Apparatus and method for manufacturing secondary battery

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a transfer module configured to transfer a pouch; a heating module including at least one of an internal heating portion provided in the transfer module to heat the bag and an external heating portion provided on an outer side of the transfer module to heat the bag; and a sealing module provided after the heating module with respect to a conveying direction of the pouch as a reference to seal a platform portion of the pouch in a state in which the pouch is folded so that an electrode assembly is accommodated in a cup portion of the pouch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0081503, filed on Jul. 1, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a secondary battery. Background Art

[0003] Generally, secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries. Such secondary batteries are being used in small products such as digital cameras, P-DVDs, MP3Ps, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, electric bicycles, etc.; as well as large products that require high power such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, power storage devices for storing excess power or renewable energy, and backup power storage devices.

[0004] Generally, in order to manufacture a secondary battery, first, an electrode active material slurry is applied to a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Then, the electrodes are stacked on both sides of a separator to form an electrode assembly. In addition, the electrode assembly is housed in a battery case, and then, the battery case is sealed after an electrolyte is injected into the battery case.

[0005] According to the material of the shell containing the electrode assembly, this secondary battery is divided into a pouch type secondary battery and a can type secondary battery. In the pouch type secondary battery, the electrode assembly is contained in a bag made of a flexible polymer material. In addition, in the can type secondary battery, the electrode assembly is contained in a shell made of a metal or plastic material.

[0006] Generally, a pouch-type battery case is manufactured by punching a flexible pouch film to form a cup portion. In addition, when the cup portion is formed, an electrode assembly is accommodated in the cup portion, and then the side of the cup portion is sealed to manufacture a secondary battery.

[0007] Specifically, in a state where the electrode assembly is accommodated in the cup portion, the pouch may be folded along the folding line to cover the electrode assembly, and the sealing device may heat-fuse the side formed along the periphery of the cup portion at high temperature and high pressure.

[0008] Since the sealing process is performed in a relatively short time, there is a case where the sealing process is performed without reaching a high temperature for heat fusion. If the sealing process is performed without transferring sufficient heat, the sealing strength of the bag becomes weak, resulting in deterioration in the yield and quality of the secondary battery. Therefore, for a smoother sealing process, an apparatus for manufacturing secondary batteries having a device for transferring sufficient heat to the bag is required. Summary of the invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] An object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery which ensures the sealing strength of a bag by preheating the bag.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery may include: a conveying module configured to convey a bag; a heating module, the heating module including at least one of an internal heating part and an external heating part, the internal heating part being arranged in the conveying module to heat the bag, and the external heating part being arranged outside the conveying module to heat the bag; and a sealing module, the sealing module being arranged behind the heating module with reference to a conveying direction of the bag to seal a platform portion of the bag in a state where the bag is folded so that an electrode assembly is accommodated in a cup portion of the bag.

[0013] The bag may be folded along a folding line, and a length direction of the external heating portion may be perpendicular to the folding line.

[0014] The external heating parts may be provided in pairs on both sides of the bag.

[0015] The electrode assembly may include an electrode and a pair of lead tabs coupled to both sides of the electrode, and a pair of the external heating parts may be provided corresponding to the pair of lead tabs when viewed from above.

[0016] The external heating part is movable horizontally.

[0017] The external heating parts may be provided in pairs at both sides of the bag, and a pair of the external heating parts may be detached from both sides of the bag when viewed from above.

[0018] After the external heating portion is detached from the bag, the bag may be folded.

[0019] The internal heating portion may be disposed in the conveying module along the platform portion.

[0020] The bag may be folded along a folding line, and a length direction of the internal heating part may be perpendicular to the folding line.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery may include: a heating process of heating the bag by at least one of an external heating part provided at the outside of the conveying module and an internal heating part provided in the conveying module during the conveying of the bag by a conveying module; and a sealing process of sealing a platform portion of the bag by a sealing module in a state in which the bag is folded so that an electrode assembly is accommodated in a cup portion of the bag.

[0022] The method further includes a folding step of folding the bag along a fold line.

[0023] In the heating process, the external heating parts may be disposed perpendicular to the folding line and provided in pairs at both sides of the bag.

[0024] The method may further include, before the folding step, a detaching step of detaching the external heating portion from both sides of the bag when viewed from above.

[0025] In the heating process, the internal heating part may be disposed in the conveying module along the platform part.

[0026] Beneficial Effects

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pouch may be preheated to ensure the sealing strength of the pouch, thereby improving the quality and yield of the secondary battery.

[0028] Furthermore, effects that are obvious to those skilled in the art can be expected from the configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The following drawings attached to the present application illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and may be used to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention, and thus the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 2 It is a perspective view illustrating a state where an external heating unit is installed.

