Electrode separation device and electrode transfer apparatus

Abstract

The utility model relates to an electrode separation device and electrode transfer equipment. The electrode separation device comprises: a plurality of suction units, the plurality of suction units are respectively used for sucking two or more points on one surface of the electrode, a vibration control unit for applying vibration to the electrode, and a stretching unit for horizontally moving at least one of the suction units towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units to unfold the electrode sucked to the suction units.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority and benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0146094, filed on October 27, 2023, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0146410, filed on October 24, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This utility model relates to an electrode separation device and an electrode transfer device. Background Technology

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and can be manufactured in small sizes with large capacities. Therefore, extensive research and development is currently underway regarding secondary batteries. With the technological advancements and increasing demands of mobile devices, the need for secondary batteries as an energy source is growing dramatically.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin-shaped batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries based on the shape of their casings. In a secondary battery, the electrode assembly installed inside the casing is a rechargeable and dischargeable power generation device with electrodes and a separator layered therein.

[0005] Electrode assemblies can be broadly classified as: wound electrode assemblies, in which a diaphragm is inserted between the positive and negative electrodes and then the positive electrode, the diaphragm, and the negative electrode are wound together, each of the positive and negative electrodes being provided in the form of a sheet coated with an active material; stacked electrode assemblies, in which multiple positive and negative electrodes having diaphragms are stacked sequentially therebetween; and stacked folded electrode assemblies, in which the stacked cell utilizes a diaphragm having a relatively long length for winding.

[0006] Electrode assemblies are primarily manufactured by receiving individual electrodes from an electrode magazine in which multiple electrodes are stacked. During this process, there is a problem that individual electrodes are not properly separated from the multiple electrodes stacked in the electrode magazine, resulting in defects in the manufactured electrode assemblies.

[0007] Therefore, a technique is needed to properly separate a single electrode from multiple electrodes stacked in an electrode box.

[0008] [List of Citations]

[0009] [Patent Literature]

[0010] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2013-0027918 Utility Model Content

[0011] Technical issues

[0012] This utility model relates to an electrode separation device, an electrode transfer equipment, and an electrode transfer method, which can prevent the electrode from sagging during transfer and prevent the electrodes from sticking together and separating when separating a single electrode from multiple electrodes.

[0013] Technical solution

[0014] An exemplary embodiment of this utility model provides an electrode separation device, which includes: a plurality of suction units, each suction unit being configured to suction each of two or more points on a surface of an electrode; a vibration control unit being configured to apply vibration to the electrode; and a stretching unit being configured to horizontally move at least one of the suction units toward or away from at least one of the remaining suction units to stretch the electrode suctioned to the suction units, wherein the vibration control unit is configured to apply vibration to the electrode by making the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units different from the air pressure transmitted via the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units.

[0015] In addition, an exemplary embodiment of this utility model provides an electrode transfer device including an electrode separation device.

[0016] Additionally, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode transfer method comprising the following steps: (a) performing suction through a plurality of suction units, each suction unit being configured to suction each of two or more points on a surface of an electrode; (b) applying vibration to the electrode; (c) stretching the electrode in a suction state; and (d) transferring the electrode, wherein step (b) comprises the following steps: applying vibration to the electrode by making the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units different from the air pressure transmitted via the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units.

[0017] Beneficial effects

[0018] The electrode separation apparatus, electrode transfer device, and electrode transfer method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can easily separate a single electrode from multiple electrodes by applying vibration to the picked-up electrode when picking it up from an electrode cassette unit where multiple electrodes are stacked, preventing multiple electrodes from adhering to each other. The separation of the single electrode can be further ensured by additionally stretching the electrode after picking it up. Additionally, electrode sagging during transfer can be prevented. Therefore, by preventing electrodes from adhering to each other when picking them up from the electrode cassette unit, and thus allowing only a single electrode to be picked up, defects such as damage to the electrode manufacturing equipment or process stoppage caused by electrode drop when multiple electrodes are transferred while adhering can be prevented. Furthermore, by preventing electrode sagging, problems such as electrode breakage or performance degradation can be prevented. These improvements contribute to increased process efficiency and productivity. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating the structure and operating principle of an electrode separation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a view showing the structure of an electrode separation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 and Figure 4 These are views showing the structure and operating principle of the electrode transfer device according to embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, enabling those skilled in the art to readily implement the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the configurations described herein.

