KR102610385B1 - Method and apparatus for stacking secondary battery cell elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-speed secondary battery cell stack manufacturing device that enables high speed and high precision even when secondary batteries are enlarged, and is convenient for facility setting and maintenance.
The present invention is a device for manufacturing secondary battery cells by folding and stacking separators in a zigzag manner to a certain length and alternately stacking positive and negative electrode plates between them. A stack stage where the three materials (separator, positive plate, and negative plate) are stacked is used. Place it in the middle and symmetrically left and right [Anode plate supply device (electrode cutting & moving device or magazine)] - [Anode plate aligning device] - [Stack stage] - [Negative plate aligning device] - [Cathode plate supply device (electrode cutting & moving device) or magazine) are arranged, and the separator is continuously supplied from the top of the stack stage. However, the stack stage does not perform left/right linear reciprocation or rotational reciprocation, and electrodes are transferred through electrode transfer devices installed on the left and right sides of the stack stage, respectively. Laminate.

Description

High-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries {Method and apparatus for stacking secondary battery cell elements}

The present invention relates to a high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries, and more specifically, to a secondary battery cell high-speed stack manufacturing device that enables high speed and high precision even when secondary batteries are enlarged, and is convenient for facility setting and maintenance. will be.

In general, a chemical battery is a battery composed of a facing negative and positive plate, a separator (membrane) located between the negative and positive plates, and an electrolyte. The amount of energy that can be stored varies depending on the materials that make up the electrode and electrolyte. . These chemical batteries are divided into primary batteries, which have a very slow charging reaction and are used only for one-time discharge, and secondary batteries, which can be reused through repeated charging and discharging. Recently, the use of secondary batteries has rapidly increased due to the advantage of being able to charge and discharge. There is a growing trend.

Due to its advantages, the secondary battery is applied to various technological fields throughout the industry. For example, it is widely used as an energy source for advanced electronic devices such as wireless mobile devices, as well as existing gasoline and diesel fuels that use fossil fuels. It is also attracting attention as an energy source such as electric vehicles, which are being proposed as a way to solve the problems of air pollution from internal combustion engines and depletion of fossil fuels.

These secondary batteries are made up of a positive electrode plate, a separator (membrane), and a negative electrode plate sequentially stacked and immersed in an electrolyte solution. There are two major ways to manufacture the internal cell stack of such secondary batteries.

The first method is to manufacture the negative electrode plate, separator, positive plate, and separator in that order by overlapping them and then winding them together to form a jelly-roll. The second method is to cut the negative electrode plate and positive plate to the required size to create the negative electrode plate, separator, and positive plate. , This is a method of stacking separators alternately. In order to manufacture high-capacity or large-sized secondary batteries, the second stacking method above is advantageous in terms of battery life and space efficiency, so its adoption for electric vehicles is increasing.

There are several ways to manufacture the internal cells (assembly of electrodes and separators) of secondary batteries by stacking. Among them, as shown in Figure 1, the continuous separator (membrane) 3 is folded in a zigzag shape. The method of alternately stacking the negative electrode plate (1) and the positive plate (2) between the folded separators is called Z-folding & stacking, or Z-stacking for short.

As described in Patent Registration No. 10-1140447, the device for manufacturing the internal cells of secondary batteries using the Z-stack method includes a device for stacking materials such as electrode plates and separators, and a device for transporting the electrode plates to the stacking position. Cell manufacturing devices that stack materials while repeatedly performing linear reciprocating motion and vertical lifting motion have been most widely used in the past.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these Z-folding stack manufacturing devices stack the negative electrode plate (1) and the positive plate (2) on individual tables (T) spaced apart on the left and right, and between the individual tables (T) The stage 4 on which the negative electrode plate 1 and the positive plate 2 are placed is installed to move horizontally back and forth left and right, and the robot 5 alternately moves the negative electrode plate 1 and the positive plate 2 on the table T. It is picked up and transported so that it can be stacked on the separator (3) that is folded and unfolded on the stage (4).

However, this conventional Z-stacking method requires a lot of work time because the left and right moving distance of the stage 4 is long, and this causes a problem of reduced productivity. In addition, when the operating speed of the device is increased to shorten the working time, vibration and noise rapidly increase, making it impossible to secure the positioning accuracy of the device, and the laminated material is shaken while the stage 4 repeats reciprocating and stopping, causing damage to the inside of the cell. There was a problem in which stacking precision between electrodes was not secured.

Accordingly, in recent years, in order to improve the above problems, a high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1730469, Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1933550, and Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1956758 has been developed. By tilting (rotating and reciprocating) the stage (table) to stack electrodes alternately, the operation steps for folding the separator were reduced, and the transport distance of the electrodes was also somewhat shortened.

However, in the cell stack manufacturing device described above, shock occurs during the driving process by tilting (rotating and reciprocating) the heavy stacking stage, resulting in high fatigue of the components used in the tilting (rotating and reciprocating) operation, resulting in a shortened lifespan. This problem has side effects that become worse the higher the speed. In addition, the stage on which the material is stacked has changed from a linear reciprocating motion to a rotating reciprocating (tilting) motion, but the stacking is still carried out while repeating transfer and stopping, so concerns about damage to the stacking precision between electrodes are still not resolved.

After the publication of Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1730469, attempts were made to increase speed by rotating and reciprocating (tilting) the electrode transfer device as in Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2003728, or in Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2003737, registered as a Korean patent. Prior technologies, such as Publication No. 10-2049468, have been attempted to prevent cell quality damage during high-speed operation by having the stack stage move in a curved manner rather than a straight line, but they have not been able to solve the problem of the stack stage having to move back and forth, and are patented in Korea. Prior art, such as Registration Publication No. 10-2044363 and Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2044367, has been disclosed in which the stack stage is fixed and the electrode transfer device and electrode alignment device are rotated and reciprocated (tilted), but both high speed and stack precision are achieved at the same time. There are still concerns that it is difficult to secure.

