Electrode manufacturing apparatus and electrode manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method. An electrode manufacturing apparatus includes: a cutter configured to cut an electrode plate parallel to an advancing direction of the electrode plate to produce two or more cut electrode plates including a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate; and rollers including a pair of first rollers configured to roll the first cut electrode plate and a pair of second rollers configured to roll the second cut electrode plate. The electrode manufacturing apparatus is capable of manufacturing an electrode without bending and / or wrinkling, without thickness variation between rollers, and without productivity reduction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods for manufacturing electrodes. Background Art

[0002] Unlike non-rechargeable primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged. Low-capacity secondary batteries can be used in small portable electronic devices (such as smart phones, feature phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, and camcorders), and high-capacity secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for electric motors in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles and as power storage units. Such secondary batteries include an electrode assembly, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and electrode terminals connected to the electrode assembly.

[0003] The electrode assembly includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode and the positive electrode are referred to as electrodes. These electrodes include a substrate and an active material layer formed on the substrate. For example, the negative electrode includes a negative electrode substrate and a negative electrode material layer formed on the negative electrode substrate, and the positive electrode includes a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode material layer formed on the positive electrode substrate.

[0004] These electrodes need the substrate and the active material layer to be fixed to each other for improving charge / discharge performance and / or for safety. Thus, the electrodes can be formed by rolling each substrate on which the active material layer is formed.

[0005] Here, a plurality of electrodes can be simultaneously manufactured by rolling substrates on which the active material layer is formed for mass production and then cutting the rolled substrates. However, since the substrate and the active material layer are formed of different materials having different properties, the electrodes may be deformed during rolling or cutting.

[0006] This section is included to provide a better understanding of the background of the present invention and thus may include information that is not necessarily prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there are provided an apparatus and a method for manufacturing an electrode by rolling and / or cutting an electrode plate. According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there are provided an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method that can solve the above problems.

[0008] According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, for example, there are provided an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode having minimized or reduced wrinkles in a substrate.

[0009] According to another aspect of one or more embodiments, for example, there are provided an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode having reduced bending.

[0010] According to another aspect of one or more embodiments, for example, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode having improved thickness variation between rollers are provided.

[0011] In addition, according to another aspect of one or more embodiments, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for solving the above problems while maintaining the yield of the electrode are provided.

[0012] From the following description of some embodiments of the present invention, the above and other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent.

[0013] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing apparatus includes: a cutter configured to cut an electrode plate parallel to the advancing direction of the electrode plate to produce two or more cut electrode plates including a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate; and a rolling mill including a pair of first rollers configured to roll the first cut electrode plate and a pair of second rollers configured to roll the second cut electrode plate.

[0014] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing method includes: cutting an electrode plate parallel to the advancing direction of the electrode plate to produce two or more cut electrode plates including a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate; and rolling the two or more cut electrode plates including the first cut electrode plate and the second cut electrode plate by a rolling mill including a pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers.

[0015] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode with minimized or reduced wrinkles are provided.

[0016] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode with reduced bending are provided.

[0017] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode having improved thickness variation between rollers are provided.

[0018] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and / or an electrode manufacturing method having the above effects while maintaining the yield of the electrode are provided.

[0019] However, the aspects and features of the present invention are not limited to the above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other aspects and features not mentioned from the detailed description provided below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figures 1 to 4 is a schematic diagram of a lithium secondary battery according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus.

[0022] Figure 6 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8A and Figure 8B are respectively a schematic top view and a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 9A and Figure 9B are respectively a schematic top view and a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 10A and Figure 10B are respectively a schematic top view and a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific Embodiments

[0028] Herein, some example embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be understood that the following embodiments are provided by way of illustration, and the present invention is not limited thereto and is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0029] When any element is referred to as being disposed (or positioned or placed) “above” (or “below”) or “on” (or “under”) a component, it may mean that any element is positioned in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the component, or it may also mean that another component may be interposed between the component and any element disposed (or positioned or placed) on (or under) the component.

[0030] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, each element may be singular or plural. Further, throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, when stating “A and / or B”, it means A, B, or A and B.

[0031] As used herein, “a combination thereof” may refer to a mixture, stack, composite material, copolymer, alloy, blend, and reaction product of components.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined herein, particle size may refer to the average particle size. Additionally, the particle size represents the average particle size (D50), which refers to the particle size corresponding to 50% of the volume in the cumulative volume change of the corresponding particles. The average particle size can be measured by any method known in the art, such as by a particle size analyzer, a transmission electron microscope image, or a scanning electron microscope image. Optionally, the average particle size (D50) can be measured by counting the number of particles in each particle size range using a device that analyzes data by the dynamic light scattering method and then calculating the average particle size (D50) based on the analyzed data. Optionally, the average particle size (D50) can be measured by laser diffraction. More specifically, in the measurement by laser diffraction, the target particles are dispersed in a dispersant, introduced into a commercially available laser diffraction particle analyzer (such as Microtrac MT 3000), irradiated with ultrasonic waves at about 28 kHz with a power of 60 W, and then the average particle size (D50) corresponding to 50% of the volume in the cumulative volume change of the particles in the measuring device is calculated.

