Battery Cell Winding Feed for Center Hole Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of capacity plummeting or lithium plating in battery cells is often caused by the collapse of the center hole during the winding process, which is typically addressed by inserting a central pin, leading to issues like poor electrolyte infiltration and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A feeding system is introduced that includes a placement apparatus with a supporting surface to hold a support member, a material feeding apparatus to transport the support member, and a transfer apparatus to synchronize its movement with the winding mechanism, utilizing frictional forces to wind the support member with the separator and electrode plate, thereby providing internal support and reducing center hole collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a central pin is inserted to prevent center hole collapse, then the structural stability is improved, but the electrolyte infiltration is hindered and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central pin from the cell structure entirely. Instead of inserting a support object into the center hole, the invention uses the outer case with a recessed bottom surface to provide structural support from the outside, allowing the center hole to remain open and unobstructed for proper electrolyte infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer case acts as an intermediary structural element. The recessed bottom surface of the outer case provides the necessary support to prevent center hole collapse during winding, while not interfering with the center hole's function. This intermediary structure mediates between the need for stability and the need for electrolyte flow.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a central pin is inserted to prevent center hole collapse, then the structural stability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the central pin component entirely, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This simplification directly reduces production costs while maintaining the necessary structural stability through the outer case design.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer case is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support to prevent center hole collapse, contains the electrode assembly, and eliminates the need for a separate central pin. This multi-functionality reduces overall component count and manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If automation is increased to improve production efficiency, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding system is merged with the existing winding apparatus, sharing common components such as the outer case, placement apparatus, and transfer mechanisms. This integration allows automated support member feeding without requiring a completely separate complex system, thus improving productivity while controlling device complexity.
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
The feeding system enhances production efficiency through automation, minimizes interference with the winding process, and reduces the likelihood of capacity plummeting or lithium plating by using a support member that expands elastically to provide internal support, thus maintaining cell integrity.
Implementation Method 1
By utilizing the frictional force exerted by the separator or the electrode plate during winding, the support member is driven to wind together with the separator and the electrode plate
Implementation Method 2
using a support member that expands elastically to provide internal support
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
A feeding system and a battery-cell winding apparatus. The feeding system comprises: a placement device (1) provided with a support surface (11), wherein the support surface is configured for the placement of a support member (2); a feeding device (3) configured to transfer the support member to the support surface; and a transfer device (4), which is connected to the placement device and is configured to drive the placement device to move, so as to transfer the support member onto a separator (7) or an electrode plate (8), which is wound by means of a winding mechanism (6). The feeding system is configured to automatically transfer the support member to the winding mechanism, so that the support member is wound into a battery cell, thereby relieving the problem of capacity fade or lithium plating of the battery cell by means of providing the support member for the battery cell.