Cutting device and powder feeding equipment including the same

Abstract

The cutting device of the present invention includes a cutting member for cutting a powder storage bag containing powder, the cutting member including an arrangement plate having a through hole formed therein, and a cutting blade provided so as to extend upward from the edge of the through hole and for cutting a portion spaced apart from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0123416 filed on September 15, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0123254 filed on September 10, 2024, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to powder input equipment including a cutting device for inputting powder stored in a powder storage bag, and particularly to powder input equipment including a cutting device that can improve work efficiency, work continuity, and powder fluidity, and minimize the residual amount of powder remaining in the powder storage bag.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, secondary batteries are widely applied not only to portable devices but also to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles driven by an electric drive source, power storage devices, and the like.

[0004] And secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source not only because of the primary advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels but also because no by-products are generated by the use of energy.

[0005] Such a method for manufacturing a secondary battery includes an electrode process, an assembly process, an activation process, and the like.

[0006] Particularly, the electrode process includes a mixing process of mixing an electrode active material, a conductive material, a binder, and a solvent to manufacture a slurry, and a coating process of coating the slurry on a current collector.

[0007] On the other hand, the mixing process involves preparing a powder storage bag containing the electrode active material powder, fixing the powder storage bag in place, then introducing the powder into a mixing member through the discharge port of the powder storage bag, and finally introducing a conductive material, binder, and solvent into the mixing member and mixing them to produce a slurry.

[0008] Here, in order to discharge the powder stored in the powder storage bag, the worker can discharge the powder by cutting a part of the powder storage bag to form a discharge opening.

[0009] However, conventional mixing processes have drawbacks: they require workers to cut the powder storage bags, resulting in poor work efficiency, continuity, and powder fluidity; and the discharge area formed in the powder storage bags is not uniform, leading to a problem where a large amount of powder remains in the bags. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a cutting device that can improve the efficiency and continuity of operations and the flowability of powder by including a cutting device that cuts a powder storage bag containing powder to form a discharge section, and a powder input equipment that can minimize the amount of powder remaining in the powder storage bag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The cutting device of the present invention includes a cutting member for cutting a powder storage bag containing powder, the cutting member may include a placement plate having a through hole formed therein, and a cutting blade provided so as to extend upward from the edge of the through hole and for cutting a portion spaced apart from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag.

[0012] The cutting device may include a cutting blade that cuts at points spaced apart from a vertical line passing through its center.

[0013] The cutting blade consists of two or more blades and is capable of cutting at two or more points spaced apart from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag.

[0014] The cutting blade can be configured to extend vertically upward.

[0015] The upper part of the cutting blade may have a pointed tip that gradually narrows in width towards the center.

[0016] The through hole has four edges, and four cutting blades are provided so as to be located on each of the four edges of the through hole. The four cutting blades are connected so that two cutting blades that are in contact with each other are connected, thereby forming a first cut hole and a second cut hole corresponding to the first cut hole in the powder storage bag.

[0017] The first cut hole may have a shape corresponding to the shape formed by connecting two of the four cutting blades that are in contact with each other, and the second cut hole may have a shape corresponding to the shape formed by connecting the remaining two of the four cutting blades.

[0018] The through-hole has four edges, and three cutting blades are provided so as to be attached to three of the four edges of the through-hole. By connecting the three cutting blades, a third cut hole can be formed in the powder storage bag.

[0019] The third cut hole may have a shape corresponding to a shape in which three cutting blades are connected.

[0020] The cutting device may further include a lower lifting member that moves the cutting member upward toward the powder storage bag.

[0021] The aforementioned mounting plate may have one or more open holes formed at its edges.

[0022] The height of the cutting blade can be 140 mm to 1800 mm.

[0023] On the other hand, the powder input equipment of the present invention can include a fixing device to which a powder storage bag storing powder is fixed, an input device provided below the fixing device and having an input port into which the powder stored in the powder storage bag is input, and a cutting device for cutting the powder storage bag so that the powder stored in the powder storage bag is input into the input port of the input device.

[0024] The fixing device can further include an upper lifting and lowering member for moving the powder storage bag downward toward the input port.

