Electrode manufacturing apparatus including mold for forming insulating layer

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus, the electrode manufacturing apparatus comprising: a coating roller arranged to support an electrode sheet; a movement space part in which the electrode sheet is moved by the rotation of the coating roller; and a mold for forming an insulating layer, the mold for forming an insulating layer being mounted on a movement path of the electrode sheet, in which the mold for forming an insulating layer includes: a nozzle portion for spraying an insulating liquid onto the electrode sheet; the first angle adjusting part is used for adjusting the angle of the nozzle part in the moving direction of the electrode sheet; a second angle adjusting portion for adjusting an angle of the nozzle portion in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet; and an azimuth angle adjusting part which is formed as a circular arc around the rotation axis of the coating roller and is capable of moving the position of the nozzle part along the circular arc.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus including a mold for forming an insulation layer. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries has also rapidly increased. Among them, lithium secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for various mobile devices and various electronic products due to high energy density and high operating voltage, as well as excellent storage characteristics and life characteristics.

[0003] One of the main goals in the field of secondary batteries is to improve safety. The main cause of safety-related accidents in batteries is an abnormally high temperature condition caused by a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. That is, in normal cases, a separator is located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to maintain electrical insulation, but in abnormal misuse cases such as overcharging or overdischarging of the battery, internal short circuit caused by dendritic growth of electrode materials or foreign matter, penetration of the battery by sharp objects such as nails, screws, etc., and excessive deformation of the battery due to external force, the existing separator itself has limitations.

[0004] In addition, the separator, which mainly uses a microporous separator composed of a polyolefin resin, has a heat resistance temperature of about 120 to 160°C, which can be insufficient in heat resistance. Therefore, if an internal short circuit occurs, the separator shrinks due to short circuit reaction heat, the short circuit area expands, and a thermal runaway state occurs in which a larger amount of reaction heat is generated.

[0005] Therefore, in order to maintain the insulation of the battery electrode and reduce the possibility of a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, an insulation layer is applied to the electrode, typically on a portion of the positive electrode. For example, the insulation layer can be formed to partially overlap a terminal portion of the active material layer and a portion of the electrode current collector where the active material layer is not formed (uncoated portion), which can prevent the positive electrode tab portion and the negative electrode from directly contacting each other in the case where the separator shrinks due to an abnormal high temperature, thereby improving safety. In this case, due to the adhesive properties of the electrode paste, the active material layer can be formed such that the terminal portion has a slope toward the current collector.

[0006] An insulating layer is formed by jetting an insulating liquid to a target position, and the jetting of the insulating liquid can be performed through a mold for forming an insulating layer. The existing mold for forming an insulating layer is fixedly positioned in consideration of the formation position, thickness, etc. of a target insulating layer. In this case, selecting an appropriate position of the mold for forming an insulating layer is an important issue. For example, if the distance between an active material layer and the mold for forming an insulating layer is too small, a coated layer of the active material layer can experience a scratching phenomenon, and if the distance between the active material layer and the mold for forming an insulating layer is widened to prevent the phenomenon, the thickness of the formed insulating layer can become too thick, and there is a concern that the insulating layer can be swollen due to an electrolyte solution, thereby causing an electrode shape bending or an insulating layer detachment phenomenon, etc. shape change. In particular, in consideration of a possibility that a slope can be formed at an end portion of the active material layer due to a viscous characteristic of an electrode slurry, the above-described problems cannot be solved by the existing mold for forming an insulating layer.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop a mold for forming an insulating layer for forming an insulating layer thin and uniformly at a target position of an electrode. SUMMARY

[0008] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0009] An object of the present application is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide an electrode manufacturing apparatus in which a mold for forming an insulating layer capable of adjusting the position and angle of a nozzle portion without damaging an active material layer is installed in the electrode manufacturing apparatus, thereby significantly preventing a scratching phenomenon on the active material layer, a thickness unevenness of the formed insulating layer, and an electrode shape change due to the insulating layer becoming thick.

