KR20030039702A - Electrolyte dipping apparatus for lithium polymer battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus for infiltrating an electrolyte for a lithium polymer battery is provided, to increase the amount of an electrolyte to be infiltrated into an electrode plate by compressing it with heating it with a heating roller. CONSTITUTION: The apparatus comprises a compression means(20) which is set on the moving path of an electrode plate and infiltrates the electrolyte into the electrode plate by heating the gel-phase electrolyte layer(3) formed on the both sides of the electrode plate to compress the electrolyte layer onto the electrode plate; and a protection means(30) which covers the gel-phase electrolyte layer(3) for preventing the gel-phase electrolyte from being evaporated by the heat by the compression means. Preferably the compression means comprises a heating roller(21) which delivers the electrode plate(1) with heating the gel-phase electrolyte layer formed on the both sides of the electrode plate; and tension rollers(22, 23) which are set front and back sides of the heating roller and gives the tension to the electrode plate.

Description

Electrolyte impregnation device for lithium polymer battery {Electrolyte dipping apparatus for lithium polymer battery}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery, and relates to a gel indentation device for a gel polymer battery which improves the performance of a battery by improving the impregnation amount of a gel electrolyte layer into a pole plate.

In general, rechargeable batteries capable of charging and discharging are being actively researched by the development of portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, notebook computers, and camcorders. Examples of such secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, the lithium secondary battery has an operating voltage of 3.6V, which is three times better than the nickel-cadmium battery, which is widely used as a power source for electronic devices, and has an excellent energy density per unit weight.

However, when a lithium secondary battery has an abnormal phenomenon such as an internal short circuit, an external short circuit, an overcharge, or an overdischarge, there is a risk that the temperature inside the battery rises and the organic solvent used as the electrolyte may ignite. As a result, recently, an electrolyte solution made of a gel-type and solid polymer material having a relatively low flammability and less worry of leakage is used, and a carbon material is used as a cathode electrode material to solve the safety problem of a lithium ion battery. Gel-type lithium polymer batteries to be eliminated have been developed. Since such a gel-type lithium polymer battery uses a gel as an electrolyte, there is little worry about leakage, dry-up, and the like, and there is little risk of fuming ignition even when abnormal. In addition, since there is no worry of leakage, a simple exterior such as a laminate film is possible, and therefore, a thin and flexible battery can be produced, thereby improving the mass energy density. However, there is a problem that the ion conductivity is smaller than that of the electrolyte, and the battery performance is lowered. In order to solve this problem, a lithium polymer electrolyte impregnation apparatus has been developed to allow the electrolyte solution to be impregnated evenly inside the electrode. Referring to FIG. 1, a typical electrolyte impregnation apparatus for a lithium polymer battery includes a pair of driving rollers 5a and 5b. ) And a transfer unit 8 having a pair of rotary rollers 7a and 7b connected through the drive roller and the conveyor belt 6, and a support bracket 1 installed inside the conveyor belt 6. A pressurizing unit (4) having an upper pressurizing plate (2) and a lower pressurizing plate (3) fixedly fixed to the lower portion of the upper pressurizing plate (2), which are attached to each other and regularly move vertically and reciprocally, A pair of driving units comprising a storage hopper 10 equipped with a coating roller 9 and an electrolyte coating unit 12 for coating an electrolyte 11 on a predetermined thickness on an electrode plate, and the transfer unit 8. Of the rollers 5a and 5b and the rotary rollers 7a and 7b. A positive electrode roll 13 and a negative electrode roll 14 are conveyed at the same speed between the conveyor belts 6.

Therefore, when passing through the pressurizing unit 4, the electrode 11 coated with the electrolyte 11 and the electrode without the electrolyte coated on one electrode are brought into contact with each other, and then a predetermined mechanical vibration is applied to the laminated surface while pressing. Due to the ultrasonic wave, etc., the electrolyte 11 is evenly impregnated on the surface of the electrode.

Also, a conventional electrolyte impregnation method for lithium polymer batteries is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,688,293.

