Electrode assembly three-dimensional manufacturing device

Abstract

An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a supply unit for supplying a plurality of objects in sheet form, a cutting unit for cutting each of the plurality of objects in sheet form separately, and a first transport unit including a transport path for transporting the cut objects, wherein the plurality of objects in sheet form are cut while inclined diagonally downward toward the first transport unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0073172 filed on June 7, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2024 - 0065595 filed on May 21, 2024, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent applications are included as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, to an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus that enables more precise cutting and transfer in the electrode assembly manufacturing process and can prevent the occurrence of defects in the electrode assembly.

Background Art

[0003] In modern society, with the increasing daily use of portable devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, video cameras, and digital cameras, the development of technologies in fields related to such mobile devices has become active. In addition, rechargeable secondary batteries are a solution to solve problems such as air pollution in existing gasoline vehicles that use fossil fuels, and are used as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug - in hybrid electric vehicles (P - HEVs), etc., and the need for the development of secondary batteries is increasing. At the same time, the demand for energy storage systems (ESSs) equipped with secondary batteries is also continuously increasing.

[0004] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel - cadmium batteries, nickel - metal hydride batteries, nickel - zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, etc. Among these, lithium secondary batteries have attracted the most attention due to their advantages of free charge and discharge, low self - discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Rechargeable batteries are classified into cylindrical and rectangular batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or rectangular metal can, and pouch batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch-type case made of aluminum laminate sheet, based on the shape of the battery case.

[0006] First, secondary batteries can be classified according to the structure of their electrode assemblies, which consist of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator membrane interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. Typical examples include jelly roll type (winding type) electrode assemblies, which are constructed by winding long sheet-like positive and negative electrodes with a separator membrane in between, and stack type (layered type) electrode assemblies, which are constructed by sequentially stacking multiple positive and negative electrodes cut into predetermined units with a separator membrane in between. Recently, in order to solve the problems of the jelly roll type and stack type electrode assemblies, stack / folding type electrode assemblies, which are a hybrid form of the jelly roll type and the stack type, have been developed.

[0007] Furthermore, such electrode assemblies are manufactured by stacking multiple monocells, each having a positive and negative electrode, and then stacking halfcells on the outermost layer.

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of object 1, which is provided in sheet form before cutting. Object 1 may be, for example, a monocell or a halfcell. A monocell may be manufactured by stacking, for example, a separation membrane sheet 2 - positive electrode 3 - separation membrane sheet 2 - negative electrode 3, or a separation membrane sheet 2 - negative electrode 3 - separation membrane sheet 2 - positive electrode 3, and then cutting the separation membrane sheet 2 between adjacent electrodes (positive electrode, negative electrode) 3. The AA line shows the case where a monocell provided in sheet form is cut correctly, and the BB line shows the case where a monocell provided in sheet form is cut poorly.

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus. The conventional electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus includes a supply unit 10, a cutting unit 20, a pressurizing member 23, a first transfer unit 30, a second transfer unit 40, and a stacking unit 50.

[0010] The supply unit 10 provides multiple objects 1 (e.g., monocells or halfcells) in sheet form. The multiple objects 1 are connected to each other and manufactured in sheet form, wound in a roll type, and may be unwound again by the supply unit 10 for supply. The multiple objects 1 in sheet form are cut individually by the cutter 21 of the cutting unit 20 (i.e., separated into individual objects) and subsequently moved to the first transfer unit 30. The pressurizing member 23 is located at the rear end of the cutting unit 20 and the front end of the first transfer unit 30. After the pressurizing member 23 presses the sheet-form objects 1, the cutter 21 of the cutting unit 20 cuts the multiple objects 1 in sheet form individually along the AA line (see Figure 1). The cut objects 1 move along the first transfer unit 30 and then move to the second transfer unit 40. The second transfer unit 40 is positioned on top of the stacking unit 50 and supplies the objects 1 onto the stacking unit 50. As a result, object 1 is stacked to manufacture an electrode assembly.

