Electrode tab joining equipment and electrode tab joining method

Abstract

An electrode tab joining device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer member that transfers an electrode including an electrode current collector, a tab clamping jig that moves an electrode tab onto one surface of the electrode current collector or pulls the electrode tab, a tensile force measuring device provided in the tab clamping jig, a joining member that joins the electrode tab onto the electrode current collector, and at least one electrode clamping jig that fixes the electrode.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] The present invention relates to an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method, and more particularly to an electrode tab joining device having a means for inspecting the degree of joining of an electrode tab, and an electrode tab joining method using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, with the rising cost of energy sources due to the depletion of fossil fuels and growing concern over environmental pollution, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has become an essential factor for future life. As a result, research into various power generation technologies such as nuclear, solar, wind, and tidal power has been continuously conducted, and there has also been great interest in power storage devices to more efficiently use the energy produced in this way.

[0003] Furthermore, with the technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices and battery-powered vehicles, the demand for batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing, and accordingly, much research is being conducted on batteries that can meet various requirements. In particular, in terms of materials, there is a high demand for lithium secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion polymer batteries, which have advantages such as high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability.

[0004] A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a laminated structure in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked. The electrode assembly is then housed in a pouch case, a cylindrical can, a prismatic case, or the like depending on the intended use to manufacture the battery.

[0005] The positive or negative electrode is manufactured by applying an electrode active material slurry to an aluminum foil or copper foil electrode collector. The electrode active material slurry may be left unapplied to a portion of the electrode collector, and an electrode tab may be attached to the portion of the electrode collector that is not coated with the electrode active material slurry.

[0006] A conventional method for joining electrode tabs will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0007] 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating a conventional method for joining an electrode tab to an electrode.

[0008] 1 and 2, the electrode ED may include an electrode current collector EF and an electrode active material part EA formed by applying electrode active material slurry onto the electrode current collector EF. As described above, an electrode tab ET is bonded to the exposed portion of the electrode current collector EF where the electrode active material slurry is not applied.

[0009] For example, while a tab clamp jig 30 holds the electrode tab ET, the electrode tab ET is positioned on one side of the exposed portion of the electrode current collector EF. Then, the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF are joined using a joining member 50. Because the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF are made of metal, welding is applicable. The joining member 50 may include a horn 51 and an anvil 52. The horn 51 and the anvil 52 can perform ultrasonic welding while firmly pressing the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF together.

[0010] However, in the conventional case, a separate destructive test was performed to check whether the bond between the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF was good. That is, the bonding process was stopped, a sample was taken out, and a destructive test was performed to determine whether the bond was good.

[0011] However, this type of inspection has the problem of delaying the process by taking out a sample separately, and the destructive inspection has the problem of low accuracy depending on the inspector. Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology that can automatically perform the inspection of the bonding process together with the bonding process and has high inspection accuracy. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode tab joining device capable of automatically inspecting the degree of joining of an electrode tab when joining the electrode tab to an electrode, and an electrode tab joining method using the same.

[0013] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] An electrode tab joining device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer member that transfers an electrode including an electrode current collector, a tab clamping jig that moves an electrode tab onto one surface of the electrode current collector or pulls the electrode tab, a tensile force measuring device provided in the tab clamping jig, a joining member that joins the electrode tab onto the electrode current collector, and at least one electrode clamping jig that fixes the electrode.

[0015] The electrode tabs can be moved while being fixed to the tab clamp jig.

[0016] The tab clamp jig may move the electrode tab along one direction onto one surface of the electrode current collector, and may pull the electrode tab in another direction after the electrode tab is bonded to one surface of the electrode current collector.

[0017] When the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab in the other direction, the tensile force measuring device can measure in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab.

[0018] When the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab in the other direction, at least one of the electrode clamp jigs can fix the electrode.

[0019] The joining member may include a horn and an anvil, and the electrode tab may be welded to the electrode by the horn and the anvil.

[0020] In an electrode tab bonding method according to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrode including an electrode current collector is transferred, a tab clamping jig moves the electrode tab onto one side of the electrode current collector so that the electrode tab is bonded onto the electrode current collector, at least one electrode clamping jig fixes the electrode, the tab clamping jig pulls the electrode tab bonded to one side of the electrode current collector, and a tensile force measuring device provided in the tab clamping jig measures in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamping jig pulls the electrode tab.

[0021] When the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab, the tension measuring device can measure the pulling force in real time.

[0022] When the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab, at least one of the electrode clamp jigs can fix the electrode.

[0023] The electrode tab may be welded onto the electrode current collector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrode tab joining device is provided with a device that can measure the tensile force during the process of pulling the electrode tab again after joining the electrode tab onto the electrode current collector, thereby making it possible to automatically inspect the degree of joining of the electrode tab when joining the electrode tab to the electrode. Furthermore, since the tensile force is measured while pulling the electrode tab in a specified direction, the accuracy and consistency of the inspection can be improved.

