Battery slitter inspection device

Abstract

A slitter inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a device for inspecting the assembly state of a slitter used in a battery slitting process, and may include an imaging device that images the shapes of upper and lower knives included in an upper blade unit and a lower blade unit that cut electrodes through rotational motion; and a control unit that derives one or more inspection parameters from the imaged installation shapes of the upper and lower knives and determines the assembly state of the slitter based on the derived inspection parameters.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0154398, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on November 9, 2023, and all of the contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery slitter inspection device, and more particularly to a slitter inspection device that inspects the assembly state of a slitter used in a battery slitting process. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries are batteries that can be reused by recharging after discharge and can be used as an energy source for small devices such as mobile phones, tablet PCs (Personal Computers), and vacuum cleaners, as well as medium- to large-scale energy sources for personal mobility, automobiles, and smart grid ESS (Energy Storage Systems). Depending on the system requirements, secondary batteries are used in the form of assemblies such as battery modules in which multiple battery cells are connected in series and parallel, or battery packs in which battery modules are connected in series and parallel.

[0004] Batteries can be broadly classified into cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic types based on their shape. These batteries are all manufactured by combining a separator and an electrolyte after manufacturing a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, but they can be made into batteries of different shapes depending on how they are assembled and packaged.

[0005] A battery manufacturing process generally includes an electrode process, an assembly process, and an activation / inspection process. The slitting process, which is included in the electrode process, is a process of cutting the manufactured electrodes to specifications. In this case, the assembly state of the electrode cutting device, i.e., the slitter, used in the slitting process can affect the quality of the slitting.

[0006] Generally, to check the assembly state of a cutting device, an operator visually inspects the device after assembling it or manually measures the slit width of the electrode after slitting. However, in such manual methods, the inspection depends on the operator's experience, and the inspection results may vary depending on the operator. In other words, the existing inspection methods not only produce inaccurate inspection results, but also have the drawback of being quite inefficient in that corrections are made after defects occur in the process. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a slitter inspection device for inspecting the assembly state of a slitter used in a battery slitting process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides a slitter inspection device for a battery slitter that inspects the assembly state of a slitter used in a battery slitting process, and includes an imaging device that images the shape of the upper and lower knives included in the upper and lower blade units that cut electrodes through rotational motion, and a control unit that derives one or more inspection parameters from the imaged installation shapes of the upper and lower knives and determines the assembly state of the slitter based on the derived inspection parameters.

[0009] Here, the inspection parameters can relate to the shapes of the multiple upper sleeves and one or more upper knives arranged between the multiple upper sleeves, and the shapes of the multiple lower sleeves and one or more lower knives arranged between the multiple lower sleeves, and the spacing between them.

[0010] The inspection parameters may include one or more of: a spacing between the plurality of upper knives; and a spacing between the plurality of lower knives.

[0011] The inspection parameters may also include one or more of: a spacing between the first upper knife and a first upper sleeve positioned adjacent to the first upper knife; and a spacing between the first lower knife and a first lower sleeve positioned adjacent to the first lower knife.

[0012] The inspection parameters can include a size of overlap between a second upper knife and a second lower knife corresponding to the second upper knife.

[0013] The inspection parameters may also include one or more of an outer diameter difference between the third lower knife and a third lower sleeve positioned adjacent to the third lower knife, and an escape gap between the lower sleeves.

[0014] The inspection parameters may also include one or more of a difference value of the top end height depending on the rotation angle of the upper sleeve and a difference value of the top end height depending on the rotation angle of the lower sleeve.

[0015] Meanwhile, the battery slitter inspection device may further include an illumination device located on the opposite side of the imaging device based on the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit, and illuminating the area where the upper knife, upper sleeve, lower knife, and lower sleeve are located.

[0016] The battery slitter inspection device may also include a first moving means for moving the imaging device in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes of the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes.

[0017] The battery slitter inspection apparatus may also further include a second moving means for moving the lighting device in synchronization with the movement of the imaging device by the first moving means.

