KR20210112588A - System for producing electrodes of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a secondary battery production system in which an electrode material including a first area and a second area electrode material partitioned in the width direction is supplied from an unwinding unit to a denser unit and is supplied from the denser unit to a notching unit, and the second area is notched in the notching unit so that an electrode tab is formed. According to the present invention, the secondary battery production system comprises: a roller assembly disposed between a denser unit and a notching unit and supplying an electrode material to the notching unit; a camera acquiring an image of the electrode material passing through the roller assembly; and a control unit connected to the camera and the roller assembly. The roller assembly includes: a base; a roller rotatably coupled to the base; a motor coupled to the base and connected to the control unit; and a cam coupled to the motor. The roller is arranged in contact with the cam so that the position in the height direction is changed in association with the cam and a first control unit adjusts the height direction position of the roller according to a width direction distance between a preset width direction reference line and the width direction distance of the electrode material on the basis of the image, wherein the cam comes in contact with an end part close to the second area between both end parts of a shaft of the roller so that the height direction position of the end part is adjusted.

Description

Electrode production system for secondary batteries {SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ELECTRODES OF BATTERY}

The present invention relates to an electrode production system for secondary batteries.

In general, a chemical battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, and refers to a battery that generates electrical energy by using a chemical reaction, which is a disposable primary battery and a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged repeatedly. can be divided into

Due to the advantage of being able to charge and discharge, the use of secondary batteries is gradually increasing. Among such secondary batteries, since the lithium secondary battery has a high energy density per unit weight, it is widely used as a power source for electronic communication devices or a high-output hybrid vehicle.

An electrode used in such a secondary battery is used as a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery, and is used to electrically connect the battery and the outside of the battery.

The electrode is produced through a process of notching and cutting the electrode material on which the electrode tab is formed at regular intervals.

The electrode material is a band-shaped member and has a constant width. However, in the manufacturing process of the electrode material, it is common that both edges of the electrode material are bent, resulting in a degree of curvature. If both edges of the electrode material are bent, a problem occurs that the electrode material runs obliquely on the roller. In particular, when the electrode material entering the notched portion meanders, a defect occurs in the electrode tab. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the electrode material from running at an angle by adjusting the inclination angle of the roller according to the curvature of the supplied electrode material.

However, it is very cumbersome to adjust the inclination angle of the roller for various electrode materials with different degrees of curvature. In particular, when the electrode material is changed, there is a problem in that the electrode production system for secondary batteries must be stopped in order to adjust the inclination angle of the roller.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0089803 (published on Aug. 5, 2015)

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode production system for a secondary battery capable of automatically adjusting the inclination angle of the roller in response to the curvature of the electrode material.

In an embodiment, the electrode material is supplied to the capacitor unit in the unwinding part of the electrode material including the first region and the second region partitioned in the width direction, and the electrode material is supplied to the notching part in the density unit, and the furnace A secondary battery production system for forming an electrode tab by notching the second region in a notch, the roller assembly being disposed between the notch unit and the notch part and supplying the electrode material to the notch part; A camera for acquiring an image of an electrode material passing through a roller assembly, and a control unit connected to the camera and the roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly includes a base, a roller rotatably coupled to the base, and coupled to the base and a motor connected to the control unit. a cam coupled to the motor, wherein the roller is arranged in contact with the cam so that the position in the height direction is changed in association with the cam, and the first control unit is based on the image, a preset width direction reference line and Secondary in which the height direction position of the roller is adjusted according to the width direction distance of the electrode material, but the cam is in contact with an end of both ends of the shaft of the roller, which is close to the second area, so that the height direction position of the end is adjusted A battery production system can be provided.

Preferably, the base may include a housing for rotatably supporting a rotation shaft of the roller, and the cam may contact the housing.

Preferably, it further comprises an elastic member disposed in the height direction, wherein the elastic member has one end in contact with the base and the other end in contact with the housing and is disposed to have a restoring force when contracted, and when contracted, lower the shopping mall housing can be pressurized.

Preferably, the cam and the elastic member may be disposed at different positions based on the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the roller.

Preferably, based on the transfer direction of the electrode material, the axial center of the rotating shaft of the roller and the axial center of the cam may be disposed at the same position.

