Stirrer

Abstract

There is provided a stirrer comprising: a stirring tank; the rotating shaft is mounted to rotate in the stirring tank; a first wing part connected to the rotating shaft and including a plurality of wings parallel to the rotating shaft; and a second wing part connected to the rotating shaft and including a strip-shaped wing forming a spiral along the rotating shaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stirrer, and more particularly, to a stirrer for mixing a slurry used for a rechargeable battery. Background Art

[0002] A rechargeable battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive electrode and the negative electrode include a substrate as a thin metal plate and an active material layer on the substrate.

[0003] The active material layer is formed by coating a slurry in which an active material, a binder, a conductive material, etc. suitable for the characteristics of the positive and negative electrodes are mixed.

[0004] In order to reduce the defect rate of the process for manufacturing electrodes and improve the uniformity of the process, the fluidity or rheological properties of the slurry are important, and the rheological properties are affected by the material composition and particle dispersion of the slurry.

[0005] If the slurry is stirred, the slurry tends to move to the upper end portion which is the gas-liquid boundary. Therefore, the phenomenon of particle separation occurs, thereby reducing the quality of the slurry. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of a stirrer configured to uniformly or substantially uniformly mix a slurry used in manufacturing a rechargeable battery by reducing the separation phenomenon of the slurry.

[0007] A stirrer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a stirring tank; a rotating shaft accommodated in the stirring tank and configured to rotate in the stirring tank; a first wing portion connected to the rotating shaft and including a plurality of wings substantially parallel to the rotating shaft; and a second wing portion connected to the rotating shaft and including a band-shaped wing formed in a spiral along the rotating shaft.

[0008] The first wing portion may include: a pair of first wings and a pair of second wings substantially parallel to the rotating shaft; a third wing connecting the first wing and the rotating shaft; and a fourth wing connecting the second wing and the rotating shaft.

[0009] The second wing portion may further include an auxiliary rotating shaft having a through hole and fixed to the rotating shaft inserted into the through hole. The band-shaped wing may surround the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft.

[0010] The auxiliary rotating shaft may extend along the length direction of the rotating shaft, and the third wing may be below the auxiliary rotating shaft.

[0011] The third wing may be at the middle portion of the first wing.

[0012] The ratio of the pitch of the spiral to the width of the first wing portion may be in the range of about 0.4 to about 0.5.

[0013] The ratio of the width of the strip-shaped wing to the width of the first wing portion can be in the range of about 0.4 to about 0.5.

[0014] The height of the second wing portion can be greater than or equal to about 1 / 2 of the height of the first wing portion.

[0015] The ratio of the width of the first wing portion to the inner diameter of the stirring tank can be about 0.9.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a stirrer capable of preparing a slurry for a rechargeable battery can be manufactured, in which the particles are mixed uniformly or substantially uniformly by suppressing the upward movement of the slurry. Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a stirrer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 2 and Figure 3 are for describing Figure 1 the wings of the stirrer. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the embodiments. The present disclosure can be modified in various different ways, all of which do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0020] Since the dimensions and thicknesses of the constituent members shown in the drawings are arbitrarily given for better understanding and easy description, the present disclosure is not limited to the shown dimensions and thicknesses.

[0021] In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for better understanding and easy description. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, zone or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "above" another element, the element can be directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present.

[0022] In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprising" and variations such as "comprises" or "containing" will be understood to imply the inclusion of the stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a stirrer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 2 and Figure 3 are Figure 1 the wings of the stirrer.

[0024] As Figures 1 to 3As shown, a stirrer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a stirring tank 100, a rotating shaft 200 (e.g., a rod), and a rotating blade 300 coupled (directly and / or indirectly) to the rotating shaft 200.

[0025] The stirring tank 100 may have a cylindrical shape to provide a stirring space therein, but the shape of the stirring tank 100 is not limited to Figure 1 the specific shape shown. The shape of the stirring tank 100 may be any shape in which an internal space can be formed such that each component of the blade part (described later) is accommodated inside the stirring tank 100. In one or more embodiments, the horizontal cross-sectional shape (i.e., the cross-sectional shape in the horizontal plane) of the stirring tank 100 may have any suitable shape, such as a circular shape, an oval shape, a quadrilateral shape, or a polygonal shape.

