KR102254203B1 - Apparatus for preventing wrinkle secondary battery pouch - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti-wrinkle device of a pouch for a secondary battery. The purpose of the present invention is to remove wrinkles that can occur in a sealing area in a process of removing gas and other foreign substances present inside a pouch for a secondary battery. The present invention is a device for preventing wrinkles that can occur in the process of degassing in a pouch-type secondary battery including a cell pocket and a cell body with sealed edges, and the device includes: clamps disposed on both sides of the cell pocket, respectively; and a clamp driving unit that operates to clamp the cell pocket when the pouch-type secondary battery is loaded, wherein a gap between the clamps is maintained while the cell pocket is clamped.

Description

Anti-wrinkle device for rechargeable battery pouch{APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WRINKLE SECONDARY BATTERY POUCH}

The present invention relates to a device for preventing wrinkles in a pouch for a secondary battery, and more particularly, a secondary battery capable of preventing wrinkles that may occur in a sealing area in the process of removing gases and other foreign substances present inside the pouch for a secondary battery. It relates to a device for preventing wrinkles in a battery pouch.

In general, a secondary battery refers to a battery capable of charging and discharging, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, and is widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, or electric vehicles.

In particular, lithium secondary batteries have a larger capacity than nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel-hydrogen batteries, which are often used as power sources for electronic equipment, and have a high energy density per unit weight, so the degree of use thereof is rapidly increasing. .

Lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively.

A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate to which a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are applied, respectively, are disposed with a separator therebetween, and an exterior material that seals and accommodates the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte solution, that is, a battery case.

The lithium secondary battery may be classified into a can-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can and a pouch-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

In the pouch-type secondary battery, an electrode assembly including a negative electrode, a separator, and a positive electrode is put into a pouch case, and an electrolyte is injected, and then the edge is sealed. Then, the battery is activated through several charge/discharge cycles.

In this process, gas is generated inside the cell. In this case, in order to collect the generated gas, the pouch-type secondary battery in the step before the activation process has a size of the pouch exterior material larger than the final product.

A portion of the pouch case that is formed larger than the portion where the electrode assembly is disposed is referred to as a gas pocket portion, and gas generated during the activation process may be collected in the gas pocket portion.

After the activation process is finished, a hole is made in the gas pocket to drain the gas, and then the gas pocket is cut and the pouch outer material is resealed according to the final product specifications.

At this time, since the conventional degas device uses expensive equipment such as a chamber, there is a problem in that it takes a long time and cost incurred in manufacturing a secondary battery.

Accordingly, in recent years, the gas existing inside the gas pocket is removed through the air intake method, but in the case of the air intake method, wrinkles are generated because the secondary battery contracts, resulting in poor appearance and deterioration of function.

Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0028200

The present invention was conceived to solve the problems of the prior art, and for a secondary battery capable of removing wrinkles that may occur in the sealing area in the process of removing gas and other foreign substances present inside the pouch for a secondary battery. An object thereof is to provide a device for preventing wrinkles in a pouch.

The present invention is an apparatus for preventing wrinkles that may occur during a degassing process in a pouch-type secondary battery including a cell pocket and a cell body having a sealed edge thereof, comprising: clamps disposed on both sides of the cell pocket; When the pouch-type secondary battery is loaded, a clamp driving unit configured to operate the clamp to clamp each of the cell pockets; A spacing control unit for adjusting a spacing between the clamps to correspond to the width of the cell pocket; And in the process of the clamp clamping the cell pocket and then the degas device performing the degas operation, the clamp driving unit and the clamp are moved back a predetermined distance in a direction away from the cell pocket through the spacing control unit so that the cell pocket is pulled. It includes; a control unit for preventing the occurrence of wrinkles in the sealing portion.

In addition, the clamp driving unit controls the clamp to unclamp the cell pocket when a preset limit time elapses.

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In addition, the spacing control unit is formed of any one selected from an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and a cam.

In addition, the clamp includes a first clamp unit and a second clamp unit disposed at the front and rear surfaces of the cell pocket, respectively, and simultaneously contacting or spaced apart from the secondary battery by the clamp driving unit.

