Electrode manufacturing apparatus and electrode manufacturing method using same

Abstract

The invention provides electrode manufacturing equipment. Comprising an unwinder wound with an electrode sheet, a rewinder configured to take up and wind the electrode sheet, a plurality of guide rollers configured to guide the electrode sheet to move between the unwinder and the rewinder, and a rolling device arranged between the unwinder and the rewinder and comprising an upper rolling roller and a lower rolling roller configured to roll and press the electrode sheet, and a transfer device configured to move the connection sheet attached to one of the two portions of the electrode sheet separated from each other, wherein the transfer device is configured to move the connection sheet through a rolling gap between the upper rolling roller and the lower rolling roller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method using the electrode manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, to an electrode manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing electrodes for secondary batteries and an electrode manufacturing method using the electrode manufacturing apparatus.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126163, filed on September 21, 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 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. In recent years, with the expansion of the application fields of rechargeable batteries, the demand for high-capacity rechargeable batteries has increased rapidly.

[0004] Typically, to manufacture secondary batteries, electrode sheets are made by coating current collectors with electrode active materials, and then the electrode sheets undergo subsequent processing. Because of the small thickness of the electrode sheets, they are prone to breakage during processing. When an electrode sheet breaks, the two separated parts are manually reconnected, and the processing of the electrode sheet is resumed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

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

[0007] The present invention also aims to provide a method for manufacturing an electrode.

[0008] Technical solution

[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides an electrode manufacturing apparatus comprising an unwinder with an electrode sheet wound thereon, a rewinder configured to recycle and wind the electrode sheet, a plurality of guide rollers configured to guide the electrode sheet to move between the unwinder and the rewinder, a rolling device disposed between the unwinder and the rewinder and including an upper rolling roller and a lower rolling roller configured to roll the electrode sheet, and a conveying device configured to move a connecting piece attached to one of two separate portions of the electrode sheet, wherein the conveying device is configured to move the connecting piece through the rolling gap between the upper rolling roller and the lower rolling roller.

[0010] In an example embodiment, the conveying device may include a plurality of conveying rollers and a conveyor belt configured to move simultaneously guided by the plurality of conveying rollers, a connecting piece may be attached to the conveyor belt, and the connecting piece may move together with the portion of the electrode sheet attached to the connecting piece during the movement of the conveyor belt.

[0011] In an example embodiment, multiple conveying rollers may be mounted on the rotating shaft of multiple guide rollers.

[0012] In an example embodiment, each of the plurality of conveying rollers can be configured to rotate independently of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

[0013] In an example embodiment, each of the plurality of conveying rollers may be mounted on one side of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

[0014] In an example embodiment, the plurality of guide rollers may include at least one guide roller located between the unwinder and the rolling device, and at least one guide roller located between the rewinder and the rolling device.

[0015] In an example embodiment, the conveying device may further include drive pulleys configured to move the conveyor belt.

[0016] In an example embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus may further include a cutter configured to cut connecting pieces to separate the connecting pieces from the conveyor belt.

[0017] In an example embodiment, the roller pressing device can be configured to move at least one of the upper and lower roller pressing rolls to adjust the roller pressing gap.

[0018] In an example embodiment, the roller pressing device can be configured to adjust the roller pressing gap to a range between a first gap and a second gap greater than the first gap, the first gap being used to press the electrode sheet by the upper and lower roller pressing rollers, and the roller pressing device can maintain the roller pressing gap at the second gap when the connecting sheet is moved through the roller pressing gap by the conveying device.

[0019] One aspect of the present invention provides an electrode manufacturing method, comprising performing a rework operation to connect mutually separated first and second portions of an electrode sheet via a connecting piece, and rolling the electrode sheet including the connecting piece through a rolling gap between an upper pressure roller and a lower pressure roller to roll the electrode sheet, wherein performing the rework operation includes attaching the connecting piece to the first portion of the electrode sheet and a conveyor belt, and moving the conveyor belt to move the connecting piece through the rolling gap.

[0020] In an example embodiment, after moving the connecting piece, performing a rework operation may further include attaching the connecting piece to a second portion of the electrode sheet and separating the connecting piece from the conveyor belt.

[0021] In an example embodiment, performing a rework operation before moving the connecting piece may further include increasing the rolling gap from a first gap to a second gap, the second gap being greater than the thickness of the connecting piece.

[0022] In an example embodiment, the rolled electrode sheet may include adjusting the rolling gap from a second gap to a first gap.

