Secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus is provided. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate configured to support an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, a pressing device configured to press the electrode assembly so that the electrode assembly is fixed, a guide device configured to align the plurality of tabs, a horn configured to weld the plurality of tabs, and an anvil configured to support the plurality of tabs welded by the horn, and the pressing device includes a plurality of holes configured to jet air.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical idea of the present invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same. This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2023-0035289 filed on March 17, 2023, and Korean Application No. 10-2023-0102669 filed on August 7, 2023, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Background Art

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. Secondary batteries are widely used as an energy source for various wireless devices such as handsets, notebook computers, and wireless vacuum cleaners. In recent years, due to improvements in energy density and economies of scale, the manufacturing cost per unit of HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) and BEV (battery electric vehicle) powered by electricity has decreased significantly, and the driving range of BEV has increased to the same level as that of fuel vehicles. As a result, the main application of secondary batteries has shifted from mobile devices to mobility.

[0003] A battery cell is the most basic unit of a secondary battery, and improving the mechanical and electrical performance of the battery cell is the most effective and core factor in improving the performance of secondary batteries.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the technical idea of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus having improved reliability and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to an exemplary embodiment according to the technical idea of the present invention for solving the above problems, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus is provided. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate configured to support an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, a pressing device configured to press the electrode assembly so that the electrode assembly is fixed, a horn configured to weld the plurality of tabs, and an anvil configured to support the plurality of tabs welded by the horn, and the pressing device includes a hole configured to inject air.

[0006] The pressing device is configured to inject the air onto the plurality of tabs.

[0007] The pressing device includes a lower surface in contact with the electrode assembly, an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and a front surface interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface and facing the horn and the anvil, and the hole of the pressing device extends from the upper surface and the front surface.

[0008] The hole includes an outlet on the front surface and an inlet on the upper surface.

[0009] The shape of the inlet is different from the shape of the outlet.

[0010] The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus further includes an air supply device configured to supply the air to the pressing device, and an air supply line connecting the air supply device and the hole of the pressing device.

[0011] The cross-section of the air supply line is the same as the shape of the inlet.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus is provided. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate configured to support an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, and a horn configured to weld the plurality of tabs, and the support plate includes holes configured to inject air onto the plurality of tabs.

[0013] The support plate includes an upper surface in contact with the electrode assembly, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a front surface interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface and facing the horn, and the holes of the support plate extend from the lower surface and the front surface.

[0014] The holes include discharge ports on the front surface and inlets on the lower surface.

[0015] The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus further includes an air supply device configured to supply the air to the support plate, and an air supply line connecting the air supply device and the holes of the support plate.

[0016] The cross-section of the air supply line is the same as the shape of the inlets.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment related to the technical idea of the present invention, steps include fixing an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, injecting air onto the plurality of tabs, aligning the plurality of tabs, and welding the plurality of tabs.

[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrode assembly is fixed by a support plate supporting the electrode assembly and a pressing device pressing the electrode assembly, and the air is injected by either one of the support plate and the pressing device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, before a plurality of tabs of an electrode assembly are welded, air can be injected into the plurality of tabs to prevent folding of the tabs. Thereby, the reliability of welding can be improved, and the performance of a secondary battery manufactured by the welding can be improved.

[0020] The effects obtainable from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong from the following description. That is, even unintended effects associated with implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be derived by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to best explain his own invention.

[0023] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0024] Also, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to an ordinary technician. Therefore, the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically for a clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and ratios of the respective components do not fully reflect the actual sizes and ratios.

[0026] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10 may include a support plate 100, a pressing device 200, an air supply device 300, a guide device 400, an anvil 500, and a horn 600.

