Electrode manufacturing equipment

Abstract

The present technology provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus including: a plurality of guide rollers arranged in a moving path of an electrode sheet; a plurality of cameras arranged at a plurality of detection positions corresponding to the plurality of guide rollers; a controller configured to detect a physical defect of the electrode sheet based on signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras; and a plurality of actuators configured to move the plurality of guide rollers in a width direction of the electrode sheet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, to an electrode manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing electrodes for secondary batteries.

[0002] This application claims the benefit based on priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0167378, filed on November 28, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of mobile device technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for rechargeable batteries has also increased dramatically. Among rechargeable batteries, lithium-ion batteries are widely used as the power source for various types of electronic products and mobile devices due to their high energy density, high operating voltage, and excellent storage and lifespan characteristics. Recently, with the expansion of the application areas of rechargeable batteries, the demand for higher capacity batteries is rapidly increasing.

[0004] Typically, to manufacture a secondary battery, an electrode sheet is produced by coating a current collector with an electrode active material, and subsequent processes are performed on the electrode sheet. When a defect occurs in the electrode sheet during processing, the defective portion of the electrode sheet is removed, and the two separate portions of the electrode sheet are reconnected to perform further processes on the electrode sheet. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an electrode manufacturing apparatus.

[0007] Technical solution

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of guide rollers arranged in a movement path of an electrode sheet; a plurality of cameras arranged at a plurality of detection positions corresponding to the plurality of guide rollers; a controller configured to detect physical defects in the electrode sheet based on signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras; and a plurality of actuators configured to move the plurality of guide rollers in the width direction of the electrode sheet.

[0009] In an example implementation, the electrode sheet may include coated portions and uncoated portions, and the controller may be configured to detect physical defects in the uncoated portions of the electrode sheet based on signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras.

[0010] In an example implementation, the controller may be configured to determine a target guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers that is associated with a physical defect in the electrode sheet, based on the signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras.

[0011] In an example implementation, the controller may apply a control signal to a target actuator among the plurality of actuators responsible for moving the target guide roller, and the target actuator may be configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller based on the control signal from the controller.

[0012] In an example implementation, each of the plurality of guide rollers may include a central portion having a flat surface, a peripheral portion having an inclined surface, and a stepped portion at the boundary between the central portion and the peripheral portion, and the target actuator may be configured to adjust the position of the stepped portion of the target guide roller based on the control signal from the controller.

[0013] In an example implementation, the target actuator may be configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller such that the electrode sheet is located within the central portion of the target guide roller.

[0014] In an example implementation, the target actuator may be configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller to prevent the electrode sheet from overlapping with the stepped portion of the target guide roller.

[0015] In an example implementation, the controller can identify the guide roller closest to the origin of the physical defect of the electrode sheet among the plurality of guide rollers as the target guide roller.

[0016] In an example implementation, each of the plurality of actuators may be configured to move a corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers based on the signal from the controller.

[0017] In an example embodiment, the electrode sheet may include a coated portion and an uncoated portion, and the electrode manufacturing apparatus may further include a grooving device configured to remove a portion of the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet.

[0018] In an example embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus may further include: an unwinder on which the electrode sheet is wound; and a rewinder configured to recover and wind the electrode sheet, and the plurality of guide rollers may be disposed between the unwinder and the rewinder.

[0019] Beneficial effects

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the occurrence of physical defects in electrode sheets can be rapidly detected by multiple cameras located at multiple detection positions, thereby minimizing the number of electrode sheets discarded due to physical defects and thus improving the productivity of the electrode manufacturing equipment.

[0021] Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, physical defects in the electrode sheet can be detected by multiple cameras, and the position of the guide roller associated with the physical defect can be automatically adjusted based on the detection results of the physical defect, so as to reduce the setup and adjustment time of the equipment due to the occurrence of physical defects in the electrode sheet, thereby improving the productivity of the electrode manufacturing equipment.

