Battery bonding device

Abstract

The battery bonding apparatus of the present disclosure comprises: an injection part for discharging a binder to bond an electrode assembly; a flow sensor sensing a flow rate of the adhesive supplied to the injection portion; and a control unit that determines whether the electrode assembly is defective on the basis of the flow rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a secondary battery, and in particular, to a battery bonding device. Background Art

[0002] A secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged multiple times. Secondary batteries can be divided into pouch-shaped, prismatic and cylindrical shapes.

[0003] Secondary batteries can be bonded using adhesives during the manufacturing process. In order to determine whether the bonding of secondary batteries is poor, one method is to have an operator check the discharge amount of the adhesive with the naked eye, but this method has the problem that the judgment standard varies depending on the operator or is inaccurate, and a solution to this problem is currently being sought. Summary of the invention

[0004] 1. Technical issues to be resolved

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery bonding device capable of accurately sensing the discharge amount of an adhesive.

[0006] The present disclosure can be widely applied to green technology fields such as solar power generation, wind power generation, etc. In addition, the present disclosure can be applied to environmentally friendly devices such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles that prevent climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

[0007] (II) Technical solution

[0008] The battery bonding device according to the embodiment may include an injection part which discharges an adhesive to bond the electrode assembly; a flow sensor which senses a flow rate of the adhesive supplied to the injection part; and a control part which determines whether the electrode assembly is defective according to the flow rate.

[0009] In an embodiment, the device may further include: a storage part storing the adhesive; and a tube connecting the storage part and the injection part and supplying the adhesive from the storage part to the injection part.

[0010] In an embodiment, the flow sensor may be secured to an outer surface of the tube.

[0011] In an embodiment, the flow sensor may include a first transceiver and a second transceiver disposed across the tube, and the second transceiver may be disposed to form an inclination of a set angle with respect to the flow direction of the adhesive with respect to the first transceiver.

[0012] In an embodiment, the first transceiver portion may transmit a first ultrasonic wave to the second transceiver portion, and the second transceiver portion may transmit a second ultrasonic wave to the first transceiver portion.

[0013] In an embodiment, the flow sensor may calculate the flow rate of the adhesive based on a difference between a reception time of the first ultrasonic wave received by the second transceiving portion and a reception time of the second ultrasonic wave received by the first transceiving portion.

[0014] In an embodiment, the flow sensor may calculate the flow rate using the flow velocity and the cross-sectional area of ​​the tube.

[0015] In an embodiment, when the flow rate is greater than the reference upper limit value or less than the reference lower limit value, the control unit can determine that the electrode assembly is defective, and when the flow rate is below the reference upper limit value and above the reference lower limit value, the control unit can determine that the electrode assembly is normal.

[0016] In an embodiment, the injection unit may adjust the discharge amount of the adhesive according to a flow rate setting value, and the control unit may determine whether the electrode assembly is defective based on a difference between the flow rate setting value and the flow rate.

[0017] In an embodiment, an output unit may be further included, and when the control unit determines that the electrode assembly is defective, the output unit displays an alarm or outputs an alarm sound.

[0018] In embodiments, the injection part may discharge the adhesive to at least a portion of the bonding treatment part among the inner separator and the bonding treatment part included in the separator of the electrode assembly.

[0019] In an embodiment, the injection portion can discharge the adhesive into an area of ​​the first bonding processing portion in a wound state included in the bonding processing portion, and the area of ​​the first bonding processing portion is at least a part of the area where the second bonding processing portion is included in the bonding processing portion and connected to one end of the first bonding processing portion and is to be wound.

[0020] (III) Beneficial effects

[0021] The present disclosure can provide a battery bonding device that accurately senses the discharge amount of an adhesive.

[0022] The battery bonding device disclosed herein can accurately determine whether the bonding of a secondary battery is defective. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a block diagram for explaining a battery bonding device according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a diagram for explaining a battery bonding device according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a diagram for explaining a flow sensor according to an embodiment.

[0026] Figures 4 to 6 is a diagram for explaining an electrode assembly of a secondary battery according to an embodiment.

