WO2023163556A1 - Reforming device having at least one hole and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A reforming device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heater located on one side, at least one hole located on the other side, and an air line for connecting the heater to the at least one hole so that hot air from the heater is discharged through the at least one hole.

Description

Reforming device having at least one hole and method for controlling the same

The present invention relates to a reforming device having at least one hole and a control method thereof, and more particularly, may be applied to a reforming process (process) of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly.

Depending on the shape of the battery case, secondary batteries are classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and pouch-type batteries in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch-type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet. do.

The electrode assembly built into the battery case is a power generating device capable of charging and discharging with a laminated structure of anode/separator/cathode. Jelly roll type electrode assemblies are characterized in that they are easy to manufacture and have high energy density per weight.

1 is a view showing the state of a jelly roll electrode assembly discharged from a winding core in a winding process of a jelly roll electrode assembly according to the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the electrode assembly 130 discharged from the core after being wound in the form of a cylindrical jelly roll, a hollow 110 is formed at the center where the core is removed, and the hollow 110 A Taegeuk pattern shape 120 is formed by the separator remaining in the center, and the hollow 110 is divided by the Taegeuk pattern shape 120.

However, the Taegeuk pattern shape by the separator remaining in the hollow of the electrode assembly hinders the insertion of the resistance welding rod. For this reason, after the winding process is performed, a heated reform pin is inserted into the hollow to change the Taegeuk pattern shape A reforming process of molding to be deformed in the direction of the inner wall of the is performed.

2 is a view showing the configuration of a reforming device for a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to the prior art.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, it is inserted into the hollow part 220 of the electrode assembly 210 and reformed so that the Taegeuk pattern shape formed in the hollow part 220 is transformed into the inner wall of the hollow part 220. A reform pin 210 was used.

As the reform fin 210 according to the prior art, a heated heater rod was used. However, the reform pin 210 according to the prior art has problems such as poor insertion and poor reform shape depending on the material state of the cylindrical jelly roll to be introduced. That is, there has been a problem in that the result of the reform process is different every time and it is difficult to set the process quality.

Furthermore, since the reforming method according to the prior art is a structure in which heat is transferred by direct contact, there is also a problem in that heat is not evenly transferred to all points during the insertion process.

In one embodiment of the present invention, by generating hot air through a heater and discharging hot air through at least one hole processed on the surface, damage to the separator inside the cylindrical jelly roll is prevented and defects are minimized. .

Furthermore, another embodiment of the present invention is intended to additionally propose a specific value of high temperature and a solution for arranging a plurality of holes (holes) for an optimal reforming process.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, after winding the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, reforming of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly for a reforming process in which the shape of the Taegeuk pattern formed in the hollow at the center of the electrode assembly is transformed into a cylindrical shape. The method includes the steps of inserting a reforming device having at least one hole into a hollow part of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, discharging high-temperature air through the at least one hole, and the at least one or more holes. and removing a reforming device having a hole from the hollow portion of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly.

A heater is positioned on one side of the reforming device having the at least one hole, and the at least one hole is positioned on the other side of the reforming device.

An upper part of the heater is connected to, for example, an air line inside the reforming apparatus, and a lower part of the heater is connected to an end of the reforming apparatus.

The heater is characterized in that it is designed to emit high-temperature air of, for example, 70 degrees Celsius.

The at least one hole is located in any one of a plurality of layers, for example. In addition, at least one of spacing or size of holes located in adjacent layers is different.

The reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heater located on one side, at least one hole located on the other side, and the heater so that high-temperature air of the heater is discharged through the at least one hole. And an air line for connecting the at least one hole.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a technical effect capable of uniform heat transfer during jelly roll molding of a cylindrical battery, compared to a conventional reforming molding machine (eg, described above in FIG. 2).

Furthermore, when inserting the heater rod, there is a technical effect capable of improving the degree of occurrence of defective insertion.

In addition, the effect of improving the overall production efficiency and yield rate of the assembly process of the cylindrical battery production line can be expected.

Effects obtainable from the embodiments are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned are clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art based on the detailed description below. It can be.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Included as part of the detailed description to aid understanding of the embodiments, the accompanying drawings provide various embodiments and, together with the detailed description, describe technical features of the various embodiments.

1 is a view showing the state of a jelly roll electrode assembly discharged from a winding core in a winding process of a jelly roll electrode assembly according to the prior art.

2 is a view showing the configuration of a reforming device for a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to the prior art.

