Laminating device and method for manufacturing electrode assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a laminating apparatus 10 including: a conveying unit that conveys an electrode stack 500, in which electrodes 510, 520, 550 and separators 530, 540 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction, in a first direction that intersects the vertical direction; and a sealing unit 200 that seals the electrode stack 500 conveyed by the conveying unit and seals an end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other in a second direction that intersects the vertical direction and the first direction. This can greatly improve the quality of the manufactured electrode assemblies.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0158385, filed November 23, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of this Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a laminator and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, and more particularly to a laminator and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly that improves the quality of a manufactured electrode assembly through a simple configuration, shortens manufacturing time, and reduces manufacturing costs. [Background technology]

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and can be made small and have large capacities, so they have been the subject of much research and development in recent years. In particular, with the development of technology and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has been increasing rapidly.

[0004] An electrode assembly or unit cell in which a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode are alternately stacked may be inserted into a secondary battery. The separator for an electrochemical battery used here is an intermediate film that separates the positive electrode and the negative electrode within the battery, continuously maintains ionic conductivity, and enables the battery to be charged and discharged.

[0005] However, when a battery is exposed to a high-temperature environment due to abnormal operation, the separator mechanically shrinks or is damaged due to its low-temperature melting property. In this case, the positive and negative electrodes may come into contact with each other, causing the battery to catch fire. To overcome this problem, a technology is needed that can suppress separator shrinkage and ensure battery stability.

[0006] One way to solve this problem is to seal the side portions of multiple separators and attach them to each other. For example, as in the conventional laminating device shown in FIG. 15, a crimping member 300 can crimp the first separator 110 and the second separator 120 formed in the space between the anodes 130 together. However, because the electrodes and separators are alternately stacked, it can be difficult to seal the separators even using the laminating device. Furthermore, the laminating device can only seal the separator portions between the electrodes (left and right sides of the electrodes), but cannot seal both ends (front and back) of the separator where the electrode tabs are located. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0157004 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laminator and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly that significantly improve the quality of the manufactured electrode assembly.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a laminator and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly that improves the quality of an electrode assembly with a simple configuration, shortens the manufacturing time, and reduces the manufacturing cost.

[0010] The technical object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other unmentioned objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood from the following description and can be more clearly understood from the examples of the present invention. Furthermore, it can be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a laminator 10 including a transfer section and a sealing section 200.

[0012] The transport unit may transport the electrode stack 500, in which the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction, in a first direction intersecting the vertical direction.

[0013] The sealing unit 200 seals the electrode stack 500 transported by the transport unit, and while moving in the vertical direction and on one side or the other side in a second direction intersecting the first direction, seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, and may include a portion of the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 that overlaps in the first direction with the second direction end of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550.

[0014] In one embodiment, the sealing unit 200 may move to one side or the other in the second direction, but may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500.

[0015] In one embodiment, the laminator 10 may include a laminator section 100 .

[0016] The laminating unit 100 presses and bonds the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit, and may at least partially press and bond the center portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0017] The sealing unit 200 can seal the electrode stack 500 whose central portion in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating unit 100 .

[0018] In one embodiment, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include a central body portion 512, 522, 552, and a tab portion 514, 524, 554 protruding from the body portion 512, 522, 552 to one side or the other in the second direction.

[0019] The separation membranes 530 and 540 may include extensions 532 and 542 .

[0020] The extensions 532 and 542 may be formed to extend further in one or the other direction than the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550.

[0021] The extension portions 532, 542 may face or be in contact with the tab portions 514, 524, 554 in the vertical direction.

[0022] The end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532 and 542 .

[0023] In one embodiment, the sealing portion 200 may include a pressure portion 210 .

[0024] The pressure member 210 may come into contact with the electrode stack 500 .

[0025] The pressure unit 210 may move to one side or the other side in the second direction while applying pressure to the electrode stack 500 .

[0026] The pressure unit 210 may include at least one of an upper pressure unit 212 and a lower pressure unit 214 .

[0027] The upper pressure member 212 may be disposed on the upper portion of the electrode stack 500 .

[0028] The upper pressure member 212 moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward.

[0029] The lower pressure member 214 may be disposed below the electrode stack 500 .

[0030] The lower pressure member 214 may move to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward.

[0031] The pressure member 210, the upper pressure member 212 and the lower pressure member 214 may be rollers.

[0032] In one embodiment, the pressure member 210 may include the upper pressure member 212 and the lower pressure member 214 .

[0033] In one embodiment, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include a central body portion 512, 522, 552, and a tab portion 514, 524, 554 protruding from the body portion 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction.

[0034] The separation membranes 530 and 540 may include extensions 532 and 542 that extend further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550, respectively.

[0035] The end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532 and 542 .

[0036] The diameter (D) of the pressure portion 210 of the seal portion 200 may be ½ to 5 times the width (E) of the extension portions 532 and 542 in the second direction.

[0037] In one embodiment, the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may include a plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a spaced apart from each other in a first direction on the separators 530 and 540, respectively.

[0038] The electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may each include a central body portion 512, 522, 552, and a tab portion 514, 524, 554 formed to protrude from the body portion 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction.

[0039] The separation membranes 530 and 540 may include extensions 532 and 542 that extend further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a.

[0040] The end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532 and 542 .

[0041] The sealing unit 200 may include a pressure unit 210 .

[0042] The pressure member 210 may come into contact with the electrode stack 500 .

[0043] The pressure unit 210 may move to one side or the other side in the second direction while applying pressure to the electrode stack 500 .

[0044] The length (L) of the pressure member 210 in the first direction may be greater than the width (W) of the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a in the first direction.

[0045] When the electrode stack 500 is transported by the transport unit, the pressure unit 210 may be arranged to overlap all of the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1) consecutively arranged electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction.

[0046] In an embodiment, the tab portions 514, 524, and 554 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a may be formed to protrude from the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a to one side or the other in the second direction.

[0047] The extensions 532 and 542 may be formed to extend further in one or the other direction than the body portions 512, 522 and 552 in the second direction.

[0048] The extension portions 532, 542 may face or be in contact with the tab portions 514, 524, 554 in the vertical direction.

[0049] The pressure member 210 may be a roller.

[0050] The pressure applying unit 210 may include n+1 pressure applying portions (P).

[0051] The n+1 pressure portions (P) may apply pressure toward the electrode stack 500 when sealing one end or the other end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0052] The n+1 pressure regions (P) may be spaced apart from one another in the first direction.

[0053] The n+1 pressure portions (P) may be both ends of the pressure portion 210 in the first direction and n-1 portions of the pressure portion 210 in the first direction.

[0054] The n-1 portions of the pressure member 210 in the first direction may at least partially overlap or be adjacent to the n-1 sections (S) between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a in the first direction.

[0055] In the first direction, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may be positioned between the n+1 pressure regions (P).

[0056] In one embodiment, the sealing portion 200 may include a pressure portion 210 .

[0057] The pressure member 210 may come into contact with the electrode stack 500 .

[0058] The pressure unit 210 may move to one side or the other side in the second direction while applying pressure to the electrode stack 500 .

[0059] The transfer unit may transfer the electrode stack 500 in a first direction by a unit distance (U).

[0060] The pressure unit 210 may seal a region of the electrode stack 500 that comes into contact with the pressure unit 210 every time the electrode stack 500 is moved by the unit distance (U).

[0061] The width (RW) of the region in the first direction or the length (L) of the pressure member 210 in the first direction may be greater than or equal to the unit distance (U).

[0062] In one embodiment, the seal 200 can be heated.

[0063] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also provides a laminator 10 including a sealing unit 200.

[0064] The sealing unit 200 can seal the electrode stack 500 in which the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction.

[0065] The seal portion 200 may include a first seal portion 200a and a second seal portion 200b.

[0066] The first sealing portion 200a moves to one side in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction to seal one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, and can seal a portion of the one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, including a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the one side end of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 in the second direction.

[0067] The second sealing portion 200b seals the other end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to the other side in the second direction, and can seal the other end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, including the portion that overlaps in the first direction with the other end of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 in the second direction.

[0068] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly (S700) including a sealing step (S720).

[0069] In the sealing step (S720), the sealing unit 200 seals the electrode stack 500 transported by the transport unit, and may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction.

[0070] In one embodiment, in the sealing step (S720), the sealing unit 200 moves to one side or the other in the second direction, but may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500.

