KR20220008187A - System for producing electrodes of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for producing a secondary battery comprising: a notching unit which forms an electrode tap by notching an electrode material; a cutting unit which produces an electrode by cutting the electrode material in which the electrode tap is formed; and a transferring unit which guides the electrode to a transferring direction. The cutting unit includes a cutter for cutting the electrode material. The transferring unit includes a conveyor belt. The system for producing a secondary battery comprises: a support which is arranged in a back side of the cutter and supports the electrode in a lower side; and a feeding unit which is arranged in a back side of the cutter. The feeding unit includes a gripper. The gripper is disposed to reciprocate along the transferring direction. The electrode cut in the cutter is guided to the conveyor belt. A width of the electrode is shorter than a transferring direction distance from the cutter to a starting point of the conveyor belt.

Description

Electrode production system for secondary batteries

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 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.

Electrodes are produced by notching electrode materials at regular intervals to form electrode tabs, and cutting them. After the cutting is completed, the generated electrode is transferred to the magazine. Cutting to create electrodes is performed by a cutter. In this case, when the width of the electrode is small, there is a problem in that the cut electrode is not transferred to the conveyor belt due to the separation between the cutter and the conveyor belt. Accordingly, when the width of the electrode is small, sheet metal processing of a blanking method in which notching and cutting are performed simultaneously may be performed. However, this processing method has a problem in that too much scrap of the electrode material is generated and a high-speed process is difficult.

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 reducing scrap of electrode material and performing a process at high speed in producing an electrode having a small width.

An embodiment is a secondary battery comprising a notching part for forming an electrode tab by notching an electrode material, a cutting part for cutting the electrode material on which the electrode tab is formed to produce an electrode, and a transport part for guiding the electrode in a transport direction A production system, wherein the cutting unit includes a cutter for cutting the electrode material, the conveying unit includes a conveyor belt, and a pedestal disposed behind the cutter to support the electrode from a lower side; and a feeding part disposed at the rear of the cutter, wherein the feeding part includes a gripper, and the gripper is arranged to be reciprocally moved along the conveying direction, and guides the electrode cut by the cutter to the conveyor belt. , the width of the electrode may provide a secondary battery production system that is smaller than the distance in the transport direction from the cutter to the starting point of the conveyor belt.

Preferably, the starting point may be an end of the conveyor belt closest to the cutter based on the transfer direction.

Preferably, the starting point may be a starting point of a suction area of a suction unit of the conveyor belt based on the conveying direction.

Preferably, the pedestal includes a first plate coupled to the lower cutter, a second plate bent from the first plate and disposed to be spaced apart from the lower cutter, and a second plate bent from the second plate to contact the electrode can do.

Preferably, the feeding unit further includes a body in which the pair of grippers are arranged to be movable up and down, a base and a bracket movably coupled to the base in the transport direction, the body being fixed to the bracket. It can reciprocate in the transfer direction.

Preferably, the gripper includes a first gripper gripping one end of the electrode and a second gripper gripping the other end of the electrode, the body comprising: a first body coupled to the first gripper; a second body coupled to a second gripper, wherein the bracket includes a bracket body coupled to the base; a first member extending from the bracket body to be coupled to the first body; It may include a second member coupled to the second body.

Preferably, based on the conveying direction, the stroke of the bracket may be greater than the conveying direction distance from the cutter to the starting point of the conveyor belt.

Preferably, the gripper includes an upper gripper disposed above the electrode and a lower gripper disposed below the electrode, wherein the upper gripper and the lower gripper are disposed to overlap a portion of the electrode in a vertical direction. can

Preferably, the length of the pedestal may be smaller than the length of the electrode.

Preferably, the cutter may be a laser cutting device.

Preferably, the feeding unit includes a feeding unit for supplying the electrode material to the cutter, and the feeding unit may be any one of a roller type unit, a gripper type unit and a belt type unit.

According to the embodiment, by separating the notching process and the cutting process, the scrap of the electrode material is greatly reduced, and the advantageous effect of performing the process at high speed is provided.