[0033] Figures 1 to 4 is a schematic diagram of a lithium secondary battery according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Lithium secondary battery

[0035] Lithium secondary batteries can be classified into cylindrical secondary batteries, faceted or prismatic secondary batteries, pouch-type secondary batteries, coin-type secondary batteries, etc. based on their shape. Figures 1 to 4 is a schematic diagram of a lithium secondary battery according to some embodiments of the present invention, wherein Figure 1 shows a cylindrical secondary battery, Figure 2 shows a faceted or prismatic secondary battery, Figure 3 and Figure 4 shows a pouch-type secondary battery. Referring to Figures 1 to 4 , the lithium secondary battery 100 may include an electrode assembly 40 and a housing 50. In the electrode assembly 40, a separator 30 is interposed between a positive electrode 10 and a negative electrode 20, and the housing 50 houses the electrode assembly 40 therein. The positive electrode 10, the negative electrode 20, and the separator 30 may be embedded in an electrolyte (not shown) or accommodated together with the electrolyte (not shown). In one embodiment, the lithium secondary battery 100 may include a sealing member 60 for sealing the housing 50, as Figure 1 shown. In one embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the lithium secondary battery 100 may include a positive electrode lead tab 11, a positive electrode terminal 12, a negative electrode lead tab 21, and a negative electrode terminal 22. In one embodiment, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4, the lithium secondary battery 100 may include electrode tabs 70 (e.g., a positive electrode tab 71 and a negative electrode tab 72), and the electrode tabs 70 serve as an electrical path for conducting the current formed in the electrode assembly 40 to the outside.

[0036] Positive electrode material

[0037] As the positive electrode material, a compound that allows reversible insertion and extraction of lithium (lithiated insertion compound) may be used. In one embodiment, the positive electrode material may be at least one composite oxide of a metal selected from cobalt, manganese, nickel, and combinations thereof and lithium.

[0038] The composite oxide may be a lithium transition metal composite oxide. In one embodiment, the composite oxide may be lithium nickel oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate compound, cobalt-free nickel manganese oxide, or a combination thereof.

[0039] For example, the composite oxide may be a compound represented by any one of the following chemical formulas: Li a A 1- b X b O 2-c D c (0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ c ≤ 0.05); Li a Mn 2-b X b O 4-c D c (0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ c ≤ 0.05); Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b X c O 2-α D α (0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ c ≤ 0.5, 0 < α < 2); Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b X c O 2-α D α (0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ c ≤ 0.5, 0 < α < 2); Li a Ni b CocL 1 d GeO2(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.9, 0 ≤ c ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ d ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ e ≤ 0.1); Li a NiG b O2(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0.001 ≤ b ≤ 0.1); Lia Center of Gravity (CoG) b O2(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0.001 ≤ b ≤ 0.1); Li a Mn 1-b G b O2(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0.001 ≤ b ≤ 0.1); Li a Mn2G b O4(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0.001 ≤ b ≤ 0.1); Li a Mn 1-g G g PO4(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8, 0 ≤ g ≤ 0.5); Li (3-f) Fe2(PO4)3(0 ≤ f ≤ 2); and Li a FePO4(0.90 ≤ a ≤ 1.8).

[0040] In the above chemical formulas, A is Ni, Co, Mn, or a combination thereof; X is Al, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, Fe, Mg, Sr, V, a rare earth element, or a combination thereof; D is O, F, S, P, or a combination thereof; G is Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg, La, Ce, Sr, V, or a combination thereof; L 1 is Mn, Al, or a combination thereof.

[0041] In one embodiment, the positive electrode material may be a high-nickel-content positive electrode material. Relative to 100 mol% of the metals other than lithium in the lithium transition metal composite oxide, the high-nickel-content positive electrode material contains 80 mol% or more, 85 mol% or more, 90 mol% or more, 91 mol% or more, or 94 mol% to 99 mol% of nickel. The high-nickel-content positive electrode material can achieve high capacity and thus can be applied to high-capacity / high-density lithium secondary batteries.

[0042] Positive Electrode

[0043] The positive electrode 10 for the lithium secondary battery 100 may include a current collector and a positive electrode material layer formed on the current collector. The positive electrode material layer contains the positive electrode material and may also contain a binder and / or a conductive material.

[0044] In one embodiment, the positive electrode 10 may further contain an additive that can serve as a sacrificial positive electrode.

[0045] In one embodiment, based on 100 wt% of the positive electrode material layer, the positive electrode material may be present in an amount of 90 wt% to 99.5 wt%, and based on 100 wt% of the positive electrode material layer, each of the binder and the conductive material may be present in an amount of 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%.

[0046] The binder is used to attach the positive electrode material particles to each other while attaching the positive electrode material to the current collector. The binder can include, for example, any one of polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, carboxylated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polymers including ethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, (meth)acrylated styrene-butadiene rubber, epoxy resin, (meth)acrylic resin, polyester resin, nylon, etc., and is not limited thereto.

[0047] The conductive material imparts conductivity to the electrode and can be any conductive material that does not cause a chemical change in the monomer during construction. The conductive material can include, for example, any one of the following: carbon materials such as natural graphite, artificial graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, Ketjen black, carbon fiber, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanotube, etc.; metal-based materials in the form of metal powders or metal fibers containing copper, nickel, aluminum, silver, etc.; conductive polymers such as polyphenylene derivatives, etc.; and mixtures thereof.

[0048] In one embodiment, the current collector can be Al, and is not limited thereto.

[0049] Negative electrode material

[0050] The negative electrode material includes materials that allow reversible insertion / extraction of lithium ions, lithium metal, lithium metal alloys, materials that can be doped into and de-doped from lithium, or transition metal oxides.