In addition, the clamp driving unit includes a housing having first and second entrance holes through which air enters and exits, and is accommodated in the inner space of the housing and connected to the first clamp unit, and air supplied or discharged through the first entrance hole. A first rack that is operated by reciprocating the first clamp unit to one side or the other side of the housing, opposite the first rack and connected to the second clamp unit, and supplied or discharged through the second entrance hole. A second rack that is operated by air to reciprocate the second clamp unit to one side or the other side of the housing, and is disposed rotatably in place between the first rack and the second rack, and the first rack and the second rack It includes a pinion gear to be simultaneously moved in the same direction or in the opposite direction to each other.

The anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch according to the present invention is a wrinkle that may occur in the sealing area by clamping the cell pocket or pulling it with a certain force in the process of removing gas or other foreign substances present in the rechargeable battery pouch. By preventing in advance, there is an effect of preventing a defect in appearance of a pouch for a secondary battery.

1 is a front view showing an example in which an apparatus for preventing wrinkles of a pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a degas device.
2 is a side view showing an example in which the anti-wrinkle device of a pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a degas device.
3 is a view showing a state before the anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention clamps a cell pocket.
Figure 4 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a clamp driving unit applied to the anti-wrinkle device of the pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing a state in which the anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention clamps a cell pocket.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and a method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in a variety of different forms, and only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and are common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those who have, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Like reference numerals are attached to similar parts throughout the specification.

1 is a front view showing an example in which a device for preventing wrinkles of a pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a degas device, and FIG. 2 is a device for preventing wrinkles of a pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. A side view showing an example applied to a degas device, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a state before the anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention clamps a cell pocket, and FIG. A top cross-sectional view showing a clamp driving part applied to the anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the anti-wrinkle device for a secondary battery pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention clamps a cell pocket It is one degree.

The pouch-type secondary battery may include a cell body 41 accommodating an electrode assembly and an electrolyte therein, and a cell pocket 42 integrally formed on the upper side of the cell body 41.

The cell body 41 and the cell pocket 42 may be integrally formed by sealing edges of the first and second surfaces 42a and 42b formed of the same material and size.

The cell pocket 42 is used to remove gas existing inside the cell body 41, and is removed from the cell body 41 when the gas removal process and the pouch sealing process are completed.

The pouch-type secondary battery may be degassed with the patent No. 10-2020-0061480 previously filed by the present applicant, name: the degassing device 100 of a pouch for a secondary battery.

The degassing device 100 of a pouch for a secondary battery previously filed by the present applicant includes a suction plate for adsorbing at least one surface of the cell pocket 42, and a separation to form a space inside the cell pocket 42 by pulling the suction plate. Part 110, a gas discharge part installed on the adsorption plate, piercing the pouch with a needle having a gas discharge path formed therein, connected to the gas discharge path, and sucking and removing gas inside the cell pocket 42 through air suction (Not shown), a foreign substance removing unit (not shown) that removes the gas-mixed discharge (dust, electrolyte), which is commonly introduced into the spacer 110 and the gas discharge path by the operation of the gas discharge unit, After completing the gas operation, a sealing block 120 may be included to seal the sealing portion 40a of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery.

At this time, when the gas in the cell pocket 42 is removed through the air suction method, wrinkles are generated in the sealing portion 40a of the pouch, resulting in a defect in the finished product.

The wrinkle removal device 1 of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in the degas device 100 of the pouch for a secondary battery, and wrinkles are formed in the process of removing gas from the cell pocket 42. It prevents the occurrence of defects in the finished product.

To this end, the apparatus 1 for preventing wrinkles of a pouch for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one of a clamp 10, a clamp driving unit 20, and a gap adjusting unit 30.

The clamps 10 are disposed on the left and right sides of the cell pocket 42, respectively, based on FIG. 3(a).

The clamp 10 is disposed to face each other on the left first surface 42a and the second surface 42b, the right first surface 42a and the second surface 42b of the cell pocket 42, and the clamp driving unit ( It may include a first clamp unit 11 and a second clamp unit 12 operated at the same time by 20).

On the lower side of the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12, contact pieces 111 and 121 contact and clamp the first surface 42a and the second surface 42b of the cell pocket 42, respectively. Are combined.

The contact pieces 111 and 121 may be formed of a material such as rubber or silicone having excellent friction coefficient so that the cell pocket 42 is not missed and can be stably clamped.

The contact pieces 111 and 121 may clamp the upper portion of the sealing portion 40a.

The clamp driving unit 20 is configured to operate the clamp 10 to clamp the cell pocket 42.

