Sealing tool for pouch-type secondary battery and sealing method for pouch-type secondary battery

Abstract

A sealing tool according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block including a first fixing part and a first shift part configured to be connectable to and detachable from the first fixing part, the second sealing block including a second fixing part and a second shift part configured to be connectable to and detachable from the second fixing part, and at least one of the first shift part and the second shift part has a groove formed therein for receiving an electrode lead at a position corresponding to the electrode lead.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0115920, filed on September 1, 2023.

[0002] The present invention relates to a sealing tool and a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, and more particularly to a sealing tool and a sealing method that can reduce the time and cost required to manufacture a new sealing tool in response to changes in electrode lead specifications. [Background technology]

[0003] Lithium secondary batteries can be classified according to the structure of the cathode / separator / anode electrode assembly. Representative examples of electrode assemblies include a jelly roll (wound-type) electrode assembly in which long sheet-shaped cathodes and anodes are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, a stack-type electrode assembly in which multiple cathodes and anodes cut to a predetermined size are stacked one after the other with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stack / folding type electrode assembly in which a bi-cell or mono-cell in which predetermined-sized cathodes and anodes are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is wound around a separator film.

[0004] Lithium secondary batteries can be classified into cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, pouch batteries, etc., depending on their shape. Among them, pouch batteries are constructed using a pouch exterior material consisting of a metal layer (foil) and a multilayered synthetic resin film coated on the top and bottom of the metal layer, which significantly reduces the weight of the battery compared to cylindrical or prismatic batteries that use metal cans. This allows for a lighter battery and allows for various shapes.

[0005] A pouch exterior material generally consists of a lower exterior material that houses an electrode assembly and an upper exterior material that seals the upper part of the lower exterior material. After the electrode assembly is housed in the housing of the lower exterior material, the periphery of the lower exterior material housing is closely attached to the corresponding edge of the upper exterior material, the closely attached portion is heat-sealed, an electrolyte is poured in, and the remaining portion is sealed to pre-assemble the secondary battery.

[0006] The pouch outer packaging material is sealed using a sealing tool. A typical sealing tool consists of a first sealing block for applying pressure to the upper surface of the sealing part of the pouch outer packaging material and a second sealing block for applying pressure to the lower surface of the sealing part.

[0007] Meanwhile, as electrode lead specifications and pouch packaging materials are becoming more diverse, optimizing the sealing process requires changes to the sealing tool design to accommodate these changes. However, due to the time and cost limitations of manufacturing new sealing tools, the sealing process is currently performed using sealing tools of the same specifications, which affects sealing quality. Therefore, technology development is needed to optimize sealing tools while saving time and costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The problem to be solved by the technical idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a sealing tool that is optimized to accommodate changes in electrode lead specifications and lead film specifications, while also saving costs and time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built therein. The sealing tool includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block including a first fixing portion and a first shift portion configured to be connectable to and detachable from the first fixing portion, the second sealing block including a second fixing portion and a second shift portion configured to be connectable to and detachable from the second fixing portion, and at least one of the first shift portion and the second shift portion has a groove formed in a position corresponding to the electrode lead for receiving the electrode lead.

[0010] In one embodiment, the groove has a size corresponding to the length in the horizontal direction (x direction) of the electrode lead seated in the groove and the length in the thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead.

[0011] In one embodiment, the groove has a size corresponding to the horizontal (x-direction) length of the lead film seated in the groove and the sum of the lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film in the thickness direction (z-direction).

[0012] In one embodiment, the first sealing block and the second sealing block are configured to pressurize a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery disposed therebetween.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first and second change units include a first and second pressing surface for pressing the sealing portion of the pouch-type secondary battery, respectively.

[0014] In one embodiment, the groove has a trapezoidal shape in which the length of the groove entrance in the lateral direction (x direction) is greater than the length of the groove interior in the lateral direction.

[0015] In one embodiment, the groove includes two or more steps.

[0016] The sealing tool according to one embodiment further includes heating members coupled to the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, respectively, and configured to heat the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

[0017] In one embodiment of the sealing tool, the heating members are built into the first fixing part and the second fixing part, respectively.