[0071] In one embodiment, the laminating device may include a laminating section 100 or a cutting section 300 .

[0072] The laminating unit 100 presses and bonds the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit, and may at least partially press and bond the center portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0073] The cutting unit 300 can cut the electrode stack 500 .

[0074] The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly may include a laminating step (S710) or a cutting step (S730).

[0075] In the laminating step (S710), the laminating unit 100 may at least partially press and bond the center portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit.

[0076] In the cutting step (S730), the cutting unit 300 may cut the electrode stack 500.

[0077] The laminating step (S710) may be performed before the sealing step (S720).

[0078] The cutting step (S730) may be performed after the sealing step (S720).

[0079] In one embodiment, in the sealing step (S720), the upper pressure unit 212, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward, or the lower pressure unit 214, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward.

[0080] In one embodiment, in the sealing step (S720), the pressure unit 210 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, but may seal the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 including all first direction sections corresponding to the n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1) electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a arranged consecutively in the first direction.

[0081] In an embodiment, in the sealing step ( S720 ), the n+1 pressing portions (P) of the pressing unit 210 may be pressed toward the electrode stack 500 .

[0082] In one embodiment, in the sealing step (S720), the region of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the pressure unit 210 after the electrode stack 500 has been transported by the unit distance (U) by the transport unit may be in contact with or partially overlap with the region of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the pressure unit 210 before the electrode stack 500 was transported by the unit distance (U) by the transport unit.

[0083] In one embodiment, the sealing portion 200 may be heated in the sealing step (S720).

[0084] In one embodiment, in the sealing step (S720), the first sealing portion 200a may move to one side in the second direction to seal one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, and the second sealing portion 200b may move to the other side in the second direction to seal the other side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0085] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laminating apparatus 10 may include a conveying unit that conveys an electrode stack 500, in which electrodes 510, 520, 550 and separators 530, 540 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction, in a first direction that intersects the vertical direction, and a sealing unit 200 that seals the electrode stack 500 conveyed by the conveying unit and seals an end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other in a second direction that intersects the vertical direction and the first direction.

[0086] As a result, since the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 is sealed in the second direction intersecting the transport direction (first direction) of the electrode stack 500, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably and uniformly sealed with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width of the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is smaller than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0087] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit 200 moves to one side or the other side in the second direction, and can seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500.

[0088] This allows the empty space inside the electrode stack 500 to be sealed while being pushed outward from the electrode stack 500. Furthermore, the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are arranged one above the other, and when compressed, the separators 530 and 540 are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, and are sealed from the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner, when compressed. This allows the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 to be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 to be significantly improved. This significantly improves the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of electrode assemblies obtained by laminating these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10.

[0089] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit is pressed and joined, and may include a laminating unit 100 that presses and joins at least a portion of a center portion in a second direction of the electrode stack 500. The sealing unit 200 may seal the electrode stack 500 whose center portion in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating unit 100.

[0090] As a result, the sealing unit 200 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, the center of which in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating unit 100, so that the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the joining strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0091] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include a central body portion 512, 522, 552 and tab portions 514, 524, 554 protruding from the body portion 512, 522, 552 toward one or the other side in the second direction. The separators 530, 540 may include extension portions 532, 542 extending further toward one or the other side in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 and facing or contacting the tab portions 514, 524, 554 in the vertical direction. The end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing unit 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532, 542.

[0092] As a result, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 where the tab portions 514, 524, and 554 of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 are located can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, thereby significantly improving the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550. As a result, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by laminating these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0093] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit 200 may include a pressure unit 210 that contacts the electrode stack 500 and moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500. The pressure unit 210 may include at least one of an upper pressure unit 212 that is disposed on an upper part of the electrode stack 500 and moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward, and a lower pressure unit 214 that is disposed on a lower part of the electrode stack 500 and moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward. The pressure unit 210, the upper pressure unit 212, and the lower pressure unit 214 may be rollers.

[0094] As a result, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, when the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction, friction between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500 is reduced, and the electrode stack 500 may not be subjected to a large force in the second direction. As a result, separate equipment for fixing the electrode stack 500 in the second direction is not required, or the electrode stack 500 can be quickly and easily fixed in the second direction using simple equipment. Furthermore, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may be quickly sealed with stability, uniformity, and high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a, the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a, or the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself, and reduces manufacturing time and costs.

[0095] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressure unit 210 may include the upper pressure unit 212 and the lower pressure unit 214 .

[0096] As a result, because the pressure unit 210 (roller) includes two rollers, an upper roller and a lower roller, the frictional force between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500 is further reduced, and additional equipment for fixing the electrode stack 500 in the second direction is not required, or the electrode stack 500 can be fixed in the second direction quickly and easily using simple equipment. In addition, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed more stably, uniformly, and quickly with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be improved. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the unit laminates 500a, the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, or the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 itself, thereby shortening manufacturing time and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0097] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include a central body portion 512, 522, 552 and tab portions 514, 524, 554 protruding from the body portion 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. The separation film 530, 540 may include an extension portion 532, 542 extending in the second direction further than the body portion 512, 522, 552 of the electrode 510, 520, 550. The end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing unit 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portion 532, 542. The diameter (D) of the pressing portion 210 of the sealing unit 200 may be between ½ and 5 times the width (E) of the extension portion 532, 542 in the second direction.

[0098] As a result, since the diameter (D) of the pressure unit 210 (roller) is small and the position, movement direction, pressure, or temperature of the pressure unit 210 can be precisely and accurately adjusted, even if the width (E) of the extensions 532, 542 in the second direction is narrow, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, including at least a portion of the extensions 532, 542, can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. As a result, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself can be improved.

[0099] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include a plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a spaced apart from each other in the first direction on the separators 530, 540. Each of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may include a central body portion 512, 522, 552 and a tab portion 514, 524, 554 protruding from the body portion 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. The separators 530, 540 may include extension portions 532, 542 extending further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. The second direction end of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 may include at least a portion of the extensions 532 and 542. The sealing unit 200 may include a pressure unit 210 that contacts the electrode stack 500 and moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while applying pressure to the electrode stack 500. The length (L) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction may be greater than the width (W) of the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a in the first direction. When the electrode stack 500 is transported by the transport unit, the pressure unit 210 may be disposed to overlap all of the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of n consecutively arranged electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a in the first direction (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1).

[0100] As a result, when the pressure unit 210 presses the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving it to one side or the other side in the second direction while the electrode stack 500 is being transferred by the transfer unit, the extensions 532, 542 on one side or the other side in the second direction of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be uniformly sealed at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the second direction end of the unit laminate 500a can be uniformly, quickly, and inexpensively sealed, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the quality of the unit laminate 500a, the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, or the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode laminate 500 itself can be improved, and manufacturing time and costs can be reduced.

[0101] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may protrude from the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a to one or the other side in the second direction. The extension portions 532, 542 of the separation films 530, 540 may extend further from the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a to one or the other side in the second direction and may face or be in contact with the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the vertical direction. The pressure unit 210 may be a roller and may include n+1 pressure portions (P) spaced apart from one another in the first direction, which are pressed toward the electrode stack 500 when sealing one end or the other end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction. The n+1 pressure portions (P) may be both ends of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction and n-1 portions in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 that at least partially overlap or are adjacent to n-1 sections (S) between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction. The tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may be located between the n+1 pressure portions (P) in the first direction.

[0102] As a result, when sealing while pressing the end portion in the second direction of the unit laminate body 500a with the pressing unit 210, which is a roller, there is no need to press the entire pressing unit 210, but it is sufficient to press only the n+1 pressing portions (P) in total, including both ends in the first direction of the pressing unit 210, so the pressing unit 210 and the sealing unit 200 can be easily configured at low cost with a simple configuration, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the unit laminate body 500a.

[0103] Furthermore, because the width of each electrode piece 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction is narrow, even if only both ends of the pressure member 210 in the first direction, and n-1 sections (S) in the first direction between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and n-1 portions at least partially overlapping or adjacent to each other in the first direction are pressed, the second direction ends of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portions corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second direction ends of the n unit stacks 500a, can be sealed stably, uniformly, and with high quality at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a and the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a or folding the electrode laminate body 500 itself can be improved with a simple configuration, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0104] In particular, since the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a are positioned between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction, the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the area between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 may be greater than the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 pressed by the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210. Therefore, when only the n+1 pressure portions (P) of the pressure unit 210 are pressed, the second-direction end of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portion corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second-direction end of the n unit stack bodies 500a, can be more uniformly sealed, and the bonding strength between the separation membranes 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be further improved.