According to the embodiment, the pedestal disposed at the rear of the cutter supports the electrode that cannot be spanned on the conveyor belt after cutting, thereby providing an advantageous effect of stably guiding the electrode to the conveyor belt to the conveyor belt.

1 is a front view showing an electrode production system for a secondary battery according to an embodiment;
2 is a view showing the notching process and the cutting process of the electrode material;
3 is a perspective view showing a cutting unit, a conveying unit, and a feeding unit;
4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the cutting part;
5 is a plan view showing the distance between the cutter and the conveyor belt of the transfer unit;
6 is a side view showing the distance between the cutter and the conveyor belt of the transfer unit;
7 is a perspective view showing a pedestal;
8 is a view showing a feeding unit;
9 is a view showing a base and a bracket;
10 is a view showing a state in which the gripper grips the cut electrode;
11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the gripper guides the electrode to the conveyor belt.

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 may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention 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 specific existence 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 all combinations 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 member, region or region. 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 y-axis is the transfer direction of the electrode, and the direction indicated by the z-axis is the vertical direction of the electrode production system for secondary batteries in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the electrode.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the electrode production system for a secondary battery according to the embodiment includes an unwinding unit 10 , a notching unit 20 , a cutting unit 30 , and a stacking device 40 . An electrode material formed of a strip-shaped metal plate extending horizontally from the unwinding part 100 at the entrance is supplied. The electrode material 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 200 produces an electrode by forming an electrode tab on the supplied electrode material. The cutting unit 400 cuts the electrode to a required size of the product. The cut electrode is supplied to the stacking device 400 .

The unwinding unit 10 continuously supplies an electrode material formed of a band-shaped metal plate. The unwinding unit 10 continuously supplies the electrode material from the plurality of electrode material supply reels, including a plurality of electrode material supply reels and servomotors. The reel can be stored by winding each electrode material in the form of a roll. Two reels can be arranged. One reel may be for supplying the electrode material currently, and the other reel may be for provisionally supplying the electrode material. The servomotor can drive the reel so that the electrode material is supplied.

The unwinding unit 10 automatically replaces the electrode material by the unwinder auto splicing so that the electrode material can be continuously supplied immediately. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electrode material may be replaced manually.

The notched part 20 forms an electrode tab on the electrode material through a mold moving up and down. In the notching part 20, the electrode material supplied from the unwinding part 10 passes between the upper mold plate and the lower mold plate, and in the process of passing, the mold upper plate moves and notches the electrode material. An electrode including an electrode tab protruding to one side is created by forming notches at regular intervals in the electrode material. Feeding units may be provided for continuously supplying electrodes from the rear of the notched part 20 by continuously moving the electrodes passing through the notched part 20 in a pulling method that continuously draws them.

The cutting unit 30 is a device for sequentially and sequentially cutting the electrodes. In addition, an apparatus for inspecting the cut electrode through an image may be provided. High-quality electrodes are selected, and poor-quality electrodes can be taken out and removed.

The stacking device 40 stacks the cut electrodes in a magazine and stores them.

In the drawing, the direction indicated by the x-axis is the longitudinal direction of the electrode, the direction indicated by the y-axis is the transfer direction of the electrode and the width direction of the electrode, and the direction indicated by the z-axis is the direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the electrode. It is the vertical direction of the electrode production system.

2 is a view showing the notching process and the cutting process of the electrode material.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 ( a ), the electrode material S is subjected to a notching process of removing the scrap region S1 to form an electrode tab in the notched portion 20 . A portion of one side and a portion of the other side of the electrode material (S) may be removed through the notched portion (20).

1 and 2 (b), the notched electrode material (S) is cut in the cutting unit 30 along the cutting line (C) formed along the longitudinal direction (x) of the electrode to be a single sheet (S2) is generated.

