Secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and secondary battery manufacturing method

Abstract

A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and a secondary battery manufacturing method are disclosed. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes: a supply unit configured to supply an electrode plate; a stacking table spaced apart from the supply unit and on which the electrode plates are configured to be stacked; a transfer unit movably disposed outside the supply unit and the stacking table, and configured to transfer the electrode plate supplied from the supply unit to the stacking table; a sensing unit configured to sense a defect in the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit; a discharge unit between the supply unit and the stacking table, and configured to selectively discharge the electrode plates from the transfer unit; and a controller configured to control operations of the transfer unit and the discharge unit based on the information sensed by the sensing unit.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0165766, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on November 24, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0003] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to secondary battery manufacturing equipment and a secondary battery manufacturing method using the secondary battery manufacturing equipment. Background art

[0004] Generally, with the recent rapid popularization of electronic devices using batteries (such as mobile phones, laptop computers, electric vehicles, etc.), the demand for secondary batteries with high energy density and high capacity is rapidly increasing. Accordingly, research and development for improving the performance of lithium secondary batteries are actively underway.

[0005] A lithium secondary battery is a battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode and the negative electrode contain active materials into and from which lithium ions can be intercalated and deintercalated. When lithium ions are intercalated into / from the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the lithium secondary battery generates electric energy due to oxidation and reduction reactions.

[0006] Secondary batteries can be classified into a wound type and a stacked type according to their form. The wound type can be manufactured by continuously winding a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The stacked type can be produced by alternately stacking positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates cut into a certain size (e.g., a predetermined size) and the separator therebetween.

[0007] The above - described information disclosed in the technology constituting the background art of the present disclosure is provided to enhance the understanding of the background art of the present disclosure and may thus include information that does not constitute related art. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, there are provided secondary battery manufacturing equipment and a secondary battery manufacturing method capable of discharging defective electrode plates during a process of stacking electrode plates.

[0009] The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be described in the following description of some embodiments of the present disclosure or will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes: a supply unit configured to supply electrode plates; a stacking table spaced apart from the supply unit, and the electrode plates are configured to be stacked on the stacking table; a transfer unit movably disposed outside the supply unit and the stacking table, and configured to transfer the electrode plates supplied from the supply unit to the stacking table; a sensing unit configured to sense defects in the electrode plates transferred by the transfer unit; a discharging unit disposed between the supply unit and the stacking table, and configured to selectively discharge the electrode plates from the transfer unit; and a controller configured to control operations of the transfer unit and the discharging unit based on information sensed from the sensing unit.

[0011] The sensing unit may include: an alignment table disposed between the supply unit and the stacking table, and the electrode plates are configured to be placed on the alignment table; and a sensing member arranged to face the alignment table, and configured to acquire information on an appearance of the electrode plates placed on the alignment table.

[0012] The discharging unit may be between the alignment table and the stacking table.

[0013] The discharging unit may be between the alignment table and the supply unit.

[0014] The discharging unit may include: an adjusting member movably disposed between the supply unit and the stacking table; a separating member whose position is variable along with the movement of the adjusting member, and the separating member is configured to separate the electrode plates from the transfer unit; and a collecting member spaced apart from the adjusting member, and configured to collect the electrode plates separated by the separating member.

[0015] The adjusting member may include: a first adjusting member disposed between the supply unit and the stacking table to be movable up and down; and a second adjusting member rotatably connected to the first adjusting member and configured to support the separating member.

[0016] The second adjusting member may be rotatable about a direction crossing the upward and downward movement direction of the first adjusting member.

[0017] The separating member may include an adsorbing member extending from the second adjusting member and configured to generate a vacuum pressure to adsorb the electrode plates.

[0018] The adsorbing member may include a plurality of adsorbing members, and the plurality of adsorbing members may be arranged along a longitudinal direction of the second adjusting member.

[0019] The cross-sectional area of the adsorption member may become larger toward the end portion of the adsorption member.

[0020] The adsorption member may be elastically deformable.

[0021] The adsorption member may be detachably connected to the second adjustment member.