Meanwhile, as the electric vehicle market expands, secondary battery manufacturers want to increase the speed and performance of Z-STACK MACHINE (Z-stack equipment), which requires a large number of units, takes up a large space, and requires a high investment ratio. As the size of secondary batteries grows, We are trying to solve the problem of low productivity.

In addition, electric vehicle manufacturers are ordering larger secondary batteries to secure higher electric charging capacity in the same space in order to gradually extend driving time. Accordingly, secondary battery manufacturers are seeing a decrease in the production speed of cell stack equipment as batteries become larger. , there is a demand for equipment that can solve the problem of low product precision. In addition, as the number of equipment increases with the increase in production, there is a need to develop equipment that can ensure good management visibility and easily maintain and manage equipment precision.

Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1140447. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1730469. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1933550. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1956758. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2003728. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2003737. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2049468. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2044363. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2044367.

The present invention was developed to solve the problems of the prior art described above. It facilitates high-speed operation by simplifying the operation of the electrode transfer device (Pick & Place) for stacking electrodes of secondary battery cells and the operation for folding the separator. When stacking at high speed, the reciprocating motion of the stack stage, which causes damage to stack precision, is eliminated, and as cells become larger, the weight of the electrode transfer device (Pick & Place) increases rapidly or becomes vulnerable to vibration, slowing down production speed. The purpose is to solve the problem of securing stack precision and provide a high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries that is convenient for facility setting and maintenance.

According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the separator is folded and stacked in a zigzag manner to a certain length, and a stack table is provided for alternately stacking positive and negative electrode plates between the separators, and an electrode frame for pressing and fixing the stacked electrodes. Stack stage including presser; A separator folding device that continuously supplies separators from the upper part of the stack stage and rotates and reciprocates to fold the separators in a zigzag manner for a certain length and overlap them; The stack stage is installed symmetrically to the left and right with the stack stage in the middle so that the positive and negative electrode plates can be alternately stacked between the separators that are zigzag folded and overlapped by the separator folding device, and are spaced at a predetermined distance from the stack stage. An electrode alignment device consisting of an installed positive electrode plate alignment device and a negative electrode plate alignment device; An electrode supply device consisting of a positive electrode supply device and a negative electrode supply device installed symmetrically to the left and right at a predetermined interval from the electrode alignment device, respectively; It is installed between the positive plate supply device and the positive plate alignment device, between the negative electrode plate supply device and the negative electrode plate alignment device, between the positive plate alignment device and the stack stage, and between the negative electrode plate alignment device and the stack stage to adsorb the positive plate and the negative plate. An electrode transfer device consisting of a positive plate transfer device and a negative plate transfer device that transports and supplies to the stacking position; And a linkage device that links the lifting movement of the electrode suction plate of the electrode transfer device with the electrode presser of the stack stage, wherein the electrode transfer device includes the stack stage and the positive plate alignment device, the positive plate supply device, and the negative electrode plate. A rotating shaft installed in a direction parallel to the alignment device and the negative plate supply device below the stacking position of the electrodes or the transfer trace of the electrodes and reciprocating rotation; The lower end is fastened to the rotating shaft so that the upper part rotates at a predetermined angle, and the upper end is an operating bar (driver) formed to extend above the upper surfaces of the stack stage, positive plate alignment device, positive plate supply device, negative plate alignment device, and negative plate supply device. ); a rotation axis installed parallel to the rotation axis at the top of the operation bar; and an electrode coupler installed on the rotating shaft and made of a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate that is always in a horizontal state even during the turning movement of the operating bar. can do.

Here, the electrode transfer device includes an upper pulley and a lower pulley having the same pitch circle diameter, respectively installed on the lower rotation axis and the upper rotation axis; and a belt connecting the upper pulley and the lower pulley, wherein the lower pulley installed on the lower rotating shaft can rotate independently of the rotating shaft by inserting a bearing, and the upper pulley installed on the upper rotating shaft is coupled to the rotating shaft. It is fixed to rotate in this way, and the lower pulley of the lower rotating shaft is fixed to the frame of the equipment separately from the rotating shaft so that the rotation angle of the upper rotating shaft and the positive or negative plate suction plate fixed to it is always relative to the ground regardless of the angle of the operating bar. It can be parallel or maintain an initially set fixed angle.

In addition, one or two auxiliary bars (followers) are added to the electrode suction plate to pair side by side with the operating bar and connect with a hinge to form a 4-bar linkage, so that the electrode is operated regardless of the angle of the operating bar. The suction plate can be kept parallel to the electrode alignment table or stack table.

In addition, the electrode suction plate further includes a motor that rotates the electrode suction plate at a certain angle in response to the rotational movement of the operating bar, and the electrode suction plate can be maintained parallel to the electrode alignment table or stack table without a belt or pulley. .

In addition, the electrode transfer device has a hinge axis supporting the lower part below the vertical position where the cells are stacked or the transfer trace of the electrode, and the upper part rotates and reciprocates at a predetermined angle to transfer the positive electrode plate and the electrode from the electrode supply device to the electrode alignment device. The negative electrode plate can be transferred and supplied, and the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate can be alternately transferred and supplied from the electrode alignment device to the stack stage.

The high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention has the effect of improving productivity. In other words, the electrode transfer device (Pick & Place) and the separator folding device (Separator Folding Apparatus) included in the present invention have the effect of improving product productivity through higher speed by reducing the operation steps of the device compared to prior technologies.

