Electrolyte removal device and electrolyte removal method using same

Abstract

The electrolytic solution removing apparatus of the present invention removes an electrolytic solution remaining in an injection apparatus for injecting the electrolytic solution into a battery cell, and comprises: a transfer unit for transferring the injection apparatus; the electrolyte suction unit is used for sucking and removing residual electrolyte in the injection device; the upper O-shaped ring cleaning unit is used for cleaning an upper O-shaped ring of the injection device; the lower O-shaped ring cleaning unit is used for cleaning a lower O-shaped ring of the injection device; and a hot air drying unit for spraying hot air to the inside and outside of the injection device to remove liquid remaining in the injection device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrolyte removal device and an electrolyte removal method using the same, and more particularly to an electrolyte removal device capable of effectively removing electrolyte remaining in an injection instrument for injecting electrolyte into a battery cell, and an electrolyte removal method using the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0174508, filed on December 5, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] Recently, rechargeable secondary batteries have become widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices. Furthermore, secondary batteries have also attracted attention as energy sources for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are proposed as solutions to air pollution caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels. Consequently, due to the advantages of secondary batteries, the types of applications using secondary batteries are extremely diverse, and they are expected to be used in even more fields and products in the future.

[0004] Meanwhile, in the secondary battery manufacturing process, electrolyte injection is an important process that affects battery performance. In particular, in cylindrical batteries or rectangular batteries in which the positive and negative electrodes are wrapped with separators and form a vortex electrode group, electrolyte injection is difficult, and various methods have been developed.

[0005] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a typical cylindrical battery cell 20 . Figure 2 : is a front view schematically showing the appearance of a liquid injection instrument for general electrolyte injection. Then, Figure 3 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the appearance of injecting the electrolyte into the battery can 21 by a liquid injection instrument for general electrolyte 30 injection.

[0006] Reference Figures 1 to 3 In conventional technology, in order to inject the electrolyte into the cylindrical battery cell 20, the electrolyte is usually moved from the electrolyte tank to the electrolyte supply container by a constant delivery pump, and then the electrolyte 30 is injected through the injection nozzle 13 of the electrolyte injection device while the cylindrical battery can 21 is inserted into the electrolyte injection tube 11a combined with the tray 12 of the liquid injection instrument 10.

[0007] At this time, the electrolyte injection tube 11a of the electrolyte injection instrument 10 serves as an intermediate passage for injecting the electrolyte injected from the injection nozzle 13 into the battery can 21 at a precise electrolyte volume. To this end, an upper O-ring 11b may be provided at the upper portion of the electrolyte injection tube 11a, and an electrolyte injection port 11d may be formed at the center of this upper O-ring 11b. A lower O-ring 11c may be provided at the lower portion of the electrolyte injection tube 11a. This lower O-ring 11c may be arranged to connect to the upper portion of the battery can 21.

[0008] However, in the conventional art, after the electrolyte is injected into the battery can 21 using the electrolyte injection instrument 10, residual electrolyte 30 remains in the injection tube 11a of the electrolyte injection instrument 10. This residual electrolyte 30 crystallizes in a subsequent process or affects the amount of electrolyte injected during the next liquid injection process, whereby the injection port 11d of the electrolyte injection tube 11a may be clogged, or it may negatively affect the performance of the battery cell 20.

[0009] Furthermore, the problem caused by residual electrolyte remaining in the electrolyte injection pipe 11a of the liquid injection instrument 10 is particularly serious in secondary batteries equipped with a vortex electrode assembly. As a solution to this problem, it is possible to separate the electrolyte injection instrument from the electrolyte supply device and clean the instrument using ultrasonic cleaning or the like. However, performing ultrasonic cleaning each time after injecting the electrolyte using the liquid injection instrument takes a lot of time and cost, making it difficult to clean it every time, and it is inevitable to perform cleaning at regular intervals. For this reason, it is difficult to continuously maintain the electrolyte supply pipe during the electrolyte injection process so that there is little residual electrolyte.

[0010] Therefore, it is necessary to develop an apparatus and method that can effectively remove the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument for each process cycle of the electrolyte injection process. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Technical issues

[0012] The present invention aims to solve the problems that arise during conventional electrolyte removal of secondary batteries.

