KR20230082845A - Tension roller with adjustable stepped end length - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a variable step type electrode running roller, comprising: a base roller fixed to a roller shaft and having an outer diameter greater than that of the roller shaft; And an outer roller having a hollow with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base roller, having a length shorter than the length of the base roller, and being movable and fixed along the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the base roller; Accordingly, it is characterized in that a step difference is formed at the interface between the base roller and the outer roller.

Description

Electrode driving roller with step adjustment possible {TENSION ROLLER WITH ADJUSTABLE STEPPED END LENGTH}

The present invention relates to a variable-stepped electrode traveling roller capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of folds of electrode tabs or electrode wrinkles in an electrode sheet traveling on the electrode traveling roller.

Secondary batteries, unlike primary batteries, can be recharged, and have recently been extensively researched and developed due to their small size and high capacity. Demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is increasing more rapidly due to technological development and demand for mobile devices, and electric vehicles and energy storage systems that are emerging in line with the needs of the times for environmental protection.

Secondary batteries are classified into coin-type batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch-type batteries according to the shape of a battery case. In a secondary battery, an electrode assembly installed inside a battery case is a power generating device capable of charging and discharging, consisting of a laminated structure of electrodes and separators.

The electrode assembly is a jelly roll type in which a separator is interposed between a sheet-type positive electrode and a negative electrode coated with an active material, a stack type in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and The stack type unit cells can be roughly classified into a stack & folding type in which a long length separation film is wound.

The electrode was manufactured by coating an active material on a current collector to form an electrode sheet, notching the electrode sheet, winding it into a roll, transporting it, unwinding the electrode sheet wound around the roll and cutting it to a certain size.

Here, the electrode sheet is transported in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the traveling roller, but there has been a problem in that the non-coated portion of the electrode sheet on which the active material is not formed is folded. That is, as shown in FIG. 1 , the uncoated portion C of the electrode sheet A, which is not coated with the active material, is thinner than the holding portion B, and the electrode sheet A moves over the traveling roller 1. The thin uncoated portion (C) fluctuated due to the change in tension acting during driving, and then contacted and folded damage to the traveling roller (1) often occurred. In particular, if such damage occurs after the electrode tab is made in the uncoated portion (C) through notching processing, a separate post-processing is required or if the damage is severe, it must be discarded altogether, so there is a high demand for solving the folding problem of the electrode tab. .

As an example to solve the problem of folding the electrode tabs, a method of separating an area where the electrode tabs are located on the entire surface of the electrode sheet from the contact surface of the traveling roller is used. That is, by making a stepped portion at the end of the traveling roller and allowing the electrode tab to pass over the stepped portion, the problem of the electrode tab contacting the traveling roller is effectively solved.

However, there is a problem in that the method of making the stepped portion on the traveling roller must be provided in various types corresponding to the electrode length of the electrode assembly provided in various specifications. In order to solve this problem, as in Patent Document 1, a method of providing a step adjustment unit for adjusting the step length on the traveling roller has been proposed.

The configuration of the step adjusting unit 3 is disclosed in FIG. 2, and the step adjusting unit 3 of various specifications is selected for one base roller 2, so that the traveling roller 1 itself needs to be replaced. The shortcoming has been effectively addressed.

By the way, the traveling roller 1 of Patent Document 1 proposes a structure in which two stepped portions 3 and 3' divided on both sides with respect to the central axis of the base roller 2 are coupled by magnetic force, but ordinary magnetic force In practice, since the base roller 2 and the step adjusting part 3 do not rotate at the same speed due to insufficient bonding force, and if the magnetic force is strong enough, it is too difficult to separate the two step parts 3 and 3'. It is not appropriate to use the configuration of Patent Literature 1 as it is.

The structure of the realistic step adjusting unit is configured in a cylindrical shape, inserted along the longitudinal direction with respect to the base roller, and then fastened to each other with a set screw or the like. Due to the strong coupling of the screw, the base roller and the step adjusting part rotate at the same speed, and the step adjusting part is fixed in place.

However, it has been found that the cylindrical step adjusting portion causes several other problems. One problem is that it takes a lot of time to replace the step adjusting unit. Since the base roller must first be removed in order to insert the cylindrical step adjusting part into the base roller, this process takes considerable time. Since dozens of travel rollers 1 are provided in only one electrode manufacturing device, for example, the notching device 5 schematically shown in FIG. During this time, electrode production has no choice but to stop.

