Electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for crimping a joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead formed in an electrode assembly, the apparatus including an air injection nozzle for injecting air obliquely from the outside of an upper crimping member toward a joint surface of a fed electrode tab and an electrode lead.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0188275 dated December 27, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead. [Background technology]

[0003] As the technological development and demand for mobile devices increases, the demand for batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing, and accordingly, a lot of research is being conducted on batteries that can meet various requirements. In particular, research on lithium secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries and lithium ion polymer secondary batteries, which have high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability, is being actively conducted.

[0004] The lithium secondary battery may be classified according to the structure of an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. Representative electrode assemblies include a jelly-roll (wound) electrode assembly having a structure in which long sheet-type positive electrodes and negative electrodes are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, a stack-type electrode assembly having a structure in which a number of positive electrodes and negative electrodes cut into units of a predetermined size are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stack / folding type electrode assembly having a structure in which a bi-cell or a full cell having a predetermined unit of positive electrodes and negative electrodes stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is wound.

[0005] The manufacturing process of such an electrode assembly includes a process of preparing a positive electrode and a negative electrode slurry, a process of applying the respective slurries to a positive electrode collector and a negative electrode collector to prepare electrode sheets each consisting of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a process of pressing the electrode sheet, a process of slitting the electrode sheet according to the cell specifications, a vacuum drying process, a process of forming an electrode tab on the electrode assembly to manufacture an electrode, and a process of stacking a number of positive electrodes and negative electrodes with a separator interposed therebetween to manufacture an electrode assembly such as a jelly roll type or a stack type.

[0006] Thereafter, a process is performed in which the electrode tabs of the manufactured electrode assembly are welded, an electrode lead is welded to the welded electrode tabs, and the joints between the electrode tabs and the electrode leads are crimped.

[0007] In the case of the crimping process of the electrode tab and electrode lead joints, foreign matter generated during the manufacturing process of the electrode assembly may be present on the electrode tab portion, the electrode lead portion, and their joints, and may be generated during the crimping process, so it is important to efficiently remove such foreign matter, since such foreign matter may act as a cause of contamination of the main body of the electrode assembly (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0008] However, conventional crimping processes do not provide methods or devices that can efficiently manage such foreign matter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0113646 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, An object of the present invention is to provide a device for crimping a joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead, which can effectively prevent the main body of an electrode assembly from being contaminated by foreign matter when crimping the joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead formed on the electrode assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention An apparatus for crimping a joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead formed on an electrode assembly, comprising: The apparatus includes an upper pressurizing unit, a lower pressurizing unit, a driving unit for driving the upper pressurizing unit and the lower pressurizing unit up and down, and a foreign object suction unit, the upper pressure unit includes an upper pressure member protruding downward and an upper support member to which the upper pressure member is fixed at a lower portion, the lower pressure unit includes a lower pressure member protruding upward and a lower support member to which the lower pressure member is fixed at an upper portion, The upper and lower pressing members are positioned in opposite directions on the same line, and are moved to a pressing position or separated in opposite directions by driving the upper and lower support members, The upper support member is provided with an electrode tab / electrode lead joint crimping device having an air injection nozzle for injecting air obliquely from the outside of the upper crimping member toward the joint surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle may be installed to inject air in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees with a joint surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle may be controlled to be inoperative when the upper and lower crimping members are in a crimped position and to be activated when the upper and lower crimping members are in a non-crimped position.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle may be controlled to be activated when the joint between the electrode tab and the electrode lead is fed in a state where the upper crimping member is elevated, not to be activated from when the upper crimping member descends through the crimping process until the upper crimping member ascends, and to be activated again when the joint between the electrode tab and the electrode lead is discharged after the crimping is completed.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lower support member may further include an air injection nozzle that injects air obliquely from an outer side of the lower compression member toward a joint surface between the electrode tab and the electrode lead.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle provided in the lower support member may be installed to inject air in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees with a joint surface of the fed electrode tab and the electrode lead.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, an air injection nozzle provided on the lower support member may be controlled to be inoperative when the upper and lower crimping members are in a crimped position and to be activated when the upper and lower crimping members are in a non-clamped position.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle provided on the lower support member may be controlled to be activated when the joint between the electrode tab and the electrode lead is fed while the lower crimping member is in a descended state, not to be activated from when the lower crimping member is elevated through the crimping process until the lower crimping member is descended, and to be activated again when the joint between the electrode tab and the electrode lead is discharged after the crimping is completed.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the foreign object suction unit may include a suction pipe communicating with a space on the opposite side of the electrode assembly to be fed, based on a crimping position of the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member, and an inhaler connected to the suction pipe. Effect of the Invention

[0020] The device for crimping a junction of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to the present invention prevents contamination of an electrode assembly body by foreign matter when crimping a junction of an electrode tab and an electrode lead formed on an electrode assembly by using a structure of an air injection device, and further, the contamination prevention effect is significantly improved by controlling the operation of the air injection device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where an electrode assembly is contaminated by air blowing when using the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic state of use of the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic use state of the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electrode assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the preferred embodiments described herein. Like reference numerals are used throughout the specification to refer to like parts.