[0011] On the other hand, referring again to Figure 1, for example, the object 1 provided in sheet form may be provided to the cutting unit 20 while folded. In this case, when the cutting unit 20 cuts the folded object 1 sheet, defects in the object 1 may occur, as shown by the BB line. Cases in which defects in the object 1 occur, as shown by the BB line in Figure 1, will be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

[0012] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the dotted line portion of Figure 2. At the front end P1 of the cutting unit 20, the object 1, which is provided in sheet form as described above, may be folded. Figure 4 schematically explains, with an example, the reason why the object 1 may be folded. If the preceding object 1 (1a) has not been fully advanced in the direction of travel by the cutting unit 20 or the pressurizing member 23, the following object 1 (1b) may not yet be able to fully advance in the direction of travel due to movement by the supply unit 10 or airflow (shown by arrows). In such cases, the object may be folded in the portion where only the relatively thin separation membrane 2 exists.

[0013] Alternatively, even if the object sheet 1 is cut normally as shown in line AA, misalignment may occur during the process of transporting the cut object 1. For example, when the object 1 is placed on the first transport unit 30 at the rear end P2 of the cutting unit 20 in Figure 3, the alignment of the object 1 may be misaligned. The front surface of the object 1 may not be properly placed on the first transport unit 30 at the rear end P2 of the cutting unit 20, and a part of the object 1 may fall into the widened gap between the cutting unit 20 and the first transport unit 30. This can cause the object 1 to fold or induce misalignment when it is placed on the first transport unit 30 after being cut. Defects may occur in the manufactured electrode assembly even when the object 1 is stacked with misalignment in this manner. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0014] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, aims to provide an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus that enables more precise cutting and transfer in the electrode assembly manufacturing process, thereby preventing the occurrence of defects in the electrode assembly.

[0015] However, the problems that the embodiments of the present invention aim to solve are not limited to those described above, and can be broadly expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a supply unit for supplying a plurality of objects in sheet form, a cutting unit for cutting each of the plurality of objects in sheet form separately, and a first transport unit including a transport path for transporting the cut objects, wherein the plurality of objects in sheet form can be cut while inclined diagonally downward toward the first transport unit.

[0017] In the supply unit, the multiple objects in sheet form can be moved along an inclined surface that is angled downward toward the first transport unit.

[0018] The cutting unit includes a pressurizing member that presses one end of the object supplied from the supply unit onto a holding surface that holds the object in the first transfer unit, and a cutter that cuts one end of the object when the pressurizing member pressurizes that end, wherein one end of the object is the end facing the transfer direction, and the other end of the object is the end facing the opposite side of the transfer direction.

[0019] The pressurizing member can apply pressure to the object while pulling it in the transport direction just before the cutter cuts one end of the object.

[0020] The pressurizing member rotates while pressurizing the object, and the rotational speed of the pressurizing member may be greater than the supply speed of the supply unit.

[0021] The ratio of the rotational speed of the pressurizing member to the supply speed of the supply unit may be greater than 1 and less than or equal to 1.2.

[0022] The pressing member moves in the moving direction of the object while pressing the object, and can return to its original state immediately after cutting the object.

[0023] The supply unit is a supply belt that supports and moves a plurality of objects in sheet form, and the pressing member can be a nip roller.

[0024] The first transfer unit is of a circulation type and can include a transfer path for transferring the cut object and a return path for returning after transmitting the object.

[0025] The first transfer unit includes a plurality of holding members and a rail that is a movement path of the plurality of holding members, and each holding member can hold one or more of the cut objects.

[0026] The holding member includes an adsorption part that holds the front surface of the object by a gas inhalation method and a support part that supports the adsorption part, and the adsorption part can be an adsorption plate including a plurality of adsorption holes on an adsorption surface to which the object is adsorbed.

[0027] The apparatus can further include a manufacturing unit that manufactures an electrode assembly from the object directly transferred from the first transfer unit or transferred from another unit intervening therebetween.

[0028] The manufacturing unit can be a stacking unit that stacks monocells and / or half cells.

[0029] The apparatus further includes a second transfer unit intervening between the transfer paths of the first transfer unit and the manufacturing unit, and the second transfer unit is of a circulation type and can include a transfer path for transferring the object transferred from the first transfer unit to the manufacturing unit and a return path for returning after transmitting the object.

[0030] The transport path of the first transport unit is located above the first transport unit, and the transport path of the second transport unit is located below the second transport unit, and the end of the transport path of the first transport unit and the start of the transport path of the second transport unit can overlap each other.

[0031] The object can be transmitted in a state in which the holding surface of the holding member of the first transfer unit that holds the object and the holding surface of the holding member of the second transfer unit that holds the object face each other.

