Lithium Ribbon Rolling with Separator Lubrication for Reusable Carriers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for supplementing electrode sheets with lithium result in significant damage and cost due to high rolling forces during the conversion of lithium ribbons into foils, limiting the repeated utilization of separators and increasing the cost of lithium supplementation.

Innovation Solution

A lithium film forming mechanism and device that applies lubricating substances to separators before rolling, reducing the rolling force and enabling the repeated use of separators, with a device and method that includes mechanisms for forming lithium films by rolling lithium ribbons between separators and calendering them onto electrode sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rolling is carried out in a dry friction state between two rollers and two separators to roll lithium ribbon into lithium foil, then the lithium foil can adhere to the separator, but the rolling force is large causing significant damage to separators and high consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparator durabilityVSAvoidrolling force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A lubricating substance is introduced as an intermediary between the rollers and the separators during the rolling process. This lubricant reduces the friction and rolling force required to convert lithium ribbon into foil, thereby minimizing damage to the separators while maintaining the adhesion of lithium foil to the separator surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The friction conditions at the roller-separator interface are changed by introducing a lubricating substance. This parameter change transforms the dry friction state into a lubricated state, significantly reducing the rolling force needed and decreasing separator damage during the lithium foil formation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If high rolling force is used to roll lithium ribbon into lithium foil, then the lithium foil adheres to the separator, but the separator damage and consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium foil formation qualityVSAvoidseparator consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The lubricating substance serves as a mediator that enables effective lithium foil formation on the separator surface without requiring excessive rolling force. This reduces separator wear and consumption while maintaining the quality of lithium foil adhesion to the separator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The purely mechanical dry friction rolling system is replaced by a lubricated rolling system. This substitution reduces the mechanical stress and damage to separators while achieving the same lithium foil formation quality through reduced rolling forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If separators are damaged due to high rolling force, then the rolling process can be completed, but the repeated utilization of separators is limited and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium supplementation efficiencyVSAvoidseparator service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By introducing lubricating substance as a mediator, the separator service life is extended through reduced mechanical damage during rolling. This enables repeated utilization of separators, improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the lithium supplementation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubricated rolling process reduces separator damage, enabling separators to be recovered and reused multiple times. This decreases separator consumption and improves the productivity and cost-efficiency of the lithium foil formation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 significantly reduces damage to separators and lowers the cost of lithium supplementation by minimizing rolling forces and allowing for the repeated use of separators, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the lithium film forming process.

Implementation Method 1

a lubricating substance applying mechanism located upstream from the two rollers and used to apply lubricating substances to a surface, facing the lithium ribbon, of the first separator and/or the second separator before entering the space between the two rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

since rolling is carried out in a dry friction state between the two rollers and the two separators, the rolling force is large, and the damage to the two separators as well as the consumption of the separator are large

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3933974B1Mechanism for lithium film forming, and apparatus and method for electrode sheet lithium-supplementing
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3933974B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3933974B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3933974B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The embodiments of the application disclose a lithium film forming mechanism and method and a device and method for supplementing electrode sheet with lithium. The lithium film forming mechanism includes a first separator providing mechanism, a second separator providing mechanism, a lubricating substance applying mechanism, a lithium ribbon providing mechanism and two rollers; the first separator providing mechanism provides a first separator for the two rollers; the second separator providing mechanism provides a second separator for the two rollers; the lithium ribbon providing mechanism locates a lithium ribbon between the first separator and the second separator and provides the lithium ribbon for the two rollers; the lubricating substance applying mechanism applies lubricating substances/a lubricating substance to surfaces/surface, facing the lithium ribbon, of the first separator and/or the second separator before entering the space between the two rollers; and the two rollers roll the first separator, the lithium ribbon and the second separator, so as to roll the lithium ribbon into lithium foil and make the lithium foil adhere to the second separator to form the lithium film. The lubricating substance applying mechanism is arranged, thereby reducing the rolling force and realizing the repeated utilization of the separators.