[0023] When an element is said to be "connected, provided, or mounted on" another element, it should be understood that it can be directly connected or mounted on the other element, but there can also be other elements in between. On the other hand, when an element is said to be "directly connected, provided, or mounted on" another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between. On the other hand, other expressions describing the relationship between elements, such as "on" and "directly on" or "between" and "immediately between" or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to", should be interpreted in the same manner.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing one state of use of the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another state of use of the joint crimping device for an electrode tab and an electrode lead of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electrode assembly.

[0025] The electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device 100 of the present invention is a device for crimping a joint 66 between an electrode tab 62 and an electrode lead 64 formed on an electrode assembly 60, and includes an upper pressurizing unit 10, a lower pressurizing unit 20, a driving unit 40 for driving the upper pressurizing unit 10 and the lower pressurizing unit 20 up and down, and a foreign object suction unit 30 for suctioning foreign objects,

[0026] The upper pressure unit 10 includes an upper pressure member 12 protruding downward and an upper support member 11 to which the upper pressure member is fixed at a lower portion, and the lower pressure unit 20 includes a lower pressure member 22 protruding upward and a lower support member 21 to which the lower pressure member is fixed at an upper portion, The upper and lower crimping members 12 and 22 are located in opposite directions on the same line, and are moved to a crimping position or separated in opposite directions by the driving of the upper and lower support members 11 and 21. The upper support member 11 is characterized by having an air injection nozzle 14 for injecting air obliquely from the outside of the upper crimping member 12 toward the joining surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead.

[0027] The electrode tab and electrode lead junction crimping apparatus 100 of the present invention can be used in the crimping process of the junctions of the electrode tab and electrode lead included in electrode assemblies of jelly-roll type, stick type, stack / holding type, etc.

[0028] The electrode tab and electrode lead joint 66 of the electrode assembly 60 is fed between the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22, and at this time, the body 61 of the electrode assembly may be positioned outside the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22.

[0029] 1, the electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device 100 of the present invention is installed so that the air injection nozzle 14 injects air obliquely from the outside of the upper crimping member 12 toward the joint surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead, so that foreign matter present in the electrode tab, electrode lead, and their joints can be effectively removed during the crimping process. In addition, foreign matter that has moved from the electrode tab, electrode lead, and their joints to the inside of the crimping device 100 by air injection from the air injection nozzle 14 as described above is sucked in by the foreign matter suction unit 30.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 14 may be installed to inject air in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees, preferably 30 to 60 degrees, with the joint surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead. When air is injected at such an angle, foreign matter can be more effectively removed.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, when using the joint crimping device 100 for electrode tabs and electrode leads, the operation of the air injection nozzle 14 must be controlled so that foreign matter does not contaminate the body of the electrode assembly 60. That is, as shown in Fig. 2, when air is injected from the air injection nozzle 14 at the crimping position (closed state) of the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22, the injected air is blocked by the closed upper crimping member 12 and lower crimping member 22 and flows toward the body 61 of the electrode assembly. In this case, a problem occurs in which foreign matter contaminates the body 61 of the electrode assembly.

[0032] Therefore, in the electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device 100 of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 14 can be controlled not to operate when the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22 are in the crimping position (closed state) (FIG. 3, (b)) as shown in FIG. 3, but to operate when the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22 are in the non-crimping position (open state) (FIG. 3, (a)).

[0033] Furthermore, the air injection nozzle 14 may be controlled to inject air only when the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22 are spaced apart from each other by 3 mm or more, preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more. In this case, the air injection nozzle 14 is not operated not only when the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22 are closed, but also when the separation distance is less than the above range. When the air injection nozzle 14 is operated only when the separation distance is formed as described above, foreign matter can be more effectively prevented from flowing into the body 61 of the electrode assembly.

[0034] In the present invention, the control of the operation of the air injection nozzle 14 can be performed by a control process commonly used in this field, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 14 can be controlled to operate when the electrode tab and electrode lead joint of the electrode assembly 60 are fed while the upper crimping member 12 is elevated, not operate from when the upper crimping member 12 descends through the crimping process until the upper crimping member ascends, and operate again when the electrode tab and electrode lead joint is discharged after crimping is completed, as shown in Fig. 4. When the air injection nozzle 14 operates according to the above conditions, foreign matter can be more effectively prevented from flowing into the body of the electrode assembly 60.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lower support member 21 may further include an air injection nozzle 24 for injecting air obliquely from the outside of the lower compression member 22 toward the joining surfaces of the electrode tab and the electrode lead of the electrode assembly 60, as shown in FIG.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 24 may be installed so that the injected air is injected in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees, preferably 30 to 70 degrees, with the joint surface of the fed electrode tab and electrode lead. When the air is injected at such an angle, the removal of foreign matter can be more effectively performed.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 24 can be controlled to not operate when the upper and lower crimping members 12 and 22 are in a crimping position (closed state) (FIG. 3, (b)), but to operate when the upper and lower crimping members 12 and 22 are in a non-crimping position (open state) (FIG. 3, (a)), as shown in FIG.