[0032] The second transfer unit includes a plurality of holding members and rails which are the movement paths for the plurality of holding members, and each holding member can hold one or more of the cut objects.

[0033] The holding member includes an adsorption portion that holds the front surface of the object by a gas intake method, and a support portion that supports the adsorption portion, wherein the adsorption portion may be an adsorption plate having a plurality of adsorption holes on the adsorption surface to which the object is adsorbed.

[0034] The aforementioned object may be a monocell or a halfcell. [Effects of the Invention]

[0035] According to the present invention, more precise cutting and transfer can be enabled in the electrode assembly manufacturing process. This maximizes the production efficiency of electrode assemblies and improves the quality of the produced electrode assemblies.

[0036] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and any other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1]This is a schematic diagram of the object provided in sheet form before cutting. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a magnified view of a portion of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] Let's explain the reason why an object provided in sheet form may fold up as an example. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a magnified view of a portion of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 7] Figure 6 shows the first embodiment, illustrating a method in which a pressurizing member pulls on the object. [Figure 8] Figure 6 shows a second embodiment, illustrating a method in which the pressurizing member pulls the object. [Figure 9] This diagram schematically shows one example of a holding member included in Figure 5. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the suction portion of the holding member shown. [Figure 11] This drawing shows another example of the holding member shown in Figure 9. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, so that they can be easily implemented by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention can be realized in a variety of different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0039] To clearly explain the present invention, unnecessary explanatory parts have been omitted, and the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0040] Furthermore, the dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily indicated for the sake of explanation, and therefore the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses are shown enlarged to clearly represent multiple layers and regions. Also, in the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are shown exaggerated for the sake of explanation.

[0041] Furthermore, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, or other part is said to be "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when one part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Also, being "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "above" in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0042] Furthermore, when a specification states that a part of it "includes" a certain component, unless otherwise specified, this means that it does not exclude other components and may include other components.

[0043] Furthermore, throughout the specification, "on a plane" refers to the view of the subject from above, and "on a cross-section" refers to the view of a cross-section obtained by cutting the subject perpendicularly, viewed from the side.

[0044] Hereinafter, an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a partially enlarged view of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus of Figure 5.

[0046] The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus shown in Figure 5 includes a supply unit 100, a cutting unit 200, a first transfer unit 300, a second transfer unit 400, and a manufacturing unit 500.

[0047] The supply unit 100 provides, for example, multiple objects 1 that are manufactured in sheet form and connected together. Object 1 may be, for example, a monocell. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to providing monocells, and can be modified and changed to suit various environments to which the present invention is applied, such as being applicable to processes that provide half-cells.

[0048] The supply unit 100 may include, for example, a pair of supply belts 110 and 120. The supply belts 110 and 120 can support and move multiple objects in sheet form. The pair of supply belts 110 and 120 are positioned facing each other. The object 1 in sheet form moves between the pair of supply belts 110 and 120. The pair of supply belts 110 and 120 circulate in opposite directions, with their opposing surfaces facing the cutting unit 200. Each of the pair of supply belts 110 and 120 may be, for example, a conveyor belt. The pair of supply belts 110 and 120 may also be driven by, for example, a servo motor.

[0049] On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures, and in some cases, it can be implemented by providing only one supply belt 110, placing a sheet-shaped object 1 on the supply belt 110 and moving it, and applying pressure to the object 1 with rollers or the like, allowing for a variety of modifications and changes.

[0050] The cutting unit 200 is positioned at the end (rear end) of the supply unit 100 and the starting end (front end) of the first transfer unit 300. The cutting unit 200 cuts each of the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 individually. At this time, the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 are cut while inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300. The objects 1 cut by the cutting unit 200 are transferred by the first transfer unit 300 and finally transmitted to the manufacturing unit 500.

[0051] The cutting unit 200 includes a cutter 210 for cutting multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 individually, and may additionally include a support member 220. The lower surfaces of the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 discharged from the supply unit 100 can be supported by the upper surface of the support member 220. The cutting unit 200 also includes a pressure member 230 positioned at the rear end of the cutter 210 for applying pressure to the upper surface of the objects 1. The pressure member 230 may be, for example, a nip roller. However, the pressure member 230 of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the pressure member 230 can apply pressure to fix the objects 1, and can be selected and applied in various ways depending on the environment in which the present invention is realized.

