Quick-Swap Tool Cleaning for Battery Module Production Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleaning methods for battery modules in production lines require suspending the production line, which is inconvenient and affects normal production, and involves manual operation with safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning system comprising a control device, quick swap platform, and clamping jaw device that allows for automated cleaning of battery modules outside the production line by determining the presence of target tools on the platform and using a plasma cleaning machine to clean specific tools based on blueprint information, improving operation convenience and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning and verification is performed on the production line, then cleaning effect can be verified, but production must be suspended which reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effect verificationVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system separates the cleaning verification function from the main production line by using a dedicated quick swap platform and clamping jaw device. This segmentation allows cleaning operations to be performed independently on battery modules before they enter the main production assembly, enabling production to continue without suspension while maintaining cleaning verification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs cleaning and verification as a preliminary action before battery modules enter the main production line. By completing cleaning operations in advance on the quick swap platform, the system ensures cleaning requirements are met before assembly begins, eliminating the need for mid-production cleaning interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual cleaning operation is used, then flexibility is maintained, but operation convenience is poor and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation convenienceVSAvoidmanual intervention requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system enables self-service operation through automated control. The control device automatically manages the clamping jaw device to grab battery modules, positions them for cleaning, and coordinates the cleaning process. This automation eliminates the need for manual cleaning operations while maintaining operational flexibility, significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated control system that manages the clamping jaw device and cleaning process. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated control mechanisms improves operation convenience while reducing the need for manual intervention.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning is performed on the production line, then cleaning can be integrated into the process, but it complicates the production line structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning integrationVSAvoidproduction line structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the cleaning function from the main production line structure and places it on a separate quick swap platform. This extraction allows the production line to maintain its original simple structure while still incorporating cleaning capability through the independent platform that can be quickly swapped or accessed as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The quick swap platform serves multiple functions: it acts as a preparation station for battery modules, houses the clamping jaw device for automated handling, and provides the cleaning interface. This multi-functionality allows cleaning integration without adding dedicated separate equipment to the production line, thereby avoiding structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4570393B1Cleaning method and system
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4570393B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4570393B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4570393B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a cleaning method and system. The cleaning system comprises a control device, a quick swap platform, and a clamping jaw device. The control device of the cleaning system determines whether there is a target tool on the quick swap platform according to target first-article information when receiving the target first-article information, wherein the target first-article information represents blueprint information of a first-article battery module; and the target tool is a tool configured to be cleaned instead of the first-article battery module. The control device controls, when it is determined that there is the target tool on the quick swap platform, the clamping jaw device to grab the target tool for cleaning, which can effectively improve operation convenience without affecting normal production and improve production efficiency.