[0010] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0011] [1] The present application provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus including a coating roll disposed to support an electrode sheet, a moving space portion in which the electrode sheet moves by rotation of the coating roll, and a mold for forming an insulating layer installed on a moving path of the electrode sheet, wherein the mold for forming an insulating layer includes a nozzle portion for jetting an insulating liquid onto the electrode sheet, a first angle adjusting portion for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion in the moving direction of the electrode sheet, a second angle adjusting portion for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet, and an azimuth adjusting portion formed to form a circular arc around the rotation axis of the coating roll, and capable of moving the position of the nozzle portion along the circular arc.

[0012] [2] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to [1], wherein the mold for forming an insulating layer is installed spaced apart from the electrode sheet.

[0013] [3] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] and [2], wherein the electrode manufacturing apparatus further includes a position adjustment portion that adjusts a position of the mold for forming an insulating layer.

[0014] [4] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [3], wherein the position adjustment portion includes at least one of a first linear guide formed along the moving direction of the electrode sheet, a second linear guide formed along a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet, and a third linear guide portion that adjusts a position of the mold for forming an insulating layer in a height direction.

[0015] [5] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [4], wherein the electrode sheet includes a current collector and an active material layer provided on at least a portion of a surface of the current collector, and the nozzle portion is configured to adjust a position and an angle to spray the insulating liquid onto the active material layer.

[0016] [6] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [5], wherein the active material layer includes a tilted portion tilted toward the current collector in at least one end and a flat portion divided not to include the tilted portion, and the nozzle portion adjusts a spray position and a spray angle of the insulating liquid so that an insulating layer is formed on at least a portion of the tilted portion.

[0017] [7] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [6], wherein the current collector is adjacent to the tilted portion, and the current collector includes an uncoated portion on which the active material layer is not formed, and the nozzle portion is configured to adjust the spray position and the spray angle of the insulating liquid so that an insulating layer is continuously formed on at least a portion of the tilted portion and at least a portion of the uncoated portion.

[0018] [8] The invention provides the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [7], wherein the mold for forming an insulating layer is a plurality, and the plurality of molds for forming an insulating layer are sequentially provided along the moving direction of the electrode sheet.

[0019] [9] The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [8], wherein a position and an angle of each nozzle portion included in the plurality of molds for forming an insulating layer are adjusted to form two or more insulating layers.

[0020]

[10] The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to one or more of [1] to [9], wherein the electrode manufacturing apparatus further includes a drying portion provided behind a jetting position of the nozzle portion based on the moving direction of the electrode sheet.

[0021] Advantageous Effects

[0022] The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present application includes a mold for forming an insulating layer, and the mold for forming an insulating layer is characterized by including an angle adjustment portion (a first angle adjustment portion and a second angle adjustment portion) for adjusting a jetting angle of a nozzle portion and an azimuth adjustment portion for adjusting a position of the nozzle portion to be orthogonal to a rotation axis of an application roller. Thereby, it is possible to minimize a distance between the nozzle portion of the mold for forming an insulating layer and a position at which an insulating liquid is applied to a level at which scratching or slippage of an active material layer does not occur, and it is possible to form an insulating layer to be thin and uniform, thereby enabling an electrode having excellent quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic view for explaining an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 2 is a plan view for explaining a position of an application roller and an azimuth adjustment portion in an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic view for explaining a conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] First, before describing the present application, the words or terms used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as having meanings defined in commonly used dictionaries. These words or terms should be interpreted as having meanings that are consistent with the technical idea of the present application, based on the meaning of the words or terms understood by those skilled in the art on the basis of the present application, and the principle of the present application can be best explained.

[0027] Further, the terms used in the present specification are used only to explain embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. Unless explicitly described otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions.

[0028] In the present specification, the terms "include", "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, components or combinations thereof, but should be understood not to exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, components or combinations thereof.

[0029] Hereinafter, the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, the same components can have as many identical reference numerals as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Also, in describing the present application, if it is judged that a specific description of a related known configuration or function can obscure the gist of the present application, the detailed description can be omitted.

[0030] Electrode manufacturing apparatus

[0031] The present application relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrode manufacturing apparatus for a lithium secondary battery.