[0028] The electrode assembly EA may include a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes may be either a positive electrode or a negative electrode. Accordingly, each of the plurality of electrodes of the electrode assembly may include one of a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab. Accordingly, the electrode assembly EA may include a plurality of tabs ET.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10 may be configured to weld the tab ET. According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10 may weld the tab ET using ultrasonic waves. Since incomplete welding of the tab ET may cause a decrease in the capacity of the electrode assembly EA, welding of the tab ET is one of the core processes that determines the performance of the electrode assembly EA.

[0030] According to an exemplary embodiment, the welding by the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10 may be pre-welding. In recent years, due to the increase in the energy density of secondary batteries, the number of electrodes to be welded has increased significantly, and dozens or more tabs ET are welded simultaneously. In order to weld a large number of tabs ET reliably, the welding of the plurality of tabs ET may include two steps of pre-welding and main welding. As a non-limiting exemplary example, the pre-welding may be ultrasonic welding as described above, and the main welding may be laser welding.

[0031] After pre-welding a plurality of tab ETs, the plurality of tab ETs can be welded together with electrode leads. The electrode leads can be external connection terminals of the battery cell. Here, the battery cell is a lithium-ion battery, that is, the basic unit of a secondary battery. The battery cell includes an electrolyte and a case in addition to the electrode assembly EA. The battery cell is classified into a lithium-ion battery, a lithium-ion polymer battery, a lithium polymer battery, etc. according to the configuration of the electrode assembly EA and the electrolyte. The lithium-ion polymer battery has less possibility of electrolyte leakage and is easy to manufacture, increasing its occupancy in secondary batteries.

[0032] According to the shape of the battery case, the battery cell is classified into a cylindrical battery in which the electrode assembly EA is built into a cylindrical metal can, a square battery in which the electrode assembly EA is built into a square metal can, and a pouch-type battery in which the electrode assembly EA is built into a pouch case of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0033] The electrode assembly EA built into the battery case includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrode assembly EA is classified into a jelly roll type and a stack type according to the assembly form. The jelly roll type is obtained by winding the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator interposed therebetween. The stack type includes a plurality of positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and a plurality of separators interposed therebetween, which are sequentially laminated.

[0034] The positive electrode may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material. The negative electrode may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material.

[0035] The thickness of the positive electrode current collector can be in the range of about 3 μm to about 500 μm (Ranges from about 3μm to about 500μm). The positive electrode current collector may not induce a chemical change in the ultimately manufactured secondary battery and may have high conductivity. The positive electrode current collector may include, for example, stainless steel, nickel, titanium, fired carbon, and aluminum. The positive electrode current collector may also include stainless steel surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, etc. The surface of the positive electrode current collector may include a fine uneven structure for enhancing the adhesive force of the active material. The positive electrode current collector may have a shape such as a film, sheet, foil, net, porous, foam, non-woven fabric, etc.

[0036] The thickness of the negative electrode current collector can be in the range of about 3 μm to about 500 μm. The negative electrode current collector may not induce a chemical change in the ultimately manufactured secondary battery and may have high conductivity. The negative electrode current collector may include copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, fired carbon, and aluminum-cadmium alloy. The negative electrode current collector may also include stainless steel surface-treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, etc. The surface of the negative electrode current collector may include a fine uneven structure for enhancing the adhesive force of the active material. The negative electrode current collector may have a shape such as a film, sheet, foil, net, porous, foam, non-woven fabric, etc.

