Electrode manufacturing equipment

Abstract

An electrode manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an electrode manufacturing device for conveying an electrode substrate having a coated portion and an uncoated portion, the device comprising: a conveying roller for conveying the electrode substrate, wherein the conveying roller comprises a first roller and a second roller surrounding an outer surface of the first roller, and wherein a diameter of a central portion of the second roller is greater than a diameter of one end portion of the second roller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0184478 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 28, 2020, and the entire disclosure of the Korean Patent Application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to an electrode manufacturing device, and more particularly, to an electrode manufacturing device that prevents electrode breakage. Background Art

[0004] As technology develops and demand for mobile devices increases, demand for secondary batteries is also increasing rapidly. Among secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries, which have high energy density and operating voltage as well as excellent storage and life characteristics, have been widely used as energy sources for various electronic products and various mobile devices.

[0005] A secondary battery can be formed by inserting an electrode assembly consisting of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator into a housing and then sealing the housing. The positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate (hereinafter referred to as "electrode substrate") can be formed by coating an active material slurry on a positive electrode conductive collector and a negative electrode conductive collector to a predetermined thickness, inserting a separator between the positive electrode conductive collector and the negative electrode conductive collector, and configuring the positive electrode conductive collector and the negative electrode conductive collector with the separator to form an electrode assembly by multiple winding or multi-layer lamination in a jelly roll style.

[0006] The electrode substrate may be formed of an active material coated portion coated with an active material slurry and an uncoated portion not coated with an active material slurry. The active material coated portion may include a rolling process for increasing adhesion to the electrode current collector and increasing the volume density of the active material. After drying, the rolled electrode plate is cut into a predetermined size by a cutter having a certain width and can be used.

[0007] The rolling process has the following problems: compression deviation occurs when rolling the electrode plate due to the difference in thickness between the coated and uncoated parts. Due to such deviation, the electrode current collector may undergo unbalanced plastic deformation, resulting in residual stress. In particular, tensile residual stress may lead to reduced fatigue durability and fracture strength of the component.

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rolling process using a conventional rolling equipment. Figure 2 is a plan view showing the electrode plate after rolling.

[0009] refer to Figure 1, a rolling process of rolling the coated portion 30 and the uncoated portion 40 formed on the electrode current collector 20 by rolling the rolling roller 10 may be performed. At this time, the pressure is concentrated on the coated portion 30, such as Figure 2 As shown, the degree of stretching of the coated portion 30P is different from that of the non-coated portion 40, and wrinkles may be generated in the non-coated portion 40. Due to the wrinkles generated in the rolling process of the non-coated portion 40, process defects such as electrode breakage may occur in subsequent processes. In particular, when high tensile residual stress remains at the interface between the coated portion 30P and the non-coated portion 40, they are continuously subjected to weak stress due to the contraction and expansion of the electrodes and may become easily broken. Summary of the invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrode manufacturing apparatus that prevents electrode breakage.

[0012] However, the technical problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and various extensions can be made within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present disclosure.

[0013] Technical Solution

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrode manufacturing device is provided for conveying an electrode substrate having a coated portion and an uncoated portion, the device comprising: a conveying roller for conveying the electrode substrate, wherein the conveying roller comprises a first roller and a second roller surrounding the outer surface of the first roller, and wherein a diameter of a central portion of the second roller is greater than a diameter of one end portion of the second roller.

[0015] The second roller can change its position in the axial direction.

[0016] The first roller and the second roller may be of a type separated in the axial direction.

[0017] The first roller may have an axial length longer than that of the second roller, and the first roller may be exposed from an axial end portion of the second roller.

[0018] A first groove portion having at least one groove is formed on an outer surface of the first roller exposed from an axial end of the second roller, and at least one second groove portion may be formed at the axial end of the second roller.

[0019] When the second roller changes its position in the axial direction when the first groove portion and the second groove portion coincide with each other, the first roller and the second roller are connected by the fastening member.

