Air flotation device and drying device for electrode manufacturing including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air flotation device and a drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode including the same. The air flotation device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a main body including a space into which air flows and an injection part through which air in the space is injected outwardly toward a coating electrode, an expandable membrane member disposed within the main body to face the space, and a press part which pressurizes a portion of the membrane member to set different injection pressures for the air injected toward the holding part through the injection part within the space and the air injected toward the uncoated part.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air flotation device that can prevent wrinkles from occurring in uncoated areas according to the position and coating pattern of uncoated areas of a coated electrode, and a drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode including the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0027114 dated March 3, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Among the manufacturing processes of lithium secondary batteries, the electrode process is divided into an active material mixing process, an electrode coating process, a drying process, a slitting process, and the like.

[0004] The electrode coating step is followed by a drying step in which heat is used to remove the solvent in the slurry.

[0005] Meanwhile, the coated electrode discharged from the drying section after the drying process has a thermal expansion difference between the holding section (also called the "coated section") coated with the electrode slurry and the uncoated section not coated with the electrode slurry. This thermal expansion difference causes a problem in that wrinkles are generated in the uncoated section in the running direction while the coated electrode is running.

[0006] In order to improve the wrinkles in the non-coated area of ​​the coating electrode, a roller that physically contacts the coating electrode to smooth out the wrinkles and creases has been used. However, this requires additional space to install such a roller, and once installed, it is difficult to change the structure, resulting in poor processability.

[0007] Meanwhile, the size of the coating electrode and the arrangement pattern of the coated and uncoated areas (coating pattern) vary depending on the product model, so a technology is required to prevent wrinkles from forming in the uncoated areas of the coating electrode in response to the changed coating pattern. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to provide an air flotation device that can set different air injection pressures for different regions of a coated electrode in accordance with the coating pattern and the position of uncoated areas of the coated electrode in the process of flotation by injecting air into the coated electrode, and a drying device for manufacturing an electrode including the same.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air flotation device and a drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing including the same, which can prevent wrinkles from occurring in the uncoated portion during travel by injecting air at a higher pressure than that of a holding unit toward the uncoated portion of the coated electrode when the coated electrode is flotated after a drying process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air levitation device for levitating a coated electrode having a holding portion to which electrode slurry is applied and an uncoated portion to which electrode slurry is not applied while the electrode is traveling, the air levitation device including: a body including a space portion into which air flows in and an injection portion that injects air within the space portion out toward the coated electrode; an expandable membrane member that is disposed within the body to face the space portion; and a press portion that is configured to pressurize a portion of the membrane member to set different injection pressures of air injected within the space portion through the injection portion toward the holding portion and air injected toward the uncoated portion through the injection portion.

[0011] The press section is provided so that the injection pressure of the air injected toward the non-coated section is set to be greater than the injection pressure of the air injected toward the holding section.

[0012] The press section may also include a pressure member arranged to contact the membrane member and stretch the contacted area of ​​the membrane member toward the injection section, and a drive section for moving the pressure member within the main body so that the position at which the pressure member and the membrane member contact each other is adjusted.

[0013] In addition, the pressure member is positioned so as to be in contact with the area of ​​the membrane member facing the uncoated portion of the coating electrode, and the membrane member is stretched convexly toward the injection portion by the pressure member, so that the injection pressure in the area where the membrane member is stretched convexly can be greater than in the surrounding area.

[0014] Also, the driving unit may be provided to move the pressure member along a direction in which the holding portions and the uncoated portions of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged.

[0015] The air flotation device further includes an air supply unit arranged to supply air into the space, and the air supply unit may include a regulator for regulating the flow rate of the air.

[0016] The main body may have a plurality of spaces along the direction in which the holding portion and the uncoated portion of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged, and the plurality of spaces may include a first space and a second space and a third space located on both sides of the first space, respectively. In this case, the second space and the third space may be individually provided with a film member and a pressing portion.

[0017] The air levitation device further includes an air supply unit configured to supply air into the first space to the third space, and the air supply unit may include a plurality of regulators for individually adjusting the flow rate of air supplied to each space.

[0018] The injection portion may also include a plurality of injection holes.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode, the drying apparatus including: a drying unit for drying a coated electrode having a holding unit on which an electrode slurry is applied and a non-coated portion on which the electrode slurry is not applied; and a conveying unit for conveying the coated electrode that has passed through the drying unit in a traveling direction.