[0026] The rotating blade 300 coupled (directly and / or indirectly) to the rotating shaft 200 is configured to rotate in the stirring tank 100 in response to the rotation of the rotating shaft 200.

[0027] The rotating shaft 200 may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the stirring tank 100 (e.g., the rotating shaft 200 may extend along or substantially along the imaginary axial centerline of the stirring tank 100). The rotating shaft 200 may be configured to rotate together with the rotating blade 300 inside the stirring tank 100 to stir the fluid in the stirring tank 100.

[0028] Although in one or more embodiments, the rotating shaft 200 may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the stirring tank 100, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In one or more embodiments, the rotating shaft 200 may be eccentric with respect to the center of the stirring tank 100.

[0029] The rotating blade 300 may include a first blade part 310 and a second blade part 320.

[0030] The first blade part 310 may include a pair of first blades 31 and a pair of second blades 32. The pair of first blades 31 and the pair of second blades 32 are directly connected to the rotating shaft 200, separated from the rotating shaft 200 by a predetermined distance, and parallel (or substantially parallel) to the rotating shaft 200. The first blade part 310 further includes a third blade 33 connecting the pair of first blades 31 to the rotating shaft 200 and a fourth blade 34 connecting the pair of second blades 32 to the rotating shaft 200.

[0031] A pair of first wings 31 can face each other with the rotating shaft 200 therebetween (for example, a pair of first wings 31 can be on opposite sides of the rotating shaft 200), and a pair of second wings 32 can face each other with the rotating shaft 200 therebetween (for example, a pair of second wings 32 can be on opposite sides of the rotating shaft 200). In some embodiments, the first wings 31 and the second wings 32 can be alternately arranged at an angle along the circumference of the cylindrical stirrer. In one or more embodiments, four wings can be arranged in the order of one of the first wings 31, one of the second wings 32, another first wing 31, and another second wing 32, and each wing forms an angle θ of about 90 degrees with an adjacent wing.

[0032] The third wing 33 and the fourth wing 34 can be longitudinally arranged in a direction intersecting the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 200. The third wing 33 can connect the middle part of the first wing 31 to the rotating shaft 200, and the fourth wing 34 can connect one end of the second wing 32 to the rotating shaft 200. In one or more embodiments, the fourth wing 34 can intersect the rotating shaft 200 to connect the rotating shaft 200 and the second wing 32, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The fourth wing 34 can intersect an end (for example, the lower end) of the rotating shaft 200 to connect the opposite ends (for example, the lower ends) of the pair of second wings 32 to the rotating shaft 200 disposed therebetween.

[0033] The width D1 of the first wing portion 310 can have a ratio of about 9 / 10 (i.e., 0.9) with respect to the inner diameter D2 of the stirring tank 100.

[0034] The second wing portion 320 can include an auxiliary rotating shaft 41 and a strip-shaped wing 42 on the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41. The second wing portion 320 can be located above the third wing 33 along the length direction of the rotating shaft 200, and the strip-shaped wing 42 can have a spiral or helical structure.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the second wing portion 320 can have a spiral structure in which the strip-shaped wing 42 having a plate shape and a length extending in one direction is wound around the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41. The auxiliary rotating shaft 41 can have a through hole through which the rotating shaft 200 passes. After the rotating shaft 200 is inserted into the through hole, the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 can be fixed to the rotating shaft 200 such that the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 and the rotating shaft 200 are configured to rotate together in response to the rotation of the rotating shaft 200. The rotating shaft 200 and the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 can be connected by a screw connection or any other suitable attachment mechanism or device.

[0036] The strip-shaped wing 42 can be not directly connected to the outer surface of the rotating shaft 200, but can be directly connected to the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 through which the rotating shaft 200 extends.

[0037] The height H2 of the second wing portion 320 can be greater than or equal to approximately 1 / 2 of the height H1 of the first wing portion 310. The width D3 of the belt-shaped wing 42 measured from the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 can have a ratio in the range of approximately 4 / 10 (i.e., 0.4) to approximately 5 / 10 (i.e., 0.5) relative to the width D1 of the first wing portion 310. In one or more embodiments, the width D3 of the belt-shaped wing 42 can not be the length of the inclined surface formed by the belt-shaped wing 42 that is inclinedly attached to the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41, but can be the distance measured in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41, and can be the width measured by the straight-line distance from the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 to the outer end of the belt-shaped wing 42.

