Apparatus for Cutting Electrode Sheet

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrode sheet cutting device comprising: a cutting section for performing a notching process on an electrode sheet that is unwound from an electrode roll and moves along a driving direction; a partial suction roll for sucking a portion notched from the electrode sheet at the cutting section; a suction belt positioned at a spaced-apart from the partial suction roll; and a suction discharge section for sucking and discharging scrap, wherein the partial suction roll sucks up a portion of the electrode product cut from the electrode sheet and the scrap moving along the driving direction after the notching process on the electrode sheet, and the suction belt moves along a separation direction different from the driving direction while sucking up the scrap so that the scrap is separated from the electrode product.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode sheet cutting device for cutting electrode sheets used in manufacturing secondary batteries, printed circuit boards, etc. Background Technology

[0002] Electrode sheets, such as positive electrode materials, negative electrode materials, separators, etc. used to manufacture secondary batteries, and substrates, films, etc. used to manufacture printed circuit boards, are manufactured into roll-type electrode rolls by winding them onto a core.

[0003] The electrode sheet cutting device performs a notching process on the electrode sheet unwound from the electrode roll after completing the slitting process. The slitting process involves cutting and dividing the electrode sheet to a width desired by the user. The notching process involves cutting the remaining portion of the electrode sheet from the uncoated area—that is, the empty space where active material, such as the positive or negative electrode, is not applied—while leaving a portion for grounding the tab. Meanwhile, during the notching process, a portion of the area coated with active material, such as the positive or negative electrode, may also be cut. The remaining portion cut from the uncoated area, leaving the portion for grounding the tab, is also referred to as scrap. Furthermore, the portion remaining after the scrap is cut from the electrode sheet during the notching process is used as an electrode product for secondary batteries. The notching process can be performed using press equipment that cuts the scrap using a blade or laser equipment that cuts it using a laser.

[0004] FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 are schematic side views of an electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art.

[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, an electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art may include a cutting section (110) for cutting an electrode sheet (101') unwound from an electrode roll, and a suction discharge section (120) for sucking in and discharging scrap (103') cut from the electrode sheet (101'). The electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art is implemented such that after performing a notching process to cut the scrap (103') from the electrode sheet (101') at the cutting section (110), the scrap (103') is immediately sucked in and discharged at the suction discharge section (120). In this case, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art causes the unpainted portion (not shown) and the scrap (103') portion of the electrode sheet (101') to flutter due to the suction force of the suction discharge section (120). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art has a problem in that the notching process is difficult to perform stably as the flapping of the unused portion and the scrap (103') affects the notching process.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art may further include a suction belt (130) disposed between the cutting section (110) and the suction discharge section (120). In this case, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art is implemented such that the suction belt (130) simultaneously sucks up the electrode product (102') and the scrap (103') from the electrode sheet (101'). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art has a problem in that it is difficult to individually adjust the tension of the electrode product (102') or the scrap (103'). Therefore, the electrode sheet cutting device (100) according to the prior art has a problem in that the suction belt (130) affects the adjustment of the tension of the electrode product (102') or the scrap (103'), making it difficult to easily perform the discharge process of discharging the scrap (103') to the suction discharge section (120). The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention was devised to solve the problems described above and aims to provide an electrode sheet cutting device that enables a notching process to be performed stably while a scrap discharge process to be easily performed. means of solving the problem

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention may include the following configuration.

[0009] The present invention may include a cutting unit for performing a notching process on an electrode sheet that is unwound from an electrode roll and moves along a driving direction; a partial suction roll for sucking a portion notched from the electrode sheet at the cutting unit; a suction belt positioned at a spaced-apart from the partial suction roll; and a suction discharge unit for sucking and discharging scrap. The partial suction roll may suck up scrap moving along the driving direction and a portion of the electrode product cut from the electrode sheet after the notching process on the electrode sheet. The suction belt may move along a separation direction different from the driving direction while sucking up the scrap so that the scrap is separated from the electrode product cut from the electrode sheet. Effects of the invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

[0011] The present invention can be implemented such that a partial suction roll sucks in and supports a portion of the flapping scrap and electrode product due to the suction force of the suction discharge section. Accordingly, the present invention can stably perform the notching process by blocking the transmission of the suction force of the suction discharge section to the cutting section through the partial suction roll.

