Hinged Standby Material Unit for Battery Winding Roll Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing methods for lithium ion secondary batteries face inefficiencies in replacing rolls of electrode materials, leading to increased operational downtime and reduced manufacturability due to frequent replacements and space constraints.

Innovation Solution

A materials exchanging device with a supply material unit and a standby material unit, where the standby material unit is hinged to rotate 90 degrees, allowing for efficient replacement of rolls by shifting the supply rotation shaft and coupling the standby material roll to the supply rotation shaft, thereby reducing the device's size and volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional fixed material exchange system is used, then the structure is simple, but the device size is large and operational downtime is increased due to inefficient roll replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroll replacement efficiencyVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The standby material unit is designed to rotate between a standby position and a supply position, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This rotation mechanism allows the standby material roll to be brought into operational position only when needed, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining rapid roll replacement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The material exchange system transitions from a linear arrangement to a multi-dimensional configuration by rotating the standby material unit into the supply position. This dimensional change allows compact storage of multiple material rolls while enabling quick exchange through rotational movement rather than linear translation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If material rolls are frequently replaced, then continuous production is maintained, but operational downtime increases and manufacturability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous production capabilityVSAvoidoperational downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The standby material unit is pre-positioned with a replacement material roll ready for immediate use. When the supply material is depleted, the pre-positioned standby roll can be quickly rotated into the supply position without requiring time-consuming manual intervention or system shutdown, thus maintaining continuous production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating mechanism acts as an intermediary that facilitates rapid material roll exchange. By providing a mechanical means to quickly transfer the standby roll to the supply position, the system minimizes the time loss associated with frequent material replacements while maintaining continuous production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the standby material unit is fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but the device occupies excessive space and cannot achieve rapid material exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial exchange speedVSAvoiddevice footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The standby material unit and supply material unit are integrated into a single rotating assembly. By combining these functions into one movable unit rather than separate fixed components, the system achieves rapid material exchange while minimizing the device footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10461357B2Materials exchanging device of winding equipment for a battery and method of manufacturing a battery using the materials exchanging device

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A materials exchanging device includes a supply material unit to couple to a supply material roll and supplying materials to a winding member; and a standby material unit to couple to a standby material roll and hinged to the supply material unit, wherein an angle of the standby material roll with respect to the supply material unit varies due to hinge-rotation of the standby material unit.