[0018] The battery slitter inspection device may also include a joint for fixing the battery slitter inspection device to the shaft of a knife unit including an upper blade unit and a lower blade unit, a knife guide for guiding the position of the bottom surface of the knife unit, and an alignment cylinder for pressing the knife unit against the knife guide. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the slitter can be inspected after assembling the knife unit before actual slitting is performed, and factors that have a significant impact on the efficiency of the slitting process can be measured, thereby achieving consistent slitting quality.

[0020] In addition, compared to actual measurement inspections, the improved resolution allows for precise confirmation of the assembly status of the slitter.

[0021] Furthermore, by using the slitter inspection device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect and prevent slitter assembly defects caused by operator error in advance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery manufacturing process to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view schematically showing an electrode slitting device to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an upper knife and a lower knife of the electrode slitting device of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overlap size between the upper knife and the lower knife of the electrode slitting device of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the gap between the knife and the sleeve, which are among the inspection items of the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining an outer diameter difference and an escape gap, which are among the inspection items of a slitter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the difference in height when the sleeve is rotating, which is one of the inspection items for the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 shows the appearance of a slitter inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a table showing data verifying the effectiveness of a battery slitter inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Since the present invention can be modified in various ways and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, but rather to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. Similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar components throughout the drawings.

[0024] Terms such as "first," "second," "A," and "B" may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component can be designated as a second component, and similarly, a second component can be designated as a first component, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The term "and / or" includes a combination of multiple associated listed items or any one of multiple associated listed items.

[0025] When a component is referred to as being "coupled," "connected," or the like to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that there may be other components between them. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly coupled," "directly connected," or the like to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components between them.

[0026] The terms used in this application are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expressions include the plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and are understood not to preclude the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined in this application.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery manufacturing process to which the present invention can be applied.

[0030] Batteries can be manufactured through an electrode process (S10), an assembly process (S20), and an activation / inspection process (S30). Batteries completed through these processes are shipped in the form of a battery pack (or battery module) including a plurality of battery cells connected in series. The battery pack is connected to a load via the positive and negative terminals and can perform charge / discharge operations. Battery packs can be configured by connecting them in series or parallel depending on the required specifications of the system in which the battery is used.

[0031] More specifically, the electrode process (S10) starts with a "mixing process" in which raw materials are mixed, followed by a "coating process" in which the mixed slurry is applied to a foil and dried, a "roll pressing process" in which the electrode is crimped to reduce its thickness, a "slitting process" in which the electrode is cut to a predetermined width, and a "notching process" in which tabs are provided on the electrode.

[0032] The slitting process involves cutting the thinly stretched electrodes produced through the roll press process to fit the size of the battery. The electrodes are cut lengthwise using a slitter to fit the designed battery specifications. The blade can be changed depending on the size of the battery cell to be manufactured.

[0033] The assembly process (S20) is a process in which the positive and negative electrode plates manufactured through the electrode process are assembled with a separator to create a finished cell. The manufacturing order varies depending on the battery type (cylindrical, pouch, prismatic), and the technology applied by each manufacturer also varies. The assembly process (S20) typically includes detailed processes such as a stacking process in which multiple electrode plates are stacked with separators in between, tab welding to collect the current flowing from a single electrode plate in one place, and a packaging process in which the final battery shape is formed and sealed after electrolyte injection.

[0034] The activation / inspection process (S30) activates electrical energy and checks its stability. The activation process involves repeated aging and charging / discharging. During the aging process, the battery is stored at room temperature, maintaining a constant temperature and humidity, to allow the electrolyte to permeate the positive and negative electrodes. Once the electrolyte has dispersed throughout the battery and ions move smoothly between the positive and negative electrodes, the battery is partially charged to activate the cell. During this process, all lithium ions move to the negative electrode, and the electrolyte decomposes, forming a thin, ion-conductive solid membrane called a "Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI)" layer on the surface of the negative electrode. After the activation process, the battery's charging capacity is tested and defective batteries are screened before being shipped.

[0035] The present invention provides an apparatus for inspecting a slitter used in a slitting process in an electrode process.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing an electrode slitting device to which the present invention can be applied.