[0022] The effects achievable from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain will clearly derive and understand other effects not described herein from the following description. In other words, those skilled in the art can derive from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention unintended effects achieved when implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a plan view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the guide rollers of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4a and Figure 4b This is a plan view illustrating an electrode manufacturing method using an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing the embodiments of the invention, the terms or expressions used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their common understanding or as defined in a common dictionary, and should be understood according to the meanings and concepts corresponding to the invention, based on the principle that the inventors of this application can appropriately define the terms or expressions to best interpret the invention.

[0028] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of the present invention and do not reflect all the technical concepts of the present invention. It should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that could replace these configurations may have been made as of the filing date of this application.

[0029] When it is determined that a well-known configuration or function related to the description of the present invention obscures the subject matter of the invention due to unnecessary details, it will not be described in detail.

[0030] Because the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully illustrate the invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes, dimensions, etc., of the components shown in the accompanying drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or illustrated schematically for clarity. Therefore, it should not be construed that the dimensions or proportions of the components completely reflect their actual dimensions or proportions.

[0031] (First Implementation)

[0032] Figure 1 This is a side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a plan view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the guide roller 130 of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Reference Figures 1 to 3 The electrode manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to move the electrode sheet 50 along a predetermined moving path and perform electrode manufacturing processes on the electrode sheet 50. The electrode manufacturing processes may include coating processes, rolling processes, slitting processes, notching processes, etc.

[0034] The electrode sheet 50 may include a substrate and an electrode paste layer applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the substrate. The substrate may be a current collector comprising, for example, copper or aluminum. The electrode paste layer may include a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode active material.

[0035] The electrode sheet 50 may include a coated portion 51 coated with an electrode paste layer and an uncoated portion 53 not coated with an electrode paste layer. In the coated portion 51 of the electrode sheet 50, the surface of the substrate may be covered by the electrode paste layer and not exposed to the outside. In the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50, the surface of the substrate may be exposed. For example, the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 may be located on opposite sides of the electrode sheet 50 in the width direction. The width direction of the electrode sheet 50 may be perpendicular to the machining direction MD of the electrode sheet 50. For example, when the machining direction MD of the electrode sheet 50 is parallel to the X-axis direction, the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 may be parallel to the Y-axis direction.

[0036] Electrode manufacturing equipment 100 may include a roll-to-roll device 101 configured to move electrode sheets 50 along a predetermined path. The roll-to-roll device 101 may include an unwider 110, a rewinder 120, a plurality of guide rollers 130, a plurality of actuators 150, a plurality of cameras 140, and a controller 180.

[0037] Electrode sheet 50 can extend between unwinder 110 and rewinder 120, and can move between them. Electrode sheet 50 can be positioned wound on unwinder 110. Electrode sheet 50 supplied from unwinder 110 can move along a predetermined path and be retrieved by rewinder 120. Rewinder 120 can rotate to wind electrode sheet 50. Rewinder 120 can rotate synchronously with unwinder 110. Rewinder 120 and unwinder 110 can be connected to drive motors respectively and configured to rotate about rotation axis 139 by driving force provided by the drive motors.

[0038] Multiple guide rollers 130 can be arranged in the movement path of the electrode sheet 50 between the rewinder 120 and the unwinder 110. The multiple guide rollers 130 can guide the electrode sheet ES to move along a predetermined movement path. Each guide roller 130 can be an idle roller or a drive roller. Figure 1 and 2 The invention is shown to have four guide rollers 130 arranged between the unwinder 110 and the rewinder 120, but the invention is not limited thereto, and the roll-to-roll device 101 may include several to dozens of guide rollers 130 to move the electrode sheet 50 in a predetermined movement path.

[0039] Each guide roller 130 may include a rotation shaft 139 and a rotating body 131 mounted on the rotation shaft 139. The rotation shaft 139 may be mounted on a frame 161. The rotating body 131 may rotate about the rotation shaft 139 and provide a surface that supports and contacts the electrode sheet 50. The rotating body 131 may be configured to rotate with respect to the width direction of the electrode sheet 50, which is perpendicular to the feeding direction MD of the electrode sheet 50.

