Secondary battery manufacturing equipment and secondary battery manufacturing method using the equipment
By using a cleaning component in the secondary battery manufacturing equipment to remove spatter from the fixture openings, the problem of degraded welding quality was solved, and productivity was improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
In existing secondary battery manufacturing equipment, contamination of fixture openings during the welding process leads to a decline in welding quality and affects productivity.
The cleaning components include a tool body and a splash collection tray. The splashes are removed by physical contact between the tapered tool body and the fixture opening, reducing cleaning time and increasing productivity.
Effective cleaning of fixture openings reduces the time required to clean fixture components and improves the productivity of secondary battery manufacturing.
Smart Images
Figure CN122095482A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing secondary batteries using the apparatus.
[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0019288, filed on February 8, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology
[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. They are widely used as a power source for various wireless devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and cordless vacuum cleaners. In recent years, the primary use of secondary batteries has shifted from mobile devices to mobility services, as increased energy density and economies of scale have significantly reduced the manufacturing cost per unit capacity, enabling battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to achieve driving ranges comparable to gasoline-powered vehicles.
[0004] To keep pace with the rapidly growing demand for rechargeable batteries for mobility, battery manufacturers are facing significant capital expenditures. To maximize return on investment, these companies are seeking to increase the productivity of each production line and are conducting research to improve output and efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0005] [Technical Issues]
[0006] The technical challenge of this invention is to provide a high-productivity secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing secondary batteries using the apparatus.
[0007] [Technical Solution]
[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a first clamping assembly configured to fix a workpiece and including a first opening exposing a surface of the workpiece; a second clamping assembly configured to fix the workpiece and including a second opening exposing a surface of the workpiece; a beam irradiation system configured to irradiate the workpiece with a welding beam through one of the first and second openings; and a cleaning assembly configured to clean the first and second openings.
[0009] The cleaning component is configured to move between a working position that overlaps with the first opening and the second opening, and a standby position that is spaced apart from the working position.
[0010] The first clamping assembly is configured to move toward the second clamping assembly in a first direction to secure the workpiece.
[0011] The cleaning assembly includes a tool body and a splash collection tray connected to the tool body.
[0012] The tool body includes a first portion configured to clean a first opening and a second portion configured to clean a second opening.
[0013] The first part has a tapered shape facing the first opening.
[0014] The second part has a tapered shape facing the second opening.
[0015] The hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the clamp of the first clamping assembly.
[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery is provided. The method includes: moving a cleaning assembly including a tool body to a working position; and moving a first clamping assembly including a first opening and a second clamping assembly including a second opening toward the tool body to remove splatter from the first and second openings.
[0017] In the working position, the tool body overlaps with the first opening and the second opening, respectively.
[0018] The tool body includes a first part having a conical shape facing a first opening and a second part having a conical shape facing a second opening.
[0019] The splatter is removed by physical contact with the tool body.
[0020] The hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the clamp of the first clamping assembly.
[0021] After removing the splashes from the first opening, move the cleaning component to a standby position spaced apart from the working position.
[0022] [Beneficial Effects]
[0023] The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cleaning component. Therefore, the time required to clean the fixture assembly can be reduced, and the productivity of secondary battery manufacturing can be improved.
[0024] The effects obtainable from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain can clearly deduce and understand other effects not mentioned from the following description. That is, those skilled in the art can also deduce unintended effects of implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0026] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0027] Figure 3 The openings of the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly are shown.
[0028] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0029] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0030] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0031] Figure 7 The cleaning assembly is shown cleaning the openings of the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly. Detailed Implementation
[0032] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in their ordinary or dictionary sense, but rather should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical concept of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventors can define the concepts of the terms in a manner they deem most suitable for describing their invention.
[0033] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not an exhaustive list of the technical ideas of the present invention. Various equivalents and modifications may exist that can replace them at the time of submission.
[0034] Furthermore, in describing the present invention, such detailed descriptions are omitted when it is believed that a specific description of a relevant known configuration or feature would obscure the essence of the present invention.
[0035] Because the embodiments of the present invention are provided to explain the invention more fully to those skilled in the art, the shapes and dimensions of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically for clarity. Therefore, the dimensions or proportions of each component do not necessarily indicate their actual dimensions or proportions.
[0036] (First Implementation)
[0037] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0038] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. More specifically, Figure 2 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 100 with workpiece WM loaded is shown.
[0039] Figure 3 The openings 113H / 123H of the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 are shown.
[0040] refer to Figures 1 to 3 According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 may include a first clamping assembly 110, a second clamping assembly 120, a beam irradiation system 130, and a cleaning assembly 140.