In addition, the high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention has the effect of improving precision. In other words, the configuration of the device according to the present invention is that both the electrode alignment table and the stack table are fixed parallel to the ground, so it is easy to set up the operation of transferring and stacking the electrodes, making it easy to secure precision, and the stack table can also move back and forth/left and right. However, since there is no rotational movement, there is no problem of the electrode stacking precision being damaged due to the laminated electrodes shaking, so it is effective in securing higher product precision than the prior art.

In addition, the high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries according to the present invention has the effect of improving the responsiveness (productivity, precision) of long cells. In other words, in the prior art, as the secondary battery cell becomes longer, the production speed or stacking precision decreases, but the electrode transfer device and separator folding device proposed in the present invention ensures production speed and stacking precision when producing long cells. has an advantageous effect over prior technologies.

In addition, the high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention has the effect of improving the convenience of facility management. In other words, the electrode transfer device and separator folding device proposed in the present invention have power generators located at the bottom of the electrode transfer path, so it is easy to secure a field of view to observe the work situation, and it is advantageous to take action when a problem occurs in the facility, thus maintaining the facility. It has the effect of providing convenient advantages.

Figure 1 is a simplified diagram showing the internal cell stack of a secondary battery manufactured by the Z-stacking method.
Figure 2 is a plan view showing a conventional Z-stacking cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries.
Figure 3 is a simplified diagram showing an operation example of a conventional Z-stacking cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries.
Figure 4 is a diagram schematically showing a high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention.
Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an example of operation of the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an electrode supply device provided at the left and right ends, and Figure 6 is a magazine for supplying electrodes to the left and right ends. A drawing showing an example of this arrangement.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the mechanical principles of the positive plate transfer device (Pick & Place) and the negative plate transfer device (Pick & Place) provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention compared with the prior art.
Figure 10 is a diagram showing a positive plate transfer device and a negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 11 is a diagram showing a structure in which cells transferred by the positive and negative plate transfer devices provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention can transfer long cells and small cells, respectively.
Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a positive plate transfer device and a negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 13 is a view showing another embodiment of the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing a separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 15 is a diagram showing the separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention compared with the prior art.
Figure 16 is a diagram showing embodiments of a separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 17 is a diagram showing a structure in which the electrode presser, which is provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention and fixes the electrode, is operated in conjunction with a cam and a belt.
Figures 18 and 19 are diagrams of the electrode presser, which is provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention and fixes the electrode, operated in conjunction with a cam and a belt, and the electrode presser is raised and lowered.
Figure 20 is a diagram sequentially showing the operating positions of the electrode presser and the cam device for fixing the electrodes provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.
Figures 21 and 22 are diagrams showing a state in which the electrode presser, which is provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention and fixes the electrode, is operated in conjunction with a cam and a belt.
Figure 23 is a diagram showing the structure of the electrode adsorption plate lifting device of the positive and negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 24 is a diagram showing an embodiment of transmitting power to the electrode adsorption plate lifting device of the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.
Figure 25 is a diagram showing the principle and structure of a conveyor with an electrode flattening function using sequential vacuum adsorption provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 26 depicts the process of adversely affecting stacking precision when there is sagging in the process of transferring the positive and negative electrode plates from the magazine in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention, and to prevent this, a conveyor with an electrode flattening function is used. Drawing showing an example of installation between the magazine and the electrode alignment device.
Figure 27 is a diagram showing an example in which the electrode flattening conveyor provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to low-speed equipment and high-speed equipment, respectively.
Figure 28 is a diagram showing a separator quantitative supply detection device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Prior to the description of the present invention, the following specific structural and functional descriptions are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms. , should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein.

In addition, since the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention can make various changes and have various forms, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification. However, this is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to a specific disclosed form, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

In addition, the configurations of the present invention are to be interpreted to the same extent not only by direct contact or connection, but also by contact or connection through other configurations between the configurations.

Figure 4 schematically shows a high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries according to the present invention.

This is a drawing, and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an operation example of the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention folds and overlaps the separator 3 in a zigzag manner at a certain length, and forms a positive electrode plate 1 and a negative electrode plate 2 therebetween. It is a device that manufactures secondary battery cells by alternately stacking the above three materials (separator, positive plate, negative plate) symmetrically left and right with the stack stage 100 in the middle [negative plate supply device (delivery after electrode cutting)] Device or magazine)] - [Negative plate alignment device] - [Stack stage] - [Anode plate alignment device] - [Anode plate supply device (electrode cutting and delivery device or magazine)] are arranged, and the separator (3) is placed on the stack stage (100). ) is supplied continuously from the top, but the stack stage 100 does not make a left/right linear reciprocating motion or a rotary reciprocating motion, and electrodes are supplied through electrode transfer devices 500A and 500B installed on the left and right sides of the stack stage 100, respectively. Laminate.

At this time, the structure of the electrode transfer device (Pick & Place, positive plate transfer device 500B and negative plate transfer device 500A) includes the negative electrode plate alignment device 300A and the upper surface of the stack table 110 below the upper surface of the electrode alignment table. An operating bar 520 (link bar or lever (DRIVER)) extending above the upper surface of the electrode alignment device is fixed to the rotation axis 510 provided in a direction parallel to the positive plate alignment device 300B (TD direction). When (510) reciprocates, the operation bar 520 is configured to rotate and reciprocate around the rotation axis 510, and then the rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis 510 at the end (top) of the operation bar 520. (530) is installed, an electrode adsorption plate is fixed to this rotating shaft (530), and this rotating shaft (530) is operated using a Four-Bar-Link Mechanism even while the operating bar (520) rotates and reciprocates. The electrode absorption plate is always maintained in a parallel state with the electrode seating surface of the alignment device and the stacking surface of the stack table 110.

