Battery pack manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery pack manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method that includes a core molding jig with multiple molding sections formed therein where core packs are arranged, thereby minimizing the melting cycle and increasing productivity, and reducing mold costs through the standardization of the core molding jig. [Solution] This disclosure relates to a battery pack manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method, and provides a battery pack manufacturing apparatus comprising: a core molding jig having a molding section on which a core pack having bare cells and a protection circuit section is arranged; a mold section for fixing the core molding jig; and an injection section provided in the mold section which performs a hot melting process on the molding section to form a resin molding section on the core pack, wherein the molding section is formed such that a plurality of core packs are arranged thereon.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for a battery pack.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, a secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged, and is manufactured in the form of a battery pack and used as a power source for portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, notebook PCs, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and camcorders.

[0003] In particular, among secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries are more suitable for the field of portable electronic devices because of their high operating voltage and energy density per unit weight.

[0004] A normal battery pack of a lithium secondary battery basically consists of a bare cell including an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are wound through a separator, and an interior case that seals the electrode assembly while exposing a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal. The outer surface of the bare cell is sealed with an outer case in a state where a safety device such as a protection circuit is mounted on the outer surface to complete the battery pack.

[0005] As an example of a battery pack, a polymer battery pack includes a core pack in which a protection circuit member is connected to a pouch-shaped bare cell, and a case that wraps the core pack. Here, the pouch-shaped bare cell refers to a lithium polymer battery in which an electrode assembly composed of a positive electrode / separator / negative electrode and a polymer electrolyte are housed inside a pouch made of modified polypropylene (CPP) / aluminum / nylon (or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)). For reference, the polymer battery pack or lithium polymer battery as described above is named for the purpose of distinguishing it from a battery pack or lithium ion battery that uses a liquid electrolyte.

[0006] On the other hand, such polymer battery packs have a problem in that the pouches forming the bare cells are mainly in the form of aluminum foil, which are easily damaged by external impacts, reducing their reliability. Therefore, polymer battery packs have a case that encloses the core pack, which has protective circuit components attached to the pouch-type bare cells, to protect it from the outside.

[0007] Conventional battery packs include chargeable and dischargeable bare cells, a protective circuit board electrically coupled to the bare cells to control charging and discharging and to shut off the circuit in the event of overcharging or overcharging, and an external case comprising a resin molding portion formed by a hot-melting method in which hot-melt resin is filled into the gap between the bare cells and the protective circuit board, so that the protective circuit board does not separate from the bare cells and can be attached to an external set.

[0008] The information disclosed above in the technology underlying such inventions is merely for the purpose of improving understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a battery pack manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method that can increase productivity by minimizing the melting cycle by providing a core molding jig in which a plurality of molding sections for which core packs are arranged, and can reduce mold costs by standardizing the core molding jig.

[0010] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention for solving the aforementioned technical problems includes a core molding jig equipped with a molding section on which a core pack comprising bare cells and a protection circuit section is arranged, a mold section for fixing the core molding jig, and an injection section provided in the mold section which performs a hot melting process on the molding section to form a resin molding section on the core pack, wherein multiple molding sections can be formed so as to arrange multiple core packs.

[0012] The core molding jig consists of multiple units, and the molding portion of each core molding jig may be applicable to the manufacture of core packs of various specifications.

[0013] The core forming jig includes a first jig and a second jig arranged opposite to each other, and the first jig and the second jig may have corresponding flow prevention portions formed on them.

[0014] The flow prevention portion may include a flow prevention block formed to protrude from the first jig and a flow prevention groove formed to recess in the second jig so that the flow prevention block can be inserted.

[0015] The flow prevention portion formed on one side of the first jig and the second jig may have different shapes on the other side.

[0016] The core molding jig may include a guide portion that guides the joining of the first jig and the second jig.

[0017] The guide portion may include a guide groove formed in the first jig and a guide boss formed protruding from the second jig so as to be inserted into the guide groove.

[0018] The core molding jig includes a guide channel for guiding resin, and the guide channel may include an injection section connected to the injection section, a main channel for guiding the resin flowing into the injection section in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the core molding jig, and a branch channel connecting the main channel and the molding section.