[0023] In an example embodiment, the electrode sheet may be configured to be moved while being guided between a dewinder and a rewinder by a plurality of guide rollers. A plurality of conveyor rollers configured to guide the movement of the conveyor belt may be mounted on the rotation axis of the plurality of guide rollers, and each of the plurality of conveyor rollers may be configured to rotate independently of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

[0024] Beneficial effects

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, rework operations of electrode sheets can be performed automatically to reconnect two parts of an electrode sheet that have separated due to breakage via a connecting piece. Automating the rework operation of electrode sheets prevents operator accidents and improves the productivity of electrode manufacturing processes, including the rework operation of electrode sheets.

[0026] The effects achievable from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. Other effects not described herein will be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. In other words, unexpected effects achieved when implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be derived by those skilled in the art from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1a This is a plan view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 1b It is along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment taken from line BB-BB'.

[0029] Figure 1c It is along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment taken by line CC-CC'.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figures 3a to 9b This is a diagram illustrating an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] 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 commonly understood or defined meanings in common dictionaries, but should be understood based on the principles of the invention, which the inventors of this application may appropriately define in order to best interpret the invention, according to the meanings and concepts corresponding to the invention.

[0033] 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, as of the filing date of this application, various equivalents and modifications have been made to replace these configurations.

[0034] When well-known configurations or functions related to the description of the present invention are identified and obscured from the subject matter of the invention due to unnecessary details, they are not described in detail.

[0035] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, for clarity, the shapes, dimensions, etc. of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or illustrated schematically. Consequently, it should not be construed that the dimensions or proportions of the components fully reflect their actual dimensions or proportions.

[0036] (First embodiment)

[0037] Figure 1a This is a plan view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1b It is along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment 10 taken from line BB-BB'. Figure 1c It is along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment 10 taken from line CC-CC'.

[0038] Reference Figures 1a to 1c The electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 can be configured to roll an electrode sheet ES. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 can be configured to perform a rolling process to manufacture electrodes for a secondary battery. The electrode sheet ES may include a substrate and an electrode paste layer applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the substrate. The substrate may include a current collector, such as copper or aluminum. The electrode paste layer may include a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode active material. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 can perform a rolling process to press the electrode paste layer such that the electrode paste layer applied to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the substrate is flat.

[0039] Furthermore, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 can be configured to perform a rework operation on the electrode sheet ES when it breaks into two parts, in order to connect the two parts of the electrode sheet ES (i.e., the first part ES1 and the second part ES2) using a connecting piece CS. The connecting piece CS may include, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film.

[0040] Electrode manufacturing equipment 10 may include an unwider 110, a rewinder 120, a rolling device 130, and a plurality of guide rollers 140.

[0041] Electrode sheet ES can extend between unwinder 110 and rewinder 120. Electrode sheet ES can be supplied while being wound on unwinder 110. Electrode sheet ES supplied from unwinder 110 can move along a predetermined movement path and be retrieved by rewinder 120. Rewinder 120 can rotate to wind electrode sheet ES. Rewinder 120 can rotate synchronously with the rotation of unwinder 110. Rewinder 120 and unwinder 110 can each be connected to a drive motor and configured to rotate about a rotation axis by a driving force provided by the drive motor. In the following, moving electrode sheet ES forward and / or connecting piece CS can be understood as moving electrode sheet ES and / or connecting piece CS in a direction from unwinder 110 toward rewinder 120, and moving electrode sheet ES and / or connecting piece CS backward can be understood as moving electrode sheet ES and / or connecting piece CS in a direction from rewinder 120 toward unwinder 110.

[0042] Multiple guide rollers 140 may be disposed in the movement path of the electrode sheet ES between the rewinder 120 and the unwinder 110. The multiple guide rollers 140 can guide the electrode sheet ES along a predetermined movement path. Each guide roller 140 may include a rotation shaft 141 and a roller body that rotates about the rotation shaft 141 and is configured to contact the electrode sheet ES. The multiple guide rollers 140 may include at least one guide roller 140 located between the rolling device 130 and the unwinder 110, and at least one guide roller 140 located between the rolling device 130 and the rewinder 120. Although... Figures 1a to 1c The electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 shown includes four guide rollers 140, but the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 may include several to dozens of guide rollers 140.