[0037] The positive electrode active material is a substance that can undergo an electrochemical reaction. The positive electrode active material can be a lithium transition metal oxide. The positive electrode active material is, for example, a layered compound such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) and lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2) substituted with one or more transition metals; lithium manganese oxide substituted with one or more transition metals; the chemical formula LiNi 1-y M y O2 (where M is any one of Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Zn, and Ga, and 0.01 ≦ y ≦ 0.7) lithium nickel-based oxide represented by; Li 1+z Ni 1 / 3 Co 1 / 3 Mn 1 / 3O2, Li 1+z Ni 0.4 Mn 0.4 Co 0.2 Li such as O2 1+z Ni b Mn c Co 1-(b+c+d) M d O (2-e) A e (where -0.5 ≤ z ≤ 0.5, 0.1 ≤ b ≤ 0.8, 0.1 ≤ c ≤ 0.8, 0 ≤ d ≤ 0.2, 0 ≤ e ≤ 0.2, b + c + d < 1, M is any one of Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Si, and Y, and A is any one of F, P, and Cl) lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide represented by the chemical formula Li 1+x M 1-y M' y PO 4-z X z (where M is a transition metal, more specifically, any one of Fe, Mn, Co, and Ni, M' is any one of Al, Mg, and Ti, X is any one of F, S, and N, -0.5 ≤ x ≤ +0.5, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.1) and may contain olivine-type lithium metal phosphate represented by

[0038] The negative electrode active material may contain carbon such as graphitizable carbon and graphite-based carbon. The negative electrode active material is, for example, Li x Fe2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), Li x WO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), Sn x Me 1-x Me' y O z(Here, Me is any one of Mn, Fe, Pb, and Ge, Me' is any one of Al, B, P, Si, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 elements of the periodic table, and halogen; 0 < x ≦ 1; 1 ≦ y ≦ 3; 1 ≦ z ≦ 8), etc., and may include metal composite oxides. The negative electrode active material may include, for example, lithium metal; lithium alloy; silicon-based alloy; tin-based alloy. The negative electrode active material may include, for example, metal oxides such as SnO, SnO2, PbO, PbO2, Pb2O3, Pb3O4, Sb2O3, Sb2O4, Sb2O5, GeO, GeO2, Bi2O3, Bi2O4, Bi2O5. The negative electrode active material may include, for example, conductive polymers such as polyacetylene; Li-Co-Ni-based materials, etc.)

[0039] The support plate 100 may be configured to support the electrode assembly EA. The electrode assembly EA may be disposed on the upper surface 100T of the support plate 100. The upper surface 100T of the support plate 100 may be in contact with the electrode assembly EA. The support plate 100 may further include a lower surface 100B opposite to the upper surface 100T, and a front surface 100F interposed between the upper surface 100T and the lower surface 100B and facing the anvil 500 and the horn 600.)

[0040] Hereinafter, the support plate 100 defines two directions substantially parallel to the upper surface 100T as the X direction and the Y direction, and defines a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 100T of the support plate 100 as the Z direction. Each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction may be substantially perpendicular to each other. Unless otherwise defined, all drawings are the same with respect to the above directions.)

[0041] The pressing device 200 may be configured to fix the electrode assembly EA. The lower surface 200B of the pressing device 200 may be in contact with the electrode assembly EA. The pressing device 200 may further include an upper surface 200T opposite to the lower surface 200B, and a front surface 200F interposed between the lower surface 200B and the upper surface 200T and facing the anvil 500 and the horn 600.)

[0042] The pressurizing device 200 can be configured to apply pressure to the electrode assembly EA. The pressurizing device 200 can be configured to fix the electrode assembly EA by applying pressure to the electrode assembly EA together with the support plate 100. The electrode assembly EA can be fixed by the pressure from the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200 and the frictional force induced by the pressure.

[0043] Each of the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200 can be configured to inject air into a plurality of tabs ET of the electrode assembly EA. By injecting air by the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200, folding of the plurality of tabs ET can be prevented, and the reliability of welding of the tabs ET can be improved.

[0044] The air supply device 300 can be configured to supply air to the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200. The air supply device 300 can be configured to control the composition, speed, flow rate, temperature, humidity, and pressure of the air injected through the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200.

[0045] The air supply device 300 can be configured to adjust at least any one of the speed, flow rate, and pressure of the air injected from each of the plurality of holes 100H (see FIG. 4) of the support plate 100. Thereby, the speed, flow rate, and pressure of the air injected from each of the plurality of holes 100H (see FIG. 4) of the support plate 100 can be different from each other.