[0037] The slitting process can be performed on a jumbo roll, which is a rolled-up form of a thinly stretched electrode discharged through a roll press process. The jumbo roll has an electrode sheet, on which an electrode active material is coated and dried, wound in a roll shape. Here, the electrode sheet, on which an electrode active material is coated and dried, is preferably understood to be a coated electrode sheet after a coating process is completed.

[0038] The electrode slitting device 300, i.e., a slitter, cuts an electrode sheet in the width direction to form multiple electrodes. The electrode sheet is coated with a negative electrode active material or a positive electrode active material. A negative electrode can be produced by cutting an electrode sheet coated with a negative electrode active material using the electrode slitting device 300. A positive electrode can be produced by cutting an electrode sheet coated with a positive electrode active material using the electrode slitting device 300.

[0039] The electrode slitting apparatus 300 to which the present invention can be applied may include an upper unit including an upper slitting roller 310 and a plurality of upper knives 330, and a lower unit including a lower slitting roller 320 and a plurality of lower knives 340.

[0040] The upper slitting roller 310 is arranged parallel to the width of the electrode sheet 30 coated with an active material. The upper slitting roller 310 includes an upper roller body 311 arranged parallel to the width of the electrode sheet 30, and a plurality of upper sleeves 313 fitted into the upper roller body 311. The plurality of upper sleeves 313 are preferably formed to have the same width and the same diameter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the upper slitting roller 310 may include 12 upper sleeves 313 and 11 upper knives 330 arranged between the upper sleeves.

[0041] The lower slitting roller 320 is arranged alongside the upper slitting roller 310. The lower slitting roller 320 includes a lower roller body 321 arranged alongside the width direction of the electrode sheet 30, and a plurality of lower sleeves 323 fitted into the lower roller body 321. The plurality of lower sleeves 323 are also preferably formed to have the same width and the same diameter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the lower slitting roller 320 may be configured to include 12 lower sleeves 323 and 11 lower knives 340 arranged between the lower sleeves.

[0042] The upper knives 330 may be arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the upper slitting roller 310. The upper knives 330 are fixed by fastening members on both sides of the width direction of the upper sleeve 313. The upper knives 330 are arranged in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the upper slitting roller 310 and may protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the upper sleeve 313 at a certain height.

[0043] A plurality of lower knives 340 are also arranged in the longitudinal direction of the lower slitting roller 320, and correspond to the plurality of upper knives 330, respectively. The lower knives 340 may be arranged at equal intervals. The lower knives 340 are arranged in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the lower slitting roller 320, and may be formed at the same height as the outer peripheral surface of the lower sleeve 323.

[0044] 2, the distance between the knives (pitch, P) can be seen, and the distance between the knives is usually set to about 60 mm. The distance between the knives (slitting width) is one of the important inspection factors in the slitter inspection according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Conventionally, to check the slitting width, a worker would visually inspect the device after assembling it, or would try cutting electrode tissue, which depended on the worker's experience.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of the upper knife and lower knife of the electrode slitting device of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the overlap size between the upper knife and the lower knife in the electrode slitting device of FIG. 3.

[0047] The upper knife 330 and the lower knife 340 may be formed to a thickness of about 1 mm. An upper cutter unit 331 is formed on the periphery of the upper knife 330, sloping downward from the inner surface to the outer surface of the upper knife 330. At this time, the two upper cutters 331 fixed to each upper sleeve 313 are formed with an acute inclination angle (θ1) that widens outward. The pair of upper cutters 331 with an inclination angle (θ1) widening outward are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the upper slitting roller 310.

[0048] The lower knife 340 has a lower cutter 341 formed on its periphery, sloping upward from the inner surface to the outer surface of the lower knife 340. The two lower cutters 341 fixed to each lower sleeve 323 are formed with an inclination angle (θ2) that converges inward at an acute angle. The pair of lower cutters 341 with an inclination angle (θ2) that converges inward are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the lower slitting roller 320.

[0049] The inclination angle (θ1) of the upper cutter unit 331 widens outward, and the inclination angle (θ2) of the lower cutter unit 341 converges inward, so that the sharp tips of the upper cutter unit 331 and the lower cutter unit 341 overlap to cut the electrode sheet 30. At this time, because the upper cutter unit 331 and the lower cutter unit 341 are inclined at an acute angle, the shear force of the upper cutter unit 331 and the lower cutter unit 341 is concentrated on the cutting portion of the electrode sheet 30, allowing the electrode 31 to be cut smoothly.

