Inkjet printing process for the protective layer on the top cover of a lithium-ion battery

Abstract

Disclose the inkjet printing process of the protective layer of the upper cover of the lithium-ion battery. 【Solution means】The inkjet printing area is divided into a first inkjet printing area and a second inkjet printing area, and combined with a misting guard having a specially designed inkjet printing window for blanking, realizing inkjet printing at the positions where inkjet printing of ink is required. At the same time, it is possible to avoid the misting being sputtered on non-inkjet printing parts such as the positive and negative electrodes, liquid injection holes, QR code areas, etc. of the upper cover of the lithium-ion battery.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet printing process, and more particularly to an inkjet printing process for a protective layer on a lithium-ion battery cover. [Background technology]

[0002] The top cover of a lithium-ion battery is equipped with areas such as positive and negative electrodes, filling holes, and a QR code (registered trademark) area, which cannot be inkjet-printed. Therefore, ink must be avoided during inkjet printing. However, ink can splatter (commonly known as misting) during the inkjet printing process. If the protective film is directly formed using inkjet printing, some ink will splatter on these areas, causing processing defects and ultimately affecting the quality of the lithium-ion battery. Therefore, it is necessary to design an inkjet printing process for the protective layer on the top cover of a lithium-ion battery so that ink can be accurately inkjet-printed in the areas that require inkjet printing while avoiding misting from being sputtered onto non-inkjet-printed areas of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery, such as the positive and negative electrodes, filling holes, and the QR code area. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In response to the above-mentioned shortcomings, the object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printing process for a protective layer on a top cover of a lithium ion battery, which can inkjet print the areas that require ink while avoiding misting from being sputtered on non-inkjet printed areas on the top cover of the lithium ion battery, such as the positive and negative electrodes, filling holes, and QR code area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is a process for inkjet printing a protective layer on a lithium ion battery cover, including a lithium ion battery cover ready for inkjet printing, wherein the width of an end face of the lithium ion battery cover is W and the length is L, and a non-inkjet printed area is provided on the end face of the lithium ion battery cover, the distance from the underside of the end face of the lithium ion battery cover to the underside of the non-inkjet printed area is H, and the distance from the upper side of the end face of the lithium ion battery cover to the upper side of the non-inkjet printed area is also H, and the process includes the following steps:

[0005] 1) The inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery is divided into a first inkjet printing area and a second inkjet printing area, wherein the first inkjet printing area is a rectangular area extending from the underside of the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the underside of the non-inkjet printed portion, the length of the rectangular area being L and the width being H, and the inkjet printing area excluding the first inkjet printing area is the remaining second inkjet printing area.

[0006] 2) A misting guard is installed, and a hollow inkjet printing window is installed on the misting guard. The inkjet printing window has a width of W+0.1-1 mm, a length of L, and a shape that matches the edge shape of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery. The misting guard is installed with a misting stopper block corresponding to the non-inkjet printing area of ​​the top cover of the lithium-ion battery. The misting stopper block protrudes into the inkjet printing window from below, leaving a gap between it and the top side of the inkjet printing window. The width of the gap is H+0.1-1 mm. A first inkjet printing window corresponding to the first inkjet printing area is formed between the top side of the inkjet printing window and the upper edge of the misting stopper block. The first inkjet printing window is a square region with a length of L and a width of H+0.1-1 mm. The inkjet printing window, excluding the first inkjet printing window, is a second inkjet printing window.

[0007] 3) The misting guard is placed above the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, and the upper side of the inkjet printing window is aligned with the lower side of the non-inkjet printing area, so that the first inkjet printing window of the misting guard corresponds to the first inkjet printing area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, where the first inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm wider than the first inkjet printing area (i.e., the edge of the misting stopper block is lower than the underside of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, so that the fillet transition position on the lower edge of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery is fully inkjet printed and the inkjet printing at the corner transition position is avoided). The first inkjet printing area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery is inkjet printed.

