KR20230135936A - Machine for Manufacturing Cell Stack of Secondary Battery - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, a stack table on which negative and positive plates are placed alternately is maintained in a horizontal state while swinging back and forth laterally at a certain angle, and the negative and positive plates are alternately stacked on a separator continuously supplied on the stack table, thereby forming a secondary secondary battery. It relates to a swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries capable of manufacturing a battery cell stack. The swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries according to the present invention rotates around a pivot axis on both sides of a support member. A swing member consisting of two sets of possibly connected pieces; Both ends are connected to allow relative rotation at a certain distance away from the pivot axis of each of the swing members, and as the swing member rotates, the upper surface maintains a horizontal state with the ground and moves at a certain angle in both directions. Swing rotating stack table; A swing actuator that transmits a rotational force to at least one of the swing members to provide a driving force to reciprocate and rotate the swing member and the stack table in both directions at a certain angle range; a separator supply unit that continuously supplies a separator from the upper side of the stack table to the upper surface of the stack table; two electrode plate transfer units disposed on both sides of the stack table and alternately delivering positive and negative electrode plates to the upper surface of the stack table; And, an electrode plate clamping unit that presses and holds both edge portions of the negative electrode plate, positive plate, and separator stacked on the stack table against the stack table.

Description

Machine for manufacturing cell stack of secondary battery {Machine for Manufacturing Cell Stack of Secondary Battery}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing cells of a secondary battery. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for manufacturing cells of a secondary battery. More specifically, the stack table on which negative and positive plates are alternately placed is maintained in a horizontal state while swinging back and forth laterally at a certain angle. It relates to a swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries that can manufacture secondary battery cell stacks by alternately stacking negative and positive electrode plates on a separator continuously supplied to a secondary battery.

In general, a chemical battery is a battery that consists of a pair of electrodes (a positive and negative plate) and an electrolyte, and the amount of energy that can be stored varies depending on the materials that make up the electrode and electrolyte. These chemical batteries are divided into primary batteries, which have a very slow charging reaction and are used only for one-time discharge, and secondary batteries, which can be reused through repeated charging and discharging. Recently, the use of secondary batteries has increased due to the advantage of being able to charge and discharge. There is a growing trend.

In other words, the secondary battery is being applied to various technological fields across industries due to its advantages. For example, it is not only widely used as an energy source for advanced electronic devices such as wireless mobile devices, but also as an energy source for existing gasoline using fossil fuels. It is also attracting attention as an energy source for hybrid electric vehicles, which are being proposed as a solution to air pollution from diesel internal combustion engines.

These secondary batteries are made up of a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate sequentially stacked and immersed in an electrolyte solution. There are two major ways to manufacture the internal cell stack of such secondary batteries.

In the case of small secondary batteries, the method of placing the negative and positive plates on a separator and winding them to form a jelly-roll is often used, and in the case of medium to large secondary batteries with more electric capacity, the method is often used. A method of manufacturing a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator by stacking them in an appropriate order is often used.

There are several ways to manufacture the internal cell stack of secondary batteries by stacking. Among them, in the Z-stacking method, the separator is folded in a zigzag shape, and the negative and positive plates are between them. Make sure they are stacked in an alternating form.

The internal cell stack of secondary batteries in this Z-stacking form is disclosed in various prior arts such as Patent No. 10-0313119 and Patent No. 10-1140447.

In order to actually implement the Z-stacking form, in prior art such as Korean Patent No. 10-0309604, a method of arranging a plurality of negative electrode plates on one side of the unfolded separator and a plurality of negative electrode plates on the other side and then folding the membrane is used. It is starting. This method is also widely used in manufacturing the internal cell stack of a jelly-roll type secondary battery. However, when using this method, it is difficult to align the negative and positive plates.

Accordingly, recently, in manufacturing a Z-folding laminated secondary battery cell stack, the stack table is reciprocated laterally at a certain angle as disclosed in Patent No. 10-2120403, and the stack table is moved from both sides of the stack table. A swing-type cell stack method is used to manufacture a cell stack by alternately supplying and stacking cathode plates and anode plates on a separator laminated.

However, when using a swing-type cell stack method such as the cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries in the registered patent, the stack table rotates while tilting at a certain angle on both sides, so a large tension is applied to the separator stacked on the stack table, causing the separator to form a separator. There is a problem that damage occurs and stack precision deteriorates.