[0013] Through one example of the present invention, an object to be solved is to provide an electrolyte removal device and an electrolyte removal method, which can effectively remove residual electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument by including an electrolyte suction part and a hot air drying part.

[0014] In addition, through one example of the present invention, it is intended to provide an electrolyte removal device and an electrolyte removal method that can maintain the amount of electrolyte injected into a plurality of battery cells at an appropriate level and manufacture high-quality battery cells.

[0015] Technical Solution

[0016] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to an example of the present invention, a removal device for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument is provided, the liquid injection instrument being used to inject electrolyte into a battery cell, wherein the electrolyte removal device includes: a transfer portion arranged to transfer the liquid injection instrument; an electrolyte suction portion arranged to suction the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred for cleaning; an O-ring cleaning portion arranged to clean an upper O-ring or a lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument transferred from the electrolyte suction portion; and a hot air drying portion that sprays hot air onto at least one of the interior and exterior of the liquid injection instrument to remove the liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred from the O-ring cleaning portion.

[0017] The liquid injection instrument may include: a plurality of injection tube portions, each of the plurality of injection tube portions having an internal hollow tube into which a battery cell is inserted, the injection tube portion being provided with an upper O-ring and a lower O-ring, the upper O-ring being provided at an upper portion of the tube, and the electrolyte being injected into the injection tube portion during the electrolyte injection process of the secondary battery, the lower O-ring being provided at a lower portion of the tube and arranged to be connected to a battery can of the battery cell; and a tray portion in which a through hole is formed into which each of the plurality of injection tube portions is inserted.

[0018] The electrolyte suction portion may include an upper suction pipe arranged to suck the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring; and a lower suction pipe arranged to suck the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring.

[0019] The upper suction pipe may have a tubular shape with a hollow interior to surround the upper O-ring, and the upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument is inserted through one open end of the tubular shape, and the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring is removed by sucking the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring from the other end of the tubular shape.

[0020] The lower suction pipe may have a tubular shape with a hollow interior to surround the lower O-ring, and insert the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument through one open end of the tubular shape, and remove the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring by sucking the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring from the other end of the tubular shape.

[0021] The O-ring washing portion may include an upper O-ring washing portion arranged to wash an upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument by immersing the upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument in a washing tank containing a detergent solution.

[0022] The O-ring washing portion may include a lower O-ring washing portion arranged to wash a lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument by immersing the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument in a washing tank containing a detergent solution.

[0023] The hot air drying part may be provided with a spray nozzle arranged to spray hot air to the upper portion and the inside of the liquid injection instrument in a state in which the upper O-ring is positioned at the upper portion.

[0024] The spray nozzle may include: an inner spray nozzle arranged to spray hot air into the interior of the liquid injection instrument by being inserted through the electrolyte injection port of the upper O-ring; and at least one outer spray nozzle, the at least one outer spray nozzle being used to spray hot air from the upper portion of the liquid injection instrument to the outer surface of the liquid injection instrument.

[0025] To achieve the above objective, according to one example of the present invention, an electrolyte injection system including an electrolyte removal device is provided.

[0026] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to an example of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument using an electrolyte removal device, the liquid injection instrument being used to inject electrolyte into a battery cell, wherein the electrolyte removal method comprises: an electrolyte suction step, in which the electrolyte suction part suctions and removes the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred by the transfer part; an O-ring cleaning step, in which the O-ring cleaning part cleans the upper O-ring or the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument transferred from the electrolyte suction part; and a hot air drying step, in which the hot air drying part sprays hot air onto at least one of the interior and exterior of the liquid injection instrument to remove the liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred from the O-ring cleaning part.

[0027] Beneficial effects

[0028] As described above, the electrolyte removal device and the electrolyte removal method related to one example of the present invention have the following effects.

[0029] By including the electrolyte suction section and the hot air drying section, the residual electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument can be effectively removed.

[0030] In addition, the amount of electrolyte injected into the plurality of battery cells can be maintained at an appropriate level, so that high-quality battery cells can be manufactured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a general cylindrical battery cell.

[0032] Figure 2 It is a front view schematically showing the appearance of a liquid injection instrument used for general electrolyte injection.

