Secondary battery manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment provides a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes a calender roller configured to press an electrode sheet, wherein the electrode sheet includes a coated lane coated with an electrode paste and an uncoated portion to which the electrode paste is not applied, and a pinch roller configured to press the electrode sheet, wherein a portion of the electrode sheet pressed by the pinch roller is different from a portion of the electrode sheet pressed by the calender roller, and the pinch roller is configured to press the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus. This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0132299, filed on October 5, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. They are widely used as a power source for various wireless devices such as cell phones, laptops, and cordless vacuum cleaners. Recently, as the manufacturing cost per unit capacity of secondary batteries has decreased dramatically due to increased energy density, and the range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased to the same level as that of gasoline-powered vehicles, the primary use of secondary batteries is shifting from mobility devices to travel.

[0003] Secondary batteries are manufactured through electrode processes, assembly processes, and activation processes. Among these processes, the electrode process is the key process that determines the yield and performance of the battery cell. The electrode process can include coating, rolling, and slitting processes. In the coating process, active and insulating materials are applied to the surface of the current collector. In the rolling process, the electrodes are pressed by rolling rollers. The density, performance, and surface quality of the electrodes can be determined in the rolling process. In the slitting process, the electrodes can be cut into multiple electrodes according to the design of the battery cell. Utility Model Content

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a secondary battery manufacturing equipment that improves productivity.

[0006] Technical solution

[0007] This invention provides a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus. The apparatus includes: a pressing roller configured to press an electrode sheet, wherein the electrode sheet includes a coating channel coated with electrode slurry and an uncoated portion not coated with electrode slurry; and a pinch roller configured to press the electrode sheet, wherein the portion of the electrode sheet pressed by the pinch roller is different from the portion pressed by the pressing roller, and the pinch roller is configured to press the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet.

[0008] The pinch roller may be located downstream of the rolling roller in the machine direction of the electrode sheet.

[0009] The pinch roller may be located upstream of the rolling roller in the machine direction of the electrode sheet.

[0010] The roller can be configured to press the coating path and the uncoated portion.

[0011] The pinch roller can be configured to partially extend the uncoated portion.

[0012] The pinch roller can be configured to move in the lateral direction of the electrode sheet.

[0013] The length of the pinch roller in the transverse direction of the electrode sheet can be less than the length of the rolling roller in the transverse direction.

[0014] The length of the pinch roller in the transverse direction of the electrode sheet can be less than the length of the electrode sheet in the transverse direction.

[0015] An exemplary embodiment provides a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes: a pressing roller configured to press an electrode sheet, wherein the electrode sheet includes a coating channel coated with electrode slurry and an uncoated portion to which no electrode slurry has been applied; and a pinch roller configured to partially extend the uncoated portion.

[0016] The pinch roller can be separated from the central portion of the electrode sheet in the lateral direction.

[0017] An exemplary embodiment provides a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes: a pressing roller configured to press an electrode sheet; and a clamping roller configured to press an edge portion of the electrode sheet, wherein the clamping roller is separated from the central portion of the electrode sheet in the transverse direction.

[0018] The pinch rollers can be configured to extend the edge portion of the electrode sheet.

[0019] Beneficial effects

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of this invention, the difference in elongation between the coated and uncoated portions of the electrode sheet can be reduced. Therefore, electrode sheet warpage can be reduced, and the manufacturing reliability of the secondary battery can be improved.

[0021] The effects achievable by the exemplary embodiments of this utility model are not limited to those described above. Those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of this utility model pertain will clearly obtain and understand other effects not described herein from the following description. That is, those skilled in the art can derive from the exemplary embodiments of this utility model any unintentional effects achieved when implementing the exemplary embodiments of this utility model. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a plan view of the rolling roller and the pinch roller.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Figure 4 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to other exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a plan view of a rolling roller and a pinch roller according to other exemplary embodiments.

[0027] Figure 6 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to other exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a plan view of a rolling roller and a pinch roller according to other exemplary embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following description, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their commonly understood meanings or meanings as defined in a general dictionary, but should be understood based on the principle that the inventors of this application can appropriately define terms or words to best interpret the present invention, in accordance with the meanings and concepts corresponding to the present invention.

[0030] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of this utility model and do not reflect the full technical concept of this utility model. It should be understood that various equivalents and modifications can be made to replace these configurations as of the date of filing of this application.

[0031] When it is determined that known configurations or functions related to the description of this utility model may obscure the essence of this utility model due to unnecessary details, they will not be described in detail.

[0032] The embodiments of this utility model are provided to explain the utility model more completely 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 shown schematically. Thus, the dimensions or proportions of each component should not be construed as fully reflecting their actual dimensions or proportions.

[0033] (First Implementation)

[0034] Figure 1 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a plan view of the rolling roller 120 and the pinch roller 130.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 may include an unwinder 111, a rewinder 113, a rolling roller 120, and a pinch roller 130.