[0018] The sealing tool of one embodiment further includes a first lifting member coupled to the first sealing block and a second lifting member coupled to the second sealing block for moving the first block and the second block in the pressure direction and the opposite direction.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening a bolt and a nut, and the second fixed portion and the second replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening a bolt and a nut.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are configured to be slidably coupled together, and the second fixed portion and the second replacement portion are configured to be slidably coupled together.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first and / or second alternating portions are provided in a variety of types with different groove positions and sizes.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built in. The sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery includes: a replacement part selection step of selecting a first replacement part and a second replacement part formed with grooves having dimensions corresponding to the positions and dimensions of electrode leads; a sealing block preparation step of coupling the selected first replacement part to a first fixing part to prepare a first sealing block and coupling the selected second replacement part to a second fixing part to prepare a second sealing block; an arrangement step of arranging a sealing part of the pouch-type secondary battery between the first sealing block and the second sealing block; and a step of contacting the first sealing block and the second sealing block to apply pressure to the sealing part.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sealing method uses a sealing tool, the sealing tool comprising: a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other; the first sealing block includes a first fixed portion and a first replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the first fixed portion; the second sealing block includes a second fixed portion and a second replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the second fixed portion; At least one of the first and second interchanging portions has a groove formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead for receiving the electrode lead.

[0024] In one embodiment, in the replacement portion selection process, the first replacement portion and / or the second replacement portion are provided in various types with different groove positions and sizes.

[0025] In one embodiment, the groove has a size corresponding to the length in the horizontal direction (x direction) of the electrode lead seated in the groove and the length in the thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead.

[0026] In one embodiment, the groove has a dimension corresponding to the horizontal (x-direction) length of the lead film seated in the groove, and a dimension corresponding to the sum of the thickness (z-direction) length of the electrode lead and the thickness (z-direction) length of the lead film. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, various types of replacement parts having different positions and specifications of grooves in which electrode leads are seated can be manufactured in advance, and when the position and / or specifications of the electrode leads change, the appropriate replacement part can be assembled to a fixed part to manufacture a sealing tool. This makes it possible to provide a sealing tool that can optimize sealing performance, reduce costs, and prevent the possibility of mold errors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of a sealing tool according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram for explaining the effects of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram for explaining the effects of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing various embodiments of a sealing block of the present invention; [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view illustrating a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are top and front views of a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view of a sealing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a view illustrating a method of coupling a fixed part and a replacement part according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a front view of a replacement unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a front view of a replacement unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 2 is a flowchart illustrating a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that are consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of the terms in order to best describe his own invention.

[0030] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0031] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of related publicly known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0032] Since the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown in a schematic manner for clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and proportions of each component do not completely reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0033] (First embodiment) The present invention provides a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery as a first embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a top view and a cross-sectional view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment, FIG. 3 is a front view of a sealing tool according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are drawings for explaining the effects of the present invention.

[0035] Referring to these drawings, a sealing tool 20 for a pouch-type secondary battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is used to seal pouch outer casings 15a, 15b incorporating an electrode assembly (not shown), and includes a first sealing block 21 and a second sealing block 22 facing each other, the first sealing block 21 including a first fixing portion 21b and a first alternating portion 21a, the second sealing block 22 including a second fixing portion 22b and a second alternating portion 22a, and at least one of the first alternating portion 21a and the second alternating portion 22a may have grooves 21c, 22c recessed therein at positions corresponding to the electrode leads 13, respectively.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first and / or second alternating portions 21a and / or 22a having the grooves 21c and 22c formed therein are provided in various types that differ in the positions and sizes of the grooves 21c and 22c. When the position and / or size of the electrode lead 13 is changed, the first and / or second alternating portions 21a and 22a having grooves corresponding to the changed position and / or size of the electrode lead are selected from the various types of first and / or second alternating portions 21a and 22a, and these can be configured to be coupled to the first and / or second fixing portions 21b and 22b, respectively.