[0046] The air supply device 300 can be configured to adjust at least any one of the speed, flow rate, and pressure of the air injected from each of the plurality of holes 200H (see FIG. 7) of the pressurizing device 200. Thereby, the speed, flow rate, and pressure of the air injected from each of the plurality of holes 200H (see FIG. 7) of the pressurizing device 200 can be different from each other.

[0047] The air supply device 300 may include a controller configured to control the injection of air via the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200. The controller may be configured to control the injection of air via the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200 based on a preset process recipe. The controller may be configured to control the injection of air via the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200 based on the states of the plurality of tabs ET of the electrode assembly EA (for example, the results of the vision inspection of the plurality of tabs ET).

[0048] The controller may be a computing device such as a workstation computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer. The controller may be composed of separate hardware respectively, or may be separate software included in one piece of hardware. The controller may be a simple controller, a complex processor such as a microprocessor, a CPU, or a GPU, a processor configured by software, or dedicated hardware or firmware. The controller may be embodied, for example, by a general-purpose computer or application-specific hardware such as a DSP (Digital Signal Process), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0049] According to some embodiments, the operations of the controller can be embodied as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium that can be read and executed by one or more processors. Here, the machine-readable medium can include any mechanism for storing and / or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computing device). For example, the machine-readable medium can include ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of radio wave signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.) and any other arbitrary signals.

[0050] Firmware, software, routines, and instruction words can be configured to perform the operations described for the controller or any of the steps described below. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and it should be understood that the operations of the above-described controller can also be caused by a computing device, a processor, a controller, or other devices that execute firmware, software, routines, instruction words, etc.

[0051] The first air supply line 310 can connect the air supply device 300 and the support plate 100. The first air supply line 310 can be connected to each of the air supply device 300 and the support plate 100 and can provide a passage for the transmission of air therebetween.

[0052] The second air supply line 320 can connect the air supply device 300 and the pressurizing device 200. The second air supply line 320 can be connected to each of the air supply device 300 and the pressurizing device 200 and can provide a passage for the transmission of air therebetween.

[0053] The guide device 400 can be configured to align a plurality of tabs ET. The guide device 400 can collect a plurality of tabs ET. By the operation of the guide device 400, the welding reliability of the plurality of tabs ET can be improved.

[0054] While a plurality of tab ETs are being welded by the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 10, the anvil 500 can be configured to support the plurality of tab ETs. According to an exemplary embodiment, the anvil 500 can be a supporting jig. The anvil 500 can be configured to fix the positions of the plurality of tab ETs so that the energy transmitted by the horn 600 can be efficiently transmitted to the plurality of tab ETs. The anvil 500 can include either a knurled shape or a rib shape for fixing the plurality of tab ETs.

[0055] The horn 600 can be configured to provide ultrasonic energy to the plurality of tab ETs. The wavelength of the ultrasonic waves provided to the plurality of tab ETs by the horn 600 can be in the range of about 18000 Hz to about 1 GHz. The horn can include a converter that converts AC power or DC power into mechanical vibrations and a booster that amplifies the mechanical vibrations. The ultrasonic energy can generate frictional heat in the plurality of tab ETs, whereby the plurality of tab ETs can be welded.

[0056] The horn 600 can be an ultrasonic resonator and can include a structure that is repeated at a spatial period that is half of the ultrasonic wavelength, the same as the ultrasonic wavelength, or an integer multiple of the ultrasonic wavelength. The repeating unit structure of the horn 600 can include either a knurled shape or a rib shape. As a non-limiting example, the horn 600 can include an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, and dies steel.

[0057] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows the lower surface 100B of the support plate of FIG. 1.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows the front surface 100F of the support plate of FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line AA-AA' of FIG. 3.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the support plate 100 may include a plurality of holes 100H. The plurality of holes 100H may extend from the lower surface 100B to the front surface 100F. The plurality of holes 100H may extend obliquely to each of the lower surface 100B and the upper surface 100T of the support plate 100. According to an exemplary embodiment, the angle 100θ between the extending direction of the plurality of holes 100H and the lower surface 100B may be in the range of about 5° to about 85°.