This method is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator having pores on the first and second surfaces, wherein any one of the first, second electrode, or the separator is formed of the gel polymer. Coating with an adhesive layer made of an electrolyte, adhering the first and second electrodes to the separator, and curing the adhesive layer. Curing the adhesive layer includes placing the first and second electrodes and the separator in an impermeable package, compressing the package, and applying heat.

The electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery also has a problem in that the electrolyte is not evenly impregnated into the electrode plate during manufacturing of the battery, and the amount of impregnation is small.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery in which the amount of the gel electrolyte is impregnated into the electrode plate.

1 is a view for explaining an electrolyte impregnation device for a conventional lithium polymer battery,

2 is a view for explaining an electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 2;

4 is an enlarged view of a portion B of FIG. 2;

5 is an enlarged view of a portion C of FIG. 2;

<Description of the reference numerals for the main parts of the drawings>

1 ... polar plate 21 ... 1st warming roller

22 Inlet side first tension roller 23 Outlet side first tension roller

25 ... 2nd warming roller 26 ... 2nd tension roller at entrance side

27.Exit 2nd tension roller 31 ... 1st protective film

32 ... First Winder 33 ... 2nd Protective Film

34 ... 2nd Winder 40 ... Secondary Roller

Electrolyte impregnating device for a lithium polymer battery of the present invention for achieving the above object is installed on the traveling path of the pole plate, by applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on both sides of the pole plate by pressing the gel electrolyte layer on the pole plate Pressing means for impregnation; And protective means for covering the gel electrolyte layer to prevent the gel electrolyte layer from being evaporated by the heat of the pressing means.

In addition, the pressing means includes a heating roller for transferring heat to the electrode plate while applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on both sides of the electrode plate; And tension rollers installed at front and rear sides of the heating rollers on the traveling path of the pole plates to apply tension to the pole plates.

The warming roller may include a first warming roller that heats the gel electrolyte layer formed on one surface of the electrode plate, and a second heating roller that heats the gel electrolyte layer formed on the other surface of the electrode plate. do.

The tension roller may include a first tension roller applying tension to the electrode plate together with the first heating roller, and a second tension roller applying tension to the electrode plate together with the second heating roller.

In addition, the protective means includes: first and second protective films which cover the upper surface of the gel-like electrolyte layer of the electrode plate while traveling on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second heating rollers, respectively; First and second unwinders for supplying the first and second protective films to the first and second tension rollers at a constant tension, respectively; And a rewinder for rewinding the second protective film to a constant tension after passing through the second tension roller.

In addition, it is characterized in that it further comprises a drying device installed in front of the pressing means on the traveling path of the electrode plate to dry the gel electrolyte layer.

The apparatus may further include an auxiliary roller installed to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the heating roller so that the electrode plate traveling on the circumferential surface of the heating roller and the protective film covered on the upper surface thereof do not leave the heating roller. .

In addition, the electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery of the present invention for achieving the above object is a pole plate unwinder for supplying a pole plate formed on both sides of the active material, and a gel-like electrolyte layer on one surface of the pole plate supplied from the pole plate unwinder The first electrolyte forming means to be formed and the first protective film is covered on the upper surface of the electrode plate passing through the first electrolyte forming means while traveling on the circumferential surface of the first heating roller, and the gel electrolyte layer on one surface of the electrode plate. A first impregnation device for impregnation, a second electrolyte forming means for forming a gel electrolyte layer on the other surface of the electrode plate having passed through the first impregnation device, and a second protection on an upper surface of the electrode plate having passed through the second electrolyte forming means A second impregnation apparatus for impregnating the gel electrolyte layer on the other surface of the electrode plate while traveling on the circumferential surface of the second heating roller while covering the film; and a pole plate passed through the second impregnation apparatus; And a pole plate rewinder for simultaneously rewinding the second protective film covered on the other surface of the pole plate.