[0020] The transfer section also includes an air levitation device that is configured to levitate the traveling coating electrode using air, and one or more traveling rolls that contact the coating electrode and move the coating electrode along the traveling direction.

[0021] The air levitation device also includes a main body including a space into which the air flows and an injection part through which the air in the space is injected outwardly toward the coating electrode, an expandable membrane member disposed within the main body so as to face the space, and a press part which pressurizes a portion of the membrane member to set different injection pressures for the air injected within the space through the injection part toward the holding part and the air injected toward the uncoated part.

[0022] The air flotation device may also be disposed in a section where the travel direction of the coating electrode changes.

[0023] The press section is provided so that the injection pressure of the air injected toward the non-coated section is set to be greater than the injection pressure of the air injected toward the holding section.

[0024] The press section may also include a pressure member arranged to contact the membrane member and stretch the contacted area of ​​the membrane member toward the injection section, and a drive section for moving the pressure member within the main body so that the position at which the pressure member and the membrane member contact each other is adjusted.

[0025] In addition, the pressure member is positioned so as to be in contact with the area of ​​the membrane member facing the uncoated portion of the coating electrode, and the membrane member is stretched convexly toward the injection portion by the pressure member, so that the injection pressure in the area where the membrane member is stretched convexly can be greater than in the surrounding area.

[0026] Also, the driving unit may be provided to move the pressure member along a direction in which the holding portions and the uncoated portions of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged.

[0027] The air flotation device further includes an air supply unit arranged to supply air into the space, and the air supply unit may include a regulator for regulating the flow rate of the air.

[0028] The main body may have a plurality of spaces along the direction in which the holding portion and the uncoated portion of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged, and the plurality of spaces may include a first space and a second space and a third space located on both sides of the first space, respectively. In this case, the second space and the third space may be individually provided with a film member and a pressing portion.

[0029] The air levitation device further includes an air supply unit configured to supply air into the first space to the third space, and the air supply unit may include a plurality of regulators for individually adjusting the flow rate of air supplied to each space.

[0030] The injection portion may also include a plurality of injection holes. Effect of the Invention

[0031] As described above, the air flotation device and the drying apparatus for manufacturing electrodes including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention have the following effects.

[0032] In the process of injecting air into the coating electrode to lift it up, the air injection pressure may be set differently for each region of the coating electrode according to the coating pattern and the position of the non-coating portion of the coating electrode.

[0033] In addition, when the coated electrode is lifted after the drying process, air is sprayed at a higher pressure on the non-coated portion of the coated electrode than on the holding portion, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring on the non-coated portion during the travel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an air levitation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining one operating state of the air levitation device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining one operating state of the air levitation device shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Hereinafter, an air flotation device and a drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0036] In addition, regardless of the drawing symbols, identical or corresponding components will be given the same or similar reference numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted, and the size and shape of each component shown for convenience of explanation may be exaggerated or reduced.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a drying apparatus 10 for producing an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an air levitation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The drying apparatus 10 for manufacturing an electrode includes a holding section 3 on which electrode slurry is applied, a drying section 20 for drying the coated electrode 1 having an uncoated section 4 on which electrode slurry is not applied, and a transport section (100, 30, 40) for moving the coated electrode 1 that has passed through the drying section 20 in a traveling direction M.

[0039] The transport section also includes an air levitation device 100 that is configured to levitate the traveling coating electrode 1 using air A, and one or more traveling rolls 30, 40 that contact the coating electrode 1 and move the coating electrode 1 along the traveling direction M.

[0040] The drying section 20 may include a chamber and a plurality of heating lamps provided inside the chamber. The chamber has an entrance through which the coated electrode 1, in which the electrode slurry is applied onto the electrode substrate, enters, and an exit through which the coated electrode 1, in which the drying process is completed, is discharged. The air levitation device 100 is disposed at the exit side of the drying section 20. As an example, in the drying apparatus 10 for manufacturing an electrode, the drying section 20, the air levitation device 100, and one or more running rolls 30, 40 may be sequentially arranged along the running direction of the coated electrode 1. Also, the air levitation device 100 may be disposed in a section where the running direction of the coated electrode 1 changes. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, the air levitation device 100 may be disposed in a section where the running direction of the coated electrode 1 bends, rather than in a straight section of the running section of the coated electrode 1.

