Battery Electrode Winding Assembly for Sequential Strip Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing winding apparatuses for electrochemical cells require significant preparation time and transfer time, leading to inefficiencies in the production rate of electrochemical cells, as collecting rollers need to be reconfigured and sections of electrode foils and separator strips are transferred simultaneously, resulting in inactive periods during the preparation phase.

Innovation Solution

A winding apparatus with a loading station where transfer devices are arranged in sequence, and collecting assemblies are movable along a loading path, allowing each collecting device to face and receive strip-like elements one after the other, eliminating the need for simultaneous reconfiguration and transfer, thereby reducing preparation time and increasing production efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If collecting rollers are reconfigured simultaneously to receive electrode foils and separator strips, then transfer can be completed, but preparation time increases and production rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rate of electrochemical cellsVSAvoidpreparation time for collecting rollers reconfiguration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the transfer process into separate sequential operations: first transferring electrode foils to collecting rollers, then transferring separator strips to the same collecting rollers. This segmentation eliminates the need for simultaneous reconfiguration of multiple rollers, reducing preparation time and enabling continuous operation that increases production rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary transfer of electrode foils to collecting rollers before transferring separator strips. This preliminary action prepares the collecting rollers in advance for the next transfer operation, eliminating idle preparation time and enabling continuous production flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If transfer rollers and collecting rollers are arranged for simultaneous transfer of multiple sections, then transfer speed increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer speed of electrode foils and separator stripsVSAvoidcomplexity of collecting assembly reconfiguration
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transfer operation into sequential single-roller transfers rather than simultaneous multi-roller transfers. Each collecting roller is transferred to in sequence, which maintains operational speed while significantly reducing the mechanical complexity of synchronization and reconfiguration mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic positioning where collecting rollers are moved to active transfer positions only when needed, rather than maintaining fixed simultaneous positions. This dynamic approach reduces the complexity of maintaining precise simultaneous alignments while preserving transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4465397A1Winding apparatus and method for winding one or more strip-shaped separators and electrode foils to each other
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 GD SPA
  • EP4465397A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4465397A1 patent drawingFigure 2~2A
  • EP4465397A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A winding apparatus (1) for winding one or more strip-like separators and electrode foils to each other comprises a loading station (LS); a plurality of transfer devices (5) wherein each transfer device (5) is configured to receive and transfer an electrode foil or strip-like separator and wherein the transfer devices (5) are arranged in sequence along a loading path (LP) in the loading station (LS); a first collecting assembly (13a) movable along the loading path (LP) and comprising a support structure (20) on which a plurality of collecting devices (14) are arranged. Each collecting device (14) is rotatable about its own winding axis (A2) relative to the support structure (20) and is configured to receive from a transfer device (5) an electrode foil or a strip-like separator. The support structure (20) rotates about its own support axis (A5) at least when it is in the loading station (LS) to face each collecting device (14), one after the other, to a corresponding transfer device (5).