[0050] A support surface 324 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower slitting roller 320 to support the electrode 31 between the plurality of lower knives 340. The support surface 324 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower sleeve 323 to be in close contact with the lower surface of the electrode sheet 30. The support surface 324 continuously supports the cutting portion of the electrode sheet 30 while rotating when the electrode sheet 30 is transported.

[0051] An escape groove 325 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower slitting roller 320 so that the upper cutter 331 can be pulled into the adjacent portion of the lower knife 340. The escape groove 325 may be formed on both sides of the lower sleeve 323 so as to be recessed in the circumferential direction.

[0052] The escape groove 325 may be formed in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm away from the inner surface of the lower knife 340. The escape groove 325 may be formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the lower slitting roller 320, and is formed to the same depth along the circumferential direction. Because the escape groove 325 is formed in a ring shape, when the lower slitting roller 320 rotates, the upper knife 330 is drawn into the escape groove 325, allowing the electrode sheet 30 to be continuously cut. The escape gap (G), which can be defined as the width of the escape groove, is one of the main inspection parameters of the slitting inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] An appropriate overlap size (T) between the upper cutter portion 331 and the lower cutter portion 341 may be 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm. The overlap size (T) refers to the maximum height at which the upper cutter portion 331 and the lower cutter portion 341 overlap each other when cutting the electrode sheet 30. If the overlap size (T) is below the standard range, the shear force between the upper cutter portion 331 and the lower cutter portion 341 may decrease, resulting in a decrease in the cutting performance of the electrode sheet 30. If the overlap size (T) exceeds the standard range, the shear force between the upper cutter portion 331 and the lower cutter portion 341 may increase excessively. If the overlap size (T) excessively exceeds the standard range, the wear rate of the tips of the upper cutter portion 331 and the lower cutter portion 341 may increase, resulting in a shortened lifespan of the upper cutter and the lower cutter.

[0054] The overlap size (T) between the upper cutter part 331 and the lower cutter part 341 is one of the inspection items for the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention. Conventionally, the relative size of the overlap block and the outer diameter of the knife was estimated, and the knife was assembled and used in the slitting process, but the actual overlap size could not be confirmed.

[0055] In the present invention, an imaging device and an illumination device are used to capture images of the vertical edges of the upper knife and the lower knife, and the coordinate values ​​of the vertical edges of the upper knife and the lower knife on the images are confirmed, and the overlap size between the upper knife and the lower knife can be obtained through calculation of the coordinate values.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the gap between the knife and the sleeve, which is one of the inspection items of the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] 5, the concept of the gap (called the lateral pressure gap) between the upper knife 330 and the upper sleeve 313 can be seen. In the right image of FIG. 5, the gap between the knife and the sleeve can be seen on an actual image captured by the inspection device according to the present invention.

[0058] A battery slitter inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention measures the size of the area of ​​light that is irradiated from the lighting device and passes between the upper knife and the upper sleeve adjacent to the upper knife, and by understanding the shape of the area of ​​light, can determine whether the assembly state of the upper knife is defective.

[0059] Another embodiment of the battery slitter inspection device of the present invention measures the size of the area of ​​light that is irradiated from the lighting device and passes between the lower knife and the lower sleeve adjacent to the lower knife, and by understanding the shape of the area of ​​light, it is possible to determine whether the assembly status of the lower knife is faulty.

[0060] If proper spacing cannot be maintained between the upper knife and the upper sleeve, and between the lower knife and the lower sleeve, the cutting performance may be reduced and the detachment of active material may increase, which may pose a problem to battery safety.

[0061] Conventionally, to check the gap between the upper knife and the upper sleeve, and between the lower knife and the lower sleeve, an operator had to visually check the level at which light passes through or cut paper, which required manual work that depended on the operator's skill.

