KR100357953B1 - Apparatus and method for manufacturing lithium ion polymer cell - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for producing a lithium ion polymer battery. According to the present invention, according to the present invention, an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and in which an organic electrolyte is impregnated is accommodated in an accommodating part of a battery case in which a gas passage is formed. Closing the cover with the cover, injecting the battery case containing the electrode assembly into the vacuum chamber, charging and discharging the electrode assembly in the vacuum chamber, and exhausting the gas generated therefrom to the outside of the vacuum chamber; Provided are a method of manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery, and a device for performing the same, comprising welding a gas passage formed in the battery case in the vacuum chamber.

Description

Apparatus and method for manufacturing lithium ion polymer cell

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery, and more particularly, to an assembly apparatus and method for a lithium ion polymer battery in which a lithium ion polymer battery is introduced into a vacuum chamber to fuse a battery case.

As miniaturization, weight reduction, and wirelessization of electronic devices such as mobile phones, camcorders, and notebook computers are rapidly progressing, lithium secondary batteries having high energy density have been actively developed as driving power thereof. The lithium secondary battery is classified into a lithium metal battery using a liquid electrolyte, a lithium ion battery, and a lithium ion battery using a polymer solid electrolyte. In addition, the lithium polymer battery may be classified into a fully solid lithium polymer battery containing no organic electrolyte and a lithium ion polymer battery using a gel polymer electrolyte containing an organic electrolyte according to the type of polymer solid electrolyte.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the structure of a conventional lithium ion polymer battery.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a lithium ion polymer battery includes a positive electrode plate filled with an electrode active material in a grid, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and in which an organic electrolyte is impregnated. The electrode plate assembly 11 which has a structure is provided. In addition, a positive electrode tab 12a is formed at one side of the positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode tab 13a is formed at one side of the negative electrode plate. The positive and negative electrode tabs 12a and 13a are arranged side by side at regular intervals. The tabs 12a and 13a may be connected to an external circuit by being connected to the leads 14 and 15.

The above-described electrode plate assembly 11, the positive electrode tab 12a, the negative electrode tab 13a, and the positive electrode lead 14 and the negative electrode lead 15 are formed by an insulating case 16 and a cover 16a integrally formed therewith. Is sealed. The insulating case 16 and the cover 16a generally have a form in which heat-adhesive materials are stacked on upper and lower surfaces of an aluminum thin film, and the heat-adhesive materials are bonded to each other to seal a space in which the electrode plate assembly 11 is accommodated. can do. In addition, a portion of the positive electrode lead 14 and the negative electrode lead 15 are sealed by the insulating case 16 in a state where the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode lead 15 are exposed to the outside for electrical connection between the battery cell 11 and the outside.

2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the case 16 having the receiving portion 23 for accommodating the electrode plate assembly 11 is initially formed integrally with the gas chamber 21. The gas chamber 21 may be sealed by the gas chamber cover 22, and the gas chamber cover 22 is integrally formed with a cover 16a for sealing the accommodating part 23. A gas passage 24 is formed between the electrode plate assembly accommodating portion 23 and the gas chamber 21, and the gas passage is connected to the electrode plate assembly accommodating portion 23 by the cover 16a and the gas chamber cover 21. And even if the gas chambers 21 are respectively sealed, they are not sealed.

After fusion is performed, the battery is charged and discharged. At this time, the gas generated from the electrode plate assembly 11 flows out to the gas chamber 21 through the gas passage 24 of FIG. 2. When charging and discharging is completed, the gas passage is closed by heat fusion, and the battery is completed by cutting along the cutting line 25.

In the method of manufacturing a lithium ion battery as described above, the gas generated from the electrode plate assembly 11 at the time of charging and discharging tends to remain in the accommodating portion 23 without completely flowing into the gas chamber 21. This is because the charging and discharging and the cutting of the gas chamber are made under atmospheric pressure, so that the gas generated at the time of charging and discharging does not sufficiently flow out to the gas chamber 21 where the atmospheric pressure acts from the outside. Therefore, if the gas passage 24 is heat-sealed in a state where the gas remains in the accommodating portion 23, the performance and the lifespan of the battery are adversely affected.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a conventional lithium ion polymer battery;

2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of a typical lithium ion polymer battery.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a device for performing the assembly process of the lithium ion polymer battery according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11. Battery Cell 12a. Anode tab

13. Negative plate 13a. Cathode tab

14, 15.Lead 16. Case

16a. Cover 21. Gas seal

22. Gas seal cover 23. Plate assembly compartment

24. Gas passage 25. Cutting line

31. Vacuum chamber 32. Exhaust pipe

33. Valve 34. Pump

35. Motor 36. Conveyor

37.Tray 45. Welder

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the electrode assembly consisting of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator (Separator) interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and the organic electrolyte is impregnated, the gas passage, and Accommodating a gas chamber in an accommodating part of the battery case in which the gas chamber is formed, sealing the cover with the cover, charging and discharging the electrode assembly, injecting the battery case containing the electrode assembly into a vacuum chamber, and in the vacuum chamber, the battery case. A method of manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery is provided, comprising: welding a gas passage formed in the gas passage; and removing the gas chamber by discharging the battery case from the vacuum chamber.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the method may further include drilling a gas chamber formed in the battery case introduced into the vacuum chamber before welding the gas passage formed in the battery case.