That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, with the separator 3 fixed on the stack table 10 by a plurality of clamp mechanisms 20, the stack table 10 rotates left and right at a certain angle to form an electrode. A negative or positive plate is received from the plate transfer device 30. When the stack table 10 receives the negative or positive plate, the stack table 10 is tilted at a certain angle with respect to the ground, so the clamp A large tensile force is applied to the end of the separator 3 hanging on the device 20, which may cause the separator 3 to be damaged or, in severe cases, torn, causing defects or work to be stopped, resulting in a significant decrease in productivity.

Additionally, when receiving and stacking negative or positive electrode plates while the stack table 10 is tilted at a certain angle, instantaneous slipping occurs due to load, making it difficult to keep the stacking position constant.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2120403 (registered on 2020.06.02.)

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems. The purpose of the present invention is to reciprocate and rotate the stack table on which the negative and positive plates are alternately placed at a certain angle in both directions about an axis horizontal to the ground. By rotating the upper surface of the stack table while keeping it horizontal, the tension applied to the separator stacked on the stack table can be minimized, and the phenomenon of the position of the negative and positive plates changing when transferring the negative and positive plates on the stack table is prevented. The aim is to provide a swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries that can be prevented.

To achieve the above object, a swing-type cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention includes a support member installed on the bottom surface; Swing members installed to face each other on both sides of the support member and having upper portions rotatably connected to each of the support members about a pivot axis horizontal to the ground; Both ends are connected to allow relative rotation at a certain distance away from the pivot axis of each of the swing members, and as the swing member rotates, the upper surface maintains a horizontal state with the ground and moves at a certain angle in both directions. Swing rotating stack table; A swing actuator that transmits a rotational force to at least one of the swing members to provide a driving force to reciprocate and rotate the swing member and the stack table in both directions at a certain angle range; a separator supply unit that continuously supplies a separator from the upper side of the stack table to the upper surface of the stack table; two electrode plate transfer units disposed on both sides of the stack table and alternately delivering positive and negative electrode plates to the upper surface of the stack table; And, an electrode plate clamping unit that presses and holds both edge portions of the negative electrode plate, positive plate, and separator stacked on the stack table against the stack table.

The swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries according to one form of the present invention maintains the posture of the stack table constant when the stack table swings and rotates in both directions due to the rotational movement of the swing member and the swing member and the stack table. It may further include a swing guide unit that guides the rotational movement.

The swing guide unit includes a Z-axis slide cam installed to slide up and down on both sides of the support member, a Z-axis slide cam installed to be slidable in the Y-axis direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the stack table, and the swing It may include a Y-axis slide cam connected to the member or stack table.

According to the present invention, when the stack table is rotated back and forth at a certain angle in both directions about an axis horizontal to the ground, the upper surface of the stack table rotates while remaining horizontal, so it is fixed to the clamp unit on the stack table. Damage to the separator can be prevented by minimizing the tension applied to the ends of the separator, and it is possible to prevent the position of the cathode and positive plates from changing when transferring them on the stack table.

In addition, since the electrode plate transfer unit that transfers the electrode plate to the stack table does not need to be tilted at a certain angle, the configuration and operation of the electrode plate transfer unit can be compact.

In addition, conventionally, electrode plates are delivered with the stack table and the electrode plate delivery device tilted at a certain angle (see Figure 1), so when the electrode plate delivery device delivers electrodes on the stack table, the position of the electrode plates is slightly changed and stacked. Although defects may occur, the cell stack manufacturing device of the present invention maintains a horizontal state by swinging the stack table, so the position of the electrode plate does not change when the electrode plate transfer unit delivers the electrode onto the stack table. The phenomenon stops occurring.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a cell stack process implemented in an existing cell stack manufacturing device.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a swing-type cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cell stack manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams showing an operation example of the cell stack manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred examples of the disclosed invention, and at the time of filing this application, there may be various modifications that can replace the embodiments and drawings in this specification.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, the swing-type cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present invention will be described in detail according to the embodiments described below. In the drawings, like symbols represent like components.

2 to 4 show that the swing-type cell stack manufacturing apparatus for secondary batteries according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support member 100 installed on the floor and a pivot axis 210 on both sides of the support member 100. Two swing members 200 are rotatably connected to the center, and between the two swing members 200, both ends are connected to the swing member 200 for relative rotation, and reciprocate in both directions at a certain angle range. The stack table 300, which performs a rotating swing movement, the swing member 200, and the swing actuator 230, which provides a driving force to reciprocate and rotate the stack table 300 in both directions in a certain angle range, the stack table 300 A separator supply unit that continuously supplies the separator 3 to the upper surface, and an electrode plate delivery unit that alternately delivers the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2 from both sides of the stack table 300 to the upper surface of the stack table 300. It includes a unit 500 and an electrode plate clamping unit that presses and holds both edge portions of the negative electrode plate 2, the positive plate 1, and the separator 3 stacked on the stack table 300 against the stack table 300. do.

