Battery Cell Pouch Opening and Alignment for Safe Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery cells pose safety risks during dismantling due to stored electrical energy and highly reactive metals, necessitating safe disposal methods.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method involving a conveying device, guiding device, sensing device, aligning device, damaging device, and unloading device to safely expose and lift battery cells, using cutting and incising devices to damage pouch films and separate electrode assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual dismantling of battery cells is performed, then workers can directly handle and separate components, but safety risks increase due to stored electrical energy and highly reactive metals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated processing system that includes a conveying device, damaging device, and unloading device. The system automatically conveys battery cells, damages pouch films to expose electrode assemblies, and unloads cells without worker intervention, eliminating exposure to electrical energy and reactive metals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate devices between workers and battery cells. The conveying device acts as an intermediary to transport cells, the damaging device intermediates the exposure process by controlled pouch film damage, and the unloading device intermediates the handling process, ensuring workers never directly contact active battery components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If automated processing is implemented, then worker safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components including conveying, guiding, sensing, aligning, damaging, and unloading devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into an integrated automated system. The conveying device, guiding device, sensing device, aligning device, damaging device, and unloading device work as a coordinated system, reducing overall complexity compared to separate manual operations while maintaining comprehensive safety controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs devices with multiple functions. For example, the conveying device also performs positioning, the damaging device includes both cutting and incising capabilities, and the unloading device integrates with the conveying system. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is performed based on folding portion and tab length, then cutting and incision accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual measurement and detection methods with sensing devices that automatically detect folding portions and measure tab lengths. The sensing device uses optical or electronic sensors to identify features and provide data to the aligning device, eliminating the need for complex manual measurement procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device enables the system to automatically detect and measure battery cell features without external intervention. The aligning device uses this detected information to automatically position the cell for precise cutting and incision, making the measurement and alignment process self-service and reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is an apparatus for disposing of battery cells, the apparatus comprising, a conveying device conveying a worktable with a battery cell placed thereon in one direction, a guiding device guiding a position where the battery cell is to be placed on the worktable and sensing whether the battery cell is placed on the worktable, a sensing device sensing a presence or absence of a folding portion and a length of a tab of the battery cell, an aligning device aligning the battery cell in a first direction based on the presence or absence of the folding portion and in a second direction based on the length of the tab, a damaging device damaging a part of a pouch film so that an electrode assembly is exposed, and an unloading device making contact with a lower surface of the damaged battery cell and lifting the battery cell from the worktable.