electrode transfer device

Abstract

Electrode separation device, comprising: a multitude of suction units, each configured to suction two or more points on a surface of an electrode; a vibration control unit configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode; and a stretching unit configured to move at least one of the suction units horizontally towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units in order to stretch the electrode drawn onto the suction units, wherein the vibration control unit is configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units differently from those transmitted by the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously varying a magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units.

Description

[Technical area]

[0001] The present application claims priority and the benefit of Korean patent application No. 10-2023-0146094, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 27, 2023, and Korean patent application No. 10-2024-0146410, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 24, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present utility model relates to an electrode separation device, an electrode transfer device and an electrode transfer method. [Previous state of the art]

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged and can be designed to be compact yet offer high capacity. Consequently, secondary batteries are currently the subject of extensive research and development. With increasing technological advancements and the growing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is also rising sharply.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified according to the shape of their casing into button cell batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries. In a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted within a battery casing is a rechargeable and rechargeable power generation device with a structure in which electrodes and a separator are stacked.

[0005] The electrode assembly can be broadly categorized into two types: a jelly-roll type, in which a separator is inserted between a positive and a negative electrode, each in the form of a film coated with an active material. The positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are then wound together. There is also a stack-type electrode assembly, in which numerous positive and negative electrodes are sequentially stacked with a separator in between, and a stack-and-fold electrode assembly, in which stacked unit cells are wrapped with a long separating film.

[0006] The electrode assembly is usually manufactured by picking up individual electrodes supplied from an electrode magazine containing a large number of stacked electrodes. During this process, a problem has occurred where a single electrode was not properly separated from the many electrodes stacked in the magazine, resulting in defects in the manufactured electrode assembly.

[0007] Therefore, a technology is required to properly separate a single electrode from a large number of electrodes stacked in an electrode magazine. References Patent literature

[0008] (Patent literature 1) Korean patent application Publication No. 10-2013-0027918 [Detailed description of the utility model][Technical problem]

[0009] The present utility model relates to an electrode separation device, an electrode transfer device and an electrode transfer method which is capable of preventing an electrode from sagging during the transfer and at the same time of preventing electrodes from sticking together without separation when a single electrode is separated from a plurality of electrodes. [Technical solution]

[0010] An exemplary embodiment of the present utility model provides an electrode separation device comprising a plurality of suction units, each configured to suction two or more points on a surface of an electrode; a vibration control unit configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode;and includes a stretching unit configured to move at least one of the suction units horizontally towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units in order to stretch the electrode drawn to the suction units, wherein the vibration control unit is configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units differently from that transmitted by the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously varying a magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units.

[0011] Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model provides an electrode transfer device which includes the electrode separation device.

[0012] Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model provides an electrode transfer method comprising (a) performing suction by a plurality of suction units, each configured to suction two or more points on a surface of an electrode; (b) transmitting vibrations to the electrode; (c) stretching the electrode in a suctioned state; and (d) transferring the electrode, wherein the transmission of vibration comprises (b) transmitting vibrations to the electrode by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units differently from those transmitted by the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously varying a magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units. [Beneficial effects]

[0013] An electrode separating device, an electrode transfer device, and an electrode transfer method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model enable a single electrode to be easily separated from a plurality of electrodes by transmitting vibrations to the electrode to be picked up while it is being removed from an electrode magazine unit in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked. This prevents a plurality of electrodes from adhering to one another, and the separation of the individual electrode can be further ensured by additional stretching of the electrode after picking it up. Furthermore, sagging of the electrode during the transfer can be prevented.Accordingly, by preventing electrodes from sticking together when being picked up from the electrode magazine unit and allowing only a single electrode to be picked up at a time, defects such as damage to electrode manufacturing equipment or process stoppages caused by an electrode falling when multiple electrodes are being transferred while stuck together can be avoided. Furthermore, preventing electrode sagging can prevent problems such as electrode breakage or reduced performance. These improvements contribute to increased process efficiency and productivity. [Brief description of the drawings] Fig. Figure 1 is a view illustrating the structure and operating principle of an electrode separation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model. Fig. Figure 2 is a view illustrating the construction of the electrode separation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model. Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows views illustrating the structure and operating principle of an electrode transfer device according to the embodiments of the present utility model. [Best practice]

[0014] The following are exemplary embodiments of the present utility model described in such detail that a person skilled in the art familiar with the present utility model can easily implement them. However, the present utility model can be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the configurations described herein.