[0041] The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to perform a secondary battery manufacturing process. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to perform a welding process. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to perform a laser welding process. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to weld components of a workpiece WM by irradiating the workpiece WM with a welding beam WB. According to an exemplary embodiment, the workpiece WM may include electrode leads and busbars.
[0042] The first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120 can be configured to move relative to each other, such that the first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120 move closer (or further apart). For example, the first clamping assembly 110 can move toward the stationary second clamping assembly 120, the second clamping assembly 120 can move toward the stationary first clamping assembly 110, or the first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120 can move toward each other.
[0043] The first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123 can overlap in a first direction, and the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 can be configured to move in the first direction.
[0044] The first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120 can be configured to clamp the workpiece WM by moving along a first direction. The first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120 can be configured to clamp the workpiece WM by pressing it between the first clamping assembly 110 and the second clamping assembly 120.
[0045] The first clamping assembly 110 may include a first base 111 and a first clamp 113. The first clamp 113 may include a first opening 113H. The first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 may expose a first surface of the workpiece WM. The first clamp 113 may be coupled to the first base 111. The first clamp 113 may be movable via the first base 111.
[0046] The second clamping assembly 120 may include a second base 121 and a second clamp 123. The second clamp 123 may include a second opening 123H. The second opening 123H of the second clamp 123 may expose a second surface of the workpiece WM. The second surface may be opposite to the first surface. The second clamp 123 may be coupled to the second base 121. The second clamp 123 may be movable via the second base 121.
[0047] The beam irradiation system 130 can be configured to generate a weld beam WB and irradiate the weld beam WB onto the workpiece WM. The beam irradiation system 130 can be a laser. The beam irradiation system 130 can include an oscillator configured to generate the weld beam WB, and can include a scanning head configured to guide and irradiate the weld beam WB.
[0048] According to an exemplary embodiment, the welding beam (WB) can be near-infrared. According to an exemplary embodiment, the wavelength of the welding beam (WB) can be in the range of about 750 nm to about 2500 nm. According to an exemplary embodiment, the wavelength of the welding beam (WB) can be about 1070 nm.
[0049] In one example, the oscillator can be a solid-state laser, such as, but not limited to, a semiconductor laser, an Nd:YAG laser, a Ti:Sapphire laser, or a fiber laser. As another example, the oscillator can be a liquid laser, such as a pigment laser. As yet another example, the oscillator can be a gas laser, such as a helium-neon laser, a carbon dioxide laser, an excimer laser, etc.
[0050] The weld beam WB generated by the first beam source can be coupled to the scanning head. According to an exemplary embodiment, the weld beam WB can be delivered to the scanning head via any of a free space optics system, an optical integrated circuit, and a fiber optic system.
[0051] When workpiece WM is processed by welding bundle WB, the first opening 113H of the first fixture 113 and the second opening 123H of the second fixture 123 may become contaminated. Spatter (SPT) may adhere to the first opening 113H of the first fixture 113 and the second opening 123H of the second fixture 123.
[0052] Spatter (SPT) adhering to the first opening 113H of the first fixture 113 and the second opening 123H of the second fixture 123 can deform the contours of the first opening 113H of the first fixture 113 and the second opening 123H of the second fixture 123. Spatter adhering to the first opening 113H of the first fixture 113 and the second opening 123H of the second fixture 123 may interfere with the weld bundle (WB), resulting in unwelded or weak welds in the workpiece (WM), which may reduce the yield of secondary battery manufacturing.
[0053] The cleaning component 140 can be configured to clean the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123. The cleaning component 140 can be configured to remove splatter SPT adhering to the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123 by mechanical means.
[0054] The cleaning assembly 140 may include a tool body 141, a splatter collection tray 143, and a drive mechanism 145. The tool body 141 may be made of a metallic material. The hardness of the tool body 141 may differ from the hardness of the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123. The hardness of the tool body 141 may be less than the hardness of the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123. Therefore, during the mechanical removal of splatter SPT adhering to the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123, damage to the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123 can be prevented or mitigated.
[0055] The splatter collection tray 143 can be configured to collect splatter SPT that has separated from the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113. The splatter collection tray 143 can surround the tool body 141.
[0056] The drive unit 145 can be configured to move the cleaning assembly 140. The drive unit 145 can be configured to move the cleaning assembly 140 such that the cleaning assembly 140 is in a position... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The standby position, or the cleaning component 140 is in a standby position. Figure 5 The work location.
[0057] (Second Implementation)
[0058] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0059] Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0060] Figure 7The cleaning assembly 140 is shown cleaning the openings 113H / 123H of the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120.