[0027] Description of reference numerals:

[0028] 100: Battery bonding device 110: Storage unit

[0029] 120: Flow sensor 130: Injection unit

[0030] 140: control unit 150: output unit

[0031] 160: tube 300: electrode assembly DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The structural description or functional description of the embodiments disclosed in this specification or application is merely illustrative for the purpose of describing the embodiments of the technical ideas according to the present invention. The embodiments of the technical ideas according to the present invention can also be implemented in various forms other than the embodiments disclosed in this specification or application. The technical ideas of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described in this specification or application.

[0033] Figure 1 is a block diagram for explaining a battery bonding device according to an embodiment.

[0034] Reference Figure 1 , the battery bonding device 100 according to the embodiment may include a storage part 110, a flow sensor 120, an injection part 130, a control part 140, and an output part 150. For example, the battery bonding device 100 may be a manufacturing apparatus of a secondary battery.

[0035] The storage part 110 may store an adhesive in the inner space thereof. Here, the adhesive may be a liquid polymer substance. The storage part 110 may provide the adhesive to the injection part 130 .

[0036] The injection part 130 may discharge the adhesive received from the storage part 110. The adhesive discharged between the objects may be hardened to bond the objects to each other.

[0037] The injection unit 130 may discharge the adhesive to the electrode assembly of the secondary battery to bond the electrode assembly of the secondary battery. In an embodiment, the injection unit 130 may discharge the adhesive to a portion of the outermost separator of the electrode assembly. Another portion of the outermost separator covers the discharged adhesive, and the adhesive hardens in this state to bond the outermost separator.

[0038] The flow sensor 120 may sense the flow rate of the adhesive supplied to the injection portion 130. The flow rate may represent the amount (e.g., volume or mass, etc.) of adhesive movement within a certain period of time. In an embodiment, sensing the flow rate may refer to obtaining the flow rate in a direct manner or obtaining the flow rate in an indirect manner. For example, the flow rate may be obtained directly by the flow sensor 120. For another example, the flow rate may be obtained using other sensed values ​​of the flow sensor 120 (e.g., time, flow rate, etc.). In this case, the flow sensor 120 may obtain the flow rate using the sensed value of the flow sensor 120, or the control portion 140 may obtain the flow rate using the sensed value of the flow sensor 120.

[0039] The control unit 140 may determine whether the electrode assembly is defective based on the flow rate. The flow rate may be a value obtained by the flow sensor 120. When an electrode assembly determined to be defective appears, the control unit 140 may control the output unit 150 to output an alarm.

[0040] When an electrode assembly judged as bad appears, the output unit 150 may output an alarm. The output unit 150 may include a display or a speaker. The display may display a visual information alarm. The speaker may output an auditory information alarm in the form of sound waves.

[0041] As described above, the battery bonding device 100 of the present disclosure can accurately sense the flow rate or discharge amount of the adhesive, so that poor bonding can be accurately determined. The battery bonding device 100 can prevent the electrode assembly determined to be poor from being put into the subsequent process. Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0042] Figure 2 It is a diagram for explaining a battery bonding device according to an embodiment.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the battery adhesive device 100 according to the embodiment may apply an adhesive to an adhesive finish part 335 of the electrode assembly 300 .

[0044] Specifically, the storage part 110 may store an adhesive. The battery bonding device 100 according to the embodiment may further include a tube 160. In an embodiment, the tube 160 may contain at least one material of a metal and a resin. The tube 160 may connect the storage part 110 and the injection part 130. The tube 160 may supply the adhesive 50 from the storage part 110 to the injection part 130. That is, the storage part 110 may be connected to the injection part 130 through the tube 160. The storage part 110 may supply the adhesive to the injection part 130 through the tube 160.

[0045] The injection part 130 may discharge the adhesive received from the storage part 110. When the injection part 130 discharges the adhesive, the injection part 130 may again receive the adhesive from the storage part 110. That is, the discharge amount of the adhesive may be the flow rate of the adhesive supplied from the storage part 110 to the injection part 130.

