KR20200118992A - Degas chamber for secondary cell and system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell and to a degas system comprising the same and, more specifically, to a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell, which performs a degas process on the secondary battery cell after an activation process, and to a degas system comprising the same. The degas chamber (400) performs a degassing process by receiving the secondary battery cell (40) from a cell transfer unit (300) for transferring the secondary battery cell (40), and comprises: an upper chamber (410) installed at a position spaced apart from a delivery position (P3) receiving the secondary battery cell (40) from the cell transfer unit (300), and having an opening unit (411) formed at a lower side; and a lower chamber (420) coupled to the opening unit (411) of the upper chamber (410) to form a sealed inner space and reciprocating between the upper chamber (410) and the delivery position (P3) while supporting the secondary battery cell (40) in order to introduce the secondary battery cell (40) into the upper chamber (410) or discharge the secondary battery cell (40) from the upper chamber (410).

Description

Degas chamber of secondary cell and degas system including the same {Degas chamber for secondary cell and system having the same}

The present invention relates to a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell and a degas system dp including the same, and more particularly, a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell that performs a degas process on a secondary battery cell that has been activated and includes the same. It relates to a degas system.

In general, a chemical cell is a cell composed of a pair of positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, and the amount of energy that can be stored varies depending on the material constituting the electrode and the electrolyte.

These chemical batteries are classified into primary batteries that are used only for one-time discharge because the charging reaction is very slow, and secondary batteries that can be reused through repeated charging and discharging.

Secondary batteries are applied to various technological fields throughout the industry, and are used as an energy source for advanced electronic devices such as wireless mobile devices, as well as air pollution from conventional gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines using fossil fuels. It is also attracting attention as an energy source such as hybrid electric vehicles, which are proposed as a solution to the solution.

The secondary battery is manufactured in various ways according to the shape of the case accommodating the electrode assembly, and representative shapes include a cylindrical shape, a square shape, and a pouch type.

Typically, cylindrical rechargeable batteries use cylindrical aluminum cans, prismatic secondary batteries use square aluminum cans, and pouch-type secondary batteries are sealed with a pouch made of a thin aluminum laminate film made of a material such as aluminum. It is relatively lightweight and has excellent stability and has been widely used in recent years.

As an example, looking at the configuration of a pouch-type secondary battery cell, a stack, which is an electrode/separator assembly formed by interposing a separator, which is a separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and the stack is sealed and accommodated therein. A pouch made of a laminate film, and one end connected to the stack and the other end exposed to the outside of the pouch to induce a current to the outside, and a lead tab for negative and positive electrodes in a plate shape.

A secondary battery cell is generally completed by injecting an electrolyte into a pouch containing an electrode/separator assembly consisting of a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, and then sealing it.

As a post-process for the completed secondary battery cell, inspection after the activation process (charge/discharge process) for the electrolyte-injected secondary battery cell and the degas process to remove gas generated inside the secondary battery cell by the charge/discharge process is completed. After going through the process, it can finally function as a secondary battery.

On the other hand, in the case of a secondary battery cell degas system for a degas process, since the type or number of modules for the degas process can be configured in various ways, the efficient arrangement of each module is very effective in improving the productivity of the device or system expansion It is important, and it is necessary to develop a degas chamber for the efficient arrangement of each module.

It is an object of the present invention to recognize the importance as described above, and install a degas chamber to perform a degassing process on one side of the cell transfer part that transfers the secondary battery cell away from the movement path, thereby facilitating system expansion and improving productivity. It is to provide a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell and a degas system including the same, which can minimize the system footprint.

An object of the present invention is that the degas chamber is composed of an upper chamber and a lower chamber, so that parts replacement is convenient. Even if the standard or type of the secondary battery cell in which the degassing process is performed is changed, the degas chamber is suitable for the changed secondary battery cell. It is to provide a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell and a degas system including the same, which is easy to reconfigure and can greatly reduce the manufacturing cost required to construct the degas chamber.

An object of the present invention is that the degas chamber is composed of an upper chamber and a lower chamber, so that a cell pressurizing unit that presses the plate surface of the secondary battery cell during the degassing process can be installed outside the degas chamber. It is to provide a degas chamber of a secondary battery cell capable of miniaturizing the size and a degas system including the same.

The present invention was created to achieve the object of the present invention as described above, and degassing for performing a degassing process by receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 for transferring the secondary battery cell 40 As the chamber 400, the degas chamber 400 is installed at a position spaced apart from a delivery position P3 that receives the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300, and has an opening 411 at the lower side. ) The upper chamber 410 is formed; The delivery position (P3) while supporting the secondary battery cell 40 in order to introduce the secondary battery cell 40 into the upper chamber 410 or discharge the secondary battery cell 40 from the upper chamber 410 And a lower chamber 420 that reciprocates between the upper chamber 410 and is coupled to the opening 411 of the upper chamber 410 to form a sealed inner space (S). The gas chamber 400 is started.

The degas chamber 400 may further include lower chamber driving units 430 and 440 for driving the movement of the lower chamber 420 between the delivery position P3 and the upper chamber 410. have.

The lower chamber driving parts 430 and 440 may include a forward and backward driving part 430 for driving the forward and backward movement of the lower chamber 420 between the transfer position P3 and a lower side of the upper chamber 410; It may include an elevating driver 440 that drives the elevating movement of the lower chamber 420 under the upper chamber 410.