[0012] The present invention can be implemented to individually control the tension on the scrap while the suction belt separates the scrap from the electrode sheet. Accordingly, the present invention minimizes the flapping of the scrap due to the suction discharge part through the suction belt, thereby allowing the discharge process to be easily performed. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0013] FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 are schematic side views of an electrode sheet cutting device according to the prior art. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a partial suction roll and a suction belt in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating the separation angle in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a partial suction roll in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partial suction roll in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of a roll body in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partial suction roll in a direction parallel to the central axis of a roll body in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a partial suction roll in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrode sheet in an electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the electrode sheet cutting device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Meanwhile, FIG. 11 is intended to explain an electrode sheet (101) that is cut by the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention. Before the notching process, the electrode sheet (101) is divided into a retaining portion (101a) and a non-coated portion (101b), and after the notching process, it can be divided into an electrode product (102) and a scrap (103). Here, the notching process involves cutting the remaining portion of the electrode sheet (101), leaving a portion for grounding a tab in the non-coated portion (101b), which is an empty space where an active material such as an anode or cathode is not applied, i.e., not coated. Although not shown, during the notching process, a portion of the portion where an active material such as an anode or cathode is applied may also be cut. The retaining portion (101a) refers to the portion of the electrode sheet (101) where an active material such as an anode or cathode is applied. The uncoated portion (101b) refers to an empty space in the electrode sheet (101) where an active material, such as a positive or negative electrode, is not applied, i.e., not coated. The electrode product (102) refers to the remaining portion after the scrap (103) is cut from the electrode sheet (101). The scrap (103) refers to the remaining portion cut from the uncoated portion (101b), which is an empty space in the electrode sheet (101) where an active material, such as a positive or negative electrode, is not applied, i.e., not coated, leaving a portion for grounding the tab.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention performs a notching process after completing a slitting process on an electrode sheet (101) unwound from an electrode roll (not shown). The slitting process involves cutting and dividing the electrode sheet (101) to a width desired by the user. The notching process may be performed using a press equipment that cuts the scrap (103) using a blade or a laser equipment that cuts the scrap (103) using a laser. Additionally, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may perform a discharge process for discharging the scrap (103) separated from the electrode sheet (101) after the notching process is performed.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 3, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may include a cutting section (2), a partial suction roll (3), a suction belt (4), and a suction discharge section (5).

[0017] The above cutting section (2) performs a notching process on an electrode sheet (101) that is unwound from the electrode roll and moves along the driving direction. The driving direction may refer to the direction in which the electrode sheet (101) moves by a component of the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention. Additionally, the driving direction may be the direction in which the electrode product (102) moves after the electrode sheet (101) is cut at the cutting section (2). The driving direction may also be the same direction as the length direction of the electrode sheet (101). The above cutting section (2) may cut one side of the electrode sheet (101). In this case, the above cutting section (2) may cut one side of the electrode sheet (101) based on the width direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode sheet (101). The above cutting section (2) may cut the unworn portion (101b) of the electrode sheet (101). Accordingly, the present invention can separate the electrode sheet (101) into an electrode product (102) and scrap (103) through the cutting section (2). The cutting section (2) may be positioned upstream of the partial suction roll (3) based on the driving direction. After the electrode sheet (101) is separated into the electrode product (102) and scrap (103) at the cutting section (2), it may be supplied to the partial suction roll (3).

[0018] The partial suction roll (3) is intended to suck up the portion notched from the electrode sheet (101) at the cutting section (2). The partial suction roll (3) can suck up a portion of the scrap (103) moving along the driving direction after the notching process on the electrode sheet (101) and a portion of the electrode product (102) cut from the electrode sheet (101). Accordingly, the present invention can be implemented so that the partial suction roll (3) sucks up and supports a portion of the scrap (103) and electrode product (102) that is fluttering due to the suction force of the suction discharge section (5). Therefore, the present invention can stably perform the notching process by blocking the transmission of the suction force of the suction discharge section (5) to the cutting section (2) through the partial suction roll (3).

