Battery Cell Electrolyte Suction to Prevent Molding Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Residual electrolyte in cylindrical secondary batteries can cause dimensional abnormalities, contamination of the cell's upper portion, and contamination of molding equipment, leading to limitations in continuous production.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a suction part with openings and a pump part connected to generate vacuum pressure, designed to remove residual electrolyte from battery cells by seating the suction part on the battery cell and using the pump to create suction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If molding is performed without cleaning the residual electrolyte, then production time is reduced, but dimensional abnormalities and contamination occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suction part is positioned and activated before the molding process to remove residual electrolyte in advance. This preliminary cleaning action prevents contamination during subsequent molding operations, allowing high-speed production without sacrificing dimensional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If residual electrolyte is not cleaned, then process steps are reduced, but contamination of cell and equipment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess stepsVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction part extracts residual electrolyte from the battery cell using vacuum pressure generated by the pump part. This extraction removes the harmful substance before it can cause contamination, eliminating the need for additional cleaning steps while preventing contamination of the cell and equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If suction part outer diameter is increased to improve contact, then suction effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction effectivenessVSAvoidsuction part structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction part features a lower portion with a larger outer diameter (90-100% of battery cell diameter) that contacts the battery cell surface, providing effective suction. The upper portion tapers to a smaller diameter for connection to the pump part, optimizing both suction effectiveness and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively removes residual electrolyte, preventing dimensional abnormalities and contamination, thereby enabling continuous production with improved product quality and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a pump part connected to the suction part to generate a vacuum pressure, thereby generating suction force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum pressure: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP4572003A1Apparatus and method for removing residual electrolyte
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4572003A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4572003A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4572003A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Apparatus for removing a residual electrolyte, in which a residual electrolyte remaining after an electrolyte injection is removed in a suction manner to solve limitations in dimensional abnormalities, contamination of an upper portion of a cell, and contamination of molding equipment, thereby enabling continuous production and improving product quality and product reliability, and a method for removing a residual electrolyte using the same. An apparatus for removing a residual electrolyte includes a battery cell including an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, a suction part having at least one opening and configured to suction the residual electrolyte remaining in the battery cell, and a pump part connected to the suction part to generate a vacuum pressure, thereby generating suction force.