Drying equipment for electrode manufacturing

Abstract

A drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the invention includes a transfer unit for transferring an electrode substrate, a heating unit for applying heat to the electrode substrate during transfer, a position adjustment unit for adjusting the position of the heating unit, a first cooling unit for spraying air toward the electrode substrate positioned in the transfer unit, and a control unit for activating the first cooling unit when transfer of the electrode substrate stops.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device for electrode production, and more particularly to a drying device for electrode production that can prevent an electrode substrate from being overheated by residual heat from a heating unit when the electrode substrate stops traveling.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0030661, filed on March 8, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] A lithium secondary battery is charged and discharged during the process in which lithium ions migrate from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and are reversibly inserted and extracted therefrom. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode substrate assembly.

[0004] Depending on the shape of the battery case, secondary batteries are classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries in which an electrode substrate assembly is housed in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and pouch-type batteries in which an electrode substrate assembly is housed in a pouch-type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0005] In addition, a secondary battery may be formed by inserting an electrode substrate assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator into a case and then sealing the case. The electrode substrate assembly may be wound up multiple times in a jelly roll shape or stacked in multiple layers, with the separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

[0006] On the other hand, when manufacturing an electrode substrate such as a positive electrode or a negative electrode of a secondary battery, a step of drying the electrode substrate is carried out.

[0007] The electrode substrate is dried by passing through a drying section in a roll-to-roll manner, where the electrode substrate is dried using heat lamps.

[0008] Meanwhile, when the roll-to-roll equipment is stopped, the electrode substrate, which has stopped running in the drying chamber, may be overheated due to residual heat from the heating lamp. When the electrode substrate is restarted in an overheated state, temperature hunting may occur, or the temperature of the electrode substrate may increase, causing changes in the physical properties of the electrode. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a drying device for electrode production that can prevent the electrode substrate from being overheated by residual heat from a heating section when the electrode substrate stops traveling.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a drying device for electrode manufacturing that can block the transfer of residual heat from a heating section to an electrode substrate when the electrode substrate stops traveling, thereby cooling the surface of the electrode substrate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer unit for transferring an electrode substrate, a heating unit for applying heat to the electrode substrate during transfer, a position adjustment unit for adjusting the position of the heating unit, a first cooling unit for spraying air toward the electrode substrate positioned in the transfer unit, and a control unit for activating the first cooling unit when transfer of the electrode substrate is stopped.

[0012] The first cooling unit may be configured to inject air toward a surface of the electrode substrate positioned in the transfer unit.

[0013] The first cooling unit may include a plurality of air injection units for injecting air toward both sides of the electrode substrate positioned in the transfer unit.

[0014] The position adjustment unit may be provided to move the heating unit toward or away from the electrode substrate located in the transfer unit.

[0015] Furthermore, when the transfer of the electrode substrate is stopped, the control unit can move the heating unit in a direction away from the electrode substrate located in the transfer unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the control unit can stop the operation of the heating unit when the transport of the electrode substrate stops.

[0017] Furthermore, the control unit can activate the first cooling unit when the heating unit is moved in a direction away from the electrode base material.

[0018] The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode may further include a second cooling unit for cooling the heating unit.

[0019] The control unit may also be configured to activate the second cooling unit when the heating unit is moved in a direction away from the electrode substrate.

[0020] The heating unit may include a heating lamp.

[0021] The heating unit may include an IR (infrared) lamp and a reflecting member for reflecting heat radiated from the IR lamp to the electrode base material.

[0022] The second cooling unit may be configured to inject air into the space between the IR lamp and the reflecting member.

[0023] The control unit may also control the operation of the heating lamp so that the heating lamp emits light in a predetermined wavelength band when the electrode substrate is being transported.

[0024] In addition, the control unit can control the operation of the heating unit so that the heating unit operates at a constant output value when the electrode substrate is being transported.

[0025] The transport unit may include a plurality of rolls for transporting the electrode substrate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] As seen above, the drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

[0027] When the electrode substrate stops traveling during the drying process, the electrode substrate can be prevented from being overheated by residual heat from the heating unit.

[0028] Furthermore, when the electrode substrate stops traveling, the residual heat of the heating section is prevented from being transferred to the electrode substrate, allowing the surface of the electrode substrate to cool.

[0029] Furthermore, when the electrode substrate is stopped and restarted, temperature hunting of the electrode substrate can be prevented, and the temperature of the heating section can be reduced in a short time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one operating state of a drying device for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one operating state of a drying device for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one operating state of a drying device for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining a second cooling section. [Figure 6] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Furthermore, regardless of the drawing symbols, identical or corresponding components will be given the same or similar reference numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. For convenience of explanation, the size and shape of each component shown may be exaggerated or reduced.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drying apparatus 100 for electrode production (hereinafter also referred to as "drying apparatus") according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The drying apparatus 100 for manufacturing an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a conveying unit 110, a heating unit 120, a position adjusting unit 140, and a first cooling unit 150. The drying apparatus 100 for manufacturing an electrode may also include the conveying unit 110, the heating unit 120, the position adjusting unit 140, the first cooling unit 150, and a second cooling unit 160.