[0019] The mold portion may include a die, a fixing groove portion formed on the upper part of the die for fixing the core molding jig, and a pressing portion provided on the upper part of the die for applying pressure to the core molding jig in the direction of the die.

[0020] After the molding of the resin molding portion by the molding portion, a vacuum degassing portion for removing gas from the molding portion may be included.

[0021] The vacuum degassing section may include a coupling section to which the core molding jig is coupled, and a gas discharge section provided in the coupling section for discharging gas from the molding section.

[0022] The method for manufacturing a battery pack according to the present invention includes a core pack formation step of forming a core pack by bonding a protective circuit section to the upper part of a bare cell; a placement step of arranging the core pack in the molding section of a core molding jig; and a molding step of bonding the core molding jig to a mold section and forming a resin molding section that encloses a part of the core pack, wherein the core molding jig may have multiple molding sections formed so as to accommodate multiple core packs.

[0023] The core molding jig consists of multiple units, and the molding portion of each core molding jig may be applicable to the manufacture of core packs of various specifications.

[0024] The molding step may include a fixing step of pressing and fixing the upper part of the core molding jig, which is positioned in the mold section, by pressing, and an injection step of injecting resin through the injection section of the core molding jig while it is under the pressure of the press.

[0025] The resin may be made of a polyamide-based hot melt resin with high adhesive force.

[0026] After the molding stage, a gas removal stage of discharging gas from the molding part can be executed.

[0027] After the gas removal stage, the core pack can be taken out from the molding part, and a cover assembly stage of assembling an upper cover and a lower cover to the core pack respectively can be executed.

[0028] After the cover assembly stage, an exterior material installation stage of installing an exterior material on the outer surface of the core pack can be executed.

[0029] The exterior material installation stage may include a strength reinforcement stage in which a metal plate is attached for reinforcing the strength of the outer surface of the core pack, and a packaging stage in which an exterior label is attached to the outer surface of the core pack in a state where the metal plate is attached.

Advantages of the Invention

[0030] According to the present invention, a core molding jig having a plurality of molding parts in which a core pack is arranged is provided, and by minimizing the melting cycle, productivity can be increased.

[0031] According to the present invention, by standardizing the mold part in which the core molding jig is arranged, the mold cost can be reduced.

[0032] However, the effects obtained through the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and other technical effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] The following drawings accompanying this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described later, serve to further illustrate the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited solely to the matters described in such drawings.

[0034] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a core pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a core molding jig for a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the internal molding section of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a modified example of the molding section of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] Figure 6A shows various sizes of molding sections of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] Figure 6B shows various sizes of molding sections of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the mold section of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the vacuum degassing section of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing process of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows a core pack that has been hot-melted by a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the process of forming a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]Figure 12 shows the process of forming a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows the process of forming a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows the process of forming a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows the process of forming a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather in a manner consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that inventors may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe their invention. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein and the configurations illustrated in the drawings represent only some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and it should be understood that there are various equivalents and modifications that can substitute for them at the time of filing.

[0036] Furthermore, as used herein, “comprise, include” and / or “comprising, including” specify the presence of the shapes, figures, stages, actions, members, elements and / or groups thereof mentioned, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, figures, actions, members, elements and / or groups thereof.

[0037] Furthermore, to aid in understanding the invention, the accompanying drawings are not depicted to actual scale, and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated. Also, the same component may be assigned the same reference numeral in different embodiments.

[0038] The statement that two comparison objects are "identical" means that they are "substantially identical." Therefore, substantially identical objects may include those with deviations considered low in this industry, for example, deviations of 5% or less. Also, the uniformity of parameters within a given region may mean that they are uniform in terms of averages.

[0039] Even if terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to describe a variety of components, these components are, of course, not limited by these terms. These terms are simply used to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, the first component may be the second component.

[0040] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each component may be singular or plural.

[0041] The placement of any configuration "above (or below)" or "above (or below)" a component means not only that the configuration is placed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the component, but also that other configurations may be interposed between the component and any configuration placed on (or below) it.

[0042] Furthermore, when one component is described as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another component, it should be understood that the components are directly connected to or can be connected to each other, but that other components are "interposed" between them, or that each component can be "connected," "coupled," or "coupled" through other components.