[0040] The rotating body 131 may include a central portion 1311 and a pair of peripheral portions 1313 in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50. The central portion 1311 of the rotating body 131 may have a substantially uniform thickness and a flat surface supporting the electrode sheet 50. The peripheral portions 1313 of the rotating body 131 may have a tapered shape, the thickness of which decreases with increasing distance from the central portion 1311 of the rotating body 131. The peripheral portions 1313 of the rotating body 131 may include an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the flat surface of the central portion 1311 of the electrode sheet 50. A stepped portion 1315 may be disposed between the central portion 1311 and the peripheral portions 1313 of the rotating body 131.

[0041] Multiple actuators 150 can move multiple guide rollers 130 in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 and adjust the position of the multiple guide rollers 130 in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50. Hereinafter, the position of the guide rollers 130 in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 will be simply referred to as the position of the guide rollers 130. Each actuator 150 can linearly move a corresponding guide roller 130 among the multiple guide rollers 130 to adjust the position of the corresponding guide roller 130. Each actuator 150 can linearly move the rotation axis 139 and the rotating body 131 of the corresponding guide roller 130 together. In an example embodiment, each actuator 150 can linearly move the corresponding guide roller 130 along the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 or the direction in which the rotation axis 139 extends, such that the stepped portion 1315 of the rotating body 131 of the corresponding guide roller 130 can be located in a specified position.

[0042] Multiple cameras 140 can capture images of the electrode sheet 50 at multiple detection locations on the electrode sheet 50 to detect physical defects in the electrode sheet 50 as it is guided and moved by multiple guide rollers 130. The multiple cameras 140 may include at least one camera 140 for capturing images at one detection location on the electrode sheet 50. The multiple cameras 140 may include at least one imaging device configured to capture images of the electrode sheet 50. Each of the multiple cameras 140 can transmit the image obtained by capturing images of the electrode sheet 50 to a controller 180. The multiple cameras 140 may be positioned at multiple detection locations corresponding to the positions of the multiple guide rollers 130. Each camera 140 may be positioned near a corresponding guide roller 130 among the multiple guide rollers 130 and configured to capture images of a portion of the electrode sheet 50 near the corresponding guide roller 130. In an example embodiment, each camera 140 may be configured to capture images of the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 to detect physical defects in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50. Physical defects in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 may include readily identifiable defects such as wrinkles, indentations, and cracks.

[0043] The controller 180 can control the overall operation of the roll-to-roll assembly 101 based on signals DS transmitted from the multiple cameras 140. The controller 180 can generate control signals CS for controlling the positions of the multiple guide rollers 130 in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 based on the signals DS transmitted from the multiple cameras 140, and provide the generated control signals CS to the multiple actuators 150. The controller 180 may include at least one memory device configured to store data and at least one processor configured to process data. For example, the controller 180 can be implemented using a computer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), etc.

[0044] Multiple cameras 140 can acquire images of the electrode sheet 50 at multiple detection points corresponding to the positions of multiple guide rollers 130, and the controller 180 can determine whether a physical defect has occurred in the electrode sheet 50 based on the images of the electrode sheet 50 acquired at the multiple detection points. When it is determined that a physical defect has occurred in the electrode sheet 50, the controller 180 can determine, based on the images of the electrode sheet 50 acquired at the multiple detection points, the guide roller 130 associated with the physical defect in the electrode sheet 50. Hereinafter, the guide roller 130 identified as associated with the physical defect in the electrode sheet 50 will be referred to as the target guide roller.

[0045] When the target guide roller is determined, the controller 180 can apply a control signal CS to the target actuator among the plurality of actuators 150 responsible for moving the target guide roller, and the target actuator can move the target guide roller in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 according to the control signal CS applied by the controller 180.