The electrode transfer device (500A, 500B) described in the present invention is a device that transfers and supplies electrodes (anode plate and cathode plate) by having a rotation axis 510 on the lower side of the device like a metronome pendulum motion. It is configured between the negative plate supply device (400A) and the negative plate alignment device (300A), between the negative plate alignment device (300A) and the stack stage 100, and between the positive plate supply device (400B) and the positive plate alignment device (300B), and the positive plate. It is configured between the alignment device 300B and the stack stage 100 and performs the function of transferring the electrode to the next stage.

In addition, as a separator folding device (200), the reciprocating rotation shaft 210 is provided below the upper surface of the stack table 110 and parallel to the longitudinal direction (TD direction) of the stack table, and above the upper surface of the stack table. When the extended swing reciprocating motion operation bar 220 (link bar or lever (DRIVER)) is fixed and the reciprocating rotation shaft 210 rotates reciprocally, the swing reciprocating motion operation bar 220 rotates around the reciprocating rotation shaft 210. After configuring the reciprocating motion, a pair of separator guide rollers 230 are installed at the end (top) of the swing reciprocating motion operation bar, and a separator is supplied between the pair of guide rollers 230, and a pair of guide rollers ( 230) is characterized by folding the separator while rotating and reciprocating on the stack table 110 through a reciprocating rotation axis 210 below the surface on which the electrodes are stacked.

The separator folding device described in the present invention is provided with a reciprocating rotation axis 210 on the lower side of the device like a metronome pendulum, and the reciprocating rotation axis 210 is built into the stack stage 100 to form a separator on the stack table. It is a device that folds and stacks in a zigzag manner.

The present invention includes a motion synchronizing device (Motion Synchronizing Apparatus) between an electrode absorption plate lifting device (Vacuum Pad Up-down Apparatus) and an electrode presser device using a cam and a belt. In addition, it includes a vacuum pad up-down apparatus for the electrode absorption plate using cam movement.

The electrode spreading conveyor described in the present invention is an electrode transfer conveyor that has the function of spreading curved electrodes (anode plates, cathode plates), and the transfer conveyor uses a progressive increase of suction area.

The separator feeding length sensing apparatus described in the present invention is equipped with a learning function and uses the angle change of a pair of separator guide rollers (Twin Dancer Rollers) to determine the supply amount of the separator. Measure.

Figure 7 is a view showing the principles of the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention, and Figures 8 and 9 are provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell manufacturing device according to the present invention. It is a diagram showing the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device compared to the prior art, Figure 10 is a view showing the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell manufacturing device according to the present invention, and Figure 11 is a view showing the present invention. It is a diagram showing a structure in which the cells transferred by the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell manufacturing device according to can transfer long cells and small cells, respectively, Figures 12 and 13 is a diagram showing an example of a positive plate transfer device and a negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell manufacturing device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, the positive plate transfer device 500B and the negative plate transfer device 500A have a rotation axis 510 at the lower part of the operation bar 520 like a metronome pendulum (METRONOME PENDULUM). 520) and connect it to the motor, place the rotation axis 530 on the upper part of the operating bar, and fix the electrode suction plate (positive plate suction plate and negative electrode suction plate) to this rotation shaft 530, so that the lower rotation shaft 510 and the upper rotation shaft 510 After installing the upper pulley 541 and lower pulley 542 with the same pitch diameter on the rotation axis 530 and connecting them with a belt 543, the lower pulley ( 542) is capable of rotating independently of the rotation axis by inserting a bearing, and the upper pulley 541 installed on the upper rotation axis 530 is coupled to the rotation axis and fixed to rotate with the rotation axis. Afterwards, when the lower pulley 542 of the lower rotation axis is fixed to the ground separately from the rotation axis, the rotation angle of the upper rotation axis and the electrode suction plate fixed thereto is always the initially set angle regardless of the angle of the operating bar 520. will be maintained.

At this time, if the electrode suction plate is fixed to the upper rotation axis so that the electrode suction surface faces the ground and is parallel, the electrode suction surface always remains parallel to the ground regardless of the rotation angle of the operating bar. In the electrode transfer device proposed by the present invention, the electrode suction plate rotates to the upper part of the place where the electrode is picked up (surface of the electrode alignment table) and the place where the electrode is stacked (surface of the electrode stack table), so just by rotating one rotation axis , the electrode can be moved by moving in the Y direction, so there is no need for sequential operations such as “moving in the Y direction (elevating movement), then receiving a signal and moving in the X direction” during electrode transfer, which has the advantage of enabling high-speed electrode transfer.

Therefore, the present invention is capable of increasing speed. Specifically, as shown in the drawing showing an example of the prior art in FIG. 8, the present invention can perform operations such as ① and ③ of the prior art with a single operation of ②, and even if operations ① and ③ are performed when necessary. Since there is no risk of collision with the electrode alignment device and the electrode stack stage, the signal transmission time between operations ①, ②, and ③ can be omitted, enabling higher speed than prior technologies.

Additionally, the present invention can improve stacking precision. In the present invention, the stack stage and the alignment device are fixed without moving in the horizontal direction, making it convenient to set the electrode transfer distance and stacking position. On the other hand, in the prior arts, the stack table rotates, as in KR101730469B1, KR101933550B1, and KR101956758B1, or the stack table moves reciprocally, as in the prior arts KR102003728B1 and KR102003737B1, causing the electrodes inside the cells being stacked to shake, causing errors in stacking precision between electrodes. There is a problem.

