embodiments in this application.Battery cells are generally classified into three types according to their encapsulation shape: cylindrical cells, square cells, and pouch cells, without limiting the embodiments of this application. Current battery cells typically consist of a casing and an electrode assembly housed within it, with the casing filled with electrolyte. The electrode assembly is formed mainly by stacking or rolling a first electrode foil and a second electrode foil with opposite polarities, and a separator is usually placed between the first and second electrode foils. The portions of the first and second electrode foils coated with active material constitute the main body portion of the electrode assembly, while the portions of the first and second electrode foils without active material coating constitute a first and second flange.In a lithium-ion battery, the first electrode sheet can be a positive electrode sheet, which includes a positive electrode current collector and a layer of positive electrode active material arranged on both sides of the positive electrode current collector; the material of the positive electrode current collector can be, for example, aluminum, and the positive electrode active material can be, for example, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganate, etc.; the second electrode sheet can be a negative electrode sheet, which includes a negative electrode current collector and a layer of negative electrode active material arranged on both sides of the negative electrode current collector; the material of the negative electrode current collector can be, for example, copper, and the negative electrode active material can be, for example, graphite or silicon, etc.The first and second tabs may be located together at one end of the main body portion or at opposite ends of the main body portion, respectively. During charging and discharging of the battery cell, the active material of the positive and negative electrodes reacts with the electrolyte solution, and the tab connects to a terminal to form a current circuit. In practice, the inventors have observed that, in the case of electrode assemblies with a laminated structure, the side ends of the assembly are not closed. Therefore, to prevent damage to these ends during assembly and use, a protective frame can be placed around the electrode assembly. To ensure adequate protection of the electrode assembly, the inventors have devised the idea of providing several independent protective plates, each with a fastening interface, such as a snap-fit or a mounting hole for a fastener. This allows each protective plate to be attached to the front face of the electrode assembly when the battery cell is assembled, and adjacent protective plates are secured by a snap-fit or a connection with a fastener, thus joining together to form a complete protective frame. However, mounting the protective frame in this way is difficult, which affects the efficiency of battery cell assembly. Furthermore, to provide a mounting surface on the protective plate, its thickness must be increased, which inevitably occupies a significant amount of space within the battery cell, thus impacting its energy density. Therefore, when designing a protective frame, it is essential to further reduce the difficulty of assembly and minimize the impact on energy density. Taking into account the technical problem described above, in this application a protective frame for the electrode assembly has been designed, capable of reducing the difficulty of assembly and the influence on the energy density of a battery cell, while providing better protection to the electrode assembly. The battery that is the subject of this application can be used in and supply electrical power to an electrical appliance. This electrical appliance can be a mobile phone, a portable device, a laptop computer, an electric car, an electric vehicle, a boat, a spacecraft, an electric toy, a power tool, or the like. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and similar items. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as video game consoles, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy airplanes, and the like.Power tools include metal cutting tools, electric grinders, assembly tools, and tools for the railway sector, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric socket wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric percussion drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers. As shown in Figure 1, the electrical apparatus can be a vehicle 300, for example, a new energy vehicle, and such vehicle can be a fully electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an extended-range electric vehicle, etc.; alternatively, the electrical apparatus can be an unmanned aerial vehicle, a boat, or the like. Specifically, the vehicle 300 can include an axle 301, wheels 302 connected to the axle 301, a motor 303, a controller 304, and a battery 200; the motor 303 is used to drive the axle 301 and make it rotate, the controller 304 is used to control the operation of the motor 303, and the battery 200 can be located on the underside, front, or rear of the vehicle 300 and is used to provide electrical power for the operation of the motor 303 and other vehicle components. Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery 200 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery 200 includes a housing assembly 201 and a battery cell 100. The battery 200 may contain one or more battery cells 100. If there is a plurality of battery cells 100, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel. A parallel-series connection means that the battery cell assembly 100 is connected both in series and in parallel. This battery cell assembly 100 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a parallel-series configuration to first form battery modules, and then the battery module assembly is connected in series, in parallel, or in a parallel-series configuration to form a complete assembly housed in the housing assembly 201.It is also possible for all 100 battery cells to be connected directly in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel, and then for the assembly of all 100 battery cells to be housed in the 201 housing assembly. The interior of housing assembly 201 is a hollow structure, and housing assembly 201 contains at least one battery module 100. For example, housing assembly 201 may include a case body 201A and a cover body 201B. The case body 201A and the cover body 201B are press-fitted together. For example, both the case body 201A and the cover body 201B may be hollow rectangular parallelepipeds, each having a single surface that constitutes an opening. The opening in the case body 201A and the opening in the cover body 201B are positioned opposite each other, and the case body 201A and the cover body 201B are press-fitted together to form a case body with a closed chamber.Alternatively, the box body 201A is a rectangular parallelepiped with an opening and the cover body 201B is plate-shaped, or the cover body 201B is a rectangular parallelepiped with an opening and the box body 201A is plate-shaped. The box body 201A and the cover body 201B are arranged opposite each other and snap-fitted to form a box body with a closed chamber. Once at least one 100' battery module is connected in parallel, in series, in parallel-series, or in a combination of these configurations, it is placed in the closed chamber formed by the snap fit between the box body 201A and the cover body 201B. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the present application describes a battery cell 100 comprising a housing 3, an end cover 4, and an electrode assembly 1. The housing 3 has an opening 31 oriented in a first x-direction; the electrode assembly 1 is disposed in the housing 3, and the end cover assembly 4 is configured to close the opening 31. The end cover assembly 4 includes an end cover body 41 and an electrode terminal 42 disposed on the end cover body 41. The housing 3 may be provided with an opening 31 at both ends in the first x-direction, respectively, and the openings 31 at both ends are closed, respectively, by an end cover body 41, each of the end cover bodies 41 being provided with an electrode terminal 42.The electrode terminal 42 can be located in a region close to one end of the cover body 41 in a third z direction, or in an intermediate region. For example, the end cover body 41 has a rectangular, plate-like structure, the two electrode terminals 42 are, respectively, a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, and one or more of each type of electrode terminal 42 may be provided. The electrode terminal 42 may be rectangular column-shaped, cylindrical, or similar. The electrode terminal 42 and the end cover body 41 may be injection-molded as a single piece to reduce assembly difficulty; however, other assembly methods may also be used. As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 5, the electrode assembly 1 includes a main body portion 11 and a tab 12, the tab 12 being attached to a side portion of the main body portion 11 in a first x-direction. For example, the electrode assembly 1 includes two types of tabs 12 with opposite polarities, and these two types of tabs 12 extend respectively from the two sides of the main body portion 11 in the first x-direction, and are electrically connected to an electrode terminal 42 via an adapter 5. Optionally, the housing 3 may be provided with an opening 31 at one end in the first x-direction, and this opening 31 is closed by the cover body 41, and both electrode terminals 42 are located in the same cover body 41. According to the invention, as shown in Figure 6, the battery cell 100 further includes a protective frame 2. This protective frame 2 has an integrated structure and includes three integrally joined protective plate segments, which are used respectively to protect the three side faces of the main body portion 11. The three protective plate segments comprise a first plate 21, a second plate 22, and a third plate 23. The third plate 23 is located between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, and the two ends of the third plate 23 are joined, respectively, to a first end of the first plate 21 and a first end of the second plate 22. At least one of the first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 is provided with an opening 231, and the tab 12 protrudes through this opening 231. The protective frame 2 may be made of metal and may have an insulating layer on its inner side face, or it may be made of a rigid insulating material such as polypropylene (PP). The protective frame 2 has an integrated structure and uses a thin-plate construction; for example, it may be formed by folding a single plate or by welding or similarly joining a first plate 21, a second plate 22, and a third plate 23 together. The protective plate may cover part or all of the side faces of the main body portion 11. The first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 may form an n-shaped structure, with the second end of the first plate 21 and the second end of the second plate 22 being free ends.Tab 12 is brought out through opening 231 in order to adjust the tab 12. In the case of the structure in which two types of tabs 12 are brought out from the two ends of the main body portion 11, for ease of assembly, only one tab 12 can be brought out through opening 231 of the protective frame 2. The adjusted tab 12 can be bent so that it is electrically connected directly to the electrode terminal 42, or electrically connected to the electrode terminal 42 through an adapter 5. During assembly, the opening end of the protective frame 2 faces the side end of the main body portion 11 from which the tab 12 protrudes, and the tab 12 protrudes through the opening 231. The protective frame 2 is then moved so that the first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 abut against the respective side faces of the main body portion 11 that are to be protected. A gap exists between each protective plate and