3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the reforming apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the first layer shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the second layer shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 7 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the third layer shown in FIG. 4 .

8 illustrates a positional relationship between a reforming device and a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

And, FIG. 9 illustrates a reforming method of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar components are given the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffixes “unit”, “module”, and “unit” for the components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of only the ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinct from each other by themselves. .

In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention , it should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but other elements may exist in the middle. It should be.

On the other hand, when an element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are 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.

3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Again, for emphasis, according to the prior art, a welding rod and a measuring probe were inserted into the cylindrical jelly roll. Therefore, damage to the cylindrical jelly roll frequently occurred during the reforming process depending on the arrangement of the separator in the central portion.

In addition, problems such as poor insertion and poor reform shape also occurred depending on the material state of the cylindrical jelly roll.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention generates hot air through a heater, processes at least one hole in the lower end surface of the reforming apparatus, and blows hot air through the hole. By discharging, it is intended to solve all of the above problems.

First, as shown in FIG. 3 , the reforming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 310 on one side.

Furthermore, the reforming device includes at least one hole 320 located on the other side.

And the reforming apparatus is additionally equipped with the air line 330. Here, the air line is designed to connect the heater 310 and at least one hole 320 so that high-temperature air of the heater 310 is emitted through the at least one hole 320 .

In addition, the reforming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is used for a reforming process of winding the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly and then molding the shape of the Taegeuk pattern formed in the hollow at the center of the electrode assembly to be transformed into a cylindrical shape. However, it is not limited to the reforming process described above, and may be similarly used in other processes if the technical spirit of the present invention can be applied.

In the prior art, the structure of the reforming device for transferring heat during reforming was a simple contact type, but as shown in FIG. It is clearly distinguished from the prior art in that it is designed to discharge.

On the other hand, the heater 310 is preferably designed to emit high-temperature air of about 70 degrees Celsius, for example. If the temperature is lower than the corresponding temperature, there is a problem that the probability of not completely pushing the separator such as the Taegeuk pattern to the inner edge surface increases, whereas if the temperature is higher than the corresponding temperature, the inside of the electrode body is melted. Since we had problems, we suggest about 70 degrees.

An air line 330 is connected to an upper portion of the heater 310, and a lower portion of the heater 310 is connected to an upper portion of a reforming device (or may be referred to as a reforming pin).

After passing through the heater 310, normal dry air is heated to a specific temperature (about 70 degrees Celsius). Air of a specific temperature enters the reforming apparatus through the lower portion of the heater 310 . While the reforming device descends to the center of the cylindrical jelly roll, high-temperature air is ejected through a hole at the end of the reforming device. Embodiments related to this will be described later in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 .

On the other hand, in the present invention, it is important to properly arrange the hole 320 of the reforming device, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 below.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the reforming apparatus shown in FIG. 3; Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, the hole installed at the end of the reforming device will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hole is designed to be located at the end of the reforming device, for example, in four layers. Of course, four layers are just examples, and holes may be positioned in other numbers of layers.

Intervals and sizes of holes located in the first layer 410 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 5 .

Intervals and sizes of holes located in the second layer 420 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 below.

Intervals and sizes of holes located in the third layer 440 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7 below.

Meanwhile, since the interval and size of the holes located in the fourth layer 430 may be the same as those of the first layer 410, the description of FIG. 5 will be substituted.

However, another feature of the present invention is that at least one of the spacing or size (size) of holes located in at least adjacent layers is designed to be different from each other. In the case of this design, there was a technical effect that high-temperature air could propagate in a wider space experimentally.

FIG. 5 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the first layer shown in FIG. 4 .

As shown in the left drawing of FIG. 5 , it is possible to arrange holes at equal intervals of 45 degrees and to arrange holes of the same size in the first layer 410 or 430 . Alternatively, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 5, holes are arranged at equal intervals of 45 degrees, but arranging holes of different sizes in the first layer 410 or 430 also falls within the scope of another right of the present invention. something to do.

FIG. 6 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the second layer shown in FIG. 4 .

As shown in the left drawing of FIG. 6 , it is possible to arrange holes at intervals of 45 degrees or at intervals of 22.5 degrees, and to arrange holes of the same size in the second layer 420 . Alternatively, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 6, arranging holes at intervals of 45 degrees or 22.5 degrees and arranging holes of different sizes in the second layer 420 is also within the scope of another right of the present invention. will do it

FIG. 7 is a design diagram for spacing and sizes of holes disposed in the third layer shown in FIG. 4 .