[0062] In the present invention, an imaging device and an illumination device supporting the imaging device are used to determine whether the knife assembly is defective based on the size and shape of the area of ​​light that is irradiated from the illumination device and passes between the upper knife and the upper sleeve or between the lower knife and the lower sleeve. That is, the battery slitter inspection device according to the present invention can check the gaps between the upper knife and the upper sleeve and between the lower knife and the lower sleeve through the captured images to check whether the gaps are properly maintained and whether the knives of the slitting device are properly installed and capable of performing the proper slitting process.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the outer diameter difference and the escape distance among the inspection items of the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] In Fig. 6, L indicates the height of the outer diameter of the lower sleeve and the outer diameter of the lower knife. It is preferable that the outer diameter of the sleeve and the outer diameter of the knife are the same in size (height in Fig. 6), but there may be a difference in outer diameter between the outer diameter of the lower sleeve and the outer diameter of the lower knife.

[0065] Also, in Fig. 6, G indicates the clearance gap, which is the width of the clearance groove as described above with reference to Fig. 4. Since the upper cutter portion 331 of the upper knife is drawn into the clearance groove portion 325 and cuts the electrode sheet 30 together with the lower cutter portion 341 of the lower knife, it is preferable to maintain the clearance gap at an appropriate size.

[0066] Conventionally, knives have been assembled based on the dimensions engraved on the upper blade unit or the lower blade unit and then used in the slitting process, but it has not been possible to confirm the actual size of the escape gap.

[0067] In the present invention, it is possible to check whether or not there is a difference in outer diameter and the size of the escape gap through the relevant images taken by the imaging device, and to inspect whether or not each part / portion of the slitting device is properly installed.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the difference in height when the sleeve is rotating, which is one of the inspection items of the slitter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] The upper and lower sleeves are rotated for slitting, and as the rotation angle is changed, for example, to 0°, 60°, or 120°, differences in the height of the top end may occur, as shown in Figure 7. It is preferable that the height of the top end of the sleeves does not change during rotation, but by using the slitter inspection device according to the present invention to record and track changes in the height of the top end, it is possible to determine whether the sleeve is defective.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows the appearance of a slitter inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] The slitter inspection device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a cutting device applied to a battery slitting process, that is, a device for inspecting the slitter by measuring the assembly state of the slitter.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 8, the slitter inspection apparatus 100 may include an imaging device 110, an illumination device 120, a first moving means 111 for assisting the movement of the imaging device, a second moving means 121 for assisting the movement of the illumination device, and a control unit 190.

[0073] The imaging device 110 can capture an image of the shape of the upper and lower knives included in the upper and lower blade units that cut the electrode through rotational motion. The imaging device 110 is, for example, a device such as a camera, and can move in the x, y, and z axes. The imaging device 110 can be selected with resolution as an important factor for precise measurement. For example, the resolution of the imaging device 110 may be 3.45 μm, and the measurement FOV (field of view) may be within 15 mm. Therefore, the image area that the imaging device 110 can measure is only, for example, (12.8 × 9.6 mm). Considering that the slitting width, i.e., the distance between the knives, is generally on the order of 40 mm to 100 mm, the movement of the imaging device is an important factor for deriving the inspection parameters according to the present invention.

[0074] A first moving means 111 is disposed to support the movement of the imaging device 110, and the first moving means 111 may include, for example, a linear motor. The first moving means 111 can move the imaging device 110 at a constant speed and a constant amount through the first upper sleeve and the first upper knife to the twelfth upper sleeve and the eleventh upper knife. Through this, the imaging device 110 can measure the distance between the upper knives and the distance between the lower knives (i.e., the slitting width).

[0075] In addition, the slitter inspection apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include an illumination device located on the opposite side of the imaging device relative to the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit, and illuminating the area around where the upper knife, upper sleeve, lower knife, and lower sleeve are located. The illumination device located on the opposite side of the camera relative to the slitting apparatus can induce a difference in brightness of the image captured by the camera, and one or more inspection parameters considered in the present invention can be derived from the acquired image.

[0076] Meanwhile, second moving means 121 for supporting the movement of the lighting device 120 is disposed around the lighting device 120. The second moving means 121 can move the lighting device in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes of the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes. Here, the movement of the first moving means and the movement of the second moving means can be controlled to be synchronized with each other.