[0033] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the appearance of injecting electrolyte into a battery can by a liquid injection instrument used for general electrolyte injection.

[0034] Figure 4 1 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an electrolyte removal device according to one example of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 1 is a front view schematically showing the appearance of some configurations of an electrolyte suction portion in an electrolyte removal device according to one example of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing some configurations of an electrolyte suction portion in an electrolyte removal device according to an example of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 7 and Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of an upper O-ring cleaning portion in an electrolyte removal device according to an example of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 9 and Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a lower O-ring cleaning portion in an electrolyte removal device according to an example of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 11 1 is a front view schematically showing some configurations of a hot air drying portion in an electrolyte removal device according to an example of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 12 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an electrolyte injection system according to one example of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the steps of an electrolyte removal method according to one example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, an electrolyte removal apparatus and an electrolyte removal method according to one example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] In addition, regardless of the reference numerals, the same or corresponding components are given the same or similar reference numerals and their repeated description will be omitted, and the size and shape of each component member shown may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of explanation.

[0044] Figure 4 1 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of an electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention. Figure 5 1 is a front view schematically showing the appearance of some configurations of the electrolyte suction portion 110 in the electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention. Figure 6 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the appearance of some configurations of the electrolyte suction portion 110 in the electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention.

[0045] Refer again Figures 4 to 6 as well as Figure 1 and Figure 3 The electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention is a device for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument 10 for injecting electrolyte into a battery cell 20. Figure 2 As shown in , the liquid injection instrument 10 may include a plurality of injection pipe portions 11a and a tray portion 12, on which each of the plurality of injection pipe portions 11a is mounted. Specifically, each of the plurality of injection pipe portions 11a may have a cylindrical tube with a hollow interior so as to insert the battery cell 20. The injection pipe portion 11a is provided with an upper O-ring 11b at the upper portion of the tube. When the electrolyte 30 is injected into the injection pipe portion 11a through the nozzle during the electrolyte injection process of the secondary battery, the upper O-ring 11b may be arranged to prevent leakage of the electrolyte by sealing the injection nozzle 13. The injection pipe portion 11a is provided with a lower O-ring 11c at the lower portion of the tube. The lower O-ring 11c is arranged to be connected to the battery can 21 of the battery cell 20. The lower O-ring 11c may be arranged to prevent leakage of electrolyte by sealing the injection pipe portion 11a and the battery can 21 between the sealing injection pipe portion 11a and the battery can 21 during an electrolyte injection process of the secondary battery. A through hole (not shown) into which each of the plurality of injection pipe portions 11a is inserted may be formed in the tray portion 12.

[0046] Meanwhile, the electrolyte removal device of the present invention includes a transfer section 160, an electrolyte suction section 110, an O-ring cleaning section 150, and a hot air drying section 140 to clean the battery cans of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 and a separate liquid injection instrument. This liquid injection instrument 10 is sequentially transferred to the electrolyte suction section 110, the O-ring cleaning section 150, and the hot air drying section 140 by the transfer section 160, and is cleaned accordingly. However, the liquid injection instrument does not necessarily need to be cleaned in this order, and the order of the cleaning method can be changed as needed.

[0047] Furthermore, the transfer portion 160 may be configured to grasp and move the tray 12 of the liquid injection instrument 10. To this end, the transfer portion 160 may be provided with a transfer unit (not shown) provided with a gripper capable of grasping and transferring the liquid injection instrument 10.

[0048] In addition, the electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention includes an electrolyte suction portion 110. The electrolyte suction portion 110 is arranged so that the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 is sucked and removed through the suction pipe 111. Specifically, the electrolyte suction portion 110 includes a suction pump (not shown) that generates a negative pressure for sucking the electrolyte. The electrolyte suction portion 110 includes a connecting hose 112 that connects the suction pump and the suction pipe 111. For example, Figure 5 As shown in FIG, the electrolyte suction portion 110 may be provided with suction pipes 111 a, 111 b for sucking the electrolyte.

[0049] In addition, the electrolyte suction portion 110 may include an upper suction pipe 111a and a lower suction pipe 111b. The upper suction pipe 111a may be arranged to suck the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring 11b.