According to the embodiment, in response to the curvature of the electrode material, there is an advantage that the inclination angle of the roller can be automatically adjusted.

According to the embodiment, based on the image of the electrode material passing through the roller, there is an advantage that can effectively prevent the meandering of the electrode material.

According to the embodiment, by adjusting the inclination angle of the roller for guiding the electrode material to the notch portion, there is an advantage that can effectively prevent a defect from occurring in the electrode tab.

1 is a front view showing an electrode production system for a secondary battery according to an embodiment;
Figure 2 is a view showing the curvature of the electrode material,
3 is a view showing a roller assembly disposed between the density unit and the notch portion,
4 is a view showing a roller assembly;
5 is a view showing image information of the electrode material passing through the roller;
6 is a view showing a state in which the inclination of the roller is adjusted;
7 is a view showing the position of the rotating shaft and cam of the roller before the motor operates;
8 is a view showing the position of the rotation shaft and the cam of the roller after the motor is operated.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the following embodiments can be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited. It is not limited to the following examples. Rather, these examples are provided so that this disclosure will be more thorough and complete, and will fully convey the spirit of the invention to those skilled in the art.

The terminology used herein is used to describe specific embodiments, not to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular form may include the plural form unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used herein, “comprise” and/or “comprising” refers to the presence of the recited shapes, numbers, steps, actions, members, elements, and/or groups thereof. and does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, movements, members, elements and/or groups. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one and any combination of one or more of those listed items.

It is to be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are used herein to describe various members, regions and/or regions, these members, parts, regions, layers, and/or regions should not be limited by these terms. do. These terms do not imply a specific order, upper and lower, or superiority, and are used only to distinguish one member, region or region from another. Accordingly, a first member, region, or region described below may refer to a second member, region, or region without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings schematically illustrating embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, variations of the illustrated shape may be expected, for example depending on manufacturing technology and/or tolerances. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the specific shape of the region shown herein, but should include, for example, changes in shape caused by manufacturing.

The electrode production system for secondary batteries is a device for automatically and continuously producing electrodes used in secondary batteries.

1 is a front view showing an electrode production system for a secondary battery according to an embodiment. In the drawing, the direction indicated by the x-axis is the longitudinal direction of the electrode production system for secondary batteries, and represents the transfer direction of the electrode material. The direction shown by the y-axis in a figure is the width direction of the electrode production system for secondary batteries, and corresponds to the axial direction of a roller. The direction shown by the z-axis is the height direction of the electrode production system for secondary batteries.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the electrode production system for a secondary battery according to the embodiment includes an unwinding unit 10 , a capacitor unit 20 , a notching unit 30 , a cutting unit 40 , an alignment device and a magazine. (50). An electrode material (S) formed of a strip-shaped metal plate extending horizontally from the unwinding portion 10 of the entrance is supplied. The electrode material (S) may be formed of copper in the case of producing a negative electrode battery, and may be formed of aluminum in the case of producing a positive electrode battery.

The notched part 30 forms an electrode tab on the supplied electrode material S to produce an electrode.

Densor unit 20 guides the electrode material (S) supplied from the unwarring portion (10) to the notching portion (30), in response to the change in the supply speed of the electrode material (S), the tension of the electrode material (S) Adjust.

The cutting unit 40 cuts the electrode to the required size of the product. The cut electrode is supplied to the alignment device and the magazine 50 . The alignment device and magazine 50 align and load the electrodes.

The notched part 30 forms an electrode tab on the electrode material S through a mold that moves up and down. Specifically, an electrode including an electrode tab protruding to one side is generated by forming notches at regular intervals in the electrode material (S). Feeding devices may be provided for continuously supplying the electrodes from the rear of the notched part 30 by continuously moving the electrodes passing through the notched part 30 in a traction method. These feeding devices can pull the electrode material (S) at different speeds or tensions that are repeated periodically.