[0019] The partial suction roll (3) may be positioned downstream of the cutting section (2) based on the driving direction. In this case, the partial suction roll (3) can suck up the scrap (103) and the electrode product (102) positioned between the cutting section (2) and the partial suction roll (3) so that they move at the same speed and direction. Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can move the scrap (103) and the electrode product (102) positioned between the cutting section (2) and the partial suction roll (3) with the same tension through the partial suction roll (3). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can minimize errors such as the electrode sheet (101) being incorrectly cut at the cutting section (2) during the notching process, unlike the comparative example in which the scrap (103) and the electrode product (102) placed between the cutting section (2) and the partial suction roll (3) are moved with different tensions. The scrap (103) can be supplied to the suction belt (4) while being sucked in by the partial suction roll (3).

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3, FIGS. 4, and FIGS. 7 to 9, the partial suction roll (3) may include a roll body (30), an inner roll (31), and a plurality of suction holes (32).

[0021] The roll body (30) is intended to guide the electrode sheet (101). The roll body (30) may guide the electrode sheet (101) while in a fixed state. The roll body (30) may guide the electrode sheet (101) while rotating. The roll body (30) may guide the electrode sheet (101) as it moves along the driving direction. In this case, the roll body (30) may guide the electrode product (102) and scrap (103) that are separated by cutting the electrode sheet (101). Accordingly, the roll body (30) may guide the electrode product (102) and scrap (103) along the driving direction. The electrode sheet (101) may move along the driving direction while maintaining contact with the roll body (30). In this case, the electrode sheet (101) may be positioned to partially contact the outer surface of the roll body (30). That is, the electrode sheet (101) may be positioned to contact only a portion of the outer surface of the roll body (30). The inner roll (31) and the suction hole (32) may be positioned on the inner side of the roll body (30).

[0022] The inner roll (31) is positioned inside the roll body (30). The inner roll (31) may be positioned inside the roll body (30) at a predetermined distance from the roll body (30). The inner roll (31) may be positioned to be fixed inside the roll body (30). In this case, a suction pipe (33) and a suction mechanism (34) may be installed in the inner roll (31). The suction pipe (33) is installed in the inner roll (31) to communicate with the suction holes (32). The suction pipe (33) may be positioned to face the suction holes (32). In this case, the area of ​​the suction pipe (33) may be defined as the suction area (SR, shown in FIG. 7) to be described later. The suction device (34) provides suction force to the suction holes (32) through the suction pipe (33). The suction device (34) may be connected to communicate with the suction pipe (33). In this case, the suction pipe (33) may be positioned between the suction device (34) and the suction holes (32) so that the suction device (34) and the suction holes (32) can be connected.

[0023] The suction holes (32) penetrate the roll body (30) so as to be in communication with the inner roll (31). The suction holes (32) may be arranged to penetrate the roll body (30) while in communication with the inner roll (31). The suction holes (32) may be positioned at locations that partially correspond to the scrap (103) moving along the driving direction. Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may be implemented such that the suction holes (32) are positioned at locations that overlap with the scrap (103) based on the width direction (X-axis direction). Thus, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can block the transmission of the suction force of the suction discharge unit (5) to the cutting unit (2) by the partial suction roll (3) sucking in and supporting the scrap (103) that is fluttering due to the suction force of the suction discharge unit (5). The suction holes (32) may be formed to penetrate the outer surface of the roll body (30). In this case, the suction holes (32) may be formed to have a certain area on the outer surface of the roll body (30). The suction holes (32) may be formed over the entire circumferential direction of the roll body (30).

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, the suction holes (32) among the suction holes (32) that are positioned in an area corresponding to the suction pipe (33) on the outer surface of the roll body (30) can form a certain area (hereinafter referred to as the 'suction area (SR, shown in FIG. 7)'). The suction area (SR) refers to an area formed by some of the suction holes (32) in the roll body (30). In this case, the width (W1, shown in FIG. 7) of the suction area (SR) can be formed to have a width greater than the width (W2, shown in FIG. 11) of the scrap (103) based on the width direction (X-axis direction). Although not shown, the width (W1, illustrated in FIG. 7) of the suction area (SR) may be formed to have a width smaller than the width (W2, illustrated in FIG. 11) of the scrap (103) with respect to the width direction (X-axis direction). Additionally, the suction area (SR) may be formed to have a length shorter than the length of contact between the scrap (103) and the roll body (30) along the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis (C) of the roll body (30). That is, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the circumferential length (CL2) of the suction area (SR) may be shorter than the length (CL1) of contact between the scrap (103) and the roll body (30) along the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may be formed such that the area of ​​the suction area (SR) is smaller than the area of ​​contact between the scrap (103) and the outer surface of the roll body (30). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention allows the suction force by the suction holes (32) disposed on the suction area (SR) to be fully applied to the scrap (103) in contact with the roll body (30), thereby enabling the suction force to be applied to the scrap (103) to the maximum extent. In this way, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can prevent the loss of the suction force by the suction holes (32).Although not shown, the circumferential length (CL2) of the suction area (SR) may be equal to the length (CL1) of the scrap (103) in contact with the roll body (30) along the circumferential direction.