The support member 100 may be installed in a cell stack manufacturing facility where a cell stack manufacturing device is installed and may be made of a combination of a frame and a plate to support all components.

Two swing members 200 are installed opposite each other at the upper ends of both sides of the support member 100, and the upper ends of each swing member 200 mediate a pivot axis 210 installed horizontally with respect to the ground. It is rotatably connected to the upper part of the support member 100.

The pivot shaft 210 connected to one of the two swing members 200 is connected to the swing actuator 230 and receives rotational force. The swing actuator 230, which provides rotational force to the swing member 200, is installed on one end of the support member 100 and includes a servo motor that is directly connected to the pivot shaft 210 and transmits rotational force to the pivot shaft 210. It can be configured as follows. In this embodiment, the servomotor of the swing actuator 230 is directly connected to the pivot shaft 210 to transmit rotational force, but differently, the servomotor is connected to the pivot shaft 210 through a power transmission mechanism such as a gear or belt. It may be possible to transmit rotational force. The swing actuator 230 may use a servo motor, but is not limited thereto.

When the stack table 300 swings and rotates in both directions due to the rotational movement of the swing member 200, the rotational movement of the swing member 200 and the stack table 300 is maintained while maintaining the posture of the stack table 300 constant. A swing guide unit is configured to guide.

The swing guide unit includes a Z-axis slide cam 252 installed to slide up and down under the guidance of a Z-axis guide rail 251 installed to extend up and down on both sides of the support member 100, and the Z-axis It is installed to be able to slide in the Y-axis direction under the guidance of a Y-axis guide rail 253 installed on the top of the slide cam 252 to extend in the Y-axis direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the stack table 300, and the swing member It includes a Y-axis slide cam 254 connected to (200) or the stack table 300.

The stack table 300 is a part where the process of creating a cell stack is carried out by alternately stacking the cathode plate 2 and the anode plate 1 on the separator 3, and both ends are connected to the pivot axis of each of the swing members 200 ( It is connected to enable relative rotation at a position eccentric at a certain distance downward from 210 and rotates together with the swing member 200 as the swing member 200 rotates. At this time, since both ends of the stack table 300 are connected to enable relative rotation with respect to the swing member 200, when the swing member 200 rotates in both directions within a certain angle range, the upper surface of the stack table 300 It swings in a certain angle range in both directions while maintaining a horizontal state with the ground.

The stack table 300 has a table body 310 equipped with a rotating shaft portion 311 connected to the swing member 200 at both ends for relative rotation, and is installed to be movable up and down on the upper part of the table body 310. A table unit 320 in which the separator 3, the negative electrode plate 2, and the positive electrode plate 1 are stacked, and the table unit 320 is gradually stacked as the negative electrode plate 2 and the positive plate 1 are stacked on the upper surface of the table unit 320. The height of the upper surface of the unit 320 is lowered so that the negative electrode plate 2 and the positive plate 1 are stacked at the same position (height) regardless of the number of times the negative electrode plate 2 and the positive plate 1 are stacked. It includes a stack height adjustment means for adjusting the position.

The table unit 320 includes a height adjustment plate 321 that is connected to the stacking height adjustment means and moves up and down, a fixed stage 322 fixedly installed on the upper side of the height adjustment plate 321, and the height adjustment plate ( It includes a movable stage 323 installed on the upper side of the stage 321 to be relatively movable up and down. The fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 have a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the upper surface of the fixed stage 322 and/or the movable stage 323 has a plurality of devices for vacuum adsorbing the separator 3. A vacuum hole (not shown) is formed to be open upward. Although not shown in the drawing, the vacuum hole (not shown) is connected to an external vacuum generator and a hose to vacuum adsorb the separator 3 at negative pressure. The movable stage 323 temporarily descends when the cell stack unloading gripper (not shown) grips the cell stack on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 after the cell stack is completed, and the cell stack unloading gripper (not shown) (not shown) enters the bottom of the cell stack and creates a space for gripping.

