Battery Stacking Device with Precision Positioning Holders
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing apparatus for lithium ion secondary batteries has low positional accuracy when sucking and holding cathode and anode plates, leading to incorrect positioning and reduced stacking accuracy, which affects the quality of the batteries.
Innovation Solution
A stacking device and method that include adjustment units and holding units to precisely position and alternately stack separator-electrode assemblies and second electrodes with different polarities, eliminating the need for direct contact with positioning holders that can fold the separators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If suction devices directly suck and hold cathode packages and anode plates, then the stacking process is simple and fast, but the positional accuracy is low leading to incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces positioning holders as intermediary devices between the suction devices and the stacking position. The holders receive the electrode plates from suction devices and provide precise positioning through contact with the holder's positioning surfaces, thereby achieving high stacking accuracy without compromising the simplicity and speed of the suction-based transfer method
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning holders are prepared in advance at the stacking position with predetermined positioning geometries. Before the electrode plates are placed, the holders are already in position to receive and accurately position the plates, ensuring that the stacking accuracy is maintained while keeping the overall process efficient
2Manufacturing precision
If cathode packages are inserted into positioning holder with side surfaces contacting inner wall, then stacking accuracy increases, but separator edges fold preventing correct positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning holder is designed with differentiated contact surfaces: smooth contact surfaces for the electrode plate body to ensure positioning accuracy, and edge protection structures specifically at the separator edges to prevent folding. This local differentiation of surface properties and structures allows simultaneous achievement of high positioning accuracy and separator protection
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning holder acts as a mediator that provides both positioning function and protection function. The holder's internal structure includes positioning surfaces that contact the electrode plates and protective structures that prevent separator edge folding, thereby resolving the contradiction between positioning accuracy and separator integrity
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
This approach enables high-accuracy stacking of separator-electrode assemblies and second electrodes, improving the quality and accuracy of lithium ion secondary battery assembly by ensuring precise positioning without folding the separators.
Implementation Method 1
One of the two suction devices swings between the first and third conveyors while sucking and holding the cathode packages on the first conveyor and releasing the same above the third conveyor.
Data Source
AI summary
A first holding unit (114) reciprocates between a first table (121) and a stacking table (141) and a second holding unit (115) reciprocates between the stacking table (141) and a second table (141). When the first holding unit (114) holds a separator-electrode assembly (20) whose horizontal position has been adjusted on the first table (121), the second holding unit (115) releases a second electrode (30) over the stacking table (141). When the first holding unit (114) releases the separator-electrode assembly (20) over the stacking table (141), the second holding unit (115) holds the second electrode (30) whose horizontal position has been adjusted on the second table (131). The present invention provides a stacking device and a stacking method which are capable of stacking the separator-electrode assembly including a first electrode sandwiched by separators and the second electrode having a different polarity from the first electrode efficiently with high accuracy.