Pouch Battery Cell Corner Fixing Jig for Degassing Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pouch-shaped battery cells often experience deformation and cracking at corner portions during manufacturing due to concentrated stress, leading to potential electrolyte leakage and safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a fixing jig to maintain tight contact with the corner portions of the electrode assembly receiving portion, utilizing adhesive or suction mechanisms to prevent deformation, and performing processes like activation and degassing while the corner portions are secured, ensuring the initial shape is maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing portions are formed in advance at corner portions to prevent crumples, then crumple prevention is improved, but the corner portions cannot be protected from deformation by repeated stress concentration in subsequent degassing and resealing processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrumple preventionVSAvoidcorner portion shape maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing jig is disposed at corner portions before the degassing and resealing processes begin, maintaining tight contact with the laminate sheet to prevent deformation during subsequent stress concentration events. This preliminary positioning ensures corner portions remain undeformed throughout multiple manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing jig acts as an intermediary tool between the corner portions and the manufacturing process, providing mechanical support and preventing direct stress concentration on the laminate sheet corners during degassing and resealing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If corner portions are left without additional protection, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but stress concentration causes cracks and electrolyte leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidcrack prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing jig is a simple, easily manufactured tool that can be disposed of or reused multiple times. Its straightforward design (a block with corner-contacting surfaces) makes it inexpensive to produce, while effectively preventing cracks during the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing jig applies protection only at the critical corner portions where stress concentration occurs, rather than protecting the entire laminate sheet. This localized approach maintains process simplicity while preventing cracks at the most vulnerable points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If fixing jigs are disposed at all corner portions, then corner deformation is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorner portion shape maintenanceVSAvoidfixing jig configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing system is segmented into multiple independent fixing jigs, each disposed at individual corner portions. This segmentation allows each jig to be a simple, standardized component rather than one complex system, making the overall device easier to manufacture and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 approach significantly reduces the defect rate of pouch-shaped battery cells by preventing cracks and ensuring the integrity of the battery, thereby enhancing safety by minimizing the risk of electrolyte leakage and ignition.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing adhesive or suction mechanisms to prevent deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

utilizing adhesive or suction mechanisms to prevent deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4007044B1Method of manufacturing pouch-shaped battery cell using fixing jig and pouch-shaped battery cell manufactured using the same
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4007044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4007044B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4007044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pouch-shaped battery cell, the method including (a) forming an electrode assembly receiving portion in a laminate sheet to manufacture a preliminary battery case, (b) receiving an electrode assembly in the electrode assembly receiving portion and sealing other outer peripheries of the preliminary battery case excluding a first side outer periphery of the preliminary battery case, through which gas is discharged, (c) disposing a fixing jig at each of opposite end corner portions of a first side outer periphery of the electrode assembly receiving portion, (d) performing an activation process and a degassing process, (e) resealing the first side outer periphery of the electrode assembly receiving portion, and removing an end of the preliminary battery case, wherein step (d) to step (f) are performed in the state in which the corner portion is in tight contact with the inner surface of the fixing jig, which is technology capable of preventing the preliminary battery case from being deformed by force continuously applied to the preliminary battery case in a process of manufacturing the pouch-shaped battery cell.