In the secondary battery cell 40, a first electrode sheet 12 and a second electrode sheet 14 are alternately stacked with each other, and a separation membrane between the first electrode sheet 13 and the second electrode sheet 14 ( 16) may have a plate structure including an electrode/separator assembly 10 in which an electrolyte is impregnated, and a pouch 20 sealing the electrode/separator assembly 10.

The lower chamber 420 may include a cell support part 800 that supports the secondary battery cell 40 received through the cell transfer part 300 in an upright state.

The cell support part 800 may include a pair of support plates 810 positioned inside the lower chamber 410 to support both side plate surfaces of the secondary battery cell 40.

The degas chamber 400 passes back and forth through the gas collection region M formed on the upper side of the secondary battery cell 40 installed in the upper chamber 410 and supported in an upright state, and passes through the through hole 21. A through hole forming part 500 to be formed, and a sealing part 600 installed in the upper chamber 410 to seal the pouch 20 in the inner region of the through hole 21 so that the electrode/separator assembly 10 is sealed. ) May be additionally included.

The cell support part 800 is provided to be movable through a pair of outer plates 820 located outside the lower chamber 420 and a sidewall of the lower chamber 420 to be movable. It may further include a coupling shaft portion 830 that couples each of the plates 820 to each of the pair of support plates 810.

The degas chamber 400 further includes a spacing adjustment unit 850 for applying an external force to at least one of the pair of outer plates 424 so that the spacing between the pair of support plates 810 is adjusted. can do.

The degas chamber 400, the lower chamber 420 is coupled to the upper chamber 410, the cell pressurizing unit 700 for pressing each of the pair of outer plates 820 inwardly Can be included as.

The lower chamber 420 may include a plurality of cell support portions 800 to support the plurality of secondary battery cells 40 along the plane direction of the plate surface of the secondary battery cell 40 in the upright state.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a cell loading unit 100 for loading the secondary battery cell 40, which has completed the activation process before the degassing process, to the loading position P1; A cell unloading unit 200 for unloading the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process is completed at the unloading position P2; A cell transfer unit 300 installed to be movable along a movement path L formed between the loading position P1 and the unloading position P2 to transfer the secondary battery cell 40; A degas system 1000 including a degas chamber 400 for performing a degassing process by receiving a secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 is disclosed.

In the degas chamber of the secondary battery cell and the degas system including the same according to the present invention, the degas chamber for performing the degassing process is installed on one side away from the movement path of the cell transfer unit transferring the secondary battery cell, so that system expansion is possible. It is easy and has the advantage of improving productivity and minimizing the footprint of the system.

In addition, the degas chamber of the secondary battery cell according to the present invention and the degas system including the same, the degas chamber is composed of an upper chamber and a lower chamber, so that parts exchange is convenient, and the standard of the secondary battery cell in which the degassing process is performed. Even if the type or type is changed, it is easy to reconfigure the degas chamber suitable for the changed secondary battery cell, and there is an advantage in that the manufacturing cost required to construct the degas chamber can be greatly reduced.

In addition, the degas chamber of the secondary battery cell according to the present invention and the degas system including the same, the degas chamber is composed of an upper chamber and a lower chamber, so that the cell pressurizing the plate surface of the secondary battery cell during the degassing process is performed. The part can be installed outside the degas chamber, and accordingly, there is an advantage that the size of the degas chamber can be reduced.

Accordingly, the secondary battery cell degas system according to the present invention can minimize the volume of the degas chamber, and can sufficiently form a vacuum atmosphere inside the degas chamber even when a vacuum pump with a smaller capacity is used. Bar, there is an advantage of minimizing the space or cost required for equipment for forming the internal space of the degas chamber with a vacuum.

1 is a plan view showing a secondary battery cell in which a degassing process is performed in a degas system according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view in the BB direction of FIG. 1.
3 is an XY plan view showing the configuration of a secondary battery cell degas system according to the present invention, and is a conceptual diagram showing a movement path of the secondary battery cell.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a part of the configuration of FIG. 3 in detail.
5A and 5B are side views illustrating the degas chamber of FIG. 4 and are views for explaining the operation of the lower chamber.
6 is a plan view of a lower chamber of the degas chamber of FIG. 4.
7A and 7B are cross-sectional views in the CC direction of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a view showing a state after an operation of a part of the component of FIG. 7A.
8A and 8B are cross-sectional views in the AA direction of FIG. 5A and are views for explaining the operation of the degas chamber.

Hereinafter, a degas system of a secondary battery cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention is a degassing process for discharging and removing gas generated inside the secondary battery cell 40 after the activation process has been completed, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8B. It is a system that performs.

Here, the secondary battery cell 40 in which the degassing process is performed by the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention may be manufactured in various shapes such as a cylindrical shape, a square shape, and a pouch type.

As an example, in the secondary battery cell 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first electrode sheets 12 and the second electrode sheets 14 are alternately stacked with each other, and the first electrode sheets ( 12) and the electrode/separator assembly 10 in which the separator 16 is positioned between the second electrode sheet 14, the pouch 20 for sealing the electrode/separator assembly 10, and the electrode/separator assembly 10 ) And includes a lead tab 30 protruding to the outside of the pouch 20. Here, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rectangular plate-shaped secondary battery cell 40 viewed in a normal direction perpendicular to the plate surface as a whole.

The electrode/separator assembly 10 may be impregnated by injecting an electrolyte solution before the degassing process.

