Slit mold coating device

Abstract

A slit mold coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a lower mold; an upper mold disposed above the lower mold and forming a slit; and a pad interposed between the lower mold and the upper mold to adjust a width of the slit, wherein at least one camera measuring the pad is provided on a lower side surface of the upper mold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0186960, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 28, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a slit die coating apparatus, and more particularly, to a slit die coating apparatus capable of minimizing error occurrence during a process. Background Art

[0004] Recently, as the depletion of fossil fuels has led to rising energy prices and people's concerns about environmental pollution have increased, the demand for eco-friendly alternative energy has become an important factor in future life. Therefore, research on various power generation technologies such as nuclear power, solar power, wind power, and tidal power is continuously ongoing, and in order to more effectively utilize the energy generated in this way, power storage devices have also received much attention.

[0005] In particular, with the development of technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for batteries as an energy source has increased rapidly, and thus, a great deal of research is being conducted on batteries that meet various demands.

[0006] Generally, there is a high demand for lithium secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion polymer batteries, which have advantages such as high energy density, high discharge voltage, and high output stability.

[0007] Secondary batteries are classified according to the structure of the electrode assembly, in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked. Typical examples of the electrode assembly include a jelly roll type electrode assembly in which a long sheet-shaped positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stacked type electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive electrodes and negative electrodes cut into units of a predetermined size are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween. Recently, in order to solve the problems of the jelly roll type electrode assembly and the stacked type electrode assembly, a stacked / folded type electrode assembly, which is a hybrid of the jelly roll type electrode assembly and the stacked type electrode assembly, has been developed. It is formed by sequentially winding unit cells in a state where the unit cells are placed on a separator, and in the unit cells, a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a predetermined unit and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked.

[0008] In addition, according to the shape of the case, secondary batteries can be classified into cylindrical secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is built in a cylindrical case, rectangular secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is built in a rectangular case, or pouch-type secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is built in a pouch-type case of a laminated sheet.

[0009] To manufacture such a secondary battery, the electrode assembly is stored in a case and sealed after injecting an electrolyte. The electrode assembly is manufactured by aggregating unit cells stacked in a three-layer or five-layer structure with a separator interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Such a positive electrode or negative electrode can be manufactured by coating a slurry on an electrode current collector and then drying and pressing the slurry. To coat the slurry, a slit die coating device is used. The slit die coating device is a device that supplies a fluid such as a slurry, an adhesive, a hard coating agent, or a ceramic between a processed upper die and a lower die by using a pulsation-free pump or a piston pump and coats a predetermined thickness on an object such as a fabric, a film, a glass plate, or a sheet.

[0010] The slit die coating device for manufacturing an electrode continuously coats a slurry on the electrode current collector in a predetermined direction. To form a discharge port for discharging the slurry, a spacer of a die coater is inserted between two dies in the slit die coating device.

[0011] Such a spacer can have various shapes according to the type of slurry to be coated and can be formed to be replaceable according to the applied process. In addition, the spacer replacement process includes actually measuring a new replacement spacer, placing the new replacement spacer in the correct position between the upper die and the lower die, and then assembling the new replacement spacer, but errors or spacer damage may occur during actual measurement and assembly. In addition, there is also a problem that it is necessary to check whether the spacer is damaged and whether the spacer is correctly inserted during the coating process after assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Technical problem

[0013] The present disclosure attempts to provide a slit die coating device capable of reducing measurement errors or errors generated by users that may occur during spacer replacement and assembly.

[0014] However, the problems to be solved by the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above problems and can be extended in various ways within the scope of the technical spirit covered by the present disclosure.

[0015] Technical solution

[0016] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a slit die coating device, including: a lower die; an upper die disposed above the lower die and forming a slit; and a spacer inserted between the lower die and the upper die to adjust the width of the slit, wherein at least one camera for measuring the spacer is disposed on a lower side surface of the upper die.

[0017] A barcode containing information related to the shape of the gasket may be formed on one surface of the gasket facing the upper mold.

[0018] The information contained in the barcode may be recognized by the at least one camera.

[0019] The lower surface of the upper mold may include at least one receiving portion recessed from the lower surface of the upper mold.

[0020] Each of the at least one cameras may be disposed inside each of the at least one receiving portions.

[0021] A transparent window may be disposed at an opening portion of the receiving portion in a manner flush with the lower surface of the upper mold.

[0022] The gasket may be formed to be replaceable.

[0023] The slit may be formed to correspond to a portion where the gasket is not provided.