[0046] In an example implementation, the controller 180 can detect the occurrence of physical defects in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 based on images of the electrode sheet 50 obtained at multiple detection points, and determine a target guide roller associated with the occurrence of physical defects in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50. For example, when continuous or discontinuous physical defects are detected in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 along the feeding direction MD of the electrode sheet 50, the guide roller 130 closest to the starting point of the physical defect can be determined as the target guide roller.

[0047] In an example implementation, the target actuator may move the target guide roller in response to a control signal CS from the controller 180, such that the electrode 50 is located within the central portion of the rotating body of the target guide roller. Alternatively, the target actuator may move the target guide roller in response to a control signal CS from the controller 180, such that the electrode 50 does not overlap with the outer portion of the target guide roller.

[0048] In an example implementation, the target actuator can adjust the position of the stepped portion of the target guide roller in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 based on a control signal CS from the controller 180. For example, when the electrode sheet 50 overlaps with the stepped portion of the target guide roller, the target actuator can move the target guide roller based on the control signal CS from the controller 180 so that the electrode sheet 50 does not overlap with the stepped portion of the target guide roller.

[0049] Electrode manufacturing equipment 100 may include a grooving device 190 in the movement path of electrode sheet 50. The grooving device 190 may remove a portion of the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 to form an electrode tab 55 on the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50. The grooving device 190 may include a laser grooving device configured to remove a portion of the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 using a laser beam, or a pressure-based grooving device configured to remove a portion of the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 using a die cutter.

[0050] (Second Implementation)

[0051] Figure 4a and Figure 4b This is a plan view illustrating an electrode manufacturing method of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following text, reference will be made to... Figure 4a and Figure 4b as well as Figures 1 to 3 A method for manufacturing electrodes using electrode manufacturing equipment 100 is described.

[0052] Reference Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 4a The controller 180 can detect physical defects 57 in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 based on signals DS transmitted from multiple cameras 140. The physical defect 57 in the uncoated portion 53 can be an indentation defect. When the electrode sheet 50 contacts the center portion 1311 of the rotating body 131 of the guide roller 130 on the upstream side of the electrode sheet 50 in the machine feed direction MD, an indentation defect may occur on the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50, originating from the guide roller 130 on the downstream side of the rotating body 130 in the machine feed direction MD, as the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50 spans both the center portion 1311 and the peripheral portion 1313 of the rotating body 130 on the downstream side.

[0053] like Figure 4a As shown, when a physical defect 57 is detected in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50, the controller 180 can, based on the signal DS transmitted from the plurality of cameras 140, indicate a target guide roller 130a among the plurality of actuators 150 that is associated with the physical defect 57 in the uncoated portion 53 of the electrode sheet 50. The target guide roller 130a can be the closest among the plurality of guide rollers 130 to the starting point of the indentation defect.

[0054] Reference Figure 4bThe controller 180 can adjust the position of the target guide roller 130a by applying a control signal CS to the target actuator 150a, one of the plurality of actuators 150 responsible for the movement of the target guide roller 130a. The position of the target guide roller 130a can be adjusted such that physical defects 57 in the electrode sheet 50 caused by the target guide roller 130a are eliminated. In an example embodiment, the adjustment of the position of the target guide roller 130a by the target actuator 150a can be performed when the movement of the electrode sheet 50 is stopped by the roll-to-roll device 101. In an example embodiment, the adjustment of the position of the target guide roller 130a by the target actuator 150a can be performed simultaneously with the movement of the electrode sheet 50 in the feed direction MD by the roll-to-roll device 101.

[0055] In an example implementation, the controller 180 may calculate the position movement value of the target guide roller 130a based on the signal DS transmitted from the plurality of cameras 140, and the target actuator 150a may move the target guide roller 130a in the width direction of the electrode sheet 50 based on the determined position movement value based on the control signal CS applied from the controller 180.