[0051] Materials that allow reversible insertion / extraction of lithium ions can include carbon-based negative electrode materials, such as crystalline carbon, amorphous carbon, or combinations thereof. Crystalline carbon can include, for example, graphite (such as natural graphite or artificial graphite) in amorphous, plate-like, flake-like, spherical, or fibrous forms, and amorphous carbon can include, for example, any one of soft carbon, hard carbon, mesoporous pitch carbide, calcined coke, etc.

[0052] The lithium metal alloy can be an alloy of lithium, and metals selected from Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Si, Sb, Pb, In, Zn, Ba, Ra, Ge, Al, and Sn can be used.

[0053] Materials that can be doped into and de-doped from lithium can be Si-based negative electrode materials or Sn-based negative electrode materials. The Si-based negative electrode material can be silicon, a silicon-carbon composite, SiO x(0 < x < 2), Si-Q alloy (where Q is selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Group XIII elements, Group XIV elements (excluding Si), Group XV elements, Group XVI elements, transition metals, rare earth elements, and combinations thereof) or a combination thereof. The Sn-based anode material can be Sn, SnO2, Sn alloy, or a combination thereof.

[0054] The silicon-carbon composite can be a composite of silicon and amorphous carbon. According to one embodiment, the silicon-carbon composite can be prepared in the form of silicon particles having an amorphous carbon coating formed on their surfaces. For example, the silicon-carbon composite can include secondary particles (cores) composed of primary silicon particles and an amorphous carbon coating (shells) formed on the surfaces of the secondary particles. In one embodiment, the amorphous carbon can be located between the primary silicon particles such that, for example, the primary silicon particles are coated with amorphous carbon. The secondary particles can be dispersed in an amorphous carbon matrix.

[0055] In one embodiment, the silicon-carbon composite can further include crystalline carbon. For example, the silicon-carbon composite can include a core containing crystalline carbon and silicon particles and an amorphous carbon coating formed on the core.

[0056] The Si-based anode material or the Sn-based anode material can be used in combination with a carbon-based anode material.

[0057] Anode

[0058] The anode 20 for the lithium secondary battery 100 can include a current collector and an anode material layer formed on the current collector. The anode material layer contains the anode material and can also contain a binder and / or a conductive material.

[0059] In one embodiment, for example, the anode material layer can contain 90 wt% to 99 wt% of the anode material, 0.5 wt% to 5 wt% of the binder, and 0 wt% to 5 wt% of the conductive material.

[0060] The binder attaches the anode material particles to each other while attaching the anode material to the current collector. The binder can be a non-aqueous binder, an aqueous binder, a dry binder, or a combination thereof.

[0061] The non-aqueous binder can include any one of polyvinyl chloride, carboxylated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene-propylene copolymer, polystyrene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamideimide, polyimide, and combinations thereof.

[0062] The aqueous binder can be selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber, (meth)acrylic acid esterified styrene-butadiene rubber, (meth)acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, (meth)acrylic rubber, butyl rubber, fluorinated rubber, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, epichlorohydrin, polyphosphazene, poly(meth)acrylonitrile, ethylene propylene diene copolymer, polyvinylpyridine, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, latex, polyester resin, (meth)acrylic resin, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

[0063] When the aqueous binder is used as the negative electrode binder, a cellulose-based compound capable of imparting viscosity can be further included. The cellulose-based compound can be a mixture of carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, or an alkali metal salt thereof. The alkali metal can be Na, K, or Li.

[0064] The dry binder can be a fibrous polymer material and can include, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polyethylene oxide, or combinations thereof.

[0065] The conductive material imparts conductivity to the electrode and can be any conductive material that does not cause a chemical change in the monomer during construction. In one embodiment, the conductive material can include, for example, any one of the following: carbon materials such as natural graphite, artificial graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, Ketjen black, carbon fiber, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanotube, etc.; metal-based materials in the form of metal powders or metal fibers containing copper, nickel, aluminum, silver, etc.; conductive polymers such as polyphenylene derivatives, etc.; and mixtures thereof.

[0066] In one embodiment, the negative electrode current collector can be selected from copper foil, nickel foil, stainless steel foil, titanium foil, nickel foam, copper foam, a conductive metal-coated polymer substrate, and combinations thereof.

[0067] Electrolyte

[0068] The electrolyte for the lithium secondary battery 100 includes a non-aqueous organic solvent and a lithium salt.

[0069] The non-aqueous organic solvent serves as a medium through which ions participating in the electrochemical reaction of the monomer can move.

[0070] The non-aqueous organic solvent can be a carbonate-based solvent, an ester-based solvent, an ether-based solvent, a ketone-based solvent, an alcohol-based solvent, a non-amphoteric solvent, or combinations thereof.

[0071] The carbonate-based solvent can include dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), dipropyl carbonate (DPC), methyl propyl carbonate (MPC), ethyl propyl carbonate (EPC), methyl ethyl carbonate (MEC), ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), and butylene carbonate (BC).

[0072] The ester-based solvent may include any one of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, dimethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, decanolide, mevalonolactone, valerolactone, caprolactone, etc.

[0073] The ether-based solvent may include any one of dibutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethoxyethane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, etc. In addition, the ketone-based solvent may include cyclohexanone, etc. The alcohol-based solvent may include ethanol, isopropanol, etc., and the non-amphoteric solvent may include: nitriles, such as R-CN (where R is a straight-chain, branched-chain or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms and may include double bonds, aromatic rings or ether groups); amides, such as dimethylformamide; dioxolanes, such as 1,3-dioxolane, 1,4-dioxolane, etc.; sulfolane; and so on.