[0041] In this specification, the coated electrode 1 has a coating pattern in which an electrode substrate 2, holding portions 3 formed by coating the electrode slurry on the electrode substrate 2, and uncoated portions 4 not coated with the electrode slurry are arranged in this order. The holding portions 3 and uncoated portions 4 can be arranged alternately in this order along one direction (width direction, x-axis direction in FIG. 2) of the coated electrode 1. The uncoated portions 4 are located between two adjacent holding portions 3, and the coated electrode 1 can have, for example, two to eight holding portions 3. The holding portions 3 can be formed on one or both sides of the electrode substrate 2.

[0042] The air levitation device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can not only levitate the dried coated electrode 1 by spraying air A onto the surface of the coated electrode 1, but also promotes cooling of the coated electrode 1, thereby preventing wrinkles that may occur in the uncoated areas 4 where electrode slurry is not applied.

[0043] The air flotation device 100 is an air-floating type device that floats the coating electrode 1 without contacting the coating electrode 1 .

[0044] In particular, the air flotation device 100 makes the air injection pressure P2 applied to the uncoated portion 4 of the coating electrode 1 greater than the air injection pressure P1 applied to the holding portion 3, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring in the uncoated portion 4 during the traveling and cooling process.

[0045] 2, the air levitation device 100 includes a main body 110, a membrane member 130, and a pressing unit 140. The air levitation device 100 may also include an air supplying unit 150 and a control unit 170 for controlling the pressing unit 140 and the air supplying unit 150.

[0046] The air floating device 100 is an air floating device for floating a coated electrode 1 having a holding portion 3 to which electrode slurry is applied and an uncoated portion 4 to which electrode slurry is not applied, while the coated electrode 1 is traveling.

[0047] The air levitation device 100 includes a body 110 including a space (e.g., S2) into which air A flows and an ejection unit 120 that ejects the air A in the space S2 toward the coating electrode 1. As an example, the body 110 may have a roll shape. The body 110 may have a roll shape extending in the width direction (x-axis direction) of the coating electrode 1. The body 110 may also have a plurality of spaces S1, S2, S3 partitioned by partition walls 111. For example, a plurality of partition walls 111 may be disposed at predetermined intervals in the body 110, thereby forming a space between two partition walls 111.

[0048] The spray unit 120 may include a plurality of spray holes 121. For example, the spray unit 120 may include a sheet of porous carbon material. The spray unit 120 may be provided in a portion 100a (also referred to as a spray area) of the body 110 along the running direction M of the coating electrode.

[0049] The air levitation device 100 further includes an expandable membrane member 130 disposed within the body 110 so as to face the space S2. The membrane member 130 forms a boundary of a portion of the space S2 and can change the shape of the space S2 when expanded. The membrane member 114 can be disposed within the body 110 with its end joined to the partition wall 111 that defines the space S2.

[0050] The membrane member 130 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon, and may be made of a material that can change shape when subjected to an external force and can return to its original state when the external force is removed.

[0051] The air levitation device 100 includes a press section 140 that is configured to pressurize a portion of the membrane member 130 to set different injection pressures P1 and P2 of air injected toward the holding section 3 and the plain section 4 through the injection section 120 within the space section S2.

[0052] In addition, the pressing unit 140 may be provided so as to set the injection pressure P2 of the air injected toward the non-coated portion 4 to be greater than the injection pressure P1 of the air injected toward the holding unit 3.

[0053] As an example, the pressing unit 140 may include a pressure member 141 arranged to contact the membrane member 130 and stretch the contacted region 130a of the membrane member 130 toward the injection unit 120, and a drive unit 142 for moving the pressure member 141 within the body 110 so as to adjust the position where the pressure member 141 and the membrane member 130 contact each other. The drive unit 142 may be composed of a pneumatic cylinder, a motor, or the like. The y-axis in FIG. 2 indicates the injection direction of air A toward the coating electrode 1.

[0054] 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams for explaining one operating state of the air levitation device shown in FIG.

[0055] 2 to 4, the pressurizing member 141 is disposed in contact with the region 130a of the film member 130 facing the uncoated portion 4 of the coating electrode 1, and the film member 130 is stretched in a convex shape toward the spray portion 120 by the pressurizing member 141, so that the spray pressure in the region 130a where the film member 130 is stretched in a convex shape can be higher than that in the surrounding region. That is, by adjusting the position of the pressurizing member 141, the position of the region where the spray pressure of the air A discharged from the space portion S2 is higher can be adjusted.