[0038] The belt-shaped wing 42 can have a spacing D4 in the range of approximately 0.4 to 0.5 relative to the width D1 of the first wing portion 310, that is, the ratio of the pitch of the helix of the belt-shaped wing 42 to the width D1 of the first wing portion 310 can be in the range of approximately 0.4 to approximately 0.5. In one or more embodiments, the spacing D4 can be the distance between adjacent portions of the belt-shaped wing 42 that protrude farthest outward from the auxiliary rotating shaft 41 along the same side of the auxiliary rotating shaft 41.

[0039] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first wing portion 310 having an anchor type structure and the second wing portion 320 having a spiral type structure are configured to simultaneously mix a slurry (such as an active material) inside the mixing tank 100.

[0040] If only the first wing portion 310 is connected to the rotating shaft 200 (i.e., the second wing portion 320 is omitted), the slurry may tend to move upward along the rotating shaft 200 to the upper end portion, and the slurry may separate at the upper end portion of the first wing portion 310, such that the particles included in the slurry cannot be dispersed. If the slurry separates, the particles may not be uniformly mixed, and the size of the particles in the slurry may increase, such that the viscosity of the slurry is greater than the desired viscosity.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second wing portion 320 is included, so that the phenomenon of the slurry moving upward to the upper end portion and separating can be alleviated. Therefore, the slurry can be uniformly (or substantially uniformly) mixed by the agitator.

[0042] In some embodiments, the second wing portion 320 can increase the downward flow of the slurry in the central portion of the agitator (for example, the second wing portion 320 can increase the downward flow of the slurry from the upper end portion, which is the gas-liquid boundary, to the bottom surface of the mixing tank 100). Therefore, the slurry remaining at the gas-liquid boundary can be forced to move to the middle and lower portions of the mixing tank 100, such that the materials included in the slurry are uniformly (or substantially uniformly) mixed.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the height H2 of the second wing 320 may affect the flow of the slurry within the first wing 310 and may have a greater effect on the internal downward flow. In some embodiments, as the height H2 of the second wing 320 increases, the downward flow of the slurry in the central portion from the upper end portion, which is the gas-liquid boundary, toward the bottom surface of the stirring tank 100 may become stronger. Accordingly, the slurry may be mixed uniformly (or substantially uniformly) by adjusting (e.g., increasing) the height H2 of the second wing 320.

[0044] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.

[0045] Description of Symbols 100: Stirring tank 310: First wing 320: Second wing.

Claims

1. A stirrer, the stirrer comprising: A stirring tank; A rotating shaft, accommodated in the stirring tank and configured to rotate within the stirring tank; A first wing portion, coupled to the rotating shaft, the first wing portion including a plurality of wings parallel to the rotating shaft; And A second wing portion, coupled to the rotating shaft, the second wing portion including a strip-shaped wing that forms a helix along the rotating shaft.

2. The stirrer according to claim 1, wherein, The first wing portion includes: A pair of first wings and a pair of second wings, parallel to the rotating shaft; A third wing, connecting the pair of first wings and the rotating shaft; and A fourth wing, connecting the pair of second wings and the rotating shaft.

3. The stirrer according to claim 2, wherein, The second wing portion further includes an auxiliary rotating shaft having a through hole, Wherein, the rotating shaft extends into the through hole, and the auxiliary rotating shaft is fixed to the rotating shaft, and Wherein, the strip-shaped wing surrounds the outer surface of the auxiliary rotating shaft.

4. The stirrer according to claim 3, wherein, The auxiliary rotating shaft extends along the length direction of the rotating shaft, and wherein, the third wing is below the auxiliary rotating shaft.

5. The stirrer according to claim 4, wherein The third wing is coupled to the middle portion of the pair of first wings.

6. The stirrer according to claim 3, wherein, The ratio of the pitch of the helix to the width of the first wing portion is in the range of 0.4 to 0.

5.

7. The stirrer according to claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the width of the strip-shaped wing to the width of the first wing portion is in the range of 0.4 to 0.

5.

8. The stirrer according to claim 1, wherein, The height of the second wing portion is greater than or equal to 1 / 2 of the height of the first wing portion.

9. The stirrer according to claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the width of the first wing portion to the inner diameter of the stirring tank is 0.9.

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