[0037] The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to perform an electrode process to manufacture a secondary battery. More specifically, the secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be configured to perform a rolling process on the electrode sheet ES. In the secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100, the rolling process can be performed on the electrode sheet ES unwound from the first electrode roll ER1 by the unwinder 111, and the electrode sheet ES can be wound into a second electrode roll ER2 by the rewinder 113. Therefore, the rolling process performed by the secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 can be a roll-to-roll process.

[0038] In the following text, the direction of movement (or length direction) of the electrode ES is referred to as the Machine Direction (MD), and the direction parallel to the electrode ES and perpendicular to the Machine Direction (MD) is referred to as the Transverse Direction (TD). The Transverse Direction (TD) can be the width direction of the electrode ES.

[0039] The first electrode roll ER1 can be provided by completing a coating process. The coating process is the process of applying a coating material, such as an electrode paste, to the electrode sheet ES. The electrode paste may include an electrode active material, a conductive agent, a binder, and a solvent. The electrode paste can be provided by dissolving the electrode active material, conductive agent, binder, etc., in a solvent. The coating process can form a coated path CL and an uncoated portion UC. The coated path CL can be the portion of the electrode sheet ES to which the electrode paste is applied, and the uncoated portion UC can be the portion of the electrode sheet ES to which the electrode paste is not applied (i.e., the portion separated from the electrode paste or the portion exposing the electrode plate). During the coating process, an insulating layer can be further coated at the boundary of the coated path CL of the electrode sheet ES.

[0040] The rolling process involves passing an electrode sheet ES coated with electrode paste between two opposing rolling rollers 120. By using the rolling rollers 120, the surface of the electrode sheet ES can be flattened, and the bonding force between the active material and the current collector can be increased. The opposing rolling rollers 120 can rotate in opposite directions, but are not limited to this.

[0041] The pressing roller 120 can be configured to press the entire electrode sheet ES. Each of the coated portions CL and the uncoated portions UC of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pressing roller 120. The length of each pressing roller 120 in the transverse direction TD can be greater than or equal to the length of the electrode sheet ES. The pressing by the pressing roller 120, in addition to increasing the bonding force between the electrode slurry and the current collector, also extends the electrode sheet ES in the machine direction MD.

[0042] The pinch roller 130 can be configured to press a portion different from the portion pressed by the pressing roller 120. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 can be configured to press the uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 can be configured to extend the uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES.

[0043] The length of each pinch roller 130 in the transverse direction TD may differ from the length of each pressing roller 120 in the transverse direction TD. The length of each pinch roller 130 in the transverse direction TD may be less than the length of each pressing roller 120 in the transverse direction TD. The length of each pinch roller 130 in the transverse direction TD may differ from the length of the electrode sheet ES in the transverse direction TD. The length of each pinch roller 130 in the transverse direction TD may be less than the length of the electrode sheet ES in the transverse direction TD.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to press only the uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to extend only the uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES. The pinch roller 130 may be separated from the coating path CL of the electrode sheet ES. The pinch roller 130 may not overlap with the coating path CL of the electrode sheet ES.

[0045] Due to the electrode paste, the pressure applied by the roller 120 to the coating path CL may be greater than the pressure applied by the roller 120 to the uncoated portion UC. Therefore, the elongation of the coating path CL of the electrode sheet ES processed by the roller 120 may differ from the elongation of the uncoated portion UC.

[0046] In this example, the pinch roll 130 can be located downstream of the pressing roll 120 in the machine direction MD. That is, the electrode sheet ES processed by the pressing roll 120 can be processed by the pinch roll 130.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrode sheet ES processed by the rolling roller 120 can be processed by the pinch roller 130 to reduce the difference in elongation between the coated portion CL and the uncoated portion UC, thereby preventing the electrode sheet ES from warping.

[0048] According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to press the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to extend the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD.

[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to press only the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pinch roller 130 may be configured to extend only the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD. Each pinch roller 130 may be separated from the central portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD. Each pinch roller 130 may not overlap with the central portion of the electrode sheet ES in the lateral direction TD.

[0050] According to an exemplary embodiment, the diameter D2 of each pinch roller 130 may be different from the diameter D1 of each pressing roller 120. According to an exemplary embodiment, the diameter D2 of each pinch roller 130 may be smaller than the diameter D1 of each pressing roller 120.

[0051] According to an exemplary embodiment, each pinch roller 130 can be configured to move in the lateral direction TD. Variations in the specifications of the battery cells manufactured by the electrode sheet ES result in variations in the width of each of the coated track CL and the uncoated portion UC. By configuring the pinch rollers 130 to move in the lateral direction TD, the secondary battery manufacturing equipment 100 allows for changes in the products to be manufactured in the production line.

[0052] (Second Implementation)

[0053] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a secondary battery manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0054] Reference Figures 1 to 3 In P110, the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pressing roller 120. The coated area CL and the uncoated area UC of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pressing roller 120. The central portion and the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES in the transverse direction TD can be pressed by the pressing roller 120.