Another problem is that the problem of wrinkles in the electrode sheet is also found. The electrode wrinkle problem is due to the small gap that exists between the base roller and the step adjusting part. In particular, in the process of drying the active material, tension is applied to the electrode sheet whose temperature has risen, and the gap between the base roller and the step adjusting part causes a long line along the driving direction. Wrinkles are often formed.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0104598 (published on 09/04/2020)

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable step type electrode running roller that can effectively prevent the problem of folding of an electrode tab or electrode wrinkles occurring in an electrode sheet traveling on the electrode running roller.

In one example of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a variable step type electrode running roller includes a base roller fixed to a roller shaft and having an outer diameter larger than that of the roller shaft; And an outer roller having a hollow with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base roller, having a length shorter than the length of the base roller, and being movable and fixed along the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the base roller; Accordingly, a step is formed at the interface between the base roller and the outer roller.

In a specific example, the roller surface of the base roller has no step difference, and a step portion is formed between the step difference between the base roller and the outer roller and the end of the base roller.

In one example, the stepped portion may be formed at one end or both ends of the base roller.

In another example, the base roller may be provided with a plurality of arm fastening parts forming a row while crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller and the outer roller.

In addition, male fastening parts facing the arm fastening part may be provided at both ends of the outer roller.

In addition, a male fastener for mutually coupling the base roller and the outer roller by binding to the arm coupling portion through the male coupling portion may be embedded in the male coupling portion and may not protrude outward.

In another example of the present invention, the base roller is provided with a first keyway crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller and the outer roller, and second keyways corresponding to the first keyway are provided at both ends of the outer roller. A relative rotation between the base roller and the outer roller may be limited by inserting a key into the first and second key grooves.

Also, a plurality of arm fastening parts constituting a row are provided on the bottom surface of the first key groove, and a male fastening tool coupled to the arm fastening part contacts the key to limit movement of the key.

On the other hand, the present invention is a jig for determining the fastening position of the outer roller of the variable-stepped electrode running roller having the above configuration, the jig has a hollow semi-cylindrical shape, and the inner space of the jig is aligned with the roller shaft. Provided is a jig for a variable-step type electrode traveling roller comprising a first coupling portion to be fitted and a second coupling portion to be fitted and coupled to the base roller while being connected to the first coupling portion.

In a specific example, a plurality of jigs having different lengths of the second coupling part may form one set.

Also, a point where an outer end of the second coupling part and one end of the outer roller come in contact designates a fixing position of the outer roller.

The variable step type electrode running roller of the present invention having the above configuration does not adjust the step length only after removing the roller shaft as in the prior art, but moves along the longitudinal direction while the hollow outer roller is inserted into the base roller and Since it can be fixed, there is no need to remove the roller shaft to adjust the length of the stepped part.

In addition, since the outer roller has a length shorter than that of the base roller and can change its position on the base roller, the position, length, and number of stepped parts can be adjusted by changing the fixing position of the outer roller. Therefore, the variable-stepped electrode running roller of the present invention can flexibly respond to the manufacture of electrodes of various specifications having a total length less than the length of the outer roller by designing the length of the outer roller to have a sufficient length.

In addition, by providing a dedicated jig for the variable-stepped electrode running roller according to the present invention, the operation of adjusting the stepped portions of numerous running rollers can be performed easily and efficiently without errors.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description below.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of an electrode sheet traveling on a conventional electrode traveling roller.
Figure 2 is a view showing an example of an electrode traveling roller coupled to the step adjusting unit to the conventional base roller.
Fig. 3 shows an example of a notching device having a plurality of electrode running rollers.
4 is a view showing an embodiment of a variable step type electrode running roller according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing various examples of adjusting the position of outer rollers in the variable-stepped electrode running roller shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a structure for fixing an outer roller to a base roller in the variable-stepped electrode running roller shown in FIG. 4;
7 is a view showing another example of a structure for fixing an outer roller to a base roller in the variable-stepped electrode running roller shown in FIG. 4;
Fig. 8 shows an example of fixing the position of a key in the embodiment of Fig. 7;
9 is a view showing an embodiment of determining the fixing position of the outer roller using the jig provided by the present invention.

Since the present invention can make various changes and have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be described in detail below.

However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the present invention, the term "comprises" or "has" is intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

Further, in the present invention, when a part such as a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is described as being “on” another part, this includes not only the case where it is “directly on” the other part, but also the case where another part is present in the middle thereof. . Conversely, when a part such as a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is described as being “under” another part, this includes not only being “directly under” the other part, but also the case where there is another part in the middle. In addition, in the present application, being disposed "on" may include the case of being disposed not only on the upper part but also on the lower part.

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable-stepped electrode running roller that can effectively prevent the occurrence of folds of electrode tabs or electrode wrinkles in an electrode sheet traveling on the electrode running roller.