In particular, when the stack table is inclined as in the prior arts KR101730469B1, KR101933550B1, and KR101956758B1, or the table of the electrode alignment stage is inclined as in the prior arts KR102044363B1 and KR102044367B1, the surface of the electrode adsorption device and the stack table or the table surface of the electrode alignment stage The parallelism error is added, making it disadvantageous to secure electrode stacking precision.

Meanwhile, the present invention can improve the productivity of long cells. Specifically, in the prior art, when the electrode adsorption device has a cantilever structure and operates at high speed, vibration occurs in the device, which reduces stacking precision and requires motor stabilization time, and when two electrode transfer devices are tied together, as the length of the electrode increases, the length of the electrode increases. The weight of the device increases, making high-speed operation difficult.

However, as shown in FIG. 10, the electrode transfer device proposed in the present invention has a support structure at both ends, and even as the length of the electrode increases, the increase in the load on the moving part of the device is not large compared to prior technologies, making it possible to use a long cell. It is advantageous for high-speed stacking. In addition, other than the electrode suction plate and support structure, there is no part where the load on the reciprocating part increases, so the increase in movement inertia during long cell production is small.

Specifically, when the length of the electrode is long, as shown on the left side of FIG. 11, the length of the electrode adsorption device is increased to match the length of the electrode, and levers are installed on both sides of the electrode adsorption device, but the gap between the levers is widened. If manufactured, it is possible to respond without a significant increase in vibration and transfer load of the device.

In addition, when the length of the electrode is short, as shown on the right side of FIG. 11, the length of the electrode adsorption device can be shortened to match the length of the electrode, and a lever can be installed on only one side of the electrode adsorption device to easily produce small products. This is possible.

Additionally, the present invention can ensure ease of facility maintenance. Specifically, the electrode transfer device of the present invention has the advantage of making it easy for workers to visually check for equipment problems and manage the equipment since it does not discriminate between electrode alignment devices. On the other hand, prior art equipment has the disadvantage that it is difficult to visually check and take action when a problem occurs in the electrode alignment device because the structure of the electrode transfer device obscures the electrode alignment device.

The embodiment of the positive plate transfer device (500B) and the negative plate transfer device (500A) proposed in the present invention is a form that combines the principle of the four-bar link with an operating bar and a belt device in consideration of device miniaturization, vibration reduction, and installation convenience. Since it has evolved into , it can be utilized by attaching an electrode suction plate to the basic four-bar linkage mechanism as shown in FIG. 12. In addition, as shown on the right side of FIG. 12, when a motor that rotates the pulley installed on the lower link is added, the surface direction of the electrode suction plate can be changed to a desired direction at any position.

In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 13, a motor is added to the electrode vacuum suction plate to rotate the electrode suction plate to a desired angle in accordance with the rotational movement of the operating bar, so that the electrode suction plate is connected to the electrode alignment table or stack table without a belt. It is possible to implement an operation that keeps them parallel. That is, by installing an additional motor instead of the belt and pulley, the electrode suction plate can be maintained at a desired angle directly by the motor.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing a separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention, and Figure 15 is a diagram comparing the separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention with the prior art. 16 is a diagram showing examples of the separator folding device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the separator folding device 200 provided by the present invention is provided with a reciprocating rotation shaft 210 at the lower part of the swiveling reciprocating motion operation bar 220 like a metronome pendulum (METRONOME PENDULUM). And, it has a structure in which a separator folding apparatus (Separator Folding Apparatus) with a pair of separator guide rollers 230 (Twin Guide Roller) on the upper hinge axis is built into the stack stage. That is, the separator folding device in which the reciprocating rotation axis 210 is located inside the stack table is installed on the stack stage separately from the stack table, which is lowered in stages according to the thickness of the electrode stack.

The separator folding device provided by the present invention can enable high speed. Specifically, the separator folding device proposed in the present invention allows a pair of separator guide rollers (twin guide rollers) for folding to reciprocate without colliding with the stacked product and the electrode presser device just by rotating and reciprocating the operating bar, thereby maintaining the separator. Compared to prior technologies that require the stack table to move up and down every time it is folded, the number of operation steps is small, and to prevent collisions between the separator folding device and the stack stage, completion is checked for each X and Y direction operation. Since there is no need to check, high-speed folding of the separator is possible.

Additionally, the separator folding device provided by the present invention can improve stacking precision. The stack table rotates (tilts) as in the prior arts KR101730469B1, KR101933550B1, and KR101956758B1, or the stack table reciprocates as in the prior arts KR102003728B1, KR102003737B1, KR102049468, and KR102096934B1. When stacking, as the stacking height increases, the round trip There was a problem that slip occurred between the laminated electrodes due to the kinetic inertia generated during the cell, and the position between the laminated electrodes inside the cell was disturbed.

However, the separator folding device provided by the present invention folds the separator while the stack stage is fixed, so no external force shaking the stacked cells is generated, and among the prior arts, the stack table rotates (KR101730469B1, KR101933550B1) to maintain stacking precision. , KR101956758B1) or a structure in which the stack table reciprocates (KR102003728B1, KR102003737B1, KR102049468, KR102096934B1), it is advantageous for improving stacking precision.

In addition, the separator folding device provided by the present invention can achieve results only by rotating and reciprocating motion by fixing a pair of separator guide rollers 230 to the ends of the operating bar 220. As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, The same result can be achieved by applying the section 4 link. In addition, as in the embodiment shown on the right side of FIG. 16, the pitch circle diameter (P.C.D) of the fixed pulley is within twice the pitch circle diameter (P.C.D) of the rotating pulley, so that when the operating bar rotates, a pair of The separator guide roller can also be rotated.