[0032] Specifically, referring to Figure 1 , the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present application is characterized by including a coating roll 10 disposed to support an electrode sheet 20, a moving space part 30 in which the electrode sheet 20 moves by rotation of the coating roll 10, and a mold 40 for forming an insulation layer installed on a moving path of the electrode sheet 20, wherein the mold 40 for forming an insulation layer includes a nozzle part 41 for spraying an insulation liquid onto the electrode sheet 20, a first angle adjusting part 42 for adjusting an angle of the nozzle part 41 in a moving direction of the electrode sheet 20, a second angle adjusting part 43 for adjusting an angle of the nozzle part 41 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20, and an azimuth adjusting part 44 formed to form a circular arc around a rotation axis of the coating roll 10 and capable of moving a position of the nozzle part 41 along the circular arc.

[0033] The coating roll 10 is disposed to support the electrode sheet 20.

[0034] The coating roll 10 can be a cylindrical roll as Figure 1 indicated, and the electrode sheet 20 can be conveyed in a machine direction MD of the electrode sheet 20 according to rotation of the coating roll 10.

[0035] The electrode sheet 20 can be in the form of a sheet. Specifically, although Figure 1The electrode sheet can be conveyed to the coating roll and the coating roll supports the conveyed electrode sheet, and the electrode sheet can be moved in the moving direction of the electrode sheet by the rotation of the coating roll, although not shown, when the electrode roll on which the electrode sheet is wound is unwound.

[0036] The electrode sheet 20 can be a positive electrode sheet or a negative electrode sheet, and specifically can be a positive electrode sheet.

[0037] The electrode sheet 20 can include a current collector 21 and an active material layer 22 disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the current collector 21. The active material layer 22 can be disposed on one side or both sides of the current collector 21. The position and angle of the nozzle portion 41, which will be described later, can be adjusted so as to spray the insulating liquid onto the active material layer 22.

[0038] Specifically, the active material layer 22 can include an inclined portion 221 inclined toward the current collector 21 at at least one end and a flat portion 222 divided not to include the inclined portion 221. The inclined portion 221 can be formed by the viscous properties of the electrode slurry used to form the active material layer 22. In this case, the insulating layer 50, which will be described later, can be formed by being applied to at least a portion of the inclined portion 221. Alternatively, the position and angle of the nozzle portion 41, which will be described later, can be adjusted so as to spray the insulating liquid so as to form the insulating layer on at least a portion of the inclined portion 221.

[0039] Further, the current collector 21 can further include an uncoated portion adjacent to the inclined portion 221 in which the active material layer 22 is not formed. In this case, the insulating layer 50, which will be described later, can be formed continuously on at least a portion of the inclined portion 221 and at least a portion of the uncoated portion. Alternatively, the nozzle portion 41, which will be described later, can adjust the spray position and spray angle of the insulating liquid so that the insulating layer 50 is formed continuously on at least a portion of the inclined portion 221 and at least a portion of the uncoated portion.

[0040] As the electrode sheet 20, the current collector 21, and the active material layer 22, materials and ingredients known in the art can be used without limitation.

[0041] The current collector is not particularly limited as long as the current collector has high electrical conductivity without causing chemical changes in the battery. Specifically, the current collector can include at least one material selected from the group consisting of copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, and aluminum-cadmium alloy. For example, if the electrode or the active material layer is a positive electrode or a positive active material layer, the current collector can include aluminum, and if the electrode or the active material layer is a negative electrode or a negative active material layer, the current collector can include copper.

[0042] The current collector can be used in various forms such as a film, a sheet, a foil, a mesh, a grid, a porous body, a foam, and a nonwoven fabric. In addition, the current collector can include a polymer layer and metal layers disposed on both sides of the polymer layer, and the metal layers can include at least one material selected from the group consisting of copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, and an aluminum cadmium alloy.

[0043] The active material layer 22 can include an active material.