[0043] A rolling device 130 may be disposed between the unwinder 110 and the rewinder 120. The rolling device 130 performs rolling processing on the electrode sheet ES. The rolling device 130 may include an upper rolling roller 131 and a lower rolling roller 133. Each of the upper rolling roller 131 and the lower rolling roller 133 may be configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The upper rolling roller 131 and the lower rolling roller 133 may be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction), with a rolling gap between them. The rolling gap is the space defined between the upper rolling roller 131 and the lower rolling roller 133, and the electrode sheet ES can move through the rolling gap. In the following, "front" of the rolling device 130 may refer to the direction from the rolling device 130 toward the rewinder 120, and "rear" of the rolling device 130 may refer to the direction from the rolling device 130 toward the unwinder 110.

[0044] The roller pressing device 130 can be configured to adjust the roller pressing gap between the upper pressing roller 131 and the lower pressing roller 133. The roller pressing gap can be understood as the distance between the upper pressing roller 131 and the lower pressing roller 133 in the vertical direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction). The roller pressing device 130 can adjust the roller pressing gap by moving at least one of the upper pressing roller 131 and the lower pressing roller 133 in the vertical direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction).

[0045] In an example embodiment, the roller pressing device 130 can be configured to adjust the roller pressing gap to a first gap G1 (see example G1). Figure 4c ) and a second gap G2 that is larger than the first gap (see Figure 5 Within the range between ( ), the first gap G1 is used to press the electrode sheet ES by the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133. When pressing the electrode sheet ES by the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 to perform a rolling process on the electrode sheet ES, the rolling device 130 can maintain the rolling gap at the first gap. During rework operations where two separate parts of the electrode sheet ES are connected using the connecting piece CS, the rolling device 130 can maintain the rolling gap at the second gap.

[0046] Electrode manufacturing equipment 10 may include a conveying device 200 configured to move a connecting piece CS during a rework operation on an electrode sheet ES.

[0047] The conveying device 200 can move the connecting piece CS, which is attached to one of the first portion ES1 and the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES, through the roller gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133. The conveying device 200 can move the connecting piece CS forward and / or backward so that the connecting piece CS can pass through the roller gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133. When the connecting piece CS is moved by the conveying device 200, the portion of the electrode sheet ES attached to the connecting piece CS (the first portion ES1 or the second portion ES2) can move forward or backward together with the connecting piece CS.

[0048] The conveying device 200 may include a conveyor belt 210, a plurality of conveyor rollers 220 and a drive pulley 230.

[0049] The conveyor belt 210 can move along a path provided by a plurality of conveyor rollers 220. The movement path of the conveyor belt 210 can be in a closed loop form. The plurality of conveyor rollers 220 can be configured to rotate and guide the conveyor belt 210 along a predetermined movement path. Each conveyor roller 220 may include a roller, a gear, a gear, or a drum.

[0050] The conveyor belt 210 can be spaced apart from the electrode sheet ES in the horizontal direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) so as not to interfere with the movement path of the electrode sheet ES.

[0051] A drive pulley 230 may be disposed in the travel path of the conveyor belt 210 and configured to move the conveyor belt 210. The drive pulley 230 may include a drive motor to generate a driving force for moving the conveyor belt 210. In some example embodiments, the conveyor device 200 may include a handle for moving the conveyor belt 210. When an operator rotates the handle, a drive shaft connected to the handle can rotate, and the conveyor belt 210 can be moved while engaging with the rotating drive shaft.

[0052] The conveying device 200 may include a pair of conveyor belts 210 spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction), with the electrode sheet ES located between the pair of conveyor belts 210. The pair of conveyor belts 210 can move along a movement path provided by a plurality of conveyor rollers 220. The conveyor belts 210 may be spaced apart from the electrode sheet ES in the horizontal direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) such that the pair of conveyor belts 210 do not interfere with the movement path of the electrode sheet ES. When the connecting piece CS moves forward or backward to perform a rework operation on the electrode sheet ES, the connecting piece CS is attached to the pair of conveyor belts 210, and the portion of the electrode sheet ES attached to the connecting piece CS (first portion ES1 or second portion ES2) can move forward or backward together with the connecting piece CS.

