Secondary Battery Electrode Cutting with Crossing Lines for Corner Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in manufacturing secondary batteries with atypical shapes is the frequent damage of electrodes during the cutting process due to undesirable movement of molds or electrodes, leading to defects and shape irregularities.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a first and second cutting step where the electrode sheet is cut along closed curve cutting lines, with the second cutting line potentially overlapping and crossing the first, forming crossing areas that help maintain a consistent shape and reduce damage by ensuring a uniform corner quality, even with slight movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single cutting step is used to manufacture atypical shape electrodes, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the electrode is prone to damage due to mold or electrode movement during cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting process simplicityVSAvoidelectrode integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting process is divided into multiple sequential cutting steps, where each step creates a portion of the final atypical shape. This segmentation allows each cutting operation to work on a simpler geometry with reduced movement, thereby maintaining electrode integrity while still achieving complex final shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first cutting step performs preliminary shaping of the electrode before the second cutting step completes the atypical shape. By performing preliminary actions on a more stable, less complex geometry, the electrode is less susceptible to damage from movement during the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple cutting steps are used to manufacture atypical shape electrodes, then the electrode shape precision is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode shape accuracyVSAvoidcutting process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex cutting process is segmented into distinct steps, each with a specific function. The first cutting step creates a base shape, and the second cutting step adds the atypical features. This segmentation makes the overall complex process more manageable and controllable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first cutting step creates a shape that is partially complete but not fully finished. This partial action allows the electrode to be stabilized before the second cutting step completes the atypical shape, balancing precision requirements with process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If the cutting lines cross each other to form crossing areas, then the corner quality is improved and damage is reduced, but the cutting process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorner qualityVSAvoidcutting process time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The first cutting line is established first, creating a preliminary shape with defined edges. The second cutting line then crosses this preliminary shape to create the final atypical geometry. This preliminary action ensures that crossing areas are formed on already-stabilized material, improving corner quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting process performs partial actions in sequence rather than attempting to create the entire shape in one operation. The crossing areas are formed as a result of this partial, sequential approach, which improves corner quality but requires additional time compared to a single cutting operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3993086B1Electrode for secondary battery and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3993086B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3993086B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3993086B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrode for a secondary battery and a method for manufacturing the electrode are disclosed. According to an aspect of the present invention, a first cutting line and a second cutting line, along which an electrode sheet is cut, may cross each other to form a crossing area on the electrode sheet, and in the crossing area, the first cutting line may be formed as a straight line, and one end of the straight line may be connected to a curved line constituting a portion of the first cutting line, wherein the straight line may be connected to the curved line by a tangent line.