[0025] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional method for joining an electrode tab to an electrode. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional method for joining an electrode tab to an electrode. [Figure 3] 1 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a view schematically illustrating an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a view schematically illustrating a transfer member according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0028] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not relevant to the description will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0029] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. Thicknesses are exaggerated in the drawings to clearly show various layers and regions. Also, in the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0030] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is said to be "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" that part, but also the case where there is another part in between. When a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Note that being "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being "above" in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0031] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as "comprising" a certain element, this does not mean that it can further include other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0032] Also, throughout the specification, "on a plane" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "on a cross section" means when the subject part is cut vertically and viewed from the side.

[0033] 3 to 6 are views schematically illustrating an electrode tab joining device and an electrode tab joining method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] 3 to 6, the electrode tab joining apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer member for transferring an electrode ED including an electrode current collector EF, a tab clamping jig 300 for moving the electrode tab ET onto one surface of the electrode current collector EF or pulling the electrode tab ET, a tensile force measuring device 400 provided in the tab clamping jig 300, a joining member 500 for joining the electrode tab ET onto the electrode current collector EF, and at least one electrode clamping jig 600 for fixing the electrode ED.

[0035] The electrode ED may include an electrode current collector EF containing a metal material and an electrode active material portion EA formed by applying an electrode active material slurry to one or both surfaces of the electrode current collector EF. A portion of the electrode current collector EF may be exposed without being coated with the electrode active material slurry. The transport member may be a member that continuously transports the electrode ED in one direction. Such a transport member will be described again with reference to FIG. 7.

[0036] The tab clamp jig 300 according to this embodiment is a member for transporting the electrode tab ET, and after the electrode tab ET is bonded to the electrode current collector EF, the degree of bonding of the electrode tab ET can be inspected by pulling the electrode tab ET. That is, the electrode tab ET can be moved while being fixed to the tab clamp jig 300. For example, the tab clamp jig 300 can be configured to clamp a portion of the electrode tab ET.

[0037] The joining member 500 according to this embodiment is a member for joining an electrode tab ET and an electrode current collector EF, each of which includes a metal material. For example, the joining member 500 may include a horn 510 and an anvil 520 for welding the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF together. After the electrode tab ET is moved to a region of the electrode current collector EF of the electrode ED where the electrode active material portion EA is not formed by the tab clamp jig 300, the horn 510 and the anvil 520 firmly press the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF together. Then, ultrasonic vibrations or high heat are applied from a horn tip 511 formed on the surface of the horn 510, thereby joining the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF together. However, the configuration of the horn 510 and the anvil 520 for welding is merely an exemplary structure of the joining member 500, and other joining methods other than welding may be used. In another embodiment of the present invention, a bonding method using a conductive adhesive or tape surrounding the outer surface may be applied, and the bonding member may be configured to bond the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF using the conductive adhesive or tape.

[0038] That is, the tab clamp jig 300 moves the electrode tab ET onto one surface of the electrode current collector EF along one direction d1, as shown in Fig. 3. After the electrode tab ET is joined to one surface of the electrode current collector EF by the joining member 500, as shown in Fig. 4, the tab clamp jig 300 can pull the electrode tab ET in another direction d2, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0039] At this time, at least one electrode clamp jig 600 according to this embodiment can fix the electrode ED. For example, the electrode clamp jig 600 can include a first member 610 and a second member 620. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the electrode ED is positioned between the first member 610 and the second member 620, at least one of the first member 610 and the second member 620 can move toward the electrode ED and firmly grip the electrode ED. That is, after the electrode tab ET is bonded to one surface of the electrode current collector EF, the electrode ED can be fixed by the electrode clamp jig 600. When the tab clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET, the electrode clamp jig 600 can apply pressure to the electrode ED in the vertical direction, thereby fixing the electrode ED.

[0040] As described above, the tab clamp jig 300 may be provided with a tensile force measuring device 400. As long as the clamp jig 300 can measure the tensile force when pulling the electrode tab ET, there are no particular limitations on the shape, number, and location of the tensile force measuring device 400.

[0041] When the clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET joined to the electrode current collector EF in the other direction d2, the tensile force measuring device 400 can measure in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET. In addition, when the clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET joined to the electrode current collector EF in the other direction d2, at least one of the electrode clamp jigs 600 fixes the electrode ED.

[0042] After the electrode tab ET is bonded to the electrode current collector EF through the above process, the degree of bonding can be inspected immediately. For example, if the tensile force measured by the tensile force measuring device 400 is equal to or greater than a reference value, it can be determined that the bonding is normal. The reference value is not a uniformly applied value, but can be individually set depending on the situation, taking into account the material, thickness, etc. of the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF.