The clamp driving unit 20 may include at least one of a housing 21, an air supply/suction unit 22, a first rack 23, a second rack 24, and a pinion gear 25.

The housing 21 is coupled to the bracket 31.

The housing 21 may be formed in a polygonal box shape with an empty space formed therein.

A first rack 23 and a second rack 24 to be described later are accommodated in the inner space of the housing 21.

A partition wall 211 may be formed in the inner space of the housing 21 to allow the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 to be individually operated by the air supply/suction unit 22.

Specifically, a portion of the partition wall 211 is interposed between the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 to accommodate the first space 21c and the second rack 24 in which the first rack 23 is accommodated. The second space 21d in which) is accommodated is divided into independent spaces. Accordingly, the action of the air supply/suction unit 22 can be applied to the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 separately.

On one surface of the housing 21, a first entry hole 21a and a second entry hole 21b are formed, which are located on horizontal lines with each other, and through which air enters and exits.

A pair of guide holes (not shown) for guiding movements of the first coupler and the second coupler, which will be described later, respectively, are formed on the bottom surface of the housing 21 along the longitudinal direction.

One guide hole is connected to the first space (21c), and the other guide hole is connected to the second space (21d).

The air supply/suction unit 22 may be configured as a pair of two and may be installed in the first entrance hole 21a and the second entrance hole 21b, respectively.

The air supply/suction unit 22 may be applied as a product having both a function of supplying air and a function of sucking air, such as an air pump or an air compressor.

Any one air supply/suction part 22 includes a connection pipe or a connection hose connected to the first entrance hole 21a, and the other air supply/suction part 22 is a second entrance hole 21b Includes a connector or a connecting hose to be connected to.

The first rack 23 is accommodated in the first space 21c.

The first rack 23 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of the first space 21c.

The first rack 23 has teeth formed on a surface facing the second rack 24.

A first coupler connected to the first clamp unit 11 is formed on the bottom of the first rack 23.

A portion of the first coupler is positioned in the guide hole, and a portion under the first coupler protrudes to the outside and is coupled to the first clamp unit 11.

For example, the first coupler may be bolted or welded to the first clamp unit 11.

As another example, a protrusion (not shown) is formed in one of the upper surface of the first coupler and the bottom surface of the first clamp unit 11, and a groove into which the protrusion is inserted and fixed is formed in the other, The first clamp unit 11 may be male and female.

Accordingly, the first clamp unit 11 is operated in conjunction with the first rack 23.

The second rack 24 is accommodated in the second space 21d and faces the first rack 23.

The second rack 24 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of the second space 21d.

The second rack 24 has teeth formed on a surface facing the teeth of the first rack 23.

A second coupler connected to the second clamp unit 12 is formed on the bottom of the second rack 24.

A portion of the second coupler is positioned in the guide hole and a portion below the second coupler protrudes to the outside and is coupled to the second clamp unit 12.

For example, the second coupler may be bolted or welded to the second clamp unit 12.

As another example, a protrusion (not shown) is formed in one of the upper surface of the second coupler and the bottom surface of the second clamp unit 12, and a groove into which the protrusion is inserted and fixed is formed in the other, The second clamp unit 12 may be coupled to the male or female.

Accordingly, the second clamp unit 12 is operated in conjunction with the second rack 24.

The pinion gear 25 is a configuration that enables the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 to operate in conjunction.

Specifically, the pinion gear 25 is disposed between the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 in the center of the inner space of the housing 21, and the teeth formed on the circumferential surface are the first rack 23 and Maintains the state of being engaged with the teeth of the second rack (24).

In addition, a shaft fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 21 is formed in the central portion of the pinion gear 25.

The pinion gear 25 may be rotated in place with respect to the axis or may be rotated in place with the axis.

When the pinion gear 25 and the shaft rotate in place together, a bearing (not shown) for guiding the rotation of the shaft in place may be embedded in the bottom surface of the housing 21.

By the interaction of the first rack 23, the second rack 24, the pinion gear 25, and the air supply/suction unit 22, the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12 The cell pockets 42 are clamped/unclamped while simultaneously moving in the same or opposite directions.

Specifically, when the air supply/suction unit 22 connected to the first access hole 21a injects air into the first space 21c, another air supply/suction unit 22 connected to the second access hole 21b When the air in the second space (21d) is sucked, and the air supply/suction unit 22 connected to the first entrance hole (21a) sucks the air from the first space (21c), the second entrance hole (21b) is Another connected air supply/suction unit 22 injects air in the second space 21d.

