Electrode Tab Cutting Geometry to Redirect Burrs Away From Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cutting process of electrode tabs in secondary batteries often results in burrs that damage the electrodes, leading to pinholes or cracks.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a cutter with a pressing surface and an inclined surface to minimize burr formation by cutting the electrode tab in a direction away from the electrode, and a fixing die to support the cutting process, ensuring the burr protrudes in a direction opposite to the electrode, thus reducing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cutter is used to cut the electrode tab, then the electrode tab can be separated from the electrode, but burrs are formed that damage the electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter is designed with an inclined surface that directs the burr formation away from the electrode and toward the battery case. By inverting the traditional cutting approach where the burr would form on the electrode side, the design ensures that the harmful burr protrudes in the opposite direction, protecting the electrode from damage while maintaining cutting efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter features different surface characteristics: a pressing surface for stable contact and an inclined surface for controlled cutting. The inclined surface specifically addresses the local quality needed at the cutting edge to minimize burr formation on the electrode while allowing burrs to form safely in the opposite direction
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrode tab is cut to separate it from the electrode, then assembly is simplified, but the cutting process creates burrs that cause pinholes or cracks in the electrode
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the cutting direction so that the inclined surface faces away from the electrode, the design ensures burrs form toward the battery case rather than the electrode. This inversion maintains the ease of assembly from tab separation while protecting electrode integrity by directing harmful burrs away from the electrode surface
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface acts as an intermediary element between the cutter and the electrode tab. It mediates the cutting process by controlling burr formation direction, allowing the tab to be separated for easy assembly while preventing burrs from directly contacting and damaging the electrode
3Device complexity
If a traditional cutter design is used, then the cutting process is simple, but burrs protrude toward the electrode causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter design incorporates a localized inclined surface at the cutting edge while maintaining overall design simplicity. This local quality change at the cutting interface controls burr formation direction without significantly increasing overall device complexity, preventing burrs from protruding toward the electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for manufacturing secondary battery, which cuts an electrode tab of the secondary battery, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same, and a secondary battery manufactured using the same are described.The secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked; and an electrode tab attached to each of the electrodes. The apparatus includes: a cutter disposed at one side of the electrode tab to move toward the electrode tab so as to cut a portion to be cut of the electrode tab; and a fixing die provided to cross the cutter at the other side of the electrode tab. The cutter includes: a pressing surface configured to press the electrode tab; and an inclined surface provided at a position corresponding to the portion to be cut and inclinedly extending away from the electrode tab from an end of the pressing surface.