[0074] The non-aqueous organic solvent may be used alone or as a mixture thereof.

[0075] In one embodiment, when using a carbonate-based solvent, a mixture of cyclic carbonate and linear carbonate may be used, and the cyclic carbonate and the linear carbonate may be mixed at a volume ratio of 1:1 to 1:9.

[0076] The lithium salt is a substance soluble in an organic solvent and is used as a source of lithium ions in the battery, enabling the alkaline lithium secondary battery to operate while promoting the transfer of lithium ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Examples of the lithium salt may include at least one selected from LiPF6, LiBF4, LiSbF6, LiAsF6, LiClO4, LiAlO2, LiAlCl4, LiPO2F2, LiCl, LiI, LiN(SO3C2F5)2, Li(FSO2)2N (lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide) (LiFSI), LiC4F9SO3, LiN(C x F 2x+1 SO2)(C y F 2y+1 SO2) (where x and y are integers from 1 to 20), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, lithium tetrafluoroethanesulfonate, lithium difluoro bis(oxalate) phosphate (LiDFOB), and lithium bis(oxalate) borate (LiBOB).

[0077] Separator

[0078] According to the type of the lithium secondary battery 100, the separator 30 may be interposed between the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 20. For such a separator 30, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or at least two layers thereof may be used, and a mixed layer (such as a polyethylene / polypropylene bilayer separator, a polyethylene / polypropylene / polyethylene trilayer separator, a polyethylene / polyethylene / polypropylene trilayer separator, etc.) may be used.

[0079] The separator 30 may include a porous substrate and a coating on one or both surfaces of the porous substrate, the coating including an organic material, an inorganic material, or a combination thereof.

[0080] The porous substrate may be a polymer layer formed of a polymer selected from among: polyolefins (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc.), polyacetals, polyamides, polyimides, polycarbonates, polyether ketones, polyarylether ketones, polyetherimides, polyamideimides, polybenzimidazoles, polyethersulfones, polyphenylene ethers, cycloolefin copolymers, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene naphthalate, glass fibers, Teflon, and polytetrafluoroethylene, copolymers thereof, or mixtures thereof.

[0081] The organic material may include a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or a (meth)acrylic polymer.

[0082] In one embodiment, the inorganic material may include inorganic particles selected from among Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, SnO2, CeO2, MgO, NiO, CaO, GaO, ZnO, ZrO2, Y2O3, SrTiO3, BaTiO3, Mg(OH)2, boehmite, and combinations thereof, without being limited thereto.

[0083] The organic material and the inorganic material may exist in a mixed state in one coating, or may exist in the form of a stacked structure of a coating containing the organic material and a coating containing the inorganic material.

[0084] As referred to Figures 1 to 4 as described above, the secondary battery 100 includes an electrode assembly 40. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 40 is formed by stacking a positive electrode 10, a negative electrode 20, and a separator 30 between the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 20.

[0085] The electrode includes a positive electrode 10 and a negative electrode 20. The electrode is formed of an electrode plate. Thus, for example, the positive electrode 10 includes a positive electrode plate, and the negative electrode 20 includes a negative electrode plate.

[0086] The positive electrode 10 and / or the negative electrode 20 includes a current collector and an active material layer formed on the current collector, as described above. The active material layer includes, for example, an active material, a binder, and / or a conductive material, as described above. For example, the positive electrode 10 includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on the positive electrode current collector. Here, the positive electrode active material layer may include a positive electrode material, a positive electrode binder, and / or a conductive material. For example, the negative electrode 20 includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode active material layer may include a negative electrode material, a negative electrode binder, and / or a conductive material.

[0087] The active material layer is formed of a material different from that of the current collector and / or has a structure different from that of the current collector. Accordingly, the active material layer and the current collector may exhibit weak adhesion to each other. However, if the active material layer is separated from the current collector or weakly fixed to the current collector, the secondary battery may suffer from deterioration in charge / discharge efficiency and energy density and / or may suffer from safety problems. Accordingly, it is desirable to ensure that the active material layer and the current collector are well attached and / or fixed to each other. Here, a method of performing a rolling process to attach the active material layer to the current collector will be described.

[0088] Here, a structure in which the active material layer is coated on or attached to the current collector will be referred to as an electrode plate. Here, the electrode plate may be formed in any structure by coating the active material layer in a slurry state on the current collector or by attaching the active material layer in a self-supporting film state to the current collector.

[0089] Figure 5 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus.

[0090] In Figure 5 FIG., reference numeral 200 denotes an electrode manufacturing apparatus. Further, in Figure 5 FIG., P denotes the advancing direction of the electrode plate A. Here, the electrode plate A may be subjected to, for example, multi-column coating to increase the production yield. For example, the electrode plate A may include multi-column active material layers on a single current collector.

[0091] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 200 rolls and / or cuts the electrode plate A to manufacture electrodes (including, for example, Figures 1 to 4 the positive electrode 10 and / or the negative electrode 20 shown in FIG.). For example, when multi-column active material layers are formed on the electrode plate A, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 200 may manufacture electrodes by rolling the electrode plate A in multi-columns and then cutting the electrode plate A in each column.

[0092] In one embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 200 includes a rolling roller 210 and a cutting unit or cutter 220.