[0053] When the electrode sheet ES breaks due to the stress applied by the rolling device 130, the first portion ES1 of the electrode sheet ES may be on one side of the rolling device 130 (i.e., behind the rolling device 130), and the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES may be on the other side of the rolling device 130 (i.e., in front of the rolling device 130). Reworking the electrode sheet ES may include attaching a connecting piece CS to the conveyor belt 210 and one end of the electrode sheet ES (e.g., one end of the first portion ES1 of the electrode sheet ES), moving the conveyor belt 210 to move the connecting piece CS forward or backward such that the connecting piece CS approaches the other end of the electrode sheet ES (e.g., one end of the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES), and attaching the connecting piece CS to the other end of the electrode sheet ES. As the connecting piece CS is moved forward or backward by the conveyor belt 210, the portion of the electrode sheet ES attached to the connecting piece CS moves forward or backward together with the connecting piece CS, and the other portion of the electrode sheet ES not attached to the connecting piece CS stops moving.

[0054] In an example embodiment, a plurality of conveying rollers 220 may be mounted on the rotation shaft 141 of a plurality of guide rollers 140. Each of the plurality of conveying rollers 220 may be mounted on one side of the rotation shaft 141 of the corresponding guide roller 140. For example, when the central portion of the rotation shaft 141 of each guide roller 140 is equipped with a roller body that contacts the electrode sheet ES, each conveying roller 220 may be mounted on two spaced-apart sides of each guide roller 140, with the central portion located between these two sides. By mounting the conveying rollers 220 of the conveying device 200 on the rotation shaft 141 of the plurality of guide rollers 140, the number of components of the conveying device 200 can be reduced to lower costs, and the conveying device 200 can be installed more easily.

[0055] In an example embodiment, each of the plurality of conveyor rollers 220 can be configured to rotate independently of the rotation axis 141 of the corresponding guide roller 140 among the plurality of guide rollers 140. That is, the rotation of each conveyor roller 220 may be independent of the rotation axis 141 of the corresponding guide roller 140. For example, when the connecting piece CS is moved (e.g., forward or backward) to perform a rework operation on the electrode piece ES, the plurality of conveyor rollers 220 associated with the movement of the conveyor belt 210 may rotate, but the rotation axis 141 of the plurality of guide rollers 140 may remain stationary and not rotate. For example, when the electrode piece ES is moved forward to perform a roll forming process on the electrode piece ES, the rotation axis 141 of the plurality of guide rollers 140 associated with the movement of the electrode piece ES may rotate, but the plurality of conveyor rollers 220 associated with the movement of the conveyor belt 210 may remain stationary and not rotate.

[0056] (Second Embodiment)

[0057] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3a to 9b This is a diagram illustrating an electrode manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3a , 4a 7a, 8a and 9a are plan views of electrode manufacturing equipment 10. Figure 3b , 4b 6b, 7b, and 9b are along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment 10 taken from line BB-BB'. Figure 3c , 4c 5, 6c and 7c are along Figure 1a A cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing equipment 10 taken from line CC-CC'.

[0058] Reference Figure 2 The electrode manufacturing method may include performing a rework operation on a broken electrode sheet ES (S100), and performing a rolling process on the electrode sheet ES after the rework operation is completed (S200). Performing the rework operation (S100) may include stopping the operation of the equipment when a breakage of the electrode sheet ES is detected (S110), attaching a connecting piece CS to a first part ES1 of the electrode sheet ES and the conveyor belt 210 (S120), adjusting the rolling gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 (S130), moving the connecting piece CS through the rolling gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 (S140), attaching the connecting piece CS to a second part ES2 of the electrode sheet ES (S150), and separating the connecting piece CS from the conveyor belt 210 (S160).

[0059] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 2 to 9b A more detailed description of the use of the above references Figures 1a to 1c The electrode manufacturing method of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 10 described herein.

[0060] Reference Figures 3a to 3c When a breakage of the electrode sheet ES is detected, the operation of the device is stopped (S110).

[0061] In operation S110, when the electrode sheet ES breaks due to the stress applied by the rolling device 130, the electrode sheet ES is divided into a first part ES1 and a second part ES2. In this case, the first part ES1 of the electrode sheet ES can be located behind the rolling device 130, and the second part ES2 of the electrode sheet ES can be located in front of the rolling device 130. For example, the breakage of the electrode sheet ES can be detected based on a signal output from a tension sensor configured to detect tension on the electrode sheet ES or a signal output from a camera configured to capture an image of the electrode sheet ES.

[0062] In operation S110, once a breakage of the electrode sheet ES is detected, the operation of the equipment is stopped. As the operation of the equipment stops, the operation of the unwinder 110, rewinder 120, and the upper pressure roller 131 and lower pressure roller 133 of the rolling device 130 can also be stopped.