The first electrode sheet 12 and the second electrode sheet 14 are alternately stacked with each other and separated by a separator 16 therebetween, forming a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the secondary battery cell 40, respectively. As a member, it may be formed of a metal sheet according to electrode characteristics.

In the first electrode sheet 12 and the second electrode sheet 14, electrode tabs (not shown) extend from each electrode sheet.

The separator 16 is a member interposed between the first electrode sheet 12 and the second electrode sheet 14, and is preferably made of a material having high wettability and high chemical resistance to an electrolyte.

The separator 16 may have various materials depending on the material of the first electrode sheet 12 and the second electrode sheet 14 constituting the secondary battery cell 40, physical properties of an electrolyte, and the like.

The pouch 20 is a member that seals the electrode/separator assembly 10 impregnated with the electrolyte, and has various materials depending on the material of the first electrode sheet 12 and the second electrode sheet 14, and the physical properties of the electrolyte. I can.

For example, the pouch 20 may be formed by laminating a nylon layer on one surface of an aluminum layer and a P.P layer on the other surface.

The lead tab 30 is made of a pair of an anode and a cathode, one end is connected to the electrode/separator assembly 10 and the other end protrudes to the outside of the pouch 20.

The lead tab 30 may be electrically connected to a plurality of electrode tabs extending from each of the electrode sheets 12 and 14 by welding.

1 to 2 illustrate a case in which a pair of lead tabs 30 are welded to opposite sides of the secondary battery cell 40, respectively, but it is of course possible to form all of them on one side.

In addition, a lead film 31 for increasing sealing degree with the pouch 20 and securing an electrical insulation state may be attached to at least a portion of the upper and lower surfaces of the lead tabs 30.

At this time, the degas system 1000 according to the present invention is a cell loading for loading the secondary battery cell 40, which has completed the activation process before the degassing process, to the loading position P1, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8B. A unit 100; A cell unloading unit 200 for unloading the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process is completed at the unloading position P2; A cell transfer unit 300 installed to be movable along a moving path L formed between the loading position P1 and the unloading position P2 to transfer the secondary battery cell 40; It includes a degas chamber 400 that receives the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 and performs a degassing process.

The cell loading unit 100 is configured to load the secondary battery cell 40, which has completed the activation process before the degassing process, to the loading position P1, and can be configured in various ways.

For example, the cell loading unit 100 includes a loading cell loading unit 110 loaded with a plurality of secondary battery cells 40 that have completed an activation process before the degassing process, and a secondary loaded cell loading unit 110 It may include a loading conveyor unit 120 for sequentially transferring the battery cells 40 to the loading position P1.

The loading cell cutting unit 110, as shown in FIG. 3, may be provided in plural, and a plurality of secondary battery cells 40 to be degassed after completing the activation process are loaded. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the loading conveyor unit 120 may be formed of a plurality of rows, and may preferably be arranged in two rows to improve the productivity of the system.

The loading conveyor unit 120 is a configuration for transferring the secondary battery cells 40 sequentially discharged from the loading cell loading unit 110 to the loading position P1, and various configurations are possible.

The cell unloading unit 200 is configured to unload the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process has been completed at the unloading position P2, and may have various configurations.

Here, the unloading position P2 may be set at a position spaced apart from the loading position P1 on a plane, and of course, may be set at various points according to the system configuration.

The cell unloading unit 200 may unload the secondary battery cell 40 located at the unloading position P2 to the outside of the system after the degassing process is completed. For example, the cell unloading unit 200 may be located at the unloading position P2. It may include an unloading conveyor unit 210 for discharging the secondary battery cell 40 to the outside.

The unloading conveyor unit 210 may be configured in various ways by discharging the secondary battery cell 40 located at the unloading position P2 to the outside, for example, similar to the loading conveyor unit 120 described above. Of course, it can be configured.

The cell transfer unit 300 is installed to be movable along a movement path L formed between the loading position P1 and the unloading position P2 to transfer the secondary battery cell 40. It is possible.

As an example, the cell transfer unit 300 picks up the secondary battery cell 40 at the loading position P1 and moves to the delivery position P3 to describe the picked up secondary battery cell 40 in a degas chamber ( 400), and the secondary battery cell 40, which has been degassed through the degas chamber 400, which will be described later, is picked up at the delivery position P3 and moved to the unloading position P2 to reach the unloading position P2. I can deliver.

In this case, the delivery position P3 may be set on the movement path L of the cell transfer unit 300, and preferably, may be set in a plurality along the movement path L.

Specifically, the cell transfer unit 300 transfers the secondary battery cell 40 from the loading position P1 to the delivery position P3 to the lower chamber 420, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. At least one first cell transfer unit 310 that transfers the secondary battery cell 40 and the secondary battery cell 40 from the lower chamber 420 at the delivery position P3 are transferred to the unloading position P2. It may include one or more second cell transfer units 320 for transferring the battery cells 40.

The first cell transfer unit 310 may pick up one or more secondary battery cells 40 at a time from the loading position P1 and move to the delivery position P3 to deliver the secondary battery cell 40, not shown. Although not, it can be configured in plural.

Similarly, the second cell transfer unit 320 may pick up one or more secondary battery cells 40 at a time from the delivery position P1 and move to the unloading position P2 to deliver the secondary battery cell 40. And, although not shown, may be configured in plural.