[0043] As used herein, the terms “and / or” include any and all combinations of one or more related listed items. Furthermore, when describing embodiments of this disclosure, the use of “may also” refers to “one or more embodiments of this disclosure.” Expressions such as “one or more” and “one or more” preceding an element list modify the entire element list, not the individual elements of the list.

[0044] Throughout the specification, when "A and / or B" is written, it means A only, B only, or A and B unless otherwise specified, and when "C~D" is written, it means C or greater and D or less unless otherwise specified.

[0045] When syntax such as "at least one of A, B, and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "at least one selected from the group A, B, and C", or "at least one selected from A, B, and C" is used to specify a list of elements A, B, and C, the syntax can refer to any suitable combination.

[0046] The term "use" can be considered synonymous with the term "utilize." As used herein, "substantially," "about," and similar terms are used as approximations, not terms of degree, to account for the inherent variability of measured or calculated values ​​as perceived by a general expert in the art.

[0047] In this specification, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, but these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, drawing layer, or section from other elements, components, regions, drawing layers, or sections. Accordingly, the first elements, components, regions, layers, or sections discussed below may be named second elements, components, regions, layers, or sections without deviating from the teaching of the exemplary embodiments.

[0048] As shown in the drawings, spatial relative terms such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” and “upper” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element or feature and another, for ease of explanation. Spatially relative positions should be understood to encompass different directions of the device in use or operation, in addition to the direction depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the drawing is inverted, an element described as “beneath” or “below” another element will be understood as “above” or “upper” another element. Thus, the term “beneath” can encompass all directions, both up and down.

[0049] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0050] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Referring to Figure 1, a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a core molding jig 200, a mold section 300, and an injection section 400.

[0052] The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment uses hot melt resin on a core pack 110 to shape the battery pack 100.

[0053] First, let's explain the bare cells 112 that make up the core pack 110, as follows.

[0054] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a core pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Referring to Figure 2, in this embodiment, both a prismatic battery and a pouch-type battery can be used as the bare cell 112, and the pouch-type battery will be used as an example in the following explanation.

[0056] The pouch-type bare cell 112 that makes up the core pack 110 is encased in a pouch 115. This pouch 115 has a relatively large area in opposing directions and is formed with two long sides and a relatively narrow area along the ends of the long sides. When referring to the drawing, the short sides formed in the left-right direction along the height direction are bent at a predetermined angle so as to minimize the width of the pouch-type bare cell 112.

[0057] The inner sides of the long and short sides forming such a pouch 115 contain multiple windings of electrode assemblies (not shown).

[0058] A typical electrode assembly is formed as a jelly roll by winding a multilayer film, in which a positive electrode plate, separator, and negative electrode plate are stacked in that order, in a spiral shape. When winding the jelly roll, a separator is added to the electrode surface that is exposed on the outside of the roll or to the internal electrode surface to prevent a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes. The formed jelly roll is placed in the molded groove on the front surface of the pouch 115.

[0059] Then, after covering the front of the pouch 115 with the rear surface of the pouch 115, the edges of the groove are tightly sealed, and the pouch 115 is heated and pressurized to seal it, and the cross-section of the pouch 115 is folded to form the bare cell 112 battery.

[0060] At this time, the ends of the electrode taps (not shown) exposed from each electrode plate of the electrode assembly are exposed to the outside of the sealed pouch 115. The exposed electrode taps are electrically connected to a protection circuit section 114 installed for the stability of the battery. In other words, the protection circuit section 114 is positioned on the top of the bare cell 112, that is, in the upper part between the short sides formed in the left-right direction, and the bare cell 112 and the protection circuit section 114 are electrically connected to form the core pack 110.

[0061] Among the protection circuit sections 114 that make up the core pack 110, the printed circuit board has protection circuits formed on it, such as circuits that equalize the charge state by controlling charging and discharging of the battery, or circuits that prevent over-discharging and overcharging.

[0062] Furthermore, the protection circuit section 114 may be equipped with a protective element such as a thermistor or a thermal fuse. These also interrupt the current when the battery voltage or current exceeds a specified level due to factors such as high battery temperature or excessive charging / discharging, thereby preventing dangers such as battery explosion or arson.

[0063] On the other hand, in order to prevent short circuits caused by unnecessary connections between the protective circuit section 114 and the pouch-type bare cell 112, an insulating sheet 116 may be further formed on the upper end surface of the pouch-type bare cell 112.

