Electrode Plate Notching Insert for Burr-Free Battery Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The edges of high-strength electrode plates in secondary batteries are not sharply processed during the notching process, leading to residual debris that can cause shorts and fires due to uneven shear force distribution.

Innovation Solution

A notching apparatus with a die and cutter configuration that includes an electrode plate insert to support the substrate, distributing shear force uniformly and preventing debris formation by penetrating into the active material during cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional cutter is used to cut high-strength electrode plates, then the cutting process is simple, but the edges are not sharply processed and residual debris remains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge sharpnessVSAvoidnotching apparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The die is segmented into a body and an insert component. The insert is a separate replaceable element that can be positioned within the die body, allowing the cutting edge to be renewed or replaced without replacing the entire die, thus maintaining precision while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is pre-positioned in the die body before the cutting operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that the cutting edge is already in the correct location and orientation, enabling precise cutting of high-strength electrode plates without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the electrode plate insert height is increased to support the substrate, then shear force distribution improves, but the insert may contact the cutter prematurely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear force distributionVSAvoidinsert height
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insert has different height zones with specific functions: a first height region that provides substrate support for uniform shear force distribution, and a second height region that is lower to prevent premature contact with the cutter. This local differentiation of height quality resolves the contradiction between support function and interference prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The insert provides partial support to the substrate rather than full support across the entire cutting area. This partial action is sufficient to distribute shear force uniformly where needed, while avoiding excessive height that would cause interference with the cutter movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If the electrode plate insert penetrates deeply into the active material, then cutting precision improves, but the risk of insert damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting accuracyVSAvoidinsert durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insert features a localized inclined surface at the tip region that provides penetrating action into the active material for precise cutting. The main body of the insert maintains a lower height to avoid excessive stress concentration, thus balancing cutting precision with durability by applying the penetrating quality only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is made of a composite structure combining a hard cutting tip region for penetrating the active material with a more ductile body portion that can withstand operational stresses. This composite construction allows deep penetration for precision cutting while maintaining overall reliability and resistance to damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4711108A1Notching apparatus and method using notching apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4711108A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4711108A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4711108A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A notching apparatus includes a base, a die coupled to the base and including an electrode plate insert protruding in an upward direction, the die configured to accommodate an electrode plate comprising a substrate and an active material on an upper surface of the die; and a cutter configured to cut the electrode plate while the electrode plate insert is penetrated into at least a portion of the active material in the upward direction.