The first cell transfer unit 310 and the second cell transfer unit 320 may be controlled to move on the movement path L without mutual interference.

The degas chamber 400 may be configured in various ways by receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 and performing a degassing process.

As an example, the degas chamber 400 is installed at a position spaced apart from the delivery position P3 receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300, and the opening portion 411 is formed at the lower side. An upper chamber 410; In order to introduce the secondary battery cell 40 into the upper chamber 410 or discharge the secondary battery cell 40 from the upper chamber 410, the transfer position P3 and the upper chamber are supported while the secondary battery cell 40 is supported. It may include a lower chamber 420 that reciprocates between 410 and is coupled to the open portion 411 of the upper chamber 410 to form a sealed inner space (S).

Conventional degas chambers have different specifications for each secondary battery cell subject to a degassing process, so there is an inconvenience of having to replace the parts inside the degas chamber for each secondary battery cell standard, the degas chamber 400 according to the present invention, By providing the upper chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420 that can be separated/combined, there is an advantage in that it is easy to replace parts when the standard of the secondary battery cell is changed, and accordingly, the system manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The upper chamber 410 is installed in a position spaced apart from the delivery position P3, that is, on one side of the movement path L of the cell transfer unit 300 d, and has a configuration in which an opening part 411 is formed at the lower side. This is possible, and may be made of a metal material for rigidity.

The lower chamber 420 is in a state in which the secondary battery cell 40 is supported in order to introduce the secondary battery cell 40 into the upper chamber 410 or discharge the secondary battery cell 40 from the upper chamber 410. It reciprocates between the delivery position (P3) and the upper chamber 410 and is coupled to the opening 411 of the upper chamber 410 to form a sealed inner space (S), and various configurations are possible, and It can be made of a metal material for harm.

That is, when the lower chamber 420 is located at the delivery position P3, the second cell transfer unit 320 picks up the secondary battery cell 40 (degassing process completed) supported by the lower chamber 420 After moving to the loading position P2, the first cell transfer unit 310 moves to the delivery position P3 while picking up the secondary battery cell 40 (the degassing process will be performed), and the empty lower chamber 420 The secondary battery cell 40 can be delivered to.

In this case, the lower chamber 420 may include a cell support part 800 that supports the secondary battery cell 40 received through the cell transfer part 300 in an upright state.

The cell support part 800 is a pair of support plates 810 positioned inside the lower chamber 410 to support both side plate surfaces of the secondary battery cell 40 in an upright state, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 7B. ) Can be included.

On the other hand, the cell support part 800 is installed to be movable through a pair of outer plates 820 located outside the lower chamber 420 and a sidewall of the lower chamber 420 so as to be a pair of outer plates. It may further include a coupling shaft portion 830 for coupling each of the 820 to each of the pair of support plates 810.

Through this, by applying an external force to at least one of the pair of outer plates 820, the distance between the pair of support plates 810 inside the lower chamber 420 may be adjusted.

However, the cell support part 800 is a coupling shaft in order to maintain the supporting force of the pair of support plates 810 for the secondary battery cells 40 in a state in which no external force is applied to the pair of outer plates 820. It may include an elastic member 840 installed in the portion 830.

The elastic member 840 may be made of various materials and shapes as long as it can form a restoring force that compensates for deformation due to an external force, and may be, for example, a coil spring wound around the outer peripheral surface of the coupling shaft part 830.

The elastic member 840 may be installed between the support plate 810 and the inner wall of the lower chamber 420 or between the outer plate 820 and the outer wall of the lower chamber 420.

More specifically, the degas chamber 400 adds a spacing adjustment unit 850 for applying an external force to at least one of the pair of outer plates 424 so that the spacing between the pair of support plates 810 is adjusted. Can be included as.

The spacing adjustment unit 850, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B, contacts the outer plate 820 to apply an external force in a direction in which the distance between the pair of outer plates 820 increases (gap adjustment direction). It may include a space adjustment member 852 and a space adjustment member driving unit 854 for driving the vertical movement of the space adjustment member 852 and horizontal movement in the space adjustment direction.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the gap adjusting member 852 moves downward and does not apply an external force to the outer plate 820, a pair of support plates 810 is applied to the elastic force of the elastic member 840. Accordingly, the gap between the pair of support plates 810 is maintained and both side plate surfaces of the secondary battery cell 40 can be supported.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7B, the distance adjusting member 852 applies an external force to the outer plate 820 in a direction in which the distance between the pair of outer plates 820 increases, so that the outer plate 820 and The gap between the coupled pair of support plates 810 may be widened, and accordingly, the secondary battery cell 40 is discharged between the pair of support plates 810 or the secondary battery between the pair of support plates 810 Cell 40 can be introduced.

At this time, the degas chamber 400, as shown in Figure 6, the cell detection unit 460 for detecting whether the secondary battery cell 40 is positioned between the pair of support plates 810 It may contain additionally.

The cell detection unit 460 may be configured in a variety of configurations with a configuration capable of checking whether the secondary battery cell 40 is introduced in a non-contact manner, and may be formed of an optical sensor as an example.

Meanwhile, the lower chamber 420 may include a plurality of cell support parts 800 to support the plurality of secondary battery cells 40 along the plane direction of the plate surface of the secondary battery cell 40 in an upright state.

On the other hand, the lower chamber 420, which has received the secondary battery cell 40 from the first cell transfer unit 310 at the delivery position P3, moves back to the upper chamber 410 and is located under the upper chamber 410. Can be combined.