[0064] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a core molding jig for a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing the internal molding section of the core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] The core molding jig 200 may include a molding section 230 on which a core pack 110, in which bare cells 112 and a protection circuit section 114 are coupled, is positioned.

[0066] The core molding jig 200 may include a first jig 210 and a second jig 220 arranged to face each other.

[0067] The first jig 210 and the second jig 220 have a rectangular shape and can be positioned correspondingly at the top and bottom, respectively. The first jig 210 and the second jig 220 can then be joined together to form the molding section 230.

[0068] The first jig 210 and the second jig 220 may have corresponding flow prevention sections 240. The flow prevention section 240 may include a flow prevention block 242 that protrudes from the first jig 210 and a flow prevention groove 244 that is recessed in the second jig 220 into which the flow prevention block 242 is inserted.

[0069] The positions of the flow prevention block 242 and the flow prevention groove 244 do not matter if they change relative to each other.

[0070] The flow prevention block 242 can be formed as a polygonal projection at the corner of the first jig 210. The flow prevention groove 244 can be formed as a polygonal recess at the corner of the second jig 220 so that the flow prevention block 242 interlocks with it. In other words, the flow prevention section 240 can function as a configuration that fits the first jig 210 and the second jig 220 together.

[0071] In this case, the flow prevention portion 240 formed on one side of the first jig 210 and the second jig 220 may be formed with different shapes on the other side. This is a configuration to align the orientation of the first jig 210 and the second jig 220, and can prevent incorrect assembly of the first jig 210 and the second jig 220 due to human error.

[0072] The core molding jig 200 may include a guide portion 250 that guides the joining of the first jig 210 and the second jig 220.

[0073] As an example, the guide portion 250 may include a guide groove 252 formed in the first jig 210 and a guide boss 254 that protrudes from the second jig 220 so as to be inserted into the guide groove 252.

[0074] The positions of the guide groove 252 and the guide boss 254 do not matter if they change relative to each other.

[0075] The molding section 230 formed inside the core molding jig 200 may be formed in a space where the core pack 110 can be placed. That is, the molding section 230 may be formed so as to face the first jig 210 and the second jig 220.

[0076] Referring to Figure 4, the core molding jig 200 includes a guide channel 260 for guiding the resin. The guide channel 260 may include an injection section 262 connected to the injection section 400, a main channel 264 that guides the resin flowing into the injection section 262 in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the core molding jig 200, and a branch channel 266 that connects the main channel 264 to the molding section 230.

[0077] The guide channel 260 can also be formed so as to face the first jig 210 and the second jig 220 toward each other.

[0078] The resin flowing in through the injection section 262 is transmitted around the molding section 230 via the main channel 264. The resin flowing along the main channel 264 can then flow into the molding section 230 through the branch channels 266. By forming the branch channels 266 at various points around the molding section 230, the rate and amount of resin flowing into the molding section 230 can be made uniform.

[0079] Figure 5 shows a modified example of the molding section of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 6A and 6B show various specifications of the molding section of a core molding jig according to one embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

[0080] In this embodiment, multiple molding portions 230 of the core molding jig 200 can be formed within the space formed by the core molding jig 200.

[0081] Referring to Figure 5, three molding sections 230 can be formed inside the core molding jig 200. Of course, productivity can be maximized by forming even more molding sections 230 inside the core molding jig 200.

[0082] Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, the core molding jig 200 according to this embodiment consists of multiple units, and the molding section 230 of each core molding jig 200 is applicable to the manufacture of core packs 110 of various specifications.

[0083] In other words, in the molding section 230 of the core molding jig 200 shown in Figure 6A, a core pack 110 of the first standard I can be molded, and in the molding section 230 of the core molding jig 200 shown in Figure 6B, a core pack 110 of the second standard II can be molded. In this way, the core molding jig 200 is manufactured to a standard specification, and the internal molding section 230 consists of molding sections 230 of different standards, allowing the mold section 300 to be standardized, thus reducing mold costs.

[0084] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the mold section of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] Referring to Figure 7, the mold section 300 in this embodiment can function as a configuration for fixing the core molding jig 200.