[0052] The operation of the cutting unit 200 will be described in detail later, referring to Figure 6 and other figures.

[0053] The first transfer unit 300 includes, for example, a plurality of holding members 310 and a rail 320 on which the holding members 310 move. The holding members 310 move the cut object 1. One object 1 can be moved per holding member 310, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be modified and applied to move a large number of objects 1, etc. The holding members 310 can move the object 1 by, for example, suction. For this purpose, the holding member 310 includes a suction part 312 (see Figure 9) that can suction the object 1 onto its holding surface, and the suction part 312 can have, for example, a plate shape. The suction part 312 includes a plurality of suction holes 312a. The object 1 can be suctioned onto the holding surface of the plate-shaped suction part 312 by a plurality of suction holes 312a (see Figure 10). Other shapes and structures of the holding members 310 will be described later with reference to the examples in Figures 9 to 11.

[0054] Multiple holding members 310 are arranged on a rail 320 at predetermined intervals and move along the rail 320. The rail 320 may be, for example, a circulating rail. The system includes a transport path for transporting the object 1 cut by the cutting unit 200 to the second transport unit 400 by holding it with the holding members 310, and a return path for the empty holding members 310 to return after the object 1 has been transmitted to the second transport unit 400. The transport path is the path from the supply unit 100 to the second transport unit 400, and the return path is the path from the second transport unit 400 back to the supply unit 100. In the first transport unit 300, the upper path may correspond to the transport path, and the lower path may correspond to the return path.

[0055] On the rail 320 of the first transfer unit 300, the transfer path for transporting the object 1 can be positioned above the return path to which the empty holding member 310 returns. Also, the holding surface of the holding member 310 located on the transfer path of the first transfer unit 300 faces upward. This is to ensure that the object 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 falls downward due to gravity and is placed on the holding surface of the holding member 310 located on the transfer path. The object 1 placed on the holding surface of the holding member 310 of the first transfer unit 300 moves along the transfer path and is transmitted to the second transfer unit 400.

[0056] The second transfer unit 400, like the first transfer unit 300, includes a plurality of holding members 410 and rails 420 on which the holding members 410 move. The holding members 410 of the second transfer unit 400 also move the cut object 1. While it is possible to move one object 1 per holding member 410, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be modified and applied to move a large number of objects 1, for example. Furthermore, the holding members 410 of the second transfer unit 400 can also move the object 1 by, for example, suction, and the specific shape and structure of the holding members 410 of the second transfer unit 400 can be applied substantially the same as those of the holding members 310 of the first transfer unit 300, or can be partially modified and applied to suit the environment in which the present invention is applied. Therefore, please refer to the above description regarding the holding members 310 of the first transfer unit 300.

[0057] On the other hand, the end of the transport path of the first transport unit 300 and the beginning of the transport path of the second transport unit 400 overlap with each other. At this time, the upward-facing holding surface of the holding member 310 of the first transport unit 300 and the downward-facing holding surface of the holding member 410 of the second transport unit 400 face each other. As a result, the object 1 located on the holding surface of the holding member 310 of the first transport unit 300 is transferred to the downward-facing holding surface of the holding member 410 of the second transport unit 400 at the end of the transport path of the first transport unit 300 (where it overlaps with the beginning of the transport path of the second transport unit 400).

[0058] Multiple holding members 410 are each placed on a rail 420 at predetermined intervals and move along the rail 420. The rail 420 of the second transfer unit 400 may also be a circulating rail, for example. The transfer path includes a transfer route for transferring the object 1, which has been transferred by the first transfer unit 300, to the manufacturing unit 500 while being held by the holding members 410, and a return path for the empty holding members 410 to return after the object 1 has been transmitted to the manufacturing unit 500. The transfer path is the path from the first transfer unit 300 to the manufacturing unit 500, and the return path is the path from the manufacturing unit 500 back to the first transfer unit 300.

[0059] In the rail 420 of the second transfer unit 400, the transfer path for transferring the object 1 can be located below the return path to which the empty holding member 410 returns. Also, the holding surface of the holding member 410 located in the transfer path of the second transfer unit 400 faces downward.