The stacking height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the table unit 320 includes a height adjustment motor 331 installed at the bottom of the table main body 310, and a screw installation formed to penetrate the table main body 310 upward and downward. A ball screw 332 is installed to penetrate the inside of the ball 312 and the lower end is coupled to the height adjustment motor 331 and rotates, and is coupled to the outer surface of the ball screw 332 and the height adjustment plate 321. It includes a nut portion 333 that is coupled to the lower central portion and moves the height adjustment plate 321 up and down while moving along the axial direction of the ball screw 332 by rotation of the ball screw 332.

Therefore, when sequentially stacking the separator 3, the negative electrode plate 2, and the positive electrode plate 1 on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the table unit 320, the height adjustment motor 331 When the ball screw 332 rotates by a certain amount in one direction, the nut portion 333 descends a certain distance along the ball screw 332 so that the height of the height adjustment plate 321 is equal to the thickness of the negative plate 2 or the positive plate 1. The stack height is adjusted to be the same by lowering to a height corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the separator 3.

When the stack height adjustment means is configured in this way, position control becomes very easy because the moving direction of the nut portion 333 connected to the ball screw 332 and the moving direction of the height adjustment plate 321 are the same, and the configuration is simplified to improve precision. This has the advantage of improving performance and minimizing operational errors.

The electrode plate clamping unit presses and grips both edge portions of the negative electrode plate (2) and positive plate (1) stacked on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the stack table 300 against the stack table 300. By doing so, the negative electrode plate 2, the positive plate 1, and the separator 3 can be stacked while maintaining their correct positions. In this embodiment, the electrode plate clamping unit includes two sets of clamping mandrels 410 that are arranged to face each other and move laterally and up and down. The clamping mandrel 410 moves laterally with respect to the stack table 300 by the ball screw 430 and the servomotor 420 installed on the table body 310, and is moved up and down by the mandrel lifting motor 440. When stacking the positive electrode plate (1) and the negative electrode plate (2) on the separator (3) while moving, the edges on both sides of the positive plate (1), the negative electrode plate (2), and the separator (3) are alternately pressed downward and supported.

The separator supply unit is configured to continuously supply the separator 3 from the stack table 300 to the table unit 320. As shown in FIG. 4A, the separator supply unit supplies the separator 3 made of a long film in a roll. A separator unwinder (not shown) that is wound and mounted in a shape, and a separator (3) disposed on the upper side of the table unit 320 and released from the separator unwinder (not shown) are placed on the table unit 320. It includes a pair of separator guide rolls 600 for guidance.

A pair of separator guide rolls 600 are placed at the center of the table unit 320 and hold the separator 3 supplied onto the table unit 320, allowing the table unit 320 to swing in both directions. It functions to ensure that the separator 3 can be accurately stacked on the table unit 320 while maintaining a constant tension.

The electrode plate transfer unit 500 is disposed on both sides of the stack table 300 and alternately transfers the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2 to the upper surfaces of the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the stack table 300. It is delivered to . The electrode plate transfer unit 500 applies a known pick and placement mechanism or manipulator that vacuum-adsorbs the electrode plate (positive or negative plate) from one process location and transfers it to another process location. It can be configured as follows.

A cell stack manufacturing device with this configuration operates as follows.

In order to manufacture a cell stack by alternately stacking the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2 on the separator 3 on the stack table 300 in a predetermined order, first, the separator 3 supplied from the separator supply unit is placed on the stack table ( It is adsorbed on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of 300).

In this state, when power is applied to the servomotor of the swing actuator 230 and the swing actuator 230 rotates the swing member 200 in one direction, the stack table is connected to the bottom of the swing member 200 to enable relative rotation. (300) swings in one direction around the pivot axis 210 of the swing member 200. At this time, both sides of the stack table 300 move along the Y-axis slide cam 254, and at the same time, the Y-axis slide cam 254 moves along the Z-axis slide cam 252 and the stack table 300 is guided. A swing movement is performed while the posture of the stack table 300 is maintained constant. Therefore, when the stack table 300 swings in both directions by the swing member 200, the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the stack table 300 swing while maintaining a horizontal state.

When the stack table 300 swings to one side and approaches one electrode plate transfer unit 500, the first electrode plate transfer unit 500 transfers the positive electrode plate from the electrode plate supply unit (not shown) as shown in FIG. 4A. (1) Alternatively, the negative electrode plate 2 is adsorbed and moved and placed on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the stack table 300. At this time, the clamping mandrel 410 of the electrode plate clamping unit moves laterally outward, then moves laterally inward again, and then descends to secure the positive plate 1 or negative plate 2 to the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323. ) and fix it by pressing.