Since the blanking type process in which notching and cutting are performed at once generates too much scrap of the electrode material (S), it is possible to minimize the scrap of the electrode material (S) by separating the notching process and the cutting process in this way. have.

3 is a perspective view illustrating the cutting unit 30 , the transfer unit 50 , and the feeding unit, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the cutting unit 30 .

3 and 4 , the transfer unit 50 is disposed at the rear of the cutter 100 . The feeding unit 600 is disposed at the rear of the cutter 100 . The cutter 100 includes an upper cutter 100 and a lower cutter 100 . The upper cutter 100 may be disposed on the body (not shown) of the cutting unit 30 to be movable in the vertical direction. The lower cutter 100 may be fixed to the body of the cutting unit 30 .

The transfer unit 50 may include a conveyor belt 200 . The conveyor belt 200 is disposed behind the cutter 100 and serves to guide the cut electrode S2 to the stacking device 40 . The conveyor belt 200 is arranged to be elongated along the conveying direction (y). Based on the conveying direction (y), the conveyor belt 200 is spaced apart from the cutter 100 .

The pedestal 500 is disposed between the cutter 100 and the conveyor belt 200 based on the transfer direction y. The pedestal 500 is cut by the cutter 100 and serves to temporarily support the electrode S2.

The feeding unit 600 is disposed at the rear of the cutter 100 and serves to guide the cut electrode S2 to the conveyor belt 200 .

The feeding unit 600 may include a gripper 610 , a body 620 , a bracket 630 , and a base 640 . The bracket 630 may include a bracket body 631 , a first member 632 , and a second member 633 . The gripper 610 is a member that holds the cut electrode S2 and moves the electrode S2 to the conveyor belt 200 . The gripper 610 is vertically movable on the body 620 .

The gripper 610 may include a first gripper 610A and a second gripper 610B. Based on the longitudinal direction x of the electrode S2 , the first gripper 610A is disposed on one side of the pedestal 500 , and the second gripper 610B is disposed on the other side of the pedestal 500 .

The body 620 is coupled to the gripper 610 . And the body 620 is fixed to the bracket (630). The body 620 may include a first body 620A and a second body 620B. The first gripper 610A is coupled to the first body 620A. The second gripper 610B is coupled to the second body 620B.

The base 640 may be disposed to be elongated based on the transport direction y. A driving device such as a motor for moving the bracket 630 may be disposed on the base 640 .

The bracket 630 may be coupled to the base 640 to be slidably movable along the transport direction y. As the bracket 630 moves, the gripper 610 coupled to the body 620 moves along the transport direction y.

5 is a plan view showing the distance between the conveyor belt 200 of the cutter 100 and the transfer unit 50, FIG. 6 is the distance between the cutter 100 and the conveyor belt 200 of the transfer unit 50 It is a side view shown.

5 and 6 , the transfer unit 50 includes a motor 300 and a suction unit 400 . The motor 300 is mounted on the conveyor belt 200 to provide a driving force to the conveyor belt 200 . The suction unit 400 is disposed at the rear of the motor 300 . The suction unit 400 is disposed below the conveyor belt 200 . The electrode S2 is disposed on the upper side of the conveyor belt 200 . When the suction unit 400 operates, the electrode S2 is adsorbed with the conveyor belt 200 interposed therebetween, and the electrode S2 is fixed so as not to be separated from the conveyor belt 200 during transport.

Based on the transfer direction (y), the motor 300 is disposed between the cutter 100 and the suction unit 400 .

Since the cutter 100 and the motor 300 are disposed apart from each other based on the transfer direction y, there is a transfer direction distance from the cutter 100 to the starting point of the conveyor belt 200 .

Here, the starting point may be the end of the conveyor belt 200 closest to the cutter 100 based on the transfer direction y, and in this case, from the cutter 100 to the end of the conveyor belt 200 The distance is referred to as a first distance L1. In the case of the electrode S2 having a width W smaller than the first distance L1, the electrode S2, which has become a sheet after cutting, does not reach the conveyor belt 200, so that the electrode S2 is transferred to the stacking device 40 ) cannot be transferred.