[0020] The fastening member may be of a bolt coupling type.

[0021] The electrode substrate may include a coated portion and an uncoated portion where a roll pressing process is performed.

[0022] The first roller is exposed from an axial end portion of the second roller, and the one end portion of the second roller and the exposed first roller may form a step.

[0023] The electrode substrate may be transferred in a state where an exposed first roller corresponds to a notched tab formed on the electrode substrate.

[0024] The notched tab may be formed by notching a portion of the uncoated portion.

[0025] The one end portion of the second roller may form a non-contact region with the electrode substrate.

[0026] Beneficial Effects

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the conveying roller is composed of a first roller and a second roller which are separable from each other, and the second roller is an outer roller whose position can be changed, thereby controlling the meandering motion of the electrode.

[0028] Furthermore, the first roller and the second roller may be connected by the fastening member, thereby minimizing loss due to replacement of components.

[0029] Furthermore, by using the conveying roller formed with a step, the notch tab folding phenomenon can be prevented.

[0030] In addition, by processing the end of the second roller as the outer roller, a region that does not contact the electrode substrate can be formed, thereby preventing the electrode from being damaged.

[0031] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and other effects not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a rolling process using a conventional rolling equipment;

[0033] Figure 2 is a plan view showing an electrode plate after rolling;

[0034] Figure 3 is a view schematically showing an electrode rolling device;

[0035] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of an electrode rolling device;

[0036] Figure 5 It is schematically shown viewed from the side Figure 4 A view of the state of the electrode rolling device;

[0037] Figure 6 It is shown by Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of an electrode substrate formed by a slotting process;

[0038] Figure 7 is a view showing an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 8 It is observed from above Figure 7 A plan view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus;

[0040] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a conveying roller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0041] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 An enlarged view of one end of the conveyor roller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. The present disclosure can be modified in various different ways and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0043] For clarity, description of parts not related to the description will be omitted herein, and the same reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the specification.

[0044] In addition, in the drawings, for the convenience of description, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily shown, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for the convenience of description.

[0045] Furthermore, it should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being "on" or "over" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, this means that no other intervening elements are present. Furthermore, the terms "on" or "above" refer to being disposed on or below a referenced portion and do not necessarily mean being disposed "on" or "over" a referenced portion in an opposite direction of gravity.

[0046] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as “comprising” a certain component, unless otherwise specified, it means that the part may further include other components, rather than excluding the other components.

[0047] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when referred to as a “plane”, it means that the target portion is observed from above, and when referred to as a “section”, it means that the target portion is observed from the side of a vertically cut section portion.

[0048] Figure 3 is a view schematically showing an electrode rolling device.

[0049] refer to Figure 3 The electrode rolling device 100 includes a feed roller 201, a rolling roller 109, a slotting process section 140, a guide roller 150, and a winding roller 202. Specifically, the electrode rolling device 100 includes: a feed roller 201, which rolls up an electrode substrate 250; a rolling roller 109, in which the electrode substrate 250 is unwound from the feed roller 201 and supplied to the electrode rolling device 100, and rolls the supplied electrode substrate 250; a slotting process section 140, which performs a slotting process to form a notched joint; a guide roller 150, which conveys the electrode substrate 250; and a winding roller 202, which rewinds the electrode substrate 250 that has completed the rolling process and the slotting process.

[0050] Before rolling the electrode substrate 250 by the rolling roller 109 , the electrode rolling apparatus 100 may unwind the electrode substrate 250 wound on the feeding roller 201 and apply an electrode mixture containing an active material onto an electrode current collector.

[0051] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of an electrode rolling device. Figure 5 It is schematically shown viewed from the side Figure 4 A view of the state of the electrode rolling device.

[0052] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As described above, the electrode substrate 250 may be rolled in a state where the active material is coated on the electrode current collector layer 300 to form the coated portion 400 and the uncoated portion 500 .