[0055] Next, in P120, the uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pinch roller 130. The uncoated portion UC of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed locally by the pinch roller 130. The edge portion of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pinch roller 130. The edge portion of the electrode sheet ES can be pressed locally by the pinch roller 130.

[0056] P110 and P120 can also be performed in reverse order. For example, the electrode sheet ES can be pressed by the pressing roller 120 after being pressed by the pinch roller 130.

[0057] (Third Implementation)

[0058] Figure 4 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 101 according to other exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0059] Figure 5 This is a plan view of the rolling roller 120 and the pinch roller 130 according to other exemplary embodiments.

[0060] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 101 may include an unwinder 111, a rewinder 113, a rolling roller 120, and a pinch roller 130. The unwinder 111, rewinder 113, rolling roller 120, and pinch roller 130 are generally similar to those described above, except for their arrangement. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The descriptions are the same.

[0061] In this example, the pinch roll 130 can be located upstream of the pressing roll 120 in the machine direction MD. That is, the electrode sheet ES processed by the pinch roll 130 can be processed by the pressing roll 120.

[0062] According to an exemplary embodiment, the elongation of the electrode sheet ES by the pinch roller 130 can be less than that of the electrode sheet ES by the rolling roller 120. Therefore, by arranging the pinch roller 130 upstream of the rolling roller 120, the total amount of stress caused by the difference in elongation of the electrode sheet ES can be reduced, and warping of the electrode sheet ES can be prevented.

[0063] (Fourth Implementation)

[0064] Figure 6 A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 102 according to other exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0065] Figure 7 This is a plan view of the rolling roller 120 and the pinch roller 131 according to other exemplary embodiments.

[0066] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 The secondary battery manufacturing equipment 102 may include an unwinder 111, a rewinder 113, a rolling roller 120, and a pinch roller 131. The unwinder 111, rewinder 113, and rolling roller 120 are generally similar to those described above. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The descriptions are the same.

[0067] The electrode sheet ES' can be unwound from the first electrode roll ER1', processed by the rolling roller 120 and the pinch roller 131, and wound into a second electrode roll ER2'. The electrode sheet ES' may include multiple coated passes CL and multiple uncoated portions UC.

[0068] The pinch rollers 131 may have a shape and / or arrangement corresponding to the specifications of the electrode sheet ES' (i.e., the arrangement of multiple coating lanes CL and multiple uncoated portions UC). Each pinch roller 131 may be configured to press the uncoated portions UC of the electrode sheet ES'. Each pinch roller 131 may be configured to press only the uncoated portions UC of the electrode sheet ES'. Each pinch roller 131 may be configured to extend the uncoated portions UC of the electrode sheet ES'. Each pinch roller 131 may be configured to extend only the uncoated portions UC of the electrode sheet ES'.

[0069] Some of the pinch rollers in the pinch rollers 131 can be configured to press the edge portion of the electrode sheet ES' in the transverse direction TD. Some of the pinch rollers in the pinch rollers 131 can be configured to press the central portion of the electrode sheet ES' in the transverse direction TD.

[0070] The present invention has been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations illustrated in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not reflect the full technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications can be made to these configurations as of the date of filing of this application.

Claims

1. A secondary battery manufacturing equipment, characterized in that, include: A pressing roller configured to press an electrode sheet, the electrode sheet comprising a coating channel coated with electrode slurry and an uncoated portion not to which electrode slurry is applied; as well as The clamping roller is configured to press the electrode sheet. The portion of the electrode sheet pressed by the pinch roller is different from the portion of the electrode sheet pressed by the rolling roller, and The pinch roller is configured to press down on the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet.

2. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pinch roller is located downstream of the rolling roller in the machine direction of the electrode sheet.

3. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pinch roller is located upstream of the rolling roller in the machine direction of the electrode sheet.

4. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The roller is configured to press the coating path and the uncoated portion.

5. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pinch roller is configured to partially extend the uncoated portion.

6. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pinch roller is configured to move in the lateral direction of the electrode sheet.

7. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the pinch roller in the transverse direction of the electrode sheet is less than the length of the rolling roller in the transverse direction.

8. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the pinch roller in the transverse direction of the electrode sheet is less than the length of the electrode sheet in the transverse direction.

9. A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that, include: A pressing roller configured to press an electrode sheet, wherein the electrode sheet includes a coating channel coated with electrode slurry and an uncoated portion to which no electrode slurry is applied; as well as A pinch roller configured to locally extend the uncoated portion.

10. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The pinch roller is separated from the central portion of the electrode sheet in the transverse direction.

11. A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that, include: A rolling roller configured to press the electrode sheet; as well as The clamping roller is configured to press the edge portion of the electrode sheet. The pinch roller is separated from the central portion of the electrode sheet in the lateral direction.

12. The secondary battery manufacturing equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that, The pinch roller is configured to extend the edge portion of the electrode sheet.

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