[0050] The upper suction pipe 111a may have a hollow cylindrical shape to enclose the upper O-ring 11b. One end of the upper suction pipe 111a may be open to allow insertion of the upper O-ring 11b of the liquid injection instrument 10. In other words, the one tubular open end of the upper suction pipe 111a can be inserted into the upper O-ring 11b of the liquid injection instrument 10. The other end of the upper suction pipe 111a may be provided with a suction nozzle 111a-1, which is arranged to communicate with the suction hose 112 to generate negative pressure within the pipe. Electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring 11b can be removed by suction from the other tubular end of the upper suction pipe 111a.

[0051] Additionally, the lower suction pipe 111b may have a hollow cylindrical shape to enclose the lower O-ring 11c. The lower O-ring 11c of the liquid injection instrument 10 can be inserted through one of the open tubular ends of the lower suction pipe 111b. One end of the lower suction pipe 111b may be open to facilitate insertion of the lower O-ring 11c of the liquid injection instrument 10. The other end of the lower suction pipe 111b may be provided with a suction nozzle 111b-1, which is arranged to communicate with the suction hose 112 to generate negative pressure within the pipe. Electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring 11c can be removed by suction from the other tubular end of the lower suction pipe 111b.

[0052] Figure 7 and Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of an upper O-ring cleaning portion 120 of an electrolyte removal device 100 according to an example of the present invention.

[0053] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 as well as Figure 4 The O-ring cleaning section 150 of the electrolyte removal device 100 of the present invention includes an upper O-ring cleaning section 120. The upper O-ring cleaning section 120 is configured to clean the upper O-ring 11b of the liquid injection device 10. To this end, the upper O-ring cleaning section 120 may include a detergent solution 122 and a cleaning tank 124 for containing the detergent solution 122. For example, the detergent solution 122 may include dimethyl carbonate. For example, the cleaning tank 124 may be provided with a material that does not chemically react with the detergent solution 122. For example, the cleaning tank 124 may be made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene chloride, Teflon, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, in the upper O-ring cleaning section 120, the liquid injection apparatus 10 can be lifted and moved so that the upper O-ring 11b is immersed in the detergent solution 122 contained in the cleaning tank 124. For example, while the upper O-ring 11b is immersed in the detergent solution 122, the electrolyte can be dispersed by applying vibration. For example, the vibration method can use an ultrasonic cleaning method.

[0055] Figure 9 and Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a lower O-ring cleaning portion 130 of an electrolyte removal device 100 according to an example of the present invention.

[0056] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 as well as Figure 4The O-ring cleaning section 150 of the electrolyte removal device 100 of the present invention includes a lower O-ring cleaning section 130. The lower O-ring cleaning section 130 is configured to clean the lower O-ring 11c of the liquid injection instrument 10 using a detergent solution 132. The lower O-ring cleaning section 130 may include the detergent solution 132 and a cleaning tank 134 containing the detergent solution 132.

[0057] Furthermore, in the lower O-ring cleaning section 130, the liquid injection apparatus 10 can be lifted and moved so that the lower O-ring 11c is immersed in the detergent solution 132 contained in the cleaning tank 134. For example, while the lower O-ring 11c is immersed in the detergent solution 132, the electrolyte can be dispersed by applying vibration. For example, the vibration method can use an ultrasonic cleaning method.

[0058] Figure 11 1 is a front view schematically showing the appearance of some configurations of the hot air drying part 140 in the electrolyte removal device 100 according to one example of the present invention.

[0059] Refer again Figure 11 and Figure 4 The hot air drying portion 140 may be provided with a spray nozzle 141 that is arranged to spray hot air onto at least one of the exterior and interior of the liquid injection instrument 10 while the upper O-ring 11b is positioned at the upper portion. Furthermore, the spray nozzle 141 may be provided with an inner spray nozzle 141a and at least one outer spray nozzle 141b. Here, the inner spray nozzle 141a may be arranged to spray hot air onto the interior of the liquid injection instrument 10 by being inserted through the electrolyte injection port 11c of the upper O-ring 11b. For example, the outer spray nozzle 141b may be arranged to spray hot air from the upper portion of the liquid injection instrument 10 onto the outer surface of the liquid injection instrument 10.