In this case, the degas chamber 400 may include lower chamber driving parts 430 and 440 that drive the movement of the lower chamber 420 between the delivery position P3 and the upper chamber 410.

The lower chamber driving units 430 and 440 are configured to drive the movement of the lower chamber 420 between the transmission position P3 and the upper chamber 410, and various configurations are possible.

As an example, the upper lower chamber driving parts 430 and 440 drive the forward and backward movement of the lower chamber 420 (as in FIG. 3, in the Y-axis direction) between the delivery position P3 and the lower side of the upper chamber 410. A forward and backward driving unit 430; It may include an elevating driver 440 that drives the elevating movement of the lower chamber 420 from the lower side of the upper chamber 410 (see FIG. 3, in the Z-axis direction).

The forward and backward driving unit 430 has various configurations if it can drive the forward and backward movement of the lower chamber 420 (as in FIG. 3, in the Y-axis direction) between the delivery position P3 and the lower side of the upper chamber 410. It is possible.

For example, the forward and backward driving part 430 includes a guide rail 432 installed along the forward and backward direction of the lower chamber 420, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5B and 7A to 7B, and a guide A moving block 434 movably coupled to the rail 432, a coupling member 436 coupling the movable block 434 and the lower chamber 420, and a driving unit that drives the movement of the movable block 434 ( (Not shown) may be included.

The elevating driver 440 is configured to drive the elevating movement of the lower chamber 420 from the lower side of the upper chamber 410, and various configurations are possible.

For example, the elevating driver 440, as shown in Figs. 5A to 5B, a first support member 441 coupled to the lower side of the lower chamber 420, and the lower side of the upper chamber 410 It may include a second support member 443 that supports and lifts the first support member 441 that has entered the space, and an elevation drive unit 444 that drives the elevating movement of the second support member 443. .

The first supporting member 441 may be coupled to an end of one or more rods 445 coupled to a lower side of the lower chamber 420.

The elevating driver 445 is configured to drive the elevating movement of the second support member 443, and may be configured with various actuators such as pneumatic/hydraulic.

Meanwhile, the degas chamber 400 passes through the gas collection region M formed on the upper side of the secondary battery cell 40 installed in the upper chamber 410 and supported in an upright state, and passes through the through hole 21 A through hole forming part 500 forming a, and a sealing part 600 installed in the upper chamber 410 to seal the pouch 20 in the inner region of the through hole 21 so that the electrode/separator assembly 10 is sealed. It may contain additionally.

As shown in FIG. 1, the through hole forming part 500 forms a through hole 21 on the upper side of the secondary battery cell 40 installed in the upper chamber 410 and led into the upper chamber 410. Various configurations are possible with the configuration.

As an example, the through hole forming portion 500, as shown in Figs. 8A to 8B, a first piercing member 510 having a blade portion 502 for forming a through hole 21 at the end, The first piercing member driving unit 520 for driving the forward and backward movement of the first piercing member 510 and the gas collection region M of the secondary battery cell 40 are opposed to the first piercing member 510 It is installed so as to drive the forward and backward movement of the second piercing member 530 and the second piercing member 530 to support the other surface of the secondary battery cell 40 when the through hole 21 of the blade portion 502 is formed. A second piercing member driving unit 540 may be included.

The first piercing member 510 and the second piercing member 530 may be moved in a direction away or close to each other by the first piercing member driving unit 520 and the second piercing member driving unit 540.

In addition, although not shown, the second piercing member 530 may be provided with an opening (not shown) formed so as not to interfere with the blade portion 502 passing through the pouch 20 of the secondary battery cell 40. .

The first piercing member driving unit 520 and the second piercing member driving unit 540 may be applied to various driving methods, and may be configured as pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, for example.

The sealing part 600 may be installed in the upper chamber 410 to seal the pouch 20 in the inner region of the through hole 21 so that the electrode/separator assembly 10 is sealed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing part 600 seals the pouch 20 inside the through hole 21, so it is preferable to be installed below the through hole forming part 500.

For example, the sealing part 600, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8B, the first sealing part 600a installed on both sides of the secondary battery cell 40 introduced into the upper chamber 410 And a second sealing part 600b.

The first sealing part 600a and the second sealing part 600b are installed to face each other with respect to the secondary battery cell 40, respectively, and heat by pressing both sides of the pouch 20 of the secondary battery cell 40. By fusing, the pouch 20 can be sealed along the sealing line 24.

The first sealing part 600a includes a first sealing member 610a for pressing one surface of the pouch 20, and a first sealing member driving part for driving the forward and backward movement of the first sealing member 610a. 620a).

Similarly, the second sealing part 600b has a second sealing member 610b for pressing the other surface of the pouch 20, and a second sealing member 610b for driving the forward and backward movement of the second sealing member 610b. It may include a member driving part (620b).

The second sealing member 610a and the second sealing member 610b may be moved in a direction away or close to each other by the first sealing member driving part 620a and the second sealing member driving part 620b.

In addition, the second sealing member 610a and the second sealing member 610b have various shapes of ends in direct contact with the pouch 20 in order to seal the pouch 20 along a preset sealing line 24. Can be formed.

In addition, the degas chamber 400, as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, in a state in which the lower chamber 420 is coupled to the upper chamber 410, each of a pair of outer plates 820 inwardly It may further include a cell pressing unit 700 to pressurize.