[0025] In the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention, when the width of the electrode sheet (101) or the notched area is changed, the position and area of ​​the suction area (SR) formed by the suction holes (32) can be changed as the suction pipe (33) in the roll body (30) is replaced. In this case, the suction pipe (33) can be detachably installed on the inner roll (31). Thus, the position and area of ​​the suction area (SR) can be changed by moving the position of the suction pipe (33) or changing the area of ​​the suction pipe (33) according to the width of the electrode sheet (101) or the notched area. For example, when the width of the electrode sheet (101) narrows, the suction pipe (33) is moved and installed in the inner direction from the scrap (103) toward the electrode product (102) based on the width direction (X-axis direction) so that it is positioned at a location corresponding to the location of the scrap (103), thereby allowing the suction area (SR) to move in the inner direction. On the other hand, when the width of the electrode sheet (101) widens, the suction pipe (33) is moved and installed in the outer direction from the electrode product (102) toward the scrap (103) based on the width direction (X-axis direction) so that it is positioned at a location corresponding to the location of the scrap (103), thereby allowing the suction area (SR) to move in the outer direction. Additionally, the width of the suction area (SR) or the circumferential length based on the central axis (C) may be changed. For example, if the width of the suction tube (33) or the circumferential length of the suction tube (33) increases, the area of ​​the suction region (SR) may increase. On the other hand, if the width of the suction tube (33) or the circumferential length of the suction tube (33) decreases, the area of ​​the suction region (SR) may decrease. In this way, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can be implemented such that the position and area of ​​the suction region (SR) can be changed according to the width of the electrode sheet (101).Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to perform the discharge process in accordance with the change in the width of the electrode sheet (101).

[0026] The suction belt (4) is positioned at a location spaced apart from the partial suction roll (3). The suction belt (4) may be positioned downstream of the partial suction roll (3) with respect to the driving direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the suction belt (4) can move along a separation direction (SD arrow direction) different from the driving direction (DD arrow direction) while sucking in the scrap (103) so that the scrap (103) is separated from the electrode product (102). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can be implemented to individually control the tension on the scrap (103) while the suction belt (4) has separated the scrap (103) from the electrode sheet (101). Therefore, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can easily perform the discharge process by minimizing the flapping of the scrap (103) due to the suction discharge part (5) through the suction belt (4). Meanwhile, the suction belt (4) can move the electrode product (102) and scrap (103) while maintaining constant tension on the electrode product (102) and scrap (103) cut from the electrode sheet (101) at the cutting section (2).

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 5, the partial suction roll (3) may be positioned on one side of the electrode sheet (101). On the other hand, the suction belt (4) may be positioned on the other side of the electrode sheet (101). For example, the partial suction roll (3) may be positioned on the upper side of the electrode sheet (101) moving in the driving direction so as to face the upper surface of the electrode sheet (101), and the suction belt (4) may be positioned on the lower side of the electrode sheet (101) moving in the driving direction so as to face the lower surface of the electrode sheet (101). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may be implemented such that the partial suction roll (3) and the suction belt (4) suck different sides of the scrap (103). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention double-blocks the transmission of the suction force of the suction discharge part (5) to the cutting part (2) through the partial suction roll (3) and the suction belt (4), thereby allowing the notching process to be performed more stably.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the suction belt (4) can separate the scrap (103) from the electrode product (102) such that the scrap (103) forms a separation angle (α) with the electrode product (102). In this case, the separation angle (α) formed between the electrode product (102) and the scrap (103) based on the separation point (SP) where the electrode sheet (101) is separated from the partial suction roll (3) may be an acute angle.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, when the suction belt (4) moves away from the electrode product (102), the separation angle (α) may be increased. In this case, the tension of the scrap (103) increases, allowing it to remain taut compared to before the separation angle (α) increased. On the other hand, when the suction belt (4) moves closer to the electrode product (102), the separation angle (α) may be decreased. In this case, the tension of the scrap (103) decreases, allowing it to remain loose compared to before the separation angle (α) decreased. Thus, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can be implemented so that the suction belt (4) individually adjusts the tension of the scrap (103) when the scrap (103) is separated from the electrode product (102). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can separate the scrap (103) from the electrode product (102) by increasing the separation angle (α) through the suction belt (4) when a lifting phenomenon occurs in which the scrap (103) is lifted and attached to the electrode product (102). Therefore, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention allows the discharge process to be easily performed by naturally separating the scrap (103) from the electrode product (102) and discharging it through the suction discharge part (5). The suction belt (4) can be adjusted by an adjustment mechanism (not shown) that provides driving force.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention may include the suction discharge part (5).

