Battery Winding Support Rollers for Electrode Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing winding apparatuses for electric energy storage devices face challenges in maintaining uniform material movement and alignment due to non-circular core shapes, leading to potential short circuits from dendrite formation and limited winding speed, while existing solutions fail to enhance safety and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A winding apparatus with a support system featuring variable-axis gears, actuator devices, and holding elements that adjust to maintain material alignment and prevent dendrite formation, allowing for increased winding speed and improved safety through controlled rotation and orbital movement of the core, and intermittent support to prevent material damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the material band is rolled to ensure electrode position during winding, then alignment is improved, but the separator is weakened and dendrite formation is favoured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode alignmentVSAvoidseparator integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful rolling process is extracted and removed from the production line. Instead of rolling the material band before winding, the patent uses a support apparatus that provides mechanical support during the winding process itself, eliminating the need for pre-rolling and its associated damage to the separator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support apparatus provides preliminary mechanical support to the material band before and during the winding process. By positioning support elements ahead of the winding zone, the apparatus prevents material deformation and alignment issues without requiring the harmful rolling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If winding speed is increased to improve productivity, then output is improved, but air flows jeopardize material alignment and dendrite formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding speedVSAvoidmaterial alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support apparatus acts as an intermediary between the material band and the winding apparatus. By providing continuous mechanical support through support elements, it stabilizes the material during high-speed winding, preventing air flow-induced misalignment and dendrite formation while enabling increased productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a fixed support method is used to introduce material, then the support structure is simple, but the material is left hanging and requires prior rolling to maintain position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport structureVSAvoidmaterial position
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support apparatus uses movable support elements that can dynamically adjust their position and provide intermittent support to the material band. This dynamic support system maintains material alignment without requiring complex fixed structures or preliminary rolling operations, achieving both simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4136695B1Support apparatus and method for the production of electric energy storage devices
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 MANZ ITAL
  • EP4136695B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4136695B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4136695B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A support apparatus (50) for the production of electric energy storage devices comprising a support element (51), which is linearly movable along a feeding plane (FP), an actuator system, which is configured to drive the support element (51) in an intermittent manner, a first roller 54, which is configured to be caused to rotate at a variable speed, and a second roller (55), which is opposite the first roller (54). A further actuator system is configured to control the speed of the first roller (54) compensating for the intermittent movement of the support element (51).