[0008] 4) After inkjet printing is completed on the first inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, the misting guard is moved so that the upper edge of the misting stopper block is aligned with the upper side of the non-inkjet printing area, thereby aligning the second inkjet printing window of the misting guard with the second inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, where the second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm wider than the second inkjet printing area (i.e., the upper side of the inkjet printing window is higher than the upper side of the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, so that the circular transition position on the upper edge of the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery is fully inkjet printed and the corner transition position is not left uninked), and then inkjet printing is performed on the second inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery.

[0009] Furthermore, the non-inkjet printed areas installed on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery include two or more areas spaced apart from each other, and the misting stopper blocks installed on the misting guard corresponding to the non-inkjet printed areas of the top cover of the lithium ion battery also include two or more areas spaced apart from each other.

[0010] Furthermore, the non-inkjet printed areas installed on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery include five areas spaced apart from each other, namely the positive electrode area, the liquid injection hole area, the central area, the QR code area, and the negative electrode area, and the misting stopper blocks corresponding to the non-inkjet printed areas of the top cover of the lithium ion battery installed on the misting guard also include five areas spaced apart from each other, namely the positive electrode misting stopper block, the liquid injection hole misting stopper block, the central misting stopper block, the QR code misting stopper block, and the negative electrode misting stopper block.

[0011] Furthermore, the non-inkjet printed area disposed on the end surface of the upper cover of the lithium ion battery is a flat non-inkjet printed area, a protruding non-inkjet printed area, or a recessed non-inkjet printed area.

[0012] Furthermore, the misting stopper block has a square structure.

[0013] Furthermore, in step 2), the length of the inkjet printing window is L+0.1 to 1 mm, and the length of the first inkjet printing window is L+0.1 to 1 mm; in step 3), the left side of the first inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the left side of the first inkjet printing area and the right side of the first inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the right side of the first inkjet printing area, so that overall the first inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the first inkjet printing area; and in step 4), the left side of the second inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the left side of the second inkjet printing area and the right side of the second inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the right side of the second inkjet printing area, so that overall the second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the second inkjet printing area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention has the following advantages: the inkjet printing area is divided into a first inkjet printing area and a second inkjet printing area, and is combined with a misting guard with a specially designed cut-out inkjet printing window, which enables ink to be inkjet-printed where necessary while preventing misting from sputtering onto non-inkjet-printed areas on the top cover of the lithium-ion battery, such as the positive and negative electrodes, filling holes, and QR code area. The width of the misting guard's inkjet printing window is slightly wider than the width of the end face of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery, and combined with a misting stopper block, the misting guard is purposefully divided into a first inkjet printing window and a second inkjet printing window. When inkjet printing the first inkjet printing area, the reserved width allows the transitional areas at the lower corners of the end face of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery to be better covered by inkjet printing. When inkjet printing the second inkjet printing area, the misting stopper block effectively stops the non-inkjet-printed areas, and the reserved width also allows the transitional areas at the lower corners of the end face of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery to be effectively covered by inkjet printing. The upper and lower transition positions on the end surface of the top cover of a lithium ion battery have fillets, and whether they are sufficiently inkjet printed or not will affect the overall inkjet printing quality of the lithium ion battery. However, the present invention uses a specially designed misting guard to optimize the process, preventing misting from being sputtered onto non-inkjet printed areas and ensuring that the upper and lower fillet transition positions on the end surface of the top cover of a lithium ion battery are sufficiently inkjet printed.

[0015] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the top cover of a lithium-ion battery. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the misting guard. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of a lithium-ion battery. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of inkjet printing in a first inkjet print area. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of inkjet printing of a second region. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model with the aid of drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of this utility model, but not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative efforts belong to the protection scope of this utility model.

[0018] It should be noted that, when the embodiments of this utility model have directional indications (up, down, left, right, front, rear, upper, lower, inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, counterclockwise, clockwise, circumferential, radial, axial, etc.), the directional indications are used only to describe the relative positional relationships and movement situations between components in a particular position (as shown in the drawings), and when the particular position changes, the directional indications also change accordingly.

[0019] Furthermore, when a description in an embodiment of the present utility model includes "first" or "second," the description of "first" or "second" is for explanatory purposes only and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance or the number of technical features described. Therefore, a feature qualified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of these features. Furthermore, the technical solutions of each embodiment may be combined with each other, but this must be based on what a person skilled in the art can achieve. If a combination of technical solutions is inconsistent or cannot be achieved, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered as not existing and not within the scope of protection claimed by the present utility model.