[0105] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sealing unit 200 may include a pressure unit 210 that contacts the electrode stack 500 and moves to one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500. The transfer unit may transfer the electrode stack 500 in a first direction by a unit distance (U). The pressure unit 210 may seal a region of the electrode stack 500 that contacts the pressure unit 210 every time the electrode stack 500 is transferred by the unit distance (U). A width (RW) in the first direction of the region or a length (L) in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 may be greater than or equal to the unit distance (U).

[0106] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed by the pressure unit 210 without any leaks. In particular, if the width (RW) in the first direction of the region of the electrode stack 500 that contacts the pressure unit 210 or the length (L) in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 is greater than the unit distance (U), each time the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, the sealed region may partially overlap with the region previously sealed by the pressure unit 210. This prevents the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction from being left unsealed due to errors in the position or size of the electrodes (strips), errors in the transfer distance of the transfer unit, errors in the position of the pressure unit 210, etc. As a result, with a simple configuration, the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a, the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself can be improved.

[0107] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seal 200 may be heated.

[0108] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be improved. This can improve the quality of the unit stack 500a, the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit stacks 500a, or the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laminator 10 may include a sealing unit 200 that seals an electrode stack 500 in which electrodes 510, 520, 550 and separators 530, 540 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction. The sealing unit 200 may include a first sealing unit 200a that moves to one side in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction to seal one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, and a second sealing unit 200b that moves to the other side in the second direction to seal the other side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0110] As a result, since both side edges of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction are sealed in the second direction, the both side edges of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width of both side edges of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing unit 200 in the second direction is smaller than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stacks 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0111] In addition, since both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed from the inside to the outside of the unit stack body 500a, the empty space inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by being pushed out to the outside of the electrode stack 500. The electrodes 510, 520, 550 and the separators 530, 540 are arranged one above the other, and when compressed, only the separators 530, 540 are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, and when compressed, the separators 530, 540 can be arranged to seal on the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner. As a result, both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assembly formed by laminating these unit laminates 500a, or the quality of the electrode assembly formed by folding the electrode laminate 500 itself sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be greatly improved.

[0112] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly (S700) may include a sealing step (S720) in which the sealing unit 200 seals the electrode stack 500 transported by the transport unit, while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction, and seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0113] As a result, since the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 is sealed in the second direction intersecting the transport direction (first direction) of the electrode stack 500, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width of the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is narrower than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0114] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step (S720), the sealing unit 200 moves to one side or the other in the second direction, but may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500.

[0115] As a result, empty spaces inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by being pushed outward from the electrode stack 500. Furthermore, since the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are arranged one above the other, the separators 530 and 540 are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, when compressed, and only the separators 530 and 540 are arranged, so that the separators can be sealed from the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner, when compressed. As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assemblies manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0116] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laminating apparatus may pressurize and bond the electrode stack 500 transported by the transport unit, and may include a laminating unit 100 that at least partially pressurizes and bonds a central portion of the electrode stack 500 in a second direction, or a cutting unit 300 that cuts the electrode stack 500. The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly may include a laminating step (S710) in which the laminating unit 100 at least partially pressurizes and bonds a central portion of the electrode stack 500 in a second direction transported by the transport unit, or a cutting step (S730) in which the cutting unit 300 cuts the electrode stack 500. The laminating step (S710) may be performed before the sealing step (S720). The cutting step (S730) may be performed after the sealing step (S720).

[0117] Accordingly, since the laminating step (S710) of at least partially joining the center portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 is followed by the sealing step (S720) of sealing the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500, the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0118] Furthermore, since the sealing step (S720) of sealing the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 is performed before the cutting step (S730) of cutting the electrode stack 500, no equipment for fixing or aligning the position of the electrode stack 500 is required when the sealing step (S720) is performed, or the electrode stack 500 can be fixed or aligned quickly and easily using simple equipment. As a result, the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be sealed easily and inexpensively.

[0119] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step (S720), the upper pressure unit 212, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward, or the lower pressure unit 214, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward.

[0120] As a result, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, when the pressure unit 210 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction, the frictional force between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500 is reduced, and the electrode stack 500 may not be subjected to a large force in the second direction. As a result, separate equipment for fixing the electrode stack 500 in the second direction is not required, or the electrode stack 500 can be fixed in the second direction quickly and easily using simple equipment. Furthermore, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 may be sealed stably, uniformly, and quickly with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the electrode assembly, shortens manufacturing time, and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0121] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step (S720), the pressure unit 210 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, but may seal the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 including all of the first direction sections corresponding to the n consecutively arranged electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction.

[0122] As a result, when the pressure unit 210 presses the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving it to one side or the other side in the second direction while the electrode stack 500 is being transferred by the transfer unit, the extensions 532, 542 on one side or the other side in the second direction of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be uniformly sealed at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the second direction end of the unit stack 500a can be sealed uniformly, quickly, and inexpensively, improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the electrode assembly, shortens manufacturing time, and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0123] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step ( S720 ), the n+1 pressing portions (P) of the pressing unit 210 may press toward the electrode stack 500 .

[0124] As a result, when sealing while pressing the end portion in the second direction of the unit laminate body 500a with the pressing unit 210, which is a roller, there is no need to press the entire pressing unit 210, but it is sufficient to press only the n+1 pressing portions (P) in total, including both ends in the first direction of the pressing unit 210, so the pressing unit 210 and the sealing unit 200 can be easily configured at low cost with a simple configuration, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the unit laminate body 500a.

[0125] Furthermore, because the width of each electrode piece 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction is narrow, even if only both ends of the pressure member 210 in the first direction and n-1 sections (S) in the first direction between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and n-1 portions at least partially overlapping or adjacent in the first direction are pressed, the second direction ends of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portions corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction or the second direction ends of the n unit stacks 500a can be sealed stably, uniformly, and with high quality at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. This allows for improved quality of the electrode assembly and reduced manufacturing costs through a simple configuration.

[0126] In particular, since the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a are positioned between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction, the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the area between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 may be greater than the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 pressed by the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210. Therefore, when only the n+1 pressure portions (P) of the pressure unit 210 are pressed, the second-direction end of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portion corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second-direction end of the n unit stack bodies 500a, can be more uniformly sealed, and the bonding strength between the separation membranes 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be further improved.

[0127] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step (S720), after the electrode stack 500 is transported by the unit distance (U) by the transport unit, the area of ​​the electrode stack 500 sealed by the pressure unit 210 may be in contact with or partially overlap with the area of ​​the electrode stack 500 sealed by the pressure unit 210 before the electrode stack 500 is transported by the unit distance (U) by the transport unit.

[0128] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed by the pressure unit 210 without any leaks. In particular, if the width (RW) in the first direction of the region of the electrode stack 500 that contacts the pressure unit 210 or the length (L) in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 is greater than the unit distance (U), the region sealed each time the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may partially overlap with the region previously sealed by the pressure unit 210. This prevents the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction from being left unsealed due to errors in the position or size of the electrodes (strips), errors in the transfer distance of the transfer unit, errors in the position of the pressure unit 210, etc. As a result, the quality of the electrode assembly can be improved with a simple configuration.

[0129] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the sealing step (S720), the sealing portion 200 may be heated.

[0130] As a result, the end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved, thereby improving the quality of the electrode assembly.

[0131] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly (S700) may include a sealing step (S720) in which the first sealing portion 200a moves to one side in the second direction to seal one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, and the second sealing portion 200b moves to the other side in the second direction to seal the other side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction.