In a specific example, the variable-stepped electrode running roller of the present invention includes a base roller fixed to a roller shaft and having an outer diameter larger than that of the roller shaft; And an outer roller having a hollow with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base roller, having a length shorter than the length of the base roller, and being movable and fixed along the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the base roller; includes, Accordingly, a step is formed at the interface between the base roller and the outer roller.

According to one embodiment of the variable-step electrode running roller as described above, the hollow outer roller inserted and coupled concentrically on the base roller has a length shorter than the length of the base roller and moves along the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the base roller. and can be fixed.

That is, the coupling position of the outer roller can be changed on the base roller, and since the boundary surface between the base roller and the outer roller forms a step, the position and length of the stepped portion can be adjusted by changing the fixing position of the outer roller. Therefore, if the length of the outer roller is designed to have a sufficient length, it is possible to flexibly respond to the manufacture of electrodes of various specifications having a total length less than the length of the outer roller.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the variable step type electrode running roller according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]

4 is a view showing an embodiment of the variable step type electrode running roller 10 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4 , the variable-stepped electrode running roller 10 of the present invention includes a base roller 200 and a hollow outer roller 300 inserted and coupled to the base roller 200 concentrically.

The base roller 200 is fixed to the roller shaft 100 and has a larger outer diameter than the diameter of the roller shaft 100. The roller shaft 100 is driven by a separate power source, and the base roller 200 receives power from the roller shaft 100 and rotates.

The outer roller 300 has a hollow with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base roller 200, and the hollow part is inserted into the outer surface of the base roller 200 to form a concentric shape and is coupled to each other by the base roller 200. Rotate together passively. And, the outer roller 300 has a shorter length than the length of the base roller 200, and within the range corresponding to this length difference, the outer roller 300 is inserted into the base roller 200 in the longitudinal direction (roller axial direction) means), it is possible to move and fix it along. Of course, the movement and fixation of the outer roller 300 is performed while the base roller 200 is stopped, and after the position adjustment of the outer roller 300 is completed, the variable step type electrode running roller 10 is driven again. .

Since the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 are concentric and the outer diameter of the outer roller 300 is larger than the outer diameter of the base roller 200, there is a gap between the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300. The boundary surface of will form a step difference. That is, discontinuous step-like steps are made toward the base roller 200 at both ends of the outer roller 300 . Since the outer roller 300 has to move on the base roller 200 and a step is formed at both ends of the outer roller 300, it is preferable that the roller surface of the base roller 200 has no step, and accordingly, the base roller 300 has no step. A step portion 400 is formed between the step between the outer roller 200 and the outer roller 300 and the end of the base roller 200 .

5 is a view showing various examples of adjusting the position of the outer roller 300 in the variable-stepped electrode running roller 10 of the present invention. 5 shows three examples. The base roller 200 and one end of the outer roller 300 are aligned so that the stepped portion 400 is formed on one end of the base roller 200, or the outer roller ( It is also possible to form the stepped portion 400 at both ends of the base roller 200 by disposing the base roller 300 in the middle region of the base roller 200 .

Where the stepped portion 400 is formed at the longitudinal end of the base roller 200 depends on the arrangement of the holding portion B and the uncoated portion C formed on the electrode sheet A, the running line of the electrode sheet A, and the like. appropriately selected. In the case where the holding portion B is formed in one row, the uncoated portion C, in which the electrode tab is formed, can be adjusted to pass through the stepped portion 400 at one end of the base roller 200. In addition, in the case where electrode tabs are formed on the uncoated portion C of both edges of the electrode sheet A, the outer roller 300 may be disposed so that the stepped portion 400 is formed at both ends of the base roller 200. .

And, FIG. 6 is a view showing an embodiment of a specific structure for fixing the outer roller 300 to the base roller 200 in the variable step type electrode running roller 10 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the base roller 200 may include a plurality of arm fastening parts 210 forming a row while crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 . It can be said that it is common for the arm fastening part 210 to have a female screw for screw coupling, but various structures such as other known arm fastening parts, for example, an arm fastening part for one-touch coupling, can be applied. A plurality of arm fastening parts 210 form a line, and the number of arm fastening parts 210 corresponds to the number of points at which the outer roller 300 can be fixed.

In addition, male fastening parts 310 opposite to the female fastening part 210 are provided at both ends of the outer roller 300, and the male fastening parts 330 connect the male fastening parts 310 of the outer roller 300. The base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 are mutually fastened by binding to the arm fastening part 210 of the base roller 200 through the.