Hereinafter, an electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 and 3, the electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery according to an embodiment of the present invention by the pressing means 20 is installed on the traveling path of the electrode plate (1), by the pressing means 20 And protective means 30 for preventing the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on the upper surface of the electrode plate 1 from being evaporated.

The electrode plate 1 is coated on the both sides of the current collector with a plurality of coatings having a predetermined interval in the unit of the active material 2 is wound on the electrode plate unwinder 10. The first electrolyte forming means 5 for applying a gel electrolyte to one surface of the portion coated with the active material 2 of the electrode plate 1 released from the electrode plate unwinder 10 is the progress of the electrode plate 1. Installed on the path. In addition, the second electrolyte forming means 6 for applying a gel electrolyte to the other surface of the electrode plate having passed through the outlet-side first tension roller 23 to be described later has an outlet-side first tension roller on the traveling path of the electrode plate 1. It is installed in the rear of 23.

The pressing means 20 applies heat to the gel-like electrolyte layer 3 formed by being applied to one surface of the electrode plate 1 by the first electrolyte forming means 5, thereby applying the gel-like electrolyte layer 3 to the It is crimped to the pole plate 1. As a result, the gel electrolyte layer 3 is changed into a form that is easy to flow and is impregnated into the electrode plate 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing means 20 includes a first heating roller 21 for applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on one surface of the electrode plate 1. When the temperature of the first heating roller 21 is around 45 ° C., the gel electrolyte layer 3 is changed into a form that is easy to flow. In addition, the electrode plate 1 in contact with the circumferential surface of the first heating roller 21 is transferred by the rotation of the first heating roller 21. First tension rollers 22 and 23 are respectively installed in front and rear of the first heating roller 21 on the traveling path D of the pole plate 1 to prevent the pole plate 1 from sagging. The first tension rollers 22 and 23 apply tension to the electrode plate 1 together with the first heating rollers 21.

In addition, as shown in Figure 4, the pressing means 20 includes a second heating roller 25 for applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer 4 formed on the other surface of the electrode plate (1). The second heating roller 25 plays the same role as the first heating roller 21. Auxiliary tension rollers 28 and 29 and second tension rollers 26 and 27 are installed in front and rear of the second heating roller 25 on the traveling path D of the pole plate 1 so that the pole plate 1 is provided. Do not sag. The second tension rollers 26 and 27 and the auxiliary tension rollers 28 and 29 apply tension to the electrode plate 1 together with the second heating roller 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the protection means 30 travels on the circumferential surface of the first heating roller 21 and covers the upper surface of the gel electrolyte layer 3 on one surface of the electrode plate 1. The protective film 31 is included. The first protective film 31 is supplied from the first unwinder 32 to the first tension roller 22 at a constant tension. The first tension roller 22 includes an inlet-side first tension roller 22 installed in front of the first heating roller 21 along the traveling direction D of the electrode plate 1, and the first heating roller. An exit side first tension roller 23 provided at the rear of the 21 is included. The first protective film 31 supplied to the inlet side first tension roller 22 while maintaining a constant tension from the first unwinder 32 is a circumferential surface of the inlet side first tension roller 22. While passing through, it is combined with the gel-like electrolyte layer 3 on one surface of the electrode plate 1. Therefore, the gel-like electrolyte layer 3 on one surface of the electrode plate becomes a fluid liquid and prevents evaporation by heat generated by the first heating roller 21.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the protection means 30 travels on the circumferential surface of the second heating roller 25 and covers the upper surface of the gel electrolyte layer 4 on the other surface of the electrode plate 1. The second protective film 33 is included. The second protective film 33 is supplied from the second unwinder 34 onto the circumferential surfaces of the second tension rollers 26 and 27 with a constant tension. The second tension rollers 26 and 27 include an inlet-side second tension roller 26 installed in front of the second heating roller 25 along the traveling direction D of the pole plate 1, and the second tension roller 26. And an outlet-side second tension roller 27 provided at the rear of the heating roller 25. The second protective film 33 supplied to the inlet-side second tension roller 26 while maintaining a constant tension from the second unwinder 34 forms a circumferential surface of the inlet-side second tension roller 26. The gel-like electrolyte layer 4 on the other side of the electrode plate 1 is covered. Accordingly, the first and second protective films 31 and 33 respectively cover the gel electrolyte layers 3 and 4 formed on both surfaces of the electrode plate 1, and pass through the auxiliary tension roller 28 to the second heating. It passes through the roller 25. Therefore, the gel-like electrolyte layers 3 and 4 on both sides of the electrode plate 1 are prevented from being evaporated due to the heat generated by the second heating roller 25.