[0022] The collection member may be disposed below the adsorption member.

[0023] The collection member may include a collection opening into which the electrode plate falling from the adsorption member can be received.

[0024] The cross-sectional area of the collection member may increase toward the collection opening.

[0025] When the adsorption member rotates by a certain angle (e.g., a set angle) while adsorbing the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit, the collection opening may be vertically oriented toward the end portion of the electrode plate.

[0026] The collection opening may be arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0027] When the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is determined to be defective, the controller may operate the conveying unit to move to a position where the electrode plate faces the discharging unit.

[0028] When the width of the electrode plate crossing the longitudinal direction of the second adjustment member exceeds a certain size (e.g., a set size), the controller may move the first adjustment member upward while the electrode plate is adsorbed to the adsorption member, and then may rotate the second adjustment member.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments, a secondary battery manufacturing method includes: supplying an electrode plate by a supply unit; conveying the electrode plate supplied by the supply unit by a conveying unit; determining whether the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is defective; when the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is determined to be normal, stacking the electrode plate on a stacking table by the conveying unit; and when the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is determined to be defective, discharging the electrode plate from the conveying unit by the discharging unit.

[0030] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, since the discharging unit for discharging defective electrode plates is located on the conveying path of the electrode plates conveyed by the conveying unit, the overall size of the device can be reduced, and the conveying path of the electrode plates can be effectively realized.

[0031] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the falling position and the falling angle of the electrode plate separated from the transfer unit can be adjusted by the first adjusting member, the second adjusting member, and the adsorption member, and the accuracy of introducing the electrode plate into the collecting member can be improved.

[0032] However, the aspects and effects obtainable through the present disclosure are not limited to the above aspects and effects, and other technical aspects and effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and further describe the aspects and features of the present disclosure together with the detailed description of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not to be construed as limited to the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 3 is a front view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharge unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 4 is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharge unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] Figure 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharge unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the sequence of a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 7 is a view schematically illustrating the process of a transfer unit transferring an electrode plate supplied from a supply unit;

[0041] Figure 8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the operation sequence for determining whether an electrode plate transferred by a transfer unit is defective;

[0042] Figure 9 is a view schematically illustrating the process of determining whether an electrode plate transferred by a transfer unit is defective;

[0043] Figure 10 is a view schematically illustrating the process of a transfer unit stacking electrode plates on a stacking table;

[0044] Figure 11 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the operation sequence of the discharging unit discharging the electrode plates from the conveying unit;

[0045] Figures 12 to 15 is a view schematically illustrating the process of the discharging unit discharging the electrode plates from the conveying unit;

[0046] Figures 16 to 18 is a view schematically illustrating when the width of the electrode plate exceeds Figure 13 a certain dimension in

[0047] Figure 19 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0048] Herein, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms or words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to the ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed to have meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of the present disclosure based on the principle that the inventor can be his / her own lexicographer to appropriately define the terms.

[0049] The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are provided as some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not necessarily represent all the technical ideas, aspects, and features of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications may be available to replace or modify the embodiments described herein when this application is filed.

[0050] It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on", "connected to", or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to another element or layer, or there may also be one or more intervening elements or layers. When an element or layer is referred to as being "directly on", "directly connected to", or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers. For example, when the first element is described as being "coupled" or "connected" to the second element, the first element can be directly coupled or connected to the second element, or the first element can be indirectly coupled or connected to the second element via one or more intervening elements.