[0020] 1 to 6, the inkjet printing process for a protective layer on a lithium ion battery cover according to this embodiment includes a lithium ion battery cover 1 ready for inkjet printing.

[0021] The end face of the top cover 1 of the lithium ion battery has a width W and a length L, and is provided with a non-inkjet printed area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery. The non-inkjet printed areas on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery include five spaced apart non-inkjet printed areas, namely, a positive electrode area 11, a liquid injection hole area 12, a central area 13, a QR code area 14, and a negative electrode area 15. Although lithium ion batteries are generally rectangular, the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery is rectangular, and the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery (i.e., the connecting edges between the surfaces) have transition angles 16. In particular, the top and bottom transition angles are generally filleted and have a certain arcuate structure, which makes it easy for inkjet printing to be insufficient. Therefore, appropriate over-inkjet printing is performed during inkjet printing to ensure that the corner transition positions are adequately protected by the inkjet printing.

[0022] The distance from the underside of the end face of the top cover 1 of the lithium ion battery to the underside of the non-inkjet printed region is H, and the distance from the upper side of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the upper side of the non-inkjet printed region is also H. Note that if the widths of the multiple non-inkjet printed regions are different, i.e., if the distances from the upper side of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery are different, the non-inkjet printed region with the largest width is used as the reference, that is, the distance from the underside of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the underside of the widest non-inkjet printed region is H, and the distance from the upper side of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the upper side of the widest non-inkjet printed region is also H.

[0023] Specifically, the method includes the following steps:

[0024] 1) The inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover 1 of the lithium ion battery is divided into a first inkjet printing area 17 and a second inkjet printing area 18, where the first inkjet printing area 17 is a rectangular area extending from the underside of the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the underside of the non-inkjet printed portion, the length of the rectangular area being L and the width being H, and the inkjet printing area excluding the first inkjet printing area 17 is the second inkjet printing area 18.

[0025] 2) A misting guard 2 is installed, and a cut-out inkjet-printed window 21 is installed in the misting guard 2. The width of the inkjet-printed window 21 is W+0.1-1 mm, the length is L, and the shape is compatible with the end face shape of the top cover 1 of the lithium-ion battery. The misting guard 2 is installed with misting stopper blocks 22 corresponding to the non-inkjet-printed areas of the top cover 1 of the lithium-ion battery. The misting stopper blocks 22 protrude into the inkjet-printed window 21 from the underside of the inkjet-printed window, leaving a gap 23 between them and the upper side of the inkjet-printed window 21, and the width of the gap 23 is H+0.1-1 mm. The misting guard 2 also includes five misting stopper blocks that are spaced apart from one another and correspond to the non-inkjet-printed areas of the top cover of the lithium-ion battery, respectively: a positive electrode misting stopper block, a liquid injection hole misting stopper block, a central misting stopper block, a QR code misting stopper block, and a negative electrode misting stopper block. A first inkjet printing window corresponding to the first inkjet printing area is formed between the upper side of the inkjet printing window 21 and the upper edge of the misting stopper block 22. The first inkjet printing window is a square area having a length of L and a width of H+0.1 to 1 mm. The inkjet printing window, excluding the first inkjet printing window, is the second inkjet printing window.

[0026] The width of the inkjet printing window is designed to be W+0.1~1mm to ensure that the upper and lower corner transition positions of the end surface of the battery top cover can be inkjet printed sufficiently.

[0027] 3) The misting guard 2 is installed above the end face of the top cover 1 of the lithium-ion battery, and the upper side of the inkjet-printed window is aligned with the lower side of the non-inkjet-printed area so that the first inkjet-printed window of the misting guard 2 corresponds to the first inkjet-printed area 17 on the end face of the top cover 1 of the lithium-ion battery. The first inkjet-printed window is 0.1 to 1 mm wider than the first inkjet-printed area 17, i.e., the edge of the misting stopper block 22 is lower than the underside (where there is a gap) of the end face of the top cover 1 of the lithium-ion battery. This allows the fillet transition position on the lower edge of the end face of the lithium-ion battery top cover to be fully inkjet-printed (allowing over-inkjet printing) and avoiding inkjet-printing omissions at the corner transition positions. Next, the first inkjet-printed area on the end face of the lithium-ion battery top cover is inkjet-printed. The area of ​​the first inkjet-printed window is slightly larger than the area of ​​the first inkjet-printed area, ensuring that the lower corner transition positions are fully inkjet-printed.