[0037] The sealing block of a conventional sealing tool is configured as a single unit, and when any one of the electrode lead position, electrode lead thickness, and lateral length of the electrode lead is changed, the sealing tool must be newly manufactured to optimize the sealing.

[0038] The sealing block of the present invention includes a fixed part and a replacement part detachably attached to the fixed part, and the replacement part is provided in various types with different groove positions and specifications, so that when the position and / or specifications of the electrode lead change, a suitable replacement part can be selected and assembled to the fixed part to manufacture a sealing tool. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sealing tool optimally designed for the object to be sealed, thereby improving sealing quality, reducing costs, and preventing the possibility of mold errors.

[0039] 1 and 2, a pouch-type secondary battery 10 sealed by the sealing tool of the present invention includes an electrode assembly (not shown), an electrode lead 13 coupled to the electrode assembly, and pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b that accommodate the electrode assembly with the tip of the electrode lead 13 extended to the outside. The pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b may include a receiving portion 12 that accommodates the electrode assembly and a sealing portion formed along the edge of the receiving portion 12 to seal the receiving portion 12. The electrode lead 13 is extended to the outside through one of the sealing portions 14a formed on the edge of the receiving portion. Here, the sealing portion is a concept that includes the area to be sealed.

[0040] 1 and 5, in order to prevent electricity generated from the electrode assembly from flowing to the pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b via the electrode lead 13, a portion of the electrode lead 13 may be surrounded by a lead film 17. That is, sealing may be performed with the lead film 17 interposed between the electrode lead 13 and the pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the sealing tool of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] 1 to 5, a sealing tool 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a sealing tool for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery in which the tips of a pair of electrode leads 13 are drawn in opposite directions, and includes a first sealing block 21 and a second sealing block 22 facing each other. The first sealing block 21 and the second sealing block 22 serve as a main body that performs sealing, and may be made of a metal material.

[0043] The first sealing block 21 includes a first fixing portion 21b and a first replacement portion 21a configured to be connectable to and detachable from the first fixing portion 21b, and the second sealing block 22 includes a second fixing portion 22b and a second replacement portion 22a configured to be connectable to and detachable from the second fixing portion 22b.

[0044] The first sealing block 21 and the second sealing block 22 are configured to apply pressure to the sealing portion 14a of the pouch-type secondary battery placed between them. As the distance between the first sealing block 21 and the second sealing block 22 decreases, they come into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the sealing portion 14a, respectively, and can seal the sealing portion 14a.

[0045] The first and second transition parts 21a and 22a respectively include a first pressing surface 21e and a second pressing surface 22e for pressing the sealing part 14a of the pouch-type secondary battery. The first and second transition parts 21a and 22a may respectively include the first and second pressing surfaces 21e and 22e on the opposite sides of the portions coupled to the first and second fixing parts 21b and 22b, and as the first sealing block 21 moves downward, the first pressing surface 21e comes into contact with the sealing part 14a, and as the second sealing block 22 moves up and down, the second pressing surface 22e comes into contact with the sealing part 14a.

[0046] The sealing tool 20 according to the present invention may further include a first lifting member 21d coupled to the first sealing block 21 and a second lifting member 22d coupled to the second sealing block 22 in order to move the first block 21 and the second block 22 in the pressure direction and the opposite direction. Here, the lifting members 21d and 22d may be provided as a commonly used cylinder or the like, but are not necessarily limited thereto, and may include any means for lifting or lowering the sealing blocks.

[0047] At least one of the first and second transition portions 21a and 22a has grooves 21c and 22c formed therein for seating the electrode lead 13 at a position corresponding to the electrode lead 13. The grooves 21c and 22c are configured to seat the electrode lead 13 or a laminate of the electrode lead 13 and the lead film 17 and to allow portions other than the electrode lead 13 to be sufficiently pressed and sealed. The electrode lead 13 or the laminate of the electrode lead 13 and the lead film 17 is sealed with its thickness compensated for by the grooves 21c and 22c. Therefore, despite the difference in thickness between the portion where only the double pouch exterior is sealed and the portion where the pouch exterior / lead film / electrode lead / lead film / pouch exterior is sealed together, they can be uniformly pressed.

