Electrode Plate Wrapping with Synchronized Drums

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrode plate wrapping devices for stack type batteries are inefficient in producing electrode plates wrapped with separators, leading to prolonged production times and reduced battery cell stacking efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An electrode plate wrapping device with a conveying section, a stacking drum section, and a welding section that synchronizes the conveyance of electrode plates with the rotation of drums to adhere and weld separators on both surfaces, allowing for continuous and quick production of electrode plates wrapped with separators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If continuous separators are adhered to both surfaces of an electrode plate and welded then cut into predetermined shape, then the electrode plate is wrapped with separators, but it takes a long time to produce each electrode plate wrapped with separators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping qualityVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The process is divided into two independent parallel lines: one for adhering separators to electrode plates, and another for cutting separators to shape. This segmentation allows simultaneous execution of wrapping and cutting operations, eliminating the sequential bottleneck and doubling the production throughput while maintaining wrapping quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Separators are cut into predetermined shapes in advance on a separate line before being adhered to electrode plates. This preliminary action eliminates the time-consuming step of cutting after adherence, allowing the wrapping process to focus solely on adhesion while cutting occurs independently beforehand, thus accelerating overall production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If electrode plates are wrapped with separators consecutively, then each electrode plate is properly wrapped, but the stacking process is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping consistencyVSAvoidstacking delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements continuous parallel operations where separator adherence and cutting occur simultaneously without interruption. Multiple electrode plates are wrapped consecutively while separators are continuously cut and prepared, ensuring uninterrupted flow to the stacking process and eliminating delays while maintaining consistent wrapping quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically coordinates the timing and speed of separator preparation, adherence, and cutting operations. By adjusting the synchronization between parallel processes, the system maintains optimal flow rates ensuring consistent wrapping while preventing bottlenecks that would delay stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single separator sheet is folded to cover both sides of the electrode, then the wrapping process is simplified, but the production efficiency of battery cell stacking is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping process complexityVSAvoidstacking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single folded separator, the invention uses separate individual separators for each electrode plate surface. This segmentation allows independent preparation and application of separators, enabling parallel processing and eliminating the time-consuming folding operation, thus improving stacking efficiency while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional folded separator approach to a three-dimensional parallel processing system where multiple separators are prepared and applied simultaneously on separate lines. This dimensional change in the process architecture enables concurrent operations that dramatically improve productivity without increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 device enables rapid and continuous production of electrode plates wrapped with separators, improving the efficiency of battery cell production by synchronizing the conveyance and rotation of drums to stack and weld separators effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a welding section configured to weld edge portions of the pair of separators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2458669B1Electrode plate wrapping device and method of wrapping electrode plate with separators
Publication Date: 2018.01.17 KYOTO SEISAKUSHO CO LTD
  • EP2458669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2458669B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2458669B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

In some examples, an electrode plate (K) is conveyed to a gap (230) of a pair of stacking drums (210, 220) with a conveying section (100). In synchronization with conveyance of the electrode plate (K), the drums (210, 220) feed a pair of separators (S, S) each formed into a predetermined shape with the separators (S, S) adhering to corresponding peripheral surfaces of the pair of drums (210, 220). While feeding the electrode plate (K) forward in a generally horizontal manner, the separators (S) are sequentially stacked on both surfaces of the electrode plate (K) in synchronized with rotations of the drums (210, 220), and both edge portions of the separators (S) are welded.