Electrode Printing Belt Cleaning for Borderless Ink Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for forming electrodes in electrochemical elements, such as batteries and fuel cells, face challenges in preventing liquid adhesion to conveyance surfaces during borderless printing, which involves printing on both the front and side surfaces of the electrode substrate, making it difficult to remove excess ink effectively.

Innovation Solution

A small and simple electrode printing apparatus is designed with a liquid adherence member and a liquid removing mechanism that uses a non-permeable tape to adhere and remove excess ink from the conveyance belt, preventing contamination and ensuring accurate installation without adhering liquid to the conveyance surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If borderless printing is performed on both front and side surfaces of electrode substrate, then printing coverage is improved, but liquid adhesion to conveyance surface occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting coverageVSAvoidliquid adhesion to conveyance surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the liquid adhering to the conveyance surface using a liquid removing member, separating the liquid removal function from the printing process to prevent contamination while maintaining borderless printing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a liquid removing member as an intermediary component between the conveyance surface and the printed electrode substrate, which acts as a mediator to capture and remove excess liquid without affecting the printing quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If liquid removing mechanism is added to prevent liquid adhesion, then conveyance surface cleanliness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyance surface cleanlinessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin film-like liquid removing member that can be easily integrated into the existing conveyance system, maintaining simplicity while effectively removing liquid from the conveyance surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid removing member is designed to automatically remove liquid from the conveyance surface during the normal conveying process, eliminating the need for additional complex cleaning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables effective borderless printing by preventing ink adhesion to the conveyance surface, maintaining cleanliness and ensuring precise installation of the liquid adherence member, thus enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of the electrode formation process.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid adherence member that adheres the excess liquid ejected from the liquid discharge head to a position other than a conveyance surface of the conveyance mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a liquid removing mechanism that removes the excess liquid on the liquid adherence member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4223428B1Electrode forming apparatus and multilayer separator forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4223428B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4223428B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4223428B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus (1) includes a conveyor (3), a liquid adherence member (11), and a discharger (4, 7). The conveyor (3) conveys a substrate (2). The liquid adherence member (11) is disposed on the conveyor (3) and partially held between the conveyor (3) and an end of the substrate (2). The discharger (4, 7) discharges a liquid composition to the substrate (2) and the liquid adherence member (11). The substrate is inclined with respect to a conveyance surface of the conveyor (3) on which to convey the substrate (2).