[0048] However, because the electrode lead 13 is not always positioned uniformly in the grooves 21c and 22c in the current sealing process, it is preferable that the grooves 21c and 22c have a margin that takes into account the tolerance of the cross-sectional shape of the electrode lead 13, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Specifically, the horizontal length (x-axis direction) of the grooves 21c and 22c may be formed to be approximately 1% to 15%, 3% to 15%, or 5% to 15% wider than the horizontal length (x-axis direction) of the electrode lead 13. However, the horizontal length of the groove is not limited to this.

[0049] The groove may be formed in both the first alternating portion 21a and the second alternating portion 22a, or in either the first alternating portion or the second alternating portion. In this case, the groove may be formed in the second alternating portion 22a located below the electrode lead 13.

[0050] The electrode lead 13 may vary in its pull-out position, horizontal (x-direction) length, vertical (y-direction) length, and thickness (z-direction) length depending on the material, sales company, capacity of the electrode assembly, and design of the secondary battery, and the lead film 17 may also vary accordingly. In order to accommodate these variations, the sealing tool 20 according to the present invention is configured such that the first and / or second replacement portions 21a and 22a having the grooves formed therein are formed in various types with different groove positions and specifications, and the first and second replacement portions 21a and 22a are alternated depending on the position and specification of the electrode lead 13.

[0051] The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the sealing portion where the electrode lead 13 is located is sealed with the electrode lead 13 interposed between the double pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b. The electrode lead 13 may have a width (x-direction) length EW and a thickness (z-direction) length ET. If the width (x-direction) and / or thickness (z-direction) length ET of the electrode lead 13 is changed, the width (swing) and / or thickness (st) length of the grooves 21c and 22c in which the electrode lead is seated in the sealing block must be changed accordingly. According to the present disclosure, the grooves 21c and 22c have a size corresponding to the width (x-direction) length EW of the electrode lead seated therein and a size corresponding to the thickness (z-direction) length ET of the electrode lead. In other words, by selecting a replacement part having a groove having a size corresponding to the size of the electrode lead and coupling it to a fixing part, a sealing tool optimized for the changed electrode lead size can be provided. In addition, when the position of the electrode lead is changed, a replacement part having a groove at a position suitable for seating the electrode lead can be selected from various types of replacement parts having different groove positions, and the replacement part can be coupled to the fixing part, thereby providing a sealing tool optimized for the change in the position of the electrode lead.

[0053] 5, in another embodiment, the sealing portion where the electrode lead 13 is located may be sealed with the lead film 17 interposed between the electrode lead 13 and the pouch exterior materials 15a, 15b. If the width FW of the lead film 17 in the horizontal direction (x direction) changes, the width SW of the groove in the sealing block in which the electrode lead 13 and the lead film 17 are seated must also be changed accordingly. If the thickness of the lead film 17 and / or the thickness of the electrode lead 13 changes, the thickness ST of the grooves 21c, 22c in which the electrode leads are seated must also be changed accordingly. According to the present disclosure, the grooves 21c, 22c have a size corresponding to the width F of the lead film seated in the groove in the horizontal direction (x direction). The grooves 21c, 22c have a size corresponding to the sum ELT of the thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead and the lead film seated in the groove. That is, by selecting a replacement part having a groove having a size corresponding to the size of the electrode lead and lead film and coupling it to the fixing part, it is possible to provide a sealing tool optimized for the changed lead film size and / or the changed electrode lead size. Also, when the positions of the electrode lead and lead film are changed, it is possible to provide a sealing tool optimized for the change in the position of the electrode lead by selecting a replacement part having a groove formed in a position suitable for seating the electrode lead and lead film from various types of replacement parts having different groove positions and coupling it to the fixing part. Although FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the lateral length of the lead film is greater than the lateral length of the electrode lead, if the lateral length of the lead film is the same as or smaller than the lateral length of the electrode lead, the groove may have a size corresponding to the lateral length of the electrode lead instead of the lateral length of the lead film.