[0044] Specifically, if the active material is a negative active material, for example, a compound capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating lithium can be used as a negative active material (electrode active material) contained therein. Specific examples of the negative active material include: carbonaceous materials such as artificial graphite, natural graphite, graphitized carbon fiber, and amorphous carbon; metal compounds capable of alloying with lithium such as Si, Al, Sn, Pb, Zn, Bi, In, Mg, Ga, Cd, Si alloys, Sn alloys, and Al alloys; metal oxides capable of doping and undoping lithium such as SiO β (0 < β < 2), SnO2, vanadium oxide, and lithium vanadium oxide; or composite materials including a metal compound and a carbonaceous material such as Si-C composite materials and Sn-C composite materials, and any one or a mixture of two or more of them can be used. In addition, a metal lithium thin film can be used as the negative active material. In addition, both low-crystalline carbon and high-crystalline carbon can be used as the carbon material. Representative examples of the low-crystalline carbon include soft carbon and hard carbon, and representative examples of the high-crystalline carbon include natural graphite or artificial graphite, agglomerated graphite, pyrolytic carbon, mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber, mesocarbon microbead, mesophase pitch, and high-temperature calcined carbon (e.g., petroleum or coal pitch-derived coke) in the form of amorphous, plate, flake, spherical, or fiber-like.

[0045] In addition, specifically, if the active material is a positive active material, the positive active material (electrode active material) is not particularly limited, and any positive active material known in the art can be used without limitation. Specifically, the positive active material is: a layered compound such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) and lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2), or a compound substituted with one or more transition metals; a lithium iron oxide such as LiFe3O4; a lithium manganese oxide such as Li 1+c1 Mn 2-c1 O4 (0 ≤ c1 ≤ 0.33), LiMnO3, LiMn2O3, and LiMnO2; lithium copper oxide (Li2CuO2); vanadium oxides such as LiV3O8, V2O5, and Cu2V2O7; chemical formula LiNi 1-c2 M c2Li2MnO3 (wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, and Ga, and 0.01 ≤ c2 ≤ 0.3 is satisfied) represents a lithium nickel oxide of Ni site type; a lithium manganese composite oxide represented by a chemical formula LiMn 2-c3 M c3 Li2MnO3 (wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn, and Ta, and 0.01 ≤ c3 ≤ 0.1 is satisfied) or Li2Mn3MO8 (wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) represents a lithium manganese composite oxide; or LiMn2O4, wherein part of Li in the chemical formula is substituted with an alkaline earth metal ion, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] The active material layer can selectively include a binder, a conductive material, and / or a thickening agent in addition to the active material.

[0047] The binder includes any one of binder polymers or a mixture of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer, a polyvinyl alcohol, a styrene butadiene rubber, a polyethylene oxide, a carboxymethyl cellulose, a cellulose acetate, a cellulose acetate butyrate, a cellulose acetate propionate, a cyanoethyl pullulan, a cyanoethyl polyvinyl alcohol, a cyanoethyl cellulose, a cyanoethyl sucrose, a pullulan, a polymethyl methacrylate, a polybutyl acrylate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyvinyl acetate, a polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyarylate, and a low molecular weight compound having a molecular weight of 10,000 g / mol or less.

[0048] The conductive material is not particularly limited as long as it does not cause a chemical change in the battery and has conductivity, and for example, a material such as graphite such as natural graphite and artificial graphite; carbon black such as carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and thermal black; conductive fibers such as carbon fibers and metal fibers; conductive tubes such as carbon nanotubes; metal powders such as fluorocarbon, aluminum, and nickel powders; conductive whiskers of zinc oxide and potassium titanate; conductive metal oxides such as titanium oxides; conductive materials such as polyphenylene derivatives, and the like can be used.

[0049] The thickening agent can be, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

[0050] The active material layer can be manufactured by adding the active material and optional binder, conductive material, thickening agent, and the like to a solvent to prepare an active material slurry, and then coating the active material slurry to a current collector, drying, and roll-pressing. Water, NMP, and the like can be used as the solvent.