2 is a view showing the curvature of the electrode material.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the electrode material S may include a first region S1 and a second region S2 . The first region S1 and the second region S2 are partitioned in the width direction (y-axis) of the electrode material S. The second region S2 is notched to form an electrode tab. It is normal for the edge (E') of the second region (S2) to form a straight line (E) over the entire region of the electrode material (S). However, in the general electrode material S, the edge E' of the second region S2 is bent to have a degree of curvature R1. Therefore, when looking at the roller 120 with respect to the center A, the edge E' of the actual second region S2 is at a constant angle rather than the edge E of the second region S2 having a normal straight line shape. It passes through the roller 120 in a bent state. Therefore, the electrode material (S) runs obliquely toward the second region (S2) with respect to the width direction (y-axis) of the roller 120 .

Here, the roller 120 is a roller 120 disposed on the roller assembly disposed in front of the notched part 30 , and guides the electrode material S passing through the density unit 20 to the notching part 30 . It may be a roller 120 .

FIG. 3 is a view showing the roller assembly 100 disposed between the denser unit 20 and the notched part 30 , and FIG. 4 is a view showing the roller assembly 100 .

1, 3, and 4, the roller assembly 100 is based on the transfer direction (x-axis) of the electrode material (S), the density unit 20 and the notched part 30 It can be arranged have. A camera 200 may be disposed adjacent to the roller assembly 100 . The roller assembly 100 may include a base 110 , a roller 120 , a motor 130 , a cam 140 , a housing 150 , and an elastic member 160 .

The roller 120 is disposed on the base 110 so that the axial direction becomes the width direction (y-axis) of the electrode production system for secondary batteries. One end of the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 is rotatably fixed to the base 110 , and the other end of the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 is rotatably fixed to the housing 150 . Among both ends of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 , the other end fixed to the housing 150 is disposed on the side where the second region S2 of the electrode material S is located with respect to the width direction (y-axis). .

The motor 130 may be disposed such that the axial center C2 is parallel to the axial center C1 of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 . The motor 130 is connected to the control unit 300 . The rotation angle of the motor 130 may be determined according to the control signal of the controller 300 .

The cam 140 is connected to the rotation shaft 121 of the motor 130 . The axial center C2 of the cam 140 is the same as the axial center C2 of the motor 130 . A reduction module may be disposed between the motor 130 and the cam 140 . The cam 140 is in contact with the lower surface of the housing 150 . The height direction (z-axis) position of the housing 150 is changed in association with the rotation of the cam 140 , and accordingly, the height direction (z-axis) position of the other end of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 is changed.

The housing 150 rotatably supports the other end of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 . The housing 150 may be movably disposed on the base 110 .

The elastic member 160 is disposed along the height direction (z-axis). The elastic member 160 has one end in contact with the base 110 and the other end in contact with the housing 150 and is disposed to have a restoring force when contracted, and presses the housing 150 downward when contracted. The elastic member 160 serves to buffer the roller 120 so that it does not flow in the height direction (z-axis) because the housing 150 is arranged to be movable in the height direction (z-axis).

Based on the axial direction of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120, the cam 140 and the elastic member 160 may be disposed at different positions.

5 is a view showing an image of the electrode material (S) passing through the roller (120).

Referring to FIG. 5 , the camera 200 acquires an image of the electrode material S passing through the roller 120 and transmits it to the controller 300 . The image includes the position of the edge of the second region (S2) of the electrode material (S). The controller 300 may extract an edge of the second region S2 from the image acquired by the camera 200 and measure a distance between the extracted edge and a preset reference line L. And the control unit 300 transmits a control signal to the motor 130 in response to the preset reference line (L) and the width direction distance of the edge of the second region (S2) of the electrode material (S).

6 is a view showing a state in which the inclination of the roller 120 is adjusted.

Referring to FIG. 6 , when a control signal is transmitted to the motor 130 , the motor 130 operates and the cam 140 rotates. As the cam 140 rotates, the height direction (z-axis) position of the housing 150 changes, and the second region S2 of the electrode material S among both ends of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 and As the height direction (z-axis) position of the near end is changed, the inclination angle R2 of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 is changed. Therefore, by the roller 120 is inclined toward the first region (S1) side of the electrode material (S), the electrode material (S) is prevented from running obliquely toward the second region (S2).

7 is a view showing the positions of the rotation shaft 121 and the cam 140 of the roller 120 before the motor 130 operates, and FIG. 8 is the motor 130 after the operation, the roller 120 It is a view showing the position of the rotation shaft 121 and the cam 140 of the.