[0046] The injection unit 130 may discharge an adhesive to bond the bonding process unit 335 of the electrode assembly 300 of the secondary battery. That is, the injection unit 130 may apply the adhesive to the bonding process unit 335 of the electrode assembly 300. Here, the electrode assembly 300 may be an assembly in which a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator are stacked in a stacking direction (e.g., a Y-axis direction). The first electrode and the second electrode may be electrodes of different polarities. For example, the first electrode may be a negative electrode, and the second electrode may be a positive electrode. For another example, the first electrode may be a positive electrode, and the second electrode may be a negative electrode. The first electrode may include a first electrode tap 315 protruding in one direction (e.g., a +X-axis direction), and the second electrode may include a second electrode tap 325 protruding in another direction (e.g., a -X-axis direction). However, not limited thereto, according to an embodiment, the first electrode and the second electrode may each include an electrode tap protruding in the same one direction (e.g., a +X-axis direction). The separator may space a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes from each other. That is, the separator may prevent direct contact between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the first electrode and the second electrode are not short-circuited. In this specification, the bonding of the electrode assembly 300 may include fixing a portion of the separator to another portion of the separator.

[0047] In an embodiment, the injection unit 130 may include a mechanism unit capable of linear motion or rotational motion and a motor that transmits a driving force to the mechanism unit. Figure 2 , the injection part 130 can move in the +X axis direction or the -X axis direction. The injection part 130 can start to discharge the adhesive at the first setting position, and the injection part 130 can continue to discharge the adhesive when moving from the first setting position to the second setting position. When the injection part 130 moves to the second setting position, the injection part 130 can stop discharging the adhesive. In an embodiment, the injection part 130 may include an injection port and a pestle. Depending on whether air is injected, the pestle can move upward or downward. When the pestle moves upward, the injection port can be opened to discharge the adhesive. When the pestle moves downward, the injection port can be closed to stop discharging the adhesive.

[0048] In an embodiment, the flow sensor 120 may be fixed to the outer surface of the tube 160. For example, the flow sensor 120 may be fixed to the outer surface of the tube 160 by a clamp. In this case, the flow sensor 120 may sense the flow rate of the adhesive moving in the inner space of the tube 160 in a non-contact state with the adhesive. That is, the flow sensor 120 may sense the flow rate of the adhesive in a non-contact manner. In an embodiment, the flow rate may be a volume value per unit time, such as milliliters per second (mL / sec), but may also be changed to various types of physical quantities.

[0049] In an embodiment, when the flow rate is greater than the reference upper limit value or less than the reference lower limit value, the control unit 140 may determine that the electrode assembly 300 is defective. When the flow rate is less than the reference upper limit value and greater than the reference lower limit value, the control unit 140 may determine that the electrode assembly 300 is normal. The flow rate may be a value sensed by the flow sensor 120. The reference upper limit value may be a value greater than the reference lower limit value. The reference upper limit value and the reference lower limit value may be preset values.

[0050] In an embodiment, the injection unit 130 may adjust the discharge amount of the adhesive according to the flow setting value. For example, the flow setting value may be a control value (or expected value) for setting the amount of adhesive discharged, and may be a preset value. In this case, the control unit 140 may determine whether the electrode assembly 300 is defective based on the difference between the flow setting value and the flow rate. For example, when the difference between the flow setting value and the flow rate exceeds the reference value, the control unit 140 may determine that the electrode assembly 300 is defective. For example, when the difference between the flow setting value and the flow rate is less than the reference value, the control unit 140 may determine that the electrode assembly 300 is normal. Here, the reference value may be a preset value. For example, the reference value may be various values ​​such as 0.01 or 0.02.

[0051] Figure 3 It is a diagram for explaining a flow sensor according to an embodiment.

[0052] Reference Figure 3 , the flow sensor 120 according to the embodiment may be mounted on the outer surface of the tube 160. Here, the flow sensor 120 may be an ultrasonic sensor. However, this is only an example, and the type of the flow sensor 120 is not limited thereto, and various modifications may be made. When the injection part 130 discharges the adhesive, the adhesive 50 may move from the storage part 110 to the injection part 130 through the inner space of the tube 160.

[0053] In an embodiment, the flow sensor 120 may include a first transceiver 121 and a second transceiver 122 disposed across the tube 160. The second transceiver 122 may be configured to form an inclination of a set angle a relative to the flow velocity direction of the adhesive 50 with the first transceiver 121 as a reference. Here, the flow velocity direction may be a direction parallel to the tube 160 or a length direction of the tube 160. The set angle a may be greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The outer diameter of the tube 160 may be the distance d×sin(a) between the first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122. That is, the distance d between the first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122 may be greater than the outer diameter of the tube 160.

