Electrode Cutter Geometry for Low-Binder Crack-Free Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrode manufacturing processes face challenges in cutting electrodes with minimal binder content, leading to detachment of active materials and cracks during cutting, which affects the charging capacity and quality of secondary batteries.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a modified cutter design and a pusher mechanism that includes a first cutter with an obliquely extending surface and a second cutter for supporting the electrode plate, along with a pusher that pressurizes the plate to improve cutting quality and minimize damage, allowing for precise cutting by stopping the electrode plate intermittently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If binder content is reduced to increase charging capacity, then charging capacity is improved, but cutting quality deteriorates causing active material detachment and cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging capacityVSAvoidcutting quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cutter, specifically introducing an oblique surface with a controlled angle (α) between 5-45 degrees relative to the cutting surface. This parameter modification allows the cutter to gradually compress and secure the active material before cutting, preventing detachment and cracks even when binder content is reduced to increase charging capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The oblique surface of the cutter performs a preliminary compression action on the electrode plate before the actual cutting occurs. This preliminary action secures the active material to the current collector, creating a stable structure that prevents detachment during subsequent cutting operations, thereby enabling reduced binder content while maintaining cutting quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional cutter is used, then manufacturing process is simple, but active material detachment and cracks occur during cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidelectrode integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutter is designed with different surface characteristics in different regions: a flat cutting surface for precise cutting and an oblique surface for gradual compression. This local differentiation of surface quality allows the same cutter to perform both compression and cutting functions, improving electrode integrity during the manufacturing process while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If electrode plate moves continuously during cutting, then productivity is high, but cutting precision and damage control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidcutting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by moving the electrode plate in discrete intervals rather than continuously. The plate is positioned, cut completely by the oblique and flat surfaces of the cutter, then repositioned for the next cut. This periodic motion ensures complete cutting action at each position, improving cutting precision and damage control while maintaining acceptable productivity through efficient cyclic operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic 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

The apparatus enhances electrode plate cutting quality by distributing pressure uniformly and preventing detachment of active materials, ensuring precise cuts while minimizing damage, even with reduced binder content, thus improving the charging capacity and overall quality of electrodes.

Implementation Method 1

a first cutter including a first cutting surface extending side by side along a movement direction of the electrode plate moving from the inflow region to the outflow region and an obliqued surface extending obliquely from one edge of the first cutting surface in a direction away from the electrode plate; and a second cutter supporting the electrode plate, wherein the first cutter moves along a direction in which the second cutter is positioned to pressurize the electrode plate to the first cutting surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

an obliqued surface extending obliquely from one edge of the first cutting surface in a direction away from the electrode plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOblique pressure distribution: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4434695A1Apparatus for manufacturing electrode
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP4434695A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4434695A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4434695A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode, including: an inflow region where an electrode plate flows in; an outflow region where an electrode plate is cut into a preset size and flows out; a first cutter including a first cutting surface extending side by side along a movement direction of the electrode plate moving from the inflow region to the outflow region and an obliqued surface extending obliquely from one edge of the first cutting surface in a direction away from the electrode plate; and a second cutter supporting the electrode plate, wherein the first cutter moves along a direction in which the second cutter is positioned to pressurize the electrode plate to the first cutting surface.