Rotary Electrode Cutting Heads for Burr-Controlled Lamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional manufacturing devices for laminated electrode assemblies risk burrs at the cut sections of electrodes, leading to potential short circuits and deterioration in battery quality.

Innovation Solution

A cutting device and manufacturing device that utilize multiple drums with independent holding heads and adjustable cutting blades to precisely cut electrode and separator materials, ensuring high positional accuracy and minimizing burrs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a laminated electrode assembly is manually stacked one by one, then assembly accuracy can be maintained, but productivity is low and labor costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidassembly accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode assembly process is segmented into separate operations: winding electrodes into coils, cutting coils into predetermined lengths, and stacking cut coils onto the support member. This segmentation enables automated handling while maintaining precision through standardized cutting lengths and organized stacking procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electrode coils are pre-cut to predetermined lengths before stacking. The cutting unit prepares multiple coils with exact lengths in advance, so that during assembly, only precise positioning and stacking are required, eliminating the need for measurement and cutting during the assembly process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If electrode coils are not tightly bound, then assembly is easier, but transport and handling become difficult due to loose structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The binding mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than permanent. The binding member applies temporary constraining force during transport and handling, then can be easily removed or released during disassembly. This allows the structure to transition from a loose, easily assembled state to a tightly bound, transport-ready state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If binding members are added to secure coils, then structural integrity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The binding member is designed as a flexible band or strip that can wrap around and secure multiple electrode coils simultaneously. This thin-film approach provides effective structural reinforcement without adding significant complexity, as the binding member can be simply wrapped and secured rather than requiring complex fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Manufacturing precision

If electrode coils are cut to precise lengths, then assembly precision improves, but additional cutting equipment and time are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil length precisionVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting function is merged with the coil preparation process. The cutting unit is integrated into the overall electrode assembly system, allowing coils to be cut to precise lengths as part of the standard preparation procedure rather than as a separate, complex operation. This merging enables precise cutting using relatively simple cutting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4082730B1Cutting device, and device for manufacturing laminated electrode assembly
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP4082730B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4082730B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4082730B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cutting device 100 comprises a drum part 102 for transporting a continuous body Wa of workpieces W by rotation, and a cutting part 104 for cutting the continuous body Wa into a plurality of individual workpieces W. The drum part 102 has a plurality of holding heads 116 that are arranged in a circumferential direction and move while holding the workpieces W. The cutting part 104 has a number of cutter units 130 that move together with the plurality of holding heads 116 by the rotation of the drum part 102, the number of the cutter units 130 being fewer than that of the holding heads 116, and a cutter drive part 132 that moves the cutter units 130 independently of the plurality of holding heads 116. The cutter units 130 cut the continuous body Wa while moving alongside the continuous body Wa from a predetermined cutting start position. The cutter drive part 132 returns the cutter units 130 after cutting the continuous body Wa to the cutting start position.