the corresponding side face to be protected in order to facilitate the flow of the electrolyte solution into the main body portion 11. Furthermore, to allow the electrolyte solution to penetrate the main body portion 11 smoothly, through-holes can be provided in the protective plate; for example, several through-holes can be provided in different regions of the protective plate. In these embodiments, by incorporating the protective frame 2 into the electrode assembly 1, the side faces of the electrode assembly 1 can be protected. This protects the electrode assembly 1 both during its installation in the housing 3 and after installation, thus preventing damage to the electrode assembly 1. Furthermore, the protective frame 2 features an integrated structure that ensures overall rigidity. Once installed, it improves the overall rigidity of the electrode assembly 1 and facilitates assembly. The protective frame 2 is compact and has minimal impact on the energy density of the battery cell 100, making it well-suited for slim-profile batteries. Furthermore, tab 12 extends through opening 231 in the protective frame 2. This compresses tab 12, joins the flexible tab, and facilitates electrical connection to the electrode terminal 42 by welding. It also prevents tab 12 from being inserted into the main body portion 11 and causing the active material to fall out. By positioning the protective frame 2 outside the electrode assembly 1, interference between the electrode assembly 1 and the rounded corners on the edges of the housing 3 is avoided. These advantages contribute to improved reliability and safety of the battery cells 100 during assembly and use. In some embodiments, the first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 are arranged parallel to a second direction y, this second direction y being perpendicular to the first direction x. In these embodiments, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 can be used respectively to protect two side faces of the main body portion 11 adjacent to the side face from which the tab 12 emerges, and these two side faces are arranged opposite each other in a third direction z, which facilitates the installation of the protective frame 2 outside the electrode assembly 1, and is beneficial for reinforcing the fixing effect on the root portion of the tab 12. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7, the electrode assembly 1 has a laminated structure. The electrode assembly 1 has a first electrode sheet 111 and a second electrode sheet 112 with opposite polarities stacked along the second y-direction, and the first plate 21 and second plate 22 respectively shield two lateral faces of the main body portion 11 perpendicular to the third z-direction, the third z-direction being perpendicular to the first x-direction and the second y-direction. The first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 are all parallel to the second y-direction, i.e., parallel to the thickness direction of the electrode assembly 1. Specifically, in electrode assembly 1, the first electrode sheet 111, the second electrode sheet 112, and the spacer 113 are stacked along the second y-direction; the first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112 are arranged alternately, and the spacer 113 separates the first electrode sheet 111 from the second electrode sheet 112. Both the first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112 and the spacer 113 can be rectangular in shape. In these embodiments, a stacked electrode assembly 1, the size of which is flexible, is used. The first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112 can be cut into rectangular shapes, thus making better use of the space within the housing 3 and improving the energy density of the battery cell 100. With regard to the stacked electrode assembly 1, since the first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112 are relatively independent and their lateral ends are not closed, by placing the protective frame 2 it is possible to delimit the outer periphery of the first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112, so that all the first electrode sheets 111 and the second electrode sheets 112 can be aligned;The first plate 21 and the second plate 22 respectively protect two side faces of the main body portion 11 perpendicular to the third z direction, which is equivalent to protecting three end faces of the electrode assembly 1 by means of the protective plate, is able to prevent impurities from entering the interior of the main body portion 11 through the space between the electrode sheets, and to prevent the electrode assembly 1 from being damaged because the end portions may not be fully aligned during the installation process in the housing 3.; Optionally, the protective frame 2 of this application may also be applied to the coiled electrode assembly 1. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, the electrode assembly 1 includes two tabs 12; these tabs 12 are located, respectively, on both sides of the main body portion 11 in the first x direction; the opening 231 is arranged in the third plate 23; and one of the tabs 12 protrudes through the opening 231. The opening 231 may be located in the central region of the third plate 23 in the third z direction, or it may be offset. In these embodiments, one of the tabs 12 protrudes from the opening 231 of the protective frame 2, which facilitates the installation of the protective frame 2 from this side of the tab 12, making assembly simple. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7, each of the first plate 21, second plate 22, and third plate 23 completely covers the corresponding side face of the main body portion 11 to be protected. Specifically, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 can extend along the first x-direction to an end cover body 41 located on the opposite side, and the widths of the first plate 21, second plate 22, and third plate 23 are no less than the size of the electrode assembly 1 in the second y-direction, i.e., the thickness of the electrode assembly 1. In these embodiments, sufficient protection can be provided to the side faces of the main body portion 11 by means of the protective plate, which offers greater protection and allows maximizing the overall rigidity of the electrode assembly 1. Optionally, the first plate 21, the second plate 22 and the third plate 23 can also partially cover the respective side faces that are to be protected. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, both the joint between the third plate 23 and the first plate 21 and the joint between the third plate 23 and the second plate 22 are provided with a first pre-fold 25, and this first pre-fold 25 may extend along the second y-direction. For example, the first pre-fold 25 may be a line whose thickness decreases continuously, or a line whose thickness decreases intermittently, or which has intermittent transverse grooves. In these embodiments, by performing the first pre-fold 25, as shown in Figure 9, prior to assembly, the protective frame 2 adopts an elongated strip structure, thus preventing it from easily deforming during storage and transport. As shown in Figure 10, during assembly, the protective frame 2 is first folded along the pre-fold 25 to form a predetermined structure. Since the strength of the protective frame 2 at the first pre-fold 25 is lower than in other positions, the shape of the protective frame 2 is better adapted to the electrode assembly 1 after folding, so that the protective frame 2 can better protect the electrode assembly 1. For example, during assembly, the tab 12 can first pass through the opening 231, and then the protective frame 2 can be folded; or, the protective frame 2 can be folded first, and then the tab 12 can pass through the opening 231. In some embodiments, the thickness of the third plate 23 is greater than the thickness of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, the protective frame 2 further includes a reinforcing plate 24. The reinforcing plate 24 is attached to one of the side faces of the third plate 23, and the sum of the thicknesses of the reinforcing plate 24 and the third plate 23 is greater than the thickness of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22. For example, the reinforcing plate 24 may be attached to one of the side faces of the third plate 23 using an adhesive; or, if the reinforcing plate 24 is metallic, it may be welded to the third plate 23; or the reinforcing plate 24 may be a hot-melt plastic plate, which may be attached to the third plate 23 by hot melting. In these embodiments, by increasing the thickness of the third plate 23, the overall resistance of the protective frame 2 can be increased, the overall protection effect on the electrode assembly 1 can be improved, and the protection effect on the tab 12 can be improved. According to the invention, as shown in Figure 11, the opening 231 extends along the transverse direction of the flange 12, at least one of the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate is provided with a cutout 232 at both ends of the opening 231 along the width direction of the flange 12, respectively, and each cutout 232 extends a predetermined distance on either side of the opening 231, so that the opening 231 and the two cutouts 232 define two door structures 233, and the two door structures 233 are configured to be able to open relatively in a direction away from the main body portion 11. For example, tab 12 is arranged on an end portion of the main body portion 11 in the first x-direction, the width direction of tab 12 may coincide with the third z-direction, the opening 231 extends along the third z-direction, and the extension length is not less than the width of tab 12. Cutout 232 may extend a predetermined distance from an end portion of the opening 231 to both sides in the second y-direction, such that the portions of the two cutouts 232 located on the same side of the opening 231 and the opening 231 itself together define a door structure 233. Cutout 232 may be a cut line or an elongated slot, in order to prevent the door structure 233 from interfering with other regions of the third plate 23 when it is opened or closed. In these embodiments, by arranging two cutouts 232 at both ends of the opening 231, the two door structures 233 are jointly defined by the cutouts and the opening 231, and the two door structures 233 can be opened outwards, facilitating the passage of the tab 12 through the opening 231; once the tab 12 has passed, the door structure 233 returns to its original position under the action of an elastic force of the material or an external force to better hold the tab 12. This structure not only facilitates assembly between the protective frame 2 and the electrode assembly 1, but also ensures the clamping effect on the tab 12, thereby improving the assembly performance. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 11, a second pre-fold 26 is provided at the joining line between the end portions of the two cutouts 232 located on the same side. The second pre-fold 26 may extend along the third z-direction; for example, the second pre-fold 26 may be a line whose thickness decreases continuously, or a line whose thickness decreases intermittently, or which has intermittent transverse grooves. In these embodiments, by incorporating the second pre-fold 26, whose resistance is less in the second pre-fold 26 than in other positions, it is easier to open the door structure 233 outwards, using the second pre-fold 26 as an axis when the tab 12 passes through the opening 231. This facilitates the passage of the tab 12 through the opening 231. Furthermore, once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231, it is also advisable to push the door structure 233 backwards, towards the main body portion 11, to ensure the clamping effect on the tab 12. Optionally, to facilitate the opening of the door structure 233, a laminated structure with elasticity or similar material can also be used. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 11, the protective frame 2 further includes a reinforcing plate 24; said reinforcing plate 24 is fixed to an outer side face of the third plate 23; the reinforcing plate 24 is provided with a through slot 241; and the size of the through slot 241 is not less than the region defined by two cutouts 232. Specifically, the dimension of the through slot 241 in the second direction y is not less than the dimension of the two cutouts 232 in the second direction y, and the dimension of the through slot 241 in the third direction z is not less than the distance between the two cutouts 232 in the third direction z. In these embodiments, by incorporating the reinforcing plate 24, the thickness of the third plate 23 can be increased, the overall strength of the protective frame 2 can be increased, the overall protection effect of the electrode assembly 1 can be improved, and the protection effect of the tab 12 can be improved. Based on this, it is possible to avoid the door structure 233 by placing the through slot 241 in the reinforcing plate 24, so that the opening and closing of the door structure 233 is not restricted, thus ensuring that the tab 12 passes through the opening 231 without problems. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 12, the battery cell 100 further includes an adhesive layer 27. The adhesive layer 27 is attached to the outer face of the tab 12 in order to fix the tab 12 to the protective plate provided with the opening 231. The adhesive layer 27 is affixed to the protective plate so that the tab 12 passes through the opening 231. For example, the adhesive layer 27 can be an adhesive plastic sheet or similar material. For example, the opening 231 is located on the third plate 23, the adhesive layer 27 is attached to the outer side of the tab 12, and once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231, the third plate 23 is attached to the tab 12 by means of the adhesive layer 27. In these embodiments, before installing the protective frame 2, the adhesive layer 27 is attached to both sides of the tab 12, and once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231 and the protective frame 2 has been placed in position, the protective plate and the tab 12 can be attached to each other, in order to better secure the tab 12; furthermore, it is easy to attach the adhesive layer 27 without increasing the difficulty of assembly. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 13, the battery cell 100 further includes two plastic plates 28. The two plastic plates 28 are located on either side of the opening 231. The plastic plates 28 are fixed to the outer face of the protective plate provided with the opening 231 by means of hot-melt adhesive, and the tab 12 protrudes through the gap between the opening 231 and the two plastic plates 28. For example, except for the edge near the tab 12, the other three edges of the plastic plate 28 may be fixed by heat-sealing, or only a portion of the area may be heat-sealing so that it is fixed to the outer side of the protective plate. For example, the opening 231 is arranged in the third plate 23 and extends along the third z direction, the two plastic plates 28 are arranged respectively on either side of the opening 231 along the second y direction, and an outer edge of the plastic plate 28 can extend beyond the second pre-fold 26 in the second y direction, in order to prevent the door structure 233 from opening outwards after the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231. In these embodiments, once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231, the two plastic plates 28 are attached to the protective plate and to both sides of the tab 12 using hot-melt adhesive, so that the protective plate and the tab 12 are fixed together, in order to better hold the tab 12. In addition, the plastic plates 28 are attached once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231, so that the tab 12 can pass easily, and the plastic plates 28 also serve to reinforce the protective plate, in order to increase its rigidity and provide better support for the tab 12. In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the opening 231 is arranged on the third plate 23, and both the first end of the first plate 21 and the first end of the second plate 22 are at a higher height than the outer side face of the third plate 23 in the first x direction. In these embodiments, the tab 12 is protected by the portions of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 that are higher than the third plate 23, so as to prevent the end portion of the tab 12 in the width direction from being damaged during assembly or use, thus providing better protection to a structure in which the width of the tab 12 extends close to the end of the main body portion, thereby preventing a short circuit by contact between the tab 12 and the housing 3 due to vibration or impacts during use. In some embodiments, the protective frame 2 further includes two segments of connecting plates 29, and the two ends of the third plate 23 are connected, respectively, to a first end of the first plate 21 and to a first end of the second plate 22 through a segment of the connecting plate 29. The first plate 21, a connecting plate 29, the third plate 23, a connecting plate 29 and the second plate 22 are joined sequentially to form the protective frame 2. In these embodiments, by placing the joining plates 29 at the junctions between both ends of the third plate 23 and the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, respectively, not only is the formation of a single block of the specially shaped protective frame 2 facilitated, but the strength of the protective frame 2 at the bending points is also increased, thereby improving the overall rigidity of the protective frame 2 and thus effectively protecting the electrode assembly 1. In some embodiments, the joint between the first plate 21 and the connecting plate 29, the joints between both ends of the third plate 23 and the respective connecting plates 29, and the joint between the second plate 22 and the connecting