KR20230008979A - System for producing electrodes of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a secondary battery production system, which is a secondary battery production system comprising: an unwinding unit which supplies electrode material including a coated portion and uncoated portion; a notching unit which forms an electrode tab by notching the uncoated portion of the electrode material; and a meandering adjustment unit which is disposed in front of the notching unit and controls a moving direction of the electrode material. The meandering adjustment unit includes a first meandering adjustment unit and a second meandering adjustment unit disposed between the first meandering adjustment unit and the notching unit, wherein the second meandering adjustment unit includes a contact part in contact with upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material, adjusts the moving direction of the electrode material by changing the position of the contact part, and adjusts the meandering to a smaller range than the first meander adjustment unit. An electrode production system for a secondary battery can prevent the meandering of the electrode of the roll in response to a camber amount of the electrode.

Description

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

The present invention relates to a system for producing an electrode for a secondary battery.

In general, a chemical battery refers to a battery that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte and generates electrical energy by using a chemical reaction. This includes a disposable primary battery and a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged for repeated use. can be distinguished by

Due to the advantage of being able to charge and discharge, the use of secondary batteries is gradually increasing. Among such secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries have a high energy density per unit weight, and thus are widely used as power sources for electronic communication devices or high-output hybrid vehicles.

Electrodes used in these secondary batteries are used as positive and negative electrodes of the battery and are used to electrically connect the battery and the outside of the battery.

An electrode tab may be formed by performing notching on the electrode at regular intervals.

The notched electrode is sealed in the form of a pouch or a prismatic or cylindrical can in a stack process to manufacture a secondary battery.

The electrode material wound in the form of a reel is unwound from the unwinding unit and passed through the meandering adjustment unit to be fed into the notching unit. A plurality of electrode tabs are continuously formed on the electrode material at regular intervals. The tabbed electrode may be rewound in a reel form or cut into a predetermined size and loaded into a magazine.

The electrode material is a strip-shaped member and has a constant width. However, it is common that the edges of both sides of the electrode are bent during the manufacturing process of the electrode, resulting in a degree of curvature. In particular, there is a problem in that the thickness of the electrode is thin and high density is produced in order to realize high capacity of the battery for an electric vehicle, and the change in camber amount of the electrode gradually increases according to the degree of curvature. In addition, the amount of camber deviation for each supplied electrode is severe, causing a problem that the electrode runs obliquely on the roll.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0089803 (2015.08.05. Publication)

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode production system for a secondary battery capable of preventing meandering of an electrode of a roll in response to the amount of camber of the electrode.

In the embodiment, an unwinding part for supplying an electrode material including a coated part and a non-coated part, a notching part for notching the non-coated part of the electrode material to form an electrode tab, and a notching part disposed before the notching part to form an electrode material A secondary battery production system including a meandering adjustment unit for adjusting a driving direction, wherein the meandering adjustment unit includes a first meandering adjustment unit and a second meandering adjustment unit disposed between the first meandering adjustment unit and the notching part. And, the second meandering adjustment unit includes a contact portion contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material, and adjusts the running direction of the electrode material by changing the position of the contact portion. It is possible to provide a secondary battery production system that controls meandering in a smaller range than the first meandering control unit.

The contact unit may include a gripper that moves in a vertical direction and selectively contacts the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material.

The contact part includes a first body to which the gripper is movably coupled in a vertical direction, and the gripper includes an upper gripper in contact with the upper surface of the electrode material and a lower gripper in contact with the lower surface of the electrode material, , The first body includes a base, a first y-axis driving unit coupled to the base, and an x-axis driving unit connected to the first y-axis driving unit and moving the y-axis driving unit in the x-axis. It may include a z-axis driver connected to the x-axis driver and the gripper to move the gripper in the z-axis.

The gripper includes a first gripper disposed on one side of the electrode material and a second gripper disposed on the other side of the electrode material based on the y-axis direction, and the first gripper and the second gripper alternately It may come into contact with the electrode material.

The second meandering adjustment unit moves forward based on the x-axis in a state in which the first gripper grips the electrode material, and when the first gripper releases the grip on the electrode material, the second gripper moves the gripper to the electrode material. Movements of the first gripper and the second gripper may be controlled to grip the electrode material and move forward with respect to the x-axis.

The second meandering adjustment unit may move the first gripper backward along the x-axis when the second gripper moves forward along the x-axis.

Vertical strokes of the grippers may be identical to each other.

