Battery Pack Current Breaker Bending for Uniform Electrode Lead Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual installation of current breaking members in lithium secondary battery packs leads to inconsistent product quality, increased manufacturing costs, and safety risks due to the need for skilled workers and potential for short circuits.

Innovation Solution

An automated apparatus for bending current breaking members, comprising a bending jig, rotation driving unit, and bending guide unit, which securely positions and rotates the current breaking member relative to the electrode lead, ensuring precise bending and placement on the battery cell, thereby reducing defects and improving safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual installation of current breaking member is performed by skilled worker, then installation quality can be maintained, but product uniformity deteriorates and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation qualityVSAvoidproduct uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical installation process with an automated bending apparatus that uses a rotation driving unit and bending guide unit to precisely position and bend the current breaking member. This automation eliminates human variability while maintaining installation quality through consistent mechanical positioning and bending forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the installation process from manual operation to automated control by adjusting parameters such as rotation angle, bending force, and positioning coordinates. The rotation driving unit controls the bending angle precisely, and the bending guide unit ensures consistent positioning, thereby improving product uniformity while maintaining installation quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If manual installation process is used, then flexibility in handling complex installations is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual installation operations with an automated system comprising a bending jig, rotation driving unit, and bending guide unit. This substitution increases productivity by eliminating manual labor bottlenecks while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control of the bending process parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the installation process from skill-dependent manual operation to parameter-controlled automation. By adjusting rotation angles, bending forces, and positioning parameters, the system maintains handling flexibility for different installation scenarios while significantly increasing manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If current breaking member is installed manually, then adaptation to different battery configurations is possible, but safety risks increase due to potential short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration adaptabilityVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual installation with an automated bending apparatus that precisely positions the current breaking member relative to the electrode lead. This substitution eliminates safety risks associated with manual handling and short circuit creation while maintaining adaptability through programmable positioning and bending parameters that can accommodate different battery configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter control to achieve both safety and adaptability. By precisely controlling rotation angles, bending forces, and positioning coordinates, the system ensures safe installation that prevents short circuits while maintaining the ability to adapt to different battery pack configurations through parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If automated bending apparatus is implemented, then product uniformity and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct uniformityVSAvoidapparatus complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the automated bending apparatus into distinct functional modules: a bending jig for holding the current breaking member, a rotation driving unit for controlled rotation, and a bending guide unit for precise positioning. This segmentation manages device complexity by creating modular, independently controllable components while achieving high product uniformity through their coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the bending apparatus with multi-functional components that perform multiple operations. The rotation driving unit simultaneously controls rotation and positioning, while the bending guide unit integrates positioning and bending guidance functions. This universality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision and product uniformity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3605662B1Apparatus for bending current breaking member of battery pack
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3605662B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3605662B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3605662B1 patent drawingFigure 4~4(b)

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus for bending a current breaking member of a battery pack, which secures product uniformity and reduces manufacture costs by automating the bending process of the current breaking member. The apparatus for bending a current breaking member of a battery pack includes a bending jig having a support on which a current breaking member electrically connected to an electrode lead of a battery cell is placed; a rotation driving unit having a portion connected to the bending jig so that the bending jig rotates based on a rotation axis thereof; and a bending guide unit configured to press and fix the electrode lead so that a bending line dividing a bent portion and a non-bent portion of the electrode lead of the battery cell is set.