More specifically, the cell pressurizing unit 700 is for the purpose of evenly impregnating the electrode/separator assembly 10 located inside the central portion of the pouch 20 among the secondary battery cells 40 during the degassing process. As such, it is preferable that it is located outside the upper chamber 410 from a lower side than the sealing part 600 described above, and installed at a position corresponding to the outer plate 820 of the lower chamber 420 when the lower chamber 420 is coupled. .

That is, in the case of the present invention, there is an advantage of minimizing the vertical height of the upper chamber 410 by installing the cell pressing unit 710 outside the upper chamber 410.

Specifically, in the case of the conventional degas chamber, since the degas chamber includes a cell pressurizing unit that performs a pressurizing function, there is a problem that the size of the degas chamber increases. In the case of the present invention, the degas chamber 400 is By configuring the chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420 and installing the cell pressing unit 700 outside the degas chamber 400, the size of the degas chamber 400 can be reduced.

In one embodiment, the cell pressing unit 700 is a first cell pressing unit 700a that presses one of the pair of outer plates 820 and a lower chamber 420 therebetween, It may include a second cell pressing portion 700b for pressing the other one of the pair of outer plates 820 facing the portion 700a.

The first cell pressing unit 700a includes a first pressing block 710a having a first pressing member 702a directly in contact with one of a pair of external plates 810 at an end thereof, and a first pressing block It may include a first pressure block driving unit (720a) for driving the forward and backward movement of (710a).

Similarly, the second cell pressing part 700b includes a second pressing block 710b having a second pressing member 702b directly in contact with the other of the pair of outer plates 810 at the ends, It may include a second pressure block driving unit 720b for driving the forward and backward movement of the second pressure block 710b.

The first pressing member 710a and the second pressing member 710b may be moved in a direction away from or close to each other by the first pressing member driving part 720a and the second pressing member driving part 720b.

Meanwhile, the upper chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420 may be installed on the ground through the support frame 900.

The support frame 900 is a base structure in which ancillary components are installed together with the upper chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420, and may have various configurations, and may be made of various materials with rigidity.

First, the support frame 900 supports the lower chamber 420 and the lower chamber support frame 910 in which the forward and backward driving units 430 are installed so that the lower chamber 420 can move forward and backward, and the lower A first leg frame 930 that supports the chamber support frame 910 to be installed on the ground, and an upper chamber support frame that is spaced apart from the upper side of the lower chamber support frame 910 and supports the upper chamber 410 ( 940 and a second leg frame 920 installed between the upper chamber support frame 940 and the lower chamber support frame 910 to support the upper chamber support frame 940.

In the lower chamber support frame 910, a guide rail 432 of the forward and backward driving unit 430 may be installed and interfere with the forward and backward movement of the first support member 441 installed under the lower chamber 410 The opening 901 may be formed so that it is not.

In addition, the lower chamber support frame 910 may be provided with an auxiliary guide rail 426 for guiding the forward and backward linear movement of the lower chamber 420 along the moving direction of the lower chamber 420.

An auxiliary guide block 424 installed below the lower chamber 420 may be movably coupled to the auxiliary guide rail 426.

The auxiliary guide block 424 may be provided on a bottom surface of the moving plate 422 coupled to the first supporting member 441 of the lower chamber 420.

The first leg frame 930 is configured to support the lower chamber support frame 910 by being spaced apart from the ground, and a wheel part for moving the support frame 900 is installed at the lower part or fixed to the ground through friction. A fixing part may be provided.

The upper chamber support frame 940 is installed to be spaced apart from the upper side of the lower chamber support frame 910 and supports the upper chamber 410. At the edge of the opening 411 of the upper chamber 410, the upper chamber ( 410) can be supported.

To this end, an opening 941 may be formed in the upper chamber support frame 940 to support the upper chamber 410 without blocking the opening 411.

The lower chamber 420 may be in close contact with the periphery of the open portion 411 of the upper chamber 410 through the opening 941 to form a sealed space (S).

In addition, the cell pressing unit 700 described above may be installed on the bottom surface of the upper chamber support frame 940.

The second leg frame 920 is configured to support the upper chamber support frame 940 by being spaced apart from the lower chamber support frame 910, and various configurations are possible.

The upper chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420 are combined to form the degas chamber 400, and a sealed inner space (S) may be formed, and the secondary battery cell 40 in the inner space (S) A degassing process for can be performed.

Meanwhile, the degas system 1000 may further include a weight measuring unit (not shown) that measures the weight of the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process is completed to determine whether it is good or not.

The weighing unit measures the weight of the secondary battery cell 40, and when the measured weight is lighter than a preset weight, it is determined that the amount of the electrolyte impregnated in the secondary battery cell 40 is insufficient, and thus it is determined that it is not good. Various configurations are possible with the configuration.

At this time, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 includes a first discharge unit (not shown) for classifying and discharging the secondary battery cells 40 determined to be defective according to the weight measured by the weight measuring unit described above. It may contain additionally.

As the vacuum atmosphere is formed in the degas chamber 400, the electrolyte in the secondary battery cell 40 may evaporate, resulting in a problem that the internal electrolyte is less than the standard. The present invention relates to a weighing unit and a first discharge unit. By installing, there is an advantage in that the defective secondary battery cells 40 that may occur during the degassing process can be selected in advance and excluded from the subsequent process.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of degas chambers 400 are installed along the movement path L of the cell transfer unit 300. I can.

