Battery Tab Back Inspection During Upright Cell Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
The surface layer of the tab between the body of a bare battery cell and the top cap is prone to breakage during the cell combining operation, particularly the back part of the tab facing outward, which is prone to cracking, necessitating online detection to assess quality for subsequent processes.
Innovation Solution
A detection system and method that includes a top cap carrying apparatus, cell combining apparatus, first and second detection apparatuses, and a control apparatus, which facilitate the flipping and lateral image acquisition of anode and cathode tab backs, using drive mechanisms and image acquisition mechanisms to determine defect presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the body of the bare battery cell is lifted up by 90 degrees relative to the welded top cap during cell combining, then the cell combining operation is completed, but the surface layer of the tab is prone to breakage and cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing detection of the tab back before the cell combining operation that causes cracking. The detection system inspects the tab back in its initial state before the 90-degree lifting operation, allowing potential defects to be identified and addressed before they can propagate into cracks during the combining process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the detection system to provide information about the tab back quality, which then feeds back to control the cell combining process. The detection results allow the system to adjust or prevent operations that would cause cracking, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that prevents damage while maintaining productivity.
2Measurement precision
If online detection is performed on the tab back during cell combining operation, then quality information is obtained for subsequent processes, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a detection system that can inspect multiple tabs simultaneously and perform multiple detection functions. The system is configured to detect various defects (cracks, delamination, contamination) on both anode and cathode tabs using a unified detection platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive quality monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a specialized detection apparatus that acts as a mediator between the cell combining operation and quality assessment. This intermediary detection system captures images of the tab backs and provides quality information without directly interfering with the cell combining process, thereby adding measurement capability while minimizing added complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the top cap carrying apparatus moves from carrying position to displacement position to expose tab back parts, then image acquisition is enabled, but the time for position adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the top cap carrying apparatus and detection system before the actual detection phase. The apparatus is configured in advance to move to the displacement position that exposes the tab back, and the detection system is pre-aligned to capture images immediately when the tab back is exposed, minimizing the time required for position adjustment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using a movable top cap carrying apparatus that can dynamically adjust its position between carrying and detection configurations. The apparatus transitions smoothly from the carrying position to the displacement position, allowing rapid repositioning that minimizes time loss while enabling precise image acquisition of the tab back when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a detection system and a detection method for detecting a tab back of a bare battery cell in a cell combining apparatus. The detection system includes a top cap carrying apparatus, a cell combining apparatus, a first detection apparatus, a second detection apparatus, and a control apparatus. The cell combining apparatus is configured to displace bodies of two bare battery cells from a lying state to an upright cell combining state in a case that a top cap is supported by the top cap carrying apparatus. The top cap carrying apparatus is configured to be movable from a carrying position to a displacement position after the bare battery cell is in the upright cell combining state, so as to allow tabs to extend to expose an anode tab back part and a cathode tab back part within a desired range, so that the first detection apparatus and the second detection apparatus respectively perform image acquisition on the anode tab back part and the cathode tab back part, and the images may be processed for use in a subsequent process. Therefore, according to the detection system and the detection method of the present disclosure, images of the tab back parts of the bare battery cell are acquired online during a cell combining operation, to provide more comprehensive information of quality of the tab back.