[0023] The dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for ease of description, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is shown.

[0024] When a part of this specification "includes", "contains", or "has" a constituent element, unless otherwise specifically described, this does not mean that another constituent element is excluded, but rather that another constituent element may be further included.

[0025] In this specification, terms such as “…part,” “…unit,” “device,” and “equipment” refer to a unit used to perform at least one function or operation.

[0026] In this specification, "direction" can refer to two directions, one towards one side and the other towards the opposite side. Additionally, when it is necessary to distinguish between directions towards one side and the other towards the opposite side, one side will be referred to as "direction towards one side," and the other side will be referred to as "direction towards the opposite side."

[0027] In this specification, when a component is referred to as being "above" or "on" another component, it may be directly on the other component, or there may be an intermediate component present. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly on" another component, there is no intermediate component. Furthermore, when a component is referred to as being "on" a reference portion, the component is located above or below the reference portion, and does not necessarily mean that the component is "above" or "on" in a direction opposite to gravity.

[0028] In the following description of this utility model, detailed descriptions of known related technologies may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the spirit of this utility model.

[0029] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The structure and operating principle of an electrode separation device 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are shown. The electrode separation device 50 can be used to pick up individual electrodes 1 one by one from an electrode box unit 21 in which multiple electrodes 1 are stacked, and separate the electrodes 1. Electrodes 1 separated in this manner can be transferred to the next stage and used.

[0030] The electrode separation device 50 includes a plurality of suction units 52, each suction unit suctioning each of two or more points on one surface of the electrode 1. Specifically, the suction units 52 can be arranged in pairs on the upper surface of the electrode 1 along the long axis of the electrode 1. Figure 1 At both ends of the y-axis (in the y-axis direction).

[0031] The electrode separation device 50 may also include a support unit 51 for fixing the suction unit 52 or a transfer unit for transferring the electrode separation device 50 in a vertical or horizontal direction. The electrode separation device 50 can use the suction unit 52 to suction and pick up a single electrode 1 from the uppermost side of a plurality of electrodes 1 stacked in the electrode box unit 21.

[0032] Additionally, the electrode separation device 50 includes a vibration control unit (not shown) that applies vibration to the electrode 1 when the suction unit 52 suctions the electrode 1 from the electrode box unit 21 or after the electrode 1 has been suctioned and lifted from the electrode box unit 21. Furthermore, the electrode separation device 50 includes a stretching unit 53 that horizontally moves at least one of the suction units 52 that has picked up the electrode 1 toward or away from at least one of the remaining suction units 52 to stretch the electrode 1.

[0033] Even if the electrodes 1 on the plate physically adhere to each other when the electrode 1 is picked up from the electrode box unit 21, vibration is applied to the picked-up electrode 1 by the vibration control unit (not shown), so that only the uppermost electrode 1 can be picked up. Furthermore, the electrode 1 picked up by the suction unit 52 can be horizontally contracted and / or stretched by the stretching unit 53, so that only one electrode 1 is picked up and the remaining electrodes 1 are separated. Moreover, since the electrode 1 is transferred in a stretched state, sagging of the electrode 1 can be prevented.