The gripper includes a first part coupled to the first body, a second part extending in a y-axis direction from the first part, and a third part extending in an x-axis from the second part. The third part may include a protruding part including a contact surface protruding from the third part and contacting the upper or lower surface of the electrode material.

The contact unit may include a roller that is always in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material.

The contact unit may include a second body to which the roller is rotatably coupled, and the second body may include a second y-axis driver to move the roller in a y-axis.

According to the embodiment, there is an advantage in that it is possible to greatly reduce the occurrence of defects in forming the electrode tab by adjusting the running direction of the electrode entering the notched portion.

According to the embodiment, by controlling the meandering through a quick response with the first meandering adjustment unit, the high-speed of the secondary battery electrode production system is secured, and the second meandering adjustment unit is used to respond to the fast response of the first meandering adjustment unit, It has the advantage of precisely controlling meandering.

according to the embodiment. There is an advantage in that the meandering can be precisely corrected right in front of the notching part through the second meandering adjustment unit.

1 is a front view showing an electrode production system for a secondary battery according to an embodiment;
2 is a schematic plan view of the secondary battery electrode production system shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a perspective view showing a second meandering adjustment unit including a contact unit according to an example;
4 is a perspective view showing a gripper;
5 is a perspective view of a lower gripper;
6 is a conceptual diagram of the gripper and the electrode material showing a state before the gripper grips the electrode material;
7 is a conceptual diagram of the gripper and the electrode material showing a state in which the first gripper grips the electrode material;
8 is a view showing a state in which the first gripper moves the electrode material to the notching part;
9 and 10 are views showing a state in which the first gripper and the second gripper alternately grip the electrode material;
11 is a view showing a state in which the second gripper moves the electrode material to the notching part;
12 is a perspective view showing a second meandering adjustment unit including a contact unit according to another example;
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which an electrode material is supplied to a notched part by contacting a roller of the second meandering adjustment unit shown in FIG. 12 .

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

Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following examples may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention It is not limited to the examples below. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the spirit of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Terms used in this specification are used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular form may include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, when used herein, "comprise" and/or "comprising" specifies the presence of the recited shapes, numbers, steps, operations, elements, elements, and/or groups thereof. and does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, operations, elements, elements and/or groups. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the listed items.

Although terms such as first and second are used in this specification to describe various members, regions, and/or regions, it is obvious that these members, components, regions, layers, and/or regions should not be limited by these terms. Do. These terms do not imply any particular order, top or bottom, or superiority or inferiority, and are used only to distinguish one element, region or region from another element, region or region. Thus, a first element, region or region described in detail below may refer to a second element, region or region without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings schematically showing embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, variations of the depicted shape may be expected, depending, for example, on manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the specific shape of the region shown in this specification, but should include, for example, a change 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.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a system for producing an electrode for a secondary battery according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the system for producing an electrode for a secondary battery shown in FIG. 1 .

Below. The x-axis direction of the drawing is the transport direction of the electrode, the y-axis direction of the drawing is the width direction of the electrode material, and the z-axis direction of the drawing is the vertical direction of the electrode production system for a secondary battery. Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described. In doing, 'front' and 'rear' are based on the transfer direction of the electrode, and 'upper' and 'lower' are based on the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the system for producing an electrode for a secondary battery according to the embodiment may include an unwinding unit 100 , a notching unit 200 , and a meandering unit 300 .

The unwinding unit 100 continuously supplies the electrode material S formed of a strip-shaped metal plate. An electrode material S formed of a strip-shaped metal plate extending horizontally from the unwinding part 100 at the entrance is supplied to the notching part 200.

The notching part 200 is disposed behind the unwinding part 100 and forms the electrode tab Sb on the electrode material S to create the electrode Sa. The notching portion 200 may form the electrode tab Sb through a mold or a laser.

Between the unwinding part 100 and the notching part 200, a density unit N may be disposed to adjust the tension in response to a change in the supply speed of the electrode material S.

The meandering adjustment unit 300 serves to adjust the driving direction of the electrode material S entering the notching unit 200 . The meandering adjustment unit 300 may include a first meandering adjustment unit 310 and a second meandering adjustment unit 320 .

The first meandering adjustment unit 310 may be disposed between the unwinding unit 100 and the density unit N. The second meandering adjusting unit 320 may be disposed between the denser unit N and the notching part 200 .

The electrode material S may be divided into a coated portion and a non-coated portion. The coating portion is a portion where the active material layer is located, and the non-coating portion is a portion without the active material layer, and a portion of the coating portion and the non-coating portion may be used as the electrode tab Sb.