[0054] The present invention provides various types of replacement parts with different groove positions and specifications, selects a replacement part having a groove corresponding to the change in the position and specifications of the electrode lead, and combines it with the fixed part to form a sealing block.

[0055] In selecting the replacement part, a groove is formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead, and a replacement part is selected in which a groove having a size corresponding to the size of the electrode lead is formed. The groove may have a size corresponding to the length in the horizontal direction (x direction) and the length in the thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove. The groove may also have a size corresponding to the length in the horizontal direction (x direction) of the lead film to be seated in the groove and the sum of the lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film in the thickness direction. The groove is formed in a position in the replacement part corresponding to the position of the electrode lead and / or the position of the lead film.

[0056] As a result, the sealing tool 20 according to the present invention has a structure that can select an optimally designed replacement part when the position and size of the electrode lead changes and connect it to the fixed part, so that pouch-type secondary batteries having various designs and sizes can be sealed without manufacturing a new sealing tool, thereby reducing costs.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 3, the grooves 21c and 22c may have a trapezoidal shape in which the horizontal length (x direction) of the inlet of the groove 21c or 22c is greater than the horizontal length of the inside of the groove, which reduces the risk of damage to the pouch exterior material compared to when the groove is rectangular.

[0058] FIG. 12 is a front view of a replacement portion according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12, the grooves 41c and 42c formed in the replacement portions 41a and 42a may include a first step portion SP1 and a second step portion SP2. While FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment with two step portions, this is not limiting and three or more step portions may be included. Having two or more step portions can improve sealing performance by more reliably adhering the electrode lead 13 to the pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b, and reduce unsealed areas. While FIG. 12 does not show a lead film, it would be obvious to one skilled in the art to modify the design of the replacement portion groove to include two or more step portions when sealing is performed with a lead film interposed around the electrode lead.

[0059] 6 is a diagram showing various embodiments of the sealing block of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the fixed part 22b and the replacement part 22a can be designed and configured to be connectable in various forms such as (a) to (c).

[0060] In one embodiment, the first fixing portion 21b and the first replacement portion 21a may be coupled and fixed by fastening with a bolt and a nut, and the second fixing portion 22b and the second replacement portion 22a may be coupled and fixed by fastening with a bolt and a nut.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of connecting a fixed part and a replacement part according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a front view of the replacement part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] 10 and 11, the first fixing portion 21b and the first alternating portion 21a may be configured to be slidably coupled, and the second fixing portion 22b and the second alternating portion 22a may be configured to be slidably coupled. The first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b may have a sliding groove (or grooves) through which the first alternating portion 21a and the second alternating portion 22a are slidably coupled. The first alternating portion 21a and the second alternating portion 22a may have at least one coupling member H, which may be a hook. When there are two or more hooks H, the coupling members H may be spaced apart at a predetermined interval along the lateral direction (x direction) of the first alternating portion 21a and the second alternating portion 22a. The hooks are hook-shaped and serve to fix the alternating portion coupled to the fixing portion. If the fixed part and the replacement part are connected in a sliding-hook manner, they can be connected and separated more easily.

[0063] In order to apply heat and pressure to the sealing portions, the sealing tool 20 according to one embodiment may further include a heating member (not shown) for heating the first sealing block 21 and the second sealing block 22. The heating members may be coupled to the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b, respectively, and configured to heat the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b.

[0064] In another embodiment of the sealing tool 20, a heating element (not shown) may be built into the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b to heat and pressurize the sealing portion. The heating element may be located at the center of the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b. The heating element may include a main heating element and an auxiliary heating element to heat and pressurize the sealing portion to a uniform temperature. The main heating element may be located at the center of the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b, and the auxiliary heating element may be located at the outer periphery of the first fixing portion 21b and the second fixing portion 22b.

[0065] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a top view and a front view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a front view of a sealing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] Referring to these drawings, the sealing tool 30 according to the second embodiment is a sealing tool for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery in which the tips of a pair of electrode leads 13 are drawn out in the same direction, and includes a first sealing block 31 and a second sealing block 32 facing each other.