If the female fastening part 210 is provided with a female screw, the male fastener 330 may be a kind of bolt member in which a corresponding male screw is formed, and the male fastener 330 is embedded in the male fastening part 310. It may be desirable not to protrude outward. This is because it is advantageous to prevent the head of the male fastener 330 protruding out of the male fastener 310 from causing physical damage to the electrode sheet A traveling on the variable-stepped electrode traveling roller 10. .

A plurality of arm fastening parts 210 forming a row while crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 form a pair, and the arm fastening parts 210 on both sides have the same number In addition, the distance between the two arm fastening parts 210 corresponding to each other in both arm fastening parts 210 is the same as the distance between the male fastening parts 310 of the outer roller 300.

[Second Embodiment]

The second embodiment of the present invention relates to another example of a structure in which the outer roller 300 is fixed to the base roller 200 in the variable step type electrode running roller 10, and the other base roller 200 and the outer roller Other configurations such as size relationship and concentric structure of 300 are equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above.

7 shows the structure of the second embodiment in which the outer roller 300 is fixed to the base roller 200 in the variable-stepped electrode running roller 10 of the present invention, and redundant descriptions are omitted and the second embodiment is omitted. The description is centered on the characteristic composition of the form.

In the first embodiment of FIG. 6 , a structure in which the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 are fixed to each other through the male fastener 330 through the cylindrical surface (running surface) is adopted. However, in this fixing structure, since the male fastener 330 is located on the travel path of the electrode sheet A, it is advantageous to embed the male fastener 330 in the male fastener 310 so that it does not protrude outward. As described above.

In addition, if you want to make the fixed point of the outer roller 300 densely, the gap between the arm fastening parts 210 should be narrowed, and accordingly, the diameter of the male fastener 330 becomes thinner. When the roller 300 rotates together with the base roller 200, a shearing force acts, so that the risk of breakage of the small-diameter male fastener 330 increases.

The second embodiment is to solve the possibility of such a problem, and is characterized in that the fixing structure of the outer roller 300 is changed to both sides of the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 instead of the cylindrical surface. .

Referring to FIG. 7 , both sides of the base roller 200 are provided with first key grooves 220 crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300, and A second keyway 320 corresponding to the first keyway 220 is provided at both ends. That is, the fixing structure of the outer roller 300 is separated from the cylindrical surface by the first and second key grooves 220 and 320 .

And, a key 340, for example, a buried key such as a parallel key or an inclined key, is inserted into the first and second key grooves 220 and 320 to resist shear force, thereby forming the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300. ) to limit the relative rotation between

In addition, the key 340 inserted into the first and second key grooves 220 and 320 does not fall out due to centrifugal force and strong frictional force, but there is a slight possibility that it will gradually slide out due to irregular vibration.

8 is an embodiment of preventing the key 340 from leaving more reliably, and a plurality of arm fastening parts 210' constituting a row are provided on the bottom surface of the first key groove 220, and the arm fastening part ( The male fastener 330' bound to 210' is in contact with the key 340 to form a kind of separation prevention bump, thereby preventing the key 340 from being separated. The male fastener 330' of the second embodiment for preventing the key 340 from leaving does not receive any shearing force and only needs to act with a resistance sufficient to prevent the key 340 from coming off, so there is no problem even if the diameter is small. .

Here, the pair of arm fastening parts 210' on both sides provided in the first keyway 220 of the second embodiment are the length of the outer roller 300 and the protrusion amount of the key 340 (the key extends out of the keyway). Protruding length) is provided in a number corresponding to each other.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the cylindrical surface of the outer roller 300 is smooth without any groove structure, there is no fear of damaging the electrode sheet A, and the shaft element (key) and , Since the fixing elements for suppressing the separation of the shaft elements are separated from each other, the risk of damage to the mechanical elements fixing between the base roller 200 and the outer roller 300 is almost eliminated.

[Third Embodiment]

The third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 is a jig in which the fixing position of the outer roller 300 is determined accurately and without error according to the specifications of the electrode, and accordingly, the operator can easily adjust the outer roller 300. It relates to an embodiment including (500).

If there is no jig provided separately, the position of the outer roller 300 will be adjusted after measuring or marking the point to be changed using a regular ruler. However, adjusting the distance in mm using a ruler implies the possibility of making an error, and adjusting the outer roller 300 for a long time while measuring the length of dozens of traveling rollers 10 individually is inefficient. easy to lose

The third embodiment of the present invention can increase the adjustment efficiency of the outer roller 300 by providing a jig 500 that simply and accurately marks the point where the outer roller 300 is to be fixed without having to measure the distance one by one. It is an embodiment that exists.