[0056] Furthermore, the driving unit 142 may be provided to move the pressure member 141 along the direction in which the holding units 3 and uncoated areas 4 of the coating electrode 1 are sequentially arranged (the width direction of the coating electrode, the x-axis direction). With this configuration, in the process of injecting air into the coating electrode to levitate it, the air injection pressure can be set differently for different regions of the coating electrode in accordance with the coating pattern and the position of the uncoated area of ​​the coating electrode. In other words, if the position of the uncoated area is changed or the coating pattern is modified according to product specifications, a higher injection pressure can be applied to the uncoated area side of the modified position by moving the pressure member 141.

[0057] The air levitation device 100 also includes an air supply unit 150 arranged to supply air into the space S2, and the air supply unit 150 may include a regulator 162 for regulating the flow rate of the air.

[0058] At this time, air (e.g., compressed air) is continuously supplied to the space S2 in the main body 110 via a regulator, and the air in the space S2 is sprayed toward the coating electrode 1 via the spray section 120, thereby maintaining the coating electrode 1 in a levitated state.

[0059] Also, an air filter may be provided to remove foreign matter from the air supplied to the space S2.

[0060] Furthermore, the main body 110 may have a plurality of spaces S1, S2, S3 along the direction in which the holding portion and the uncoated portion of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged. For example, the plurality of spaces may include a first space S1, and a second space S2 and a third space S3 located on both sides of the first space S1, respectively. The first space S1 to the third space S3 may be partitioned inside the main body 110 by the partition wall 111 described above.

[0061] At this time, the membrane member 130 and the press part 140 can be provided individually in the second space S2 and the third space S3, respectively.

[0062] That is, by pressurizing a partial area of ​​the membrane member 130 via the press unit 140, the air injection pressures of different areas in the second space S2 and the third space S3 can be set differently.

[0063] Specifically, in the second space S2 and the third space S3, by pressurizing a portion of the membrane member 130 through the press section 140, the injection pressure of the air injected toward the holding section 3 through the injection section 120 and the injection pressure of the air injected toward the plain section 4 can be set differently within the second space S2 and the third space S3.

[0064] Furthermore, air levitation device 100 includes air supply unit 150 arranged to supply air into first space portion to third space portion (S1, S2, S3), and air supply unit 150 may include a number of regulators 161, 162, 163 for individually adjusting the flow rate of air supplied to each of spaces S1, S2, S3. In such a structure, the flow rate and pressure of air supplied to each of spaces S1, S2, S3 may be set individually.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 2, as an example, the coating electrode 1 may have four holding portions 3 and three uncoated portions 4 along the width direction.

[0066] The air levitation device 100 may be arranged such that the first space S1 faces the uncoated area 4 located in the center in the width direction of the coated electrode 1. In this case, the second space S2 may be arranged to face two holding parts 3 and one uncoated area 4 in the left region in the width direction of the coated electrode 1 (see FIG. 2). Also, in this case, the third space S2 may be arranged to face two holding parts 3 and one uncoated area 4 in the right region in the width direction of the coated electrode 1 (see FIG. 2).

[0067] At this time, the flow rate and pressure of the air supplied to each space S1, S2, S3 can be set individually, and by pressurizing a portion of the membrane member 130 through the press section 140, the injection pressure P1 of the air injected toward the holding section 3 through the injection section 120 in the second space S2 and the third space S3 and the injection pressure P2 of the air injected toward the plain section 4 can be set differently.

[0068] Also, referring to Figures 3 and 4, by moving the pressure member 141 along the width direction of the coating electrode 1, the air injection pressure applied to each region of the coating electrode 1 can be set differently depending on the position of the uncoated area and the coating pattern.

[0069] According to Boyle's law that gas pressure and volume are inversely proportional when the gas temperature is constant, the injection pressure injected from the space to the coating electrode can be adjusted differently. That is, by applying pressure to the membrane member 130 to change the shape of the space, the volume of the area facing the non-coating portion 4 can be reduced, and as a result, the pressure injected in that area can be increased.

[0070] The compressed air supplied to the space may be within a range of 1 bar to 5 bar.

[0071] In addition, the control unit 170 can move the pressure member 141 according to the position of the uncoated portion 4 of the coating electrode 1 or the coating pattern, and can also adjust the pressure in each space through the regulators 161, 162, and 163.

[0072] The control unit 170 may be connected to a separately provided sensing unit 180 such as a vision camera or a sensor arranged to capture an image of the coating electrode 1. The sensing unit 180 senses coating information of the coating electrode 1, and the coating information may include the position of the non-coating portion or the coating pattern. The control unit 170 may set the position of the pressure member 141 based on the sensing information received from the sensing unit, such as the position of the non-coating portion 4 or the coating pattern, and may also adjust the pressure in each space through regulators 161, 162, and 163.

