Rotary Cup Diversion for Accurate RFID Reading in Battery Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

In battery manufacturing, the insufficient spacing and time for information collection of supporting cups and batteries affect reading accuracy and production efficiency due to the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology or image scanning during automated continuous production processes.

Innovation Solution

An information collection device with diversion assemblies and rotary disks that divert supporting cups to multiple transfer-positions, allowing simultaneous information collection, including RFID reading, and rejection of unreadable cups, to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If supporting cups are continuously conveyed on a conveying channel with large numbers, then production efficiency is improved, but the spacing between adjacent supporting cups becomes insufficient and information collection time becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidinformation collection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the continuous conveying process into discrete transfer positions using multiple rotary disks. Each rotary disk has multiple transfer positions that sequentially present supporting cups to the information collection assembly, effectively segmenting the continuous flow into manageable units that can be processed with adequate time and spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs multiple rotary disks that rotate at controlled speeds to dynamically adjust the spacing and timing of supporting cup presentation. The rotary disks can be independently controlled to optimize the timing of information collection, ensuring sufficient time is available at each transfer position while maintaining continuous production flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If supporting cups are continuously conveyed with insufficient spacing, then production efficiency is improved, but information reading accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidinformation reading accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The information collection assembly is divided into multiple reading heads positioned at different transfer positions on the rotary disks. This segmentation allows each reading head to focus on individual supporting cups with adequate spacing, improving reading accuracy while the overall system maintains continuous production through multiple parallel positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-line sequential reading approach to a multi-dimensional arrangement using rotary disks with multiple transfer positions. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions (different angular positions on rotating disks) provides sufficient spacing for accurate RFID reading while maintaining high throughput through parallel processing at multiple positions.

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

3Measurement precision

If more time is reserved for information collection, then information reading accuracy is improved, but production efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation reading accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary disks enable continuous rotation and continuous presentation of supporting cups to the information collection assembly. Multiple transfer positions ensure that while one position is being read, other positions are being prepared or are already in the reading process, maintaining continuous useful action without idle time and thus preserving production efficiency while ensuring adequate reading time at each position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary disks pre-position supporting cups at multiple transfer positions before they reach the information collection assembly. This preliminary arrangement ensures that cups are properly oriented and spaced in advance, allowing the information collection process to proceed efficiently without delays, thus maintaining both accuracy and production speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enhances information collection efficiency and accuracy by evenly distributing supporting cups for RFID reading, improving the sorting process in battery manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

The first transfer-positions are fixed with the supporting cups in a magnetic attraction manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4671167A1Information acquisition device and sorting apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ZHUHAI TITANS NEW POWER ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4671167A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4671167A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4671167A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information collection device includes a feed conveying assembly (1000), diversion assemblies (2000), and an information collection assembly. The feed conveying assembly (1000) includes a feed conveying channel (1100). Supporting cups move on the feed conveying channel (1100) along a feed conveying direction. Each of the diversion assemblies (2000) includes a first rotary disk (2100). An outer peripheral sidewall of the first rotary disk (2100) is provided with first transfer-positions (2101). The first rotary disk (2100) rotates to move along the feed conveying direction to transfer the supporting cups from the feed conveying channel (1100) to the first transfer-positions (2101). The information collection assembly is configured to collect information of the supporting cups conveyed by the diversion assemblies (2000). The diversion assemblies (2000) are respectively arranged on two sides of the feed conveying channel (1100) to divert the supporting cups on the feed conveying assembly. A sorting apparatus includes the information collection device.