[0051] If an active material layer 22 is formed on the electrode sheet 20, the electrode manufacturing apparatus may further include a mold (not shown) for forming the active material layer. The mold for forming the active material layer can spray or discharge an active material slurry. The mold for forming the active material layer may be mounted in the movable space 30 to be spaced apart from the electrode sheet 20. Spraying the active material slurry through the mold for forming the active material layer and spraying the insulating liquid through the mold for forming the insulating layer (described later) can be performed substantially simultaneously or at different times. Specifically, after the mold for forming the active material layer sprays the active material slurry at the target location, the mold for forming the insulating layer can spray the insulating liquid. Alternatively, after the mold for forming the active material layer sprays the active material slurry at the target location, the mold for forming the insulating layer can spray the insulating liquid substantially simultaneously.

[0052] The moving space section 30 is configured to be a location where the electrode sheet 20 is moved by the rotation of the coating roller 10. Specifically, the moving space section 30 provides a moving path MD along which the electrode sheet 20 moves by the rotation of the coating roller 10.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, the moving space section 30 may include one or more support rollers 31 arranged along the moving direction MD of the electrode sheet 20. The support rollers 31 can support the electrode sheet 20, allowing the electrode sheet 20 to be easily conveyed along the moving direction. Alternatively, the support rollers 31 can change the moving path of the electrode sheet 20 to a desired position.

[0054] The mold 40 for forming the insulating layer can be configured for the purpose of forming the insulating layer by spraying insulating liquid onto the electrode sheet 20.

[0055] The mold 40 for forming the insulating layer is mounted on the moving path of the electrode sheet 20. Specifically, the mold 40 for forming the insulating layer can be mounted spaced apart from the electrode sheet 20. Furthermore, the mold 40 for forming the insulating layer can be mounted at a predetermined distance from the coating roller 10. More specifically, the mold 40 for forming the insulating layer can be configured such that the nozzle portion 41 (discharge port) is spaced apart from the coating roller 10 and orthogonal to the rotation axis r of the coating roller 10. This orthogonal arrangement can be achieved by the first angle adjustment portion 42, the second angle adjustment portion 43, and the orientation adjustment portion 44, which will be described later.

[0056] Specifically, the die 40 for forming the insulating layer includes a nozzle portion 41 for jetting the insulating liquid onto the electrode sheet 20, a first angle adjustment portion 42 for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion 41 in the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20, a second angle adjustment portion 43 for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion 41 in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20, and an azimuth adjustment portion 44 formed as a circular arc around the rotation axis of the coating roll 10 and capable of moving the position of the nozzle portion 41 along the circular arc.

[0057] For example, Figure 3 A conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus is shown in FIG. 1. In the conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus, a die 40' for forming an insulating layer is fixedly provided on the coating roll 10 or the electrode sheet 20 while being spaced apart. Referring to FIG. 1, the die 40' for forming the insulating layer is fixedly provided on the coating roll 10 while being spaced apart from the electrode sheet 20. The die 40' for forming the insulating layer is provided on the coating roll 10 while being spaced apart from the electrode sheet 20, and the position of the nozzle portion of the die 40' for forming the insulating layer is adjusted to be orthogonal to the rotation axis of the coating roll 10. Figure 3 In terms of the distance between the nozzle portion of the die 40' for forming the insulating layer and the application position, if the distance between the nozzle portion of the die 40' for forming the insulating layer and the application position is too close, the amount of the discharged insulating liquid can be minimized, but the nozzle portion or the structure of the die for forming the insulating layer scratches or pushes the adjacent active material layer, which causes structural damage to the active material layer and results in poor electrode quality. Specifically, the step between the active material layer and the current collector is about 100 to 500 μm, and thus the die 40' for forming the insulating layer can not easily jet the insulating liquid without damaging the active material layer. In addition, if the distance between the nozzle portion of the die 40' for forming the insulating layer and the application position is too far, the amount of the discharged insulating liquid is excessive, which results in the insulating layer being formed thick. This can cause the electrode shape to change (e.g., warp due to swelling of the insulating layer by the electrolyte), and the insulating layer can experience delamination. In terms of the angle between the nozzle portion of the die 40' for forming the insulating layer and the application position, it is important to adjust the position of the nozzle portion to be orthogonal to the rotation axis of the coating roll 10. For example, if the jetting direction of the nozzle portion is not orthogonal to the rotation axis of the coating roll 10 but is inclined, the active material layer can be scratched in a portion where the distance between the nozzle portion and the coating roll 10 is close, and there can be a problem of uneven thickness of the insulating layer or deterioration of processability in a portion where the distance between the nozzle portion and the coating roll 10 is far.