[0132] As a result, since both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed in the second direction, the both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width in the second direction of both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is smaller than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0133] In addition, because both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed from the inside to the outside of the unit stack 500a, the empty space inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by being pushed outward from the electrode stack 500. The electrodes 510, 520, 550 and the separators 530, 540 are arranged one above the other, and when compressed, the separators 530, 540 alone are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, and when compressed, the separators 530, 540 can be sealed to the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner. As a result, both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assemblies manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0134] The above-mentioned effects and specific effects of the present invention will be described together with the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0135] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a side view schematically showing a laminator and an electrode stack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the laminator and electrode stack of FIG. 1, showing the laminator and two electrode stacks. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the laminator and electrode stack of FIG. 1, showing the laminator and two electrode stacks. [Figure 4] 2 and 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. 1, showing the laminating device and two electrode laminates in FIGS. [Figure 5] 2 and 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. 1, showing the laminating device and two electrode laminates in FIGS. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are a plan view and a side view showing the laminating device of FIGS. 1 to 5 and another electrode laminate. [Figure 7] 6A and 6B are a plan view and a side view showing the laminating device of FIGS. 1 to 5 and another electrode laminate. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a concrete example of the sealing unit of the laminating device of FIGS. 1 to 8, illustrating a sealing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 3A to 3C are flow charts illustrating a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method of FIG. 10. [Figure 13] 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method of FIG. 10. [Figure 14] 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method of FIG. 10. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a conventional laminating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0136] The above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the technical concept of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if a detailed description of known technologies relating to the present invention is deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings are used to indicate the same or similar components.

[0137] Although terms such as "first" and "second" are used to indicate various components, it is understood that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, a first component may also be a second component.

[0138] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, each element may be singular or plural.

[0139] Hereinafter, when an arbitrary structure is arranged "on top (or bottom)" of a component or "above (or below)" a component, it means that the arbitrary structure is not only arranged in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of the component, but also that other structures may be interposed between the component and the arbitrary structure arranged above (or below) the component.

[0140] Furthermore, when a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly coupled or connected to each other, but that other components may be "intervening" between the components, or that each component may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" via other components.

[0141] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as "comprise" or "include" in this application should not be interpreted as including all of the multiple components or multiple steps described in the specification, but should be interpreted as meaning that some of the components or some of the steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0142] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a laminator and an electrode stack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views schematically illustrating the laminator and electrode stack of FIG. 1, showing the laminator and two electrode stacks. FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A' in FIG. 1, illustrating the laminator and two electrode stacks of FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan and side views respectively illustrating the laminator and another electrode stack of FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a diagram embodying the sealing unit of the laminator of FIGS. 1 to 8, illustrating a sealing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 11 to 14 are schematic views illustrating an example of an electrode assembly manufactured by the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly of FIG. 10.

[0143] [Laminating device] 1 to 3, 6, and 7, a laminating apparatus 10 according to one embodiment may include a transport unit (not shown) and a sealing unit 200. The laminating apparatus 10 may include a laminating unit 100. The laminating apparatus 10 may include a cutting unit 300.

[0144] The laminator 10 can bond (laminate), seal, and / or cut the electrode stack 500. When the laminator 10 seals the electrode stack 500 and then cuts it into unit laminate bodies 500a as shown in the drawings, the laminator 10 can manufacture an electrode assembly by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a (FIGS. 11 to 14). On the other hand, when the laminator 10 seals the electrode stack 500 but does not cut it into unit laminate bodies 500a as shown in the drawings, the sealed electrode stack 500 itself can be folded to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0145] Each configuration is discussed below.

[0146] [Electrode laminate] 4, 5 and 8, an electrode stack 500 according to an embodiment may be formed by stacking at least one electrode 510, 520, 550 and two or more separators 530, 540 alternately in a vertical direction.

[0147] Specifically, for example, the electrode stack 500 may be formed by sequentially stacking a first separator 530, a first electrode 510 (e.g., a negative electrode), a second separator 540, and a second electrode 520 (e.g., a positive electrode) (FIG. 4), a third electrode 550 (e.g., a positive electrode), a first separator 530, a first electrode 510 (e.g., a negative electrode), a second separator 540, and a second electrode 520 (e.g., a positive electrode) (FIG. 5), or a first separator 530, a first electrode 510 (e.g., a negative electrode), and a second separator 540 (FIG. 8). As a result, the unit laminate 500a produced by cutting the electrode laminate 500 using the laminating device 10 may be a monocell (FIGS. 2 and 4) in which different types of electrodes are located at both ends in the stacking direction (vertical direction), a bicell (FIGS. 3 and 5) in which the same type of electrode is located at both ends in the stacking direction (vertical direction), or a half-cell (FIGS. 7 and 8) in which one electrode is interposed between two separators.

[0148] However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In another example, unlike Figures 2 to 5, the number of electrodes and separators alternately stacked in the vertical direction in Figures 2 to 5 may be increased by n (n is a natural number of 1 or more). Also, unlike Figure 5, one separator may be further stacked at the top or bottom of Figure 5 (unit laminate body 500a in Figure 12).

[0149] 1 to 8 may be reversed (unit laminate body 500a in FIGS. 11 to 14). Specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the electrode laminate body 500 may have a structure in which a positive electrode, a separator, a negative electrode, a separator, and a positive electrode are stacked to form an A-type bicell (unit laminate body 500a). Unlike the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the electrode laminate body 500 may have a structure in which a negative electrode, a separator, a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode are stacked to form a C-type bicell (unit laminate body 500a) (FIGS. 13 and 14).

[0150] Also, unlike the drawings, the types of electrodes (+, -) of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a arranged side by side in the first direction may not be the same in the electrode stack 500. Thus, unlike the drawings, when the sealed electrode stack 500 itself is folded, the electrodes of different types may face each other vertically.

[0151] The electrodes 510, 520, 550 may extend in a first direction (e.g., front-to-back direction) that intersects with the up-down direction and in a second direction (e.g., left-to-right direction) that intersects with the up-down direction and the first direction. The electrodes 510, 520, 550 may include body portions 512, 522, 552 and tab portions 514, 524, 554.

[0152] Specifically, for example, the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may include a plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a. The plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a may be arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the first direction on the separation membranes 530 and 540. Each of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a may include the body portion 512, 522, and 552 and the tab portion 514, 524, and 554 described above.

[0153] The body portions 512, 522, and 552 may be central portions of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 or the electrode segments 510a, 520a, and 550a.

[0154] The tab portions 514, 524, 554 may be formed to protrude in a direction intersecting the vertical direction from the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 or the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. For example, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 may be formed to protrude from one side (e.g., the right side) or the other side (e.g., the left side) in the second direction from the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 or the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a.

[0155] However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, unlike the drawings, the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may be arranged long in the first direction without being cut into a plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a.

[0156] The separation membranes 530, 540 may extend in the first direction and the second direction. The separation membranes 530, 540 may extend further in the first direction. The separation membranes 530, 540 may include extensions 532, 542.

[0157] The extensions 532 and 542 may be formed to extend further toward one side (e.g., the right side) or the other side (e.g., the left side) in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 or the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a (FIGS. 4, 5, and 8). For example, the extensions 532 and 542 may be formed to extend further toward one side or the other in the second direction than the body portion 512 of the first electrode 510 or the electrode piece 510a of the first electrode 510, which is formed to protrude further toward one side or the other in the second direction than the body portion 512 of the first electrode 510 or the electrode piece 510a of the first electrode 510 and the body portion 522 of the second electrode 520 or the electrode piece 520a of the second electrode 520 (FIG. 4). The extensions 532 and 542 may be opposed to or in contact with the tabs 514, 524 and 554 in the vertical direction (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8).

[0158] [Transfer section] The transfer unit (not shown) can transfer the electrode stack 500 in a first direction (e.g., a front-to-rear direction) that intersects with the up-and-down direction. For example, the transfer unit may include a conveyor belt that transfers an article in the first direction, and the electrode stack 500 may be placed on the conveyor belt.

[0159] The transfer unit may transfer the electrode stack 500 in the first direction by a unit distance (U), where the unit distance (U) may be the total distance of the widths of n (e.g., three) unit stack bodies 500a in the first direction.

[0160] On the other hand, the transport unit is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0161] [Lamination department] The laminating unit 100 may pressurize and bond the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit. The laminating unit 100 may pressurize and bond at least a portion of the center of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction. For example, the laminating unit 100 may bond the plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and the separators 530, 540 vertically.

[0162] 2, 3, and 7, the laminating unit 100 may at least partially join / seal portions of the first and second separators 530 and 540 in the first direction, which correspond to a section in the first direction between a pair of adjacent electrode pieces 510a, but is not limited to such a configuration.

[0163] The laminating section 100 may include rollers (FIGS. 2, 3, and 7). The rollers may be heated.

[0164] On the other hand, the laminating unit 100 is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0165] [Sealing part] The sealing unit 200 may seal the electrode stack 500. For example, the sealing unit 200 may seal the electrode stack 500 being transported by the transport unit. The sealing unit 200 may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other in a second direction (e.g., left-right direction) intersecting the up-down direction and the first direction (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8). Specifically, the sealing unit 200 may seal a portion of one end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, including a portion that overlaps in the first direction with one end of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 in the second direction, while moving to one side or the other in the second direction.

