Laser Welding Sealer for Secondary Battery Injection Hole

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manufacturing processes for sealed secondary batteries face challenges in hermetically sealing injection holes after electrolyte injection, leading to potential defects and inefficiencies in the sealing process.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing apparatus comprising a chamber with a pressure reduction unit, sealer transfer unit, and welding unit, where the chamber is decompressed, and a sealer is laser-welded to the battery container's peripheral edge to seal the injection hole, ensuring reliable sealing and preventing electrolyte overflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the injection hole is sealed with a sealer in a reduced-pressure ambience, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehermetic sealing qualityVSAvoidsealing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical reduced-pressure sealing process with a laser welding process. The laser welding unit directly welds the sealer to the battery container opening without requiring reduced-pressure ambience, thereby simplifying the sealing process while maintaining hermetic sealing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the reduced-pressure ambience requirement from the sealing process. By using laser welding, the complex vacuum system and associated procedures are removed, leaving only the essential welding operation to achieve hermetic sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If laser welding is used to seal the injection hole, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but detection of welding issues becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing process efficiencyVSAvoidwelding defect detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a detection unit that uses optical reflection to detect welding issues. The detection unit shines light on the welded sealer and analyzes the reflected light to identify defects such as incomplete welding or improper sealing, providing real-time feedback on welding quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes optical reflection and light interaction with the welded sealer to detect welding quality. The detection unit analyzes changes in light reflection patterns that occur when welding is proper versus when defects are present, enabling non-contact detection of welding issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the chamber is decompressed before sealing, then electrolyte overflow is prevented, but the manufacturing process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrolyte overflow preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the chamber decompression step from the manufacturing process. By using laser welding to seal the injection hole immediately after electrolyte injection, the patent prevents electrolyte overflow without requiring time-consuming decompression and vacuum sealing procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent skips the intermediate decompression step by directly applying laser welding to seal the injection hole. This rushing through of the sealing process maintains electrolyte containment while significantly reducing manufacturing cycle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 solution ensures hermetic sealing of injection holes, reduces defects, and allows for efficient detection of any welding issues, enhancing the manufacturing process for sealed secondary batteries.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure reduction unit reduces pressure inside the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 2

The welding unit is configured to laser-weld the sealer to the battery container by applying a laser beam to the peripheral edge portion of the sealer on the battery container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser welding: Laser Beam Welding

Data Source

PatentUS9379409B2Sealed secondary battery and manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method therefor

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a manufacturing apparatus for a sealed secondary battery includes a chamber, pressure reduction unit, sealer transfer unit, and welding unit. The chamber accommodates therein a battery container injected with an electrolyte through an injection hole and is hermetically closed. The pressure reduction unit reduces pressure inside the chamber. The sealer transfer unit is configured to mount a sealer for sealing the injection hole on the injection hole of the battery container in the chamber decompressed by the pressure reduction unit. The welding unit is configured to laser-weld the sealer to the battery container by applying a laser beam to the peripheral edge portion of the sealer on the battery container through a laser transmission window formed in one surface of the chamber.