That is, a plurality of delivery positions P3 are set along the movement path L, and the degas chambers 400 may be installed correspondingly to each delivery position P3.

In particular, when a plurality of degas chambers 400 are installed, as shown in FIG. 3, they may be alternately positioned on the left and right sides of the movement path L, and accordingly, the size of the system is increased. There is an advantage that can be minimized.

In addition, in the present invention, since the degas chamber 400 is installed on one side of the transfer path (L), it is easy to increase the number of degas chambers 400, so that the system has excellent expandability and the degas system 1000 There is an advantage that productivity can be greatly improved.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention receives the secondary battery cell 40 completed in the degassing process on the unloading top (P2) and finally seals the secondary battery cell 40 ( Not shown) may be additionally included.

The sealing module is configured to finally seal the edge of the secondary battery cell 40 according to a preset specification, and various configurations are possible.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention is a cutting module that receives the sealed secondary battery cell 40 from the sealing module and cuts the edge of the secondary battery cell 40 according to a preset standard. (Not shown) may additionally be included.

The cutting module is configured to cut the wing portion of the pouch 20 at the edge of the plate surface of the secondary battery cell 40 to a length suitable for a standard, and various configurations are possible.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degassing system 1000 according to the present invention includes a taping module (not shown) that receives the cut-off secondary battery cell 40 from the cutting module and taps the edge of the secondary battery cell 40. It may contain additionally.

In the case of the cut secondary battery cell 40, the cross-section of the pouch 20 may be exposed at the edge of the plate so that insulation may be required, and the edge of the secondary battery cell 40 is taped with an insulating tape. Various configurations are possible with the configuration.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention receives the taped secondary battery cell 40 from the taping module and folds the edge of the secondary battery cell 40 at a preset angle ( Not shown) may be additionally included.

The folding module may be configured in various ways by rolling and folding the edge pouch 20 portion of the secondary battery cell 40 toward the electrode/separator assembly 10 at least once, and for example, the edge pouch 20 It may be configured to sequentially fold the portion toward the electrode/separator assembly 10 at an angle of 90°, 180°, 360°, and the like.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 receives the sealed secondary battery cell 40 from the sealing module, and additionally includes an inspection module (not shown) for inspecting whether the secondary battery cell 40 is good or not. Can include.

The inspection process performed by the inspection module is preferably performed as a final process before the secondary battery cell 40 is discharged to the outside.

The inspection module is configured to inspect whether the secondary battery cell 40 that has undergone various processes (degas, sealing, cutting, taping, folding, etc.) included in the degassing process finally meets a preset criterion. This is possible.

For example, the inspection module includes an insulation inspection unit for performing an insulation inspection on the secondary battery cell 40, a thickness inspection unit for performing a thickness inspection on the secondary battery cell 40, and the secondary battery cell 40. It may include an IR/OCV inspection unit that performs IR/OCV inspection.

In this case, the insulation inspection unit, the thickness inspection unit, and the IR/OCV inspection unit may be installed along a rotational transfer path of the secondary battery cell 40 delivered to the rotating turntable.

It goes without saying that such a turntable configuration can be applied to the above-described sealing module, cutting module, taping module, and folding module.

In addition, the secondary battery cell degas system 1000 according to the present invention adds a second discharge unit (not shown) for classifying and discharging the secondary battery cells 40 determined to be defective according to the inspection result in the inspection module. Can be included as.

Hereinafter, the degas process of the secondary battery cell 40 performed in the degas system 1000 including the above-described configuration will be described in detail.

The secondary battery cell 40 before the degassing process is performed in the degas chamber 400 has one pouch 20 of the secondary battery cell 40 extending longer than the other sides, as shown in FIG. 1. The edge line 22 is sealed to form a gas collection space M in which gas inside the secondary battery cell 40 is collected.

At this time, the secondary battery cell 40 before the degassing process is performed is a state in which the edge line 22 including the gas collection space M is sealed so that gas can be collected in the gas collection space M through the activation process. It is picked up by the cell transfer unit 300 at the furnace loading position P1 and transferred to the lower chamber 420 at the delivery position P3.

The lower chamber 420 moves to the upper chamber 410 and is coupled to the lower opening 411 of the upper chamber 410, so that the secondary battery cell 40 supported by the lower chamber 420 is transferred to the degas chamber 400. ) Is introduced into the inner space (S).

At this time, in the upper chamber 410, a vacuum pump (not shown) for converting the internal space S from a vacuum state to an atmospheric pressure state, and conversely from an atmospheric pressure state to a vacuum state, is installed through the pumping line 412. In addition, when performing the degassing process through a vacuum pump, the internal space S can be created in a vacuum atmosphere.

When the inner space (S) is formed in a vacuum atmosphere in a state in which the upper chamber 410 and the lower chamber 420 are combined, the gas collection space M of the secondary battery cell 40 is generated during the charging/discharging process. Gas is captured.

In this case, the through hole 21 may be formed in the gas collection space M through the through hole forming part 500.

As shown in FIG. 1, the through hole 21 is formed in the gas collecting region M of the pouch 20, and thus, various configurations are possible. The gas collected in the gas collection space M through the through hole 21 may be discharged to the outside of the secondary battery cell 40.