Referring to FIG. 9, the jig 500 for determining the fastening position of the outer roller 300 of the variable-stepped electrode running roller 10 according to the present invention having the above configuration has a hollow semi-cylindrical shape and is hollow. The internal space of the jig 500 formed by the structure includes a first coupling portion 510 fitted to the roller shaft 100 and a first coupling portion 510 fitted to the base roller 200 while being connected to the first coupling portion 510. It includes two coupling parts (520 or 520').

Here, the first coupling part 510 fitted to the roller shaft 100 is fixed, and the jig 500 prepared according to the specifications of the electrode has a plurality of second coupling parts 520 and 520' having different lengths. The jig 500 of will form one set. That is, the number of jigs 500 constituting the set is prepared according to the number of electrode specifications.

The first coupling part 510, the length of which is fixed, is based on a predetermined reference surface, for example, the surface of the side frame 110 of the traveling roller 10 shown in FIG. 9, or the roller shaft 100 and the base roller It can be fitted to the roller shaft 100 according to the step between (200). Since the jig 500 is made in a semi-cylindrical shape, the roller shaft 100 can be inserted directly without disassembling it.

When the first coupling portion 510 of the jig 500 is inserted into the roller shaft 100 in this way, the outer end of the second coupling portion 520 or 520' that meets the electrode specifications serves as a fixing point for the outer roller 300. Accordingly, after bringing one end of the outer roller 300 into contact with the outer end of the second coupling part 520 or 520', the male fastener 330 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment One side of the outer roller 300 is fixed using the key 340 of the form.

When one side of the outer roller 300 is fixed, the other fixing point is determined as it is, so the jig 500 does not need to be prepared as a pair.

In this way, when the jig 500 as shown in FIG. 9 is used, the position of the outer roller 300 can be easily and accurately adjusted, greatly improving work efficiency.

In the above, the present invention has been described in more detail through drawings and examples. However, since the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are only one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, various equivalents and It should be understood that variations may exist.

10: variable step type electrode running roller
100: roller axis
200: base roller
210, 210': arm fastening part
220: first keyway
300: outer roller
310: male joint
320: second keyway
330, 330': male fastener
340: key
400: stepped part
500: jig
510: first coupling part
520, 520': second coupling part
A: electrode sheet
B: holding part
C: Uncoated region

Claims (12)

A base roller fixed to a roller shaft and having an outer diameter larger than that of the roller shaft; and
an outer roller having a hollow with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base roller and having a shorter length than the length of the base roller, and capable of moving and fixing along the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the base roller;
including,
A variable-stepped electrode running roller in which a boundary surface between the base roller and the outer roller forms a step. According to claim 1,
A variable step type electrode running roller, characterized in that there is no step on the roller surface of the base roller. According to claim 2,
A variable step type electrode running roller, characterized in that a step portion is formed between the step and the end of the base roller. According to claim 3,
The variable step type electrode traveling roller, characterized in that the stepped portion is formed at one or both ends of the base roller. According to claim 1,
The variable step type electrode running roller, characterized in that the base roller is provided with a plurality of arm fastening parts forming a row while crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller and the outer roller. According to claim 5,
Variable-stepped electrode running roller, characterized in that the male fastening portion opposite to the arm fastening portion is provided at both ends of the outer roller. According to claim 6,
The variable step type electrode traveling roller, characterized in that the male fastener for mutually fastening the base roller and the outer roller by binding to the arm coupling portion through the male coupling portion is embedded in the male coupling portion and does not protrude outward. According to claim 1,
The base roller is provided with a first keyway crossing both boundary surfaces between the base roller and the outer roller,
A second keyway corresponding to the first keyway is provided at both ends of the outer roller,
A variable step type electrode running roller, characterized in that relative rotation between the base roller and the outer roller is restricted by inserting keys into the first and second key grooves. According to claim 8,
A plurality of arm fastening parts forming a row are provided on the bottom surface of the first keyway,
A variable step type electrode running roller, characterized in that the male fastener coupled to the arm coupling portion contacts the key to limit the movement of the key. A jig for determining the fastening position of the outer roller of the variable-stepped electrode running roller according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The jig has a hollow semi-cylindrical shape,
The inner space of the jig includes a first coupling portion fitted to the roller shaft and a second coupling portion fitted to the base roller while being connected to the first coupling portion. dragon jig. According to claim 10,
A jig for a variable step type electrode traveling roller, characterized in that a plurality of jigs having different lengths of the second coupling part form one set. According to claim 11,
A jig for a variable step type electrode traveling roller, characterized in that a point where an outer end of the second coupling part and one end of the outer roller come into contact designates a fixing position of the outer roller.

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