[0093] The rolling roller 210 performs rolling on the electrode plate A. For example, the rolling roller 210 includes at least a pair of rollers. The rolling roller 210 applies a certain rolling pressure (for example, a preset rolling pressure) to the electrode plate A passing through the gap between the pair of rollers. As a result, the rolling roller 210 can ensure the adhesion between the current collector and the active material layer. For example, the rolling roller 210 can ensure the adhesion between the current collector and each of the multi-column formed active material layers.

[0094] The cutting unit 220 cuts the rolled electrode plate A'. For example, the cutting unit 220 cuts the rolled electrode plate A' parallel to the advancing direction P of the electrode plate A. For example, the cutting unit 220 cuts the rolled electrode plate A' such that a single row of active material layers is disposed on the current collector. The cutting unit 220 cuts the rolled electrode plate A' into a plurality of cut electrode plates A". Here, one cut electrode plate A" may be formed into a structure in which a single row of active material layers is attached to the current collector. For example, when the electrode plate A includes a current collector and three rows of active material layers attached to the current collector, the electrode plate A may be cut into three cut electrode plates A" by the cutting unit 220.

[0095] In this way, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 200 can improve the productivity of the electrode by performing multi-row rolling and cutting. However, when cutting is performed after rolling, the electrode may bend and / or the current collector may wrinkle due to the difference in elongation between the current collector and the active material layer during rolling. In addition, when the multi-row coated active material layers are simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) rolled by a single roller 210, there may be a problem of thickness variation between the rollers.

[0096] The following description will focus on measures that can solve this problem while improving the productivity of the electrode by multi-row rolling and cutting.

[0097] Figure 6 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] In Figure 6 FIG., reference numeral 300 denotes an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6 FIG., B denotes an electrode plate, and P denotes the advancing direction of the electrode plate B.

[0099] The electrode plate B may be pre-coated, for example, in multiple rows to improve productivity. For example, the electrode plate B may include multiple rows of active material layers on a single current collector. In one embodiment, the multiple rows of active material layers may be arranged parallel to the advancing direction of the electrode plate B.

[0100] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 rolls and / or cuts the electrode plate B to manufacture electrodes (including, for example, Figures 1 to 4 the positive electrode 10 and / or the negative electrode 20 shown). For example, when multiple rows of active material layers are formed on the electrode plate B, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 may manufacture electrodes by rolling the electrode plate B in multiple rows and then cutting the electrode plate B in each row.

[0101] In one embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 includes a cutting unit or cutter 350 and a roller 360. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 may further include a sensor 370 and / or a processor 380. In one embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 may further include at least one of a memory 310, a communication unit 320, an input unit 330, and an output unit 340. However, the components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 are not limited to Figure 6 the components shown, and the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 may include only Figure 6 some of the components shown and / or may include additional components in addition to Figure 6 the components shown. The components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 will be described below.

[0102] The memory 310 stores instructions required to operate the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. In one embodiment, for example, the instructions include instructions for setting the rolling pressure of the roller 360 based on the thickness of the cut electrode plate B'. In another embodiment, for example, the instructions include instructions for controlling the rolling pressure of each roller 360.

[0103] The memory 310 may be, for example, a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory. The memory 310 may be, for example, any one of a CPU, a cache, a DRAM, a persistent memory, a flash SSD, an HDD, a CD / DVD, a cloud server, etc.

[0104] The communication unit 320 is capable of communicating between the internal components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 or between the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 and an external server or an external device. The communication unit 320 may perform wireless or wired communication. The communication unit 320 may perform short-distance or long-distance communication. The communication unit 320 may implement, for example, a wired local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), etc. The communication unit 320 may employ any one of, for example, Bluetooth, Zigbee, radio frequency identification (RFID), Wi-Fi, 5G, LoRa, etc.

[0105] The input unit 330 receives user commands from a user. The input unit 330 may include, for example, a mechanical input device (such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), a touch panel, etc.

[0106] The output unit 340 receives data generated by the internal components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 and / or external data received by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. The data includes data on the width, thickness, etc. of the electrode plate B cut by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. In one embodiment, the data includes data on changes in thickness, weight, humidity, etc. before and after rolling the electrode plate B by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300.

[0107] In one embodiment, the output unit 340 includes, for example, a display for outputting visual data, a speaker for outputting auditory data, and a haptic module for outputting haptic data. However, it will be understood that the output unit 340 is not limited thereto and may include any type of output unit capable of outputting data.

[0108] In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 may further include an electrode plate conveyor for conveying the electrode plate B between the respective components within the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. For example, when the electrode plate B is introduced into the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, the electrode plate conveyor conveys the electrode plate B to the cutting unit 350. In one embodiment, the electrode plate conveyor may convey the electrode plate B' cut by the cutting unit 350 toward the roller 360. In one embodiment, the electrode plate conveyor conveys the electrode plate B″ rolled by the roller 360 to another component or outside the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300.

[0109] The cutting unit 350 cuts the electrode plate B. In one embodiment, the cutting unit 350 may include at least one blade for performing the cutting. For example, the at least one blade may cut the electrode plate B while rotating at high speed.

[0110] For example, the cutting unit 350 cuts the electrode plate B parallel to the advancing direction P of the electrode plate. For example, the cutting unit 320 cuts the electrode plate B such that a single row of active material layers is provided on the current collector. The cutting unit 350 cuts the electrode plate B so as to have the number of cut electrode plates B' corresponding to the number of rows of the active material layers on the current collector. For example, when the electrode plate B includes a current collector and three rows of active material layers attached to the current collector, the cutting unit 220 may cut the electrode plate B into three cut electrode plates B'.