[0035] 2 to 4 are schematic diagrams illustrating one operating state of the drying apparatus 100 for electrode production according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Fig. 2 shows an operating state in which the electrode base material is transported (also referred to as "transported") and the drying process is carried out, Fig. 3 shows an operating state in which the electrode base material stops traveling during the drying process, and Fig. 4 shows an operating state of the first cooling unit when the electrode base material stops traveling.

[0036] The drying device 100 includes a transfer unit 110 for transferring the electrode substrate, a heating unit 120 (120a, 120b) for applying heat to the electrode substrate 1 during transfer, a position adjustment unit 140 for adjusting the position of the heating unit 120, a first cooling unit 150 for spraying air toward the electrode substrate 1 positioned in the transfer unit 110, and a control unit 170 for operating the first cooling unit 150 when transfer of the electrode substrate 1 stops.

[0037] The drying device 100 includes a drying chamber 101. The drying chamber 101 has an inlet 102 through which the electrode substrate 1 is introduced and an outlet 103 through which the electrode substrate 1 is discharged after being dried. The electrode substrate 1 has a coated portion to which the electrode slurry is applied and an uncoated portion to which the electrode slurry is not applied. The coated portion of the electrode substrate 1 may be provided on one or both sides of the electrode substrate 1.

[0038] The drying chamber 101 provides a space in which a drying process of the electrode substrate 1 is performed. A transfer unit 110, a heating unit 120 (120a, 120b), a position adjusting unit 140, and a first cooling unit 150 are arranged in the internal space of the drying chamber 101.

[0039] The conveying unit 110 may include a plurality of rolls 111 for transporting the electrode substrate 1. A plurality of rolls 111 may be arranged in the drying chamber 101 so that the electrode substrate 1 travels in the drying chamber 101 while changing the travel direction multiple times.

[0040] The heating unit 120 may include a heat lamp. The heat lamp may be an infrared (IR) lamp. When power is applied to the heat lamp, heat is emitted from the heat lamp toward the electrode substrate 1, thereby drying the electrode substrate 1.

[0041] The heating unit 120 may be disposed on one or both sides of the electrode substrate 1 in the running direction M of the electrode substrate 1 within the drying chamber 101. Referring to FIG. 2, the heating units 120 (120a, 120b) may be disposed on both sides 2 and 3 of the electrode substrate 1 in the running direction M of the electrode substrate 1. That is, a plurality of heating units 120 may be provided within the drying chamber 101, and the plurality of heating units 120 may be disposed at predetermined intervals along the running direction M of the electrode substrate 1.

[0042] 2, in this specification, a heating unit provided to provide heat toward a first surface 2 of the electrode substrate 1 may be referred to as a first heating unit 120b, and a heating unit provided to provide heat toward a second surface 3 opposite to the first surface 2 of the electrode substrate may be referred to as a second heating unit 120a. The first heating unit 120b and the second heating unit 120a may have the same structure and may be distinguished by their positions within the drying chamber 101.

[0043] In addition, the position adjusting unit 140 is configured to move the heating unit 120 toward or away from the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the transporting unit 110. The position adjusting unit 140 may include a cylinder, a motor, etc. The position adjusting unit 140 is controlled by the control unit 170, and may be configured to adjust the position of the heating unit 120 when the electrode substrate 1 is transported within the drying chamber 101 and when the electrode substrate 1 stops traveling.

[0044] 2 and 3, the position adjusting unit 140 may be configured to adjust the position of the first heating unit 120b that provides heat toward the first surface 2 of the electrode substrate 1. In this configuration, the second heating unit 120a that provides heat toward the second surface 3 of the electrode substrate 1 may be a fixed-position heating unit, and the first heating unit 120b connected to the position adjusting unit 140 may be a variable-position heating unit.

[0045] In addition, the first cooling unit 150 may be configured to spray air toward a surface (one or both surfaces) of the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the conveying unit 110. Referring to Fig. 4, the first cooling unit 150 may include a plurality of air spraying units for spraying air toward both surfaces 2 and 3 of the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the conveying unit. In this case, the plurality of air spraying units may be arranged at predetermined intervals along the traveling direction of the electrode substrate 1 in the drying chamber 101.

[0046] The first cooling unit 150 can provide an air curtain that prevents residual heat from the heating unit 120 (120a, 120b) from being transferred to the electrode substrate by spraying air onto the surface of the electrode substrate. In addition, the first cooling unit 150 can cool the electrode substrate 1 by spraying air onto the surface of the electrode substrate, thereby controlling the temperature of the electrode substrate.