[0061] The inlets 100HI of the plurality of holes 100H may be on the lower surface 100B of the support plate 100.

[0062] The outlets 100HE of the plurality of holes 100H may be on the front surface 100F of the support plate 100. As a non-limiting example, the distance between each of the outlets 100HE and the upper surface 100T may be further smaller than the distance between each of the outlets 100HE and the lower surface 100B. According to an exemplary embodiment, the outlets 100HE may be aligned in the X direction. Thereby, the outlets 100HE may have the same Z-direction level from the lower surface 100B.

[0063] Each of the inlets 100HI and each of the outlets 100HE of the plurality of holes 100H may have different shapes from each other. For example, each of the outlets 100HE may have a circular shape, and each of the inlets 100HI may have an elliptical shape.

[0064] According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the inlets 100HI of the plurality of holes 100H may have the same shape as each of the outlets 100HE. In this case, the angle 100θ between the extending direction of the plurality of holes 100H and the lower surface 100B may be about 45°.

[0065] According to an exemplary embodiment, the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 100HI may be substantially the same as the respective X-direction lengths of the outlets 100HE. In this example, the respective Y-direction lengths of the inlets 100HI are shown to be longer than the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 100HI, but conversely, the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 100HI may be longer than the respective Y-direction lengths of the inlets 100HI.

[0066] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of holes 100H can be formed by processing methods such as mechanical drilling and laser drilling that make the shape of the outlet 100HE into various shapes such as circular, polygonal, elliptical, cross-shaped, and star-shaped. The shape of each of the inlets 100HI can be determined according to the shape of the corresponding one of the outlets 100HE and the angle 100θ of the plurality of holes 100H.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment, by increasing the shape of the outlet 100HE compared to the inlet 100HI, the pressure of the air ejected through the outlet 100HE can be increased.

[0068] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first air supply line 310 can be connected to the inlet 100HI. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first air supply line 310 can be substantially the same as the shape of the inlet 100HI. Thereby, it is possible to prevent turbulent flow caused by a change in the cross-sectional area due to the air path.

[0069] (Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows the upper surface 200T of the pressurizing device 200 of FIG. 1.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows the front surface 200F of the pressurizing device 200 of FIG. 1.

[0071] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line BB-BB' of FIG. 6.

[0072] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the pressing device 200 may include a plurality of holes 200H. The plurality of holes 200H may extend from the upper surface 200T to the front surface 200F. The plurality of holes 200H may extend obliquely to each of the upper surface 200T and the lower surface 200B of the pressing device 200. According to an exemplary embodiment, the angle 200θ between the extending direction of the plurality of holes 200H and the upper surface 200T may be in the range of about 5° to about 85°.

[0073] The inlets 200HI of the plurality of holes 200H may be on the upper surface 200T of the pressing device 200.

[0074] The outlets 200HE of the plurality of holes 200H may be on the front surface 200F of the pressing device 200. As a non-limiting example, the distance between the outlet 200HE and the lower surface 200B may be even smaller than the distance between the outlet 200HE and the upper surface 200T. According to an exemplary embodiment, the outlets 200HE may be aligned in the X direction, whereby they may have the same Z-direction level from the lower surface 200B.

[0075] Each of the inlets 200HI and each of the outlets 200HE of the plurality of holes 200H may have different shapes from each other. For example, each of the outlets 200HE may have a circular shape, and each of the inlets 200HI may have an elliptical shape.

[0076] According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the inlets 200HI of the plurality of holes 200H may have the same shape as each of the outlets 200HE. In this case, the angle 200θ between the extending direction of the plurality of holes 200H and the upper surface 200T may be about 45°.