[0051] In the figures, for clarity of illustration, the dimensions of various elements, layers, etc. may be exaggerated. The same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Further, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure". Expressions such as "at least one of..." and "any one of..." modify the entire list of elements when before or after the list of elements, and do not modify a single element in the list. When phrases such as "at least one of A, B, and C", "at least one selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C", or "at least one selected from A, B, and C" are used to denote a list of elements A, B, and C, the phrase may refer to any and all suitable combinations or subsets of A, B, and C, such as A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. As used herein, the terms "use" and "used" may be considered synonyms of the terms "utilize" and "utilized", respectively. As used herein, the terms "substantially", "about" and similar terms are used as approximate terms and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations of measured or calculated values that would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0052] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below may be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0053] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "beneath", "below", "under", "above", "on" and the like may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that the spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element or feature described as "below" or "beneath" another element or feature would then be oriented "above" or "on" the other element or feature. Thus, the term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0054] The terms used in this disclosure are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular form "a" is also intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0055] Moreover, any numerical range disclosed and / or recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges having the same numerical precision that are contained within the recited range. For example, the range "1.0 to 10.0" is intended to include all sub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value 1.0 and the recited maximum value 10.0, i.e., having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, such as, for example, 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limitation recited herein is intended to include all lower numerical limitations contained therein, and any minimum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limitations contained therein. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to modify this specification (including the claims) to expressly recite any sub-ranges that are contained within the ranges expressly recited herein.

[0056] Two elements, features, etc. being compared as "the same" may mean that they are identical or substantially the same. Thus, the phrase "identical or substantially the same" may include cases having a deviation that is considered low in the art (e.g., a deviation of 5% or less). Additionally, when a certain parameter is said to be uniform in a given region, it may mean that it is uniform in terms of the average value.

[0057] Throughout the specification, each element may be singular or plural unless otherwise stated.

[0058] When any element is said to be disposed (or located or positioned) "above (or below)" or "on (or under)" a component, it may mean that the any element is placed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the component, and it may also mean that another component may be interposed between the component and any element disposed (or located or positioned) "above (or below)" or "on (or under)" the component.

[0059] In addition, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "coupled", "linked" or "connected" to another element, these elements can be "coupled", "linked" or "connected" directly to each other, or one or more intermediate elements can be present therebetween, through which the element can be "coupled", "linked" or "connected" to the other element. In addition, when a part is referred to as being "electrically coupled" to another part, the part can be directly electrically connected to the other part, or one or more intermediate parts can be present therebetween such that the part and the other part are indirectly electrically connected to each other.

[0060] Throughout the specification, when stating "A and / or B", it is meant A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated. That is, "and / or" includes any or all combinations of the recited items. When stating "C to D", it is meant C or more and D or less, unless otherwise specified.

[0061] The terms used in this specification are used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0062] Figure 1 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to an embodiment, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes a supply unit 100, a stacking table 200, a transfer unit 300, a sensing unit 400, a discharge unit 500, and a control unit or controller 600.

[0064] The supply unit 100 can serve as a component for supplying electrode plates 10. In one embodiment, the supply unit 100 can be in the form of a belt conveyor that can continuously supply a plurality of electrode plates 10 through a belt rotating on an annular track. However, the supply unit 100 is not limited thereto, and its design can be changed to any of various types (such as an electric roller) capable of continuously supplying a plurality of electrode plates 10.

[0065] The electrode plates 10 supplied by or from the supply unit 100 can be formed to be cut to a length (e.g., a set length) through a slitting process and have a thin foil form. The electrode plates 10 can be formed of a material capable of conducting electricity (such as copper, copper alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy).

[0066] The surface of the electrode plate 10 may be coated with an electrode active material. The electrode active material may be a positive electrode active material capable of reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions, or a negative electrode active material capable of reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions. The positive electrode active material may include one or more composite oxides of lithium and metals selected from cobalt, manganese, nickel, and combinations thereof. The negative electrode active material may include crystalline carbon, amorphous carbon, or a combination thereof.

[0067] The stacking table 200 may be spaced apart from the supply unit 100, and the electrode plate 10 may be stacked on the stacking table 200. That is, the stacking table 200 may provide a space for the stacking process of the electrode plate 10 in the secondary battery manufacturing equipment.

[0068] The stacking table 200 may be disposed along the Figure 1 X-axis based on and at a position spaced apart from the supply unit 100 by a distance (e.g., a predetermined distance). The upper surface of the stacking table 200 may be provided as a placement surface on which the electrode plate 10 may be placed.