[0111] In this way, the cutting unit 350 may produce two or more cut electrode plates B'. For example, the two or more cut electrode plates B' may include a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate. In one embodiment, each cut electrode plate B' may be formed in a structure in which a single row of active material layers is attached to the current collector.

[0112] The roller 360 rolls the cut electrode plate B'. In one embodiment, the roller 360 includes a pair of rollers. The rollers in the pair are positioned adjacent to each other while being spaced apart from each other by a distance (e.g., a predetermined distance). The rollers in the pair rotate in opposite directions. As a result, the roller 360 rolls the cut electrode plate B' passing through the gap between the pair of rollers. Here, the roller 360 can adjust the rolling pressure on the cut electrode plate B' by adjusting the gap between the pair of rollers. For example, the roller 360 can increase the rolling pressure on the cut electrode plate B' by reducing the gap between the pair of rollers, and for example, the roller 360 can reduce the rolling pressure on the cut electrode plate B' by increasing the gap between the pair of rollers.

[0113] The electrode plate B'' rolled by the roller 360 can have a smaller thickness after rolling than before rolling. In addition, the electrode plate B'' can exhibit better adhesion between the current collector and the active material layer after rolling than before rolling.

[0114] The roller 360 includes multiple pairs of rollers to perform rolling on multiple cut electrode plates B' simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or sequentially. For example, the roller 360 can include a pair of first rollers adapted to roll a first cut electrode plate and a pair of second rollers adapted to roll a second cut electrode plate. In this case, when the pair of first rollers perform rolling on the first cut electrode plate, the second rollers can roll the second cut electrode plate simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or sequentially.

[0115] The sensor 370 senses at least one of information about the electrode plate B, all or some components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, and / or the external environment of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. For example, the sensor 370 senses the thickness of the electrode plate B'' rolled by the roller 360.

[0116] In one embodiment, for example, the sensor 370 includes at least one selected from a vision sensor, a proximity sensor, a gyro sensor, a motion sensor, an acceleration sensor, a LiDAR sensor, a displacement sensor, a distance sensor, and a laser sensor.

[0117] The processor 380 controls all or some components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. In one embodiment, the processor 380 can be embedded in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. In another embodiment, the processor 380 can be located outside the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 and can control each component of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 through the communication unit 320.

[0118] The processor 380 may include, for example, any one of a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a floating-point unit (FPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0119] For example, the processor 380 may control the cutting position of the electrode plate B by the cutting unit 350. In one embodiment, the processor 380 may control the rolling pressure of the roller 360. In this way, the processor 380 may control the components of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 to manufacture an electrode based on the information sensed by the sensor 370, through artificial intelligence (AI) embedded in the processor 380, in response to instructions stored in the memory 310, in response to instructions received through the communication unit 320, and / or in response to instructions received through the input unit 330.

[0120] With these components, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may manufacture an electrode that may not generate bending or may minimize or reduce the generation of bending. In addition, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can prevent or substantially prevent the generation of wrinkles in the current collector during multi-column rolling and / or can improve the thickness variation between the rollers.

[0121] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] Referring to Figure 7 , the method of manufacturing an electrode using the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 shown below will be described. However, it will be understood that Figure 6 the electrode manufacturing method shown not only can be executed by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, but also can be executed by any component, device, and / or system capable of executing each task or step shown in Figure 7 . Figure 7 shown.

[0123] Referring to Figure 7 , the electrode manufacturing method according to the embodiment includes the task or step (S101) of cutting the electrode plate B into two or more cut electrode plates B'. The description of S101 may be the same as or similar to the description of the cutting unit 350 shown in Figure 6 . Therefore, the electrode manufacturing method allows for the simultaneous production of a large number of electrodes by rolling and cutting the multi-column coated electrode plate B.

[0124] Referring to Figure 7, The electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment includes the task or step (S102) of rolling each of two or more cut electrode plates B'. As described above, each cut electrode plate B' is respectively rolled by a different rolling mill 360. The description of S102 can be the same as or similar to the description of the rolling mill 360 shown in Figure 6 . In this way, the electrode manufacturing method can prevent or substantially prevent the generation of bending or wrinkling by rolling each of the multiple cut electrode plates B'.

[0125] Therefore, the electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment can provide electrodes with improved productivity and quality by cutting the electrode plate B and then rolling each cut electrode plate B'.

[0126] Referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 and / or the electrode manufacturing method have been described above, in which the electrode plate B is first cut and then each cut electrode plate B' is rolled. The rolling mill 360 including multiple rolling mills has been described above.

[0127] In an embodiment, for example, the rolling mill 360 includes multiple rolling mills, and each rolling mill includes a pair of rolls. With this structure, the rolling mill 360 can roll multiple cut electrode plates B' simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or sequentially.

[0128] For example, the rolling mill 360 can include a pair of first rolls 361 and a pair of second rolls 362. In an embodiment, for example, the first roll 361 rolls the first cut electrode plate B'1 to provide the first rolled electrode plate B”1 rolled by the first roll 361 (e.g., see Figures 8A to 10B ). In addition, for example, the second roll 362 can roll the second cut electrode plate B'2 while the first roll 361 rolls the first cut electrode plate B'1 to provide the second rolled electrode plate B”2 rolled by the second roll 362 (e.g., see Figures 8A to 10B ). In another embodiment, for example, the second roll 362 can roll the second cut electrode plate B'2 before or after the first roll 361 rolls the first cut electrode plate B'1.