[0060] This is to provide the object 1 to the manufacturing unit 500 located below the second transfer unit 400 by dropping it downwards due to gravity. For example, if the object 1 is a monocell or halfcell, and the manufacturing unit 500 is a stacking unit that stacks the monocell or halfcell to manufacture an electrode assembly, the object 1 (monocell or halfcell) is dropped downwards due to gravity to the manufacturing unit 500 located below the second transfer unit 400 and placed on top of already stacked object 1 (stacked monocells) so that they are stacked.

[0061] The holding member 410 transports the object 1 to the manufacturing unit 500 along the transport path of the rail 420. When the holding member 410 is positioned above the manufacturing unit 500, the holding member 410 drops the object 1 down to the manufacturing unit 500 without holding (adhering to) it. After supplying the object 1 to the manufacturing unit 500, the now-empty holding member 410 returns to the first transport unit 300 side along the return path, and then receives the object 1 again and transports it along the transport path. The manufacturing unit 500 then manufactures an electrode assembly from the object transmitted from the second transport unit.

[0062] The manufacturing unit 500 manufactures an electrode assembly from the transmitted object 1. The manufacturing unit 500 may be a stack unit that manufactures an electrode assembly by stacking monocells and / or halfcells, for example.

[0063] The object 1 is transported by the first transport unit 300 and finally transmitted to the manufacturing unit 500. At this time, as described above in the embodiment of Figure 5, by additionally providing a second transport unit 400 in the path between the first transport unit 300 and the manufacturing unit 500, the object 1 can be transmitted in the order of the first transport unit 300 and the second transport unit 400 to manufacture the electrode assembly. As a modified embodiment, in the embodiment of Figure 12 described later, the manufacturing unit 500 can manufacture the electrode assembly by receiving the object 1 directly from the first transport unit 300. In other words, in some cases, it can be realized without the second transport unit 400. Alternatively, although not shown in the embodiments of the present invention, the object 1 can be transmitted to the manufacturing unit 500 by including other additional components in addition to the first transport unit 300 and the second transport unit 400.

[0064] The following will explain in more detail the case in which an object 1 provided in multiple sheet form from a supply unit 100 is cut individually by a cutting unit 200 and then transmitted to a first transfer unit 300, with reference to Figure 6.

[0065] First, the object 1 is supplied from the supply unit 100 in a sheet form, with multiple objects connected together. One end of the object 1 is positioned on the holding surface of the holding member 310 of the first transfer unit 300. The other end of the object 1 is positioned on the upper surface of the support member 220. Here, one end of the object 1 is the end of the object 1 provided in sheet form, and is positioned in the direction of travel of the object 1, while the other end of the object 1 is positioned in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. To summarize, one end of the object 1 is fixed by the pressurizing member 230 while resting on the holding surface of the holding member 310, and the other end of the object 1 is positioned supported on the upper surface of the support member 220, with subsequent objects 1 connected in sheet form located in the supply unit 100. With both ends of the object 1 supported in the manner described above, the cutting unit 200 (i.e., the cutter 210) cuts the separation membrane between the object 1 and the subsequent objects 1. In other words, cut along line AA in Figure 1.

[0066] At this time, it is important that the object 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 is not folded when it is cut by the cutting unit 200 and placed on the holding surface of the holding member 310.

[0067] For example, as described above in Figures 3 and 4, if the direction of movement of the object 1 supplied from the supply unit 10 is in a straight line with the direction of movement of the upper surface of the conveyor belt of the first transfer unit 30, the object 1 provided in sheet form may be folded at the front end P1 of the cutting unit 20. Alternatively, when the object 1 cut at the rear end P2 of the cutting unit 20 is placed on the first transfer unit 30, the object 1 may be folded or misaligned.

[0068] In order to prevent the problems of the prior art described in Figures 3 and 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of sheet-shaped objects 1 are inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300, and as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the objects 1 are cut while being pulled by the pressurizing member 230.

[0069] First, the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 to the cutting unit 200 are positioned on the holding surface of the holding member 310, at an angle to the holding surface of the holding member 310, immediately before cutting. The supply unit 100 supplies the objects 1 to the cutting unit 200 in such an angled position. For this purpose, the direction of movement of the objects 1 in the supply unit 100 has an angle of inclination that is inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300 (more specifically toward the cutter 210 of the cutting unit 200). For example, the supply belts 110 and 120 have an angle of inclination that is inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300. The objects 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 move along an inclined surface that is inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300. As a result, the object 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 to the cutting unit 200 has an inclination angle that is tilted diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300.