[0166] As a result, because the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 is sealed in the second direction intersecting the transport direction (first direction) of the electrode stack 500, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width of the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is smaller than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0167] Specifically, for example, at the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, the separation membranes 530, 540 extending further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may be stably and uniformly joined and sealed to each other above and below, and the separation membranes 530, 540 may be stably and uniformly joined to the second direction end of the electrodes 510, 520, 550.

[0168] The sealing section 200 can move in the vertical direction to seal the electrode stack 500 while applying pressure in the vertical direction (FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, and 8).

[0169] The sealing unit 200 can seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500 while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction.

[0170] As a result, empty spaces inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by pushing them outward from the electrode stack 500. Furthermore, since the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are arranged one above the other, the separators 530 and 540 can be arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, to the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner, when compressed. As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by laminating these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stacks 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0171] The sealing section 200 can seal the electrode stack 500 whose central portion in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating section 100 .

[0172] As a result, the sealing unit 200 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, the center of which in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating unit 100, so that the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the joining strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0173] As described above, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 are formed to protrude from the body portions 512, 522, 552 to one or the other side in the second direction, and the extension portions 532, 542 of the separation films 530, 540 are formed to extend further to one or the other side in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550. When the extension portions 532, 542 of the separation films 530, 540 face or contact the tab portions 514, 524, 554 in the vertical direction, the end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing unit 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532, 542.

[0174] As a result, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 where the tab portions 514, 524, and 554 of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 are located can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be greatly improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by laminating these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be greatly improved.

[0175] The sealing portion 200 may include a pressure portion 210 .

[0176] The pressure unit 210 may come into contact with the electrode stack 500. The pressure unit 210 may move to one side or the other side in the second direction while applying pressure to the electrode stack 500.

[0177] The pressure applying unit 210 may include at least one of an upper pressure applying unit 212 and a lower pressure applying unit 214 (FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, and 8).

[0178] The upper pressure unit 212 is disposed on the upper portion of the electrode stack 500 and can move in one or the other direction in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward.

[0179] The lower pressure unit 214 is disposed below the electrode stack 500 and can move in one or the other direction in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward.

[0180] The pressure member 210, the upper pressure member 212 and the lower pressure member 214 may be rollers.

[0181] As a result, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, when the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction, friction between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500 is reduced, and the electrode stack 500 may not be subjected to a large force in the second direction. As a result, separate equipment for fixing the electrode stack 500 in the second direction is not required, or the electrode stack 500 can be quickly and easily fixed in the second direction using simple equipment. Furthermore, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may be quickly sealed with stability, uniformity, and high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a, the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a, or the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself, and reduces manufacturing time and costs.

[0182] The pressure member 210 may include an upper pressure member 212 and a lower pressure member 214 .

[0183] As a result, the pressure unit 210 (roller) includes two rollers, an upper roller and a lower roller, which further reduces the friction between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500. This eliminates the need for additional equipment to fix the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, or allows the electrode stack 500 to be fixed in the second direction quickly and easily using simple equipment. Furthermore, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed more stably, uniformly, and quickly with high quality, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the unit laminates 500a, the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, or the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stack 500 itself, thereby reducing manufacturing time and costs.

[0184] As described above, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 are formed to protrude from the body portions 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, the extension portions 532, 542 of the separation membranes 530, 540 are formed to extend further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550, and the end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion 200 includes at least a portion of the extension portions 532, 542. In this case, the diameter (D) of the pressure member 210 may be more than 1 / 2 and less than 5 times the width (E) of the extension portions 532, 542 in the second direction (FIG. 3).

[0185] As a result, since the diameter (D) of the pressure unit 210 (roller) is small and the position, movement direction, pressure, or temperature of the pressure unit 210 can be precisely and accurately adjusted, even if the width (E) of the extensions 532, 542 in the second direction is narrow, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, including at least a portion of the extensions 532, 542, can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. As a result, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, or the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself can be improved.

[0186] The length (L) in the first direction of the pressure applying unit 210 may be greater than the width (W) in the first direction of the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a. Furthermore, when the electrode stack 500 is transferred by the transfer unit, the pressure applying unit 210 may be arranged to overlap all of the body portions 512, 522, and 552 of the n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1, for example, n=3) consecutively arranged electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a in the first direction (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0187] In this case, as described above, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of each electrode piece 510a, 520a, 550a are formed to protrude from the body portions 512, 522, 552 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and the extension portions 532, 542 of the separation membranes 530, 540 are formed to extend further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a, and the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing portion 200 may include at least a portion of the extension portions 532, 542.

[0188] As a result, when the pressure unit 210 presses the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving it to one side or the other side in the second direction while the electrode stack 500 is being transferred by the transfer unit, the extensions 532, 542 on one side or the other side of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the second direction can be uniformly sealed at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the second direction end of the unit laminate 500a can be sealed uniformly, quickly, and inexpensively, improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the quality of the unit laminate 500a, the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit laminates 500a, or the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself can be improved, and manufacturing time and costs can be reduced.

[0189] When the pressure unit 210 is a roller, the pressure unit 210 may include n+1 (for example, four) pressure portions (P).

[0190] The n+1 pressure regions (P) may apply pressure toward the electrode stack 500 when sealing one end or the other end in the second direction of the electrode stack 500. The n+1 pressure regions (P) may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

[0191] The n+1 pressure regions (P) may be n-1 regions in the first direction of the pressure member 210 that at least partially overlap or are adjacent to both ends of the pressure member 210 in the first direction and the n-1 sections (S) between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction.

[0192] In the first direction, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may be positioned between the n+1 pressure regions (P).

[0193] In this case, as described above, the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a may be formed to protrude from the body portions 512, 522, 552 to one or the other side in the second direction, and the extension portions 532, 542 of the separation membranes 530, 540 may be formed to extend further to one or the other side in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a, and may face or be in contact with the tab portions 514, 524, 554 in the vertical direction.

[0194] As a result, when sealing while pressing the end portion in the second direction of the unit laminate body 500a with the pressing unit 210, which is a roller, there is no need to press the entire pressing unit 210, but it is sufficient to press only the n+1 pressing portions (P) in total, including both ends in the first direction of the pressing unit 210, so the pressing unit 210 and the sealing unit 200 can be easily configured at low cost with a simple configuration, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the unit laminate body 500a.

[0195] Furthermore, because the width of each electrode piece 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction is narrow, even if only both ends of the pressure member 210 in the first direction, and n-1 sections (S) in the first direction between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and n-1 portions at least partially overlapping or adjacent in the first direction are pressed, the second direction ends of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portions corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second direction ends of the n unit stacks 500a, can be sealed stably, uniformly, and with high quality at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a and the electrode assembly obtained by laminating these unit laminate bodies 500a or folding the electrode laminate body 500 itself can be improved with a simple configuration, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0196] In particular, since the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a are positioned between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction, the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the area between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 may be greater than the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 pressed by the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210. Therefore, when only the n+1 pressure portions (P) of the pressure unit 210 are pressed, the second-direction end of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portion corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second-direction end of the n unit stack bodies 500a, can be more uniformly sealed, and the bonding strength between the separation membranes 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be further improved.

[0197] In this regard, with further reference to FIG. 9, the sealing unit 200 according to one embodiment may include a pressure unit 210, a first support unit 220 and a second support unit 230.

[0198] As mentioned above, the pressure member 210 may be a roller.

[0199] The first support part 220 may be a rotation axis of the pressure part 210 that supports the pressure part 210, which is a roller. The first support part 220 can apply pressure in the up and down direction to two pressure parts (P) that are both ends of the pressure part 210 in the first direction, among the above-mentioned n+1 (e.g., four) pressure parts (P).

[0200] The second support unit 230 may be a roller that contacts the pressure unit 210. The number of second support units 230 may be n-1 (e.g., two). The n-1 second support units 230 may vertically pressurize n-1 regions in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 that at least partially overlap or are adjacent to n-1 sections (S) between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction among the above-mentioned n+1 (e.g., four) pressure units (P) (FIGS. 1 to 3, 6, and 7).

[0201] As a result, the pressurizing unit 210 may be provided with the above-mentioned n+1 pressurizing parts (P) easily and at low cost with a simple configuration.