[0069] In one embodiment, a gripper (not shown) that can press and temporarily fix the electrode plate 10 stacked on the placement surface may be additionally installed on the placement surface of the stacking table 200. In one embodiment, a jig (not shown) for folding a separator (not shown) in a zigzag form may be additionally installed on the upper side of the stacking table 200 before and after the electrode plate 10 is stacked by the transfer unit 300 described below.

[0070] The transfer unit 300 may be movably installed outside the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200. The transfer unit 300 may transfer the electrode plate 10 supplied from the supply unit 100 to the stacking table 200 and the sensing unit 400 described below.

[0071] For example, the transfer unit 300 may be disposed above the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200. The transfer unit 300 may be installed to move back and forth along the Figure 1 X-axis, Y-axis (as shown in Figures 4 to 5 ) and Z-axis. In one embodiment, the transfer unit 300 may form a vacuum pressure to adsorb the electrode plate 10 to the lower surface of the transfer unit 300. The transfer unit 300 may transfer the electrode plate 10 by moving while the electrode plate 10 is adsorbed to the transfer unit 300. When the formed vacuum pressure is released, the transfer unit 300 may place the electrode plate 10 adsorbed to the lower surface of the transfer unit 300 on the stacking table 200 or the sensing unit 400. The operation of the transfer unit 300 may be adjusted by the control of the control unit 600 described below.

[0072] The sensing unit 400 may sense defects in the electrode plate 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 300. That is, the sensing unit 400 may be used as a component for sensing appearance defects (such as bending, wrinkling, damage, etc.) in the electrode plate 10 before the electrode plate 10 supplied from the supply unit 100 is stacked on the stacking table 200.

[0073] In one embodiment, the sensing unit 400 may include an alignment table 410 and a sensing member 420.

[0074] The alignment table 410 may be disposed between the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200. For example, the supply unit 100, the alignment table 410, and the stacking table 200 may be sequentially arranged along the X-axis direction. The electrode plate 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 300 may be placed on the alignment table 410. However, the specific shape of the alignment table 410 is not limited to Figure 1 the shape shown in, and various design variations are possible within the technical spirit of being able to provide a shape of a space where the electrode plate 10 can be placed between the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200.

[0075] The sensing member 420 may acquire information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410. In one embodiment, the sensing member 420 may include a vision sensor that can acquire information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 in the form of a three-dimensional image by photographing the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410. The sensing member 420 may be arranged to face the alignment table 410. In addition to Figure 1 the position shown in, design variations are possible, where the position of the sensing member 420 is changed to various positions that do not interfere with the movement of the conveying unit 300 and can acquire information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410. The sensing member 420 may send the acquired information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 to the control unit 600 described below.

[0076] The discharging unit 500 may be provided between the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200, and may selectively discharge the electrode plate 10 from the conveying unit 300. That is, the discharging unit 500 may be used as a component for discharging the electrode plate 10 from the conveying unit 300 when the sensing unit 400 senses a defect in the electrode plate 10. In one embodiment, the discharging unit 500 may be disposed between the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200.

[0077] Figure 3 is a front view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating the configuration of a discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0078] Reference Figures 1 to 5 , the discharge unit 500 may include an adjustment member 510, a separation member 520, and a collection member 530.

[0079] The adjustment member 510 may be movably installed between the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200, for example, between the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200. The adjustment member 510 may adjust the position of the separation member 520, which will be described below, by moving the adjustment member 510.

[0080] The adjustment member 510 may include a first adjustment member 511 and a second adjustment member 512.

[0081] The first adjustment member 511 may be installed between the supply unit 100 and the stacking table 200 to be movable up and down. That is, the first adjustment member 511 may adjust the height of the separation member 520, which will be described below, by moving up and down. For example, the first adjustment member 511 may be installed between the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200 to be movable up and down along the Z-axis direction. However, the specific shape of the first adjustment member 511 is not limited to Figures 3 to 5 the shape shown in, and various design changes are possible within the technical spirit of a shape that can move up and down (e.g., move smoothly) without interfering with the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200.