[0061] refer to Figures 3 to 5 In stage P110, the cleaning assembly 140 can be moved to the working position. The working position can be spaced apart from the standby position. The cleaning assembly 140 can clean the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123 based on predetermined maintenance intervals. For example, if cleaning is performed by welding bundle WB (see...) Figure 2 For workpiece WM (see) Figure 2 Once the processing has been performed more than a set number of times (e.g., 1000 times), the cleaning component 140 can be moved to the working position.
[0062] When the cleaning component 140 is in the working position, the tool body 141 can overlap with the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123.
[0063] Next, refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 In stage P120, spatter SPT can be removed. Removing spatter SPT may include moving the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 toward the tool body 141.
[0064] The tool body 141 may include a first portion corresponding to a first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and a second portion corresponding to a second opening 123H of the second clamp 123. The first portion of the tool body 141 may have a tapered shape facing the first opening 113H. Therefore, the cross-sectional area (e.g., horizontal cross-sectional area) of the tool body 141 may decrease towards the first opening 113H. The second portion of the tool body 141 may have a tapered shape facing the second opening 123H. Therefore, the cross-sectional area (e.g., horizontal cross-sectional area) of the tool body 141 may decrease towards the second opening 123H.
[0065] As the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 move toward the tool body 141, a first portion of the tool body 141 can be inserted into the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113, and a second portion of the tool body 141 can be inserted into the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123, thereby mechanically removing the spatter SPT through physical contact. The spatter SPT removed from the first opening 113H can be collected by the spatter collection tray 143.
[0066] According to an exemplary embodiment, to clamp the workpiece (WM, see...) Figure 2 The first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 are moved in a manner that cleans the first opening 113H and the second opening 123H, thereby eliminating the need to clean the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123 by separating them from the first base 111 and the second base 121. Therefore, the time required to separate and connect the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123 can be reduced, and the productivity of secondary battery manufacturing can be improved.
[0067] The insertion depth of the tool body 141 into the first opening 113H and the second opening 123H can be determined according to the cleaning target of the first clamp 113 and the second clamp 123. Since the first and second portions of the tool body 141 have a conical shape, the deeper the tool body 141 is inserted into the first opening 113H and the second opening 123H, the greater the amount of splashed SPT that can be removed from the first opening 113H and the second opening 123H.
[0068] and Figure 6 Unlike other methods, the second clamp 123 can be cleaned after the first clamp 113 is cleaned, or vice versa. Furthermore, the tool body 141 can be configured to move toward the stationary first clamp assembly 110 or the stationary second clamp assembly 120, rather than moving the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 toward the tool body 141.
[0069] After cleaning the first opening 113H of the first clamp 113 and the second opening 123H of the second clamp 123, the first clamp assembly 110 and the second clamp assembly 120 can be disconnected from the tool body 141, and the cleaning assembly 140 can be moved to... Figure 1 The standby position.
[0070] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, it should be understood that the configurations shown in the drawings or the embodiments described herein are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entirety of the technical concept of the present invention. Various equivalents and modifications may exist that can replace them at the time of submission of this invention.
Claims
1. A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus, comprising: A first clamping assembly is configured to hold a workpiece and includes a first opening that exposes a surface of the workpiece. A second clamping assembly is configured to secure the workpiece and includes a second opening exposing a surface of the workpiece. A beam irradiation system configured to irradiate the workpiece with a welding beam through one of a first opening and a second opening; and A cleaning component configured to clean a first opening and a second opening.
2. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The cleaning component is configured to move between a working position that overlaps with the first opening and the second opening, and a standby position that is spaced apart from the working position.
3. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The first clamping assembly is configured to move toward the second clamping assembly in a first direction to secure the workpiece.
4. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The cleaning assembly includes a tool body and a splash collection tray connected to the tool body.
5. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 4, wherein, The tool body includes a first portion configured to clean a first opening and a second portion configured to clean a second opening.
6. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 5, wherein, The first part has a tapered shape facing the first opening.
7. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 5, wherein, The second part has a tapered shape facing the second opening.
8. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment as described in claim 4, wherein, The hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the clamp of the first clamping assembly.
9. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising: Move the cleaning components, including the tool body, to the work position; and The movement toward the tool body includes a first clamping assembly with a first opening and a second clamping assembly with a second opening, thereby removing splatter from the first and second openings.
10. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery as described in claim 9, wherein, In the working position, the tool body overlaps with the first opening and the second opening, respectively.
11. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery as described in claim 9, wherein, The tool body includes: a first portion having a conical shape facing a first opening, and a second portion having a conical shape facing a second opening.
12. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery as described in claim 9, wherein, The splatter is removed by physical contact with the tool body.
13. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery as described in claim 9, wherein, The hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the clamp of the first clamping assembly.
14. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery as described in claim 9, wherein, After removing the splashes from the first opening, the cleaning component is moved to a standby position spaced apart from the working position.