In addition, the starting point may be the starting point of the suction area SC of the suction part 400 of the conveyor belt 200 based on the transfer direction y, and in this case, the suction area SC of the cutter 100 ) is referred to as a second distance L2. In the case of the electrode S2 having a width W smaller than the second distance L2, the electrode S2, which has become a sheet after cutting, does not reach the suction area SC, so that the electrode S2 effectively stacks the stacking device ( 40) cannot be transferred.

Therefore, the cut electrode S2 through the gripper 610 of the feeding unit 600 needs to be transported to the start point of the suction area SC or at least to reach the conveyor belt 200 .

On the other hand, the feeding unit 600 may include a feeding unit for supplying the electrode material (S) to the cutter (100). These feeding units may be a roller type unit 650A that supplies the electrode material S to the cutter 100 through the frictional force of the roller R. Alternatively, the feeding units may be a gripper type unit 650B that supplies the electrode material S to the cutter 100 through a gripper G that grips the electrode material S. Alternatively, the feeding units may be a belt type unit 650C that supplies the electrode material S to the cutter 100 through the frictional force of the belt B.

On the other hand, the cutter 100 may be a laser cutting device (LC) for cutting the electrode material (S) by irradiating a laser to the electrode material (S) along the cutting line (C).

7 is a perspective view illustrating the pedestal 500 .

6 and 7 , the pedestal 500 prevents the cut electrode S2 from sagging. The pedestal 500 may include a first plate 510 , a second plate 520 , and a third plate 530 . The first plate 510 , the second plate 520 , and the third plate 530 may be a single member connected to each other only as described separately in terms of their functions and shapes. The first plate 510 is coupled to the lower cutter 100 . The second plate 520 is bent from the first plate 510 and is disposed. The second plate 520 may be disposed inclined toward the rear. The second plate 520 is disposed to be spaced apart from the lower cutter 100 . The third plate 530 is bent from the second plate 520 . The third plate 530 is in contact with the cut electrode S2 .

8 is a diagram illustrating the feeding unit 600 .

6 and 8 , the gripper 610 of the feeding unit 600 may include an upper gripper 611 and a lower gripper 612 . At least one of the upper gripper 611 and the lower gripper 612 may be disposed on the body 620 to be movable in the vertical direction (z). Based on the vertical direction z, the upper gripper 611 may be disposed above the pedestal 500 , and the lower gripper 612 may be disposed below the pedestal 500 . An electrode S2 is positioned between the upper gripper 611 and the lower gripper 612 . The upper gripper 611 and the lower gripper 612 are disposed to overlap a portion of the electrode S2 in the vertical direction z.

The gripper 610 may be divided into a region coupled to the body 620 and a region in contact with the electrode S2 . A region coupled to the body 620 is formed vertically, and a region in contact with the electrode S2 is formed horizontally, so that the gripper 610 may have an “L” shape as a whole.

9 is a view showing the base 640 and the bracket (630).

4 and 9 , the bracket 630 may include a bracket body 631 , a first member 632 , a second member 633 , and a moving member 634 . The bracket body 631 is coupled to the moving member 634 . The moving member 634 may be coupled to the base 640 to reciprocate in the transfer direction (y). The first member 632 and the second member 633 may extend vertically from the bracket body 631 , respectively.

4 , the first body 620A is coupled to the first member 632 . The second body 620B is coupled to the second member 633 . When the bracket 630 moves along the transport direction y along the base 640, the gripper 610 also moves along the transport direction y in conjunction with it. The stroke in the transport direction (y) of the bracket 630 may be greater than the distance in the transport direction from the cutter 100 to the starting point of the conveyor belt 200 .

10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the gripper 610 grips the cut electrode S2.