[0058] Therefore, to solve the problem, the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present application includes a mold 40 for forming an insulating layer, and the mold 40 for forming an insulating layer is characterized by including an angle adjustment portion (a first angle adjustment portion 42 and a second angle adjustment portion 43) for adjusting a spray angle of a nozzle portion 41 and an azimuth adjustment portion 44 for adjusting a position of the nozzle portion 41 to be orthogonal to a rotation axis of the coating roll 10. Thereby, it is possible to minimize a distance between the nozzle portion 41 of the mold 40 for forming an insulating layer and an application position of the insulating liquid to a level at which scratching or slippage of the active material layer does not occur, and it is possible to form the insulating layer thin and uniformly, thereby enabling an electrode of excellent quality.

[0059] Further, according to the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present application, it is possible to adjust the position and the angle of the nozzle portion 41 simply and accurately, thereby making it possible to form the insulating layer at a desired position, and as a result, the insulating layer can be formed to have a thin and uniform thickness, thereby significantly reducing the amount of the insulating liquid used for forming the insulating layer, which is also advantageous in terms of cost reduction.

[0060] The nozzle portion 41 can be provided as a position at which the insulating liquid is sprayed or discharged. The nozzle portion 41 can include a discharge port through which the insulating liquid is dispersed, and a discharge path that conveys the insulating liquid to the discharge port.

[0061] The spray method of the nozzle portion 41 can be selected from among thermal spraying, compressed air spraying, ultrasonic spraying, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0062] The first angle adjustment portion 42 is configured to adjust the angle of the nozzle portion 41 in the moving direction (machine direction MD) of the electrode sheet 20 or in the longitudinal direction of the electrode sheet 20, and the second angle adjustment portion 43 is configured to adjust the angle of the nozzle portion 41 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20 (transverse direction TD) or in the width direction of the electrode sheet 20. For example, when forming the insulating layer on the inclined portion of the active material layer located at the electrode tip and the uncoated portion of the current collector, it is possible to adjust the spray angle of the nozzle portion 41 by the first and second angle adjustment portions such that the spray direction of the nozzle portion 41 is directed toward the inclined portion.

[0063] Further, the azimuth adjustment portion 44 is formed to form a circular arc centered on the rotation axis of the coating roll 10. Therefore, the position of the nozzle portion 41 can be moved along the circular arc about the rotation axis.

[0064] The azimuth adjustment portion 44 can adjust the position of the nozzle portion 41 to be orthogonal to the rotation axis of the coating roll 10 according to the above-described features. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the distance between the nozzle portion 41 of the die 40 for forming the insulating layer and the application position of the insulating liquid to a level at which scratching or slippage of the active material layer does not occur. Further, the angle and length of the inclined portion of the active material layer vary depending on the viscosity of the electrode slurry for forming the active material layer, and the thickness and length of the insulating layer can vary depending on the viscosity and application amount of the insulating liquid, and it is also preferable that the position and angle of the die 40 for forming the insulating layer can be adjusted according to the situation. If the angle of the nozzle portion 41 is adjusted only by installing the first angle adjustment portion 42 and the second angle adjustment portion 43 without introducing the azimuth adjustment portion 44, it is difficult to accurately adjust the gap between the position of the insulating layer forming the electrode and the position at which the die 40 for forming the insulating layer sprays the insulating liquid, and it can be difficult to adjust the thickness of the insulating layer considering the spreadability depending on the viscosity of the insulating liquid, the discharge speed of the insulating liquid, the discharge amount, and the like. In addition, it is necessary for the azimuth adjustment portion 44 to be formed to form a circular arc around the rotation axis of the coating roll 10, and if the height (for example, the direction perpendicular to the MD and TD of the electrode sheet 20) of the nozzle portion 41 is adjusted only, not the azimuth adjustment portion 44, it can be difficult to form an orthogonal shape at a desired position between the die 40 for forming the insulating layer and the coating roll 10, and it can be difficult to adjust the thickness of the insulating layer considering the spreadability depending on the viscosity of the insulating liquid, the discharge speed of the insulating liquid, the discharge amount, and the like.