[0015] The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily chosen for better description, and the present utility model is not necessarily limited to what is shown.

[0016] If a part “contains”, “includes”, or “has” a component in this specification, unless expressly stated otherwise, this does not mean that another component is excluded, but rather that another component may be additionally included.

[0017] In this specification, terms such as "-part", "-unit", "device" and "setup" refer to a unit for processing at least one function or operation.

[0018] In this specification, a "direction" can refer to directions both towards one side and towards the opposite side. If it is additionally necessary to distinguish between directions towards one side and the opposite side, one side is referred to as the "direction towards one side" and the other side as the "direction towards the opposite side".

[0019] When a component in this specification is described as being "above" or "on" another component, it may be located directly on top of that other component, or there may be an intervening component. Conversely, when a component is described as being "directly on" another component, this means that no other elements are located between them. When a component is "on" a reference section, the component is located above or below the reference section, and this does not necessarily mean that the component is "above" or "on" it in a direction opposite to gravity.

[0020] In the following description of the present utility model, a detailed description of known related technologies can be omitted in order to avoid unnecessary obfuscation of the nature of the present utility model.

[0021] Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 illustrates the structure and operating principle of an electrode separating device 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model. The electrode separating device 50 can be used to successively remove individual electrodes 1 from an electrode magazine unit 21 in which a plurality of electrodes 1 are stacked, and to separate the electrodes 1. The electrode 1 thus separated can be transferred to a subsequent stage and used.

[0022] The electrode separation device 50 comprises a plurality of suction units 52, each of which suctions two or more points on a surface of the electrode 1. The suction units 52 can, in particular, be arranged in pairs at both ends of an upper surface of the electrode 1 in the longitudinal axis direction of the electrode 1 (y-axis direction). Fig. 1) be provided for.

[0023] The electrode cutting device 50 can further include a carrier unit 51 for mounting the suction units 52 or a transfer unit for moving the electrode cutting device 50 in a vertical or horizontal direction. The electrode cutting device 50 can suction and pick up a single electrode 1 from the uppermost side of a plurality of electrodes 1 stacked in the electrode magazine unit 21 by means of the suction units 52.

[0024] Furthermore, the electrode separating device 50 includes a vibration control unit (not shown) that transmits vibrations to the electrode 1 when the suction units 52 draw the electrode 1 from the electrode magazine unit 21 or after the electrode 1 has been drawn in and lifted from the electrode magazine unit 21. In addition, the electrode separating device 50 includes a stretching unit 53 that moves at least one of the suction units 52 that has picked up the electrode 1 horizontally towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units 52 in order to stretch the electrode 1.

[0025] Even if a phenomenon occurs in which the electrodes 1 on a plate physically adhere to one another when the electrodes 1 are removed from the electrode magazine unit 21, a vibration is transmitted to the removed electrodes 1 by the vibration control unit (not shown), so that only one electrode 1 can be removed from the top side. Furthermore, the electrode 1 picked up by the suction units 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 is prevented.

[0026] When picking up an electrode 1 from the electrode magazine unit 21, two or more electrodes 1 can be picked up and stacked simultaneously without the individual electrodes 1 separating. Furthermore, if two or more stuck electrodes 1 are picked up and transferred simultaneously, they can fall to an undesirable location in a process line. In this case, the process line can become contaminated or the entire line can stop. This not only damages the fallen electrode 1 but also delays the entire process. This can be described as the problem of multiple foils (electrodes) separating (electrodes that stick together). In the present utility model, such a problem of multiple electrode separation can be more reliably prevented by the vibration control unit (not shown) and the stretching unit 53 described above.Furthermore, if the plate-shaped electrode (1) exceeds a certain length and width, a problem can arise in which unsuctioned areas of the electrode 1 sink downwards, as only a portion of the electrode 1's surface is suctioned by the suction units 52. In this case, various problems can occur, such as the possibility of damage to the electrode 1 being transferred, the possibility of the electrode 1 falling to an undesired location during transfer, the possibility of misalignment of a stack position during placement of the picked-up electrode 1, the possibility of wrinkling in a separator during stacking of the electrode 1, and the occurrence of defective cells due to insufficient adhesion between electrodes 1 during a hot pressing process after stacking.In the present utility model, such various problems can be prevented by the expansion unit 53.