[0129] The first roll 361 and the second roll 362 can roll the first cut electrode plate B'1 or the second cut electrode plate B'2 simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or sequentially according to their arrangement.

[0130] Next, referring to Figures 8A to 10B, some embodiments of the arrangement of multiple rollers will be described in more detail for the cutting and rolling of the electrode plate B. For ease of description, by way of example, the roller 360 can be described as including two pairs of rollers. However, it will be understood that the roller 360 can be composed of any number of rollers as long as the roller 360 includes two or more rollers.

[0131] Figure 8A and Figure 8B are schematic views of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] Figure 8A is a top view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, Figure 8B is a side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. The roller 360 includes a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362.

[0133] In one embodiment, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be located at different heights from the ground G. For example, a pair of first rollers 361 can be located at a first height h1 from the ground G, and a pair of second rollers 362 can be located at a second height h2 from the ground G. By arranging multiple rollers at different heights, the roller 360 can roll each cut electrode plate B' simultaneously (e.g., at the same time) or sequentially without causing the cut electrode plate B' to bend or warp multiple times. In addition, by arranging multiple rollers at different heights, the roller 360 can roll all electrode plates B with different specifications (e.g., the thickness, width, flexibility, elongation rate, etc. of the cut electrode plate B'). With this structure, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can be compatible with electrode plates B of different specifications while minimizing or reducing damage to the electrode plate B.

[0134] In one embodiment, for example, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be arranged on the same vertical line V with respect to the ground G. Thus, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can allow a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 to be arranged at different heights while being located at the same distance from the cutting unit 350. With this structure, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 allows each of multiple cut electrode plates B' to be rolled simultaneously (e.g., at the same time).

[0135] Figure 9A and Figure 9B are schematic views of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] Figure 9A is a top view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, Figure 9B is a side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. The roller 360 includes a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362.

[0137] A pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by the same distance. As Figure 9A and Figure 9B shown, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be located at the same height h relative to the ground G. With this structure, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 allows the electrode plate B to reach the rollers 360 from the cutting unit 350 without bending, curling, and / or warping. In this way, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can prevent or substantially prevent damage to the electrodes due to the bending of the electrode plate B. In addition, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 allows each of the plurality of cut electrode plates B' to be rolled simultaneously (e.g., at the same time).

[0138] However, as Figure 8A and Figure 8B shown, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by the same distance and can be located at different heights relative to the ground G. The effects of this structure are described above with reference to Figure 8A and Figure 8B .

[0139] Figure 10A and Figure 10B are schematic views of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] Figure 10A is a top view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300, Figure 10B is a side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300. The rollers 360 include a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362.

[0141] A pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by different distances.

[0142] For example, even when formed from the same electrode plate B using the same material, the first cut electrode plate B'1 and the second cut electrode plate B'2 can have different dimensions (e.g., thickness) or can be used for different purposes. In this case, for example, the first cut electrode plate B'1 can be cut by the cutting unit 350 and immediately rolled by the rollers 360 after cutting. On the other hand, for example, the second cut electrode plate B'2 can be cut by the cutting unit 350 and then subjected to a process (e.g., a predetermined process) before being rolled by the rollers 360. The process can include, for example, drying, additional coating, etc. In this case, even when the first cut electrode plate B'1 and the second cut electrode plate B'2 are formed simultaneously, the first cut electrode plate B'1 and the second cut electrode plate B'2 can be rolled sequentially.

[0143] An electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention can roll each cut electrode plate according to the characteristics of each manufactured electrode. As a result, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 according to an embodiment can improve both the production efficiency and the quality of the electrodes.

[0144] As Figure 9A and Figure 9B shown, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be located at the same height with respect to the ground G. This arrangement allows the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 to have a compact size.

[0145] However, different from the structure shown in the drawings, a pair of first rollers 361 and a pair of second rollers 362 can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by different distances and can be located at different heights with respect to the ground G. With this structure, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can provide a roller 360 that is wider than the width of the cut electrode plate B'. Accordingly, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 can provide a roller 360 that is compatible with any cut electrode plate B' having various widths.

[0146] Referring to Figures 8A to 10B , the arrangement of the roller 360 has been described above according to some embodiments. However, it will be understood that the arrangement of the roller 360 is not limited thereto. For example, the arrangement of the roller 360 can be achieved by a combination of the embodiments described above with reference to Figures 8A to 10B . For example, the roller 360 can include a pair of first rollers, a pair of second rollers, and a pair of third rollers. In one embodiment, a pair of first rollers and a pair of third rollers can be located at different heights with respect to the ground. A pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by the same distance. A pair of third rollers can be spaced apart from the cutting unit 350 by a different distance compared to a pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers.

[0147] Generally, electrode plates and / or electrodes are not flexible. Thus, if an electrode plate or an electrode is bent or travels along a curve, the manufactured electrode may be damaged. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention can consider these characteristics of each electrode plate by, for example, different arrangements of rollers depending on the specifications of the desired electrode.

[0148] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0149] Referring to Figures 6 to 10B , the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 suitable for cutting and / or rolling the electrode plate B has been described. Referring to Figure 11 , the process of rolling the cut electrode plate B' by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 will be described in more detail.

[0150] Referring to Figure 11, a method of manufacturing an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a task or step (S201) of measuring the thickness of at least one of two or more cut electrode plates B" that have undergone rolling.

[0151] The sensor 370 senses the thickness of the cut electrode plate B" that has undergone rolling.