[0053] The electrode rolling device 100 includes: an unwinding roller 101, which unwinds an electrode substrate 250, the electrode substrate 250 having a coating portion 400 formed with a coating material on an electrode current collector layer 300 and an uncoated portion 500 corresponding to a flat portion; a rewinding roller 102, which rewinds the electrode substrate 250; and a rolling roller 109, which is located between the unwinding roller 101 and the rewinding roller 102 and rolls the coating portion 400 and the uncoated portion 500 of the electrode substrate 250 according to the moving direction of the electrode substrate 250. The uncoated portion 500 may refer to a region other than the coating portion 400 formed on the electrode current collector layer 300.

[0054] The unwinding roller 101 provides the electrode substrate 250 as a rolling object to the electrode rolling device 100, so that the electrode substrate 250 rotates along the clockwise direction. Figure 5 The electrode substrate 250 unwound by the unwinding roller 101 passes between the rolling rollers 109 while moving in the arrow direction. The rolling rollers 109 are located on both sides with respect to the electrode substrate 250, and the electrode substrate 250 passing between the two rolling rollers 109 is pressed. Thereafter, the electrode substrate 250 passing between the two rolling rollers 109 is wound again on the rewinding roller 102.

[0055] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, the electrode substrate 250 passing through the rolling roller 109 has been described as being disposed between the unwinding roller 101 and the rewinding roller 102. However, in order to ensure that the electrode manufacturing process is carried out as described above, Figure 3 The roll-to-roll method shown is performed continuously, and the electrode substrate 250 supplied from the feed roll 201 may be conveyed without the unwinding roll 101 and the rewinding roll 102 , passes through the rolling roll 109 and is wound on the winding roll 202 .

[0056] When the coated portion 400 and the uncoated portion 500 are rolled by the rolling roller 109 , a bias tension is generated due to the tension difference between the coated portion 400 and the uncoated portion 500 , and in particular, residual stress may remain in the uncoated portion 500 or in the boundary portion between the coated portion 400 and the uncoated portion 500 .

[0057] Figure 6 It is shown by Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of an electrode substrate formed by a grooving process.

[0058] refer to Figure 3 and 6 , the uncoated portion 500 of the electrode substrate 250 may be cut by the notching process part 140 to form a notch tab 500p. The notch tab 500p may have a structure protruding from an edge portion 500a of the uncoated portion 500. After the notch tab 500p is formed by the notching process part 140, the electrode substrate 250 may be moved by the guide roller 150 for subsequent process progress, such as Figure 3 described.

[0059] Figure 7 is a view showing an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 It is observed from above Figure 7 Plan view of the electrode manufacturing equipment.

[0060] refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the electrode substrate 250 on which the rolling process and the groove opening process have been performed may be transferred by the transfer roller 600 for subsequent processes. At this time, residual stress accumulated due to the bias tension generated in the rolling process, etc. may remain in the uncoated portion 500, so breakage of the electrode substrate 250 may occur. According to the present embodiment, in order to prevent the electrode substrate 250 from being broken, the diameter of the central portion of the transfer roller 600 may be designed to be larger than the diameter of one end portion of the transfer roller 600. According to the present embodiment, a non-contact area P for preventing the transfer roller 600 and the electrode substrate 250 from contacting each other may be formed in the uncoated portion 500. To this end, the axial end of the transfer roller 600 may have a tapered shape.

[0061] Next, refer to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The conveying roller 600 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0062] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a conveying roller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 An enlarged view of one end of the conveyor roller.

[0063] refer to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The conveying roller 600 included in the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first roller 600a and a second roller 600b surrounding the outer surface of the first roller 600a. At this time, the axial length of the second roller 600b may correspond to the length of the electrode substrate 250 perpendicular to the Figure 8 The width of the electrode substrate 250 in the conveying direction D1 is as follows. According to the present embodiment, the second roller 600b can change its axial position. The axial direction of the second roller 600b can be Fig. 9 The x-axis direction of the first roller 600a and the second roller 600b may be perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 of the electrode substrate 250. By allowing the second roller 600b to change its position in the axial direction, the meandering motion of the electrode substrate 250 may be controlled. In addition, the first roller 600a and the second roller 600b may be of a type separated in the axial direction.