Referring to FIG. 7 , based on the transport direction (x-axis) of the electrode material S, the axial center C2 of the cam 140 and the axial center C1 of the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 are the same may be placed in position.

Before the motor 130 operates, the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 is in a horizontal state, and is parallel to the axial center 121 of the cam 140 . At this time, in the height direction (z-axis), the distance L between the axial center C1 of the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 and the axial center C2 of the cam 140 is minimum.

Referring to FIG. 8 , when the motor 130 operates, the cam 140 pushes the housing 150 up, and the position of the end of the roller 120 is raised. Accordingly, in the height direction (z-axis), the distance L' between the axial center C1 of the rotation shaft 121 and the axial center C2 of the cam 140 increases. The axial center C1 of the rotating shaft 121 of the roller 120 is inclined with respect to the axial center C2 of the cam 140 .

Since the end of the upward roller 120 is disposed close to the second region S2 of the electrode material S passing through the roller 120, in the state where the roller 120 is inclined, the second portion of the electrode material S The second area S2 is disposed relatively higher than the first area S1 . Accordingly, even though the edge of the second region S2 is curved, the electrode material S may be supplied to the notch 30 in a straight line without meandering during the driving process.

In the image acquired through the camera 200, corresponding to the width direction distance of the edge of the second region S2 of the reference line L and the electrode material S, the axis of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 A distance between the center C1 and the axial center C2 of the cam 140 may be adjusted. Therefore, there is no need to stop the equipment to adjust the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 in response to the curvature of the electrode material S, and the inclination of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 in real time during the process. It has the advantage of being able to adjust the angle. In addition, since the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 121 of the roller 120 is adjusted during the process, there is an advantage that the meandering of the electrode material S can be more precisely controlled.

In addition, in response to various electrode materials (S) having different degrees of curvature, there is an advantage in that it is possible to easily prevent the ascending of the electrode material (S) without stopping equipment or frequent setting operations.

In addition. After the tension is adjusted in the density unit 20, in the roller 120 for guiding the electrode material S to the notch 30, it prevents the electrode material S from running at an angle, thereby reducing the defect rate of the electrode tab. This has the advantage of greatly reducing it.

As described above, specific embodiments of the electrode production system for secondary batteries of the present invention have been described, but it is apparent that various implementation modifications are possible within the limits that do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and should be defined by the following claims as well as the claims and equivalents.

That is, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims to be described later rather than the detailed description, and the meaning and scope of the claims; All changes or modifications derived from the concept of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

10: winding part
20: Densor unit
30: notching part
40: cutting part
50: Alignment device and magazine
100: roller assembly
110: base
120: roller
130: motor
140: cam
150: housing
160: elastic member
200: camera
300: control unit

Claims (5)

The electrode material is supplied to the capacitor unit from the unwinding part of the electrode material including the first region and the second region partitioned in the width direction, and the electrode material is supplied to the notching part from the density unit, and the second part is supplied from the notching part. A secondary battery production system for forming an electrode tab by notching two regions, comprising:
A roller assembly that is disposed between the density unit and the notched part and supplies the electrode material to the notched part, and a camera that acquires an image of the electrode material passing through the roller assembly, the camera and the roller assembly It includes a control unit connected to,
The roller assembly includes a base, a roller rotatably coupled to the base, and a motor coupled to the base and connected to the control unit. a cam coupled to the motor;
The roller is arranged in contact with the cam so that the position in the height direction is changed in conjunction with the cam,
The first control unit adjusts the height direction position of the roller according to the width direction distance between the preset width direction reference line and the electrode material based on the image,
A secondary battery production system in which the cam is in contact with an end close to the second zone among both ends of the shaft of the roller to adjust a height direction position of the end. According to claim 1,
The base includes a housing that rotatably supports the rotation shaft of the roller, and the cam contacts the housing. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising an elastic member disposed in the height direction,
The elastic member has one end in contact with the base and the other end in contact with the housing, and is arranged to have a restoring force when contracted, and presses the shopping mall housing downward when contracted. 4. The method of claim 3,
A motor in which the cam and the elastic member are disposed at different positions based on the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the roller. 5. The method of claim 4,
Based on the transfer direction of the electrode material, the axial center of the rotating shaft of the roller and the axial center of the cam are disposed at the same position.

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