Dual-Outlet Plasma Cleaning for Sealing Block Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

The sealing tool for secondary batteries faces issues with foreign substances, particularly organic materials, accumulating on the pressing surfaces of sealing blocks, leading to weakened sealing force, quality defects, and potential damage to the pressing surfaces.

Innovation Solution

The cleaning equipment employs a plasma generation device and a torch device with dual plasma outlets to automatically remove foreign substances from the pressing surfaces of both sealing blocks, utilizing plasma to chemically react with and break down organic materials into carbon dioxide and water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning methods are used for sealing tools, then operational simplicity is maintained, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates due to inaccessible crevices and high contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning apparatus uses a nested structure where the cleaning element is positioned within the sealing tool body, allowing the cleaning element to access crevices and contours that would be inaccessible with external manual cleaning methods. The cleaning element is nested such that it can be inserted into and cleaned within the sealing tool's own structural features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing tool is designed to clean itself through the integrated cleaning element that automatically contacts and cleans the sealing surface during operation. This self-cleaning mechanism eliminates the need for external manual cleaning operations, improving cleaning effectiveness while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If sealing tools operate in harsh environments, then functional performance is maintained, but contamination from foreign substances increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidcontamination from foreign substances
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element is positioned to proactively remove foreign substances and contaminants from the sealing surface before they can cause damage or compromise sealing performance. This preliminary cleaning action prevents contamination rather than merely responding to it after occurrence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning element operates continuously during sealing tool operation, maintaining constant contact with the sealing surface to continuously remove contaminants. This continuous cleaning action ensures that the sealing surface remains free of harmful substances throughout operation in harsh environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If sealing tools have complex geometries with crevices, then sealing capability is improved, but accessibility for cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element is nested within the sealing tool structure, allowing it to penetrate into crevices and complex geometries. This nested configuration enables the cleaning element to reach areas that would be inaccessible to external cleaning methods, maintaining ease of cleaning despite complex sealing geometries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning element is specifically designed with localized cleaning features that match the complex geometries of the sealing tool. Different portions of the cleaning element are configured to address specific crevices and contours, providing targeted cleaning capability where needed while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This method effectively prevents sealing defects and quality issues by automatically removing organic substances from both sealing blocks simultaneously, significantly improving work efficiency and preventing damage to the pressing surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

a plasma generation device configured to generate plasma

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

utilizing plasma to chemically react with and break down organic materials into carbon dioxide and water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP4282547B1Cleaning equipment and cleaning method of sealing tool
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4282547B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4282547B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4282547B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides cleaning equipment of a sealing tool, which is configured to remove foreign substances accumulated on first and second sealing blocks provided symmetrically in a vertical direction, the cleaning equipment including: a plasma generation device configured to generate plasma; and a torch device provided with a torch head configured to eject the plasma generated in the plasma generation device to pressing surfaces of the first and second sealing blocks so as to remove the foreign substances accumulated on the pressing surfaces of the first and second sealing blocks, wherein the torch head includes: a first torch member provided with a first plasma outlet configured to eject the plasma generated in the plasma generation device to the pressing surface of the first sealing block; and a second torch member provided with a second plasma outlet configured to eject the plasma generated in the plasma generation device to the pressing surface of the second sealing block.