Battery Cell Tab Folding with Movable Supports to Prevent Tearing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell processing equipment for power batteries is inefficient and prone to tab tearing and inconsistency during the folding operation, affecting the overall production quality.

Innovation Solution

A cell processing equipment with movable support assemblies and a shaping piece that constrains tabs and end caps from multiple directions, allowing for distance compensation and uniform fold line formation, preventing tab tearing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If existing tab bending manner is used, then the processing speed is maintained, but the tab consistency and quality deteriorate due to tearing and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetab consistencyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support assemblies are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment during the folding process. The first support assembly moves along the first direction and the second support assembly moves along the second direction, enabling real-time compensation for dimensional variations and maintaining consistent fold lines while preventing tab tearing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameters of the support assemblies during operation. By allowing the support assemblies to move and adjust their positions dynamically, the system compensates for variations in cell dimensions and maintains optimal folding conditions, thereby improving both precision and preventing quality defects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If fixed support structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the processing precision deteriorates due to inability to compensate for dimensional variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefold line consistencyVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support assemblies incorporate movable mechanisms that allow dynamic position adjustment during the folding operation. This dynamic capability enables the system to compensate for dimensional variations in different cells, ensuring consistent fold line formation without requiring overly complex fixed positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces movement in multiple directions (first direction for the first support assembly, second direction for the second support assembly) to compensate for dimensional variations. By adding these additional degrees of freedom, the system achieves high precision without requiring complex multi-axis positioning mechanisms.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If tab folding is performed without multi-directional constraint, then the operation simplicity is maintained, but the tab quality deteriorates due to displacement and inconsistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetab fold consistencyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable support assemblies automatically adjust their positions during the folding operation, providing dynamic constraint and guidance for the tabs. This automatic adjustment mechanism maintains high fold consistency while keeping the operation process relatively simple, as the system self-adjusts rather than requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support assemblies are designed to automatically compensate for dimensional variations and maintain proper tab positioning through their inherent movable mechanisms. This self-adjusting capability reduces the need for complex external control systems and manual adjustments, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4398359B1Battery cell processing device, battery cell processing method, and battery production line
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4398359B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4398359B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4398359B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application relates to a piece of cell processing equipment, a cell processing method, and a battery production line. The cell processing equipment includes: a first support assembly, configured to fix a cell body, where the first support assembly is able to rotate around a first rotation axis; a second support assembly, configured to fix the cell body, where the second support assembly is able to rotate around a second rotation axis, and the first rotation axis is disposed parallel to the second rotation axis; and a third support assembly, configured to fix a tab and an end cap. The third support assembly includes a support seat and a shaping piece. An electrode post positioning groove is formed on the support seat. The shaping piece is disposed movably relative to the support seat. The cell processing equipment, cell processing method, and battery production line disclosed herein can alleviate the problem of tab tearing effectively.