plate 29 are provided with a first pre-fold 25. As shown in Figure 16, which does not depict the cutouts, in these embodiments, prior to assembly, the protective frame 2 can be configured as an elongated strip structure so that it does not easily deform during storage and transport. Specifically, two of the first pre-folds 25, separated by a predetermined distance, can be positioned on either side of the third plate 23, respectively; this predetermined distance is the width of the joining plate 29, and the opening 231 can extend along the third plate 23 to reach the outermost first pre-folds 25. As shown in Figure 17, during assembly, the protective frame 2 is first folded along the pre-folds 25 to form a predetermined structure.Since the resistance of the protective frame 2 in the first preliminary folds 25 is lower than in other positions, after folding, the shape of the protective frame 2 adapts better to the electrode assembly 1, so that the protective frame 2 can offer greater protection to the electrode assembly 1. For example, during assembly, the tab 12 can first pass through the opening 231 and then the protective frame 2 can be folded; or the protective frame 2 can be folded first and then the tab 12 can pass through the opening 231. The schematic diagrams of the structure of a battery cell according to some specific embodiments of the present application will be described below, with reference to figures 3 to 13. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the battery cell 100 includes a housing 3, an end cover 4, and an electrode assembly 1. The housing 3 has an opening 31 oriented in the first x-direction, the electrode assembly 1 is disposed in the housing 3, and the end cover assembly 4 is configured to close the opening 31. The end cover assembly 4 includes an end cover body 41 and an electrode terminal 42 disposed on the end cover body 41. The housing 3 may be provided with openings 31 at both ends in the first x-direction, respectively, and the openings 31 at both ends are closed, respectively, by an end cover body 41; each of the end cover bodies 41 is provided with an electrode terminal 42.The two electrode terminals 42 are located in regions of the respective end-cover bodies 41 close to different end portions along the third z-direction. As shown in Figure 5, the tab 12 can be electrically connected to the electrode terminal 42 by means of an adapter 5. As shown in Figure 6, the battery cell 100 further includes a protective frame 2. The protective frame 2 has a monoblock structure and includes three protective plate segments. The three protective plate segments comprise a first plate 21, a second plate 22, and a third plate 23. The third plate 23 is located between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, and the two ends of the third plate 23 are attached, respectively, to a first end of the first plate 21 and a first end of the second plate 22. An opening 231 is provided in the third plate 23. This opening 231 extends along the third direction and is offset toward one of the ends of the third plate 23 with respect to the central position. The opening 231 can be an elongated slot, and the tab 12 protrudes from the opening 231.The third plate 23 is located between the main body portion 11 and the end cover assembly 4. As shown in Figure 7, the electrode assembly 1 has a laminated structure. In electrode assembly 1, the first electrode sheet 111, the second electrode sheet 112, and the spacer 113 are stacked along the second y-direction. The first electrode sheet 111 and the second electrode sheet 112 have opposite polarities and are arranged alternately, and the spacer 113 separates the first electrode sheet 111 from the second electrode sheet 112. As shown in Figure 8, the first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the third plate 23 are arranged parallel to the second y-direction and protect, respectively, the three lateral ends of the electrode assembly 1; the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 are perpendicular to the third y-direction and are arranged opposite each other, while the third plate 23 is perpendicular to the first x-direction. As shown in Figure 9, before assembly, the protective frame 2 has a thin sheet metal structure in the form of an elongated strip. Both the joint between the third plate 23 and the first plate 21 and the joint between the third plate 23 and the second plate 22 are provided with a first pre-fold 25, and this first pre-fold 25 can be extended along the second y-direction. As shown in Figure 10, the protective frame 2 is folded along the first pre-fold 25 to form an n-shaped structure, the shape of which is adapted to the electrode assembly 1. During assembly, the tab 12 can first pass through the opening 231 and then the protective frame 2 can be folded; or the protective frame 2 can be folded first and then the tab 12 can pass through the opening 231. As shown in Figure 11, the thickness of the third plate 23 is greater than that of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, or the protective frame 2 also includes a reinforcing plate 24. The reinforcing plate 24 is fixed to one of the outer side faces of the third plate 23, and the sum of the thicknesses of the reinforcing plate 24 and the third plate 23 is greater than the thickness of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22. For example, the reinforcing plate 24 could be a hot-melt plastic plate, which can be fixed to the third plate 23 by hot melting. The opening 231 extends along the transverse direction of the tab 12, the transverse direction of the tab 12 being the third z-direction; the third plate 23 is provided with a cutout 232 at both ends of the opening 231 along the transverse direction of the tab 12, and each cutout 232 extends a predetermined distance on either side of the opening 231, such that the opening 231 and the two cutouts 232 define two door structures 233, and a second prefold 26 is provided on a joining line between the end portions of the two cutouts 232 on the same side. The