[0034] When picking up an electrode 1 from the electrode box unit 21, two or more electrodes 1 may be picked up and stacked simultaneously without separating individual electrodes 1. Furthermore, although two or more adhered electrodes 1 are picked up and transferred simultaneously, they may fall into unwanted locations on the production line. In this case, the production line may be contaminated, or the entire production line may stop. This not only damages the fallen electrodes 1 but also delays the entire process. This can be referred to as the separation problem of multiple sheet (electrode) (adhesive electrodes adhered together). In this invention, the separation problem of multiple electrodes can be more reliably prevented by the aforementioned vibration control unit (not shown) and tensioning unit 53. Additionally, when the plate-shaped electrode 1 has a certain length and width, resulting in a surface area exceeding a certain size, the non-suction portion of the electrode 1 may sag downwards because only a portion of the electrode 1 is suctioned by the suction unit 52. In this situation, various problems may occur, such as potential damage to the transferred electrode 1, the electrode 1 falling into an undesirable position during transfer, misalignment of the stacking position when placing the picked-up electrode 1, wrinkles forming in the diaphragm during electrode 1 stacking, and defective cells resulting from a lack of adhesion between the electrodes 1 during the hot pressing process after stacking. In this invention, these various problems can be prevented by the stretching unit 53.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can apply vibration to the electrode 1 in the vertical direction.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can apply vibration to the electrode 1 by making the air pressure delivered to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 different from the air pressure delivered via the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure delivered to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52. After the electrode 1 is picked up by the suction unit 52, the vibration control unit (not shown) applies vibration to the electrode 1, thereby separating the adhered electrode 1 and making only a single electrode 1 detachable.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can alternately transmit air pressure to the electrode 1 through at least one of the suction units 52 and the remaining suction units 52, and specifically, the vibration control unit (not shown) can alternately transmit air pressure to the electrode 1 through at least one of the suction units 52 and the remaining suction units 52, and the cycle of alternately transmitting air pressure to the electrode 1 can be 5 times or more per second.

[0038] In this case, a series of steps in which air pressure is transmitted to electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 and then to electrode 1 by the remaining suction units 52 is called a cycle, and the cycle may be 5 times or more per second, specifically 8 times or more per second, and more specifically 10 times or more per second.

[0039] The stretching unit 53 separates the adhered electrode 1 by contracting and / or stretching the electrode 1 lifted by the suction unit 52. That is, the stretching unit 53 can move the plurality of suction units 52 horizontally toward or away from each other. The stretching unit 53 can also move the plurality of suction units 52 horizontally toward or away from each other along the long axis (y-axis direction) of the electrode 1. Specifically, the stretching unit 53 can move at least one of the plurality of suction units 52 toward one side in the y-axis direction and move at least one of the remaining suction units 52 toward the other side in the y-axis direction or away from each other.

[0040] If needed, horizontal movement along the x-axis can also be designed in addition to the y-axis direction. For example, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the stretching unit 53 can be configured as a frame equipped with horizontally movable rails. Figure 3 ;53), the support unit 51, which is equipped with the suction unit 52, is suspended on the frame. That is, when the suction unit 52, supported by the support unit 51, moves horizontally along the frame, the electrode 1 can contract or stretch in the horizontal direction.

[0041] In addition, to facilitate the operation of the stretching unit 53, the suction unit 52 can stretch the electrode 1 by sliding horizontally within the frame, so that the suction units 52 move away from each other after picking up the electrode 1, and the intensity of the stretching operation can also be enhanced by bringing the suction units 52 slightly closer to each other and then moving them further in the horizontal direction.

[0042] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrode separation device 50 may include two or more suction units 52 that respectively suction a pair of opposite edge portions of the electrode 1. Specifically, the electrode separation device 50 may include one or more suction units 52 that suction one side (i.e., one edge portion) of the electrode 1, and one or more suction units 52 that suction the opposite side (i.e., the other edge portion) of the electrode 1.

[0043] Preferably, the suction units 52 can be arranged in pairs facing each other at the edges of the rectangular electrode 1 along the long axis (y-axis direction). The stretching unit 53 can perform the stretching operation by stretching the suction units 52 at both ends of the electrode 1 along the long axis.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrode separation device 50 includes suction units 52 at the four corners of the electrode 1, and the stretching unit 53 stretches the electrode 1 by moving the four suction units 52, arranged in two opposite directions, away from each other along the long axis of the electrode 1. The electrode separation device 50 may include not only the four suction units 52 at the four corners of the electrode 1, but may also include additional suction units 52 at the central portion of the electrode 1 as needed. The number of suction units 52 can be determined taking into account the area of ​​the electrode 1 to be suctioned by each suction unit, the suction intensity, the size of the electrode 1 to be suctioned, etc.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment, the number of the plurality of suction units 52 can be an even number of two or more, four or more, or 2n or more, where n can be an integer equal to or greater than 1. However, the number of suction units is not necessarily even, and the number of suction units can be odd by including additional suction units 52. That is, such a limitation is not intended.

[0046] Even by moving only one of the suction units 52, the stretching unit 53 can be expected to have the effect of stretching the electrode 1, but multiple suction units 52 facing each other can also be moved simultaneously. The stretching unit 53 can move all the suction units 52, but it can also move only some of them.