[0070] On the other hand, since multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 are cut while inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300, Figures 5 and 6 show the case where the movement path of the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 in the supply unit 100 is inclined diagonally. However, the present invention is not limited to what is shown, and it is sufficient that the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 are positioned between the supply unit 100 and the cutting unit 200 in a state inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300, and the present invention can be modified and changed to suit the environment in which it is implemented.

[0071] On the other hand, as described above, the object 1 supplied from the supply unit 100 is positioned on the holding surface of the holding member 310, at an angle relative to the holding surface of the holding member 310, immediately before cutting the object 1. At this time, one end of the object 1 can be pressurized by the pressurizing member 230. At the same time that the pressurizing member 230 pressurizes one end of the object 1 against the holding surface of the holding member 310, the pressurizing member 230 is also pulled in the direction of the transport path of the first transport unit 300 (to the right in Figure 6).

[0072] This prevents the folding of multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 at the front end P1 of the cutting unit 200. Since the multiple objects 1 are aligned properly without folding during cutting, incorrect cutting is prevented, cutting quality is improved, and the occurrence of defective products can be significantly reduced.

[0073] To elaborate, since the multiple sheet-shaped objects 1 drawn from the supply unit 100 are provided with an inclination angle that is tilted diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit 300 (more specifically toward the cutter 210 of the cutting unit 200), the objects 1 can spread out flat due to gravity, compared to the case where they are provided horizontally in the conventional technology shown in Figure 4. At the same time, the pressurizing member 230 pressurizes one end of the object 1 against the holding surface of the holding member 310, and simultaneously pulls the pressurizing member 230 in the direction of the transfer path of the first transfer unit 300 (to the right in Figure 6), so that the objects 1 can be reliably spread out flat.

[0074] Figures 7 and 8 are the first and second embodiments of Figure 6, respectively, illustrating a method in which the pressurizing member 230 pulls the object 1.

[0075] First, referring to Figure 7, the pressurizing member 230 also rotates. At this time, the direction of rotation of the pressurizing member 230 is the same as the direction of rotation of the supply belt 110. In other words, in the supply unit 100, the supply belt 110 is positioned above the object 1, and in the cutting unit 200, the pressurizing member 230 is also positioned above the object 1, so their directions of rotation are the same. However, the rotational speed of the pressurizing member 230 is greater than the supply speed (rotational speed) of the supply belt 110 (similarly, the rotational speed of the pressurizing member 230 is greater than the supply speed (rotational speed) of the corresponding supply belt 120, except that the direction of rotation is different).

[0076] To elaborate, when the sheet-shaped object 1 is pressed by the rotation of the supply belts 110 and 120 of the supply unit 100, the rotational speed of the pressurizing member 230 is greater than that of the supply belts 110 and 120, so the rotation of the pressurizing member 230 pulls on the sheet-shaped object 1. Of course, at this time, as mentioned above, the pressurizing member 230 pressurizes one end of the object 1 onto the holding surface of the holding member 310.

[0077] The ratio of the rotational speed of the pressurizing member 230 to the supply speed (rotational speed) of the supply belts 110 and 120 may be, for example, greater than 1 and less than or equal to 1.2. Or, for example, it may be between 1.02 and 1.08. The pressurizing member 230 may be, for example, a nip roller. A driving means (not shown) for rotating the pressurizing member 230 can be coupled to the pressurizing member 230, and the driving means may be, for example, a servo motor. The rotational speed of the pressurizing member 230, rotational time, degree of pressurization, interval of pressurization time, etc., can be applied in various ways according to the environment in which the present invention is realized.

[0078] Referring to Figure 8, the pressurizing member 230 may not rotate but instead move linearly in the direction of the transport path of the object 1 while pressurizing the object 1. Immediately after the object 1 is cut by the cutter 210, the pressurizing member 230 returns to its original state. The pressurizing member 230 may be implemented in the form of a non-rotating nip roller, but is not necessarily limited to this; any form and structure that pressurizes the object 1 without damaging it is sufficient. Similarly, the pressurizing member 230 is coupled to a driving means (not shown). Likewise, the rotation speed, rotation time, degree of pressurization, and interval of pressurization time of the pressurizing member 230 can be varied and applied according to the environment in which the present invention is implemented.

