Apparatus for winding a separator

Abstract

Device for winding a separator (S), comprising the following: a first movable part (120) that can move on a guide element (110); a frame (140) provided on the first movable part (120); a second movable part (160) which is provided on the frame (140); and a separator winding section (180) that winds the separator (S), at least part of which is attached to the second movable part (160), around an electrode mounting intermediate piece (10), wherein the separator winding section (180) holds the electrode mounting intermediate (10) and raises or lowers the electrode mounting intermediate (10) while rotating the electrode mounting intermediate (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for winding a separator. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, a secondary battery is a battery that can be used repeatedly by discharging, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy, and recharging. These battery types include nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH), lithium-metal batteries, lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion), lithium-ion polymer batteries (Li-ion Polymer Battery, hereinafter referred to as "LIPB"), and the like.

[0003] A secondary battery may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator, and can store and generate electricity by utilizing a difference in voltage levels between a positive electrode plate material and a negative electrode plate material, which are different from each other. In this case, the discharging means moves electrons from a negative electrode with a high voltage to a positive electrode with a low voltage (generating electricity corresponding to a voltage difference with the positive electrodes), and the charging means moves electrons from the positive electrode back to the negative electrode. In this case, a positive electrode material can absorb the electrons and lithium ions and return to an original metal oxide thereof.That is, when the secondary battery is charged, metal atoms can move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through the separator, causing a charging current to flow, and conversely, when the secondary battery is discharged, the metal atoms move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, causing a discharging current to flow.

[0004] In the manufacture of such a secondary battery, an electrode assembly can be manufactured by alternately stacking a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, each cut to a specific size. At this time, the separator can be placed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. Finally, after the stacking of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate is completed, the separator can be wound around an electrode mounting spacer. The wound separator can then be bonded and cut.

[0005] However, during the wrapping of the separator around the electrode mounting spacer, the tension applied to the separator may not be constant, causing the separator to be permanently deformed. Furthermore, because the tension applied to the separator is not constant, the external force applied to the electrode mounting spacer may be excessive. SUMMARY

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a separator winding apparatus capable of preventing permanent deformation of the separator.

[0007] Furthermore, another embodiment of the present invention provides a separator winding apparatus capable of reducing the external force applied to an electrode assembly.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for winding a separator comprises a first movable part provided to move on a guide member; a frame provided on the first movable part; a second movable part provided on the frame; and a separator winding section that winds the separator, at least a portion of which is fixed to the second movable part, around an electrode mounting spacer, wherein the separator winding section holds the electrode mounting spacer and raises or lowers the electrode mounting spacer while rotating the electrode mounting spacer.

[0009] The first movable part comprises a first movable element that moves on the guide element and a first drive that is connected to the first movable element and transmits a drive force for moving the first movable element.

[0010] The first driver includes a linear motor.

[0011] The frame includes a base portion secured to the first movable portion and a side wall portion extending upwardly from the base portion.

[0012] The base part may preferably have the shape of a plate.

[0013] The side wall portion is preferably arranged at an end portion of the base part.

[0014] The second movable part comprises a cylinder attached to the frame and a mounting stand connected to the cylinder and movable on the frame.

[0015] The device further comprises a clamping element which is arranged on one side of the stand and fixes at least a part of the separator.

[0016] The clamping element is preferably arranged on an extension piece that extends from one side of the assembly stand.

[0017] The speed of the first movable part in a section in which the first movable part moves is preferably higher than the speed of the mounting frame in a section in which the mounting frame moves through the cylinder.

[0018] The tension exerted on the separator in the section in which the first movable part moves is preferably lower than the tension exerted on the separator in the section in which the mounting foot moves.

[0019] The rotational speed of the electrode intermediate piece in the section in which the first movable part moves is preferably higher than the rotational speed of the electrode intermediate piece in the section in which the assembly stand moves.

[0020] The angle between a horizontal line passing through a point where the separator is secured by the clamping element and the separator shall not exceed 5°.

[0021] wherein the separator winding section comprises a gripper that grips the electrode mounting spacer, a rotary drive connected to the gripper, and a lifting drive connected to the rotary drive.