4(b), when air is supplied to the first space 21c by the operation of the air supply/suction unit 22 and air is sucked into the second space 21d, the first rack 23 It is moved in the right inner wall direction of the housing 21, and the second rack 24 is moved in the left inner wall direction of the housing 21 so that the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12 are spaced apart from each other. Maintain the unclamped state.

In this case, the first clamp unit 11 may be located on the left side of the housing 21 and the second clamp unit 12 may be located on the right side of the housing 21.

On the contrary, when air in the first space 21c is sucked and air is supplied to the second space 21d by the operation of air supply/suction, as shown in Fig. 4(a), the first rack 23 And the second rack 24 move in the left inner wall direction and the right inner wall direction of the housing 21, respectively, and then face each other at the center, whereby the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12 As it gets closer, the cell pocket 42 is clamped.

And, in the process of moving the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 to the right or left side of the housing 21, the pinion gear 25 rotates in place, and the first rack 23 and the second rack 24 ) To guide the movement.

At this time, the above-described air supply/suction unit 22 may supply or suck air to the first space 21c and the second space 21d at the same pressure.

The spacing control unit 30 is configured to adjust the spacing between the clamps 10 to correspond to the width of the cell pocket 42.

The spacing adjustment unit 30 may be installed on the left and right sides of the degas device 100 of the pouch for a secondary battery, respectively, based on FIG. 1.

The spacing control unit 30 may be formed of any one selected from a linear cylinder, an air cylinder such as a rodless cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and a cam that converts rotational motion into linear motion, and the drawing shows an example applied as an air cylinder. .

Brackets 31 on which the housing 21 of the clamp driving unit 20 is installed are respectively coupled to a moving piston (not shown) provided in the spacing adjustment unit 30.

Accordingly, the spacing adjustment unit 30 adjusts the spacing between the clamps 10 by moving the clamp driving unit 20 to the left or right to correspond to the width of the cell pocket 42.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the operation of the anti-wrinkle device for a rechargeable battery pouch described above and a unique effect that appears in the process will be described.

The rechargeable battery pouch 40 is loaded into the degas device 100 by a separate loading unit (not shown).

The loading unit is a holder that fixes the cell pocket 42 of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery, and is disposed outside the degas device 100, and the holder is spaced apart from the inside of the degas device 100, that is, up and down. It may include a pneumatic cylinder that is transferred between the unit 110 and the sealing block 120.

At this time, the cell pocket 42 is disposed between the spaced portion 110 and the clamp 10, and the sealing portion 40a is disposed between the sealing block 120.

The anti-wrinkle device 1 for a rechargeable battery pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a sensing means (not shown) for detecting loading of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery.

As an example, the sensing means may be disposed to face each other and may be formed of a light-receiving sensor and a light-emitting sensor that detects when the cell pocket 42 is loaded.

As another example, the sensing means may be applied in a manner that detects the loading of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery based on servo information of the transfer.

When detecting the loading of the pouch 40 for a secondary battery, the sensing means transmits it to the control unit, and the control unit simultaneously operates the separation unit 110, the gas removal unit, the gap adjustment unit 30, and the clamp driving unit 20.

The gap adjustment unit 30 and the clamp driving unit 20 adjust the gap between the clamp 10 before the separation unit 110 separates the first surface 42a and the second surface 42b of the cell pocket 42 Thus, both the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12 clamp the edge portions of both sides of the cell pocket 42.

In the process of degassing through the air intake action of the gas removal unit, a contraction action occurs in a certain area including the sealing portion 40a of the cell pocket 42, but the clamp 10 closes both sides of the cell pocket 42. Since the clamping is performed, the contraction action of the cell pocket 42 can be suppressed, and wrinkles can be prevented from occurring.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects in the finished secondary battery.

In addition, the control unit operates the sealing block 120 when the degas is completed to seal the sealing portion 40a.

In this case, since the amount of gas is different according to the size of the secondary battery, the time required for the degas according to the size of the secondary battery may be input to the control unit.

Further, when the size of the secondary battery is large, the control unit controls the gap adjustment unit 30 to efficiently prevent the occurrence of wrinkles so that the clamp 10 pulls the cell pocket 42 with a predetermined force.