The first sensor S1 may be disposed right in front of the second meandering adjustment unit 320 . The first sensor S1 detects a boundary Q between a coated portion and a non-coated portion. The first meandering adjustment unit 310 determines that the electrode material S meanders when it is confirmed through the first sensor S1 that the boundary Q of the coated part and the non-coated part is out of the reference line, and determines that the boundary Q is meandering. Adjust the traveling direction of the electrode material (S) so that (Q) is aligned with the reference line.

The first meandering adjustment unit 310 may adjust the running direction of the electrode material S by moving the table on which the roller for guiding the electrode material S is disposed in the y-axis direction. Therefore, the first meandering adjustment unit 310 has an advantage of correcting the meandering of the electrode material S with a large displacement (approximately 1 mm to 2 mm) with a quick response. Here, as the first meandering adjustment unit 310, it is illustrated that the table is moved in the y-axis direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to perform meandering adjustment in a pivoting manner.

However, even if the meandering is corrected in the first meandering adjusting unit 310, the meandering of the electrode material S may occur between the first sensor S1 and the notching part 200. In particular, as the distance between the first sensor S1 and the notching part 200 increases, the electrode corrected in the first meandering adjusting unit 310 based on the notching part 200 due to the curvature of the electrode material S The consistency of the position of the material (S) is poor. Therefore, even if the meandering of the electrode material S is corrected in the first meandering adjusting unit 310, a fatal problem in which the dimensions of the notched electrode Sa is unbalanced occurs.

The second meandering adjustment unit 320 is to solve this problem. By detecting and correcting the meandering of the electrode material (S) just before the electrode material (S) enters the notching part (200), it serves to increase the matching of the position of the electrode material (S) with respect to the notching part (200). do In particular, if the first meandering adjustment unit 310 adjusts the meandering in a larger range and quickly adjusts the meandering by securing fast response, the second meandering adjustment unit 320 of the first meandering adjustment unit 310 In response to a quick response, it is meaningful to adjust meandering more accurately.

The second meandering adjustment unit 320 is disposed behind the first sensor S1.

The second sensor (S2) is located between the second meandering adjustment unit 320 and the notching part 200, is disposed right in front of the notching part 200, and the electrode material (S) entering the notching part 200 Detects the boundary (Q) of the coated part and the non-coated part.

The second meandering adjustment unit 320 corrects the meandering of the electrode material S based on the location information of the electrode material S transmitted from the second sensor S2. At this time, the second meandering adjustment unit 320 includes a contact portion that contacts the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material S, and changes the y-axis position of the contact portion to more accurately than the first meandering adjustment unit 310 (Approximately, within 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm) it is possible to correct the meandering of the electrode material (S).

Although the electrode material (S) has a degree of curvature, it is not greatly affected by the degree of curvature because the boundary (Q) of the coated part and the non-coated part is detected through the second sensor (S2) right in front of the notching part (200). , It is possible to ensure the matching of the position of the electrode material (S) based on the notching portion (200).

3 is a perspective view showing a second meandering adjustment unit 320 including a contact portion P according to an example.

Referring to FIG. 3 , as an example, the second meandering adjustment unit 320 may include a gripper 321 as a contact portion P. The gripper 321 serves to selectively contact the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material S to move the electrode material S to the notching portion 200 side.

The second meandering adjustment unit 320 may include a first body 322 coupled to the gripper 321 . The first body 322 may move the gripper 321 in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis.

The first body 322 may include an x-axis driving unit 322a, a first y-axis driving unit 322b, a base 322c, and a z-axis driving unit 322d.

A first y-axis driver 322b is disposed below the base 322c. The first y-axis driver 322b may include a stage slidably disposed in the y-axis direction on the base 322c and a driving unit such as a motor that moves the stage.

An x-axis driver 322a is disposed below the first y-axis driver 322b. The x-axis driver 322a is slidably disposed in the x-axis direction on the first y-axis driver 322b.

The z-axis driver 322d is connected to the x-axis driver 322a. The gripper 321 is connected to the z-axis driving unit 322d. The z-axis driver 322d moves the gripper 321 in the vertical direction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gripper 321, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower gripper 321.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the gripper 321 may include a first gripper 321A and a second gripper 321B. The first gripper 321A is disposed on one side of the electrode material S with respect to the y-axis direction. The second gripper 321B is disposed on the other side of the electrode material S with respect to the y-axis direction. The first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B may alternately contact the electrode material S to transfer the electrode material S to the notched portion 200 .