[0028] 4) After completing inkjet printing on the first inkjet printing area 17 on the end surface of the lithium-ion battery's top cover 1, the misting guard 2 is moved so that the upper edge of the misting stopper block is aligned with the top of the non-inkjet printing area, aligning the second inkjet printing window of the misting guard 2 with the second inkjet printing area 18 on the end surface of the lithium-ion battery's top cover 1. The second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm wider than the second inkjet printing area 18, i.e., the upper side of the inkjet printing window is higher than the upper side (with a gap) of the end surface of the lithium-ion battery's top cover. This ensures that the fillet transition area on the upper edge of the lithium-ion battery's top cover is fully inkjet printed (over-inkjet printed) and avoids inkjet printing omissions at the corner transition areas. Then, the second inkjet printing area on the end surface of the lithium-ion battery's top cover is inkjet printed. The area of ​​the second inkjet printing window is slightly larger than the area of ​​the second inkjet printing area, ensuring that the upper corner transition areas are fully inkjet printed.

[0029] Specifically, in some embodiments, the non-inkjet printed area disposed on the end surface of the top cover 1 of the lithium ion battery is a flat non-inkjet printed area, a protruding non-inkjet printed area, or a recessed non-inkjet printed area.

[0030] Specifically, the misting stopper block 22 has a rectangular structure. While the shape of the non-inkjet printing area is not limited to a rectangular shape, such as a liquid injection hole, a rectangular misting stopper block can generally accommodate misting stoppers for non-inkjet printing areas of all shapes. However, if the shape of the non-inkjet printing area is not rectangular or its width is slightly smaller than that of a rectangular misting stopper block, there will be some areas at the edges of the non-inkjet printing area where spray is not applied due to excessive blocking. However, this is acceptable as long as the area of ​​these areas where inkjet printing is not possible is kept relatively small. Of course, it is preferable for the shape of the misting stopper block to match the shape of the non-inkjet printing area.

[0031] Specifically, in step 2), the length of the inkjet printing window 21 is L+0.1 to 1 mm, and the length of the first inkjet printing window is L+0.1 to 1 mm; in step 3), the left side of the first inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the left side of the first inkjet printing area, and the right side of the first inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the right side of the first inkjet printing area, so that overall the first inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the first inkjet printing area; and in step 4), the left side of the second inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the left side of the second inkjet printing area, and the right side of the second inkjet printing window has a slight gap from the right side of the second inkjet printing area, so that overall the second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the second inkjet printing area. In some specific embodiments, it is not excluded that there may be fillet transition positions on the left and right sides of the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, and sufficient inkjet printing is also required at these positions. Therefore, by reserving an additional 0.1 to 1 mm for the length of the inkjet printing window, gaps can be formed on the left and right sides, providing a basis for sufficient inkjet printing.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and other inkjet printing processes for protective layers on lithium-ion battery top covers that adopt the same or similar technical features as those in the above embodiment of the present invention are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Lithium-ion battery cover 11 Positive electrode part 12 Liquid injection hole site 13 Central part 14 QR code area 15 Negative electrode part 16 Transition angle 17 First inkjet printing area 18 Second inkjet printing area 2 Misting Guard 21 Inkjet Printing Window 22 Misting stopper block 23 Gap