[0063] Reference Figures 4a to 4c The connecting piece CS is attached to the first part ES1 of the electrode piece ES and the conveyor belt 210 (S120).

[0064] In operation S120, the connecting piece CS can be attached and fixed to the first portion ES1 of the electrode sheet ES and the conveyor belt 210 by means of an adhesive member such as tape. Alternatively, the connecting piece CS can have adhesive properties, and thus can be attached to the first portion ES1 of the electrode sheet ES and the conveyor belt 210 without an adhesive medium.

[0065] In an example embodiment, operation S120 can be performed by an attachment device for attaching the connecting piece CS to the first portion ES1 of the electrode sheet ES and the conveyor belt 210. For example, the attachment device may include clamping fingers for holding and moving the connecting piece CS and the electrode sheet ES, and a tape feeder for providing an adhesive component between the connecting piece CS and the electrode sheet ES. In an example embodiment, operation S120 can be performed manually.

[0066] Reference Figure 5 Adjust the roller gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 (S130).

[0067] In operation S130, the roller pressing device 130 can change the roller pressing gap from... Figure 4c The first gap G1 is adjusted to a second gap G2 that is larger than the first gap G1. The first gap G1 is used to press the electrode sheet ES by the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133. The second gap G2 can be larger than the thickness of the connecting piece CS and the electrode sheet ES. When the roller gap is maintained at the second gap G2, strong friction between the connecting piece CS and the first part ES1 of the electrode sheet ES and the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 can be prevented during the movement of the connecting piece CS and the first part ES1 of the electrode sheet ES through the roller gap in subsequent processing.

[0068] Figure 5 The diagram shows the upper pressure roller 131 moving upward to adjust the roller gap from a first gap G1 to a second gap G2. In some embodiments, the lower pressure roller 133 can be moved downward, or the upper pressure roller 131 can be moved upward and the lower pressure roller 133 can be moved downward to adjust the roller gap from the first gap G1 to the second gap G2.

[0069] Reference Figures 6a to 6cThe movable connecting piece CS passes through the roller gap (S140) between the upper roller 131 and the lower roller 133.

[0070] In operation S140, the conveyor belt 210, to which the connecting piece CS is fixed, can be moved to move the connecting piece CS toward the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES in front of the roller pressing device 130. As the connecting piece CS is moved backward by the conveyor belt 210, the first portion ES1 of the connecting piece CS and the electrode sheet ES attached to the connecting piece CS is moved backward through the roller pressing gap. Because the plurality of conveyor rollers 220 rotate independently of the rotation axis 141 of the plurality of guide rollers 140, the plurality of guide rollers 140 can remain stationary while the conveyor belt 210 moves to move the connecting piece CS.

[0071] Reference Figures 7a to 7c The connecting piece CS is attached to the second part ES2 of the electrode sheet ES (S150). After the connecting piece CS is attached to the second part ES2 of the electrode sheet ES, the first part ES1 and the second part ES2 of the electrode sheet ES can be connected through the connecting piece CS.

[0072] In operation S150, the connecting piece CS can be attached and secured to the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES using an adhesive member such as tape. Alternatively, the connecting piece CS can have adhesive properties, thus allowing attachment to the second portion ES2 of the electrode sheet ES without an adhesive medium. In an example embodiment, operation S150 can be performed by an attachment device configured to perform operation S120. In an example embodiment, operation S150 can be performed manually.

[0073] Reference Figure 8 Separate the connecting piece CS from the conveyor belt 210 (S160).

[0074] In operation S160, the connecting piece CS can be cut in two parts to separate it from a pair of conveyor belts 210. The connecting piece CS can be cut by a cutter 310. The cutter 310 can be configured to be moved while connected to an actuator. When the connecting piece CS is cut, the first part ES1 and the second part ES2 of the connecting electrode sheet ES can be separated from the conveyor belts 210. As the connecting piece CS is separated from the conveyor belts 210, the electrode sheet ES including the connecting piece CS can be moved independently of the movement of the conveyor belts 210. That is, the movement of the electrode sheet ES including the connecting piece CS is independent of the movement of the conveyor belts 210.

[0075] Reference Figure 9a and 9b After the rework operation on the electrode sheet ES is completed, the electrode sheet ES including the connecting piece CS is subjected to a rolling process (S200).

