# US 6,720,108 B2 · Sealing structure for an alkali battery having a gate on an aperture side of a sealing element

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- Number: US 6,720,108 B2
- Document ID: US6720108B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/735,196
- Filed: 2000-12-11
- Published: 2001-07-12
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2000-12-11
- Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kenji Yamamoto; Toshikazu Kaneko; Takeshi Okubo; Toshina Saeki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6720108B2

## CPC

- H01M 6/085: {of the reversed type, i.e. anode in the centre}
- B29C 45/26: Moulds
- B29C 45/2628: {with mould parts forming holes in or through the moulded article, e.g. for bearing cages}
- H01M 50/154: {Lid or cover comprising an axial bore for receiving a central current collector}
- H01M 50/186: characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
- H01M 50/193: Organic material
- B29C 2045/0027: {Gate or gate mark locations}
- H01M 2300/0014: Alkaline electrolytes
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

After a negative electrode current collector has been inserted into an insertion hole therein, a resin sealing element and negative electrode terminal plate are successively inserted into an aperture of a battery casing, and the aperture rim of battery casing is then bent inwards and crimped to seal aperture of battery casing. Sealing element is accommodated within battery casing in an arrangement facing negative electrode terminal plate, with resin injection gate corresponding to resin injection port of metal molds during resin molding thereof positioned at the aperture end of battery casing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of producing an alkali battery comprising the steps of:
providing a battery casing having a first end, and a second end with an aperture;
molding a sealing element having an insertion hole extending from a first side, which is an outer side, to a second side, which is an inner side, by injecting resin through an injection gate on the first side;
inserting a negative electrode current collector into the insertion hole of the sealing element;
inserting the negative electrode current collector and the sealing element in the aperture end of the battery casing;
inserting a negative electrode terminal plate in the aperture end of the battery casing adjacent the negative electrode current collector; and
bending a rim of the aperture of the battery casing, wherein the first side of the sealing element is closer to the aperture of the battery casing than the second side of the sealing element and the second side of the sealing element is in contact with an electrolyte.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of producing an alkali battery according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the insertion hole of the sealing element is smaller than a diameter of the negative current collector, the negative electrode current collector is forcibly inserted into the insertion hole of the sealing element to extend into the battery casing and is supported in a cantilevered manner, and the injection gate is provided at an aperture rim of the battery casing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of producing an alkali battery according to claim 1, wherein the injection gate is provided at a location offset from a center location of the sealing element.

### Claim 4

A method of producing an alkali battery comprising the steps of:
providing a battery casing having a first end, and a second end with an aperture;
molding a sealing element having an insertion hole extending from a first side, which is an outer side, to a second side, which is an inner side, by injecting resin through an injection gate on the first side;
inserting a negative electrode current collector into the insertion hole of the sealing element;
inserting the negative electrode collector and the sealing element in the aperture end of the battery casing;
inserting a negative electrode terminal plate in the aperture end of the battery casing adjacent the negative electrode current collector;
bending a rim of the aperture of the battery casing inwards and crimping the rim to seal the aperture of the battery casing;
providing a negative electrode gel in the battery casing;
providing a positive electrode mixture in the battery casing;
providing a separator between the negative electrode gel and the positive electrode mixture; and
providing the insertion hole of the sealing element on a side contacting the negative electrode gel being constituted by a curved hole rim chamfered in radius shape, wherein the first side of the sealing element is closer to the aperture of the battery casing than the second side of the sealing element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of producing an alkali battery according to claim 4, wherein the second side of the sealing element is in contact with an electrolyte.

### Claim 6

An alkali battery comprising:
a battery casing having a first end, and a second end with an aperture;
a sealing element having an insertion hole;
said sealing element having a first side and a second side;
said sealing element being formed using an injection gate of the first side;
a negative electrode current collector disposed in the insertion hole of the sealing element;
said negative electrode current collector and said sealing element disposed in the aperture end of the battery casing;
a negative electrode terminal plate disposed in the aperture end of the battery casing adjacent the negative electrode current collector; and
said aperture end of the battery casing being bent inwards and crimped to seal the aperture of the battery casing, wherein the first side of the sealing element is closer to the aperture of the battery casing than the second side of the sealing element and the second side of the sealing element is in contact with an electrolyte.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The alkali battery according to claim 6, wherein a diameter of the insertion hole of the sealing element is smaller than a diameter of the negative current collector, the negative electrode current collector is forcibly inserted into the insertion hole of the sealing element to extend into the battery casing and is supported in a cantilevered manner, and the injection gate is provided at an aperture rim of the battery casing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The alkali battery according to claim 6, wherein the injection gate is provided at a location offset from a center location of the sealing element.

### Claim 9

An alkali battery comprising:
a battery casing having a first end, and a second end with an aperture;
a sealing element having an insertion hole;
said sealing element having a first side and a second side;
said sealing element being formed using an injection gate on the first side;
a negative electrode current collector disposed in the insertion hole of the sealing element;
said negative electrode current collector and said sealing element disposed in the aperture end of the battery casing;
a negative electrode terminal plate disposed in the aperture end of the battery casing adjacent the negative electrode current collector;
said aperture end of the battery casing being bent inwards and crimped to seal the aperture of the battery casing;
a negative electrode gel disposed in the battery casing;
a positive electrode mixture disposed in the battery casing;
a separator disposed between the negative electrode gel and the positive electrode mixture; and
the insertion hole of the sealing element on a side contacting the negative electrode gel being constituted by a curved hole rim chamfered in radius shape, wherein the first side of the sealing element is closer to the aperture of the battery casing than the second side of the sealing element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The alkali battery according to claim 9, wherein the second side of the sealing element is in contact with an electrolyte.