[0202] Meanwhile, as described above, when the transfer unit transfers the electrode stack 500 in the first direction by a unit distance (U), the pressure unit 210 may seal the region of the electrode stack 500 that comes into contact with the pressure unit 210 every time the electrode stack 500 is transferred by a unit distance (U). The width (RW) of the region in the first direction or the length (L) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction may be greater than or equal to the unit distance (U) (FIGS. 1 to 3, 6, and 7).

[0203] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed by the pressure unit 210 without any leaks. In particular, if the width (RW) in the first direction of the region of the electrode stack 500 that contacts the pressure unit 210 or the length (L) in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 is greater than the unit distance (U), the region sealed each time the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may partially overlap with the region previously sealed by the pressure unit 210. This prevents the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction from being left unsealed due to errors in the position or size of the electrodes (strips), errors in the transfer distance of the transfer unit, errors in the position of the pressure unit 210, etc. As a result, the quality of the unit laminate bodies 500a, the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by stacking these unit laminate bodies 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself can be improved with a simple configuration.

[0204] The sealing unit 200 can be heated. For example, a heating wire may be installed inside the pressure applying unit 210, and the pressure applying unit 210 can be heated by heating the support units 220 and 230 (FIG. 4) that are in contact with the pressure applying unit 210 and support the pressure applying unit 210.

[0205] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be improved. This can improve the quality of the unit stack 500a, the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by stacking these unit stacks 500a, or the quality of the electrode assembly obtained by folding the electrode stack 500 itself.

[0206] On the other hand, the seal portion 200 may include a first seal portion 200a and a second seal portion 200b.

[0207] The first sealing unit 200a may move to one side (e.g., the right side) in the second direction to seal one end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction. Specifically, the first sealing unit 200a may move to one side in the second direction to seal a portion of one end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction, the portion including a portion that overlaps in the first direction with one end of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 in the second direction.

[0208] While moving to the other side in the second direction (e.g., the left side), the second sealing unit 200b can seal the other end in the second direction (e.g., the left side) of the electrode stack 500. Specifically, while moving to the other side in the second direction, the second sealing unit 200b can seal a portion of the other end in the second direction of the electrode stack 500, including a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the other portions of the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 on one side in the second direction.

[0209] As a result, since both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed in the second direction, the both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably and uniformly sealed with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width in the second direction of both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is smaller than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminates 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by stacking these unit laminates 500a, and the quality of the electrode assemblies formed by folding the electrode stacks 500 sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be significantly improved.

[0210] Specifically, for example, at both side ends in the second direction of the electrode stack 500, the separation membranes 530, 540 extending further in both directions in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may be stably and uniformly joined and sealed to each other above and below, and the separation membranes 530, 540 may be stably and uniformly joined to both side ends in the second direction of the electrodes 510, 520, 550.

[0211] In addition, since both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed from the inside to the outside of the unit stack body 500a, the empty space inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by being pushed out to the outside of the electrode stack 500. The electrodes 510, 520, 550 and the separators 530, 540 are arranged one above the other, and when compressed, only the separators 530, 540 are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, and when compressed, the separators 530, 540 can be arranged to seal on the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner. As a result, both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10, the quality of the electrode assembly formed by laminating these unit laminates 500a, or the quality of the electrode assembly formed by folding the electrode laminate 500 itself sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 can be greatly improved.

[0212] [Cutting part] The cutting unit 300 can cut the electrode stack 500 whose end in the second direction is sealed by the sealing unit 200. For example, as shown in the drawings, the cutting unit 300 can cut the electrode stack 500 into units each having the size of a unit laminate body 500a. Specifically, the cutting unit 300 can cut the regions between the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a of the electrode stack 500. For example, the cutting unit 300 can cut at positions indicated by cutting lines (C) extending in the second direction (FIGS. 1 to 3, 6, and 7). This allows the unit laminate bodies 500a to be produced.

[0213] Alternatively, the cutting unit 300 may cut the electrode stack 500 into a size of a plurality of unit stack bodies 500a, as will be described later.

[0214] On the other hand, the cutting unit 300 is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0215] [Method for manufacturing electrode assembly] 10, a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly (S700) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a laminating step (S710), a sealing step (S720), a cutting step (S730), and a stacking step (S740). The laminating step (S710) and / or the cutting step (S730) may be omitted.

[0216] [Lamination stage] In the laminating step (S710), the laminating unit 100 may at least partially press and bond the center portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 transferred by the transfer unit. For example, the laminating unit 100 may bond the plurality of electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and the separators 530, 540 vertically.

[0217] 2, the laminating unit 100 may at least partially join / seal portions of the first and second separators 530 and 540 in the first direction, which correspond to a section in the first direction between a pair of electrode pieces 510a adjacent to each other in the first direction, but is not limited to such a configuration.

[0218] [Sealing stage] In the sealing step (S720), the sealing unit 200 seals the electrode stack 500 transported by the transport unit, and may seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction.

[0219] As a result, since the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 is sealed in the second direction intersecting the transport direction (first direction) of the electrode stack 500, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width of the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is narrower than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0220] Specifically, for example, at the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, the separation membranes 530, 540 extending further in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550 may be stably and uniformly joined and sealed to each other above and below, and may be stably and uniformly joined to the second direction end of the electrodes 510, 520, 550.

[0221] In addition, the sealing unit 200 can seal the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack 500 while moving to one side or the other in the second direction.

[0222] As a result, empty spaces inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by being pushed outward from the electrode stack 500. Furthermore, since the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are arranged one above the other, the separators 530 and 540 are arranged vertically, and when compressed, the separators 530 and 540 are arranged from the inside of the electrode stack 500, which is thicker, and are sealed from the outside of the electrode stack 500, which is thinner, when compressed. As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0223] In addition, the upper pressure unit 212, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 downward, or the lower pressure unit 214, which is a roller, may move to one side or the other in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack 500 upward.

[0224] As a result, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, when the pressure unit 210 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction, the frictional force between the pressure unit 210 and the electrode stack 500 is reduced, and the electrode stack 500 may not be subjected to a large force in the second direction. As a result, separate equipment for fixing the electrode stack 500 in the second direction is not required, or the electrode stack 500 can be fixed in the second direction quickly and easily using simple equipment. Furthermore, because the pressure unit 210 is a roller, the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 may be sealed stably, uniformly, and quickly with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the electrode assembly, shortens manufacturing time, and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0225] In addition, the pressure applying unit 210 seals the second direction end of the electrode stack 500, but can also seal the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 including all of the first direction sections corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a arranged continuously in the first direction.

[0226] As a result, when the pressure unit 210 presses the second direction end of the electrode stack 500 while moving it to one side or the other side in the second direction while the electrode stack 500 is being transferred by the transfer unit, the extensions 532, 542 on one side or the other side in the second direction of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be uniformly sealed at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. As a result, the second direction end of the unit stack 500a can be uniformly and quickly sealed at low cost, improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550. Therefore, the simple configuration improves the quality of the electrode assembly and reduces manufacturing time and costs.

[0227] Furthermore, the n+1 pressure portions (P) of the pressure unit 210 may be pressed toward the electrode stack 500 .

[0228] As a result, when sealing while pressing the end portion in the second direction of the unit laminate body 500a with the pressing unit 210, which is a roller, there is no need to press the entire pressing unit 210, but it is sufficient to press only the n+1 pressing portions (P) in total, including both ends in the first direction of the pressing unit 210, so the pressing unit 210 and the sealing unit 200 can be easily configured at low cost with a simple configuration, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the unit laminate body 500a.

[0229] Furthermore, because the width of each electrode piece 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction is narrow, even if only both ends of the pressure member 210 in the first direction and n-1 sections (S) in the first direction between the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a and n-1 portions at least partially overlapping or adjacent to each other in the first direction are pressed, the second direction ends of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portions corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction or the second direction ends of the n unit stacks 500a can be sealed stably, uniformly, and with high quality at once, thereby improving the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a. This allows for improved quality of the electrode assembly and reduced manufacturing costs through a simple configuration.

[0230] In particular, since the tab portions 514, 524, 554 of the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a are positioned between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 in the first direction, the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the area between the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210 may be greater than the thickness of the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 pressed by the n+1 pressure areas (P) of the pressure unit 210. Therefore, when only the n+1 pressure portions (P) of the pressure unit 210 are pressed, the second-direction end of a portion of the electrode stack 500 including the portion corresponding to the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a in the first direction, or the second-direction end of the n unit stack bodies 500a, can be more uniformly sealed, and the bonding strength between the separation membranes 530, 540 and the n electrode pieces 510a, 520a, 550a can be further improved.