In addition, the first and second protective films 31 and 33 covering the upper plate 1 and the upper surface of the pole plate 1 traveling on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second heating rollers 21 and 25 are the first and second heating rollers. Auxiliary rollers 40 are respectively provided in contact with the circumferential surfaces of the first and second warming rollers 21 and 25 so as not to deviate from them.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the first protective film 31 covered on the upper surface of the electrode plate 1 passing through the outlet-side second tension roller 27 has a rewinder 41 with a constant tension. Rewind by The first protective film 31 is separated from the second tension roller 27 and the rewinder 41 on the traveling path D of the electrode plate by the first protective film 31 of the electrode plate 1. It is separated from the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on one surface and rewound to the rewinder 41. At this time, at the same time, the electrode plate from which the first protective film 31 is separated is wound by the electrode plate rewinder 50 together with the second protective film 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, a drying device 51 is installed in front of the pressing means 20 on the traveling path D of the electrode plate 1 so that the gel electrolyte layers 3 and 4 are semi-dried. It is desirable to. The drying device 51 includes a first drying device 52 provided in front of the first heating roller 21 on the traveling path D of the pole plate, and the second heating on the traveling path D of the pole plate. And a second drying apparatus 53 provided in front of the roller 25.

The first impregnating device 70 includes the first heating roller 21, the first tension rollers 22 and 23, the first protective film 31, and the first unwinder 32. As described above, the second impregnation apparatus 80 including the two warming rollers 25, the second tension rollers 26 and 27, the second protective film 33 and the second unwinder 34, Referring to the operation of the electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery according to the present invention configured as follows.

The electrode plate 1 having the active material formed on both surfaces thereof is supplied from the electrode plate unwinder 10. The electrode plate 1 released from the electrode plate unwinder 10 is formed with a gel electrolyte layer 3 on one surface thereof by the first electrolyte forming means 5. In the electrode plate 1 having passed through the first electrolyte forming means 5, the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on one surface of the electrode plate is semi-dried in the first drying apparatus 52. This is to prevent the gel-like electrolyte layer from contacting various contact sites with other devices on the path of the electrode plate. The electrode plate having passed through the first drying apparatus 52 impregnates the electrode plate 1 with a gel electrolyte layer while passing through the first impregnation apparatus 70. In other words, the first plate passed through the first drying apparatus 52 is a first protection supplied with the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on one surface of the plate while maintaining a constant tension in the first unwinder 32. The circumferential surface of the first heating roller 21 is driven while being covered with the film 31. In this case, the gel electrolyte layer formed on one surface of the electrode plate by the heat generated from the first heating roller 21 and the first tension rollers 22 and 23 provided in front and rear of the first heating roller 21 ( 3) deforms into a fluid form and is easily impregnated into the electrode plate under pressure.