[0077] That is, the control unit 190 of the slitter inspection apparatus 100 can derive one or more inspection parameters from the captured installation shapes of the upper knife and lower knife, and determine the assembly state of the slitting device based on the derived inspection parameters. More specifically, the control unit 190 can receive the image captured by the imaging device, and check and analyze the associated coordinate values ​​of each component (upper knife, lower knife, upper sleeve, lower sleeve) shown on the image to calculate one or more inspection parameters according to the present invention.

[0078] Here, the control unit 190 may be located close to the imaging device 110, the lighting device 120, the first moving means 111, and the second moving means 121, or may be located at a relatively long distance. The control unit 190 may be connected to the imaging device 110, the lighting device 120, the first moving means 111, and the second moving means 121 via wired or wireless communication. The control unit 190 may be implemented in the form of a computer device that can be accessed and controlled by an operator or user.

[0079] Here, the inspection parameters according to the present invention may include one or more of the spacing between multiple upper knives, the gap between a first upper knife and a first upper sleeve arranged adjacent to the first upper knife, the size of the overlap between a second upper knife and a second lower knife corresponding to the second upper knife, and the difference in the top height depending on the rotation angle of the upper sleeve.

[0080] The inspection parameters according to the present invention may also include one or more of the spacing between the multiple lower knives, the gap between the first lower knife and the first lower sleeve arranged adjacent to the first lower knife, the outer diameter difference between the third lower knife and the third lower sleeve arranged adjacent to the third lower knife, the escape spacing of the lower sleeve, and the difference in the top end height depending on the rotation angle of the lower sleeve.

[0081] Here, the distance between the upper knives and the distance (P) between the lower knives are explained with reference to Figure 2. The distance between the knives can be measured continuously by moving the camera sequentially from the first knife to the Nth knife (N is the total number of knives included in the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit).

[0082] It is also possible to rotate the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit to different rotation angles (for example, 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, etc.) and measure the distance between the knives at each angle.

[0083] Here, the size of the gap between the knives can be calculated by the control unit 190, which checks and calculates the coordinate values ​​of the first knife and the second knife shown on the image acquired by the imaging device.

[0084] On the other hand, the gap between the first upper knife and the first upper sleeve disposed adjacent to the first upper knife can be called a side pressure gap, and is described with reference to FIG.

[0085] The overlap size (T) between the second upper knife and the second lower knife corresponding to the second upper knife is described with reference to Fig. 4. Meanwhile, the overlap size can be calculated by the control unit 190, which checks and calculates the coordinate values ​​of the vertical ends of the upper knife and the lower knife shown on the image acquired by the imaging device.

[0086] The outer diameter difference between the third lower knife and the third lower sleeve disposed adjacent to the third lower knife and the clearance gap (G) of the lower sleeve are described in Figure 6 and the corresponding description. The outer diameter difference and the clearance gap (G) of the lower sleeve can also be calculated by the control unit 190, which analyzes the image acquired by the imaging device and checks and calculates related coordinate values.

[0087] The difference in the top end height depending on the rotation angle of the upper or lower sleeve is illustrated in FIG. 7 and can be considered as a parameter to be tracked for quality control of the slitting machine.

[0088] On the other hand, the knives used in slitting machines are usually made of HCr-plated material, which has a severe reflection due to its material characteristics. Therefore, one of the main elements of the slitter inspection device 100 of the present invention is to install the camera and knife in parallel.

[0089] To this end, the slitter inspection device 100 may include a joint 170 that aligns and fixes the inspection device 100 to the upper / lower blade axis (the position where the knife is inserted) of the knife unit, a knife guide 130 that is arranged on the lower surface of the knife unit to guide the position of the bottom surface of the knife unit, and an alignment cylinder 150 that presses the knife unit against the knife guide.

[0090] Through the joint 170, knife guide 130, and alignment cylinder 150 of the slitter inspection device 100, the knife unit to be inspected can be positioned at a fixed position within the slitter inspection device of the present invention, allowing the slitter to be inspected with a fixed accuracy.