[0067] The first sealing block 31 includes a first fixing portion 31b and a first replacement portion 31a configured to be connectable to and detachable from the first fixing portion 31b, and the second sealing block 32 includes a second fixing portion 32b and a second replacement portion 32a configured to be connectable to and detachable from the second fixing portion.

[0068] At least one of the first and second replacement portions 31a and 32a is formed with grooves 31c and 32c in positions and numbers corresponding to the electrode leads 13, for receiving the electrode leads.

[0069] 7 to 9 differs from the sealing tool of the first embodiment in the number and positions of the grooves 31c and 32c formed in one replacement part. The remaining technical details have been described above, so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0070] (Second embodiment) The present invention provides, as a second embodiment, a method for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery, for sealing a pouch outer casing in which an electrode assembly is built.

[0071] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 13, the sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to the present invention includes a replacement part selection step (P110) of selecting a first replacement part and a second replacement part, each having a groove formed therein and having a size corresponding to the size of an electrode lead, a sealing block preparation step (P120) of preparing a first sealing block by coupling the selected first replacement part to a first fixing part and preparing a second sealing block by coupling the selected second replacement part to a second fixing part, a placement step (P130) of placing a sealing part of the pouch-type secondary battery between the first and second sealing blocks, and a step (P140) of contacting the first and second sealing blocks and applying pressure to the sealing part.

[0072] The sealing method can use the above-described sealing tools 20 and 30. For example, the sealing tool includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block includes a first fixing portion and a first replacement portion configured to be connectable to and separable from the first fixing portion, the second sealing block includes a second fixing portion and a second replacement portion configured to be connectable to and separable from the second fixing portion, and at least one of the first replacement portion and the second replacement portion may have a groove formed in a position corresponding to the electrode lead for receiving the electrode lead.

[0073] The replacement part selection process P110 may be a process of selecting a replacement part having a groove formed therein that is suitable for the position, size, and specifications of the electrode lead, of the electrode lead, and the specifications of the lead film. The sealing tool according to the present invention includes a sealing block composed of a fixed part and a replacement part, and the replacement part is provided in various types with different groove positions and sizes. In the replacement part selection process P110, a replacement part having a groove optimized for the position, size, and specifications of the electrode lead, of the electrode lead, and the lead film, is selected. When using the above-described sealing tool, in the replacement part selection process P110, the first replacement part 21a, 31a and / or second replacement part 22a, 32a may be provided in various types with different positions and sizes of the grooves 21c, 22c, 31c, 32c.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 4, in an embodiment in which the electrode lead 13 is interposed between double pouch exterior materials 15a and 15b and sealed, the grooves 21c, 22c, 31c, and 32c may have dimensions corresponding to the length of the electrode lead in the horizontal direction (x direction) seated in the groove and the length of the electrode lead in the thickness direction (z direction).

[0075] As shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment in which sealing is performed with a lead film 17 interposed between the electrode lead 13 and the pouch exterior materials 15a, 15b, the grooves 21c, 22c, 31c, and 32c correspond to the length of the lead film in the horizontal direction (x direction) seated in the groove, and may have a size corresponding to the sum of the lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film in the thickness direction (z direction).

[0076] The sealing block preparation process P120 may be a process of assembling a sealing block by coupling the selected replacement part to the fixing part. The coupling method between the fixing part and the sealing part has been described in detail above, so a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0077] The positioning step P130 may be a step of positioning a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery between a first sealing block and a second sealing block. The first and second sealing blocks may have first and second pressure surfaces for pressing the sealing portion, respectively, and the sealing portion may be positioned such that the first and second pressure surfaces face the sealing portion.

[0078] The pressurizing step P140 may be a step of pressing the sealing portion by bringing the first sealing block and the second sealing block toward the sealing portion where the electrode lead is located and bringing them into contact with each other.

[0079] The sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to the present invention involves prefabricating various types of replacement parts with different groove sizes for seating electrode leads, selecting a replacement part with an optimized groove when the position and size of the electrode lead or the size of the lead film changes, and sealing the sealing part where the electrode lead is located with a sealing block in which the selected replacement part is coupled to a fixing part, thereby saving time and cost for newly manufacturing a sealing tool, and improving sealing performance through the optimized design of the sealing tool.