Effects of the Invention

[0025] The powder input equipment of the present invention includes a cutting device provided with a cutting member, and the cutting member includes a placement plate and a cutting blade for cutting a location spaced from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag. With such a feature, it is possible to effectively discharge the powder remaining on the inner edge of the powder storage bag, thereby minimizing the powder remaining in the powder storage bag. As a result, the efficiency, continuity, and powder fluidity of the operation can be improved.

[0026] Also, in the powder input equipment of the present invention, the cutting blade is composed of two or more, and is characterized by cutting two or more locations spaced from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag. With such a feature, it is possible to effectively discharge the powder remaining on the inner edge of the powder storage bag, thereby minimizing the powder remaining in the powder storage bag.

[0027] Also, in the powder input equipment of the present invention, the cutting blade is configured to extend vertically upward. With such a feature, it is possible to stably form a cutting hole in the powder storage bag.

[0028] In the powder input equipment of the present invention, four cutting blades are provided respectively on the four edges of the through hole formed in the input device, and by connecting two adjacent cutting blades to each other, a first cutting hole and a second cutting hole corresponding to the first cutting hole are formed in the powder storage bag respectively. With such a feature, a large powder discharge port can be ensured, and as a result, the powder remaining in the powder storage bag can be minimized.

[0029] In the powder input equipment of the present invention, three cutting blades are provided respectively on three of the four edges of the through hole formed in the input device, and by connecting the three cutting blades, a third cutting hole is formed in the powder storage bag. With such a feature, a large powder discharge port can be ensured, and as a result, the powder remaining in the powder storage bag can be minimized.

[0030] Furthermore, in the powder input equipment of the present invention, the cutting device further includes a lower lifting member that moves the cutting member upward toward the powder storage bag. With such a feature, the cutting blade of the cutting member can cut the powder storage bag stably.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1] It is a front view showing the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the cutting device of the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is the front view of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is the plan view of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a front view showing the state where the powder storage bag is cut by the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]This is a bottom view showing a powder storage bag in which first and second cut holes have been formed by a cutting device of a powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the state of powder being discharged from a powder storage bag. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a cutting device for a powder feeding facility according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a front view of Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a plan view of Figure 8. [Figure 11] This is a bottom view showing a powder storage bag in which a third cut hole has been formed by a cutting device of a powder input equipment according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing the state of powder being discharged from a powder storage bag. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to be easily implemented by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts that are not relevant to the description have been omitted from the drawings, and similar parts throughout the specification are denoted by similar reference numerals.

[0033] [Secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention] A secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode assembly and a case for housing the electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly has a structure in which separators and electrodes are arranged alternately. Here, the electrodes can be a positive electrode and a negative electrode. That is, the electrode assembly has a structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are arranged alternately with separators interposed between them.

[0034] On the other hand, the electrode includes a current collector and an active material coated on the current collector.

[0035] A method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention having such a structure includes an electrode step, an assembly step, and a charge / discharge step.

[0036] In particular, the electrode process includes a mixing process to produce a slurry by mixing a powder (hereinafter referred to as "powder") which is an electrode active material, a conductive material, a binder, and a solvent, and a coating process to coat a current collector with the slurry.

[0037] In the mixing process, the powder 1 is supplied by the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] In particular, the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention can effectively discharge the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10, thereby minimizing the amount of powder 1 remaining in the powder storage bag 10. As a result, the efficiency, continuity, and powder flowability of the work can be improved.

[0039] Hereinafter, a powder feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0040] [Powder feeding equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention] Figure 1 is a front view showing a powder feeding equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a cutting device of the powder feeding equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a front view of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 2.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing device 21 for fixing a powder storage bag 10 in which powder 1 is stored, a feeding device 22 equipped with an input port 221 into which the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 is fed, and a cutting device 23 equipped with a cutting member 231 for cutting the powder storage bag 10 so that the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 is fed into the input port 221 of the feeding device 22.

[0042] On the other hand, the powder 1 refers to finely ground electrode active material. That is, it refers to finely ground positive electrode active material or negative electrode active material.