[0082] The second adjustment member 512 may be rotatably connected to the first adjustment member 511. That is, the second adjustment member 512 may adjust the angle of the separation member 520, which will be described below, by a rotational movement. For example, the second adjustment member 512 may have the form of a rod extending from the first adjustment member 511. The second adjustment member 512 may be installed to be rotatable about a direction intersecting the up and down movement direction of the first adjustment member 511. For example, the second adjustment member 512 may be arranged such that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the Y-axis direction and may be connected to the first adjustment member 511 to rotate about the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the second adjustment member 512 from interfering with the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200 arranged along the X-axis direction.

[0083] The separation member 520 may separate the electrode plate 10 from the transfer unit 300. The separation member 520 may be connected to the adjustment member 510, and the position of the separation member 520 may change with the movement of the adjustment member 510. In one embodiment, the separation member 520 may be supported by the second adjustment member 512.

[0084] In one embodiment, the separation member 520 may include an adsorption member 521.

[0085] In one embodiment, the adsorption member 521 may be in the form of a rod extending from the second adjustment member 512 along the radial direction of the second adjustment member 512. The adsorption member 521 may be formed such that its interior may be hollow and two or opposite end portions may be open. The adsorption member 521 may be connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) separately installed outside the adjustment member 510, and vacuum pressure may be generated by driving the vacuum pump.

[0086] Through the upward and downward movement of the first adjustment member 511 and the rotational movement of the second adjustment member 512, the end portion of the adsorption member 521 may contact the electrode plate 10 provided below the transfer unit 300. The electrode plate 10 provided below the transfer unit 300 may be adsorbed to the end portion of the adsorption member 521 by the vacuum pressure generated in the adsorption member 521, and may be separated from the transfer unit 300.

[0087] In one embodiment, the adsorption member 521 may have a larger cross-sectional area toward the end portion. Accordingly, the adsorption member 521 may strongly adsorb the electrode plate 10 through an increased contact area with the electrode plate 10.

[0088] In one embodiment, the adsorption member 521 may be provided to be elastically deformable. For example, the adsorption member 521 may be formed of an elastically deformable material (such as rubber, silicone, etc.). Accordingly, the adsorption member 521 may be in close contact with the surface of the electrode plate 10 without a gap.

[0089] In one embodiment, a plurality of adsorption members 521 may be provided. The plurality of adsorption members 521 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the second adjustment member 512. However, the number of adsorption members 521 is not limited to three as shown in Figures 3 to 5 and various design changes in the number are possible. In one embodiment, the adsorption member 521 may be detachably connected to the second adjustment member 512 by any one of various types of coupling methods (such as screw coupling, fitting coupling, etc.). Accordingly, the number and spacing of the plurality of adsorption members 521 may be freely adjusted according to the area and shape of the electrode plate 10.

[0090] The collecting member 530 may be spaced apart from the adjusting member 510 and may collect the electrode plates 10 separated by the separating member 520. The collecting member 530 may have the form of a box with an empty interior, and collecting holes or openings 531 are formed in the upper surface. The collecting member 530 may be disposed below the adsorption member 521 and between the alignment table 410 and the stacking table 200. In one embodiment, the collecting holes 531 may be arranged perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Accordingly, as the vacuum pressure formed in the adsorption member 521 is removed, the electrode plates 10 falling from the adsorption member 521 may be received into the collecting holes 531 due to the weight of the electrode plates 10 without a separate device. In one embodiment, when the adsorption member 521 rotates by a certain angle (e.g., a set angle) in a state where the electrode plates 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 300 are adsorbed, the collecting holes 531 may be set to face the end portion of the electrode plates 10 perpendicular to the ground. For example, the collecting holes 531 may be arranged parallel to the XY plane, and when the adsorption member 521 rotates 90° in a state where the electrode plates 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 300 are adsorbed, the collecting holes 531 are set to face the end portion of the electrode plates 10 perpendicular to the ground.

[0091] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the collecting member 530 may increase toward the collecting holes 531. Accordingly, the collecting member 530 may facilitate the easier reception of the electrode plates 10 into the collecting holes 531.