[0032] Figure 3 It is a perspective view illustrating a state where an electrode assembly is housed in a bag and an external heating portion is provided.

[0033] Figure 4 It is a perspective view illustrating a state where the external heating unit is detached from the bag.

[0034] Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a bag folded by a folding module.

[0035] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be limited by the following examples.

[0037] In order to explain the present invention clearly, detailed descriptions of related known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention are omitted, and in this application, reference marks are added to the components in each accompanying drawing. In this case, the same or similar reference marks refer to the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0038] Furthermore, the terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be restrictively interpreted as ordinary meanings or dictionary-based meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the scope of the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of the terms to best describe and interpret his or her invention.

[0039] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 , the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery can manufacture a secondary battery by accommodating the electrode assembly C into the bag P to seal the bag P. For example, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery can form a cup portion U in the bag P to define a housing space, and then place the electrode assembly C in the cup portion U of the bag P and heat-fuse the side of the bag P at high temperature and high pressure to seal the bag P.

[0041] In addition, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery may preheat the bag P in the process of conveying the bag P formed with the cup portion U before sealing the bag P. Specifically, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery may preheat the bag P when conveying the bag P formed with the cup portion U alone, or may preheat the bag P in the process of placing the electrode assembly C in the cup portion U to convey the bag P and the electrode assembly C.

[0042] As described above, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing secondary batteries can preheat the bag P before sealing the bag P, and thus, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing secondary batteries can further ensure the sealing strength of the bag P, thereby improving the efficiency of the manufacturing process and also improving the yield and quality of secondary batteries.

[0043] The apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery may include a transfer module 10 , a sealing module 11 , and a heating module 12 .

[0044] The conveying module 10 may convey the bag P. For example, the conveying module 10 may adsorb and fix the bag P in a vacuum adsorption manner and then convey the bag P. When the conveying module 10 conveys the bag P formed with the cup portion U, the electrode assembly C may be placed in the cup portion U of the bag P, and the conveying module 10 may convey the bag P and the electrode assembly C again in a state where the electrode assembly C is placed in the cup portion U of the bag P. Thereafter, the conveying module 10 may convey the bag P containing the electrode assembly C to the folding module 13 described later, and then the folded bag P may be conveyed to the sealing module 11 described later.

[0045] The sealing module 11 may seal the bag P in a state where the electrode assembly C is accommodated in the bag P. For example, the bag P may be composed of a recessed cup portion U and a flat portion T provided along the periphery of the cup portion U, and the electrode assembly C may be accommodated in the bag P by folding the bag P in a state where the electrode assembly C is placed in the cup portion U of the bag P. Thereafter, the sealing module 11 may seal the bag P by thermally fusing the flat portion T at a high temperature and high pressure.

[0046] Specifically, the sealing module 11 may include a sealing block disposed at each of the upper and lower sides of the folded bag P, and may apply pressure to each of the top and bottom surfaces of the folded bag P folded by the folding module to thermally fuse the bag P.

[0047] The heating module 12 may heat the bag P being conveyed. For example, the heating module 12 may be disposed in the conveying module 10 to apply heat to the bag P placed in the conveying module 10. In addition, the heating module 12 may be disposed outside the conveying module 10 to apply heat to the outer surface of the bag P conveyed by the conveying module 10. Specifically, the heating module 12 may include at least one of an external heating portion 120 and an internal heating portion 121.

[0048] Figure 2 It is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the external heating unit 120 is installed.

[0049] Reference Figure 2 , the external heating unit 120 may be disposed outside the conveying module 10 to heat the bag P. For example, the external heating unit 120 may be disposed on the upper side of the bag P to apply heat to the bag P. Specifically, the external heating unit 120 may be disposed on a moving path of the bag P to apply heat to the bag P until the bag P is folded.

[0050] Figure 3 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the electrode assembly C is placed in the pouch P and the external heating part 120 is provided.

[0051] Reference Figure 3, the cup portion U may be formed on both sides based on the central folding line F of the bag P, and then the bag P may be folded along the folding line F by the folding module 13 described later, and the external heating portion 120 may be disposed perpendicular to the folding line F. That is, the length direction of the external heating portion 120 may be perpendicular to the folding line F. In other words, the external heating portion 120 may have a bar shape and may be disposed perpendicular to the folding line F.

[0052] In addition, the external heating parts 120 may be provided in pairs on both sides of the bag P. For example, the electrode assembly C may be composed of an electrode E and a pair of lead tabs L joined to both sides of the electrode E, and the external heating parts 120 may be provided corresponding to the pair of lead tabs L. Specifically, the electrode assembly C may be placed in one cup portion U of the bag P before folding the bag P so that a connection line connecting the pair of lead tabs L to each other is parallel to the folding line F. In this case, when viewed from above, a pair of external heating parts 120 may be provided corresponding to the pair of lead tabs L.