[0022] The rotary drive includes a rotating shaft connected to the gripper and a motor connected to the rotating shaft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Certain aspects, features and advantages of the disclosed technology are explained in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a separator winding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 to 11 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the process of winding a separator around an electrode assembly by means of a separator winding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Before describing the present invention in detail, the terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their common or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should use the terminology to best explain his invention. They should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention based on the principle that they can be reasonably defined as concepts. Accordingly, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the invention and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention, and there may be various equivalents and variations that can be substituted for them in the present invention.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be provided to more fully explain the present invention to a person having ordinary knowledge of the relevant technical field. The shapes and sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0026] Furthermore, the singular in this description may include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and the same reference numerals throughout the description refer to the same part or corresponding component.

[0027] In addition, the terms a top, an upper part, top, a bottom, a lower part, bottom, a side surface, a front surface, a back surface, or the like in this specification may be expressed based on the directions shown in the drawings, and it should be noted in advance that they will be expressed differently when a direction of a corresponding object is changed.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a separator winding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to Fig. 1, a separator winding apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first movable part 120, a frame 140, a second movable part 160, and a separator winding section 180.

[0030] The first movable part 120 is movably mounted on a guide element 110. The guide element 110 can be configured, for example, as a linear guide installed on a device body (not shown). The first movable part 120 includes, for example, a first movable element 122 that moves along the guide element 110 and a first drive 124 that transmits the drive force of the first movable element 122. Furthermore, the first drive 124 can include a linear motor that generates the drive force for the movement of the movable element 122.

[0031] The frame 140 is preferably fixedly connected to the movable element 122 of the first movable part 120. Therefore, the frame 140 can move together with the movable element 122. For example, the second movable part 160 can be installed on the frame 140. Furthermore, the frame 140 can have a base part 142 in the form of a plate and a side wall portion 144 extending upward from the base part 142.

[0032] The second movable part 160 is preferably mounted on the frame 140. For example, the second movable part 160 can be provided with a pneumatic cylinder 162 fixedly installed on the side wall portion 144 of the frame 140, as well as with a mounting stand 164 connected to a piston 162a of the pneumatic cylinder 162. The mounting stand 164 can be movably installed on the base portion 142 of the frame 140. For example, the base portion 142 of the frame 140 can preferably be provided with a guide (not shown) that controls the movement of the mounting stand 164. The guide can be in the form of a groove or a linear guide. Furthermore, an extension portion 164a, to which a clamping element 170 is attached, is preferably provided at one end of the mounting stand 164. The clamping element 170 can be arranged at one end of the extension portion 164a.The clamping element 170 is preferably provided with a first clamping element 172 for fastening a separator S and a second clamping element 174 for fastening the separator S together with the first clamping element 172.

[0033] The pneumatic cylinder 162 of the second movable part 160 can move the assembly stand 164 after the movement of the first movable part 122 by the first drive 124 is completed.

[0034] In this case, a section in which the first movable member 122 moves by the first drive 124 may be referred to as a first section M1, and a section in which the assembly stand 164 moves by the pneumatic cylinder 162 may be referred to as a second section M2.

[0035] The separator winding section 180 can perform the function of raising and lowering an electrode mounting spacer 10 while rotating it so that the separator S is wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10. The separator winding section 180 is preferably provided with a gripper 182 for gripping the electrode mounting spacer 10. The gripper 182 can hold the electrode mounting spacer 10 so that the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be lowered or raised while simultaneously rotating it so that the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10.For example, when the electrode mounting spacer 10 is lowered while being rotated by the separator winding section 180, when the first moving member 122 of the first moving section 120 moves toward the electrode mounting spacer 10, the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10. Furthermore, since the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be lowered while being rotated by the separator winding section 180, the stress applied to the separator S can be reduced.

[0036] For this purpose, the separator winding section 180 may include a rotary drive (not shown) for rotating the electrode assembly spacer 10 and a lifting drive (not shown) for lifting the electrode assembly spacer 10. For example, the rotary drive may be provided with a rotary shaft (not shown) connected to the gripper 182 to rotate the gripper 182 and a motor (not shown) connected to the rotary shaft, and the lifting drive may be provided with a lifting cylinder (not shown) connected to the rotary shaft to lift the rotary shaft and lift the electrode assembly spacer 10. The rotary drive and the lifting drive are not limited to the configurations described above and can be changed to any configuration that can lift and rotate the electrode assembly 10.