[0079] Furthermore, at the rear end P2 of the cutting unit 200, as the object 1 is cut by the cutting unit 200, the object 1, which is positioned on the holding surface of the holding member 310 in an obliquely upward inclined position, is placed on the holding surface of the holding member 310 without being folded by gravity along the circumferential direction with one end of the object 1 as the central axis.

[0080] The inclination angle of the movement path of the object 1 in the supply unit 100 is, for example, greater than 0 degrees but less than 90 degrees, or 5 degrees or more but 45 degrees or less, or 10 degrees or more but 30 degrees or less, based on the movement path of the object 1 in the transport path of the first transport unit 300. This inclination angle can be adjusted and applied in various ways according to the environment in which the present invention is realized, such as the type of object 1 and the movement speed of the object 1.

[0081] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of a holding member included in Figure 5. Figure 10 is a front view cross-sectional view of the suction portion of the holding member shown in Figure 9.

[0082] Referring to Figure 9, the holding member 310 of this embodiment may be provided as a suction device employing a gas intake method. The holding member 310 includes a support portion 311 that moves the holding member 310 and supports the suction portion 312, and a suction portion 312 that temporarily adheres (adsorbs) to the object 1 by inhaling gas. One end of the support portion 311 located on the rail 320 side may be equipped with a driving means (e.g., a wheel) that can move the holding member 310 along the rail 320. The driving means only needs to be capable of moving the holding member 310, and a variety of driving means can be applied.

[0083] A suction part 312 can be positioned at the other end of the support part 311. The suction part 312 may include a plurality of suction holes 312a so as to be able to suction, lift, and move the object 1. The plurality of suction holes 312a are connected by a cannula 312b, and external air can be drawn in from the suction holes 312a through the cannula 312b to suction the object 1.

[0084] Such multiple suction holes 312a can be uniformly distributed across the entire suction surface of the suction part 312 so that the object 1 does not fold while in motion. For example, the suction holes 312a can be arranged in a grid pattern across the entire suction surface of the suction part 312, or they can be arranged along multiple straight lines arranged in a row or radially, or they can be arranged along multiple concentric circles, and can be modified and applied in various ways.

[0085] Figure 11 is a drawing showing another example of the holding member of Figure 9. The holding member 310 in Figure 11 may be provided as a bellow-type suction cup as a suction device to which a gas intake method is applied. The bellow-type holding member 310 can draw in gas through an intake hole that is open on the bottom. The bellow-type suction cup may be provided with a reverse tapered cross-section as shown in Figure 11(a), or it may be provided to have a cushioning effect that responds to external forces by forming wrinkles on the circumferential surface, as shown in Figure 11(b), thereby minimizing damage to the object 1. The aforementioned bellow-type suction cup may be provided as a single unit with the holding member 310 as needed, or multiple units may be provided to cover a larger area.

[0086] In the above description of the holding member 310, we have mainly described the holding member 310 having a gas intake function. However, the holding member 310 can also be provided without a gas intake function, and for example, the holding member 310 can be provided in the form of a clamp or gripper that grips, fixes, and moves the object 1, and can be modified and changed in various ways to suit the environment in which the present invention is applied.

[0087] Furthermore, the explanation of the holding member 310 described above in Figures 9 to 11 can also be applied identically to the holding member 410 of the second transfer unit 400 in Figure 5, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0088] On the other hand, in the embodiments described above, the first transfer unit 300 and the second transfer unit 400 in Figure 5 each include a plurality of holding members 310, 320 and rails 320, 420, as an example, and were explained with reference to Figures 5 to 11. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications and changes are possible, such as each of the first transfer unit 300 and the second transfer unit 400 being realized with a conveyor belt.

[0089] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the manufacturing unit 500 can manufacture an electrode assembly by receiving the object 1 directly from the first transfer unit 300. In other words, it is also possible to manufacture an electrode assembly by immediately transferring the object 1 from the first transfer unit 300 to the manufacturing unit 500 without going through the second transfer unit 400.

[0091] For reference, the embodiment shown in Figure 5 illustrates a case in which an electrode assembly is manufactured by receiving an object 1 from another unit interposed between the first transfer unit 300 and the manufacturing unit 500.