[0231] In addition, the area of ​​the electrode stack 500 that is sealed by the pressure unit 210 after the electrode stack 500 has been transported by the transport unit by a unit distance (U) may be in contact with or partially overlap with the area of ​​the electrode stack 500 that was sealed by the pressure unit 210 before the electrode stack 500 was transported by the unit distance (U) by the transport unit.

[0232] As a result, the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction can be sealed by the pressure unit 210 without any leaks. In particular, if the width (RW) in the first direction of the region of the electrode stack 500 that contacts the pressure unit 210 or the length (L) in the first direction of the pressure unit 210 is greater than the unit distance (U), the region to be sealed each time the pressure unit 210 seals the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may partially overlap with the region previously sealed by the pressure unit 210. This prevents the end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction from being left unsealed due to errors in the position or size of the electrodes (strips), errors in the transfer distance of the transfer unit, errors in the position of the pressure unit 210, etc. As a result, the quality of the electrode assembly can be improved with a simple configuration.

[0233] The seal 200 may also be heated.

[0234] As a result, the end portion of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction may be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 may be improved, thereby improving the quality of the electrode assembly.

[0235] In addition, the first sealing portion 200a can seal one side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to one side in the second direction, and the second sealing portion 200b can seal the other side end of the electrode stack 500 in the second direction while moving to the other side in the second direction.

[0236] As a result, since both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed in the second direction, the both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably sealed uniformly and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530, 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, 550 can be significantly improved. This is because the width in the second direction of both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 sealed by the sealing unit 200 is narrower than the width in the first direction, making it effective to seal in the second direction. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0237] Specifically, for example, at both side ends in the second direction of the electrode stack 500, the separation membranes 530, 540, which extend further in both directions in the second direction than the body portions 512, 522, 552 of the electrodes 510, 520, 550, may be stably and uniformly joined and sealed to each other above and below, and the separation membranes 530, 540 may be stably and uniformly joined to both side ends in the second direction of the electrodes 510, 520, 550.

[0238] In addition, because both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 are sealed from the inside to the outside of the unit stack 500a, the empty space inside the electrode stack 500 can be sealed by pushing it outward from the electrode stack 500. When the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 and the separators 530 and 540 are arranged vertically, and when compressed, the thicker electrode stack 500 is sealed from the inside, and when only the separators 530 and 540 are arranged, the thinner electrode stack 500 is sealed from the outside. As a result, both side edges in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be significantly improved. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assemblies manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0239] Meanwhile, the laminating step (S710) can be performed before the sealing step (S720).

[0240] Accordingly, since the sealing step (S720) of sealing the second direction end portion of the electrode stack 500 is performed after the laminating step (S710) of at least partially joining the center portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500, the second direction end portion of the electrode stack 500 can be stably, uniformly, and with high quality sealed, and the bonding strength between the separators 530 and 540 and the electrodes 510, 520, and 550 can be improved. Therefore, the quality of the electrode assembly manufactured by the electrode assembly manufacturing method (S700) can be significantly improved.

[0241] [Cutting stage] In the cutting step (S730), the cutting unit 300 may cut the electrode stack 500. As shown in the drawing, the cutting unit 300 may cut the electrode stack 500 into units each having the size of a unit stack 500a, thereby producing a plurality of unit stacks 500a. However, unlike the drawing, the cutting unit 300 may also cut the electrode stack 500 into units each having the size of a plurality of unit stacks 500a.

[0242] The cutting step (S730) can be performed after the sealing step (S720).

[0243] Accordingly, the sealing step (S720) of sealing the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 is performed before the cutting step (S730) of cutting the electrode stack 500 is performed, so that when the sealing step (S720) is performed, no equipment for fixing or aligning the position of the electrode stack 500 is required, or the electrode stack 500 can be fixed or aligned quickly and easily using simple equipment. As a result, the end portion in the second direction of the electrode stack 500 can be sealed easily and inexpensively.

[0244] [Lamination or folding stage] In the stacking or folding step (S740), the unit laminate 500a is stacked and / or folded, or the electrode laminate 500 having a predetermined size (length) is folded itself, thereby manufacturing an electrode assembly.

[0245] First, a case will be considered in which the unit laminate body 500a is laminated and / or folded to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0246] In the cutting step (S730), the electrode laminate 500 is cut into a plurality of unit laminate bodies 500a. In the stacking or folding step (S740), the plurality of unit laminate bodies 500a are stacked and / or folded to manufacture an electrode assembly. This will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14.

[0247] As shown in FIG. 11, in the stacking or folding step (S740), a plurality of (e.g., four) mono-cells (unit laminate bodies 500a in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) and one half-cell (unit laminate body 500a in FIGS. 6 to 8) can be sequentially stacked from bottom to top to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0248] 12, the mono-cell (unit laminate body 500a) manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 may be formed by alternately stacking one more electrode and one more separator than the mono-cell (unit laminate body 500a) of FIGS. 2, 4, and 11. In the stacking or folding step (S740), a plurality of these mono-cells (unit laminate bodies 500a) and one half-cell (unit laminate body 500a of FIGS. 6 to 8) may be stacked sequentially from bottom to top to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0249] As such, the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 can be used in methods such as lamination and stacking (L&S) or advanced lamination and stacking as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In this case, the number of electrodes and separators in the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 may vary.

[0250] As shown in FIG. 13, in the stacking or folding step (S740), a plurality of (e.g., four) bicells (unit laminate 500a of FIGS. 1, 3, and 5) are placed on one long separator (SP), and the separator (SP) is wound (folded) in one direction to stack the bicells, thereby manufacturing an electrode assembly.

[0251] In this way, the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 can be used in a stack-and-folding (S&F) method as shown in Fig. 13. In this case, the number of electrodes and separators in the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 may vary.

[0252] As shown in FIG. 14, in the stacking or folding step (S740), a plurality of (e.g., four) bicells (unit laminates 500a in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5) are inserted between one long separator (SP) that is zigzag folded, and the bicells are stacked to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0253] As such, the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 can be used in methods such as zigzag stacking as shown in Fig. 14 or advanced zigzag stacking (AZS). In this case, the number of electrodes and separators in the unit laminate 500a manufactured by the laminating apparatus 10 may vary.

[0254] Next, a case will be considered in which an electrode assembly is manufactured by folding the electrode stack 500 of a predetermined size (length) itself.

[0255] In the cutting step (S730) described above, the electrode laminate 500 is cut into a size unit of a plurality of unit laminate bodies 500a, or if the cutting step (S730) is omitted and cutting is not performed, the electrode laminate 500 itself may be folded, for example, in a zigzag manner or a winding manner, so that the plurality of electrodes 510, 520, 530 of the electrode laminate 500 itself may be stacked one on top of the other to manufacture an electrode assembly. In other words, the unit laminate body 500a sealed by the laminating apparatus 10 may also be used in a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly by folding the unit laminate body 500a itself.

[0256] In this case, in order to arrange a separator between all of the electrodes stacked when the electrode stack 500 itself is folded, for example, a separator may be further stacked on the upper end of the electrode stack 500 of Fig. 4 or the upper and lower ends of the electrode stack 500 of Fig. 5. Furthermore, unlike the drawings, the types of electrodes of the electrode pieces 510a, 520a, and 550a arranged side by side in the first direction do not have to be the same so that different types of electrodes face each other vertically when the electrode stack 500 itself is folded.

[0257] It should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims rather than the above detailed description. All modifications and variations within the meaning and scope of the following claims, as well as equivalent concepts, should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

[0258] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to illustrative drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed in this specification, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Furthermore, even if the effects of the configuration of the present invention are not explicitly described in the above description of the embodiments of the present invention, it is natural that the effects that can be predicted by the configuration should also be recognized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0259] 10 Laminating equipment 100 Laminating Department 200 Seal part 110 electrodes 200a First seal part 200b Second seal part 210 Pressurizing section 212 Upper pressure section 214 Lower pressure section P Pressure point 220 1st support part 230 Second support part 300 cutting section 500 Electrode stack 500a electrode assembly 510 1st electrode 510a electrode piece 512 Body 514 Tab section 520 2nd electrode 520a electrode piece 522 Body 524 Tab section 530 1st separation membrane 532 Extension 540 Second separation membrane 542 Extension

Claims

1. a transfer unit that transfers an electrode stack in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked in the vertical direction in a first direction that intersects with the vertical direction; a sealing unit that seals the electrode stack transported by the transport unit, and seals the end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving in the vertical direction and one side or the other side in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and seals a portion of the end of the electrode stack in the second direction, including a portion that overlaps the end of the electrodes in the second direction in the first direction; Including, Laminating equipment.