[0060] Therefore, the electrolyte removal device 100 of the present invention can effectively remove the residual electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 by including the electrolyte suction part 110 and the hot air drying part 140, thereby maintaining the amount of electrolyte injected into the plurality of battery cells 20 at an appropriate level and thus manufacturing high-quality battery cells 20.

[0061] Figure 12 2 is a conceptual diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of an electrolyte injection system 200 according to one example of the present invention.

[0062] Reference Figure 12 as well as Figures 1 to 4The present application provides an electrolyte injection system 200 according to an example of the present invention. The electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention includes an electrolyte removal device 100. Here, the electrolyte removal device 100 is similar to or the same as the electrolyte removal device 100 described above, and thus a detailed description of the detailed structure of the electrolyte removal device 100 will be omitted.

[0063] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a battery cell supply portion 210 arranged to supply the cylindrical battery cells 20 to the tray coupling portion 220 .

[0064] In addition, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a tray coupling portion 220 arranged to couple the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 to the liquid injection instrument 10 including the tray portion 12 and the plurality of injection pipe portions 11 a .

[0065] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a liquid injection loader portion 230 provided with an electrolyte storage tank and an electrolyte supply pump to supply electrolyte to the cylindrical battery cell 20 coupled to the liquid injection instrument 10 .

[0066] In addition, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a liquid injection chamber portion 240 configured to inject electrolyte into the cylindrical battery cell 20 coupled to the liquid injection instrument 10 within the chamber. At this time, in the cylindrical battery cell 20, the electrolyte supplied from the liquid injection loader portion 230 within the liquid injection chamber portion 240 can be injected into the interior of the battery can 21 through the injection nozzle.

[0067] In addition, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a pressurized / vacuum chamber portion 250, which is arranged to create a pressurized and vacuum environment in the chamber for the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 into which the electrolyte is injected. At this time, the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 into which the liquid injection chamber portion 240 has completed liquid injection can be moved to the pressurized / vacuum chamber portion 250 and then exposed to the pressurized and vacuum environment.

[0068] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a pressurizing loader portion 260 arranged to increase the chamber pressure in the pressurizing / vacuum chamber portion 250 .

[0069] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a pressurization unloader portion 270 arranged to reduce the chamber internal pressure in the pressurization / vacuum chamber portion 250 .

[0070] In addition, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a tray separation portion 280 configured to separate the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 coupled to the liquid injection instrument 10 from the liquid injection instrument 10. This separation process may be performed after the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 are discharged from the pressurization / vacuum chamber portion 250.

[0071] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a battery cell discharge portion 291 that discharges the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 separated from the tray 12 to the outside.

[0072] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a defective battery discharge portion 292 that discharges a battery cell 20 determined to be a defective battery among the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 separated from the tray 12 to the outside.

[0073] In addition, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include an electrolyte removal device 100 for cleaning the liquid injection instrument 10 separated from the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20. Specifically, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include an electrolyte suction portion 110, which is arranged to remove electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 by suction. The electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include an upper O-ring cleaning portion 120, which cleans the upper O-ring 11b of the liquid injection instrument 10. The electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a lower O-ring cleaning portion 130, which cleans the lower O-ring 11c of the liquid injection instrument 10 using a detergent solution 122. The electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may include a hot air drying portion 140 that sprays hot air to the inside and outside of the liquid injection instrument 10 to remove liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 .

[0074] Furthermore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention may transfer the liquid injection instrument 10 dried by the hot air drying part 140 to the tray coupling part 220 to be re-coupled with the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 .

[0075] Therefore, the electrolyte injection system 200 of the present invention can effectively remove residual electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 by including the electrolyte removal device 100, thereby maintaining the amount of electrolyte injected into multiple battery cells 20 at an appropriate level and thus manufacturing high-quality battery cells 20.

[0076] Figure 13is a flowchart showing the steps of an electrolyte removal method according to one example of the present invention.

[0077] Refer again Figure 13 as well as Figures 1 to 11 , the present application provides a method for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument 10 , which is used to inject electrolyte into a battery cell 20 .

[0078] Specifically, the electrolyte removal method of the present invention includes an electrolyte suction step M01 in which the electrolyte suction part 110 suctions and removes the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 transferred by the transfer part 160 .

