Pouch Folding Nests With Split Guides for Stable Seam Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding devices for pouch-type secondary batteries face issues with incomplete folding due to separation of the connection part from the support protrusion, particularly influenced by the flexibility and strength of the pouch material.
Innovation Solution
A folding device with a lower nest, upper nest, and a pressing part that includes a guide with protrusions forming a support protrusion, ensuring the connection part remains in close contact during rotation, and a pressing part with an extension to stabilize the cup parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional folding device with a support protrusion is used, then the folding structure is simple, but the connection part separates from the support protrusion during rotation causing incomplete folding
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is divided into a first guide fixed to the lower nest and a second guide fixed to the upper nest. The support protrusion is segmented into a first protrusion from the first guide and a second protrusion from the second guide. This segmentation allows each guide to independently control the folding process, preventing connection part separation while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first guide and second guide act as intermediaries between the nests and the connection part. They provide guided support through their respective protrusions, ensuring the connection part follows the correct folding path and remains in contact with the support throughout rotation, eliminating incomplete folding issues.
2Ease of operation
If the pouch material has high flexibility, then the pouch is easy to process, but the connection part separates from the support protrusion during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The folding device uses dynamic guides that rotate with the upper nest while maintaining their functional relationship. The first and second guides move together during the folding process, adapting to the pouch material's flexibility while ensuring consistent support contact. This dynamic structure maintains reliable folding even with flexible materials that may otherwise cause separation.
3Manufacturing precision
If a single guide structure is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but it cannot maintain consistent contact with the connection part during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system is segmented into two independent guides fixed to different nests. This allows each guide to be manufactured and positioned independently, ensuring precise contact with the connection part throughout the folding rotation. The segmentation enables better manufacturing precision for maintaining consistent contact while keeping each individual guide component relatively simple to fabricate.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
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AI summary
A device for folding a pouch which has a first cup part and a second cup part, each having a concavely recessed shape to accommodate an electrode assembly, and in which a first circumferential part is formed flat along a circumference of the first cup part, and a second circumferential part is formed flat along a circumference of the second cup part, includes: a lower nest on which the first cup part is seated; an upper nest on which the second cup part is seated; a guide provided with a first guide fixed to the lower nest and having a first protrusion protruding upwardly therefrom, and a second guide fixed to the upper nest and having a second protrusion protruding upwardly therefrom, the first protrusion and the second protrusion which protrude from the first guide and the second guide being in close contact with each other to form a support protrusion; and a pressing part that allows a connection part of the first circumferential part and the second circumferential part to be in close contact with the support protrusion when the first cup part and the second cup part are seated on the lower nest and the upper nest, respectively, wherein in a state where the pressing part allows the connection part to be in close contact with the support protrusion, the upper nest rotates so that the second cup part is folded onto the first cup part.