Battery Cell Production Machine Using Folding Head for Adhesive-Free Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current processes for producing electric storage battery cells are inefficient, costly, and require frequent maintenance due to the use of adhesives and complex machinery, with issues related to electrode alignment and separator permeability.

Innovation Solution

A machine and process that use continuous dielectric strips to form stacks of electrodes and separators without adhesives, employing a folding head to align and interleave electrodes and dielectric material efficiently, allowing for high-capacity, low-maintenance production of battery cells with improved ionic flow permeability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If adhesive is sprayed on the dielectric material strip to fix electrodes, then the electrodes are securely attached to the separator, but the production cost increases and the separator permeability to ionic flow decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode attachment strengthVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the adhesive substance from the system entirely. Instead of spraying adhesive on the dielectric material strip, the invention uses mechanical interlocking through folds and creases that physically trap and secure the electrodes between separator layers, eliminating the need for chemical adhesives and their associated costs and permeability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces folds and creases as intermediary structural features in the dielectric material strip. These folds act as mechanical mediators that secure the electrodes in place through physical interlocking rather than chemical bonding, maintaining electrode attachment strength while avoiding the negative effects of adhesive substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If adhesive is sprayed on the dielectric material strip, then the electrodes are fixed to the separator, but the machine requires frequent cleaning and maintenance due to adhesive contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode attachment strengthVSAvoidmachine maintenance frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the adhesive spraying mechanism entirely from the machine system. By using mechanical folds and creases to secure electrodes, the machine no longer requires adhesive storage, spraying nozzles, and cleaning systems, dramatically reducing maintenance frequency and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a continuous strip of dielectric material is folded to form separators, then the production process is simplified and costs are reduced, but the alignment precision of electrodes and separators may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process complexityVSAvoidelectrode-separator alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates pre-formed folds and creases in the dielectric material strip before electrode placement. These pre-established structural features serve as guides and positioning elements that ensure precise alignment of electrodes with separator layers, maintaining manufacturing precision while using a simple continuous strip process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses three-dimensional folding structures (creases and folds) to achieve precise two-dimensional alignment. By creating depth and structural definition through folding, the system maintains high alignment precision between electrodes and separators while using a simplified continuous strip approach rather than complex multi-component assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Strength

If adhesive is used to fix electrodes on the dielectric material, then the electrodes are securely positioned, but the ionic flow permeability of the separator is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode positioning strengthVSAvoidionic flow permeability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent completely removes adhesive substances from the electrode-fixing process. By using mechanical interlocking through folds and creases, the system maintains secure electrode positioning while preserving the full ionic flow permeability of the dielectric material, as no adhesive layers block the ion transport pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9991547B2Machine and process for obtaining cells for electric storage batteries and cell for electric storage battery

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 SOVEMA

AI summary

Machine for obtaining cells for electric storage batteries, comprising an apparatus for feeding two continuous strips of dielectric material, a first and a second apparatus for distributing first electrodes of the same polarity and a third apparatus for distributing between the two strips second electrodes with opposite polarity with respect to the first electrodes. The machine further includes a folding head which receives, from the feeding apparatus, the two strips with the second electrode interposed, and is movable between a first position in which it receives a first electrode from the first distribution apparatus, and a second position (B), in which it receives a first electrode from the second distribution apparatus, in order to form a stack of composite layers alternated with the electrodes.