[0086] As an example, the mold section 300 according to this embodiment may include a die 310, a fixing groove section 320, and a pressing section 330. The die 310 is formed in a flat plate shape and can form a space in which the core forming jig 200 can be placed.

[0087] The fixing groove 320 is provided on the upper part of the die 310 and can function as a component for fixing the core molding jig 200.

[0088] The fixing groove 320 may be formed in an inverted L-shaped cross-section, with opposing grooves, into which the core forming jig 200 is slidably inserted. In this case, the die 310 may include a sliding mechanism 315 to ensure that the core forming jig 200 is inserted into the precise position of the fixing groove 320. That is, when the core forming jig 200 is positioned on the sliding mechanism 315 and the sliding mechanism 315 slides the core forming jig 200, both sides of the core forming jig 200 can engage with the fixing groove 320 and be fixed in the precise position.

[0089] The press section 330 is located above the die 310 and can function to prevent the core molding jig 200 from opening by applying pressure to the core molding jig 200 in the direction of the die 310. In other words, the press section 330 pressurizes the second jig 220, thereby creating a seal around the molding section 230 and preventing resin from leaking to the outside of the molding section 230.

[0090] The injection unit 400 is provided on one side of the mold unit 300. That is, the injection nozzle 410 of the injection unit 400 is provided so as to coincide with the injection unit 262 of the core molding jig 200 fixed to the mold unit 300, and resin can be injected into the molding unit 230 by coupling the injection nozzle 410 with the injection unit 262. At this time, the resin may consist of a polyamide-based hot melt resin with high adhesive strength.

[0091] With the core molding jig 200 engaged by the press section 330, when resin is injected by the injection section 400, the resin flows into each part of the molding section 230 along the guide channel 260 and hardens for a certain period of time, forming a resin molding section 120 on the surrounding surface of the core pack 110.

[0092] In this embodiment, a vacuum degassing section 500 for removing gas from the molded section 230 may be further included.

[0093] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the vacuum degassing section of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] Referring to Figure 8, the vacuum degassing section 500 in this embodiment can function as a configuration that removes gas from the molding section 230 after the molding of the resin molding section 120 by the molding section 230.

[0095] The vacuum degassing section 500 may include a coupling section 510 to which the core molding jig 200 is coupled, and a gas discharge section 520 provided in the coupling section 510 for discharging gas from the molding section 230.

[0096] This method involves carbonizing the resin during the molding process or releasing gases generated from residual air inside. Hot-melt resin carbonizes and generates gases as it melts at high temperatures, but this method prevents the formation of air bubbles inside the product or uneven molding, which can result in unmolded defects.

[0097] More specifically, compressed air is injected into the core molding jig 200 by the gas discharge section 520, pushing out the gas accumulated inside the core molding jig 200. This discharges the gas, improving the quality of the resin molding section 120 and ensuring the stability of the production process.

[0098] The core molding jig 200, from which the gas has been discharged by the vacuum degassing section 500, is separated from the vacuum degassing section 500, and the core pack 110 is separated from the core molding jig 200, thereby forming a core pack 110 with a resin molding section 120. The resin molding section 120 can be formed in the area excluding the protective circuit section 114 and the front and rear surfaces of the core pack 110.

[0099] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing process of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 10 shows a core pack that has been hot-melted by a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 11 to 15 show the formation process of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] Referring to Figures 9 to 15, a core pack 110 with a resin molding portion 120 can be formed by joining a cover 130 and an exterior material 140 to it to form a battery pack 100.

[0101] An upper cover 132 and a lower cover 134 can be attached to the upper and lower parts of the core pack 110, where the resin molded portion 120 is formed.

[0102] The upper cover 132 is coupled to cover the protective circuit section 114, and an external terminal section 133 may be formed thereon. The external terminal section 133 is for electrically connecting an external device (not shown) to the protective circuit section 114, and is formed so that a conductive metal part is exposed on the upper surface of the upper cover 132.

[0103] An exterior material 140 can be bonded to the outer surface of the core pack 110 on which the resin molding portion 120 is formed. The exterior material 140 may include a metal plate 142 and an exterior label 144 to maintain rigidity.

[0104] The metal plate 142 covers the portion of the core pack 110 excluding the protective circuit portion 114 where the resin molding portion 120 is formed, and is made of stainless steel to ensure external strength and protect from the outside.