[0091] FIG. 9 is a table showing data verifying the effectiveness of the battery slitter inspection device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] 9 shows the results of an actual measurement test of the slitting width of three types of positive electrodes and three types of negative electrodes, and the test results using the slitter inspection device according to the present invention. The actual measurement test is a conventionally used test of the slitting width, and shows the results of actually measuring the width of the electrodes using a steel ruler after the slitting process.

[0093] 9, there is almost no difference between the values ​​obtained by actual measurement inspection and the values ​​obtained by image inspection according to the present invention. Also, while the resolution of actual measurement inspection is on the order of 0.5 mm, the resolution of image inspection according to the present invention is 0.001 mm, which shows that measurement accuracy has improved.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the slitter can be inspected after assembling the knife unit before actually performing slitting, and the slitting width, clearance gap, overlap, etc. As a result, a single inspection of the knife unit can eliminate the need for actual inspection of the slitting width throughout the life of the unit (approximately 200,000 m for positive electrodes and approximately 1,000,000 m for negative electrodes).

[0095] Some aspects of the invention have been described in the context of an apparatus, but they may also be described in terms of a corresponding method, where a block or apparatus corresponds to a method step or feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in the context of a method may be described in terms of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus. Some or all of the method steps may be performed by (or using) a hardware apparatus, such as, for example, a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, one or more of the most important method steps may be performed by such an apparatus.

[0096] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 100: Slitter inspection device 110: Imaging device 111: First mode of transportation 120: Lighting device 121: Secondary means of transportation 130: Knife guide 150: Aligned cylinder 170: Joint 190: Control unit 300: Electrode slitting device 310: Upper slitting roller 320: Lower slitting roller 325: Escape groove 330: Upper knife 340: Lower knife T: Overlap size G: Gap P: Distance between knives (knife pitch)

Claims

1. A battery slitter inspection device that inspects the assembly state of a slitter used in a battery slitting process, an imaging device for imaging the shape of the upper knife and the lower knife included in the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit, which cut the electrode through a rotational movement; a control unit that derives one or more inspection parameters from the captured installation shapes of the upper knife and the lower knife, and determines the assembly status of the slitter based on the derived inspection parameters.

2. The inspection parameters are:

2. The battery slitter inspection device of claim 1, which is related to the shapes and spacing of a plurality of upper sleeves and one or more upper knives disposed between the plurality of upper sleeves, and a plurality of lower sleeves and one or more lower knives disposed between the plurality of lower sleeves.

3. The inspection parameters are: A spacing between the plurality of upper knives; 3. The battery slitter inspection device of claim 2, further comprising one or more of: a spacing between the plurality of lower knives;

4. The inspection parameters are: a spacing between a first upper knife and a first upper sleeve disposed adjacent to the first upper knife; 4. The battery slitter inspection device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising one or more of: a gap between a first lower knife and a first lower sleeve disposed adjacent to the first lower knife.

5. The inspection parameters are: The battery slitter inspection device of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a size of an overlap between a second upper knife and a second lower knife corresponding to the second upper knife.

6. The inspection parameters are: an outer diameter difference between a third lower knife and a third lower sleeve disposed adjacent to the third lower knife; and a clearance gap between the lower sleeves.

7. The inspection parameters are: A difference value of the uppermost end height according to the rotation angle of the upper sleeve; 4. The battery slitter inspection device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of: a difference value of the height of the uppermost end of the lower sleeve according to the rotation angle of the lower sleeve;

8. 4. The battery slitter inspection device according to claim 2, further comprising an illumination device located on the opposite side of the imaging device relative to the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit, and illuminating the surroundings where the upper knife, the upper sleeve, the lower knife, and the lower sleeve are located.

9. The battery slitter inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a first moving means for moving the imaging device in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes of the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axes.

10. The battery slitter inspection device according to claim 9, further comprising a second moving means for moving the lighting device in synchronization with the movement of the imaging device by the first moving means.

11. a joint for fixing the battery slitter inspection device to the shaft of the knife unit including the upper blade unit and the lower blade unit; a knife guide for guiding the position of the bottom surface of the knife unit; The battery slitter inspection device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an alignment cylinder that presses the knife unit against the knife guide.

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