[0043] In summary, the electrode tab bonding apparatus 100 according to this embodiment can immediately inspect the bonding level of the electrode tab ET after bonding using the tensile force measuring device 400 provided in the tab clamp jig 300 and at least one electrode clamp jig 600 that secures the electrode ED. That is, compared to the conventional method of interrupting the bonding process, removing a sample, and performing a destructive inspection, this embodiment can further simplify the bonding inspection procedure using automated equipment. Furthermore, because the tensile force is measured while pulling the electrode tab ET in a specified direction using the tab clamp jig 300, the accuracy and consistency of the inspection can be improved.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of a transfer member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] 3 and 7, as described above, the electrode tab joining apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a transfer member 200 that transfers the electrode ED. The transfer member 200 is a member for moving the electrode ED in one direction. For example, the transfer member 200 may include an unwinder 210 and a rewinder 220. The unwinder 210 may supply the electrode ED in one direction while unwinding it, and the supplied electrode ED may be collected while being wound by the rewinder 220. The electrode ED may be continuously transferred between the unwinder 210 and the rewinder 220, and the electrode tab ET may be joined to the transferred electrode ED as it passes through the joining member 500.

[0046] Hereinafter, a method for joining an electrode tab according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6. However, the description of parts that overlap with the above description will be omitted.

[0047] 3, in a method for joining an electrode tab according to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrode ED including an electrode current collector EF is transferred, and a tab clamp jig 300 moves an electrode tab ET onto one surface of the electrode current collector EF. As described above, the electrode tab ET may be moved while being fixed to the tab clamp jig 300. For example, the tab clamp jig 300 may be configured to clamp a portion of the electrode tab ET.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4 , the electrode tab ET may be bonded onto the electrode current collector EF. As an example, the electrode tab ET may be welded onto the electrode current collector EF. For example, ultrasonic vibration or high heat may be applied while the horn 510 and the anvil 520 of the bonding member 500 strongly press the electrode tab ET and the electrode current collector EF together. However, as described above, welding is merely an example, and other bonding methods may be used. As another example, the electrode tab ET may be bonded onto the electrode current collector EF using a conductive adhesive or tape surrounding the outer surface.

[0049] 5 and 6, the tab clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET bonded to one surface of the electrode current collector EF, and a tensile force meter provided in the tab clamp jig 300 measures in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET. At this time, at least one electrode clamp jig 600 fixes the electrode ED. In other words, when the tab clamp jig 300 pulls the electrode tab ET, the tensile force meter 400 measures the pulling force in real time, and at least one electrode clamp jig 600 firmly grips the electrode ED to fix it.

[0050] As described above, in the electrode tab joining method according to this embodiment, the degree of joining can be inspected immediately after joining the electrode tab ET. Such automated equipment allows the joining process and inspection process to be performed in a single step. Furthermore, since the tab clamp jig 300 is used to measure the pulling force while pulling the electrode tab ET in a specified direction, the accuracy and consistency of the inspection can be improved.

[0051] In this embodiment, terms indicating directions such as front, back, left, right, up, and down are used, but these terms are used for convenience of explanation and may change depending on the position of the target object, the position of the observer, etc.

[0052] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100: Electrode tab joining equipment 200: Transfer member 300: Tab clamp jig 400: Tensile force measuring instrument 500: Joint material 600: Electrode clamp jig

Claims

1. a transfer member that transfers an electrode including an electrode current collector; a tab clamp jig that moves an electrode tab onto one surface of the electrode current collector and pulls the electrode tab; a tensile force measuring device provided in the tab clamp jig; a joining member that joins the electrode tab onto the electrode current collector; An electrode tab joining device including at least one electrode clamp jig for fixing the electrode.

2. The electrode tab joining apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode tab moves while being fixed to the tab clamp jig.

3. 2. The electrode tab joining device according to claim 1, wherein the tab clamping jig moves the electrode tab onto one surface of the electrode current collector in one direction and pulls the electrode tab in another direction after the electrode tab is joined to one surface of the electrode current collector.

4. The electrode tab joining apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the tensile force measuring device measures in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab when the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab in the other direction.

5. When the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab in the other direction, 4. The electrode tab bonding apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the electrode clamping jigs secures the electrode.

6. the joining member includes a horn and an anvil; 2. The electrode tab bonding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode tab is welded to the electrode by the horn and the anvil.

7. An electrode including an electrode current collector is transferred; a tab clamp jig moves the electrode tab onto one surface of the electrode current collector; the electrode tab is bonded onto the electrode current collector; at least one electrode clamping jig for securing the electrode; the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab joined to one surface of the electrode current collector; The electrode tab joining method further comprises a tensile force measuring device provided in the tab clamp jig for measuring in real time the tensile force with which the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab.

8. The electrode tab bonding method according to claim 7 , wherein the tension measuring device measures the tension applied in real time when the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab.

9. 8. The electrode tab bonding method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the electrode clamp jigs fixes the electrode when the tab clamp jig pulls the electrode tab.

10. The electrode tab bonding method according to claim 7 , wherein the electrode tab is welded onto the electrode current collector.

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