[0031] The suction discharge unit (5) above sucks in and discharges scrap (103). The suction discharge unit (5) can suck in scrap (103) generated during the process in which the cutting unit (2) cuts one side of the electrode sheet (101). The suction discharge unit (5) can be positioned downstream of the suction belt (4) based on the driving direction. That is, scrap (103) can be supplied from the suction belt (4) to the suction discharge unit (5). Accordingly, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention can be implemented such that the suction discharge unit (5) sucks in scrap (103) supplied with tension controlled by the suction belt (4). Therefore, the electrode sheet cutting device (1) according to the present invention minimizes the flapping of the scrap (103) during the process in which the suction discharge unit (5) sucks in and discharges the scrap (103), thereby allowing the discharge process to be performed easily. The suction discharge unit (5) may be positioned to face the suction belt (4). Accordingly, the suction discharge unit (5) can suck up and discharge the scrap (103) delivered through the suction belt (4).

[0032] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention described above is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments and attached drawings, and that various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0033] 1: Electrode sheet cutting device 2: Cutting section 3: Partial suction roll 30: LoL main body 31: Inner Roll 32: Suction hole 33: Suction tube 34: Inhalation device 4: Suction belt 5: Suction and exhaust section

Claims

Claim 1 An electrode sheet cutting device comprising: a cutting section for performing a notching process on an electrode sheet that is unwound from an electrode roll and moved along a driving direction; a partial suction roll for sucking a portion notched from the electrode sheet at the cutting section; a suction belt positioned at a location spaced apart from the partial suction roll; and a suction discharge section for sucking and discharging scrap, wherein the partial suction roll sucks up a portion of the electrode product cut from the electrode sheet and the scrap that moves along the driving direction after the notching process on the electrode sheet, and the suction belt moves along a separation direction different from the driving direction while sucking up the scrap so that the scrap is separated from the electrode product, and a separation angle is formed between the electrode product and the scrap based on the separation point where the electrode sheet is separated at the partial suction roll. Claim 2 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the partial suction roll sucks up the scrap so that the scrap and electrode product disposed between the cutting section and the partial suction roll move at the same speed and direction. Claim 3 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the partial suction roll is positioned on one side of the electrode sheet and the suction belt is positioned on the other side of the electrode sheet. Claim 4 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation angle is an acute angle. Claim 5 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the separation angle increases when the suction belt moves away from the electrode product, and decreases when the suction belt moves closer to the electrode product. Claim 6 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the partial suction roll comprises a roll body for guiding an electrode sheet, an inner roll disposed inside the roll body, and a plurality of suction holes penetrating the roll body to communicate with the inner roll, and wherein the suction holes are disposed at positions that partially correspond to the scrap moving along the driving direction. Claim 7 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the suction area formed by the suction holes in the roll body is formed such that it is shorter than the length at which the scrap contacts the roll body along the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis of the roll body, or has the same length as the length at which the scrap contacts the roll body. Claim 8 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the partial suction roll includes a suction pipe installed in the inner roll to communicate with the suction holes, the suction pipe is detachably installed in the inner roll, and when the width or notched area of ​​the electrode sheet changes, the position and area of ​​the suction area formed by the suction holes are changed as the suction pipe is replaced in the roll body. Claim 9 An electrode sheet cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction discharge portion is positioned downstream of the suction belt with respect to the driving direction.

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