[0054] In an embodiment, the first transceiver 121 may transmit a first ultrasonic wave to the second transceiver 122. The second transceiver 122 may transmit a second ultrasonic wave to the first transceiver 121. The first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122 may each transmit or receive an ultrasonic wave. To this end, the first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122 may each include an ultrasonic wave transmitter and an ultrasonic wave receiver.

[0055] In an embodiment, the flow sensor 120 may calculate the flow rate v of the adhesive 50 based on the difference between the reception time of the first ultrasonic wave received by the second transceiver 122 and the reception time of the second ultrasonic wave received by the first transceiver 121 .

[0056] In an embodiment, the flow sensor 120 may calculate the flow rate v of the adhesive 50 using the following Math Formula 1.

[0057] [Mathematical formula 1]

[0058]

[0059] Here, c may be the speed of ultrasonic waves passing through the adhesive. Δt may be the difference between the reception time of the first ultrasonic wave received by the second transceiver 122 and the reception time of the second ultrasonic wave received by the first transceiver 121. D may be the distance between the first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122, and a may be a set angle.

[0060] In an embodiment, the flow sensor 120 can calculate the flow rate of the adhesive 50 using the flow rate v of the adhesive 50 and the cross-sectional area of ​​the tube 160. For example, the flow sensor 120 can obtain the value of the flow rate by multiplying the flow rate v of the adhesive 50 by the cross-sectional area of ​​the tube 160. The cross-sectional area of ​​the tube 160 can be a pre-measured value. On the other hand, the above embodiment is only one embodiment, and the flow rate of the adhesive 50 can be sensed in various ways.

[0061] Figures 4 to 6 is a diagram for explaining an electrode assembly of a secondary battery according to an embodiment. Figures 4 to 6The process of manufacturing the electrode assembly is shown in chronological order from one side of the electrode assembly.

[0062] Figure 4 300a shows the process of stacking the electrode assembly. Figure 5 The process of winding the electrode assembly 300b is shown. Figure 6 A process of applying the adhesive 50 by rotating the electrode assembly 300 c is shown.

[0063] Reference Figure 4 The electrode assembly 300 a may be formed by repeatedly stacking the first electrode 310 , the second electrode 320 , and the separator 330 in a vertical direction (eg, the Z-axis direction). That is, the electrode assembly 300 a may include the first electrode 310 , the second electrode 320 , and the separator 330 .

[0064] The first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320 may be electrodes of different polarities. For example, the first electrode 310 may be a negative electrode, and the second electrode 320 may be a positive electrode. The first electrode 310 may include a first electrode plate 311 and a first electrode connector 315 protruding from one side end of the first electrode plate 311 in one direction (e.g., +X axis direction). The second electrode 320 may include a second electrode plate and a second electrode connector protruding from one side end of the second electrode plate in another direction (e.g., -X axis direction). The first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320 may each include a conductive material.

[0065] The separator 330 may be disposed between the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320 to prevent the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320 from contacting each other. In an embodiment, the separator 330 is an integral type, and the separator 330 may be stacked in a Z-shaped stacking manner folded at respective ends of the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320. In another embodiment, the separator 330 may be a plurality of segmented types, and the separator 330 may be stacked in a manner of being disposed between the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 320. The separator 330 may include an insulating material.

[0066] In an embodiment, the diaphragm 330 may include an internal diaphragm and a bonding processing part. That is, the internal diaphragm and the bonding processing part may be a part of the diaphragm 330. In an embodiment, the injection part 130 may discharge the adhesive to at least a part of the bonding processing part. In an embodiment, the internal diaphragm and the bonding processing part may be connected integrally. In another embodiment, the internal diaphragm and the bonding processing part may be parts segmented from each other. The bonding processing part may be a part wound in units of electrode assemblies, and the internal diaphragm may be a part wound in units of electrodes or inserted between electrodes. In an embodiment, the bonding processing part may include a first bonding processing part 331 and a second bonding processing part 333 (refer to Figure 5). The first bonding portion 331 may be a portion protruding from one end of the inner separator disposed at the lower portion of the uppermost electrode of the electrode assembly 300a in a horizontal direction (eg, Y-axis direction). That is, one end of the first bonding portion 331 may be connected to the inner separator.

[0067] In addition, the first adhesive treatment part 331 may be wound to surround the outer surface of the stacked electrode assembly 300a. Here, the first adhesive treatment part 331 may be wound to cover the side, lower and upper surfaces of the stacked electrode assembly 300a. Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 5 The electrode assembly 300b shows Figure 4 Here, the second bonding part 333 may be a portion protruding in one direction from the first bonding part 331. That is, the second bonding part 333 may be connected to the other end of the first bonding part 331.