[0065] The angle of the circular arc formed by the azimuth adjustment portion 44 is not particularly limited, and can be greater than 0° and less than or equal to 360°, specifically greater than 0° and less than or equal to 270°, more specifically greater than 0° and less than or equal to 180°, and most specifically can be 90°.

[0066] The radius R2 of the circular arc formed by the azimuth adjustment portion 44 can be at least 1 times, specifically 1 to 3 times the radius R1 of the coating roll, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] By the first angle adjustment portion 42, the second angle adjustment portion 43, and the azimuth adjustment portion 44, it is possible to accurately adjust the position and angle of the nozzle portion 41.

[0068] Specifically, the electrode sheet 20 can include a current collector 21 and an active material layer 22 disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the current collector 21, and the position and angle of the nozzle portion 21 can be adjusted so as to spray the insulating liquid onto the active material layer 22. Also, the active material layer 22 can include a slanted portion 221 slanted toward the current collector 21 in at least one end and a flat portion 222 divided not to include the slanted portion 221, and the nozzle portion 21 can be configured to adjust the spray position and spray angle of the insulating liquid so that the insulating layer 50 is formed on at least a portion of the slanted portion 221. Also, the current collector 21 can be adjacent to the slanted portion 221 and can include an uncoated portion on which the active material layer 22 is not formed, and the nozzle portion 41 can be configured to adjust the spray position and spray angle of the insulating liquid so that the insulating layer 50 is continuously formed on at least a portion of the slanted portion 221 and at least a portion of the uncoated portion. For example, the angle formed by the direction in which the insulating liquid is sprayed by the nozzle portion 41 and the current collector or the electrode sheet can be 5° to 45°, preferably 15° to 35°, and if the angle is within this range, it is possible to prevent the problem of the active material layer being scratched by the mold 40 used to form the insulating layer, while it is possible to prevent the problem of the discharge of the insulating liquid being pressed against the current collector and the insulating layer being applied too thick.

[0069] Also, the electrode manufacturing apparatus can further include a position adjusting portion that adjusts the position of the mold 40 used to form the insulating layer. The position adjusting portion can be provided to adjust the position of the mold 40 itself used to form the insulating layer, rather than the angle of the nozzle portion 41. For example, the position adjusting portion can include at least one of a first linear guide 46 formed along the moving direction MD of the electrode sheet 20, a second linear guide 45 formed along a direction TD perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20, and a third linear guide 47 that adjusts the position of the mold used to form the insulating layer in a height direction H. Accordingly, the position of the mold 40 used to form the insulating layer can be adjusted along the first linear guide 45, the second linear guide 46, and / or the third linear guide 47. In this case, the height direction H of the mold 40 used to form the insulating layer can refer to a direction orthogonal to both the MD direction and the TD direction.

[0070] The electrode manufacturing apparatus can further include a drying portion (not shown) provided behind the spray position of the nozzle portion 41 based on the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20. The drying portion can dry the insulating liquid dispersed from the nozzle portion 41 so as to facilitate the formation of the insulating layer.

[0071] The drying method of the drying portion is not particularly limited, and for example, a hot air method, a direct heating method, an induction heating method, etc. can be employed, and specifically, the drying by the drying portion can be performed at 50°C to 180°C.

[0072] The electrode manufacturing apparatus can further include a recovery roller (not shown) that winds the electrode sheet 20 on which the insulation layer is formed. Specifically, the recovery roller can be disposed behind a spraying position of the nozzle portion 41 based on a moving direction of the electrode sheet 20. More specifically, if the electrode manufacturing apparatus further includes a drying portion, the recovery roller can be disposed behind a position of the drying portion based on the moving direction of the electrode sheet 20.