[0092] In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the transport path of the first transport unit 300 refers to the one described above in the embodiment shown in Figure 5. The manufacturing unit 500 may be positioned below the first transport unit 300, for example. This is so that the object 1 can be dropped downward by gravity onto the lower rail of the first transport unit 300 and supplied to the manufacturing unit 500. More specifically, if the object 1 is a monocell or halfcell, and the manufacturing unit 500 is a stacking unit that stacks the monocell or halfcell to manufacture an electrode assembly, the object 1 (monocell or halfcell) is dropped downward by gravity onto the manufacturing unit 500 positioned below the first transport unit 300 and stacked on top of already stacked object 1 (stacked monocells). After supplying the object 1 to the manufacturing unit 500, the empty holding member 310 of the first transport unit 300 moves along the return path toward the supply unit 100 and cutting unit 200 again, holds the object 1, and then moves along the transport path again.

[0093] The description of the embodiment in Figure 12 is redundant with the part described in Figure 5 in relation to the second transfer unit 400, so please refer to the information provided in Figures 5 through 11.

[0094] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art, utilizing the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 1: Object 100: Supply Unit 110, 120: Supply belt 200: Cutting Unit 210: Cutter 220: Support member 230: Pressurizing member 300: First Transfer Unit 310: Holding component 320: Rail 400: Second Transfer Unit 410: Holding component 420: Rail 500: Manufacturing Unit

Claims

1. A supply unit that supplies multiple objects in sheet form; A cutting unit for cutting multiple sheet-shaped objects into individual objects; and Includes a first transfer unit which includes a transfer path for transferring the cut object, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which multiple objects in sheet form are cut while inclined diagonally downward toward the first transfer unit.

2. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of objects in the form of a sheet move along an inclined surface that is angled downward toward the first transfer unit in the supply unit.

3. The aforementioned cutting unit is: A pressurizing member that presses one end of the object supplied from the supply unit onto the holding surface of the first transfer unit that holds the object; and When the pressurizing member pressurizes one end of the object, it includes a cutter that cuts the end of the object. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the object is the end facing the transport direction, and the other end of the object is the end facing the opposite side of the transport direction.

4. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing member pressurizes the object while pulling the object in the transport direction immediately before the cutter cuts one end of the object.

5. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressurizing member rotates while pressurizing the object, and the rotational speed of the pressurizing member is greater than the supply speed of the supply unit.

6. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ratio of the rotational speed of the pressurizing member to the supply speed of the supply unit is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 1.

2.

7. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressurizing member moves in the direction of movement of the object while pressurizing the object, and returns to its original state immediately after cutting the object.

8. The supply unit is a supply belt that supports and moves a plurality of objects in the form of a sheet. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing member is a nip roller.

9. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer unit is of a circulating type and includes a transfer path for transferring the cut object and a return path for transmitting the object and returning.

10. The first transport unit includes a plurality of holding members and rails which are the movement paths for the plurality of holding members. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each holding member holds one or more of the cut objects.

11. The holding member includes an adsorption part that holds the front surface of the object by a gas intake method, and a support part that supports the adsorption part. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the adsorption portion is an adsorption plate having a plurality of adsorption holes on the adsorption surface to which the object is adsorbed.

12. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manufacturing unit for manufacturing an electrode assembly from an object transmitted directly from the first transfer unit or from another unit interposed therebetween.

13. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the manufacturing unit is a lamination unit for stacking monocells and / or halfcells.

14. The system further includes a second transfer unit interposed between the first transfer unit and the transfer path of the manufacturing unit, The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second transfer unit is of a circulating type and includes a transfer path for transferring the object transmitted from the first transfer unit to the manufacturing unit, and a return path for transferring the object and returning.

15. The transport path of the first transport unit is located above the first transport unit, and the transport path of the second transport unit is located below the second transport unit. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the end of the transfer path of the first transfer unit and the starting end of the transfer path of the second transfer unit overlap each other.

16. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the object is transmitted in a state in which the holding surface of the holding member of the first transfer unit that holds the object and the holding surface of the holding member of the second transfer unit that holds the object face each other.

17. The second transport unit includes a plurality of holding members and rails which are the movement paths for the plurality of holding members. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each holding member holds one or more of the cut objects.

18. The holding member includes an adsorption part that holds the front surface of the object by a gas intake method, and a support part that supports the adsorption part. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the adsorption portion is an adsorption plate having a plurality of adsorption holes on the adsorption surface to which the object is adsorbed.

19. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the object is a monocell or a halfcell.

Images