Press Roll Spacing Control for Battery Unit Cell Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing pressing roll devices for manufacturing secondary battery unit cells face challenges in maintaining a constant distance between rolls due to mechanical vibrations and impacts, leading to potential damage or deformation of electrodes and separators, and result in inconsistent pressure application affecting bonding quality.

Innovation Solution

A pressing roll device with an adjustable stopper mechanism between the upper and lower mounts, allowing for controlled spacing and self-weight pressure application, along with a damping member to mitigate impacts, ensures consistent pressure and minimizes electrode damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the upper roll and lower roll are spaced apart to minimize electrode and separator damage, then the risk of damage is reduced, but the pressing pressure is reduced deteriorating bonding force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode and separator damageVSAvoidbonding force
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The upper mount is designed to be movable vertically within a bracket, allowing the pressing roll device to dynamically adjust the distance between upper and lower rolls. This enables the system to maintain optimal spacing that prevents electrode and separator damage while still applying sufficient pressing pressure for bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stress or pressure

If mechanical devices are used to maintain constant distance between rolls, then pressing pressure can be controlled, but vibration and impact cause difficulty in maintaining constant distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing pressure consistencyVSAvoiddistance between rolls
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the self-weight of the upper mount and upper roll to automatically maintain consistent pressing pressure. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for complex mechanical devices that generate vibration and impact, while still ensuring constant distance and pressure application during the pressing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Length of moving object

If the upper mount is allowed to move freely to adjust distance, then the distance can be optimized, but impact occurs when the upper mount seats on the stopper

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance between rollsVSAvoidimpact
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A damping member is installed on the stopper to cushion the impact that occurs when the upper mount seats on the stopper. This damping element absorbs the shock energy, preventing damage to the electrode and separator while still allowing the upper mount to move to the optimal position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively maintains a consistent distance between the rolls, reduces the risk of electrode damage, and allows for adjustable pressure application, enhancing the bonding quality of unit cells during the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

a pressing roll device with an adjustable stopper mechanism between the upper and lower mounts, allowing for controlled spacing and self-weight pressure application

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-weight: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

along with a damping member to mitigate impacts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4050691B1Press roll device and press method
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4050691B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4050691B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4050691B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pressing roll device, in which a unit cell passes between an upper roll and a lower roll, according to the present invention comprises: the lower roll; the upper roll; a lower mount on which the lower roll is mounted and which is fixed in movement; an upper mount on which the upper roll is mounted and which is restricted by a bracket so as to ascend and descend by the bracket; and a stopper disposed between the lower mount and the upper mount so that the lower roll and the upper roll are spaced apart from each other. A pressing method, in which a unit cell passes to be pressed between an upper roll and a lower roll, according to the present invention comprises: a step of allowing the unit cell to pass between the lower roll mounted on a lower mount that is fixed in movement and the upper roll mounted on an upper mount which is capable of ascending and descending in a state in which separation from the bracket is restricted, wherein, when the unit cell passes between the upper roll and the lower roll, the upper roll and the lower roll are spaced a predetermined distance from each other.