[0079] Furthermore, the electrolyte removal method of the present invention includes an O-ring cleaning step in which the O-ring cleaning portion 150 cleans the upper O-ring 11b or the lower O-ring 11c of the liquid injection instrument 10 transferred from the electrolyte suction portion 110. Specifically, the O-ring cleaning step may include a lower O-ring cleaning step M02 and an upper O-ring cleaning step M03.

[0080] In addition, the lower O-ring cleaning step M02 is a step in which the lower O-ring cleaning part 130 cleans the lower O-ring 11 c of the liquid injection instrument 10 using the detergent solution 122 .

[0081] Furthermore, the upper O-ring cleaning step M03 is a step in which the upper O-ring cleaning part 120 cleans the upper O-ring 11 b of the liquid injection instrument 10 using the detergent solution 122 .

[0082] In addition, the electrolyte removal method of the present invention includes a hot air drying step M04. The hot air drying step M04 is a step in which the hot air drying part 140 sprays hot air toward at least one of the inside and outside of the liquid injection instrument 10 to remove the liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 transferred from the O-ring cleaning part 150.

[0083] Therefore, the electrolyte removal method of the present invention can effectively remove residual electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument 10 by including an electrolyte suction step M01 and a hot air drying step M04, thereby maintaining the amount of electrolyte injected into multiple battery cells 20 at an appropriate level and thus manufacturing high-quality battery cells 20.

[0084] In addition, the liquid injection instrument 10 may include a plurality of injection pipe sections 11a. Each of the injection pipe sections 11a may have a hollow interior tube into which the battery cell 20 is inserted. The injection pipe section 11a may be provided at an upper portion of the tube and may be provided with an upper O-ring 11b into which the electrolyte is injected during the electrolyte injection process of the secondary battery. The injection pipe section 11a may be provided with a lower O-ring 11c, which is provided at a lower portion of the tube and is arranged to be coupled to the battery can 21 of the battery cell 20.

[0085] In addition, the liquid injection instrument 10 may include a tray portion 12 in which a through hole is formed to insert each of the plurality of injection tubes 11a. However, since this injection instrument 10 is similar to or the same as the liquid injection instrument 10 described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] In the electrolyte suction step M01, the upper suction pipe 111a of the electrolyte suction portion 110 may suck the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring 11b, and the lower suction pipe 111b of the electrolyte suction portion 110 may suck the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring 11c.

[0087] Furthermore, in the lower O-ring cleaning step M02 , the lower O-ring cleaning part 130 may clean the lower O-ring 11 c of the liquid injection instrument 10 by immersing the lower O-ring 11 c in the cleaning tank 134 containing the detergent solution 132 .

[0088] In addition, in the upper O-ring 11 b cleaning step M03 , the upper O-ring cleaning part 120 may clean the upper O-ring 11 b of the liquid injection instrument 10 by immersing the upper O-ring 11 b of the liquid injection instrument 10 in a cleaning tank 124 containing a detergent solution 122 .

[0089] Furthermore, in the hot air drying step M04 , the spray nozzle 141 of the hot air drying part 140 may spray hot air to the upper portion and inside of the liquid injection instrument 10 in a state where the upper O-ring 11 b is positioned at the upper portion.

[0090] The preferred examples of the present invention described above have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and these modifications, changes and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0091] Industrial Applicability

[0092] According to the electrolyte removal device and the electrolyte removal method related to one example of the present invention, by including the electrolyte suction part and the hot air drying part, the residual electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument can be effectively removed.

Claims

1. A device for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument, wherein the liquid injection instrument is used to inject electrolyte into a battery cell, wherein: The electrolyte removal device is characterized by comprising: a transfer portion arranged to transfer the liquid into an instrument; an electrolyte suction portion arranged to suction electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred for cleaning; an O-ring cleaning portion arranged to clean an upper O-ring or a lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument transferred from the electrolyte suction portion; and a hot air drying part that sprays hot air to at least one of an interior and an exterior of the liquid injection instrument to remove liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred from the O-ring washing part.

2. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that The liquid injection instrument comprises: a plurality of injection pipe portions, each of the plurality of injection pipe portions having a tube with a hollow interior into which the battery cell is inserted, the injection pipe portions being provided with an upper O-ring and a lower O-ring, the upper O-ring being provided at an upper portion of the tube and into which electrolyte is injected during electrolyte injection of the secondary battery, the lower O-ring being provided at a lower portion of the tube and being arranged to be coupled to the battery can of the battery cell; and A tray portion is formed in which a through hole into which each of the plurality of injection pipe portions is inserted.

3. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that The electrolyte suction part includes: an upper suction conduit arranged to suck electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring; and A lower suction pipe is arranged to suck electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring.

4. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 3, characterized in that The upper suction pipe has a tubular shape having a hollow interior to surround the upper O-ring, and inserting the upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument through one open end of the tubular shape, and removing the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring by sucking the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring from the other end of the tubular shape.

5. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lower suction pipe has A tubular shape having a hollow interior is provided to surround the lower O-ring, and the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument is inserted through one open end of the tubular shape, and the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring is removed by sucking the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring from the other end of the tubular shape.

6. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The O-ring cleaning part includes: An upper O-ring cleaning portion is arranged to clean the upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument by immersing the upper O-ring of the liquid injection instrument in a cleaning tank containing a detergent solution.

7. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The O-ring cleaning part includes: A lower O-ring cleaning portion is arranged to clean the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument by immersing the lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument in a cleaning tank containing a detergent solution.

8. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The hot air drying part is provided with A spray nozzle is arranged to spray hot air to the upper portion and interior of the liquid injection instrument in a state in which the upper O-ring is positioned at the upper portion.

9. The electrolyte removal device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The spray nozzle comprises: an inner spray nozzle arranged to spray hot air into the interior of the liquid injection instrument by being inserted through the electrolyte injection port of the upper O-ring; and At least one outer spray nozzle is configured to spray hot air from an upper portion of the liquid injection instrument to an outer surface of the liquid injection instrument.

10. A method for removing electrolyte remaining in a liquid injection instrument for injecting electrolyte into a battery cell using the electrolyte removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The electrolyte removal method is characterized by comprising: an electrolyte suction step in which an electrolyte suction section suctions and removes the electrolyte remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred by the transfer section; an O-ring cleaning step in which an O-ring cleaning portion cleans an upper O-ring or a lower O-ring of the liquid injection instrument transferred from the electrolyte suction portion; and a hot air drying step in which a hot air drying part sprays hot air to at least one of the inside and the outside of the liquid injection instrument to remove the liquid remaining in the liquid injection instrument transferred from the O-ring washing part.

11. The electrolyte removal method according to claim 10, characterized in that: include: a plurality of injection pipe portions, each of the plurality of injection pipe portions having a hollow tube into which the battery cell is inserted, the injection pipe portions being provided with an upper O-ring and a lower O-ring, the upper O-ring being provided at an upper portion of the tube and into which electrolyte is injected during electrolyte injection of the secondary battery, the lower O-ring being provided at a lower portion of the tube and being arranged to be coupled to the battery can of the battery cell; as well as A tray portion is formed in which a through hole into which each of the plurality of injection pipe portions is inserted.

12. The electrolyte removal method according to claim 10, characterized in that: In the electrolyte pumping step, The upper suction pipe of the electrolyte suction part sucks the electrolyte remaining in the upper O-ring, and The lower suction pipe of the electrolyte suction portion sucks the electrolyte remaining in the lower O-ring.

13. The electrolyte removal method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The O-ring cleaning step includes A lower O-ring cleaning step is performed in which the lower O-ring of the liquid-injected instrument is immersed in a cleaning tank containing a detergent solution to clean the lower O-ring.

14. The electrolyte removal method according to claim 10, characterized in that: The O-ring cleaning step includes An upper O-ring cleaning step in which the upper O-ring of the instrument is injected with the liquid and immersed in a cleaning tank containing a detergent solution to clean the upper O-ring.

15. The electrolyte removal method according to claim 10, characterized in that: In the hot air drying step, In a state in which the upper O-ring is positioned at the upper portion, the spray nozzle of the hot air drying portion sprays hot air toward the upper portion and the interior of the liquid injection instrument.

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