The first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B may include an upper gripper U and a lower gripper D, respectively. The upper gripper (U) is disposed on the upper side of the electrode material (S) and contacts the upper surface of the electrode material (S). The lower gripper (D) is disposed on the lower side of the electrode material (S) and contacts the lower surface of the electrode material (S).

The upper gripper U and the lower gripper D are slidably coupled to the z-axis driving unit 322d in the vertical direction, respectively.

The gripper 321 may include a first part T1, a second part T2, a third part T3, and a protrusion part T4.

The first part T1 is coupled to the z-axis driving unit 322d of the first body 322 . The second part T2 may be vertically extended from the first part T1 in the y-axis direction. The third part T3 may be formed to extend along the x-axis from the second part T2.

The protruding portion T4 may include a contact surface protruding from the third part T3 and contacting the upper or lower surface of the electrode material S. In the case of the upper gripper U, the protruding portion T4 may protrude from the lower surface of the third part T3. In the case of the lower gripper D, the protruding portion T4 may protrude from the upper surface of the third part T3.

The upper gripper (U) moves downward and the lower gripper (D) moves upward by the z-axis driving unit (322d), so that the protruding part (T4) of the upper gripper (U) and the protruding part (T4) of the lower gripper (D) are Each electrode material (S) is gripped. When the gripper 321 moves toward the notching part 200 by the x-axis driving unit 322a while gripping the electrode material S, the electrode material S is guided to the notching part 200.

On the other hand, in a state where the gripper 321 grips the electrode material S, the gripper 321 changes the y-axis position by the first y-axis driving unit 322b, so the electrode material entering the notching portion 200 If meandering occurs in (S), it can be corrected immediately.

6 is a conceptual diagram of the gripper 321 and the electrode material S showing a state before the gripper 321 grips the electrode material S.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the second gripper 321B may be disposed forward of the first gripper 321A in the x-axis direction. Hereinafter, based on the x-axis direction in the drawing, the position of the first gripper 321A is referred to as a first point L1, the position of the second gripper 321B is referred to as a second point L2, and the first gripper 321A is referred to as a first point L1. The foremost position of 321A and the second gripper 321B is referred to as a third point L3.

The first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B may be arranged to have the same stroke in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and based on the vertical direction, the stroke of the first gripper 321A and The strokes of the two grippers 321B may be different.

7 is a conceptual diagram of the gripper 321 and the electrode material S showing a state in which the first gripper 321A grips the electrode material S, and FIG. ) to the notching part 200.

Referring to FIG. 7 , when the z-axis driving unit 322d operates, the upper gripper U of the first gripper 321A moves downward and the lower gripper D moves upward, so that the first gripper 321A moves the electrode material. Grip (S). Based on the position of the boundary Q of the coated part and the non-coated part of the electrode material S detected by the second sensor S2, the first y-axis driving unit ( 322b) adjusts the y-axis position of the gripper 321 to ensure consistency of the position of the electrode material S.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the x-axis driving unit 322a operates, the first gripper 321A moves forward while gripping the electrode material S, and moves the electrode material S right in front of the notching part 200. It is guided to the third point (L3). At this time, the second gripper 321B may move backward to the first point L1 by the x-axis driving unit 322a.

9 and 10 are views showing a state in which the first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B alternately grip the electrode material S.

9 and 10, when the z-axis driver 322d operates at the first point L1, the upper gripper U of the second gripper 321B moves downward and the lower gripper D moves upward. By moving, the second gripper 321B grips the electrode material S. At the same time, the upper gripper U of the first gripper 321A moves upward and the lower gripper D moves downward at the third point L3 so that the first gripper 321A grips the electrode material S. unlock

11 is a view showing a state in which the second gripper 321B moves the electrode material S to the notching portion 200.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the x-axis driving unit 322a operates, the second gripper 321B moves forward while gripping the electrode material S, and moves the electrode material S to the notch part 200. It is guided to the third point L3 right in front. At this time, the first gripper 321A may move backward to the first point L1 again by the x-axis driving unit 322a and wait to grip the electrode material S at the first point L1.

In this way, the first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B guide the electrode material S to the notch part 200 in a state in which the electrode material S is alternately gripped. At this time, since the grip positions of the first gripper 321A and the second gripper 321B with respect to the electrode material S are adjusted based on the y-axis direction, the meandering can be corrected more precisely than the first meandering adjustment unit 310 can

12 is a perspective view showing a second meandering adjustment unit 400 including a contact portion P according to another example, and FIG. 13 is a roller 410 of the second meandering adjustment unit 400 shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the electrode material S is supplied to the notching portion 200 by contact.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, as the second meandering adjustment unit 400 according to another example, the contact portion may be a roller 410 in constant contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material (S).