[0043] On the other hand, the powder storage bag 10 is for storing powder and is made of synthetic resin material. That is, the powder storage bag 10 includes a storage section in which the powder 1 is stored and a hook piece for attaching the storage section to a fixing device to secure it.

[0044] Fixation device The fixing device 21 is for fixing the powder storage bag 10. Specifically, the fixing device 21 includes a fixing frame 211 which is fixed to the ceiling of a building or a structure installed in the building, a connecting frame 212 to which the powder storage bag 10 is connected, and an upper lifting member 213 which connects the connecting frame 212 to the fixing frame 211 so that it can move vertically.

[0045] In other words, the fixing device 21 allows the connecting frame 212 to move vertically via the upper lifting member 213, and in conjunction with the connecting frame 212, the powder storage bag 10 can be lowered towards the input device 22 or raised.

[0046] In particular, the fixing device 21 includes an upper lifting member 213, which allows the powder storage bag 10 fixed to the fixing member to be inserted into the input port 221 of the input device 22, and as a result, the powder storage bag 10 can be effectively cut by the cutting device located at the input port.

[0047] Feeding device The input device 22 receives the powder stored in the powder storage bag 10. The powder then enters the input device 22 and is supplied to a mixing device (not shown).

[0048] In other words, the input device 22 is located on the ground or structure below the fixing device 21 and includes an input port 221 into which the powder 1 falling through the powder storage bag 10 fixed to the fixing device 21 is input. Here, the input port 221 may consist of a hopper.

[0049] Cutting device The cutting device 23 is for cutting the powder storage bag so that the powder stored in the powder storage bag can be discharged, and includes a cutting member 231 and a lower lifting member 232.

[0050] The cutting member 231 is intended to cut the powder storage bag 10 and form a cut hole for discharging the powder 1 so that the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 can be fed into the input port 221 of the input device 22. In other words, the cutting member 231 includes a placement plate 2311 and a cutting blade 2312.

[0051] The placement plate 2311 is plate-shaped so as to be placed in the input port 221 of the input device 22, and has a through hole 23111 in the center through which powder is introduced.

[0052] The cutting blade 2312 is provided so as to extend upward from the edge of the through hole 23111, and forms a cut hole in the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10 to discharge the powder 1.

[0053] Here, the placement plate 2311 and the cutting blade 2312 are integrally formed and can be made of metal.

[0054] In the powder input equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which has such a structure, the cutting member 231 is placed in the input port 221 of the input device 22, and then the powder storage bag 10 is moved downward by the fixing member. When this is done, the powder storage bag 10 is inserted into the input port 221 and the cutting member 231 is pressurized. At this time, the cutting blade 2312 of the cutting member 231 cuts the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10, forming a cut hole in the powder storage bag 10, and the powder is discharged through the cut hole in the powder storage bag 10 and input into the input device 22. Here, the powder storage bag 10 is supported by the placement plate 2311 of the cutting member 231, which prevents the powder storage bag 10 from being input into the input device 22.

[0055] Therefore, the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cutting device 23 equipped with a cutting member 231, which allows the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 to be effectively discharged and fed into the feeding device 22.

[0056] Figure 5 is a front view showing the powder storage bag after it has been cut by the powder input equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a bottom view showing the powder storage bag after the first and second cut holes have been formed by the cutting device 23 of the powder input equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the powder being discharged from the powder storage bag.

[0057] Herein, the powder input equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a structure that improves the fluidity and dischargeability of the powder stored in the powder storage bag.

[0058] In other words, as shown in Figure 6, the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a cutting blade 2312 of the cutting member 231 that cuts at a predetermined distance from a vertical line passing through the center O of the powder storage bag 10.

[0059] As an example, the cutting blade 2312 cuts the central portion of the connecting line that connects the center O of the powder storage bag 10 to the edge of the powder storage bag 10.

[0060] Therefore, the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can significantly reduce the distance between the inner edge of the powder storage bag 10 and the powder cutting hole, thereby effectively discharging the powder located at the inner edge of the powder storage bag 10. As a result, the fluidity of the powder stored in the powder storage bag 10 can be improved, and the amount of residual powder can be minimized.