[0064] The first roller 600a according to the present embodiment has a longer axial length than the second roller 600b, and the first roller 600a can be exposed from the axial end of the second roller 600b. In other words, the first roller 600a is an inner roller, the second roller 600b is an outer roller, and surrounds the circumference of the first roller 600a, and the portion of the first roller 600a that is longer in axial length than the second roller 600b protrudes to the outside of the second roller 600b.

[0065] The first roller 600a and the second roller 600b may be fastening members. As an example, the fastening member may have a bolt fastening structure. In order to be fastened by bolts, a first groove portion 600h1 having at least one groove is formed on the outer surface of the first roller 600a exposed from the axial end of the second roller 600b, and a second groove portion 600h2 may be formed at the axial end of the second roller 600b. At this time, when the first groove portion 600h1 and the second groove portion 600h2 overlap with the second roller 600b and simultaneously change their positions in the axial direction, the first roller 600a and the second roller 600b may be connected by a bolt-type coupling system.

[0066] According to the present embodiment, the first roller 600a is exposed from the axial end of the second roller 600b, and the end of the second roller 600b and the exposed first roller 600a may form a step. Figure 6 The notched tab 500p is transported in the state shown, so that the notched tab 500p can be prevented from being folded.

[0067] In addition, the diameter of the central portion of the second roller 600b may be greater than the diameter of one end portion of the second roller 600b. Figure 8 As described above, the diameter of the central portion of the conveying roller 600 can be designed to be larger than the diameter of one end portion of the conveying roller 600, and the diameter of the central portion of the second conveying roller 600b included in the conveying roller 600 can be designed to be larger than the diameter of one end portion of the second roller 600b, thereby forming a non-contact area that does not contact the electrode substrate 250 at one end portion of the second roller 600b.

[0068] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and many other variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art using the basic principles of the invention defined in the appended claims and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0069] [Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0070] 109: Roller

[0071] 250: Electrode substrate

[0072] 500p: Notch splicing

[0073] 600: conveyor roller

[0074] 600a: First roller

[0075] 600b: Second roller

[0076] 600h1: First groove section

[0077] 600h2: Second groove part

Claims

1. An electrode manufacturing device, which conveys an electrode substrate having a coated portion and an uncoated portion, the device include: a conveying roller, conveying the electrode substrate, wherein the conveying roller comprises a first roller and a second roller surrounding an outer surface of the first roller, The first roller is an inner roller, and the second roller is an outer roller and surrounds the circumference of the first roller. wherein a diameter of a central portion of the second roller is larger than a diameter of one end portion of the second roller, and The second roller is configured to change its position along the axial direction.

2. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, in: The first roller and the second roller are of a type separated in the axial direction.

3. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, in: The first roller has an axial length longer than that of the second roller, and the first roller is exposed from an axial end portion of the second roller.

4. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 3, in: A first groove portion having at least one groove is formed on an outer surface of the first roller exposed from the axial end of the second roller, and At least one second groove portion is formed at the axial end portion of the second roller.

5. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 4, in: When the first groove portion and the second groove portion coincide with each other and the second roller changes its position in the axial direction, the first roller and the second roller are connected by the fastening member.

6. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 5, in: The fastening member is of a bolt coupling type.

7. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, in: The electrode substrate includes a coated portion and an uncoated portion where a roll pressing process is performed.

8. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, in: The first roller is exposed from an axial end portion of the second roller, and the one end portion of the second roller forms a step with the exposed first roller.

9. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 8, in: The electrode substrate is transferred in a state where the first roller is exposed to correspond to a notched tab formed on the electrode substrate.

10. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 9, in: The notched tab is formed by notching a portion of the uncoated portion.

11. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, in: The one end portion of the second roller forms a non-contact region with the electrode substrate.

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