Electrode Sheet Notching Device with Dual Grippers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing notching process for electrode sheets in secondary battery manufacturing is inefficient due to the press's dual role as both a feeder and a presser, leading to reduced production rates and increased costs due to inertia issues when transporting the electrode sheet.
Innovation Solution
A notching device with dual grippers that draw and transport the electrode sheet by one pitch, allowing the press to focus solely on forming notches, increasing the pressing rate to 150-300 SPM, and incorporating a tension portion with a rotatable roller and motor to maintain sheet tension, along with an inspector for quality control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the press simultaneously transports and presses the electrode sheet in a continuous feeding manner, then stable pressing is achieved, but production efficiency deteriorates due to inertia of the mold when the press moves left and right
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent functional modules: a press dedicated to pressing operations and a feeder dedicated to transport operations. The press includes a mold that remains stationary during pressing, while the feeder independently transports the electrode sheet. This segmentation eliminates the inertia problem caused by moving the mold during transport, allowing high-speed pressing without compromising stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport function is extracted from the press and assigned to a separate feeder mechanism. The feeder includes a transport roller that moves the electrode sheet at high speed, while the press focuses exclusively on the pressing operation. This extraction allows the press to operate at high rates (150-300 SPM) without the performance degradation caused by simultaneous transport movements.
2Ease of operation
If the press moves left and right to transport the electrode sheet, then continuous feeding is achieved, but the pressing rate is limited due to inertia of the mold
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous feeding function is segmented from the pressing function. The feeder mechanism handles continuous transport of the electrode sheet through its roller system, while the press mold remains stationary during pressing operations. This allows the pressing rate to increase to 150-300 SPM without being constrained by the inertia of moving the mold during transport.
3Device complexity
If the press serves as both feeder and presser, then device complexity is reduced, but production efficiency decreases due to the dual role limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct press and feeder components with specialized functions. The press includes a stationary mold for pressing, while the feeder includes a transport roller for movement. Although this increases device complexity compared to a single integrated press, it dramatically improves production efficiency by eliminating the performance limitations of dual-role operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder mechanism serves as a universal transport system that can feed the electrode sheet to the press at high rates. The press serves as a universal pressing station that can process the electrode sheet regardless of the feeding speed. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both continuous feeding and high-rate pressing independently.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device for notching, at an interval of a unit electrode, a continuous electrode sheet in which an electrode active material is applied to one or both surfaces thereof, to form a plurality of unit electrodes from the electrode sheet, the device including a press to press notches on the top and the bottom of the electrode sheet at a set position, and two or more grippers arranged at the rear of the press based on a feed direction of the electrode sheet, the grippers drawing and transporting the electrode sheet by one pitch, a size corresponding to the unit electrode according to operation of the press, wherein while one of the grippers draws and transports the electrode sheet, the remaining grippers move to a position for drawing.