[0061] In particular, the cutting member 231 can be equipped with two or more cutting blades 2312. This allows for cutting at two or more locations spaced apart from the vertical line passing through the center O of the powder storage bag 10. This enables more rapid discharge of the powder 1 located at the inner edge of the powder storage bag 10.

[0062] On the other hand, the cutting blade 2312 can be configured to extend vertically upward. This prevents cutting defects by allowing the cutting blade 2312 to penetrate the powder storage bag 10 vertically, and allows for the formation of uniformly shaped powder discharge holes in the powder storage bag 10. In particular, it prevents the cutting blade 2312 from being damaged or deformed by the load of the powder storage bag 10.

[0063] On the other hand, the upper side of the cutting blade 2312 can have a pointed tip 2321 that gradually narrows in width towards the center. This allows the cut hole formed in the bottom surface of the powder storage bag to gradually enlarge, and the powder discharge force to also gradually increase.

[0064] On the other hand, the through-hole 23111 has a square shape with four edges, and the cutting blade 2312 can consist of four blades, each provided on one of the four edges of the through-hole 23111. This allows four cutting holes to be formed on the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10, and as a result, the powder discharge force can be significantly increased.

[0065] In particular, the four cutting blades 2312 can be arranged such that two cutting blades 2312 that are in contact with each other are connected, as shown in Figure 6. This makes it possible to form a first cutting hole 11 and a second cutting hole 12 corresponding to the first cutting hole 11 on the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10.

[0066] Referring to Figure 6, the first cut hole 11 has a shape corresponding to the shape in which two of the four cutting blades 2312 that are in contact with each other are connected, and the second cut hole 12 has a shape corresponding to the shape in which the remaining two of the four cutting blades 2312 are connected. That is, the first cut hole 11 is

[0067]

number

[0068] It has a letter shape, and the second cut hole 12 is

[0069]

number

[0070] It has a U-shape. As a result, as shown in Figure 7, when the powder is discharged, triangular first cut holes 11 and second cut holes 12 are formed on the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10, which improves the dischargeability and fluidity of the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 and minimizes powder residue.

[0071] On the other hand, the cutting device 23 may further include a lower lifting member 232 that moves the cutting member 231 upward toward the powder storage bag 10. That is, the lower lifting member 232 lifts the cutting member 231, allowing the cutting blade 2312 of the cutting member 231 to stably cut the powder storage bag 10. In particular, by including the lower lifting member 232, the cutting device 23 can cut powder storage bags 10 of various heights without adjusting their height, thereby improving compatibility and workability.

[0072] On the other hand, the placement plate 2311 can have one or more open holes 23112 formed on its edge. That is, the open holes 23112 can be formed on the edge of the placement plate 2311 located outside the cutting blade 2312. This allows the powder accumulated on the placement plate 2311 outside the cutting blade 2312 to be pushed into the feeding device 22 through the open holes 23112.

[0073] On the other hand, the height of the cutting blade 2312 can be set to 140 mm to 1800 mm. However, if the height of the cutting blade 2312 is 140 mm or less, there is a problem that the cutting blade 2312 cannot cut the powder storage bag 10 or a cut hole of the set size cannot be formed. If the height is 1800 mm or more, the powder storage bag 10 can be cut stably, but after the cutting is complete, the powder storage bag 10 must be lifted a lot in order to remove the cutting blade 2312 inserted into the powder storage bag 10, which is a problem in terms of workability. For these reasons, the height of the cutting blade 2312 is set to 140 mm to 1800 mm.

[0074] Therefore, the powder input equipment 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can effectively discharge powder located in the center and at the edges of the powder storage bag 10, thereby minimizing the amount of powder remaining in the powder storage bag 10. As a result, the efficiency, continuity, and powder flowability of the work can be improved. In describing other embodiments of the present invention below, components having the same function as those in the above-described embodiments will be referred to by reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0075] [Powder feeding equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the cutting device of the powder input equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 9 is a front view of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a plan view of Figure 8, Figure 11 is a bottom view showing a powder storage bag in which a third cut hole has been formed by the cutting device of the powder input equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 12 is a bottom view showing the state in which powder is discharged from the powder storage bag.

[0076] The powder feeding equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention shows another embodiment of the cutting member 231 included in the powder feeding equipment according to the first embodiment described above.