[0053] In other words, the external heating parts 120 may be provided in pairs on the upper side of the bag P and on both sides perpendicularly to the folding line F, and the electrode assembly C may be installed in the cup portion U in a state in which a pair of lead tabs L are provided in a heating region 120a of the bag P heated by the pair of external heating parts 120. Here, the heating region 120a may refer to a portion of the platform portion T heated by the external heating part 120. In other words, the heating region 120a may be defined on an extended surface of the platform portion T extending along the external heating part 120, and specifically, the heating region 120a may be provided on each side of both sides of the platform portion T in the length direction perpendicular to the folding line F.

[0054] Figure 4 It is a perspective view illustrating a state where the external heating unit 120 is detached from the bag P.

[0055] Reference Figure 4 , the external heating part 120 may be detached from the bag P. For example, the external heating part 120 may be detached from both sides of the bag P. Specifically, in a state where a pair of external heating parts 120 are provided on the upper side of the bag P, the external heating part 120 may be horizontally moved in a direction parallel to the folding line F and then detached from the bag P when viewed from above.

[0056] More specifically, the external heating part 120 may be detached from the bag P before folding the bag P. That is, the bag P may be folded after the external heating part 120 applies heat to the bag P and detaches. Thus, the external heating part 120 is not disposed on a folding path of the bag P, thereby preventing interference and collision of the external heating part 120 due to the folding operation of the bag P in advance.

[0057] The internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 to heat the bag P. For example, the internal heating part 121 may be provided inside the conveying module 10 to apply heat to the conveying module 10, and thus, the heat generated in the internal heating part 121 may be transferred to the bag P through the conveying module 10. However, this is only an example of the internal heating part 121, and the internal heating part 121 may be connected to the conveying module 10 in various forms, such as being attached to the outer surface of the conveying module 10.

[0058] The internal heating part 121 may move integrally with the conveying module 10 while being placed in the conveying module 10 , and may apply heat to the conveyed bag P. The internal heating part 121 may be connected and disposed in the conveying module 10 in various forms such as a heating wire, a heat pipe, and a block.

[0059] The internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 along the platform portion T of the bag P. Specifically, when viewed from above, the internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 to overlap with the platform portion T of the bag P. That is, similar to the external heating part 120, the internal heating part 121 may be provided on both sides of the bag P perpendicular to the folding line F when viewed from above.

[0060] The internal heating part 121 may be disposed to overlap the platform part T of the bag P in a vertical direction. The internal heating part 121 may face the external heating part 120 across the platform part T of the bag P.

[0061] Figure 5 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the bag P folded by the folding module 13 .

[0062] Reference Figure 5 , the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery may further include a folding module 13 that folds the bag P. The folding module 13 may fold the bag P along a folding line F so that the cup portions U disposed on both sides of the folding line F contact each other to define a receiving space. Specifically, the folding module 13 may include a body 130 and a cover portion 131.

[0063] The main body 130 may apply an external force to one of the cup parts U disposed on both sides of the folding line F of the bag P so that the bag P is folded around the folding line F. In other words, the main body 130 may apply an external force to the one cup part U after contacting the outer surface of the one cup part U so that the two cup parts U contact each other to define a receiving space.

[0064] The cover parts 131 may be connected to both sides of the main body 130 to cover the platform part T of the bag P. For example, in a state where the length direction of the main body 130 is arranged parallel to the folding line F, a pair of cover parts 131 may extend from both sides of the main body 130 to one side of the main body 130 perpendicularly to the folding line F. That is, the pair of cover parts 131 may cover the platform part T to cover the heating area 120a.

[0065] Heat can be transferred to the platform portion T through the cover portion 131 , which is similar to the function of the heating module 12 and can preheat the platform portion T before the sealing process.

[0066] As a result, since the sealing process of the sealing module 11 is performed for a relatively short time and may also be performed without applying sufficient heat to the bag P, the heating module 12 and the folding module 13 can be arranged in front of the sealing module 11 based on the conveying direction of the bag P to transfer sufficient heat to the bag P in advance. Therefore, the equipment 1 for manufacturing secondary batteries can ensure the sealing strength of the bag P, thereby improving the quality and output of the secondary batteries.

[0067] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment is disclosed. Contents overlapping with the configuration and function of the apparatus 1 for manufacturing a secondary battery described above will be omitted below.

[0068] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment.

[0069] Reference Figure 6 , a secondary battery can be manufactured by sealing a bag P containing an electrode assembly C therein through a method for manufacturing a secondary battery. In the process of manufacturing the secondary battery, before sealing the bag P, the bag P can be preheated in advance to perform a sealing operation with higher strength, and as a result, the efficiency of the process of manufacturing the secondary battery and the yield of the secondary battery can be improved.