The internal electrolyte of the secondary battery cell 40 that has finished the activation process (charge and discharge process) exists in a gelled state, and it is the secondary battery cell 40 that the gelled electrolyte is evenly spread inside the secondary battery cell 40. In order to perform gas discharge more efficiently and easily while allowing the gelled electrolyte to be evenly spread out, it may be an important factor in improving the performance of the cell pressurizing unit 700 described above before or during the gas discharge process. It is possible to intermittently or periodically pressurize the plate surfaces of both sides of the secondary battery cell 40.

When gas discharge through the through hole 21 is completed, the sealing line 24 may be sealed through the above-described sealing part 600. Sealing here may be presealing performed in a vacuum atmosphere.

By the sealing line 24, the electrode/separator assembly 10 may be separated from the gas collection space M or the through hole 21.

By completing the sealing process, the degassing process can be completed, and accordingly, the lower chamber 420 is separated from the upper chamber 410 and moved back to the delivery position P3.

The cell transfer unit 300 picks up the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process has been completed from the lower chamber 420 at the delivery position P3 and moves to the unloading position P2. The cell 40 may be discharged, and the above-described sealing step, cutting step, taping step, and folding diner system may be sequentially performed.

Since the above is only described with respect to some of the preferred embodiments that can be implemented by the present invention, as well known, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above embodiments and should not be interpreted. It will be said that both the technical idea and the technical idea together with the fundamental are included in the scope of the present invention.

40: secondary battery cell 100: cell loading unit
200: cell unloading unit 300: cell transfer unit
400: degas chamber

Claims (11)

As a degas chamber 400 for performing a degassing process by receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 for transferring the secondary battery cell 40,
The degas chamber 400 is installed at a position spaced apart from a delivery position P3 receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300, and an upper chamber having an opening 411 formed at the lower side thereof. (410) and; The delivery position (P3) while supporting the secondary battery cell 40 in order to introduce the secondary battery cell 40 into the upper chamber 410 or discharge the secondary battery cell 40 from the upper chamber 410 And a lower chamber 420 that reciprocates between the upper chamber 410 and is coupled to the opening 411 of the upper chamber 410 to form a sealed inner space (S). Gas chamber 400. The method according to claim 1,
The degas chamber 400,
Degas chamber 400, characterized in that it further comprises lower chamber driving units 430 and 440 for driving the movement of the lower chamber 420 between the delivery position P3 and the upper chamber 410 . The method according to claim 2,
The lower chamber driving parts (430, 440),
A forward and backward driving unit 430 for driving the forward and backward movement of the lower chamber 420 between the transfer position P3 and the lower side of the upper chamber 410; Degas chamber (400), characterized in that it comprises an elevating driving unit (440) for driving the elevating movement of the lower chamber (420) from the lower side of the upper chamber (410). The method according to claim 1,
In the secondary battery cell 40, a first electrode sheet 12 and a second electrode sheet 14 are alternately stacked with each other, and a separation membrane between the first electrode sheet 13 and the second electrode sheet 14 ( 16) has a plate-shaped structure including an electrode/separator assembly 10 in which an electrolyte is impregnated, and a pouch 20 for sealing the electrode/separator assembly 10,
The lower chamber 420, a degas chamber 400, characterized in that it includes a cell support portion 800 for supporting the secondary battery cell 40 received through the cell transfer portion 300 in an upright state. The method of claim 4,
The cell support part 800,
Degas chamber 400, characterized in that it comprises a pair of support plates 810 which are located inside the lower chamber 410 to support both side plate surfaces of the secondary battery cell 40. The method of claim 5,
The degas chamber 400,
A through hole forming part 500 installed in the upper chamber 410 to form a through hole 21 by passing through the gas collection region M formed on the upper side of the secondary battery cell 40 supported in an upright state, and , Characterized in that it further comprises a sealing part 600 installed in the upper chamber 410 to seal the pouch 20 in the inner region of the through hole 21 so that the electrode/separator assembly 10 is sealed. The degas chamber 400. The method of claim 5,
The cell support part 800 is provided to be movable through a pair of outer plates 820 located outside the lower chamber 420 and a sidewall of the lower chamber 420 to be movable. Degas chamber 400, characterized in that it further comprises a coupling shaft portion 830 for coupling each of the plates 820 to each of the pair of support plates 810. The method of claim 7,
The degas chamber 400 further includes a spacing adjustment unit 850 for applying an external force to at least one of the pair of outer plates 424 so that the spacing between the pair of support plates 810 is adjusted. Degas chamber 400, characterized in that. The method of claim 7,
The degas chamber 400, the lower chamber 420 is coupled to the upper chamber 410, the cell pressurizing unit 700 for pressing each of the pair of outer plates 820 inwardly Degas chamber 400, characterized in that it comprises a. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 9,
The lower chamber 420 is characterized in that it has a plurality of cell support parts 800 to support a plurality of secondary battery cells 40 along a plane direction of the plate surface of the upright secondary battery cell 40 The degas chamber 400. A cell loading unit 100 for loading the secondary battery cell 40, which has completed the activation process before the degassing process, to the loading position P1; A cell unloading unit 200 for unloading the secondary battery cell 40 on which the degassing process is completed at the unloading position P2; A cell transfer unit 300 installed to be movable along a movement path L formed between the loading position P1 and the unloading position P2 to transfer the secondary battery cell 40; A degas system comprising a degas chamber 400 according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for performing a degassing process by receiving the secondary battery cell 40 from the cell transfer unit 300 ( 1000).

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