[0077] In other words, the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a cutting member 231, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the cutting member 231 includes a placement plate 2311 with a through hole 23111 formed therein, and a cutting blade 2312 formed on the edge of the through hole 23111.

[0078] Here, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the through hole 23111 has four edges, and the cutting blades 2312 consist of three blades, each positioned on three of the four edges of the through hole 23111. In particular, the three cutting blades 2312 are connected in sequence, thereby enabling the formation of a third cutting hole 13 in the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10.

[0079] On the other hand, the third cut hole 13, as shown in Figure 11, has a shape corresponding to the shape in which the three cutting blades 2312 are connected. That is, the third cut hole 13 has a "U" shape.

[0080] In the powder input equipment 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which has such a structure, as shown in Figure 12, a square-shaped third cut hole 13 is formed on the bottom surface of the powder storage bag 10, allowing the powder 1 stored in the powder storage bag 10 to be discharged to the input device 22, thereby minimizing the amount of powder 1 remaining in the powder storage bag 10.

[0081] Therefore, the powder input equipment 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can significantly improve the dischargeability and fluidity of the powder stored in the powder storage bag 10, and minimize powder residue.

[0082] On the other hand, in another embodiment, only the cutting device 23 included in the powder feeding equipment 20 according to the present invention can be separately manufactured and used. This increases compatibility.

[0083] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings described above, and can be implemented in various ways within the scope of the claims by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] 1 powder 10 Powder storage bags 11. First cut hole 12. Second cut hole 13. Third cut hole 20 Powder feeding equipment 21 Fixation device 211 Fixed Frame 212 Joined Frames 213 Upper lifting member 22 Feeding device 221 Inlet 23 Cutting device 231 Cutting piece 2311 Placement board 23111 Through hole 23112 Open hole 2312 Cutting blade 2321 Tip 232 Lower lifting member

Claims

1. Includes a cutting member for cutting a powder storage bag containing powder, The aforementioned cut member is A mounting plate with through holes formed therein, A cutting blade is provided extending upward from the edge of the through hole, and cuts a portion of the powder storage bag that is spaced apart from the vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag. A cutting device, including a cutting device.

2. The aforementioned cutting blade is The cutting device according to claim 1, comprising two or more parts, for cutting two or more points spaced apart from a vertical line passing through the center of the powder storage bag.

3. The aforementioned cutting blade is The cutting device according to claim 2, configured to extend vertically upward.

4. The upper side of the aforementioned cutting blade is The cutting device according to claim 1, having a pointed tip that gradually narrows in width towards the center.

5. The through hole has four edges, The cutting blades are provided in four such arrangements, each positioned on one of the four edges of the through-hole. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the four cutting blades are connected so that two cutting blades in contact with each other are linked together, thereby forming a first cutting hole and a second cutting hole corresponding to the first cutting hole in the powder storage bag.

6. The first cut hole has a shape corresponding to the shape in which two of the four cutting blades that are in contact with each other are connected, The cutting device according to claim 5, wherein the second cut hole has a shape corresponding to the shape formed by the connection of the remaining two of the four cutting blades.

7. The through hole has four edges, The cutting blades are provided in three sets, each positioned on three of the four edges of the through hole. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the three cutting blades are connected to form a third cutting hole in the powder storage bag.

8. The cutting device according to claim 7, wherein the third cutting hole has a shape corresponding to the shape in which the three cutting blades are connected.

9. The aforementioned cutting device is The cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a lower lifting member for moving the cutting member upward toward the powder storage bag.

10. The aforementioned arrangement plate is The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein one or more open holes are formed on the edge.

11. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the cutting blade is 140 mm to 1800 mm.

12. A fixing device for securing a powder storage bag containing powder, A loading device is provided at the lower part of the aforementioned fixing device and is equipped with a loading port into which the powder stored in the powder storage bag is loaded, A cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: a cutting device that cuts the powder storage bag so that the powder stored in the powder storage bag is fed into the input port of the input device; Powder input equipment, including...

13. The aforementioned fixing device is The powder input equipment according to claim 12, further comprising an upper lifting member for moving the powder storage bag downward toward the input opening.

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