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can transmit vibrations in an upward direction to electrode 1.

[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can transmit vibrations to the electrode 1 by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 differently from that transmitted by the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously varying the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52. After the electrode 1 has been picked up by the suction units 52, the vibration control unit (not shown) transmits vibrations to the electrode 1, thereby freeing the stuck electrodes 1 and allowing only a single electrode 1 to be separated.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment, the vibration control unit (not shown) can alternately transmit air pressure to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 and the remaining suction units 52. In particular, the vibration control unit (not shown) can alternately transmit air pressure to the electrode 1 via at least one of the suction units 52 and at least one of the remaining suction units 52, wherein a cycle of alternating transmission of the air pressure to the electrode 1 can occur 5 times or more per second.

[0030] In this case, a series of processes in which air pressure is transferred to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 and subsequently to the electrode 1 by the remaining suction units 52 is referred to as a cycle. This cycle can occur 5 times or more, in particular 8 times or more, and more specifically 10 times or more per second.

[0031] The expansion unit 53 releases the stuck electrodes 1 by contracting and / or expanding the electrodes 1 lifted by the suction units 52. This means that the expansion unit 53 can move the plurality of suction units 52 horizontally towards or away from each other. The expansion unit 53 can move the plurality of suction units 52 horizontally in the longitudinal axis direction (y-axis direction) of the electrode 1 towards or away from each other. In particular, the expansion unit 53 can move at least one of the plurality of suction units 52 in the y-axis direction to one side and at least one of the remaining suction units 52 in the y-axis direction to the other side or away from each other.

[0032] If needed, a horizontal movement in the direction of the x-axis can also be performed in addition to the direction of the y-axis. For example, in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the expansion unit 53 can be configured as a portal equipped with a horizontally movable rail on which the support unit 51, equipped with the suction units 52, is suspended ( Fig. 3; Fig. 53). That is, the electrode 1 can contract or expand in a horizontal direction, while the suction units 52 carried by the carrier unit 51 move horizontally along the portal.

[0033] Furthermore, to facilitate the operation of the stretching unit 53, the suction units 52 can stretch the electrode 1 by horizontal displacement within the portal, so that the suction units 52 move away from each other after picking up the electrode 1. The intensity of the stretching process can also be increased by bringing the suction units 52 slightly closer together and then moving them further apart in a horizontal direction.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrode cutting device 50 can include two or more suction units 52, each of which draws in a pair of opposite edge sections of the electrode 1. In particular, the electrode cutting device 50 can include one or more suction units 52 that draw in one side of the electrode 1, i.e., one edge section, and one or more suction units 52 that draw in the opposite side of the electrode 1, i.e., the other edge section.

[0035] Preferably, the suction units 52 can be arranged in pairs opposite each other at the edges in the longitudinal axis direction (y-axis direction) of the rectangular electrode 1. The stretching unit 53 can perform a stretching process by stretching the suction units 52, which hold both ends in the longitudinal axis direction of the electrode 1, in the longitudinal axis direction.

[0036] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the electrode cutting device 50 includes the suction units 52, which draw in four corner sections of the electrode 1, and the stretching unit 53 can stretch the electrode 1 by moving the four suction units 52, arranged in two opposing pairs, away from each other in the longitudinal direction of the electrode 1. The electrode cutting device 50 can include not only four suction units 52 that draw in the four corners of the electrode 1, but also an additional suction unit 52 that draws in a central section of the electrode 1 if required. The number of suction units 52 can be determined by considering the area of ​​the electrode 1 to be drawn in by each suction unit, the suction strength, the size of the electrode 1 to be drawn in, and the like.

[0037] According to an exemplary embodiment, the number of the plurality of suction units 52 can be 2 or more, 4 or more, or an even number of 2n or more, where n can be an integer equal to or greater than 1. However, the number of suction units need not necessarily be an even number, but can be an odd number that includes an additional suction unit 52. That is to say, no such restriction is provided.

[0038] The expansion unit 53 can be expected to expand the electrode 1 even if only one of the suction units 52 is moved. However, it can also move a plurality of mutually facing suction units 52 simultaneously. The expansion unit 53 can move all suction units 52, but it can also move only some of them.

