Dummy Can Brush Cleaning for Battery Crimping Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning methods for crimping devices in cylindrical secondary battery manufacturing, such as using air knives and vacuum suction, are ineffective in removing dried salts and other contaminants, leading to device contamination and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning system utilizing dummy cans with brushes made of suede material to physically remove contaminants from crimping devices through friction, followed by hydraulic cleaning and drying processes to ensure thorough cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cleaning methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but cleaning efficiency and productivity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is divided into modular components including a mobile cleaning device with suction module, treatment device with emission module, and controllable fluid supply device. Each module can independently perform its function while contributing to the overall cleaning process, enabling high productivity through coordinated operation of specialized subsystems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A fluid supply device acts as an intermediary between the treatment device and cleaning process, delivering controlled amounts of fluid to enhance cleaning effectiveness. This intermediary component enables precise control over fluid application, improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through dedicated functional specialization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional cleaning approaches are used, then device complexity remains low, but harmful factors such as bacterial growth and odors are not effectively eliminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial growth and odorsVSAvoidcleaning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures harmful particles, bacteria, and odors through the suction module and transforms them into manageable emissions that can be treated and released safely. The treatment device processes the captured contaminants, converting harmful factors into benign emissions that pose no threat to the environment or occupants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical and chemical parameters of captured contaminants through the treatment device, transforming bacteria and odors into treated emissions with altered properties. This parameter transformation enables the elimination of harmful factors while maintaining controlled and safe emission levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If thorough cleaning is performed to eliminate all contaminants, then cleaning quality is high, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary suction to capture the majority of contaminants quickly, then applies targeted fluid treatment to address remaining particles and odors. This preliminary action approach eliminates most contaminants in the initial phase, reducing the time and effort needed for subsequent cleaning steps while maintaining high cleaning quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile cleaning device and treatment device operate in continuous coordinated action, with the fluid supply device maintaining steady fluid delivery throughout the cleaning process. This continuous operation ensures consistent contaminant removal efficiency without interruption, achieving high cleaning quality while minimizing total cleaning time through uninterrupted productive action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Effectively removes foreign substances from crimping devices, enhancing the cleaning efficiency and maintaining the integrity of the manufacturing process by preventing device contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a suction module (130) having a suction space (131) communicating with the interior of the housing (110) and configured to capture particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

an emission module (140) having an emission space (141) communicating with the interior of the housing (110) and configured to release treated air to an external environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4492564B1Cleaning system
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4492564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4492564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4492564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present specification provides a cleaning system including two or more dummy cans configured to clean a surface of a crimping device used for a process of crimping a cylindrical secondary battery for sealing an opened upper end of a battery can in which an electrode assembly and a cap assembly are accommodated, in which the two or more dummy cans each have a brush provided on an outer surface thereof, and the surface of the crimping device is cleaned by the brush.