Intermittent Slurry Coating With Valve Pullback to Prevent Dragging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coating apparatuses experience dragging at the trailing end of intermittently discharged slurry, leading to reduced shape accuracy in the coating process.

Innovation Solution

A coating apparatus with shutoff valves having a truncated cone shape and inclines on their outer peripheral portions, combined with solenoid valves and slurry suctioners, is used to intermittently discharge slurry, minimizing dragging by pulling back the slurry during shut-off and maintaining internal pressure balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If slurry is intermittently discharged from the die head to form coating patterns, then coating efficiency and productivity are improved, but dragging occurs at the trailing end of the discharged slurry reducing shape accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating efficiencyVSAvoidshape accuracy of coating

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a recovery channel that actively pulls back the trailing end of discharged slurry before dragging can occur. The recovery channel, positioned downstream of the die head, creates a counter-flow that retrieves excess slurry and returns it to the storage tank, preventing the formation of dragged trails and maintaining sharp coating edges while preserving intermittent discharge benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary mechanism in the form of the recovery channel and associated pumping system that mediates between the die head discharge and the final coating deposit. This intermediary system selectively removes excess slurry from the trailing end, acting as a buffer that maintains coating precision without interfering with the primary intermittent discharge process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 suppresses dragging at the trailing end of the slurry discharge, enhancing the shape accuracy of the coatings, particularly for positive electrode mixture layers and insulating layers in solid-state batteries.

Implementation Method 1

maintaining internal pressure balance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure balance: Pascal's Law

Implementation Method 2

first solenoid valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid effect: Solenoid

Implementation Method 3

first slurry suctioner that is connected via the first solenoid valve to the first supply channel and is configured to suction the first slurry

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS20250309222A1Coating apparatus, method of manufacturing positive electrode, and method of manufacturing solid-state battery

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a coating apparatus that includes: a conveyer configured to continuously convey a sheet-shaped material to be coated; a first die head configured to discontinuously form a first coating by intermittently discharging a first slurry toward a first surface region of the material to be coated that is conveyed continuously; a first storage configured to store the first slurry; a first supply channel for supplying the first slurry from the first storage to the first die head; and a first shutoff valve that is provided to the first supply channel and can shut off supply of the first slurry, the first supply channel having, in a range of motion by the first shutoff valve, a region having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the first shutoff valve.