The second electrolyte forming means 6 forms the gel electrolyte layer 4 on the other surface of the electrode plate which has passed through the first impregnation apparatus 70. The electrode plate having passed through the second electrolyte forming means 6 is semi-dried in the gel electrolyte layer 4 formed on the other surface of the electrode plate in the second drying apparatus 53. The electrode plate having passed through the second drying apparatus 53 impregnates the gel-like electrolyte layer 4 on the electrode plate while passing through the second impregnation apparatus 80. In other words, the second plate passed through the second drying apparatus 53 is a second protection that is supplied to the gel electrolyte layer 4 formed on the other surface of the pole plate while maintaining a constant tension in the second unwinder 34. The circumferential surface of the second heating roller 25 is driven while being covered with the film 33. In this case, the pole plates are formed by the heat generated by the second heating roller 25 and the second tension rollers 26 and 27 and the auxiliary tension rollers 28 and 29 provided in front and rear of the second heating roller 25. The gel-like electrolyte layer 4 formed on the other side of is deformed into a fluid form and is easily impregnated into the electrode plate under pressure. The first protective film 31 is rewound by the rewinder 41 at a constant tension from the electrode plate having passed through the second tension roller 27. In the separation roller 42, the first protective film 31 is separated from the gel electrolyte layer 3 formed on one surface of the electrode plate and rewound to the rewinder 41. At this time, the electrode plate 1 from which the first protective film 31 is separated is wound by the electrode plate rewinder 50 together with the second protective film 33.

As described above, the electrolyte impregnation device for a lithium polymer battery according to the present invention has an advantage of increasing the amount of the gel-like electrolyte coating layer impregnated into the electrode plate by compressing the gel-like electrolyte layer using a heating roller.

In addition, by applying a protective film on the surface of the gel-like electrolyte layer formed on the upper surface of the plate to pass through the heating roller to prevent the evaporation of the electrolyte and to prevent damage to the electrolyte has the advantage of increasing the gel impregnation amount.

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

Claims (8)

Compression means installed on the traveling path of the electrode plate and impregnating the gel electrolyte layer with the electrode plate by applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on both sides of the electrode plate; And protection means for covering the gel electrolyte layer to prevent evaporation of the gel electrolyte layer by the heat of the pressing means. The method of claim 1, The pressing means includes: a heating roller for transferring heat to the electrode plate while applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on both sides of the electrode plate; And a tension roller installed in front and rear of the heating roller on the traveling path of the pole plate to apply tension to the pole plate. The method of claim 2, The heating roller includes a first heating roller for applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on one surface of the electrode plate, and a second heating roller for applying heat to the gel electrolyte layer formed on the other surface of the electrode plate. Electrolyte impregnation device for polymer battery. The method of claim 2, The tension roller includes a first tension roller applying tension to the electrode plate together with the first heating roller, and a second tension roller applying tension to the electrode plate together with the second heating roller. Electrolytic Impregnation Device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The protective means includes: first and second protective films traveling on the circumferential surfaces of the first and second warming rollers, respectively, and covering the top surface of the gel electrolyte layer of the electrode plate; First and second unwinders for supplying the first and second protective films to the first and second tension rollers at a constant tension, respectively; And a rewinder for rewinding the second protective film having a constant tension after passing through the second tension roller. The method of claim 1, And a drying apparatus installed in front of the pressing means on the traveling path of the electrode plate to dry the gel electrolyte layer. The method of claim 1, Lithium polymer, characterized in that it further comprises a secondary roller which is installed in contact with the circumferential surface of the heating roller so that the protective film covered on the pole plate and the upper surface running on the circumferential surface of the heating roller does not leave the heating roller Battery electrolyte impregnation device. An electrode plate unwinder for supplying electrode plates formed on both surfaces of the active material; First electrolyte forming means for forming a gel electrolyte layer on one surface of the electrode plate supplied from the electrode plate unwinder; A first impregnating device for impregnating the gel electrolyte layer on one surface of the electrode plate while traveling on the circumferential surface of the first heating roller while covering the first protective film on the upper surface of the electrode plate having passed through the first electrolyte forming means; Second electrolyte forming means for forming a gel electrolyte layer on the other surface of the electrode plate having passed through the first impregnation apparatus; A second impregnating device for impregnating the gel electrolyte layer on the other surface of the electrode plate while traveling on the circumferential surface of the second heating roller while covering the second protective film on the upper surface of the electrode plate having passed through the second electrolyte forming means; And a pole plate rewinder for simultaneously rewinding the pole plate passing through the second impregnation device and the second protective film covered on the other surface of the pole plate. 2.