[0092] The control unit 600 may control the operations of the conveying unit 300 and the discharging unit 500 based on the information sensed by the sensing unit 400 regarding whether the electrode plates 10 are defective. The control unit 600 may determine whether the currently conveyed electrode plates 10 by the conveying unit 300 are normal electrode plates or defective electrode plates based on the information of the appearance of the electrode plates 10 sensed by the sensing unit 400. If it is determined that the electrode plates 10 placed on the alignment table 410 are normal electrode plates, the control unit 600 may operate the conveying unit 300 such that the electrode plates 10 may be stacked on the stacking table 200. If it is determined that the electrode plates 10 placed on the alignment table 410 are defective electrode plates, the control unit 600 may operate the discharging unit 500 to discharge the electrode plates 10 from the conveying unit 300.

[0093] In one embodiment, the control unit 600 may be implemented as an electronic control unit (ECU), a central processing unit (CPU), a processor, or a system on a chip (SOC) electrically connected to the conveying unit 300, the sensing unit 400, and the discharging unit 500, and may run an operating system or an application to control multiple hardware or software components and perform various types of data processing and calculations. The control unit 600 may be configured to execute at least one command stored in the memory and store the execution result data in the memory.

[0094] In this document, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0095] Figure 6 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the sequence of a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] Referring to Figure 6 , first, the supply unit 100 may supply the electrode plate 10 (S100).

[0097] In operation S100, in one embodiment, the supply unit 100 may continuously supply a plurality of electrode plates 10 at regular time intervals (e.g., a set time interval).

[0098] Thereafter, the transfer unit 300 transfers the electrode plate 10 supplied from the supply unit 100 (S200).

[0099] Figure 7 is a view schematically illustrating the process of the transfer unit transferring the electrode plate supplied from the supply unit.

[0100] Referring to Figure 7 To describe operation S200 in further detail, the transfer unit 300 moves to a position facing the electrode plate 10 supplied from the supply unit 100, and then moves downward toward the electrode plate 10.

[0101] When the transfer unit 300 moves downward by a distance (e.g., a set distance) or more, the transfer unit 300 contacts the electrode plate 10.

[0102] In one embodiment, the transfer unit 300 generates a vacuum pressure while contacting the electrode plate 10 to adsorb the electrode plate 10.

[0103] The transfer unit 300 moves upward while adsorbing the electrode plate 10, and transfers the electrode plate 10 while moving in the direction from the supply unit 100 toward the stacking table 200.

[0104] After operation S200, the control unit 600 determines whether the electrode plate 10 transferred by the transfer unit 300 is defective (S300).

[0105] Figure 8 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the operation sequence for determining whether the electrode plate transferred by the transfer unit is defective; and Figure 9 is a view schematically illustrating the process of determining whether the electrode plate transferred by the transfer unit is defective.

[0106] Referring to Figure 8 and Figure 9Operation S300 is further described in detail. The transfer unit 300 moves to the upper side of the alignment table 410, and the electrode plate 10 is placed on the alignment table 410 (S310).

[0107] The sensing member 420 obtains information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410 (S320). For example, in operation S320, the sensing member 420 can obtain information on the appearance of the electrode plate 10 in the form of a three-dimensional image by photographing the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410.

[0108] In one embodiment, the control unit 600 can determine whether the electrode plate 10 is defective based on the appearance image of the electrode plate 10 from the sensing member 420 (S330). For example, in operation S330, when there are no external defects such as bends, wrinkles, cracks, etc. in the electrode plate 10, the control unit 600 can determine that the electrode plate 10 is normal. On the other hand, when there are external defects such as bends, wrinkles, cracks, etc. in the electrode plate 10, the control unit 600 can determine that the electrode plate 10 is defective.

[0109] After operation S330, the control unit 600 can operate the transfer unit 300 so that the transfer unit 300 can adsorb the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410 again.