At this time, in order to ensure that the separator is in close contact with the stacked surface of the cell, the rotation angle of the operating bar becomes smaller from the left side to the right side view of FIG. 16. Therefore, in order to fold the separator at high speed, a structure similar to the embodiment may be introduced to reduce the reciprocating angle of the lever.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing a structure in which the electrode presser 120, which is provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention and fixes the electrode, is operated in conjunction with a cam and a belt, and Figures 18 and 19 are diagrams showing the structure of the present invention The electrode presser 120, which is provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus and fixes the electrode, is operated in conjunction with a cam and a belt, and is a diagram showing the raised and lowered state of the electrode presser 120, Figure 20 is a diagram sequentially showing the operating positions of the electrode presser 120 for fixing the electrodes provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and Figures 21 and 22 are diagrams showing the high-speed secondary battery cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. This is a diagram showing a state in which the electrode presser provided in the cell stack manufacturing device and fixing the electrodes operates in conjunction with the lifting movement of the electrode suction plate of the electrode transfer device by a cam and a belt.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 22, the present invention provides the lifting and forward and backward movement of the electrode presser that holds the stacked electrodes so that they do not move, and the up/down movement of the electrode suction plate of the electrode transfer device (Pick & Place). If the down movement is operated by connecting it with a cam and a belt, collisions between movements are prevented and communication to check completion of each unit operation is not necessary, enabling high-speed production. In addition, the five position movements of the electrode presser and the lifting and lowering motion of the electrode suction plate provided in the electrode transfer device can be operated with a single motor, which is advantageous in reducing production costs.

As in this embodiment, if the rotating position of the electrode transfer device or the lifting position of the electrode suction plate and the operation of pressing and fixing the electrode by the electrode presser are linked, the communication time between operations can be reduced.

As shown, the stack stage 100 is equipped with a separator and a stack table 110 capable of stacking positive and negative electrode plates, and an electrode presser ( Presser (120) is installed, and the stack stage (100) includes a cam and a belt that operate in conjunction with the lifting and forward/backward motion of the electrode presser and the up/down motion of the positive plate suction plate or negative electrode plate suction plate. Device 130 is connected.

The linkage device 130 of this embodiment is provided with one cam for horizontal movement and one cam for vertical movement of the electrode presser for the anode and cathode, respectively, and operates the electrode presser and the electrode adsorption device with a belt, link, and motor. It can be operated by connecting. Specifically, the linkage device 130 includes a camshaft 131; A first cam 132 installed on the camshaft 131; A first linkage part 133 composed of a cam follower and a link installed to be interlocked with the first cam 132 to reciprocate the electrode presser 120; a second cam 134 installed on the camshaft 311; A second linkage part 135 composed of a cam follower and a link that is installed in conjunction with the second cam 134 and moves the electrode presser 120 up and down; and a power transmission unit 136 that transmits the rotational force of the camshaft 131 to a belt to lower the positive or negative electrode plate suction plate or negative electrode plate when the positive and negative plates are stacked.

As shown in Figure 19, power is transmitted from the camshaft to the electrode suction plate via the belt and the rotation axis of the electrode transfer device. At this time, the two pulleys added to the rotation axis of the electrode transfer device have bearings installed inside them, so they can rotate separately from the rotation axis of the electrode transfer device, but the two pulleys are coupled to each other and configured to rotate together. When actually stacking electrodes, the electrode transfer device is lowered only when it reaches the electrode alignment table or the stack table.

Therefore, the present invention can enable high speed. Specifically, in order to fix the position of the electrode during stacking, the electrode is pressed with an electrode presser, and then when the next electrode is stacked, the operation of pulling it out and pressing it again is repeated.

As shown in Figure 20, the electrode presser repeatedly moves to 3 positions vertically and 2 positions horizontally. When this is linked with the electrode stacking operation by providing one cam for horizontal movement and one cam for vertical movement, each movement is performed. High-speed stacking is possible because communication for exchanging completion signals can be omitted.

Additionally, the operation of the electrode presser repeats the following five sequences.

First, press and secure the electrode with an electrode presser.

Second, the electrode presser is slightly lifted from the electrode. (The separator folds before and after this time.

Third, retract the electrode presser.

Fourth, raise the electrode presser.

Fifth, advance the electrode presser. (At this time, the electrode suction plate descends to stack the electrodes.)

Therefore, the present invention is provided with a pair of cams for driving the positive and negative electrodes by combining the lifting and lowering movements of the electrode suction plate and the forward and backward movement and the lifting and lowering movements of the electrode presser, respectively, so that they can perform interlocking operations.

Figure 23 is a diagram depicting the operation of the electrode suction plate lifting device of the positive plate transfer device and the negative plate transfer device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention, and Figure 24 is a secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention. This is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the electrode presser provided and fixing the electrode operates in conjunction.

As shown in Figures 23 and 24, the present invention provides a structure advantageous for high speed by installing a motor drive device for lifting the electrode suction plate on the fixed part, not the moving part, of the electrode transfer device to lower the moving load. By adding a motor and pulley coaxially to the rotation axis of the electrode transfer device so that it can rotate separately from the rotation axis, and installing an eccentric shaft inside the electrode suction plate, the device is configured so that the electrode suction plate can be raised and lowered by this eccentric axis. By lowering the transfer load of the electrode transfer device, favorable conditions can be provided for speeding up the reciprocating movement of the electrode transfer device.