[0077] According to an exemplary embodiment, the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 200HI may be substantially the same as the respective X-direction lengths of the outlets 200HE. In this example, although the respective Y-direction lengths of the inlets 200HI are shown to be longer than the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 200HI, conversely, the respective X-direction lengths of the inlets 200HI may be longer than the respective Y-direction lengths of the inlets 200HI.

[0078] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of holes 200H may be formed by processing methods such as mechanical drilling and laser drilling that make the shape of the outlet 200HE into various shapes such as circular, polygonal, elliptical, cross-shaped, and star-shaped. The shape of the inlet 200HI may be determined according to the shape of the outlet 200HE and the angle 200θ of the plurality of holes 200H.

[0079] According to an exemplary embodiment, by increasing the shape of the outlet 200HE compared to the inlet 200HI, the pressure of the air ejected through the outlet 200HE can be increased.

[0080] According to an exemplary embodiment, the second air supply line 320 may be connected to the inlet 200HI. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the second air supply line 320 may be substantially the same as the shape of the inlet 200HI. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the turbulent flow caused by the change in the cross-sectional area due to the air path.

[0081] (Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, at P110, the electrode assembly EA may be fixed. After loading the electrode assembly EA onto the support plate 100, the electrode assembly EA may be fixed by pressurizing the electrode assembly EA with the pressurizing device 200.

[0083] Subsequently, at P120, air can be injected into a plurality of tabs ET of the electrode assembly EA. The injection of air can be performed by at least one of the support plate 100 and the pressurizing device 200.

[0084] Subsequently, at P130, a plurality of tabs ET can be aligned. The plurality of tabs ET can be aligned by the guide device 400.

[0085] Subsequently, at P140, a plurality of tabs ET can be welded. The plurality of tabs ET can be fixed with an anvil, and ultrasonic energy can be applied to the plurality of tabs ET using a horn to weld the plurality of tabs ET.

[0086] (Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows the lower surface 100B' of the support plate 100' according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0087] FIG. 10 shows the front surface 100F' of the support plate 100' according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0088] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line CC-CC' of FIG. 10.

[0089] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, the support plate 100' can replace the support plate 100 of FIG. 1. According to an exemplary embodiment, the support plate 100' can include a single hole 100H'. The hole 100H' can extend from the lower surface 100B' of the support plate 100' to the front surface 100F' of the support plate 100'. The hole 100H' can extend obliquely to each of the lower surface 100B' and the upper surface 100T' of the support plate 100'. According to an exemplary embodiment, the angle 100θ' between the extending direction of the hole 100H' and the lower surface 100B' can be in the range of about 5° to about 85°.

[0090] The inlet 100HI' of the hole 100H' can be on the lower surface 100B' of the support plate 100'. The outlet 100HE' of the hole 100H' can be on the front surface 100F' of the support plate 100'. As a non-limiting example, the distance between the outlet 100HE' and the upper surface 100T' may be even smaller than the distance between the outlet 100HE' and the lower surface 100B'.

[0091] The inlet 100HI' and the outlet 100HE' of the hole 100H' can have a slit shape. The length of the inlet 100HI' of the hole 100H' in the X direction may be even larger than the length of the inlet 100HI' of the hole 100H' in the Y direction. The length of the outlet 100HE' of the hole 100H' in the X direction may be even larger than the length of the outlet 100HE' of the hole 100H' in the Y direction.

[0092] According to an exemplary embodiment, the hole 100H' can be formed by a processing method such as mechanical drilling and laser drilling. The shape of the inlet 100HI' can be determined according to the shape of the outlet 100HE' and the angle 100θ' of the hole 100H'.

[0093] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first air supply line 310' can be connected to the inlet 100HI'. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first air supply line 310' can be substantially the same as the shape of the inlet 100HI'. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the turbulent flow caused by the change in the cross-sectional area due to the air path.

[0094] (Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 12 shows the upper surface 200T' of the pressurizing device 200' according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0095] FIG. 13 shows the front surface 200F' of the pressurizing device 200' according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0096] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line DD-DD' of FIG. 13.