[0024] The gasket may include a base portion extending in the length direction of the slit die coating device, and a plurality of guides extending from the base portion in the width direction of the slit die coating device.

[0025] The slit may be formed to correspond to a space between adjacent guides among the plurality of guides.

[0026] Advantageous effects

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the slit die coating device can reduce measurement errors or errors generated by users that may occur during gasket replacement and assembly.

[0028] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above effects, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects not mentioned from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is an exploded view showing a slit die coating device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line II-II'.

[0031] Figure 3 is a view showing Figure 1 the lower surface of the upper mold. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement them. The present disclosure can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0033] To clearly illustrate the present disclosure, parts irrelevant to the description will be omitted, and throughout the specification, the same or similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0034] In addition, for ease of illustration, the dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to what is shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Further, in the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for ease of illustration.

[0035] In addition, when a component such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being "on" another component, it may be "directly on" the other component, or there may be an intermediate component therebetween. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly on" another component, there is no intermediate component therebetween. Further, when a component is referred to as being "on" a reference component, it is located above or below the reference component and does not necessarily mean that it is "on" the reference component in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0036] In addition, throughout the specification, when a certain component is referred to as "including" a certain component, this means that there are other components, and the existence of other components is not excluded unless there is a clear contrary statement.

[0037] In addition, throughout the specification, the phrase "in a plan view" means observing the target component from above, and the phrase "in a sectional view" means observing the section of the vertically cut target component laterally.

[0038] Hereinafter, reference will be made to Figures 1 to 3 Describe a slit die coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 1 is an exploded view showing a slit die coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line II-II' of Figure 3 is a view showing Figure 1 the lower side surface of the upper die of

[0040] Refer to Figure 1, A slit die coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lower die 110, an upper die 120 disposed above the lower die 110 and forming a slit 230 through which a slurry flows, and a spacer 200 interposed between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120 to adjust the width and shape of the slit 230.

[0041] The lower die 110 and the upper die 120 are assembled in such a way that one surface of each of them faces each other. At this time, one surface of the lower die 110 and one surface of the upper die 120 facing each other may be formed to be larger than the size of the spacer 200 to surround the outer surface of the spacer 200. As a result, the assembled slit die coating apparatus 100 can be configured such that the spacer 200 does not protrude to the outside.

[0042] The lower die 110 may have a supply hole 112 for supplying the slurry from the outside, and may include an internal space 111 for storing the slurry supplied from the outside. However, this configuration is not limited thereto, and the supply hole and the internal space may be formed in the upper die 120, or may be formed in both the upper die and the lower die.

[0043] The spacer 200 is disposed between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120. Therefore, the lower die 110 and the upper die 120 are spaced apart from each other by the thickness of the spacer 200, and the slit 230 is formed inside the slit die coating apparatus 100. The slurry stored in the internal space 111 may flow along the slit 230 and may be discharged to the outside through a discharge port. The discharge port may be formed by a space between the end of the lower die 110 and the end of the upper die 120 at the end of the slit 230. The discharge port is formed to be thin and long so that when the slit die coating apparatus 100 moves on the current collector at a constant speed, the slurry can be coated on the electrode current collector in a wide and uniform manner.

[0044] The spacer 200 for adjusting the width and shape of the slit 230 may have various shapes according to the pattern of the coating slurry. Specifically, as Figure 1As shown, the spacer 200 may include a base portion 210 formed longer in the longitudinal direction of the slit die coating apparatus 100 (the x-axis direction in the drawing) on the opposite side of the end where the discharge port is formed, and a plurality of guides 220 extending from the base portion 210 toward the discharge port. The plurality of guides 220 basically includes two guides 220 formed at both ends of the base portion 210 to maintain the gap between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120, and may also include a plurality of guides 220 formed between the two guides 220 formed at both ends. That is, the number and width of the guides 220 can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of pattern formed by the slurry coated from the discharge port. For example, when the spacer 200 includes only two guides 220 formed at both ends of the base portion 210, the slurry coated from the discharge port between the two guides 220 may have a relatively wide pattern. If the number of guides 220 is increased, the slurry may form a pattern such as a stripe shape.

[0045] On one surface of the spacer 200, particularly on one surface of the spacer 200 facing the upper die 120, a barcode 400 containing the design information of the spacer 200 may be formed. The barcode 400 can be recognized by a camera described below to provide information related to the currently installed spacer 200 when designing a new spacer 200. This information may include the thickness and width of the spacer 200, the thickness and width of each of the guides 220 and the base portion 210, and the gap between the guides 220.