[0047] The stretching unit 53 can stretch electrode 1 while simultaneously applying vibration to electrode 1 via the vibration control unit (not shown). Alternatively, the stretching unit 53 can stretch electrode 1 after applying vibration to electrode 1 via the vibration control unit (not shown). Furthermore, the stretching unit 53 can stretch electrode 1 before applying vibration to electrode 1 via the vibration control unit (not shown). Applying vibration via the vibration control unit (not shown) is preferably performed when the suction unit 52 suctions electrode 1 from electrode box unit 21 (i.e., when electrode 1 is placed in electrode box unit 21). Preferably, stretching of electrode 1 by the stretching unit 53 is maintained until separation or transfer of electrode 1 is completed.

[0048] The electrode separation device 50 may also include a height adjustment unit 54 for the vertically moving suction unit 52. Therefore, a single electrode 1 can be picked up and vertically lifted from the electrode box unit 21 by vertical (z-axis direction) movement. Figure 2 A height adjustment unit 54 is shown located at the lower end of the support unit 51. However, if desired, the height adjustment unit 54 can be designed to be located at the upper end of the support unit 51.

[0049] The electrode separation device 50 may also include an adhesion electrode detection sensor (not shown) that checks whether the electrodes 1 drawn into the suction unit 52 are adhered together. There are no particular restrictions on the configuration or position of the adhesion electrode detection sensor, as long as it can detect whether the electrodes 1 picked up from the electrode box unit 21 are adhered together.

[0050] An exemplary embodiment of this utility model provides an electrode transfer device including an electrode separation device 50. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the electrode transfer device includes a transfer unit (not shown) that moves the electrode separation device 50 to transfer the electrode 1 drawn into the electrode separation device 50, thereby enabling the separation and transfer of the electrode 1 from the electrode box unit 21 to be performed by the electrode separation device 50. In another exemplary embodiment, as... Figure 4 As shown, the electrode transfer device may further include an electrode transfer unit 30, which picks up and transfers the electrode 1 separated by the electrode separation device 50.

[0051] The electrode transfer unit 30 may further include a suction unit 32 for picking up the electrode 1 and a support unit 31 for fixing the suction unit 32. The electrode transfer unit 30 may also include a transfer unit (not shown) for vertical and / or horizontal movement. The transfer unit may be fixed to the support unit 31 of the electrode transfer unit 30. The transfer unit can realize horizontal movement to the shuttle unit 41, alignment stage, or stacking stage of the electrode transfer unit 30; and vertical movement to place the electrode 1 on the shuttle unit 41, alignment stage, or stacking stage.

[0052] The electrode transfer apparatus may further include an electrode box unit 21 in which multiple electrodes 1 to be transferred are stacked. Additionally, the electrode transfer apparatus may include a shuttle unit 41 or an alignment stage, on which the electrodes 1 are transferred and placed. Electrodes 1 placed on the shuttle unit 41 can be transferred to another location in the battery manufacturing process. The alignment stage can be used to place the electrodes 1 thereon for supplying the electrodes 1 to the battery manufacturing process (e.g., stacking of electrodes 1).

[0053] The electrode transfer method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be performed using the electrode transfer apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

[0054] An electrode transfer method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: step (a) performing suction by a plurality of suction units 52, each suction unit suctioning each of two or more points on a surface of an electrode 1; step (b) applying vibration to the electrode 1; step (c) stretching the electrode 1 in the suction state; and step (d) transferring the electrode 1, wherein step (b) includes applying vibration to the electrode 1 by making the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 different from the air pressure transmitted via the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52.

[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment, step (a) (i.e., performing suction by a plurality of suction units 52, each suction unit 52 suctioning each of two or more points on a surface of electrode 1) may include the following steps: suctioning a pair of opposite edge portions of electrode 1 by at least two suction units 52 respectively, and step (c) of stretching electrode 1 may include the following steps: horizontally moving at least one of the suction units 52 toward or away from at least one of the remaining suction units 52. This may be performed by stretching unit 53, which is described as above.

