Battery Cell X-Ray and CT Inspection for Alignment and Impurity Checks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lithium battery inspection technologies face challenges in ensuring consistent quality due to high requirements for position, posture, and corner deformation of battery cells, leading to inefficient and inaccurate inspections that risk misjudgment and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

An inspection device comprising a first conveying mechanism, radiographic imaging inspection mechanism, stacking mechanism, second conveying mechanism, and tomographic imaging inspection mechanism, which collectively inspect battery cells and groups for alignment and impurities, utilizing X-ray scanning and angle adjustments to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If battery cells are inspected one by one using DR inspection device, then inspection can be performed, but inspection efficiency is low and misjudgment rate is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoidmisjudgment rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection system is divided into two independent inspection lines: a first inspection line for inspecting battery cells individually using DR inspection device, and a second inspection line for inspecting battery cell groups using CT inspection device. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple cells while maintaining individual inspection accuracy, thereby improving overall inspection efficiency without increasing misjudgment rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines DR inspection and CT inspection into a unified inspection system that processes both individual cells and cell groups. By merging the capabilities of different inspection technologies and coordinating their operations, the system achieves both high inspection efficiency and high accuracy, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If high requirements are imposed on position, posture and corner deformation, then inspection accuracy may improve, but inspection becomes impossible for impurities and overall effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoidinspection capability scope
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection system is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse inspection needs. The first inspection line inspects individual cell characteristics (position, posture, corner deformation), while the second inspection line inspects cell groups for impurities and internal defects. This universal system can adapt to different inspection requirements without compromising accuracy or versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional DR imaging to three-dimensional CT imaging. This dimensional change enables the system to inspect not only surface characteristics and positioning but also internal structures and impurities, greatly expanding inspection capability scope while maintaining high accuracy through advanced imaging technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If corner deformation requirements are strictly enforced, then alignment inspection may improve, but overall inspection effectiveness and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidinspection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection system segments the inspection process into multiple independent evaluation dimensions: corner deformation inspection, impurity inspection, and internal defect inspection. By segmenting the inspection criteria, the system can accurately assess alignment precision without allowing it to dominate the overall evaluation, thereby maintaining reliable and comprehensive inspection results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the inspection parameters from focusing solely on corner deformation to including multiple parameters such as impurity detection, internal structure integrity, and overall cell quality. This parameter change balances the weight of alignment precision in the overall evaluation, preventing over-emphasis on a single metric and improving overall inspection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Improves inspection efficiency and accuracy by simultaneously inspecting multiple battery cells for alignment and impurities, ensuring higher safety and quality of lithium battery products.

Implementation Method 1

An X-ray machine and a detector are arranged on the inspection platform. DR inspection device is used to take photos

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray: X-Ray

Implementation Method 2

The tomographic imaging inspection mechanism includes a second transmitting device and a second receiving device disposed opposite to the second transmitting device. The second transmitting device and the second receiving device are configured to swing around the battery cell group to be inspected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentEP4644884A1Inspection apparatus and inspection method
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NUCTECH CO LTD
  • EP4644884A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4644884A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4644884A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An inspection device and an inspection system are provided. The inspection device includes a first conveying mechanism (10), a radiographic imaging inspection mechanism (20), a stacking mechanism (30), a second conveying mechanism (40) and a tomographic imaging inspection mechanism (50). The first conveying mechanism (10) is used to convey a battery cell. The radiographic imaging inspection mechanism (20) is used to inspects the battery cell. The stacking mechanism (30) is used to stack battery cells into a battery cell group. The second conveying mechanism (40) is used to convey the battery cell group. The tomographic inspection mechanism (50) is used to inspect the battery cell group.