[0068] The electrode assembly 300b can be rotated 90 degrees with the X axis as the rotation axis. Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 6 The electrode assembly 300c shows Figure 5 The state after the electrode assembly 300b is rotated. Here, the diaphragm located at the outermost part based on the center in the diaphragm 330 may be defined as the outermost diaphragm. In this specification, the outermost diaphragm may refer to a diaphragm portion that is integrally connected to the inner diaphragm disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and surrounds the inner diaphragm. For example, the outermost diaphragm may correspond to a portion of the bonding processing portion.

[0069] In an embodiment, the injection part 130 of the battery bonding device 100 may discharge the adhesive 50 to a region of the first bonding process part 331 of the electrode assembly 300. That is, the adhesive 50 may be applied to a region of the first bonding process part 331 through the injection part 130.

[0070] In an embodiment, the first bonding process part 331 may be in a winding state surrounding the outside of the first electrode 310, the second electrode 320 and the internal separator. In an embodiment, an area of ​​the first bonding process part 331 may be at least a portion of the area that the second bonding process part 333 will be wound to cover. That is, at least a portion of the wound second bonding process part 333 may be located outside the first bonding process part 331. Here, the second bonding process part 333 may be wound in the same direction as the first bonding process part 331 (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise). Then, when it is judged that the electrode assembly 300c is normal, the second bonding process part 333 is wound and covers the adhesive 50 to bond the electrode assembly 300c. That is, the adhesive 50 may be located between the first bonding process part 331 and the second bonding process part 333. Different from this, when it is judged that the electrode assembly 300c is defective, it can be prevented from entering the subsequent process.

Claims

1. A battery bonding device, comprising: an injection part for discharging a binder to bond the electrode assembly; a flow sensor for sensing a flow rate of the adhesive supplied to the injection portion; as well as The control unit determines whether the electrode assembly is defective according to the flow rate.

2. The battery bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit for storing the adhesive; as well as A tube connects the storage part and the injection part and supplies the adhesive from the storage part to the injection part.

3. The battery bonding device according to claim 2, wherein: The flow sensor is fixed to the outer surface of the tube.

4. The battery bonding device according to claim 3, wherein: The flow sensor includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver disposed across the tube. The second transceiver is disposed to form an inclination of a set angle with respect to a flow direction of the adhesive with respect to the first transceiver as a reference.

5. The battery bonding device according to claim 4, wherein: The first transceiver transmits a first ultrasonic wave to the second transceiver, The second transceiver transmits a second ultrasonic wave to the first transceiver.

6. The battery bonding device according to claim 5, wherein: The flow sensor calculates a flow rate of the adhesive based on a difference between a reception time of the first ultrasonic wave received by the second transceiver and a reception time of the second ultrasonic wave received by the first transceiver.

7. The battery bonding device according to claim 6, wherein: The flow sensor calculates the flow rate using the flow velocity and the cross-sectional area of ​​the tube.

8. The battery bonding device according to claim 1, wherein: When the flow rate is greater than a reference upper limit or less than a reference lower limit, the control unit determines that the electrode assembly is defective. When the flow rate is less than or equal to the reference upper limit value and greater than or equal to the reference lower limit value, the control unit determines that the electrode assembly is normal.

9. The battery bonding device according to claim 1, wherein: The injection unit adjusts the discharge amount of the adhesive according to the flow setting value, The control portion determines whether the electrode assembly is defective based on a difference between the flow rate setting value and the flow rate.

10. The battery bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising: The output unit displays an alarm or outputs an alarm sound when the control unit determines that the electrode assembly is defective.

11. The battery bonding device according to claim 1, wherein: The injection part discharges the binder to at least a portion of the bonding treatment part among an inner separator included in the separator of the electrode assembly and the bonding treatment part.

12. The battery bonding device according to claim 11, wherein: The injection portion discharges the adhesive into an area of ​​the first bonding processing portion in a rolled-up state included in the bonding processing portion, wherein the area of ​​the first bonding processing portion is at least a portion of an area in which a second bonding processing portion included in the bonding processing portion and connected to one end of the first bonding processing portion is to be rolled up.

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