[0037] The driving force for moving the first movable element 122 in the first section M1 is preferably lower than the driving force for moving the mounting stand 164 in the second section M2. Therefore, the tension exerted on the separator S can be relatively lower in the first section M1 than in the second section M2. Conversely, the rotational speed of the electrode mounting spacer 10 in the first section M1 can be higher than the rotational speed of the electrode mounting spacer 10 in the second section M2. For this purpose, a moving speed of the first movable element 122 provided in the first movable part 120 in the section M1 in which the first movable part 120 moves can be higher than a moving speed of the mounting stand 164 in the section M2 in which the mounting stand 164 moves by the pneumatic cylinder 162.

[0038] The electrode mounting spacer 10 can rotate 180° from 0° to 180° in a first rotation section R1 and 180° from 180° to 360° in a second rotation section R2. Furthermore, during the 360° rotation in the first and second rotation sections R1 and R2, a period for winding the separator S can be shortened by a rapid 180° rotation in the first section M1. For this purpose, the tension exerted on the separator S can be weakened to reduce the elongation of the separator S. Furthermore, the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10 in the second section M2 with a relatively strong pressure compared to the first section M1, thereby ensuring that the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10 without gaps.

[0039] As described above, the separator winding section 180 can be lowered or raised while rotating so that the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10, thereby reducing the tension applied to the separator S and preventing the occurrence of wrinkles on the separator S.

[0040] The operation of a device for winding a separator is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0041] Fig. 2 to 11 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the process of winding a separator around an electrode assembly by means of a separator winding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As in Fig. 2, a first movable element 122 of a first movable part 120 moves along a guide member 110 installed on a device body (not shown). In this case, when an electrode mounting spacer 10 rotates while being lowered or raised by a separator winding section 180, a separator S, one end of which is fixed to a clamping member 170 of a second movable part 160, can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10.

[0043] If the separator S is not wound around the electrode spacer 10 as shown in Fig. 3, the separator S can be arranged so that it coincides with a horizontal line L1 passing through a point A1 fixed to the clamping element 170 (see Fig. 2).

[0044] After that, as in Fig. 4, the electrode mounting spacer 10 begins to rotate through the separator winding section 180 and can be lowered. In this way, the separator S can be positioned to approximately coincide with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 attached to the clamping member 170 when the electrode mounting spacer 10 is lowered while rotating through the separator winding section 180 (see Fig. 2). For example, the angle between the horizontal line L1 and the separator S can be determined based on the point A1 attached to the clamping element 170 (see Fig. 2) approximately within 5° (degrees). Therefore, the tension applied to the separator S can be constant, and the tension applied to the separator S can be reduced compared to a conventional method. In the conventional method, for example, an electrode mounting spacer 10 is simply rotated so that a separator S is wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10, but in this case, the angle between the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 fixed to the clamping member 170 of the separator S and the separator S gradually increases, so that the tension applied to the separator S gradually increases. However, if the electrode mounting spacer 10 is lowered while being rotated by the separator winding section 180, the separator S can be arranged to be approximately aligned with the horizontal line L1 passing through the fixed point A1 of the clamping member 170 (see Fig. 2), so that the magnitude of the stress exerted on the separator S can be constant.

[0045] After that, as in Fig. 5, the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be further rotated through the separator winding section 180 and continuously lowered. In this way, the separator S can be arranged to be approximately aligned with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 attached to the clamping member 170 when the electrode mounting spacer 10 is lowered while rotating through the separator winding section 180 (see Fig. 2).

[0046] After that, as in Fig. 6, upon a 90° rotation of the electrode spacer 10, the electrode spacer 10 can be further lowered while continuing to rotate around the separator winding section 180. Therefore, the separator S can preferably be arranged so that it is approximately aligned with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 attached to the clamping element 170 (see Fig. 2).

[0047] After that, as in Fig. 7, when the electrode mounting spacer 10 is continuously rotated, the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be raised compared to a state in which the electrode mounting spacer 10 is rotated by 90°. Therefore, the separator S can be arranged so that it approximately coincides with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 fixed to the clamping member 170 (see Fig. 2).