[0047] Furthermore, the control unit 170 may move the heating unit 120 in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the transfer unit 110 when the transfer of the electrode substrate 1 stops. Referring to Fig. 3, for example, the control unit 170 may move the first heating unit 120b in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the transfer unit 110 when the transfer of the electrode substrate 1 stops.

[0048] Furthermore, the control unit 170 can stop the operation of the heating unit 120 (120a, 120b) when the transfer of the electrode substrate 1 stops.

[0049] 3 and 4, when the heating unit 120b moves in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1, the control unit 170 can operate the first cooling unit 150.

[0050] In summary, when the movement of the electrode substrate 1 in the drying chamber 101 is stopped, the control unit 170 stops the operation of the heating unit 120 .

[0051] However, even when the operation of the heating unit 120 is stopped, residual heat Q of the heating unit 120 is transferred to the surface of the electrode substrate 1. To prevent this, the control unit 170 is configured to move the heating unit 120b in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1 positioned on the transfer unit 110 when the transfer of the electrode substrate 1 is stopped, and to activate the first cooling unit 150 when the heating unit 120b is moved in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1.

[0052] At this time, the first cooling section 150 provides an air curtain that prevents residual heat Q from being transferred from the heating section 120 (120a, 120b) to the electrode substrate 1 by spraying air onto the surface of the electrode substrate 1, and at the same time, by spraying air onto the surface of the electrode substrate 1, the electrode substrate 1 can be cooled.

[0053] Also, referring to FIG. 2, when the electrode substrate 1 is traveling in the drying chamber 101, the control unit 170 stops the operation of the first cooling unit 150, and the control unit 170 moves the heating unit 120b in a direction approaching the electrode substrate 1 and operates the heating unit 120, thereby performing a drying process for the electrode substrate 1.

[0054] In addition, the drying apparatus 100 for manufacturing an electrode may include a second cooling unit 160 for cooling the heating unit 120 .

[0055] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the second cooling section 160, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the heating section.

[0056] The second cooling unit 160 sprays air onto the heating unit 120 to reduce the temperature of the heating unit 120 in a short time.

[0057] As an example, the control unit 170 may be configured to activate the second cooling unit 160 when the heating unit 120b is moved in a direction away from the electrode substrate 1 when the electrode substrate stops traveling.

[0058] 5 and 6, the heating unit 120b may include an IR lamp 123 and a reflecting member 125 for reflecting heat radiated from the IR lamp 123 to the electrode substrate.

[0059] In addition, the second cooling unit 160 may be provided to inject air into the space 127 between the IR lamp 123 and the reflecting member 125 .

[0060] In addition, the control unit 170 can control the operation of the heating lamp 123 so that the heating lamp 123 emits light in a certain wavelength band when the electrode substrate 1 is transferred.

[0061] In addition, the control unit 170 can control the operation of the heating unit so that the heating unit operates at a constant output value when the electrode substrate 1 is transferred.

[0062] The above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications, changes, and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] According to the drying device for electrode manufacturing according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the electrode substrate stops traveling during the drying process, the electrode substrate can be prevented from overheating due to residual heat from the heating unit.

Claims

1. a transfer unit for transferring the electrode substrate; a heating unit for applying heat to the electrode substrate during transportation; a position adjusting unit for adjusting the position of the heating unit; a first cooling unit for injecting air toward the electrode substrate located in the transfer unit; a control unit for operating the first cooling unit when the transfer of the electrode base material is stopped.

2. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the first cooling unit is configured to inject air toward the surface of the electrode substrate positioned in the conveying unit.

3. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 2 , wherein the first cooling unit includes a plurality of air injection units for respectively injecting air toward both sides of the electrode substrate positioned in the conveying unit.

4. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 2 , wherein the position adjusting unit moves the heating unit in a direction toward or away from the electrode base material located in the transporting unit.

5. The drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit moves the heating unit in a direction away from the electrode substrate positioned in the transfer unit when the transfer of the electrode substrate is stopped.

6. The drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit stops the operation of the heating unit when the transport of the electrode base material stops.

7. The drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit activates the first cooling unit when the heating unit is moved in a direction away from the electrode base material.

8. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 5 , further comprising a second cooling unit for cooling the heating unit.

9. The drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit activates the second cooling unit when the heating unit is moved in a direction away from the electrode base material.

10. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 8 , wherein the heating unit includes a heat lamp.

11. The heating unit is An infrared lamp, 9. The drying apparatus for use in electrode production according to claim 8, further comprising: a reflecting member for reflecting heat radiated from the infrared lamp to the electrode substrate.

12. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 11, wherein the second cooling unit is configured to inject air into a space between the infrared lamp and the reflecting member.

13. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 10, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the heating lamp so that the heating lamp outputs light in a constant wavelength band when the electrode substrate is being transported.

14. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the operation of the heating unit so that the heating unit operates at a constant output value when the electrode base material is being transported.

15. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the transport unit includes a plurality of rolls for transporting the electrode base material.

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