Therefore, the present invention can improve productivity. Specifically, the Electrode Absorption Plate can be used to [electrode adsorption] - [separate two electrodes] - [prepare to move beyond magazine height], or if the heights of the electrode alignment table and the electrode stack table are different, the electrode absorption plate can be used vertically. There may be cases where height adjustment is required to more than 3 positions. For this purpose, the lifting movement is often performed using a motor rather than an air cylinder. However, when lifting and lowering with a motor, parts such as the motor, ball screw, ball nut, ball screw support housing, and coupling are added to the reciprocating electrode transfer device, increasing the moving load and becoming an obstacle to high speed.

The present invention provides favorable conditions for high speed by installing the motor drive device that raises and lowers the electrode suction plate on the fixed part rather than the moving part of the electrode transfer device to lower the moving load. Additionally, the eccentric shaft that lifts the electrode suction plate can be driven by receiving the rotational force of an external motor through a path as shown in the left drawings of FIGS. 23 and 24.

The left drawing of FIG. 24 is an example of installing the electrode suction plate lifting motor on the same axis as the rotation axis of the electrode transfer device driven by the electrode transfer motor, and the right side of FIG. 24 shows the external shaft (cam shaft for driving the electrode presser) motor → This is an example of power being transmitted from the rotating shaft of the electrode transfer device to the eccentric shaft for lifting the electrode suction plate.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing the principle and structure of the electrode flattening conveyor provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and Figure 26 is a diagram showing the magazine of the positive and negative electrode plates in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. This diagram depicts the process of adversely affecting stacking precision when there is sagging of the electrode during the transfer process, and shows an example of installing a conveyor with an electrode flattening function between the magazine and the electrode alignment device to prevent this.

As shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, the positive plate supply device 400B and the negative plate supply device 400A provided by the present invention are equipped with a transfer conveyor 410 with a flattening function. The transfer conveyor 410 includes a vacuum adsorption belt 420 (flat belt conveyor) formed with through holes 422 in rows and rows to vacuum adsorb the positive and negative electrode plates so as to have the function of straightening the curved positive and negative electrode plates, A vacuum chamber ( 430).

At this time, the distribution of the vacuum holes 432 that adsorb the electrode is formed to become wider from the middle in the direction of progress, so that the electrode is sequentially adsorbed from the middle to the left and right, thereby making the electrode flat.

Therefore, the present invention can improve stacking precision. As shown in Figure 26, when the cut electrodes are stacked and supplied in a magazine, the surface of the stacked electrodes is uneven and the height of the stacked electrodes is not accurate, so a number of vacuum suction pads with a cushion function are used to adsorb and transport the electrodes. There are many cases. However, the part of the electrode that is not attached to the vacuum suction pad sags under its own weight, and when it is vacuum suctioned to the electrode alignment table in this state, contrary to when transferring the electrode, the part held by the vacuum suction pad is adsorbed to the alignment table first. It often happens that the remaining part rises upward and does not straighten out. When the electrodes aligned in this state are pressed against the plate-shaped electrode adsorption plate, the raised portion of the electrode unfolds in a random direction at the moment of pressing. If the electrodes are stacked like this, a lot of electrode position dispersion occurs, resulting in poor cell quality. The present invention can solve this problem.

In FIG. 26, the drawing on the upper left shows the moment the transfer device grabs the electrode on the alignment table for electrode stacking, the bent part unfolds asymmetrically and the electrodes are stacked irregularly biased to the left and right, and the drawing in the upper middle shows the state in which the electrode is first placed on the alignment device. The part that was touched was adsorbed first, and the alignment work was done without straightening the bent part. In the drawing on the upper right, the part of the electrode that the vacuum suction pad cannot grasp is sagging.

The lower part of Figure 26 is a diagram depicting the addition of an electrode supply device equipped with a vacuum suction belt with an electrode flattening function between the electrode alignment device and the electrode magazine supply device to prevent the deterioration of stacking precision due to electrode sagging. .

In the present invention, the raised electrode can be flattened by vacuum adsorbing from the center of the electrode seated on the vacuum suction belt and gradually expanding the vacuum suction area from the middle to the outside as the belt advances. Since it takes time for the raised part to straighten due to friction between the electrode and the belt, the belt length can be selectively configured to be short in low-speed equipment and long in high-speed equipment.

The left drawing of FIG. 27 is an example of applying a short belt for low-speed equipment. In the case of low-speed equipment, the electrodes at each standby position above stay for a long time, so the electrodes can be flattened even if the number of sections is small.

The drawing on the right side of Figure 27 is an example of applying a long belt for high-speed equipment. In the case of high-speed equipment, the stay time of the electrodes at each standby position above is short, but the number of sections can be increased to spread the electrodes evenly without missing anything. .

Figure 28 is a diagram showing a separator quantitative supply detection device provided in the secondary battery high-speed cell stack manufacturing device according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 28, the separator quantitative supply detection device 600 provided in the present invention determines the appropriate separator length each time it is folded within one cell according to the width of the product when a new product is first produced. You can check it.

This separator fixed-quantity supply detection device 600 has brackets for fixing the spacing of the guide rollers 230 at both ends of a pair of separator guide rollers 230, and a rotatable support shaft at the symmetry center of the bracket. An angle sensor 610 is installed on the support shaft so that the supply amount of the separator can be measured by measuring the angle change of the pair of guide rollers 230 from the angle sensor 610.

In this embodiment, the separator is supplied between the guide rollers 230 composed of a pair of rollers, and the support shaft for mounting the two guide rollers 230 on the equipment is installed eccentrically above the axes of the two rollers, allowing the separator to pass. The amount of rotation of the support shaft changes depending on how short the length of the separator is. By installing the angle sensor 610 on the support shaft of the guide roller 230, the insufficient length of the separator can be measured.