second prefold 26 may extend along the third z-direction. When tab 12 passes through opening 231, the two door structures 233 rotate along the second pre-fold 26 to open relatively in a direction opposite to the main body portion 11, and once tab 12 has passed, the door structure 233 returns to its original position under the action of the elastic force of the material or an external force to better hold tab 12. As shown in Figure 12, the battery cell 100 further includes an adhesive layer 27. The adhesive layer 27 is fixed to the outer face of the tab 12 in order to fix the tab 12 to the protective plate provided with the opening 231. Before installing the protective frame 2, the adhesive layer 27 is fixed to both sides of the tab 12, and once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231 and the protective frame 2 has been placed in position, the protective plate and the tab 12 can be fixed together in order to better secure the tab 12. As shown in Figure 13, the battery cell 100 further includes two plastic plates 28. The two plastic plates 28 are located on either side of the opening 231. The plastic plates 28 are attached to the outer face of the protective plate provided with the opening 231 by means of hot-melt adhesive, and the tab 12 protrudes through the gap between the opening 231 and the two plastic plates 28. Once the tab 12 has passed through the opening 231, the two plastic plates 28 are attached to the protective plate and on either side of the tab 12 by means of hot-melt adhesive, so that the protective plate and the tab 12 are secured together, in order to better hold the tab 12. The present application then describes a method of manufacturing a battery cell 100. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 18, the manufacturing method comprises the following steps: S110, a component supply step consisting of providing an electrode assembly 1 and a protective frame 2; wherein the electrode assembly 1 comprises a main body portion 11 and a tab 12, the tab 12 being disposed on a side portion of the main body portion 11 in a first x direction, the protective frame 2 having an integrated structure and including three protective plate segments used respectively to protect the three side faces of the main body portion 11, the three protective plate segments comprising a first plate 21, a second plate 22, and a third plate 23;the third plate 23 is situated between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, and the two ends of the third plate 23 are connected, respectively, to a first end of the first plate 21 and a first end of the second plate 22; and at least one of the first plate 21, the second plate 22 and the third plate 23 is provided with an opening 231; S120, a tab-passing stage in which tab 12 is passed through opening 231; and S130, a frame body assembly stage in which three shield plate segments are used to protect, respectively, the three side faces of the main body portion 11, in which S110, S120 and S130 are executed sequentially. Finally, the present application describes a manufacturing apparatus 400 for a battery cell 100. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 19, the manufacturing apparatus 400 includes a component supply device 410, a tab-passing device 420, and a frame body mounting device 430. The component supply device 410 is configured to provide an electrode assembly 1 and a protective frame 2; wherein the electrode assembly 1 comprises a main body portion 11 and a tab 12, the tab 12 being arranged on a side portion of the main body portion 11 in a first x direction; the protective frame 2 having an integrated structure and including three protective plate segments used respectively to protect the three side faces of the main body portion 11; the three protective plate segments comprising a first plate 21, a second plate 22, and a third plate 23; the third plate 23 is situated between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, and the two ends of the third plate 23 are connected, respectively, to a first end of the first plate 21 and a first end of the second plate 22;and at least one of the first plate 21, the second plate 22 and the third plate 23 is provided with an opening 231.; The tab passing device 420 is designed to pass tab 12 through opening 231. The 430 frame mounting device is designed to protect the three side faces of the main body portion 11 by using three segments of protective plates, respectively. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but covers all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A battery cell (100), comprising: an electrode assembly (1) comprising a main body portion (11) and a tab (12), the tab (12) being attached to a side portion of the main body portion (11) in a first direction (x); and a protective frame (2), comprising three integrally joined protective plate segments used, respectively, to protect the three side faces of the main body portion (11), wherein: the three protective plate segments comprise a first plate (21), a second plate (22), and a third plate (23) situated between the first plate (21) and the second plate (22), and having two ends connected, respectively, to a first end of the first plate (21) and a first end of the second plate (22), and at least one of the plates (the first plate (21),The second plate (22) and the third plate (23) are provided with an opening (231); the tab (12) protrudes through the opening (231), and the opening (231) extends along the transverse direction of the tab (12); characterized in that at least one of the first plate (21), the second plate (22), and the third plate (23) is provided with a cutout (232) at each end of the opening (231) along the transverse direction of the tab (12); each of the cutouts (232) extends a predetermined distance on either side of the opening (231), such that the opening (231) and two of the cutouts (232) define two door structures (233); and the two door structures (233) are designed to be able to open relatively in a direction opposite to the main body portion (11).