[0039] The stretching unit 53 can stretch the electrode 1 while simultaneously transmitting vibrations to the electrode 1 via the vibration control unit (not shown). Additionally, the stretching unit 53 can stretch the electrode 1 after the vibration control unit (not shown) has transmitted vibrations to the electrode 1. Furthermore, the stretching unit 53 can stretch the electrode 1 before transmitting vibrations to the electrode 1 via the vibration control unit (not shown). The transmission of vibrations by the vibration control unit (not shown) preferably occurs at the time when the suction units 52 draw the electrodes 1 from the electrode magazine unit 21, i.e., while the electrodes 1 are being placed into the electrode magazine unit 21. The stretching of the electrode 1 by the stretching unit 53 is preferably maintained until the separation or transfer of the electrode 1 is complete.

[0040] The electrode cutting device 50 can also include a height adjustment unit 54 that moves the suction units 52 vertically. This allows a single electrode 1 to be picked up from the electrode magazine unit 21 and lifted vertically by a vertical movement (in the z-axis direction). Fig. Figure 2 illustrates the height adjustment unit 54, which is located at a lower end of the support unit 51. However, the height adjustment unit 54 can, if necessary, be designed to be located at an upper end of the support unit 51.

[0041] The electrode separator 50 may further include a sensor for detecting stuck electrodes (not shown), which checks whether the electrodes 1 drawn onto the suction units 52 are stuck together. The configuration or position of the sensor for detecting stuck electrodes is not particularly restricted, as long as it can detect whether the electrodes 1 picked up from the electrode magazine unit 21 are stuck together.

[0042] An exemplary embodiment of the present utility model provides an electrode transfer device that includes the electrode separator 50. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the electrode transfer device includes a transfer unit (not shown) that moves the electrode separator 50 to transfer the aspirated electrode 1 to the electrode separator 50, thereby enabling both the separation and transfer of the electrode 1 from the electrode magazine unit 21 to be carried out by the electrode separator 50. In a further exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the electrode separator 50 is further divided into two parts. Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the electrode transfer device can further include an electrode transfer unit 30 which receives and transfers the electrode 1 separated by the electrode separation device 50.

[0043] The electrode transfer unit 30 may further include a suction unit 32 for receiving the electrode 1 and a carrier unit 31 for attaching the suction unit 32. The electrode transfer unit 30 may also include a transfer unit (not shown) for vertical and / or horizontal movements. The transfer unit may be attached to the carrier unit 31 of the electrode transfer unit 30. The transfer unit may enable horizontal movement to the shuttle unit 41 of the electrode transfer unit 30, to an alignment table, or to a stacking table, as well as vertical movement to place the electrode 1 on the shuttle unit 41, the alignment table, or the stacking table.

[0044] The electrode transfer device can further include an electrode magazine unit 21 in which a plurality of electrodes 1 to be transferred are stacked. In addition, the electrode transfer device can further include a shuttle unit 41 or an alignment table onto which the electrode 1 is transferred and placed by the electrode transfer unit. The electrode 1 placed on the shuttle unit 41 can be transferred to another position in the battery manufacturing process. The alignment table can be used to place an electrode 1 on it in order to feed the electrode 1 into a battery manufacturing process such as stacking the electrode 1.

[0045] An electrode transfer method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model can be carried out using the electrode transfer device according to the exemplary embodiments.

[0046] An electrode transfer method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model comprises: a step (a) of performing a suction by a plurality of suction units 52, each of which suctions two or more points on a surface of an electrode 1; a step (b) of transmitting vibrations to the electrode 1; a step (c) of stretching the electrode 1 in a suctioned state; and a step (d) of transferring the electrode 1, wherein step (b) comprises transmitting vibrations to the electrode 1 by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 differently from those transmitted by the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously varying a magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment, step (a) of suction by a plurality of suction units 52, each of which suctions two or more points on a surface of the electrode 1, can include the suction of each pair of opposing edge regions of the electrode 1 by at least two suction units 52, and step (c) of stretching the electrode 1 can include the horizontal movement of at least one of the suction units 52 towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units 52. This can be performed by the stretching unit 53, and its description is as explained above.