[0070] The method for manufacturing a secondary battery may include a heating process ( S10 ), a detaching process ( S20 ), a folding process ( S30 ), and a sealing process ( S40 ).

[0071] In the heating process (S10), at least one of the external heating unit 120 and the internal heating unit 121 may heat the bag P conveyed by the conveying module 10. Specifically, the external heating unit 120 may be disposed outside the conveying module 10 to heat the bag P. More specifically, the cup portion U may be formed on both sides based on the central folding line F of the bag P, and the bag P may be folded along the folding line F by the folding module 13. Therefore, the external heating unit 120 may be disposed perpendicular to the folding line F.

[0072] In addition, the external heating parts 120 may be provided in pairs at both sides of the pouch P. For example, the electrode assembly C may be composed of an electrode E and a pair of lead tabs L joined to both sides of the electrode E, and the external heating parts 120 may be provided corresponding to the pair of lead tabs L.

[0073] The internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 to heat the bag P. The internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 along the platform part T of the bag P. Specifically, when viewed from above, the internal heating part 121 may be provided in the conveying module 10 to overlap with the platform part T of the bag P. When viewed from above, the internal heating part 121 may be provided at both sides of the bag P perpendicular to the folding line F.

[0074] In the detaching process (S20), when viewed from above, the external heating unit 120 may be detached from both sides of the bag P. Specifically, in a state where a pair of external heating units 120 are provided on the upper side of the bag P, the external heating unit 120 may be horizontally moved in a direction parallel to the folding line F, and then may be detached from the bag P when viewed from above.

[0075] In the folding process ( S30 ), the bag P may be folded along the folding line F by the folding module 13 . The folding module 13 may fold the bag P along the folding line F so that the cup parts U disposed on both sides of the folding line F contact each other to define a receiving space.

[0076] In the sealing process ( S40 ), the sealing module 11 may seal the platform portion T of the bag P in a state where the bag P is folded so that the electrode assembly C is accommodated in the cup portion U of the bag P. In other words, the sealing module 11 may seal the bag P by thermally fusing the platform portion T at high temperature and high pressure.

[0077] The above disclosed subject matter should be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0078] Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments.

[0079] Therefore, the scope of the invention is limited not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

[0080] [Description of Reference Numbers]

[0081] 1: Equipment for manufacturing secondary batteries

[0082] 10: Transmission module

[0083] 11: Sealing module

[0084] 12: Heating module

[0085] 13: Folding module

[0086] 120: External heating unit

[0087] 121: Internal heating unit

[0088] 120a: Heating area

[0089] 130: Main body

[0090] 131: Cover

[0091] S10: Heating process

[0092] S20: Separation process

[0093] S30: Folding process

[0094] S40: Sealing process

[0095] P: Bag

[0096] U: Cup

[0097] T: Platform Department

[0098] F: Folding line

[0099] C: Electrode assembly

[0100] E: Electrode

[0101] L: Lead tab.

Claims

1. A device for manufacturing a secondary battery, the device comprising: a transfer module configured as a transfer bag; a heating module, the heating module comprising at least one of an internal heating portion and an external heating portion, the internal heating portion being disposed in the conveying module to heat the bag, and the external heating portion being disposed outside the conveying module to heat the bag; and A sealing module is disposed behind the heating module with reference to a conveying direction of the pouch to seal the platform portion of the pouch in a state where the pouch is folded so that the electrode assembly is accommodated in the cup portion of the pouch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bag is folded along a fold line, and The length direction of the external heating portion is perpendicular to the folding line. 3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the external heating parts are provided in pairs on both sides of the bag.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electrode assembly comprises an electrode and a pair of lead tabs bonded to both sides of the electrode, and When viewed from above, a pair of the external heating portions is provided corresponding to the pair of lead tabs. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external heating portion is horizontally movable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the external heating portions are provided in pairs on both sides of the bag, and When viewed from above, a pair of the external heating portions are detached from both sides of the bag.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein: After the external heating portion is detached from the bag, the bag is folded.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal heating portion is provided in the conveying module along the platform portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bag is folded along a fold line, and The length direction of the internal heating portion is perpendicular to the folding line.

10. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising: a heating step of heating the bag by at least one of an external heating unit disposed outside the conveying module and an internal heating unit disposed in the conveying module during the conveying of the bag by the conveying module; and The sealing process is to seal the platform portion of the pouch by a sealing module in a state where the pouch is folded so that the electrode assembly is accommodated in the cup portion of the pouch.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a folding step of folding the bag along a fold line.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: In the heating process, the external heating parts are disposed perpendicular to the folding line and are disposed in pairs on both sides of the bag. 13 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising a detaching step of detaching the external heating portion from both sides of the bag when viewed from above before the folding step.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein: In the heating process, the internal heating part is disposed in the conveying module along the platform part.

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