Perpendicular Battery Housing Cutting to Minimize Recycling Chips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery recycling methods produce fine chips during the cutting process, leading to environmental pollution and adherence of chips to the cell, which complicates subsequent disassembly and reduces recycling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A battery cutting apparatus with dual cutter assemblies that press and cut the battery housing along perpendicular directions, minimizing chip production and facilitating efficient separation of the housing and top cover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single cutter assembly moving along one direction is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cutting precision and adaptability to different battery orientations deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutter assembly configurationVSAvoidcutting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is divided into multiple independent cutter assemblies (first cutter assembly and second cutter assembly), each capable of moving along different directions (first direction and second direction perpendicular to the first). This segmentation allows precise positioning and cutting from multiple angles, thereby improving cutting precision without requiring a single complex multi-functional assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces movement in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction of movement. This dimensional expansion allows the cutter assemblies to approach and cut the battery from different spatial orientations, enhancing adaptability to various battery positions and orientations while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If traditional cutting methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the cutting speed and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing and cutting cutter assembly is configured to press and break the housing of the battery before the cutter blade makes contact with the battery components. This preliminary action of breaking the housing opens access to internal components and facilitates faster cutting operations, thereby improving cutting speed without requiring overly complex device structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a pressing and cutting cutter assembly that changes the operational parameters by applying mechanical pressure to break the housing, transitioning from a simple cutting action to a two-stage process involving pressing/breaking followed by cutting. This parameter change enables faster access and cutting of battery components, enhancing productivity while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If pressing and cutting cutter assembly is used to break the housing, then the cutting efficiency is improved, but the risk of harmful factors (battery leakage, short circuit) increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidbattery leakage and short circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing and cutting cutter assembly is designed to control and utilize the breaking of the battery housing in a controlled manner. By applying pressure to break the housing systematically, the system converts the potentially harmful uncontrolled breaking into a beneficial process that facilitates efficient access to battery components for cutting, while the structured approach minimizes risks of leakage and short circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cutter assemblies moving in different directions are used, then the adaptability to different battery positions is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to battery positionsVSAvoiddriving assembly configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each cutter assembly is designed with multi-functionality, capable of moving along different directions (first and second perpendicular directions) and performing both pressing/breaking and cutting operations. This universal design allows a single cutter assembly to adapt to various battery positions and orientations, reducing the need for multiple specialized assemblies and thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4596194B1Battery cutting apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 HITHIUM TECH HK LTD
  • EP4596194B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4596194B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4596194B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery cutting apparatus, including a carrying assembly, a first cutter assembly, a first driving assembly, a second cutter assembly and a second driving assembly. The carrying assembly is configured to carry a battery to be cut. The first driving assembly is in transmission connection with at least one of the first cutter assembly and the carrying assembly and configured to make them move relative to each other along a first direction. The second driving assembly is in transmission connection with at least one of the second cutter assembly and the carrying assembly and configured to make them move relative to each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. At least one of the first and second cutter assembly is a pressing and cutting cutter assembly, which is configured to be able to press and break the housing of the battery.