[0056] In an example embodiment, the target actuator 150a can move the target guide roller 130a based on a control signal CS from the controller 180, such that the electrode plate 50 overlaps with the center portion 1311a of the rotating body 131a of the target guide roller 130a, but not with the outer portion 1313a of the rotating body 131a. In an example embodiment, the target actuator 150a can move the target guide roller 130a based on a control signal CS from the controller 180, such that the electrode plate 50 does not overlap with the stepped portion 1315a of the rotating body 131a of the target guide roller 130a. In an example embodiment, the target actuator 150a can adjust the distance D1 between the frame 161 and a stepped portion 1315a of the target guide roller 130a based on a control signal CS from the controller 180.

[0057] Typically, when a physical defect occurs in an electrode sheet, the electrode manufacturing process is performed by stopping the operation of the manufacturing equipment, resetting the equipment to eliminate the cause of the defect, cutting and removing the defective portion of the electrode sheet, reconnecting the two separated parts of the electrode sheet with tape, and resuming the operation of the manufacturing equipment. Because the defective portion of the electrode sheet is discarded, the productivity of the electrode sheet may decrease when the detection of the physical defect is delayed. In typical electrode manufacturing processes, resuming the process takes a long time, resulting in reduced equipment utilization.

[0058] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the occurrence of physical defects 57 in electrode sheets 50 can be quickly detected by multiple cameras 140 located at multiple detection positions, so as to minimize the number of electrode sheets 50 discarded due to physical defects 57, thereby improving the productivity of electrode manufacturing equipment 100.

[0059] Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, physical defects 57 of the electrode sheet 50 can be detected by multiple cameras 140, and the position of the guide roller 130 associated with the physical defects 57 can be automatically adjusted based on the detection results of the physical defects 57, so as to reduce the equipment setup and adjustment time caused by the occurrence of physical defects 57 of the electrode sheet 50, thereby improving the productivity of the electrode manufacturing equipment 100.

[0060] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations shown in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not reflect all the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that could replace these configurations may have been made at the date of filing of this application.

Claims

1. An electrode manufacturing apparatus, comprising: Multiple guide rollers are arranged in the movement path of the electrode sheet; Multiple cameras are arranged at multiple detection positions corresponding to the multiple guide rollers; A controller configured to detect physical defects in the electrode sheet based on signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras; as well as Multiple actuators are configured to move the multiple guide rollers in the width direction of the electrode sheet.

2. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein... The electrode sheet includes a coated portion and an uncoated portion, and The controller is configured to detect physical defects in the uncoated portions of the electrode sheet based on the signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras.

3. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 2, wherein... The controller is configured to determine, based on the signals transmitted from the plurality of cameras, a target guide roller associated with a physical defect in the electrode sheet among the plurality of guide rollers.

4. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, wherein... The controller applies control signals to the target actuator among the plurality of actuators responsible for moving the target guide roller, and The target actuator is configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller based on the control signal from the controller.

5. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 4, wherein... Each of the plurality of guide rollers includes a central portion having a flat surface, a peripheral portion having an inclined surface, and a stepped portion at the boundary between the central portion and the peripheral portion. The target actuator is configured to adjust the position of the stepped portion of the target guide roller based on the control signal from the controller.

6. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein... The target actuator is configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller such that the electrode plate is located within the central portion of the target guide roller.

7. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein... The target actuator is configured to adjust the position of the target guide roller to prevent the electrode sheet from overlapping with the stepped portion of the target guide roller.

8. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein The controller identifies the guide roller closest to the origin of the physical defect in the electrode sheet among the plurality of guide rollers as the target guide roller.

9. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein... Each of the plurality of actuators is configured to move a corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers based on the signal from the controller.

10. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The electrode sheet includes a coated portion and an uncoated portion, and The electrode manufacturing apparatus further includes a grooving device configured to remove a portion of the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet.

11. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: An unwinding machine, on which the electrode sheet is wound; as well as A rewinder configured to recover and wind the electrode sheet. The plurality of guide rollers are disposed between the unwinder and the rewinder.

Images