As a result of self-degassing and wrinkle removal, if the width of the pouch for secondary batteries is less than 400mm, wrinkles did not occur even if the clamp 10 kept the cell pocket 42 clamped, but the pouch for secondary batteries When the width of the cell pocket 42 was clamped with the clamp 10 when the width was 400 mm or more, it was confirmed that wrinkles occurred.

Therefore, the control unit clamps the cell pocket 42 by the clamp 10, and then, the clamp driving unit 20 and the clamp 10 through the gap adjusting unit 30 in the process of the degas device 100 performing the degas operation. ) Is moved back a predetermined distance in a direction away from the cell pocket 42 so that the cell pocket 42 is pulled, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring in the sealing portion 40a.

In this case, a distance at which the gap adjustment unit 30 moves the clamp 10 backward may be about 5 mm to 10 mm based on the width of 400 mm of the secondary battery pouch 40.

This does not completely prevent the occurrence of wrinkles when the retraction distance of the clamp 10 is less than 5 mm, and when it exceeds 10 mm, it is excessively pulled to the sealing portion 40a and protrudes from the cell body 41, and eventually the cell body 41 ) Is transformed into an abnormal shape.

Additionally, it is revealed that the distance at which the gap adjustment unit 30 moves the clamp 10 backward may be variously changed according to the size of the secondary battery.

On the other hand, the control unit operates the clamp driving unit 20 at the time when the sealing block 120 completes sealing so that the first clamp unit 11 and the second clamp unit 12 are separated from the cell pocket 42, Let unclamping take place.

In addition, the loading unit unloads the pouch 40 for a secondary battery on which the degas operation has been completed, to the outside of the degas device 100.

Therefore, the operator removes the pouch 40 for secondary batteries on which the degas operation has been completed from the holder, and then fixes the pouch 40 for a new secondary battery to the holder so that the pouch 40 for a new secondary battery is loaded in the degas device 100. Just do it.

Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative and non-limiting in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims to be described later rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present invention. It must be interpreted.

1: anti-wrinkle device for secondary battery pouch 10: clamp
11: first clamp unit 111,121: contact piece
12: second clamp unit 20: clamp drive unit
21: housing 21a: first entrance hole
21b: second entrance hole 21c: first space
21d: second space 211: partition wall
22: air supply/suction part 23: first rack
24: second rack 25: pinion gear
30: gap adjustment unit 31: bracket
40: secondary battery pouch 40a: sealing part
41: cell body 42: cell pocket
42a: first side 42b: second side
100: degas device 110: separation portion
120: sealing block

Claims (7)

As a device for preventing wrinkles that may occur in the process of degassing with a degas device in a pouch-type secondary battery including a cell pocket and a cell body whose edges are sealed,
Clamps disposed on both sides of the cell pocket;
When the pouch-type secondary battery is loaded, a clamp driving unit configured to operate the clamp to clamp each of the cell pockets;
A spacing control unit for adjusting a spacing between the clamps to correspond to the width of the cell pocket; And
In the process of the clamp clamping the cell pocket and then the degas device performing the degas operation, the clamp driving unit and the clamp are moved backward by a predetermined distance in a direction away from the cell pocket through the spacing control unit so that the cell pocket is pulled, A device for preventing wrinkles in a pouch for a secondary battery comprising a; a control unit for preventing wrinkles from occurring in the sealing portion.
The method of claim 1,
The clamp driving unit is a device for preventing wrinkles in a pouch for a secondary battery that controls the clamp to unclamp the cell pocket when a preset limit time elapses.
delete delete The method of claim 1,
The apparatus for preventing wrinkles of a pouch for a secondary battery formed of any one selected from among an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and a cam of the gap control unit.
The method of claim 1,
The clamp is disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the cell pocket, respectively, and a first clamp unit and a second clamp unit simultaneously contacting or spaced apart from the secondary battery by the clamp driver.
The method of claim 6,
The clamp driving part,
Housing with 1st and 2nd entry holes through which air enters and exits,
A first accommodated in the inner space of the housing and connected to the first clamp unit, operated by air supplied or discharged through the first entrance hole to reciprocate the first clamp unit to one side or the other side of the housing Rack,
A second rack facing the first rack and connected to the second clamp unit, operated by air supplied or discharged through the second entry hole to reciprocate the second clamp unit to one side or the other side of the housing ,
Anti-wrinkle device for secondary battery pouch including pinion gears disposed to be rotatable in place between the first and second racks so that the first and second racks move in the same direction or in opposite directions to each other .

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