7 and 10 , the electrode S2 cut by the cutter 100 is supported by the pedestal 500 . Based on the longitudinal direction x of the electrode S2, one side of the electrode S2 mounted on the pedestal 500 is gripped by the first gripper 610A, and the other side of the electrode S2 is gripped by the second gripper 610B. ) is gripped. In a state where the electrode S2 is mounted on the pedestal 500 so that the first gripper 610A and the second gripper 610B can grip both sides of the electrode S2, the space on both sides of the electrode S2 is spaced by the gripper 610 ) should be provided. Accordingly, the length P of the pedestal 500 should be at least smaller than the length (K of FIG. 5 ) of the electrode S2 .

11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the gripper 610 guides the electrode S2 to the conveyor belt 200 .

Referring to FIG. 11 , the gripper 610 moves toward the conveyor belt 200 while gripping the electrode S2 . When the suction unit 400 is disposed on the conveyor belt 200 , the electrode S2 may move to the suction area SC. When the gripper 610 arrives at the suction area SC, the upper gripper 611 and the lower gripper 612 are separated to separate the electrode S2 from the gripper 610. The electrode (S2) separated from the gripper 610 S2) is directly adsorbed in the suction area SC and transferred along the conveyor belt 200 .

Thereafter, the gripper 610 moves toward the pedestal 500 to hold the cut electrode S2 and repeat the above process.

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.

100: cutter
110: upper cutter
120: lower cutter
200: conveyor belt
300: motor
400: suction unit
500: pedestal
600: feeding unit
610: gripper
620: body
630: bracket
640: base

Claims (11)

A secondary battery production system comprising: a notching unit for notching an electrode material to form an electrode tab; a cutting unit for cutting the electrode material on which the electrode tab is formed to produce an electrode; and a conveying unit for guiding the electrode in a conveying direction;
The cutting unit includes a cutter for cutting the electrode material,
The transfer unit includes a conveyor belt,
a pedestal disposed at the rear of the cutter to support the electrode from the lower side; and
It includes a feeding part disposed at the rear of the cutter,
The feeding unit includes a gripper,
The gripper is arranged reciprocally along the conveying direction, and guides the electrode cut by the cutter to the conveyor belt,
The width of the electrode is smaller than the distance in the transport direction from the cutter to the starting point of the conveyor belt secondary battery production system. According to claim 1,
The starting point is a secondary battery production system that is the end of the conveyor belt closest to the cutter based on the transfer direction. According to claim 1,
The starting point is a secondary battery production system that is a starting point of a suction region of a suction unit of the conveyor belt based on the transfer direction. The method of claim 1,
The pedestal is
A first plate coupled to the lower cutter, a second plate bent from the first plate and disposed to be spaced apart from the lower cutter, and a secondary battery production system bent from the second plate and contacting the electrode. According to claim 1,
The feeding unit
a body in which the pair of grippers are vertically movable;
base; and
Further comprising a bracket movably coupled to the base in the transport direction,
The body is fixed to the bracket and reciprocates in the transport direction. 6. The method of claim 5,
The gripper includes a first gripper gripping one end of the electrode and a second gripper gripping the other end of the electrode,
The body includes a first body coupled to the first gripper and a second body coupled to the second gripper,
The bracket includes a bracket body coupled to the base, a first member extending from the bracket body to be coupled to the first body, and a second member extending from the bracket body to couple to the second body secondary battery production system. 6. The method of claim 5,
Based on the conveying direction, the stroke of the bracket is greater than the conveying direction distance from the cutter to the starting point of the conveyor belt. According to claim 1,
the gripper includes an upper gripper disposed above the electrode and a lower gripper disposed below the electrode;
The upper gripper and the lower gripper are disposed to overlap a portion of the electrode in a vertical direction. 6. The method of claim 5,
The length of the pedestal is smaller than the length of the electrode secondary battery production system. According to claim 1,
The cutter is a laser cutting device secondary battery production system. According to claim 1,
The feeding unit includes a feeding unit for supplying the electrode material to the cutter,
The feeding unit is a secondary battery production system in any one of a roller type unit, a gripper type unit, and a belt type unit.

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