Slot Coater Nozzle With Variable Contact Area for Uniform Slurry Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slot coaters face challenges in maintaining uniform slurry thickness during the coating process for electrode plates in rechargeable batteries, particularly in pouch batteries, due to the fixed shape of the nozzle affecting thickness planarity, which requires costly and time-consuming adjustments when design changes occur.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle with an area varier mechanism, including a moving roller, belt member, and tension adjuster, allows for varying the area of contact with the slurry, enabling continuous coating processes without interruption, even with design changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-shaped nozzle is used for coating slurry, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the thickness planarity of the applied slurry cannot be adjusted without replacing the entire nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the nozzle body movable rather than fixed. The nozzle body is positioned to be movable relative to the slot, allowing the contact area between the nozzle and slurry to be dynamically adjusted. This enables the same nozzle to adapt to different coating requirements by changing its position, thereby improving adaptability without requiring multiple fixed nozzles or complex replacement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coating system into distinct functional components: a slot for slurry distribution, a movable nozzle body for discharge, and a movable nozzle for application. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component, particularly the nozzle body position, to optimize the contact area and thickness planarity without affecting the entire system.
2Productivity
If the nozzle contact area with slurry is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to design changes in electrode plates without interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The area varier mechanism employs dynamic adjustment by making the nozzle body movable relative to the slot. This allows the contact area to be changed on-demand during operation, enabling the system to adapt to different electrode plate designs without stopping the coating process, thus maintaining continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of contact area by allowing the nozzle body to move relative to the slot. This parameter change enables the system to accommodate different design requirements for electrode plates while maintaining continuous operation, as the contact area can be adjusted without replacing components or interrupting the coating process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle shape is optimized for specific thickness, then the coating quality is improved, but any design change requires complete nozzle replacement which is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complete nozzle replacement for design changes, the patent makes the nozzle body movable relative to the slot. This dynamic adjustment allows the contact area to be modified by simply repositioning the nozzle body, maintaining manufacturing precision for different designs without the cost and time of complete nozzle replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the nozzle into a movable nozzle body and a movable nozzle, allowing independent adjustment of the nozzle body position. This segmentation enables optimization of contact area for different thickness requirements while avoiding the need to replace the entire nozzle assembly, reducing manufacturing costs and time.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle and a slot coater including the same are disclosed. A nozzle includes: a first body portion and a second body portion that are coupled to each other; a discharge portion between the first body portion and the second body portion and configured to discharge a slurry supplied from an outside onto a substrate; and an area varier inside at least one of the first body portion and the second body portion and configured to change an area of a portion in contact with the slurry discharged through the discharge portion.