IP Library Granted Patent US 12,385,737
Granted Patent B2
US 12,385,737 · App. 18/365,375 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Gap inspection apparatus and gap inspection method

Inventors: Fenglin Zhang (Ningde, CN); Jianlin Liu (Ningde, CN); Shaoteng Ren (Ningde, CN); Siyuan Qi (Ningde, CN); Zhimeng Shi (Ningde, CN)
Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
G01B15/00G01B21/16H01M10/045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,385,737
App. No.
18/365,375
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gap inspection apparatus and a gap inspection method are disclosed. The gap inspection apparatus is configured for a wound battery cell, where in a height direction of the wound battery cell. The gap inspection apparatus includes: an X-ray source and an X-ray detector and a bearing mechanism located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. The bearing mechanism includes at least one accommodating groove, the accommodating groove is configured to accommodate the wound battery cell, and the height direction of the wound battery cell crosses a first direction in which the X-ray source points to the X-ray detector. The X-ray source is configured to irradiate an arc-shaped area of the wound body portion, and the X-ray detector is configured to obtain an imaging image of the irradiated arc-shaped area, so as to obtain a gap value between two electrode plates within the arc-shaped area.

Claims (26)

1. A gap inspection apparatus, characterized by being configured for a wound battery cell, wherein in a height direction (P 1 ) of the wound battery cell, the wound battery cell comprises a wound body portion and a tab that are connected to each other, and the gap inspection apparatus comprises:

an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are oppositely disposed, and a bearing mechanism located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector;

wherein the bearing mechanism comprises at least one accommodating groove, the accommodating groove is configured to accommodate the wound battery cell, and the height direction of the wound battery cell crosses a first direction (LI) in which the X-ray source points to the X-ray detector; and the X-ray source is configured to irradiate an arc-shaped area of the wound body portion, and the X-ray detector is configured to obtain an imaging image of the irradiated arc-shaped area, so as to obtain a gap value between two electrode plates within the arc-shaped area based on the imaging image; wherein

the bearing mechanism comprises a bearing member and a cushion fastener, an accommodating cavity is comprised on a side of the bearing member facing the X-ray source or the X-ray detector, the cushion fastener is located in the accommodating cavity, and the accommodating groove is disposed on the cushion fastener; characterized in that:

the accommodating groove comprises a first accommodating sub-groove and a second accommodating sub-groove that communicate with each other, the first accommodating sub-groove is configured to accommodate the wound body portion, and the second accommodating sub-groove is configured to accommodate the tab, wherein a preset distance is present between the wound body portion and an inner wall of the first accommodating sub-groove, and a preset distance is present between the tab and an inner wall of the second accommodating sub-groove.

2. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

in the first direction (LI), the accommodating groove runs through the cushion fastener; and/or the cushion fastener comprises foam.

3. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

two tabs are provided and arranged on a same side of the wound body portion; and the second accommodating sub-groove is configured to accommodate the two tabs.

4. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

in a second direction (L 2 ), one pick-and-place slot communicating with the first accommodating sub-groove is disposed on either of two opposite sides of the first accommodating sub-groove, wherein the second direction (L 2 ) is perpendicular to a third direction (L 3 ) in which the first accommodating sub-groove points to the second accommodating sub-groove, and a size of the accommodating groove in the third direction (L 3 ) is larger than that of the pick-and-place slot.

5. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the cushion fastener is provided with a first error-proofing portion, a second error-proofing portion is disposed in the accommodating cavity, and the first error-proofing portion and the second error-proofing portion cooperate with each other.

6. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the bearing member comprises a base plate and a side plate that are connected to each other, and the side plate is arranged around the base plate to form the accommodating cavity;

wherein a material of the base plate comprises carbon fiber, and a material of the side plate comprises metal.

7. The gap inspection apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the bearing member further comprises two handles that are oppositely disposed and located on an outer surface of a side of the side plate facing away from the accommodating cavity.

8. A gap inspection method, comprising using the gap inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gap inspection method comprises:

placing a wound battery cell in an accommodating groove of the bearing mechanism, and disposing the bearing mechanism between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are oppositely disposed, wherein in a height direction of the wound battery cell, the wound battery cell comprises a wound body portion and a tab that are connected to each other, and the height direction of the wound battery cell crosses a first direction in which the X-ray source points to the X-ray detector;

making the X-ray source irradiate an arc-shaped area of the wound body portion, so that the X-ray detector obtains an imaging image of the arc-shaped area; and

obtaining, based on the imaging image, a gap value between two electrode plates within the arc-shaped area.

9. The gap inspection method according to claim 8 , wherein the wound body portion comprises a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate that are alternately arranged; and the step of obtaining, based on the imaging image, a gap value between two electrode plates in the wound body portion within the arc-shaped area comprises:

pre-processing the imaging image and obtaining a target area from the pre-processed imaging image;

determining position information of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate from the target area based on size information of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate; and

obtaining, from the target area based on the position information of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, a gap value between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate that are adjacent to each other.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068338/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2023
From: ZHANG, FENGLIN; LIU, JIANLIN; REN, SHAOTENG; QI, SIYUAN; SHI, ZHIMENG
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064493/0626 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202211290267.X · Oct 20, 2022 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTCN2023085237 · Mar 30, 2023
Related Publication 20240133682A1 · Apr 25, 2024
Related Publication 20240230324A9 · Jul 11, 2024
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