Electrode Sheet Coating Layout for Laser-Free Tab Welding Slots

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high manufacturing costs of electrode sheets in battery cells are attributed to the costly laser cleaning process required to form tab welding grooves in the active material layer.

Innovation Solution

A method of manufacturing electrode sheets that constructs tab welding grooves through coating without laser cleaning, using multiple layers of active materials to define the groove, reducing the need for laser cleaning and associated costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If laser cleaning is used to form tab welding groove, then the groove is formed precisely, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetab welding groove formationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the tab welding groove pattern during the coating process itself. The coating mask is designed with groove patterns that are directly imprinted onto the active material layer during coating, eliminating the need for subsequent laser cleaning. This preliminary formation of the groove structure resolves the contradiction by achieving precise groove formation through the coating step rather than requiring expensive post-processing laser cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional coating method is used, then coating process is simple, but tab welding groove cannot be formed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating process simplicityVSAvoidtab welding groove formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the coating process perform multiple functions: it simultaneously deposits the active material layer and defines the tab welding groove pattern in one operation. The coating mask serves dual purposes of material application and groove formation, combining what were previously separate processes (coating and groove formation) into a single multi-functional step, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving groove formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a coating mask as an intermediary tool that transfers the groove pattern onto the active material layer during coating. This mask acts as a mediator between the coating process and the desired groove structure, enabling the simple coating process to produce the complex groove pattern without requiring additional processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If laser cleaning is used, then active material layer is removed to form groove, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroove formationVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates production time loss by performing groove formation preliminarily during the coating process itself. The groove pattern is defined in the same step that the active material layer is deposited, rather than requiring a separate post-coating laser cleaning step. This integration of groove formation into the coating process resolves the time consumption issue while maintaining precise groove formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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

This method reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for laser cleaning, improves coating efficiency, and enhances productivity by allowing simultaneous formation of multiple electrode sheets.

Implementation Method 1

coating a to-be-coated surface of a current collector with a first active material to form a first film layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4715893A1Electrode sheet manufacturing method and coating apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ZHEJIANG LIWINON ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4715893A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4715893A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4715893A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electrode sheet manufacturing method and a coating apparatus. The electrode sheet manufacturing method comprises the steps of: coating a surface to be coated of a current collector with a first active material so as to form a first film layer; coating said surface with a second active material to form a second film layer; coating said surface with a third active material so as to form a third film layer; and after the first film layer, the second film layer and the third film layer are all formed, the second film layer and the third film layer being both connected to the first film layer, the second film layer and the third film layer being sequentially distributed at intervals in a first direction, the second film layer and the third film layer being located on the same side of the first film layer, and the first film layer, the second film layer, the third film layer and said surface jointly defining a tab welding slot. In the method, the tab welding slot is manufactured by coating, without the need to manufacture the tab welding slot by laser cleaning, and the method is beneficial to reducing the manufacturing cost of electrode sheets.