When creating a production recipe for a new product using this device, the so-called learning function can be implemented by storing the length of the separator required for each folding and supplying separators equal to the length of the stored separator during actual production. If the length of the stacked separator is abnormally short, a sensor function can be provided to detect equipment or product damage before it occurs and stop the equipment.

According to the present invention, the separator used in secondary batteries is composed of a thin porous polymer film with a thickness of about 20㎛, so it is prone to damage such as stretching or wrinkles when subjected to tension. The present invention prevents damage to the separator during work by easily checking the required separator length more accurately by using a pair of guide rollers that change angles even at very low tension, which is difficult to set with a general separator tension adjusting device (Dancer Roll). You can do it.

It can also be used as a sensor for creating recipes for new products. Before producing a new product, the required length of the separator can be easily calculated while laminating at low speed. It can be used as a sensor to detect abnormalities in separator tension during production. If the tension of the separator increases rapidly due to abnormal conditions during production, it can be used as a sensor to detect this and stop production before damage to the equipment occurs.

The technical object of the present invention is achieved by the technical configuration as described above, and although it has been described with limited examples and drawings, it is not limited thereto and the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalence of the technical idea and scope of the patent claims described below.

100 - Stack stage 200 - Separator folding device
300A - Negative plate alignment device 300B - Positive plate alignment device
400A - Negative plate supply device 400B - Positive plate supply device
500A - Negative plate transfer device 500B - Positive plate transfer device
600 - Separator quantitative supply detection device

Claims (5)

A stack stage including a stack table that can alternately stack positive and negative electrode plates while folding and stacking separators in a zigzag manner to a certain length, and an electrode presser that presses and fixes the stacked electrodes;
A separator folding device that continuously supplies separators from the upper part of the stack stage and rotates and reciprocates to fold the separators in a zigzag manner for a certain length and overlap them;
The stack stage is installed symmetrically to the left and right with the stack stage in the middle so that the positive and negative electrode plates can be alternately stacked between the separators that are zigzag folded and overlapped by the separator folding device, and are spaced at a predetermined distance from the stack stage. An electrode alignment device consisting of an installed positive electrode plate alignment device and a negative electrode plate alignment device;
An electrode supply device consisting of a positive electrode supply device and a negative electrode supply device installed symmetrically to the left and right at a predetermined interval from the electrode alignment device, respectively;
It is installed between the positive plate supply device and the positive plate alignment device, between the negative electrode plate supply device and the negative electrode plate alignment device, between the positive plate alignment device and the stack stage, and between the negative electrode plate alignment device and the stack stage to adsorb the positive plate and the negative plate. An electrode transfer device consisting of a positive plate transfer device and a negative plate transfer device that transports and supplies to the stacking position; and
It includes a linkage device that links the lifting movement of the electrode suction plate of the electrode transfer device with the electrode presser of the stack stage,
The electrode transfer device,
A rotating shaft installed below the stacking position of the electrodes or the transfer trace of the electrodes and rotating reciprocally in a direction parallel to the stack stage, the positive plate alignment device, the positive plate supply device, the negative electrode plate alignment device, and the negative electrode plate supply device;
An operating bar whose lower end is fastened to the rotating shaft so that the upper part rotates at a predetermined angle, and whose upper end extends above the upper surfaces of the stack stage, the positive plate alignment device, the positive plate supply device, the negative plate alignment device, and the negative plate supply device;
a rotation axis installed parallel to the rotation axis at the top of the operation bar; and
A high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for a secondary battery, comprising: an electrode suction plate installed on the rotating shaft and made of a positive electrode suction plate or a negative electrode suction plate that is always in a horizontal state even during the turning movement of the operating bar.
According to paragraph 1,
The electrode transfer device,
An upper pulley and a lower pulley having the same pitch circle diameter, respectively installed on the lower and upper rotation axes; and
It further includes a belt connecting the upper pulley and the lower pulley,
The lower pulley installed on the lower rotating shaft can rotate independently of the rotating shaft by inserting a bearing, and the upper pulley installed on the upper rotating shaft is coupled to the rotating shaft to fix the rotating shaft to rotate together, and the lower pulley of the lower rotating shaft is connected to the rotating shaft. Separately, it is fixed to the frame of the equipment so that the rotation angle of the upper rotating shaft and the positive or negative plate suction plate fixed thereto is always parallel to the ground or maintains the initially set fixed angle regardless of the angle of the operating bar. High-speed cell stack manufacturing equipment for batteries.
According to paragraph 1,
By adding one or two auxiliary bars to the electrode suction plate that are paired side by side with the operating bar and connected by a hinge to form a four-bar link,
A high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries, characterized in that the electrode suction plate is maintained parallel to the electrode alignment table or stack table regardless of the angle of the operating bar.
According to paragraph 1,
The electrode suction plate further includes a motor that rotates the electrode suction plate at a certain angle in response to the rotational movement of the operating bar,
A high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries, characterized in that the electrode suction plate is maintained parallel to the electrode alignment table or stack table without belts and pulleys.
According to paragraph 1,
The electrode transfer device,
A hinge axis supporting the lower part is placed below the vertical position where the cells are stacked or the transport trace of the electrode, and the upper part rotates and reciprocates at a predetermined angle to transfer and supply the positive and negative electrode plates from the electrode supply device to the electrode alignment device, A high-speed cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries, characterized in that positive and negative plates are alternately transferred and supplied from the electrode alignment device to the stack stage.