As shown in the left drawing of FIG. 7 , it is possible to arrange holes at intervals of 90 degrees and arrange holes of the same size in the third layer 440 . Alternatively, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 7, arranging holes at intervals of 90 degrees and arranging holes smaller than the holes shown in the left drawing of FIG. 7 but having the same size in the third layer 440 according to the present invention. It will be said that it belongs to the scope of other rights of

8 illustrates a positional relationship between a reforming device and a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the reforming apparatus 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention descends and moves to a reforming standby position in a state of being spaced apart from the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly 810 by a predetermined distance.

Then, the reforming device 800 additionally descends, radiates high-temperature heat through the hole in a state of being inserted into the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly 810, and moves out of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly 810 again.

That is, the pin-type reforming device 800 having a hole advances/reverses or rises/falls toward the center of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly 810 to push the separator located inside the center to the inner edge surface, Remove the Taegeuk-patterned separator formed inside the center.

A more specific embodiment related to this will be described in chronological order with reference to FIG. 9 below.

And, FIG. 9 illustrates a reforming method of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 assumes a reforming process of winding a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly and then molding the shape of a Taegeuk pattern formed in a hollow portion at the center of the electrode assembly to be deformed into a cylindrical shape.

For example, a reforming device having at least one hole is inserted into the hollow portion of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly (S910).

Furthermore, it is designed to emit high-temperature air through at least one hole of the reforming device (S920).

Then, a reforming device having at least one hole is removed from the hollow part of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly (S930).

Here, in the reforming apparatus, as described above in the previous drawings, for example, a heater is located on one side of the reforming apparatus and at least one hole is located on the other side of the reforming apparatus.

As described above, it is preferable to experimentally design such that high-temperature air of about 70 degrees Celsius is discharged through the heater.

In addition, at least one hole formed in the reforming apparatus is located in any one of a plurality of layers, and at least one of spacing or size of holes located in adjacent layers is different.

Although the present invention has been described as a specific embodiment, this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and should be interpreted as having the widest scope according to the basic idea disclosed herein.

Those skilled in the art may combine or substitute the disclosed embodiments to implement embodiments not indicated herein, but this also does not depart from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments based on this specification, and it is clear that such changes or modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

In the previous table of contents, various forms for carrying out the invention have been sufficiently described, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

Since the present invention is applicable to various batteries (eg secondary batteries, etc.), industrial applicability is recognized.

Claims (10)

1. In the reforming method of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly for the reforming process of winding the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly and then molding the shape of the Taegeuk pattern formed in the hollow at the center of the electrode assembly to be transformed into a cylindrical shape,

   inserting a reforming device having at least one hole into the hollow portion of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly;

   discharging high-temperature air through the at least one hole; and

   Removing the reforming device having at least one hole from the hollow part of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly.

   Reforming method of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, characterized in that it comprises a.
2. According to claim 1,

   A heater is located on one side of the reforming device having at least one hole,

   The reforming method of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, characterized in that the at least one hole is located on the other side of the reforming device.
3. According to claim 2,

   The upper part of the heater is connected to an air line inside the reforming device,

   The reforming method of the cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, characterized in that the lower part of the heater is connected to the end of the reforming device.
4. According to claim 3,

   The heater is a method of reforming a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, characterized in that designed to emit high-temperature air of 70 degrees Celsius.
5. According to claim 4,

   The at least one hole,

   Located in any one of a plurality of layers,

   Reforming method of a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly, characterized in that at least one of the spacing or size of the holes located in the adjacent layer is different.
6. In the reforming device,

   Heater located on one side;

   at least one hole located on the other side; and

   An air line for connecting the heater and the at least one hole so that the high-temperature air of the heater is discharged through the at least one hole.

   A reforming device comprising a.
7. According to claim 6,

   The reforming device,

   Reforming apparatus characterized in that it is used for a reforming process of winding a cylindrical jelly roll electrode assembly and then forming the shape of the Taegeuk pattern formed in the hollow part of the center of the electrode assembly to be transformed into a cylindrical shape.
8. According to claim 7,

   The heater is a reforming device, characterized in that designed to emit high-temperature air of 70 degrees Celsius.
9. According to claim 8,

   The at least one hole,

   A reforming device characterized in that it is located in any one of a plurality of layers.
10. According to claim 9,

    Reforming device, characterized in that at least one of the spacing or size of the holes located in the adjacent layer is different.

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