Then, when the swing member 200 rotates again in the opposite direction to the previous direction by the swing actuator 230, the stack table 300 swings in the opposite direction to the previous direction, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, and performs a second rotation. Move to a position close to the electrode plate transfer unit 500. Even at this time, the stack table 300 swings in a constant posture while being guided by the Y-axis slide cam 254 and the Z-axis slide cam 252 so that the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 are horizontal to the ground. It moves while maintaining its status.

As the stack table 300 swings, the length of the separator 3 increases and the separator 3 is stacked on the previously supplied positive electrode plate 1 or negative plate 2, and the second electrode plate transfer unit 500 A negative electrode plate (2) or a positive electrode plate (1) is stacked on this separator (3).

In this way, while the stack table 300 swings in both directions at a certain angle, the positive electrode plates 1 and negative electrode plates 2 are alternately stacked on the separator 3, which is folded in a zigzag shape, thereby creating a cell stack.

Meanwhile, when a cell stack is created as described above, the height increases each time the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2 are stacked on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323 of the stack table 300. . Therefore, immediately after the anode plate 1 or the cathode plate 2 is laminated on the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323, the height adjustment motor 331 of the stacking height adjustment means operates to control the height adjustment plate 321 of the table unit 320. ) is lowered to a height corresponding to the sum of the thickness of the electrode plate and the thickness of the separator 3, so that the stacking height is adjusted to be the same as before.

When the stack table 300 swings left and right a predetermined number of times and the cell stack is completed by stacking a predetermined number of positive electrode plates 1 and negative electrode plates 2 on the stack table 300, the movable stage 323 is kept constant. As it descends to the height, a gap is created between the fixed stage 322 and the movable stage 323, and the cell stack unloading gripper (not shown) enters and grips the cell stack placed on the fixed stage 322 to carry out the designated next process. transport to location.

As described above, in the cell stack manufacturing device, the upper part of the stack table 300, where the separator 3, the positive plate 1, and the negative plate 2 are stacked, swings in both directions while maintaining a horizontal position with respect to the ground. , the tension applied to the separator stacked on the stack table can be minimized, and the phenomenon of the positions of the cathode and positive plates changing when transferring the cathode and positive plates on the stack table can be prevented.

In the above, the technical idea of the present invention has been described along with the accompanying drawings, but this is an exemplary description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In addition, it is clear that anyone skilled in the art of the present invention can make various modifications and imitations without departing from the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

1: positive plate 2: negative plate
3: Separator 100: Support member
200: swing member 210: pivot axis
230: Swing actuator 251: Z-axis guide rail
252: Z-axis slide cam 253: Y-axis guide rail
254: Y-axis slide cam 300: Stack table
310: table body 320: table unit
321: Height adjustment plate 322: fixed stage
323: Movable stage 331: Height adjustment motor
332: Ball screw 333: nut part
410: Clamping mandrel 420: Servo motor
430: Ball screw 440: Mandrel lifting motor
500: Electrode plate transmission unit 600: Separator guide roll

Claims (3)

A support member installed on the floor;
Swing members installed to face each other on both sides of the support member and having upper portions rotatably connected to each of the support members about a pivot axis horizontal to the ground;
Both ends are connected to allow relative rotation at a certain distance away from the pivot axis of each of the swing members, and as the swing member rotates, the upper surface maintains a horizontal state with the ground and moves at a certain angle in both directions. Swing rotating stack table;
A swing actuator that transmits a rotational force to at least one of the swing members to provide a driving force to reciprocate and rotate the swing member and the stack table in both directions at a certain angle range;
a separator supply unit that continuously supplies a separator from the upper side of the stack table to the upper surface of the stack table;
two electrode plate transfer units disposed on both sides of the stack table and alternately delivering positive and negative electrode plates to the upper surface of the stack table; and,
an electrode plate clamping unit that presses and grips both edge portions of the negative electrode plate, positive plate, and separator stacked on the stack table against the stack table;
A swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for a secondary battery comprising a. The method of claim 1, further comprising a swing guide unit that guides the rotational movement of the swing member and the stack table while maintaining a constant posture of the stack table when the stack table swings and rotates in both directions due to the rotational movement of the swing member. A swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for secondary batteries. The swing guide unit of claim 2, wherein the swing guide unit includes a Z-axis slide cam installed to slide up and down on both sides of the support member, and a Z-axis slide cam that slides in a Y-axis direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the stack table. A swing-type cell stack manufacturing device for a secondary battery including a Y-axis slide cam that can be installed and connected to the swing member or stack table.

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