[0110] If the electrode plate 10 transferred by the transfer unit 300 is determined to be normal in operation S300, the transfer unit 300 can stack the electrode plate 10 on the stacking table 200 (S400).

[0111] Figure 10 is a view schematically illustrating the process of the transfer unit stacking the electrode plates on the stacking table.

[0112] Reference Figure 10 Operation S400 is further described in detail. When the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410 is determined to be normal, the control unit 600 can move the transfer unit 300 to a position facing the upper side of the stacking table 200.

[0113] Thereafter, the transfer unit 300 can stack the electrode plate 10 on the stacking table 200.

[0114] If the electrode plate 10 transferred by the transfer unit 300 is determined to be defective in operation S300, the discharge unit 500 can discharge the electrode plate 10 from the transfer unit 300 (S500).

[0115] Figure 11 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the operation sequence of the discharge unit discharging the electrode plate from the transfer unit; and Figures 12 to 15 is a view schematically illustrating the process of the discharge unit discharging the electrode plate from the transfer unit.

[0116] Reference Figures 11 to 15 Figures 11 to 15 , when the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410 is determined to be defective, the control unit 600 can operate the transfer unit 300 so that the electrode plate 10 or the transfer unit 300 can move to a position facing the discharge unit 500 (S510).

[0117] For example, after adsorbing the electrode plate 10 placed on the alignment table 410, the transfer unit 300 can move to a position facing the discharge unit 500 provided between the stacking table 200 and the alignment table 410.

[0118] When the transfer unit 300 is set to face the discharge unit 500, the control unit 600 rotates the second adjustment member 512 so that the end portion of the adsorption member 521 faces the electrode plate 10 transferred by the transfer unit 300 (S520).

[0119] The control unit 600 moves the first adjustment member 511 upward so that the end portion of the adsorption member 521 contacts the electrode plate 10 (S530).

[0120] Thereafter, the control unit 600 forms a vacuum pressure in the adsorption member 521 to adsorb the electrode plate 10 to the adsorption member 521, and releases the vacuum pressure formed in the transfer unit 300 to separate the electrode plate 10 from the transfer unit 300 (S540).

[0121] In one embodiment, the control unit 600 moves the transfer unit 300 upward and rotates the second adjustment member 512 so that the end portion of the electrode plate 10 faces the collection hole 531 vertically (S550).

[0122] Thereafter, when the adsorption member 521 releases the vacuum pressure, the electrode plate 10 can fall by its own weight and can be discharged into the interior of the collection member 530 through the collection hole 531 (S560).

[0123] Thereafter, the control unit 600 returns the transfer unit 300 to the upper side of the supply unit 100 and repeats the operations described above.

[0124] Figures 16 to 18 Is a schematic illustration of the operation when the width of the electrode plate exceeds Figure 13 a certain size (for example, a set size) in

[0125] Reference Figures 16 to 18 Figures 16 to 18 , if the width of the electrode plate 10 is too large, there is a risk that the electrode plate 10 will be interfered with by adjacent components such as the stacking table 200 when the second adjustment member 512 rotates.

[0126] In one embodiment, when the width of the electrode plate 10 that intersects the longitudinal direction of the second adjusting member 512, that is, the width of the electrode plate 10 parallel to the X-axis direction, exceeds a certain dimension (for example, a set dimension) based on Figure 13 the control unit 600 may move the first adjusting member 511 upward by a height (for example, a set height) in a state where the electrode plate 10 is adsorbed to the adsorption member 521. Here, various design variations of the set height are possible within a height range where the end portion of the electrode plate 10 is not interfered with by the stacking table 200.

[0127] Thereafter, in one embodiment, the control unit 600 rotates the second adjusting member 512 so that the end portion of the electrode plate 10 faces the collection hole 531 vertically, as Figure 17 shown in.

[0128] When the adsorption member 521 releases the vacuum pressure, the electrode plate 10 may fall by its own weight and may be discharged into the interior of the collection member 530 through the collection hole 531.

[0129] Herein, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0130] Figure 19 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0131] The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured such that the position of the discharge unit 500 is different from that of the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure based on Figures 1 to 15 described.