[0097] Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, the pressurizing device 200' can replace the pressurizing device 200 of FIG. 1. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pressurizing device 200' may include a single hole 200H'. The hole 200H' may extend from the upper surface 200T' of the pressurizing device 200' to the front surface 200F' of the pressurizing device 200'. The hole 200H' may extend obliquely to each of the lower surface 200B' and the upper surface 200T' of the pressurizing device 200'. According to an exemplary embodiment, the angle 200θ' between the extending direction of the hole 200H' and the upper surface 200T' may be in the range of about 5° to about 85°.

[0098] The inlet 200HI' of the hole 200H' may be on the upper surface 200T' of the pressurizing device 200'. The outlet 200HE' of the hole 200H' may be on the front surface 200F' of the pressurizing device 200'. As a non-limiting example, the distance between the outlet 200HE' and the upper surface 200T' may be even greater than the distance between the outlet 200HE' and the lower surface 200B'.

[0099] The inlet 200HI' and the outlet 200HE' of the hole 200H' may have a slit shape. The length of the inlet 200HI' of the hole 200H' in the X direction may be even greater than the length of the inlet 200HI' of the hole 200H' in the Y direction. The length of the outlet 200HE' of the hole 200H' in the X direction may be even greater than the length of the outlet 200HE' of the hole 200H' in the Y direction.

[0100] According to an exemplary embodiment, the hole 200H' may be formed by a processing method such as mechanical drilling and laser drilling. The shape of the inlet 200HI' may be determined according to the shape of the outlet 200HE' and the angle 200θ' of the hole 200H'.

[0101] According to an exemplary embodiment, the second air supply line 320' may be connected to the injection port 200HI'. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the second air supply line 320' may be substantially the same as the shape of the injection port 200HI'. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the turbulent flow caused by the change in the cross-sectional area due to the air path.

[0102] As described above, the present invention has been described in more detail through the drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are only one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace these at the time of this application.

Claims

1. A support plate configured to support an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, A pressing device configured to press the electrode assembly so that the electrode assembly is fixed, A horn configured to weld the plurality of tabs, and An anvil configured to support the plurality of tabs welded by the horn, and The pressing device includes a hole configured to inject air, a secondary battery manufacturing device.

2. The pressing device is configured to inject the air into the plurality of tabs, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 1.

3. The pressing device includes A lower surface in contact with the electrode assembly, An upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and A front surface interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface and facing the horn and the anvil, The hole of the pressing device extends from the upper surface and the front surface, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 1.

4. The hole includes a discharge port on the front surface and an injection port on the upper surface, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 3.

5. The shape of the injection port is different from the shape of the discharge port, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 4.

6. An air supply device configured to supply the air to the pressing device, and An air supply line connecting the air supply device and the hole of the pressing device is further included, and The cross section of the air supply line is the same as the shape of the injection port, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. A support plate configured to support an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs, and A horn configured to weld the plurality of tabs is included, and The support plate includes a hole configured to inject air into the plurality of tabs, a secondary battery manufacturing device.

8. The support plate includes An upper surface in contact with the electrode assembly, A lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and A front surface interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface and facing the horn, The hole of the support plate extends from the lower surface and the front surface, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 7.

9. The hole includes a discharge port on the front surface and an injection port on the lower surface, the secondary battery manufacturing device according to claim 8.

10. An air supply device configured to supply the air to the support plate, and further comprising an air supply line connecting the air supply device and the hole of the support plate, and The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a cross-section of the air supply line is the same as a shape of the injection port.

11. fixing an electrode assembly including a plurality of tabs; injecting air into the plurality of tabs; aligning the plurality of tabs; and welding the plurality of tabs, a method of manufacturing a secondary battery.

12. The electrode assembly is fixed by a support plate supporting the electrode assembly and a pressing device pressing the electrode assembly, and The air is injected by any one of the support plate and the pressing device, the method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 11.

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