[0105] The outer label 144 can be formed to enclose the core pack 110 and the metal plate 142, thereby forming the battery pack 100.

[0106] The method for manufacturing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0107] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] Referring to Figures 1 to 16, the method for manufacturing a battery pack according to the present invention may include a core pack formation step S100, an arrangement step S200, and a molding step S300.

[0109] In the core pack formation step S100, the protective circuit section 114 is attached to the upper part of the bare cell 112 to form the core pack 110 (see Figure 11). The ends of the electrode taps exposed to the outside of the pouch 115 are attached to the protective circuit section 114 by welding, thereby forming the core pack 110.

[0110] The core pack 110 formed in this manner is placed in the molding section 230 of the core molding jig 200 (S200). Multiple molding sections 230 of the core molding jig 200 are formed within the space formed by the core molding jig 200, thereby maximizing productivity.

[0111] Furthermore, the core molding jig 200 consists of multiple units, and the molding section 230 of each core molding jig 200 is applicable to the manufacture of core packs 110 of various specifications. In other words, the core molding jig 200 is manufactured to a standard specification, and the internal molding sections 230 consist of molding sections 230 of different specifications, allowing the mold section 300 to be standardized, thereby reducing mold costs.

[0112] Subsequently, the molding step S300 is performed. The molding step S300 is the step of joining the core molding jig 200 to the mold part 300 and forming a resin molding part 120 that encloses a part of the core pack 110, and may include a fixing step S310 and an injection step S320.

[0113] In the fixing stage S310, the core molding jig 200 is positioned on the slide operating part 315 located on the top of the die 310, slides to fix it in the precise position of the fixing groove 320, and then the core molding jig 200 is pressurized by the operation of the press part 330 to seal the molding part 230. Then, in the injection stage S320, the injection nozzle 410 of the injection part 400 is connected to the injection part 262, and resin is injected into the molding part 230. The resin injected into the injection part 262 enters around the molding part 230 along the main flow path 264 and can simultaneously flow into various parts of the molding part 230 along the branched flow path 266.

[0114] After the molding stage S300, a gas removal stage S400 is further performed. The gas removal stage S400 is a stage in which gas is discharged from the molding section 230, and is performed by the vacuum degassing section 500. The core molding jig 200 is connected to the joining section 510, and compressed air is injected by the gas discharge section 520 to push out the gas accumulated in the core molding jig 200, thereby preventing the resin from carbonizing during the molding process or discharging gas generated from residual air inside, improving the quality of the resin molding section 120 and ensuring the stability of the production process.

[0115] Then, in the gas removal step S400, compressed air is injected, which separates the first jig 210 and the second jig 220, making it easy to remove the core pack 110 on which the resin molding portion 120 is formed.

[0116] After the gas removal step S400, the core pack 110 is removed from the molding section 230, and the cover assembly step S500 is performed in which the upper cover 132 and lower cover 134 are assembled to the core pack 110. The upper cover 132 and lower cover 134 can be joined to the resin molding section 120 by taping and hooks.

[0117] Then, after the cover assembly stage, an exterior material installation stage S600 is performed in which the exterior material 140 is installed on the outer surface of the core pack 110. The exterior material installation stage S600 may include a strength reinforcement stage S610 in which a metal plate 142 is attached to the outer surface of the core pack 110 to reinforce its strength, and a packaging stage S620 in which an exterior label 144 is attached to the outer surface of the core pack 110 with the metal plate 142 attached.

[0118] The metal plate 142 covers the portion of the core pack 110 excluding the protective circuit portion 114 where the resin molding portion 120 is formed, and is made of stainless steel to ensure external strength and protect from the outside.

[0119] The outer label 144 is formed to enclose the core pack 110 and the metal plate 142, thereby forming the battery pack 100.

[0120] As described above, according to the present invention, a core molding jig is provided in which a plurality of molding sections are formed in which core packs are arranged, thereby minimizing the melting cycle and increasing productivity, and standardizing the mold section in which the core molding jig is arranged can reduce mold costs.

[0121] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely illustrative, and a person with ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom.