[0132] Accordingly, when describing the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment of the present disclosure, only the position of the discharge unit 500, which is different from the position in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to the foregoing embodiment of the present disclosure, will be described.

[0133] Referring to Figure 19 , the discharge unit 500 according to the present embodiment may be provided between the supply unit 100 and the alignment table 410. That is, the first adjusting member 511 may adjust the height of the adsorption member 521 while moving up and down between the supply unit 100 and the alignment table 410. In addition, the collection member 530 may collect the electrode plate 10 separated from the transfer unit 300 between the supply unit 100 and the alignment table 410.

[0134] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to some embodiments shown in the drawings, these are provided as examples, and those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications and equivalents are possible. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A secondary battery manufacturing device, comprising: a supply unit configured to supply the electrode plate; a stacking table spaced apart from the supply unit and on which the electrode plates are configured to be stacked; a conveying unit movably disposed outside the supply unit and the stacking stage and configured to convey the electrode plate supplied from the supply unit to the stacking stage; a sensing unit configured to sense a defect in the electrode plate transferred by the transfer unit; a discharge unit between the supply unit and the stacking table and configured to selectively discharge the electrode plate from the conveying unit; as well as A controller is configured to control operations of the conveying unit and the discharging unit based on information sensed by the sensing unit.

2. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises: an alignment stage between the supply unit and the stacking stage, and the electrode plate is configured to be placed on the alignment stage; as well as A sensing member is arranged to face the alignment stage and is configured to acquire information on the appearance of the electrode plate placed on the alignment stage. 3 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the discharge unit is between the alignment stage and the stacking stage. 4 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the discharge unit is between the alignment stage and the supply unit.

5. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge unit comprises: an adjusting member movably arranged between the supply unit and the stacking station; a separation member whose position is variable along with the movement of the regulating member and configured to separate the electrode plate from the conveying unit; as well as A collecting member is spaced apart from the adjusting member and is configured to collect the electrode plates separated by the separating member.

6. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the regulating member comprises: a first adjusting member disposed between the supply unit and the stacking table so as to be movable up and down; as well as A second adjusting member is rotatably connected to the first adjusting member and is configured to support the separating member. 7 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second regulating member is rotatable about a direction intersecting an upward and downward moving direction of the first regulating member. 8 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the separation member comprises a suction member extending from the second regulating member and configured to generate a vacuum pressure to suction the electrode plate.

9. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the adsorption member comprises a plurality of adsorption members, and The plurality of adsorption members are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the second regulating member. 10 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a cross-sectional area of ​​the adsorption member becomes larger toward an end portion of the adsorption member. 11 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adsorption member is elastically deformable. 12 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adsorption member is detachably connected to the second regulating member. 13 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the collecting member is arranged below the adsorbing member. 14 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the collecting member includes a collecting opening into which the electrode plate dropped from the adsorbing member can be received. 15 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein a cross-sectional area of ​​the collecting member increases toward the collecting opening. 16 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein when the adsorption member rotates at a certain angle while adsorbing the electrode plate transferred by the transfer unit, the collecting opening vertically faces an end portion of the electrode plate. 17 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the collecting opening is arranged perpendicular to a gravity direction. 18 . The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein when the electrode plate transferred by the transfer unit is determined to be defective, the controller operates the transfer unit to move to a position where the electrode plate faces the discharge unit.

19. A secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 18, wherein when the width of the electrode plate intersecting the longitudinal direction of the second adjusting member exceeds a certain size, the controller moves the first adjusting member upward while the electrode plate is adsorbed to the adsorption member, and then rotates the second adjusting member.

20. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, comprising: The electrode plates are supplied by a supply unit; The electrode plate supplied by the supply unit is conveyed by a conveying unit; determining whether the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is defective; When the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is determined to be normal, stacking the electrode plate on a stacking table by the conveying unit; as well as When the electrode plate conveyed by the conveying unit is determined to be defective, the electrode plate is discharged from the conveying unit by the discharge unit.

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