In addition, according to the present invention, an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and impregnated with an organic electrolyte solution, a gas passage, a gas chamber, and a battery in which the electrode assembly accommodating part is formed. An apparatus for manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery for assembling a case, the apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber in which vacuum exhaust can be achieved by a vacuum pump; A welding device capable of welding a gas passage formed in a case of the battery introduced into the vacuum chamber is provided.

In addition, according to another feature of the invention, it further comprises a perforator for perforating the gas chamber formed in the battery case introduced into the vacuum chamber.

Hereinafter, with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings the present invention will be described in more detail.

3 shows an apparatus for carrying out a method of manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the process of flowing out the gas after charging and discharging the lithium ion polymer battery is performed in the vacuum chamber 31 as shown in the drawing. The battery 40 may be introduced into the vacuum chamber 31 through the input door 38 provided in the vacuum chamber 31, and may be discharged to the outside through the discharge door 39. Air in the vacuum chamber 31 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 32, the vacuum chamber 31 can maintain a vacuum state. The exhaust pipe 32 may be opened and closed by the valve 33, and may discharge air in the chamber 31 to the outside through the vacuum pump 34 driven by the motor 35.

The case of the battery 40 introduced into the vacuum chamber 31 includes the gas chamber 21 described with reference to FIG. 2. The battery 40 is introduced into the vacuum chamber 31 in the state where charge and discharge are made. That is, the generated gas generated through the charging / discharging process of the battery flows into the gas chamber 21 and is then introduced into the vacuum chamber 31. In this case, since the vacuum pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure acts on the vacuum chamber 31, the gas remaining in the accommodating part 23 may be further leaked into the gas chamber 21. The vacuum chamber 31 may be provided with a device for sealing the lithium ion polymer battery. In the example shown in the figure, a welder 45 for welding the battery case is shown. The welder 45 may be, for example, a heating welder or an ultrasonic welder. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the vacuum chamber 31 may be further provided with a punch for punching to punch the gas chamber formed in the case. The punch for punching serves to discharge the gas filled in the gas chamber through the vacuum chamber by drilling the gas chamber in the vacuum chamber. The drilling is preferably performed before the final welding by the welder 45 is made.

The welder 45 is for finally welding the battery case after the gas outflow of the battery 40 is finished in the vacuum chamber 31. That is, it is for welding the gas passage (for example, the gas passage 24 of FIG. 2) which was kept in the open state at the time of charge / discharge of the battery 40. The welding machine 45 can weld a battery case, for example using the principle of heat welding or ultrasonic welding. For example, the welder 45 may be lifted and lifted by a lifting device not shown, and the battery case may be welded by heat or ultrasonic waves applied at a welding end indicated by reference numeral 46.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of a lithium ion polymer battery according to the present invention will be briefly described.

Before being introduced into the vacuum chamber 31 shown in FIG. 3, the case of the cell 40 is in a state where the electrode plate assembly is accommodated therein, and a passage through which gas can be discharged (for example, the gas passage of FIG. 24)) and a gas chamber 21 (FIG. 2), and are welded leaving only the passage 24. FIG. At this time, the tab 41 is extended to the outside of the case.

After the charging and discharging is completed, the battery 40 enters the vacuum chamber 31 through the door 38 for feeding the vacuum chamber 31 by the conveyor 36 in a state where a plurality of the cells 40 are disposed on the tray 37. Is committed. When the input of the battery 40 is completed, the input door 38 and the discharge door 39 are kept airtight. In this hermetic state, the pump 34 is used to increase the vacuum. Thereafter, the welding operation is performed by welding the gas passage formed in the case of the battery 40.

Optionally, the gas chamber 21 is drilled in a state where the vacuum is increased. The gas filled in the gas chamber 21 by this perforation is discharged to the outside, so that all the gas in the case can also be discharged. Thereafter, the gas passages formed in the case of the battery 40 are finally welded as above.

When the final welding of the battery 40 is finished, the discharge door 39 is opened to discharge the cells 40 to the outside of the vacuum chamber 31.

When the battery 40 is discharged to the outside of the vacuum chamber 31, the gas chamber 21 (FIG. 2) is cut by a conventional method.

In the apparatus and method for manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery according to the present invention, since the final welding of the lithium ion polymer battery is performed in a vacuum chamber, not only the gas is easily discharged but also the gas discharge efficiency is excellent, thus extending the performance and life of the battery. Can also contribute.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Could be. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (4)

An electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and impregnated with an organic electrolyte solution is accommodated in a housing part of a battery case in which a container, a gas passage, and a gas chamber are formed, and a cover. Sealing step, Charging and discharging the electrode assembly; Injecting a battery case containing the electrode assembly into a vacuum chamber; Welding a gas passage formed in the battery case in the vacuum chamber; And discharging the battery case from the vacuum chamber to remove the gas chamber. The method of manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery according to claim 1, further comprising perforating a gas chamber formed in a battery case introduced into the vacuum chamber before welding the gas passage formed in the battery case. Assembling an electrode assembly consisting of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and impregnated with an organic electrolyte, a gas passage, a gas chamber, and a case of a battery formed with a receiving portion of the electrode assembly In the manufacturing apparatus of a lithium ion polymer battery, A vacuum chamber in which vacuum evacuation can be made by a vacuum pump; And a welder capable of welding the gas passages formed in the case of the battery introduced into the vacuum chamber. The apparatus for manufacturing a lithium ion polymer battery according to claim 3, further comprising a perforator for perforating the gas chamber formed in the battery case introduced into the vacuum chamber.