[0039] Furthermore, the air injection nozzle 24 may be controlled to inject air only when the upper and lower crimping members 12 and 22 are spaced apart from each other by 3 mm or more, preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more. In this case, the air injection nozzle 24 is not operated not only when the upper and lower crimping members 12 and 22 are closed, but also when the separation distance is less than the above range. When the air injection nozzle 24 is operated only when the separation distance is formed as described above, foreign matter can be more effectively prevented from flowing into the body of the electrode assembly 60.

[0040] In the present invention, the control of the operation of the air injection nozzle 24 can be performed by a control process commonly used in this field, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air injection nozzle 24 provided on the lower crimping member 22 can be controlled to operate when the electrode tab and electrode lead joint 66 is fed while the lower crimping member 22 is lowered as shown in Fig. 4, not operate from when the lower crimping member 22 ascends through the crimping process until the lower crimping member 22 descends, and operate again when the electrode tab and electrode lead joint 66 is discharged after crimping is completed. When the air injection nozzle 24 operates according to the above conditions, foreign matter can be more effectively prevented from flowing into the body of the electrode assembly 60.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower pressure members 12 and 22 may be driven to repeatedly open and close by raising and lowering the upper support member 11 and the lower support member 21 by a driving unit 40. Also, the lower pressure unit 20 may be fixed and configured so that only the upper pressure unit 10 can be raised and lowered.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the foreign object suction unit 30 may include a suction pipe 32 communicating with a space on the opposite side of the electrode assembly based on the upper crimping member 12 and the lower crimping member 22, and an aspirator 34 connected to the suction pipe.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment mentioned above, various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10: Upper pressure section 11: Upper support member 12: Upper crimping member 14: Air injection nozzle 20: Lower pressure section 21: Lower support member 22: Lower crimping member 24: Air injection nozzle 30: Foreign matter suction section 32: Suction piping 34: Inhaler 40: Drive unit 60: Electrode assembly 62: Electrode tab 64: Electrode lead 66: Junction between electrode tab and electrode lead 100: Electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device

Claims

1. An apparatus for crimping a joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead formed on an electrode assembly, comprising: The apparatus includes an upper pressurizing unit, a lower pressurizing unit, a driving unit for driving the upper pressurizing unit and the lower pressurizing unit up and down, and a foreign object suction unit, the upper pressure unit includes an upper pressure member protruding downward and an upper support member to which the upper pressure member is fixed at a lower portion, the lower pressure unit includes a lower pressure member protruding upward and a lower support member to which the lower pressure member is fixed at an upper portion, The upper and lower pressing members are positioned in opposite directions on the same line, and are moved to a pressing position or separated in opposite directions by driving the upper and lower support members, the upper support member is provided with an air injection nozzle that injects air obliquely from an outside of the upper crimping member toward the joining surfaces of the fed electrode tab and the electrode lead,

2. 2. The device for crimping a joint of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 1, wherein the air injection nozzle is installed to inject air in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees with a joint surface of the fed electrode tab and the electrode lead.

3. 2. The electrode tab / electrode lead joint crimping device according to claim 1, wherein the air injection nozzle is controlled so as not to operate when the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member are in a crimped position and to operate when the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member are in a non-crimped position.

4. 2. The device for crimping a joint of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 1, wherein the air injection nozzle is controlled to be activated when the joint of the electrode tab and the electrode lead is fed in a state where the upper crimping member is elevated, not to be activated from the time when the upper crimping member descends through a crimping process to the time when the upper crimping member ascends, and to be activated again when the joint of the electrode tab and the electrode lead is discharged after crimping is completed.

5. 2. The device for crimping a joint between an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 1, wherein the lower support member further comprises an air injection nozzle for injecting air obliquely from an outer side of the lower crimping member toward a joint surface between the electrode tab and the electrode lead.

6. 6. The apparatus for crimping a joint of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 5, wherein the air injection nozzle provided on the lower support member is installed to inject air in a direction forming an angle of 10 to 80 degrees with a joint surface of the fed electrode tab and the electrode lead.

7. 6. The electrode tab and electrode lead joint crimping device according to claim 5, wherein the air injection nozzle provided on the lower support member is controlled so as not to operate when the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member are in a crimped position and to operate when the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member are in a non-crimped position.

8. 6. The device for crimping a joint of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 5, wherein the air injection nozzle provided on the lower support member is controlled to be activated when the joint of the electrode tab and the electrode lead is fed in a state where the lower crimping member is lowered, not to be activated from the time when the lower crimping member is elevated through a crimping process until the time when the lower crimping member is lowered, and to be activated again when the joint of the electrode tab and the electrode lead is discharged after crimping is completed.

9. 2. The device for crimping a joint of an electrode tab and an electrode lead according to claim 1, wherein the foreign object suction unit includes a suction pipe communicating with a space on an opposite side of the electrode assembly to be fed based on a crimping position of the upper crimping member and the lower crimping member, and an aspirator connected to the suction pipe.

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