[0076] In operation S200, before using the unwinder 110 and rewinder 120 to move the electrode sheet ES, the roll gap between the upper pressure roller 131 and the lower pressure roller 133 can be adjusted to a suitable gap for performing the roll pressing process. That is, the roll pressing device 130 can adjust the roll gap from... Figure 5 The second gap G2 used for reworking the electrode sheet ES is adjusted to Figure 4c The first gap G1 is used to perform roll forming on the electrode sheet ES. After adjusting the roll forming gap, the electrode sheet ES can be moved forward using the unwinder 110 and the rewinder 120, and the electrode sheet ES can be rolled using the roll forming device 130.

[0077] As a comparative example, the electrode sheet ES could be reworked manually by the operator. In this case, operator safety accidents are highly likely, and equipment uptime may decrease due to the time required to rework the electrode sheet ES.

[0078] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, rework operations on electrode sheets ES can be performed automatically to connect two parts of the electrode sheet ES that have separated from each other due to breakage, via a connecting piece CS. By automating the rework operation on the electrode sheets ES, operator safety accidents can be prevented, and the productivity of electrode manufacturing processes, including the rework operation on the electrode sheets ES, can be improved.

[0079] 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 the 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 have been made to replace these configurations as of the filing date of this application.

Claims

1. An electrode manufacturing apparatus, comprising: An unwinder, wherein an electrode sheet is wound around the unwinder; A rewinder configured to retract and wind the electrode sheet; Multiple guide rollers are configured to guide the electrode sheet to move between the unwinder and the rewinder; A rolling device is disposed between the unwinder and the rewinder, and includes an upper rolling roller and a lower rolling roller configured to roll the electrode sheet; and A conveying device configured as a movable connecting piece, the connecting piece being attached to one of two separate parts of the electrode sheet. The conveying device is configured to move the connecting piece through the roller gap between the upper roller and the lower roller.

2. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, wherein... The conveying device includes: Multiple conveyor rollers; and A conveyor belt configured to move simultaneously, guided by the plurality of conveyor rollers. The connecting piece is attached to the conveyor belt. During the movement of the conveyor belt, the connecting piece moves together with the portion of the electrode piece attached to the connecting piece.

3. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 2, wherein... The plurality of conveying rollers are mounted on the rotating shaft of the plurality of guide rollers.

4. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, wherein... Each of the plurality of conveying rollers is configured to rotate independently of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

5. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, wherein... Each of the plurality of conveying rollers is mounted on one side of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

6. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 3, wherein... The plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller located between the unwinder and the rolling device, and at least one guide roller located between the rewinder and the rolling device.

7. The electrode manufacturing equipment according to claim 2, wherein... The conveying device further includes a drive pulley configured to move the conveyor belt.

8. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: A cutter configured to cut the connecting piece to separate the connecting piece from the conveyor belt.

9. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein... The roller pressing device is configured to move at least one of the upper roller and the lower roller to adjust the roller gap.

10. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein The roller pressing device is configured to adjust the roller gap to a range between a first gap and a second gap greater than the first gap, the first gap being used to press the electrode sheet by the upper and lower rollers. in, As the connecting piece moves through the roller gap by the conveying device, the roller pressing device maintains the roller gap as the second gap.

11. A method for manufacturing an electrode, comprising: Perform rework to connect the separated first and second parts of the electrode sheets via connecting tabs; and The electrode sheet, including the connecting piece, is moved through the roller gap between the upper and lower pressure rollers to press the electrode sheet. The rework operation includes attaching the connecting piece to the first portion of the electrode sheet and the conveyor belt, and moving the conveyor belt to move the connecting piece through the roller gap.

12. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein, After moving the connecting piece Performing the rework operation further includes: Attach the connecting piece to the second portion of the electrode piece; and Separate the connecting piece from the conveyor belt.

13. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein, Before moving the connecting piece Performing the rework operation further includes increasing the roll gap from a first gap to a second gap, wherein the second gap is greater than the thickness of the connecting piece.

14. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein Rolling the electrode sheet includes adjusting the rolling gap from the second gap to the first gap.

15. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein... The electrode sheet is configured to be moved while being guided by a plurality of guide rollers between the unwinder and the rewinder. Multiple conveyor rollers configured to guide the movement of the conveyor belt are mounted on the rotating shaft of the multiple guide rollers. Each of the plurality of conveying rollers is configured to rotate independently of the rotation axis of the corresponding guide roller among the plurality of guide rollers.

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