[0046] The spacer 200 can be set to be replaceable with one of various spacers 200 having various shapes according to the obtained pattern. That is, if a new shape is needed, a spacer 200 with a new shape or thickness can be designed and set between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120 for replacement. However, during the process of placing the new spacer 200 between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120 and assembling them, there is a possibility of errors occurring due to the operator's hands-on operation. In addition, during the process of designing a new spacer 200, in order to obtain information related to the existing spacer 200 (thickness, shape, position, etc.), it is necessary to disassemble all components, and design errors may also occur during this process.

[0047] That is, the design and assembly of the new spacer 200 require design information related to the inside of the slit die coating apparatus 100, particularly information related to the spacer 200 between the lower die 110 and the upper die 120. In order to obtain the necessary information, a method is needed to prevent errors from occurring when the operator performs actual measurements or disassembles or assembles the slit die coating apparatus 100. For this purpose, in the present exemplary embodiment, at least one camera 300 is provided on the lower side surface 122 of the upper die 120.

[0048] The camera 300 may be formed within the accommodation portion 121, which is recessed inwardly from the lower side surface 122 of the upper mold 120. In this case, one camera 300 may be disposed within one accommodation portion 121. Further, the transparent window 310 may be disposed at the opening portion of the accommodation portion 121 in a manner flush with the lower side surface 122 of the upper mold 120. By using the transparent window 310, both the shape of the slit 230 can be maintained and the camera 300 can be prevented from being damaged by the slurry.

[0049] The camera 300 can directly photograph the shape of the spacer 200 disposed below the camera 300 and transmit the information to an operator who designs a new spacer 200. That is, by using the information related to the spacer 200 already included in the slit die coating apparatus 100, for example, the thickness, width, shape, and ratio of the guide member 220 and the base 210, the spacer 200 is newly designed to have dimensions matching the dimensions of the slit die coating apparatus 100.

[0050] In addition, the camera 300 may function as a sensor for identifying the barcode 400. The information obtained by identifying the barcode 400 containing information related to the spacer 200 may be provided for designing a new spacer 200. Although as described above, information related to the spacer 200 can be provided by directly measuring the shape or dimensions of the spacer 200 using the camera 300, more detailed and accurate information can be provided if detailed information related to the spacer 200 itself is stored in the barcode 400 and the barcode 400 is identified.

[0051] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the step in which an operator must perform actual measurement to obtain information related to the spacer 200 can be omitted, thereby preventing various errors or inaccuracies that may occur during the actual measurement step. In addition, the processing state (information) of the spacer 200 can be accurately and quickly grasped without performing actual measurement. Therefore, the spacer 200 can be precisely processed according to the design, and the spacer 200 can be assembled in the correct position, thereby minimizing processing errors and improving processing efficiency.

[0052] Although the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] [Reference Numeral Description]

[0054] 100: Slit Die Coating Apparatus

[0055] 110: Lower Mold

[0056] 120: Upper die

[0057] 200: Spacer

[0058] 300: Camera

[0059] 400: Barcode

Claims

1. A slit die coating device, comprising: Lower die; Upper die, the upper die is arranged above the lower die and forms a slit; And Spacer, the spacer is inserted between the lower die and the upper die to adjust the width of the slit, Wherein at least one camera for measuring the spacer is arranged on the lower side surface of the upper die.

2. The slit die coating device according to claim 1, wherein A barcode containing information related to the shape of the gasket is formed on one surface of the gasket facing the upper die.

3. The slit die coating device according to claim 2, wherein The information contained in the barcode is recognized by the at least one camera.

4. The slit die coating device according to claim 1, wherein The lower surface of the upper die includes at least one receiving portion recessed from the lower surface of the upper die.

5. The slit die coating device according to claim 4, wherein Each of the at least one camera is disposed inside each of the at least one receiving portion.

6. The slit die coating device according to claim 5, wherein A transparent window is disposed at the opening portion of the receiving portion so as to be flush with the lower surface of the upper die.

7. The slit die coating device according to claim 1, wherein The gasket is formed to be replaceable.

8. The slit die coating device according to claim 1, wherein The slit is formed to correspond to a portion where the gasket is not provided.

9. The slit die coating device according to claim 8, wherein The gasket includes a base portion extending in the length direction of the slit die coating device, and a plurality of guide members extending from the base portion in the width direction of the slit die coating device.

10. The slit die coating device according to claim 9, wherein The slit is formed to correspond to the space between adjacent guide members among the plurality of guide members.

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