[0048] If the electrode 1 has a shape where one width is longer than the other, step (c) of stretching the electrode 1 may involve horizontally moving at least one of the suction sections of the electrode 1 towards or away from the other suction sections of the electrode 1 in the longitudinal axis direction of the electrode 1. In this case, the electrode 1 can be effectively stretched by horizontally moving at least one edge section of the suction sections of the electrode 1 in an outer direction of the longitudinal axis of the electrode 1. However, it is not necessary to move all suction sections of the electrode 1, and a section to be moved may be selected as required.

[0049] Step (b) can be performed before or after step (c), or steps (b) and (c) can be performed simultaneously. Step (b) can be performed in a manner that transmits vibrations to the electrode 1 by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 differently from those transmitted by the remaining suction units 52, or by continuously or discontinuously varying the magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52. Furthermore, step (b) can include the alternating transmission of air pressure to the electrode 1 by at least one of the suction units 52 and the remaining suction units 52. One cycle of alternating transmission of air pressure to the electrode 1 can occur 5 times or more, in particular 8 times or more, and more specifically 10 times or more per second.

[0050] The electrode transfer procedure may further include a step of detecting whether the electrodes 1 are stuck together after step (a), step (b) or step (c) has been carried out from an electrode magazine unit 21 in which a plurality of electrodes 1 are stacked.

[0051] Step (d) of transferring electrode 1 can be a step of transferring electrode 1 to a shuttle unit 41 or an alignment table on which electrode 1 is to be placed.

[0052] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present utility model have been described in detail, it will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that the scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto and that various modifications and variations can be made without deviating from the technical spirit of the present utility model as defined in the claims. <Erläuterung der Referenznummern und Symbole> 1 electrode 21 Electrode magazine unit 30 Electrode transfer unit 31 carrier unit 32 Suction unit 41 Shuttle Unit 50 Electrode cutting device 51 carrier unit 52 Suction unit 53 stretching units 54 Height adjustment unit QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10-2023-0146094

[0001] KR 10-2024-0146410

[0001] KR 10-2013-0027918

[0008]

Claims

[1] Electrode separation device comprising: a multitude of suction units, each configured to suction two or more points on a surface of an electrode; a vibration control unit configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode; and a stretching unit configured to move at least one of the suction units horizontally towards or away from at least one of the remaining suction units in order to stretch the electrode drawn onto the suction units, wherein the vibration control unit is configured to transmit vibrations to the electrode by designing the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units differently from those transmitted by the remaining suction units, or by continuously or discontinuously varying a magnitude of the air pressure transmitted to the electrode by at least one of the suction units. [2] Electrode cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode cutting device comprises two or more suction units, each of which draws in a pair of opposite edge sections of the electrode, and wherein the stretching unit moves the plurality of suction units horizontally towards or away from each other. [3] Electrode separation device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion unit moves the plurality of suction units horizontally in a longitudinal axis direction of the electrode towards each other or away from each other. [4] Electrode separation device according to claim 1, wherein 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 one cycle of alternating transmission of air pressure to the electrode is 5 times or more per second. [5] Electrode cutting device according to claim 1, wherein, after the stretching unit has stretched the electrode, the vibration control unit transmits vibrations to the electrode, after the vibration control unit has transmitted vibrations to the electrode, the stretching unit stretches the electrode, or while the vibration control unit transmits vibrations to the electrode, the stretching unit stretches the electrode. [6] Electrode cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration control unit transmits vibrations in a vertical direction to the electrode and the stretching unit stretches the electrode in a horizontal direction. [7] Electrode cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a height adjustment unit configured to move the suction units vertically. [8] Electrode separation device according to claim 1, which further comprises a sensor for detecting stuck electrodes, configured to confirm whether the electrodes drawn onto the suction units are stuck to each other. [9] Electrode transfer device comprising the electrode separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Electrode transfer device according to claim 9, further comprising an electrode transfer unit configured to receive and transfer an electrode separated by the electrode separating device. [11] Electrode transfer device according to claim 9, further comprising a transfer unit configured to move the electrode separation device to transfer the aspirated electrode to the electrode separation device. [12] Electrode transfer device according to claim 9, which further comprises an electrode magazine unit in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked which are to be separated by the electrode separation device. [13] Electrode transfer device according to claim 9, which further comprises a shuttle unit or an alignment table onto which an electrode separated by the electrode separation device is transferred and placed.

Images