Leveling Apparatus for Pouch Battery Rim Stress

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pouch-type secondary batteries often curl during the cutting process due to stress at the rim edges, leading to poor product quality, with existing solutions having complex device structures that are not universally applicable.

Innovation Solution

A leveling apparatus with a roller assembly and support frame that applies rolling force to the upper and lower surfaces of the pouch-type secondary battery to remove stress, comprising pairs of upper and lower rollers arranged in rows, adjustable frames, and obliquely disposed lower rollers to prevent curling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a pouch-type secondary battery is completely cut after forming, then the manufacturing process is completed, but stress at the rim edges causes curling of corners deteriorating product quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process completionVSAvoidpouch flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing the leveling process before the final cutting operation. The leveling rollers remove stress and flatten the pouch surface at the rim edges before cutting occurs, preventing curling from developing during or after the cutting process. This sequential arrangement ensures the pouch is in its optimal flat state when the critical cutting operation takes place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional vacuum adsorption positioning forming molds are used to prevent pouch rolling, then positioning during formation is improved, but the device structure becomes complicated and is not universally applicable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouch positioningVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex vacuum adsorption mechanical system with a simpler rolling-based stress removal mechanism. Instead of using vacuum pumps, adsorption surfaces, and positioning molds, the invention uses rollers that mechanically roll over the pouch surface to remove stress and achieve flattening. This substitution dramatically simplifies the device structure while maintaining effectiveness.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function from complex vacuum positioning systems - the function of preventing pouch curling - and implements it through a separate, simple leveling apparatus that operates independently after formation. This separates the positioning function (during formation) from the flattening function (after formation), allowing each to be optimized independently with simpler components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If rollers are arranged in multiple rows with pairs of upper and lower rollers, then stress removal effectiveness is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress removal effectivenessVSAvoidroller assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the roller assembly into multiple independent rows, with each row containing pairs of upper and lower rollers. This segmentation allows stress to be removed systematically across different zones of the pouch surface, with each roller pair handling a specific section. The modular segmented structure makes the system more manageable despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane rolling action to a multi-dimensional arrangement with upper and lower rollers in multiple rows. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous stress removal from both upper and lower surfaces of the pouch at multiple locations, dramatically improving effectiveness. The oblique arrangement of lower rollers adds angular dimensionality to the rolling action, enhancing stress distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 apparatus effectively suppresses curling during the cutting process, ensuring a uniform and flat rim portion, thereby enhancing the quality of pouch-type secondary batteries.

Implementation Method 1

a roller assembly having pairs of upper rollers and lower rollers arranged in at least two rows to be capable of rolling in contact with upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of a pouch-type secondary battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Implementation Method 2

the roller assembly is configured to apply rolling with respect to the upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of the pouch-type secondary battery thereby to remove stress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3486084B1Leveling apparatus for preventing curling of pouch-type secondary battery
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3486084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3486084B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3486084B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a leveling apparatus used in a cutting process after forming process of a pouch-type secondary battery, and the leveling apparatus includes: a roller assembly having pairs of upper rollers and lower rollers arranged in at least two rows to be capable of rolling in contact with upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of a pouch-type secondary battery to which a pouch forming process is completely performed; and a support frame configured to support the roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly is configured to apply rolling with respect to the upper and lower surfaces adjacent to both rim edges of the pouch-type secondary battery thereby to remove stress.