[0122] Therefore, the scope of technical protection of the present invention should be determined by the claims described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 100: Battery Pack 110: Core Pack 112: Bare Cell 114: Protection circuit section 115: Pouch 116: Insulating sheet 120: Resin molding part 130: Cover 132: Top cover 133: External terminal section 134: Lower cover 140: Exterior materials 142: Metal plate 144: Outer packaging label 200: Core molding jig 210: First Jig 220: Second Jig 230: Molding section 240: Flow prevention part 242: Flow prevention block 244: Flow prevention groove section 250: Guide Section 252: Guide groove section 254: Guide Boss 260:Guiding channel 262: Injection part 264: Main channel 266: Branch channel 300: Mold Department 310: Die 315: Slide operating part 320: Fixed groove 330: Press Department 400: Injection part 410: Injection nozzle 500: Vacuum degassing section 510:Joining part 520: Gas discharge section

Claims

1. A core molding jig is provided with a molding section in which a core pack, in which a bare cell and a protective circuit section are coupled, is placed. A mold section for fixing the core molding jig, The mold section includes an injection section which performs a hot melting process on the molding section to form a resin molded section on the core pack, The manufacturing apparatus for a battery pack is characterized in that multiple molding sections are formed so that multiple core packs are arranged within them.

2. The core molding jig consists of multiple parts, The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the molding portion of each of the core molding jigs is applicable to the manufacture of core packs of various specifications.

3. The core molding jig includes a first jig and a second jig arranged to face each other, The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first jig and the second jig have corresponding flow prevention parts formed on them.

4. The flow prevention section includes a flow prevention block formed protruding from the first jig, The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a flow prevention groove formed by recession in the second jig so that the flow prevention block can be inserted.

5. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the flow prevention portion formed on one side of the first jig and the second jig has a different shape from the flow prevention portion formed on the other side.

6. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the core molding jig includes a guide portion that guides the joining of the first jig and the second jig.

7. The guide portion includes a guide groove formed in the first jig, The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a guide boss formed to protrude from the second jig so as to be inserted into the guide groove.

8. The core molding jig includes a guide channel for guiding the resin, The guide channel includes an injection section connected to the injection section, A main channel that guides the resin flowing into the injection section in the lateral and vertical directions of the core molding jig, A battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a branch channel connecting the main channel and the molding section.

9. The aforementioned mold section includes a die and A fixing groove portion is formed on the upper part of the die and is used to fix the core molding jig, A battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a press section provided on the upper part of the die for applying pressure to the core molding jig in the direction of the die.

10. The manufacturing apparatus for a battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a vacuum degassing unit to remove gas from the molded unit after the molding of the resin molded unit by the molding unit.

11. The vacuum degassing section includes a joint to which the core molding jig is joined, A battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that it includes a gas discharge unit provided in the joint portion for discharging gas from the molding portion.

12. The core pack formation step involves attaching a protective circuit section to the top of the bare cell to form a core pack, The arrangement step involves placing the core pack in the molding section of the core molding jig, The process includes a molding step of connecting the core molding jig to the mold section and forming a resin molding section that encloses a portion of the core pack, A method for manufacturing a battery pack, characterized in that the core molding jig has multiple molding sections formed therein so that multiple core packs can be arranged therein.

13. The core molding jig consists of multiple parts, The method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 12, characterized in that the molding portion of each of the core molding jigs is applicable to the manufacture of core packs of various specifications.

14. The molding step includes a fixing step in which the upper part of the core molding jig, which is placed in the mold section, is pressed and fixed by a press, A method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 13, characterized by comprising an injection step of injecting resin through the injection section of the core molding jig while it is pressurized by the aforementioned press.

15. The method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 14, characterized in that the resin is a polyamide-based hot melt resin with high adhesive strength.

16. A method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 13, characterized in that a gas removal step is performed after the molding step to discharge gas from the molded part.

17. A method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 16, characterized in that, after the gas removal step, the core pack is removed from the molding section, and a cover assembly step is performed in which an upper cover and a lower cover are assembled to the core pack, respectively.

18. A method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 17, characterized in that, after the cover assembly step, an exterior material installation step is performed in which an exterior material is installed on the outer surface of the core pack.

19. The exterior material installation stage involves attaching a metal plate to the outer surface of the core pack to reinforce its strength, and the strength reinforcement stage is as follows: A method for manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 18, characterized by comprising a packaging step of attaching an outer label to the outer surface of the core pack while the metal plate is attached.

Images