[0048] Afterwards, as in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the separator S must be arranged so that it approximately coincides with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 fixed to the clamping element 170 (see Fig. 2), since the electrode mounting spacer 10 continues to be lifted during rotation.

[0049] After that, as in Fig. 10, the electrode spacer 10 can be further lifted while continuing to rotate around the separator winding section 180 until the electrode spacer 10 rotates 180°. The separator S can be positioned so that it approximately coincides with the horizontal line L1 passing through the point A1 attached to the clamping element 170 (see Fig. 2).

[0050] Afterwards, as in the Fig. 3 to 8, the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be further lifted while rotating. In this case, the first movable element 122 of the first movable part 120 can move along the guide element 110 installed on the device body.

[0051] After that, as in Fig. 11, a mounting stand 164 of the second movable part 160 can be moved by the pneumatic cylinder 162 of the second movable part 160, and the electrode mounting spacer 10 can be lifted while continuing to rotate through the separator winding section 180. In a Fig. 11, the intermediate electrode 10 can then rotate 360°, compared to a state shown in Fig. 3 shown condition.

[0052] As described above, the separator winding section 180 can be lowered or raised while rotating so that the separator S can be wound around the electrode mounting spacer 10, thereby reducing the tension applied to the separator S and preventing the occurrence of wrinkles on the separator S.

[0053] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant technical field that the present invention is not limited thereto and various modifications and variations are possible. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be implemented by eliminating some components, and each embodiment can be implemented in combination with any other.

[0054] An embodiment of the present invention prevents permanent deformation of a separator.

[0055] Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention results in reducing an external force exerted on an electrode assembly.

[0056] Only specific examples of the implementation of particular embodiments are described. Variations, improvements, and extensions of the disclosed embodiments and other embodiments may be made based on the present disclosure.

Claims

[1] Device for winding a separator (S), comprising: a first movable part (120) which can move on a guide element (110); a frame (140) provided on the first movable part (120); a second movable part (160) provided on the frame (140); and a separator winding section (180) which winds the separator (S), at least a part of which is fixed to the second movable part (160), around an electrode mounting spacer (10), wherein the separator winding section (180) holds the electrode mounting spacer (10) and raises or lowers the electrode mounting spacer (10) while rotating the electrode mounting spacer (10). [2] The device according to claim 1, wherein the first moving section (120) comprises a first movable element (122) provided for movement on the guide element (110), and a first drive (124) connected to the first movable element (122) and transmitting a drive force for moving the first movable element (122). [3] The device of claim 2, wherein the first drive (124) comprises a linear motor. [4] Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame (140) has a base part (142) attached to the first movable part (120) and a side wall part (144) extending upwardly from the base part (142). [5] The device of claim 4, wherein the base portion (142) is in the form of a plate. [6] The device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the side wall portion (144) is arranged at an end portion of the base part (142). [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second movable part (160) comprises a cylinder (162) fixed to the frame (140) and a mounting stand (164) connected to the cylinder (162) and movable on the frame (140). [8] The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a clamping member (170) disposed on one side of the mounting stand (164) and securing at least a portion of the separator (S). [9] The device according to claim 8, wherein the clamping element (170) is arranged on an extension portion (164a) extending from one side of the mounting stand (164). [10] The device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the speed of the first movable part (120) in a section in which the first movable part (120) moves is higher than the speed of the mounting frame (164) in a section in which the mounting frame (164) moves through the cylinder (162). [11] Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the tension exerted on the separator (S) in the section in which the first movable part moves (120) is less than the tension exerted on the separator (S) in the section in which the mounting stand (164) moves. [12] The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the rotational speed of the electrode mounting intermediate piece (10) in the section in which the first movable part (120) moves is higher than the rotational speed of the electrode mounting intermediate piece (10) in the section in which the mounting stand (164) moves. [13] The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein an angle between a horizontal line (L1) passing through a point (A1) to which the separator (S) is fixed by the clamping member (170) and the separator (S) is within 5°. [14] The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the separator winding portion (180) comprises: a gripper (182) which grips the intermediate piece for the electrode assembly (10); a rotary drive connected to the gripper (182); and a lifting drive connected to the rotary drive. [15] The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rotary driver comprises: a rotary shaft connected to the gripper (182); and a motor connected to the rotating shaft.

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