2. The battery cell (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first plate (21),The second plate (22) and the third plate (23) are arranged parallel to a second direction (y), the second direction (y) being perpendicular to the first direction (x), wherein, preferably, the electrode assembly (1) has a laminated structure, the electrode assembly (1) has a first electrode sheet (111) and a second electrode sheet (112) with opposite polarities and stacked along the second direction (y), and the first plate (21) and the second plate (22) respectively protect two lateral faces of the main body portion (11) perpendicular to a third direction (z), the third direction (z) being perpendicular to the first direction (x) and the second direction (y).
3. The battery cell (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrode assembly (1) comprises two tabs (12),The two tabs (12) are located respectively on either side of the main body portion (11) in the first direction (x), the opening (231) is provided in the third plate (23), and one of the tabs (12) protrudes through the opening (231).
4. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first plate (21), the second plate (22), and the third plate (23) completely covers the respective side face of the main body portion (11).
5. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein both the junction between the third plate (23) and the first plate (21) and the junction between the third plate (23) and the second plate (22) are provided with a first pre-fold (25).
6. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5,wherein the thickness of the third plate (23) is greater than that of the first plate (21) and the second plate (22); or the battery cell (100) further comprises a reinforcing plate (24), the reinforcing plate (24) being fixed to a side face of the third plate (23); and the sum of the thicknesses of the reinforcing plate (24) and the third plate (23) is greater than the thickness of the first plate (21) and the second plate (22).
7. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: a second pre-fold (26) is provided at the joining line between the end portions of two of the cutouts (232) on the same side; and / or the protective frame (2) further comprises a reinforcing plate (24), the reinforcing plate (24) being fixed to an outer side face of the third plate (23); The reinforcing plate (24) is provided with a through groove (241),and the size of the through slot (241) is not less than the region delimited by two of the cutouts (232).
8. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an adhesive layer (27), wherein the adhesive layer (27) is fixed to an outer side of the tab (12), so that the tab (12) is fixed to the protective plate provided with the opening (231).
9. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising two plastic plates (28), the two plastic plates (28) being arranged respectively on either side of the opening (231), the plastic plates (28) being fixed, by heat fusion, to the outer side of the protective plate provided with the opening (231), and the tab (12) protruding through a gap between the opening (231) and the two plastic plates (28).
10. The battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9,wherein the opening (231) is arranged in the third plate (23), and both a first end of the first plate (21) and a first end of the second plate (22) are located at a higher height than an outer side face of the third plate (23) in the first direction (x).
11. The battery cell (100) according to claim 10, wherein the protective frame (2) further comprises two segments of connecting plates (29), and the two ends of the third plate (23) are connected, respectively, to the first end of the first plate (21) and to the first end of the second plate (22) via a segment of the connecting plate (29), wherein, preferably, a junction between the first plate (21) and the connecting plate (29), the junctions between the two ends of the third plate (23) and the respective connecting plates (29),and a junction between the second plate (22) and the connection plate (29) are provided with a first pre-fold (25).
12. A battery (200), comprising: the battery cell (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and a housing assembly (201) for housing the battery cell (100).
13. An electrical apparatus comprising the battery (200) of claim 12, said battery (200) being used to supply electrical power to the electrical apparatus.
14. A method of manufacturing a battery cell (100), comprising: a component supply step consisting of providing an electrode assembly (1) and a protective frame (2); wherein the electrode assembly (1) comprises a main body portion (11) and a flange (12), the flange (12) being arranged on a lateral part of the main body portion (11) in a first direction (x),The protective frame (2) comprises three integrally joined protective plate segments used respectively to protect three side faces of the main body portion (11). The three protective plate segments comprise a first plate (21), a second plate (22), and a third plate (23) situated between the first plate (21) and the second plate (22) and having two ends connected respectively to a first end of the first plate (21) and a first end of the second plate (22). At least one of the first plate (21), the second plate (22), and the third plate (23) is provided with an opening (231). There is also a tab-passing stage in which the tab (12) is passed through the opening (231). Finally, there is a frame body assembly stage in which three of the protective plate segments are used to protect, respectively, the three side faces of the main body portion (11).wherein the opening (231) extends along the transverse direction of the flange (12); characterized in that at least one of the first plate (21), the second plate (22), and the third plate (23) is provided with a cutout (232) at each end of the opening (231) along the transverse direction of the flange (12); each of the cutouts (232) extends a predetermined distance on either side of the opening (231), such that the opening (231) and two of the cutouts (232) define two door structures (233); and the two door structures (233) are designed to be able to open relatively in a direction opposite to the main body portion (11).