Claims

1. A process for inkjet printing a protective layer on a lithium ion battery top cover, including a lithium ion battery top cover awaiting inkjet printing, wherein an end face of the lithium ion battery top cover has a width W and a length L, and a non-inkjet printed area is provided on the end face of the lithium ion battery top cover, a distance from a lower side of the end face of the lithium ion battery top cover to a lower side of the non-inkjet printed area is H, and a distance from an upper side of the end face of the lithium ion battery top cover to an upper side of the non-inkjet printed area is also H, 1) dividing an inkjet printing area on an end surface of a top cover of a lithium ion battery into a first inkjet printing area and a second inkjet printing area, the first inkjet printing area being a rectangular area from the lower side of the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery to the lower side of a non-inkjet printed portion, the length of the rectangular area being L and the width of the rectangular area being H, and the inkjet printing area excluding the first inkjet printing area being the remaining second inkjet printing area; 2) a step of installing a misting guard, the misting guard having a hollow inkjet printing window, the inkjet printing window having a width of W+0.1-1 mm and a length of L, and a shape that matches the end face shape of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, the misting guard having a misting stopper block that corresponds to a non-inkjet printing portion of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, the misting stopper block protruding into the inkjet printing window from below, with a gap between the inkjet printing window and the top side of the inkjet printing window, the gap width being H+0.1-1 mm, a first inkjet printing window corresponding to a first inkjet printing area is formed between the top side of the inkjet printing window and the upper edge of the misting stopper block, the first inkjet printing window being a square region having a length of L and a width of H+0.1-1 mm, and the inkjet printing window, excluding the first inkjet printing window, is a second inkjet printing window; (3) placing the misting guard above the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, and aligning the upper side of the inkjet printing window with the lower side of the non-inkjet printing portion, so that the first inkjet printing window of the misting guard corresponds to the first inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, the first inkjet printing window being 0.1-1 mm wider than the first inkjet printing area, and inkjet printing the first inkjet printing area on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery; 4) after completing inkjet printing on the first inkjet printing area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, moving the misting guard to align the upper edge of the misting stopper block with the upper side of the non-inkjet printed portion, thereby aligning the second inkjet printing window of the misting guard with the second inkjet printing area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery, wherein the second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm wider than the second inkjet printing area, and inkjet printing the second inkjet printing area on the end face of the top cover of the lithium ion battery.

2. 2. The inkjet printing process for a protective layer on a lithium ion battery top cover according to claim 1, wherein the non-inkjet printed areas installed on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery include two or more areas spaced apart from each other, and the misting stopper blocks corresponding to the non-inkjet printed areas on the top cover of the lithium ion battery installed on the misting guard also include two or more areas spaced apart from each other.

3. 3. The inkjet printing process for a protective layer on a lithium ion battery top cover according to claim 2, wherein the non-inkjet printed areas installed on the end surface of the top cover of the lithium ion battery include five areas spaced apart from each other, which are respectively a positive electrode area, an injection hole area, a central area, a QR code area, and a negative electrode area, and the misting stopper blocks corresponding to the non-inkjet printed areas on the top cover of the lithium ion battery installed on the misting guard also include five areas spaced apart from each other, which are respectively a positive electrode misting stopper block, an injection hole misting stopper block, a central misting stopper block, a QR code misting stopper block, and a negative electrode misting stopper block.

4. 2. The inkjet printing process for a protective layer of a lithium ion battery upper cover according to claim 1, wherein the non-inkjet printed area installed on the end surface of the upper cover of the lithium ion battery is a flat non-inkjet printed area, a protruding non-inkjet printed area, or a recessed non-inkjet printed area.

5. 2. The inkjet printing process for forming a protective layer on a cover of a lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the misting stopper block has a square structure.

6. 2. The inkjet printing process for a protective layer for a lithium-ion battery upper cover according to claim 1, wherein in step 2), the length of the inkjet printing window is L+0.1 to 1 mm, and the length of the first inkjet printing window is L+0.1 to 1 mm; in step 3), a left side of the first inkjet printing window is slightly spaced from a left side of the first inkjet printing area and a right side of the first inkjet printing window is slightly spaced from a right side of the first inkjet printing area, so that the first inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the first inkjet printing area; and in step 4), a left side of the second inkjet printing window is slightly spaced from a left side of the second inkjet printing area and a right side of the second inkjet printing window is slightly spaced from a right side of the second inkjet printing area, so that the second inkjet printing window is 0.1 to 1 mm longer than the second inkjet printing area.

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