[0152] In one embodiment, the sensor 370 is disposed on one side of the roll 360. For example, the sensor 370 may be disposed on the outlet side of the roll 360, and the cut electrode plate B" that has undergone rolling is discharged from the roll 360 through this outlet side.

[0153] In one embodiment, the sensor 370 includes a light emitting part that emits light and a calculation part that calculates the thickness. The light emitting part emits light in the direction of the roll 360. This direction may be, for example, a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction P of the electrode plate. The calculation part uses the light emitted from the light emitting part to calculate the thickness of the rolled electrode plate. For example, the calculation part may measure the height of the light when the rolled electrode plate has not passed. In addition, the calculation part may measure the height of the light when the rolled electrode plate has passed. The calculation part calculates the thickness of the rolled electrode plate based on the height difference of the light emitted from the light emitting part. For example, the calculation part calculates the thickness of the cut electrode plate B" that has undergone rolling. As a result, the sensor 370 can sense the thickness of the cut electrode plate B" that has undergone rolling. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sensor 370 may sense the thickness of the electrode plate in various ways.

[0154] In one embodiment, the sensor 370 includes a plurality of sensors, and the plurality of sensors includes, for example, a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor may be mounted on one side of a pair of first rolls 361, and the second sensor may be mounted on one side of a pair of second rolls 362. With this arrangement, the sensor 370 can sense the thickness of each cut electrode plate B" rolled by each of the plurality of rolls 360.

[0155] Refer to Figure 11 , a method of manufacturing an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a task or step (S202) of determining the rolling pressure of the roll 360 based on the measured thickness.

[0156] The processor 380 compares the thickness sensed in S201 with a specific thickness (for example, a preset thickness). For example, the specific thickness may include a thickness pre-stored in the memory 310, a thickness received through the communication unit 320, a thickness input through the input unit 330, and / or a thickness determined to be most suitable by artificial intelligence according to the application of the electrode.

[0157] The processor 380 determines the rolling pressure of the roll 360 based on the comparison result. For example, when it is determined that the sensed thickness is greater than a specific thickness, the processor 380 may increase the rolling pressure of the roll 360 to exceed the current rolling pressure. Additionally, for example, when it is determined that the sensed thickness is less than a specific thickness, the processor 380 may decrease the rolling pressure of the roll 360 to be lower than the current rolling pressure. When it is determined that the sensed thickness falls within the same range as the specific thickness, the processor 380 may maintain the current rolling pressure of the roll 360. Here, the same range is a range that is determined to be the same as or equal to the specific thickness that does not cause problems with the performance of the counter electrode plate or the electrode manufactured from the electrode plate.

[0158] Referring to Figure 11 , the electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the task or step (S203) of rolling the cut electrode plate B' through the roll 360 at the determined rolling pressure.

[0159] The processor 380 controls the roll 360 based on the rolling pressure determined in S202. In one embodiment, for example, when it is determined that the rolling pressure needs to be increased, the processor 380 controls the roll such that the gap between a pair of rolls is reduced. Additionally, for example, when it is determined that the rolling pressure needs to be decreased, the processor 380 may control the roll such that the gap between a pair of rolls is increased.

[0160] The roll 360 rolls the cut electrode plate B' under the controlled rolling pressure.

[0161] In this way, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 300 and / or the electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention can produce electrodes of higher quality by performing individual control on each cut electrode plate B'.

[0162] Although the present invention has been described with reference to some embodiments and the accompanying drawings showing aspects of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the claims and their equivalents.

[0163] This application claims the priority and benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0195236, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 28, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. An electrode manufacturing device, comprising: a cutter configured to cut the electrode plate parallel to a forward direction of the electrode plate to produce two or more cut electrode plates including a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate; as well as The rolling rollers include a pair of first rollers configured to roll the first cut electrode plate and a pair of second rollers configured to roll the second cut electrode plate. 2 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers are configured to simultaneously roll the first cut electrode plate and the second cut electrode plate, respectively. 3 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers are arranged at different heights relative to the ground. 4 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers are arranged on the same vertical line with respect to the ground. 5 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers are spaced apart from the cutter by the same distance. 6 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers are spaced apart from the cutter by different distances.

7. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to detect the thickness of the electrode plate rolled by the roller; as well as A processor is configured to control a rolling pressure of the roller based on the detected thickness.

8. The electrode manufacturing device according to claim 7, wherein the processor compares the detected thickness with a specific thickness, determines the rolling pressure of the roller based on the comparison result, and controls the rolling pressure of the roller based on the determined rolling pressure.

9. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises: a light emitting portion configured to emit light in the direction of the roller; and a calculation section configured to calculate the thickness of the rolled electrode plate based on the difference in the emitted light. 10 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes a first sensor mounted on the pair of first rollers and a second sensor mounted on the pair of second rollers.

11. A method for manufacturing an electrode, comprising: cutting the electrode plate parallel to a forward direction of the electrode plate to produce two or more cut electrode plates including a first cut electrode plate and a second cut electrode plate; as well as The two or more cut electrode plates are rolled by a roller including a pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers. 12 . The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11 , wherein rolling the two or more cut electrode plates comprises simultaneously rolling the first cut electrode plate and the second cut electrode plate through the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers, respectively.

13. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein rolling the two or more cut electrode plates comprises: measuring, by a sensor, a thickness of at least one of the two or more cut electrode plates subjected to rolling; determining, by a processor, a rolling pressure of the roller based on the measured thickness; as well as The cut electrode plate is rolled by the rollers under a determined rolling pressure.

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