[0056] When electrode 1 has one width longer than the other, step (c) of stretching electrode 1 may include the following steps: moving at least one of the aspirated portions of electrode 1 horizontally toward or away from other aspirated portions of electrode 1 in the direction of the long axis of electrode 1. In this case, electrode 1 can be effectively stretched by horizontally moving at least the edge portion of the aspirated portion of electrode 1 in the direction outside the long axis of electrode 1. However, it is not necessary to move all the aspirated portions of electrode 1, and the portions to be moved can be selected as needed.

[0057] Step (b) may be performed before or after step (c), or steps (b) and (c) may be performed simultaneously. Step (b) may be performed by applying vibration to electrode 1 by making the air pressure transmitted to electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 different from the air pressure transmitted via the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52. Additionally, step (b) may include the following steps: alternately transmitting air pressure to electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 and the remaining suction units 52, and the period of alternating transmission of air pressure to electrode 1 may be 5 times or more per second, specifically 8 times or more per second, and more specifically 10 times or more per second.

[0058] The electrode transfer method may further include the following steps: after performing step (a), step (b) or step (c) from an electrode box unit 21 on which multiple electrodes 1 are stacked, detecting whether the electrodes 1 are adhered together.

[0059] Step (d) of transferring electrode 1 may be a step of transferring electrode 1 to the shuttle unit 41 or alignment stage on which electrode 1 is to be placed.

[0060] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0061] [Explanation of Figure Labels and Symbols]

[0062] 1: Electrode

[0063] 21: Electrode Box Unit

[0064] 30: Electrode transfer unit

[0065] 31: Support Unit

[0066] 32: Suction Unit

[0067] 41: Shuttle Unit

[0068] 50: Electrode separation device

[0069] 51: Support Unit

[0070] 52: Suction Unit

[0071] 53: Tensioning Unit

[0072] 54: Height Adjustment Unit

Claims

1. An electrode separation device, characterized in that, The electrode separation device includes: Multiple suction units, each suction unit being configured as each of two or more points on one surface of a suction electrode; A vibration control unit, configured to apply vibration to the electrode; and A stretching unit, configured to horizontally move at least one of the suction units toward or away from at least one of the remaining suction units, to stretch the electrodes suctioned to the suction units. The vibration control unit is configured to apply vibration to the electrode by making the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units different from the air pressure transmitted via the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously changing the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode via at least one of the suction units.

2. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode separation device further includes: A support unit is provided for fixing the suction unit.

3. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode separation device includes two or more suction units that respectively suction a pair of opposite edge portions of the electrode, and The stretching unit moves the plurality of suction units horizontally toward or away from each other.

4. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stretching unit moves the plurality of suction units horizontally toward or away from each other along the long axis of the electrode.

5. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The suction units are arranged in pairs, facing each other, at the edges of the electrodes along their long axis.

6. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vibration control unit alternately transmits air pressure to the electrode through at least one of the suction units and the remaining suction units, and the cycle of alternately transmitting air pressure to the electrode is 5 times or more per second.

7. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the stretching unit stretches the electrode, the vibration control unit applies vibration to the electrode; or after the vibration control unit applies vibration to the electrode, the stretching unit stretches the electrode; or while the vibration control unit applies vibration to the electrode, the stretching unit stretches the electrode.

8. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vibration control unit applies vibration to the electrode in the vertical direction, and the stretching unit stretches the electrode in the horizontal direction.

9. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode separation device further includes a height adjustment unit configured to move the suction unit vertically.

10. The electrode separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode separation device further includes an adhesion electrode detection sensor configured to confirm whether the electrodes aspirated to the suction unit are adhered together.

11. An electrode transfer device, characterized in that, The electrode transfer device includes an electrode separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The electrode transfer apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrode transfer device further includes an electrode transfer unit configured to pick up and transfer electrodes separated by the electrode separation device.

13. The electrode transfer apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrode transfer device further includes a transfer unit configured to move the electrode separation device to transfer the electrode drawn into the electrode separation device.

14. The electrode transfer apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrode transfer device further includes an electrode box unit in which multiple electrodes to be separated by the electrode separation device are stacked.

15. The electrode transfer apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrode transfer device further includes a shuttle unit or alignment stage, on which the electrodes separated by the electrode separation device are transferred and placed.

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