Multi-Cavity Coating Head for Low-Pressure Electrode Layering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the electrode plate coating process of lithium batteries, the high cavity pressure of single-layer coating heads leads to lip abrasion and weight fluctuations, while applying multiple layers reduces pressure but results in inferior bonding between layers, causing them to peel off.

Innovation Solution

A coating system with a coating head equipped with multiple dispensing cavities, each with a coating opening, allows for multi-layer coating with reduced pressure in each cavity, enhancing bonding between layers and preventing peeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single-layer and single-cavity coating head is used for coating, then the coating process is simple and fast, but the cavity pressure is high which causes lip abrasion and weight fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating speedVSAvoidcoating weight stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single coating head is divided into multiple independent coating cavities (first coating cavity, second coating cavity, etc.), each capable of independent coating operation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity while reducing the pressure burden on each individual cavity, thereby reducing lip abrasion and weight fluctuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the slurry is applied on the current collector in a plurality of layers for several times, then the cavity pressure is reduced and lip abrasion is reduced, but the layers are bonded inferiorly and prone to peel off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelip durabilityVSAvoidinter-layer bonding strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple coating cavities are merged into a single coating head assembly, enabling simultaneous multi-layer coating in one operational pass. The first coating cavity applies the first layer while the second coating cavity applies the second layer at the same time, ensuring continuous contact between layers at the lip and strong bonding without the peeling issues of sequential coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stress or pressure

If different layers of coating are formed at intervals, then the pressure in each coating is lower, but the layers are bonded inferiorly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecavity pressureVSAvoidinter-layer bonding strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple coating cavities operate simultaneously to achieve continuous multi-layer coating without interruption. The slurry from different cavities is applied continuously and concurrently, maintaining continuous contact between layers at the lip throughout the coating process, ensuring strong bonding while keeping individual cavity pressures low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 coating system effectively reduces lip abrasion and weight fluctuations while ensuring strong bonding between layers, improving the overall quality and durability of the lithium battery electrode plates.

Implementation Method 1

a slurry is continuously sprayed on a current collector through a lip of the coating head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

A valve is further disposed between the coating cavity and the slurry supply, so that the valve is used to implement communication or disconnection between the coating cavity and the slurry supply

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve control: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP4119240B1Coating system
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4119240B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4119240B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4119240B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides a coating system (100), and relates to the technical field of coating. The coating system (100) includes a coating head (10), a feeding apparatus (20), and a valve (30). The coating head (10) is equipped with at least two dispensing cavities (11) independent of each other. Each dispensing cavity (11) includes a coating opening. The feeding apparatus (20) is connected to the dispensing cavity (11), and the feeding apparatus (20) is configured to feed a slurry to the dispensing cavity (11). The valve (30) is disposed between at least one dispensing cavity (11) and the feeding apparatus (20), and configured to implement communication or disconnection between a corresponding dispensing cavity (11) and the feeding apparatus (20). The same coating head (10) can implement multi-layer coating, and can spread the slurry on the substrate in a plurality of layers for several times to form a given coating thickness on the substrate. In this way, the pressure in each dispensing cavity (11) is lower than the pressure generated when the slurry is concentrated in one dispensing cavity (11), thereby reducing lip abrasion. The same coating head (10) implements all layers of coating, so that different layers of coating are formed at relatively short intervals and bonded to each other more effectively. The disposed valve (30) enables the coating system (100) to implement local thin-coating.