[0073] The mold for forming the insulation layer can be plural.

[0074] The plural molds for forming the insulation layer can be sequentially disposed in the moving direction MD of the electrode sheet.

[0075] The position and the angle of each nozzle portion included in the plural molds for forming the insulation layer can be adjusted to form two or more insulation layers.

[0076] For example, the plural molds for forming the insulation layer can be sequentially disposed adjacent to each other in the moving direction MD of the electrode sheet, and then each angle adjustment portion and an azimuth adjustment portion can be adjusted to form two or more insulation layers.

[0077] Further, the plural molds for forming the insulation layer can be sequentially disposed in a direction TD perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet. In this case, the plural molds for forming the insulation layer can simultaneously form insulation layers on two inclined portions 221 formed at both ends of the active material layer.

[0078] Further, some of the plural molds for forming the insulation layer can be disposed on one side of the electrode sheet, and the remaining molds for forming the insulation layer can be disposed on the other side of the electrode sheet, thereby forming insulation layers on both sides of the electrode sheet.

[0079] The above-described embodiments according to the present application can be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the present application should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present application are provided in order to more completely explain the present application to those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0080] [REFERENCE NUMERICAL DESCRIPTION]

[0081] 10: coating roller, 20: electrode sheet, 21: current collector, 211: uncoated portion, 22: active material layer, 221: inclined portion, 222: flat portion, 30: moving space portion, 31: support roller, 40: mold for forming insulation layer, 41: nozzle portion, 42: first angle adjustment portion, 43: second angle adjustment portion, 44: azimuth adjustment portion, 45, 46: position adjustment portion, 45: second linear guide, 46: first linear guide, 47: third linear guide, 50: insulation layer.

Claims

1. An electrode manufacturing apparatus, the electrode manufacturing apparatus comprising: A coating roller, the coating roller being configured to support an electrode sheet; The electrode sheet moves within the moving space section due to the rotation of the coating roller; as well as A mold for forming an insulating layer is mounted on the moving path of the electrode sheet. The mold for forming the insulating layer includes: a nozzle portion for spraying insulating liquid onto the electrode sheet; a first angle adjusting portion for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion in the direction of movement of the electrode sheet; a second angle adjusting portion for adjusting the angle of the nozzle portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the electrode sheet; and an orientation adjusting portion formed to form an arc around the rotation axis of the coating roller and capable of moving the position of the nozzle portion along the arc.

2. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The mold used to form the insulating layer is installed separately from the electrode sheet.

3. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The electrode manufacturing equipment further includes a position adjustment unit that adjusts the position of the mold used to form the insulating layer.

4. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The position adjustment unit includes at least one of a first linear guide formed along the moving direction of the electrode sheet, a second linear guide formed along a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the electrode sheet, and a third linear guide for adjusting the position of the mold for forming the insulating layer in the height direction.

5. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The electrode sheet includes a current collector and an active material layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the current collector, and The nozzle is configured to adjust its position and angle to spray the insulating liquid onto the active material layer.

6. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 5, wherein, The active material layer includes an inclined portion that slopes towards the current collector at at least one end and a flat portion that excludes the inclined portion. The nozzle portion adjusts the spray position and spray angle of the insulating liquid so that an insulating layer is formed on at least a portion of the inclined portion.

7. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 6, wherein, The current collector is adjacent to the inclined portion and includes an uncoated portion where the active material layer is not formed. The nozzle portion is configured to adjust the spray position and spray angle of the insulating liquid, such that an insulating layer is continuously formed on at least a portion of the inclined portion and at least a portion of the uncoated portion.

8. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The molds used to form the insulating layer are multiple, and Multiple molds for forming the insulating layer are arranged sequentially along the moving direction of the electrode sheet.

9. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 8, wherein, The position and angle of each nozzle portion in the plurality of molds used to form the insulating layers are adjusted to form two or more insulating layers.

10. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The electrode manufacturing equipment further includes a drying section, which is located behind the spray position of the nozzle section, based on the moving direction of the electrode sheet.

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