Electrode Magazine Separation for Reliable Battery Assembly Feed

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Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of electrodes sticking together during the manufacturing process of secondary battery electrode assemblies leads to defects, necessitating a solution to properly separate and monitor electrodes in a magazine to prevent such occurrences.

Innovation Solution

An electrode supply device with a magazine unit, electrode pickup unit, and stuck-electrodes separation unit to detect and separate stuck electrodes, ensuring only the uppermost electrode is picked up and conveyed for assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple electrodes are stacked in the magazine unit for efficient storage and supply, then productivity is improved, but electrodes may stick together and be conveyed as a single unit, causing manufacturing defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode supply efficiencyVSAvoidelectrode separation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stuck-electrodes separation unit detects whether multiple electrodes are conveyed together and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the electrode pickup unit to separate the stuck electrodes, ensuring only one electrode is supplied at a time while maintaining high productivity from magazine storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The stuck-electrodes separation unit acts as an intermediary between the magazine unit and the stacking unit. It monitors the conveyed electrodes and separates any stuck electrodes before they reach the stacking position, resolving the contradiction between efficient bulk storage and reliable individual supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the electrode pickup unit conveys electrodes quickly to maintain production speed, then productivity is improved, but the risk of electrodes sticking together increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing speedVSAvoidelectrode sticking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stuck-electrodes separation unit continuously monitors conveyed electrodes and provides immediate feedback when sticking is detected. This allows the system to maintain high conveyance speeds while quickly correcting separation issues, preventing defects without reducing overall production speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a detection system is added to monitor electrode separation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode separation detectionVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stuck-electrodes separation unit serves as an intermediary that combines detection and separation functions. This single unit reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate detection and correction systems, while maintaining high reliability in electrode separation monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260054949A1Electrode Supply Device, Electrode Assembly Manufacturing Device Using Same, Electrode Supply Method, and Electrode Assembly Manufacturing Method Using Same

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present invention is to provide an electrode supply device, an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus using the electrode supply device, an electrode supply method, and an electrode assembly manufacturing method using the electrode supply method.