Electrode Stacking Device Using Bag-Shaped Separator Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for stacking electrodes in secondary batteries face challenges in accurately aligning positive and negative electrodes within a separator, leading to potential positional deviations that can degrade battery performance and shorten its lifespan, especially when the external shapes are not aligned correctly or when the sizes of the separator and negative electrode differ.

Innovation Solution

An electrode stacking device and method that detects the position of the first electrode hidden within the separator and uses this information to accurately position and stack the packaged electrode on the second electrode, employing a sheet stacking device with a controller, light sources, and cameras to ensure precise alignment and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the external sides of the separator and negative electrode are aligned to ensure accurate positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the number of processes increases and stacking speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstacking speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The separator is pre-formed into a bag shape with the positive electrode already positioned inside it before the stacking process. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for external alignment operations during stacking, as the internal positioning is already established. The bag-shaped separator acts as a pre-assembled unit that can be quickly placed onto the negative electrode without requiring additional alignment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the separator and negative electrode are formed to have approximately the same size for alignment, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the adaptability to size variations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsize variation tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses the external shape of the separator as a template or reference form. The bag-shaped separator is formed to match the external轮廓 (outline) of the positive electrode it contains, creating a standardized form that can accommodate variations in internal electrode sizes. This external copying approach allows the separator to serve as a universal carrier that maintains positioning accuracy regardless of the specific dimensions of the electrodes inside.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 approach allows for accurate and rapid stacking of electrodes without positional deviation, enhancing battery performance and extending its lifespan by ensuring consistent and precise alignment of electrodes during the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

a light source and a camera are provided; the light source irradiates light to the packaged electrode; the camera receives the light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the light source irradiates light to the packaged electrode; the camera receives the light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2696431B1Electrode stacking device and electrode stacking method
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2696431B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2696431B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2696431B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

A device including a detector 200 for detecting position of a positive electrode 24 as a first electrode in terms of a packaged electrode having a bag-shaped separator 40 in which the positive electrode is provided, and stacking unit 112 and 122 for stacking the positive electrode 24 as the first electrode on a negative electrode 30 as a second electrode having a different polar characteristics from that of the positive electrode 24 as the first electrode on the basis of the position of the positive electrode 24 as the first electrode thus detected.