[0073] The above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge of the present invention may make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications, changes, and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0074] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with the air flotation device and the drying device for electrode manufacturing including the same, when the coated electrode is flotated after the drying process, air is sprayed at a higher pressure toward the uncoated portion of the coated electrode than the holding portion, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring in the uncoated portion during the traveling process.

Claims

1. An air flotation device for flotating a coated electrode having a holding portion to which an electrode slurry is applied and a non-coated portion to which the electrode slurry is not applied, while the coated electrode is traveling, comprising: a main body including a space into which air flows and an injection part for injecting the air in the space toward the coating electrode; a membrane member disposed within the body so as to face the space and capable of being stretched; and a press section configured to set different injection pressures of air injected toward the holding section through the injection section within the space section and air injected toward the uncoated section by pressurizing a portion of the membrane member.

2. 2. The air levitation device according to claim 1, wherein the press section is provided so as to set the injection pressure of the air injected toward the non-coated section to be greater than the injection pressure of the air injected toward the holding section.

3. The press unit includes: a pressure member arranged to contact the membrane member and expand a contacted area of ​​the membrane member toward the ejection portion; The air levitation device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a drive unit for moving the pressure member within the body so as to adjust a position at which the pressure member contacts the membrane member.

4. the pressure member is disposed so as to contact a region of the membrane member facing the uncoated portion of the coating electrode; 4. The air levitation device according to claim 3, wherein the membrane member is stretched in a convex shape toward the ejection portion by the pressure member, and the region where the membrane member is stretched in a convex shape has a higher ejection pressure than the surrounding region.

5. The air levitation device according to claim 3 , wherein the driving unit is provided to move the pressure member along a direction in which the holding portions and the uncoated portions of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged.

6. The air supply unit is provided to supply air into the space, 6. The air levitation device according to claim 1, wherein the air supply includes a regulator for adjusting the flow rate of air.

7. the main body has a plurality of spaces along a direction in which the holding portions and the non-coating portions of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged, The plurality of spaces include a first space, and a second space and a third space located on both sides of the first space, The air levitation device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane member and the press portion are provided separately in the second space portion and the third space portion.

8. The air supply unit is provided to supply air into the first space, the second space, and the third space, 8. The air levitation device according to claim 7, wherein the air supply section includes a plurality of regulators for individually adjusting the flow rate of air supplied to each space.

9. The air levitation device according to claim 1 , wherein the jetting portion includes a plurality of jetting holes.

10. a drying section for drying the coated electrode having a holding section coated with the electrode slurry and a non-coated section not coated with the electrode slurry; a conveying section for conveying the coating electrode that has passed through the drying section in a traveling direction, The transfer unit includes an air levitation device that levitates the traveling coating electrode using air, and one or more traveling rolls that contact the coating electrode and move the coating electrode along a traveling direction, The air levitation device is a main body including a space into which air flows and an injection part for injecting the air in the space toward the coating electrode; a stretchable membrane member disposed within the body so as to face the space; and a press unit that sets different injection pressures of the air injected toward the holding unit through the injection unit within the space and the air injected toward the uncoated portion by pressurizing a partial area of ​​the membrane member.

11. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 10, wherein the air flotation device is disposed in a section where the traveling direction of the coating electrode changes.

12. 12. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 10, wherein the press unit is provided so as to set an injection pressure of the air injected toward the uncoated portion higher than an injection pressure of the air injected toward the holding unit.

13. The press unit includes: a pressure member arranged to contact the membrane member and expand a contacted area of ​​the membrane member toward the ejection portion; The drying apparatus for producing an electrode according to claim 12 , further comprising: a driving unit for moving the pressing member within the main body so as to adjust a position at which the pressing member contacts the membrane member.

14. the pressure member is disposed so as to contact a region of the membrane member facing the uncoated portion of the coating electrode; 14. The drying apparatus for electrode manufacturing according to claim 13, wherein the film member is stretched in a convex shape toward the spray portion by the pressure member, and the region where the film member is stretched in a convex shape has a higher spray pressure than a surrounding region.

15. The drying apparatus for manufacturing an electrode according to claim 13, wherein the driving unit is provided to move the pressing member along a direction in which the holding portion and the uncoated portion of the coating electrode are sequentially arranged.

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