The roller 410 may include an upper roller 411 and a lower roller 412 . The upper roller 411 is disposed on the upper side of the electrode material (S) and is always in contact with the upper surface of the electrode material (S). The lower roller 412 is disposed on the lower side of the electrode material (S) and is in constant contact with the lower surface of the electrode material (S).

The second meandering adjustment unit 400 may include a second body 420 to which the roller 410 is rotatably coupled. also. The second meandering adjustment unit 400 may include a second y-axis driver 430 that moves the second body 420 along the y-axis. Based on the position of the boundary Q of the coated portion and the non-coated portion of the electrode material S detected by the second sensor S2, the second y-axis drive unit ( 430) adjusts the y-axis position of the second body 420 to ensure consistency of the position of the electrode material (S).

In the second meandering adjustment unit 400, the y-axis position of the roller 410 is changed while the roller 410 is in contact with both the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material S, so the first meandering adjustment unit 310 The meander can be corrected more precisely.

Regarding the second meandering adjustment unit 400, the grip method and the roller method have been described as examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be implemented in a manner in which the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material are in contact with the pivot method. .

In the above, specific embodiments of the secondary battery electrode production system of the present invention have been described, but it is obvious that various modifications are possible within the limits that do not deviate from the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments and should not be defined, and should be defined by not only the claims to be described later, but also those equivalent to these claims.

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 and All changes or modified forms derived from the equivalent concept should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: unwinding unit
200: notching part
300: meandering adjustment department
310: first meandering adjustment unit
320,400: second meandering adjustment unit
321: gripper
321A: first gripper
321B: second gripper
U: upper gripper
D: lower gripper
322: first body
322a: x-axis drive unit
322b: first y-axis driving unit
322c: base
322d: z-axis drive unit
410: roller
420: second body
430: second y-axis drive unit

Claims (10)

An unwinding part for supplying an electrode material including a coated part and an uncoated part, a notching part for notching the non-coated part of the electrode material to form an electrode tab, and a notching part disposed before the notching part to control the traveling direction of the electrode material As a secondary battery production system comprising a meandering adjustment unit to do,
The meandering adjustment unit includes a first meandering adjustment unit and a second meandering adjustment unit disposed between the first meandering adjustment unit and the notching part,
The second meandering adjustment unit includes a contact portion contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material, and adjusts the running direction of the electrode material by changing the position of the contact portion,
The second meandering adjustment unit controls the meandering to a smaller range than the first meandering adjustment unit. According to claim 1,
The secondary battery production system comprising a gripper for selectively contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material by moving the contact part in a vertical direction. According to claim 2,
The contact part includes a first body to which the gripper is movably coupled in a vertical direction,
The gripper includes an upper gripper in contact with the upper surface of the electrode material and a lower gripper in contact with the lower surface of the electrode material,
The first body includes a base, a first y-axis driving unit coupled to the base, and an x-axis driving unit connected to the first y-axis driving unit and moving the y-axis driving unit in the x-axis. A secondary battery production system comprising a z-axis driver connected to the x-axis driver and the gripper to move the gripper in a z-axis. According to claim 3,
The gripper includes a first gripper disposed on one side of the electrode material and a second gripper disposed on the other side of the electrode material based on the y-axis direction,
A secondary battery production system in which the first gripper and the second gripper alternately contact the electrode material. According to claim 4,
The second meandering adjustment unit moves forward based on the x-axis in a state in which the first gripper grips the electrode material, and when the first gripper releases the grip on the electrode material, the second gripper A secondary battery production system for controlling the movements of the first gripper and the second gripper so as to grip the electrode material and move forward based on the x-axis. According to claim 5,
The secondary battery production system of claim 1 , wherein the second meandering adjustment unit moves backward when the second gripper moves forward along the x-axis, and the first gripper moves backward along the x-axis. According to claim 6,
The secondary battery production system wherein the vertical strokes of the gripper are identical to each other. According to claim 1,
The gripper includes a first part coupled to the first body, a second part extending in a y-axis direction from the first part, and a third part extending in an x-axis from the second part;
The third part includes a protrusion protruding from the third part and including a contact surface contacting the upper or lower surface of the electrode material. According to claim 8,
The contact part is a secondary battery production system including a roller that is always in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode material. According to claim 1,
The contact part includes a second body to which the roller is rotatably coupled,
The second body includes a second y-axis driver for moving the roller in a y-axis.

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