2. The sealing portion moves to one side or the other side in the second direction, and seals the end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. a laminating unit that presses and bonds the electrode stack transported by the transport unit, and at least partially presses and bonds a central portion of the electrode stack in a second direction, the sealing portion seals the electrode stack whose central portion in the second direction is at least partially joined by the laminating portion; The laminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The electrode includes a central body portion and a tab portion protruding from the body portion toward one side or the other side in a second direction, the separator includes an extension portion that is formed to extend further toward one or the other side in a second direction than the body portion of the electrode and faces or contacts the tab portion in a vertical direction; an end portion of the electrode stack in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion includes at least a portion of the extension portion; The laminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, the pressure unit includes at least one of an upper pressure unit disposed on an upper portion of the electrode stack and moving to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack downward, and a lower pressure unit disposed on a lower portion of the electrode stack and moving to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack upward, The pressure applying unit, the upper pressure applying unit, and the lower pressure applying unit are rollers. The laminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The pressure applying unit includes the upper pressure applying unit and the lower pressure applying unit. The laminating apparatus according to claim 5 .

7. The electrode includes a central body portion and a tab portion protruding from the body portion in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction, the separator includes an extension portion that extends further in a second direction than the body portion of the electrode; an end portion of the electrode stack in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion includes at least a portion of the extension portion; The diameter of the pressure portion of the sealing portion is ½ to 5 times the width of the extension portion in the second direction. The laminating apparatus according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The electrode includes a plurality of electrode pieces arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in a first direction on the separator, Each of the electrode pieces includes a central body portion and a tab portion protruding from the body portion in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, the separation film includes an extension portion that extends further in a second direction than the body portion of the electrode piece; an end portion of the electrode stack in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion includes at least a portion of the extension portion; the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, a length of the pressure applying portion in the first direction is greater than a width of the body portion of the electrode piece in the first direction; When the electrode stack is transferred by the transfer unit, the pressurizing unit is disposed so as to overlap all of the body portions of the n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1) consecutively arranged electrode pieces in a first direction. The laminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The tab portion of the electrode piece is formed to protrude from the body portion of the electrode piece toward one side or the other side in a second direction, The extension portion of the separator is formed to extend further toward one side or the other side in the second direction than the body portion of the electrode piece, and faces or contacts the tab portion of the electrode piece in a vertical direction. the pressure unit is a roller, and is pressed toward the electrode stack when sealing one end or the other end in the second direction of the electrode stack, and includes n+1 pressure portions spaced apart from each other in the first direction, the n+1 pressure portions are n-1 portions in the first direction of the pressure portion that at least partially overlap or are adjacent to both ends of the pressure portion in the first direction and the n-1 sections between the n electrode pieces in the first direction, respectively; the tab portions of the n electrode pieces are positioned between the n+1 pressure portions in a first direction; The laminating apparatus according to claim 8.

10. the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, the transfer unit transfers the electrode stack by a unit distance in a first direction, the pressure unit seals a region of the electrode stack that comes into contact with the pressure unit every time the electrode stack is transported by the unit distance; The width of the region in the first direction or the length of the pressure part in the first direction is greater than or equal to the unit distance. The laminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The sealing portion is heated. The laminating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. a sealing portion that seals an electrode stack in which the electrodes and the separators are alternately stacked in the vertical direction; The sealing unit includes a first sealing unit that seals one side end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to one side in a second direction intersecting with the up-and-down direction, and seals a portion of the one side end of the electrode stack in the second direction that includes a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the one side end of the electrode in the second direction; and a second sealing unit that seals the other side end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to the other side in the second direction, and seals a portion of the other side end of the electrode stack in the second direction that includes a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the other side end of the electrode in the second direction. Laminating equipment.

13. 2. The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly using the laminating apparatus according to claim 1, The sealing unit seals the electrode stack transferred by the transfer unit, and includes a sealing step of sealing an end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to one side or the other side in the second direction. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly.

14. In the sealing step, the sealing unit moves to one side or the other side in a second direction, and seals the end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving from the inside to the outside of the electrode stack. The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 13 .

15. the laminating device pressurizes and bonds the electrode stack transported by the transporting unit, and includes a laminating unit that pressurizes and bonds at least a part of a central portion of the electrode stack in a second direction, or a cutting unit that cuts the electrode stack, a laminating step in which the laminating unit at least partially presses and bonds the central portion of the electrode stack in the second direction, the central portion being transferred by the transfer unit; or The cutting unit includes a cutting step of cutting the electrode stack, The laminating step is performed before the sealing step, The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the cutting step is performed after the sealing step.

16. the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, the pressure unit includes at least one of an upper pressure unit disposed on an upper portion of the electrode stack and moving to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack downward, and a lower pressure unit disposed on a lower portion of the electrode stack and moving to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack upward, the pressure applying unit, the upper pressure applying unit, and the lower pressure applying unit are rollers, In the sealing step, the upper pressure unit, which is a roller, moves to one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack downward, or the lower pressure unit, which is a roller, moves to one side or the other side in the second direction while pressing the electrode stack upward. The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. The electrode includes a plurality of electrode pieces arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in a first direction on the separator, Each of the electrode pieces includes a central body portion and a tab portion protruding from the body portion in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, the separation film includes an extension portion that extends further in a second direction than the body portion of the electrode piece; an end portion of the electrode stack in the second direction sealed by the sealing portion includes at least a portion of the extension portion; the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, a length of the pressure applying portion in the first direction is greater than a width of the body portion of the electrode piece in the first direction; When the electrode stack is transferred by the transfer unit, the pressurizing unit is disposed so as to overlap all of the body portions of the n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1) consecutively arranged electrode pieces in a first direction, In the sealing step, the pressing unit seals the end of the electrode stack in the second direction, but seals the end of the electrode stack in the second direction including all of the first direction sections corresponding to the n number of electrode pieces continuously arranged in the first direction. The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. The tab portion of the electrode piece is formed to protrude from the body portion of the electrode piece to one or the other side in a second direction, The extension portion of the separator is formed to extend further toward one side or the other side in the second direction than the body portion of the electrode piece, and faces or contacts the tab portion of the electrode piece in a vertical direction. the pressure unit is a roller, and is pressed toward the electrode stack when sealing one end or the other end in the second direction of the electrode stack, and includes n+1 pressure portions spaced apart from each other in the first direction, the n+1 pressure portions are n-1 portions in the first direction of the pressure portion that at least partially overlap or are adjacent to both ends of the pressure portion in the first direction and the n-1 sections between the n electrode pieces in the first direction, respectively; The tab portions of the n electrode pieces are located between the n+1 pressure portions in a first direction, In the sealing step, the n+1 pressing portions of the pressing units are pressed toward the electrode stack. The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 17.

19. the sealing unit includes a pressing unit that contacts the electrode stack and moves toward one side or the other side in a second direction while pressing the electrode stack, the transfer unit transfers the electrode stack by a unit distance in a first direction, the pressure unit seals a region of the electrode stack that comes into contact with the pressure unit every time the electrode stack is transported by the unit distance; a width of the region in the first direction or a length of the pressure part in the first direction is equal to or greater than the unit distance; In the sealing step, the region of the electrode stack sealed by the pressure unit after the electrode stack is transported by the transport unit by the unit distance is in contact with or partially overlaps with the region of the electrode stack sealed by the pressure unit before the electrode stack is transported by the transport unit by the unit distance. The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 18.

20. the sealing unit includes: a first sealing unit that seals one side end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to one side in a second direction intersecting with the up-and-down direction, and seals a portion of the one side end of the electrode stack in the second direction that includes a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the one side end of the electrode in the second direction; and a second sealing unit that seals the other side end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to the other side in the second direction, and seals a portion of the other side end of the electrode stack in the second direction that includes a portion that overlaps in the first direction with the other side end of the electrode in the second direction, In the sealing step, the first sealing unit seals one end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to one side in the second direction, and the second sealing unit seals the other end of the electrode stack in the second direction while moving to the other side in the second direction. The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 19.

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