[0080] The present invention has been described in more detail above through the drawings and embodiments, etc. However, the configurations shown in the drawings or embodiments in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of filing this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10: Pouch-type secondary battery 13: Electrode lead 14a: Sealing part 15a, 15b: Pouch outer packaging material 17: Lead film 20, 30: Sealing tool 21, 31: First sealing block 21a, 31a, 41a: 1st shift section 21b, 31b: 1st fixed part 22, 32: Second sealing block 22a, 32a: 2nd shift section 22b, 32b: Second fixed part 21c, 22c, 31c, 32c, 41c, 42c: groove

Claims

1. A pouch-type secondary battery sealing tool for sealing a pouch outer casing having an electrode assembly built therein, a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other; the first sealing block includes a first fixed portion and a first replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the first fixed portion; the second sealing block includes a second fixed portion and a second replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the second fixed portion; At least one of the first and second shifting portions has a groove formed in a position corresponding to the electrode lead, for receiving the electrode lead.

2. 2. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a dimension corresponding to a length in a lateral direction (x direction) of the electrode lead seated in the groove and a dimension corresponding to a length in a thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead.

3. 2. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a dimension corresponding to the length of the lead film in the horizontal direction (x direction) to be seated in the groove and the sum of the lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film in the thickness direction (z direction).

4. 2. The pouch-type secondary battery sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing block and the second sealing block are configured to apply pressure to a sealing portion of the pouch-type secondary battery disposed therebetween.

5. 2. The pouch-type secondary battery sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second replacement parts respectively include a first pressure surface and a second pressure surface for applying pressure to the sealing part of the pouch-type secondary battery.

6. 2. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a trapezoidal shape in which the length of the groove in the horizontal direction (x direction) at the entrance is greater than the length of the groove in the horizontal direction inside the groove.

7. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the groove includes two or more stepped portions.

8. 2. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising heating members coupled to the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, respectively, and configured to heat the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

9. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 8 , wherein a heating member is built into each of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

10. 2. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising: a first lifting member coupled to the first sealing block and a second lifting member coupled to the second sealing block to move the first sealing block and the second sealing block in a pressing direction and an opposite direction.

11. The first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening bolts and nuts, The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the second fixing portion and the second replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening bolts and nuts.

12. The first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are configured to be slidably coupled to each other, The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the second fixing portion and the second alternating portion are configured to be slidably coupled to each other.

13. The sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first replacement portion and / or the second replacement portion are provided in various types with different groove positions and sizes.

14. A method for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery, the method comprising: sealing a pouch outer casing having an electrode assembly therein; a replacement part selection step of selecting a first replacement part and a second replacement part, each having a groove formed therein, the groove having a position and a size corresponding to the position and size of the electrode lead; a sealing block preparing step of preparing a first sealing block by coupling the selected first replacement part to a first fixing part, and preparing a second sealing block by coupling the selected second replacement part to a second fixing part; a step of disposing a sealing portion of the pouch-type secondary battery between the first sealing block and the second sealing block; and pressing the sealing portion by contacting the first sealing block with the second sealing block.

15. The sealing method uses a sealing tool, The sealing tool comprises: the first sealing block and the second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block includes a first fixed portion and a first replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the first fixed portion; the second sealing block includes a second fixed portion and a second replacement portion configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from the second fixed portion; 15. The sealing method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second transition portions has a groove formed in a position corresponding to the electrode lead, for receiving the electrode lead.

16. In the replacement part selection process, The sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 15 , wherein the first and / or second transitional portions are provided in various types with different groove positions and sizes.

17. 15. The sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein the groove has a dimension corresponding to a length in a lateral direction (x direction) of the electrode lead seated in the groove and a dimension corresponding to a length in a thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead.

18. 15. The sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery according to claim 14, wherein the groove has a dimension corresponding to a length in a horizontal direction (x direction) of the lead film seated in the groove and a dimension corresponding to a sum of lengths in a thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead and the lead film.

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