Welding pressure control system, welding pressure control method using the same, and method for measuring thickness of welding object using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a welding pressure control system, a welding pressure control method using the same, and a method for measuring the thickness of a welded object using the same, and more particularly to a welding pressure control system that controls the lifting and lowering of a horn through feedback control based on a pressure value sensed by the lifting and lowering of the horn, a welding pressure control method using the same, and a method for measuring the thickness of a welded object using the same. and a control unit that controls driving of the lift-down unit based on the pressure value acquired from the detection unit; wherein the lift-down unit includes a motor unit; a screw unit that is rotated by receiving a driving force from a rotation shaft of the motor unit; a vertical movement unit that is coupled to the screw unit and moves vertically when the screw unit rotates; and a support unit that is coupled to the vertical movement unit and supports the horn, wherein the detection unit is provided in a circumferential direction of the screw unit and is pressurized by the vertical movement of the vertical movement unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2021 - 0141422, filed on October 21, 2021, and all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a welding pressure control system, a welding pressure control method using the same, and a method for measuring the thickness of a welding object using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a welding pressure control system that feedback - controls the raising and lowering of a horn based on pressure values sensed by the raising and lowering of the horn to control welding pressure, a welding pressure control method using the same, and a method for measuring the thickness of a welding object using the same.

Background Art

[0003] With the development of technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has increased rapidly. In particular, among secondary batteries, many studies and commercializations have been conducted on lithium secondary batteries having high energy density and discharge voltage.

[0004] Generally, a secondary battery has a structure in which an electrode assembly with a structure in which electrodes and a separator are laminated is built into a battery case together with an electrolyte. The electrodes constituting the electrode assembly require not only connection to the outside but also connection between electrode tabs, which are part of the plain part of the electrode, for electrical connection between the electrodes as an electrode assembly, and connection between the electrode tabs and the electrode leads.

[0005] At this time, various methods are used to attach an electrode tab to an electrode. For example, there is an ultrasonic welding method. Ultrasonic welding applies vibration energy selectively to a horn according to a control signal of a computer, and after the horn contacts and presses a welding object (such as an "electrode tab" or "electrode lead") attached on an anvil facing the horn, welding is performed based on the principle of forming frictional heat through ultrasonic vibration. In a broad sense, a device in which a horn and an anvil are combined is also referred to as an ultrasonic welding assembly.

[0006] In such an ultrasonic welding assembly, one of the most important factors determining the welding quality of the welding object is the pressure applied by the horn to the welding object. That is, only when the pressure applied by the horn to the welding object during welding is maintained at an appropriate pressure constantly can a welding object with good welding quality be obtained.

[0007] Therefore, conventionally, there has been an effort to provide a pressure sensor under the anvil to obtain the pressure with which the horn presses the welding object. However, the pressure value obtained from the pressure sensor provided under the anvil is only used as a reference for setting the initial welding conditions, and there is a problem that it is difficult to substantially control the pressure applied by the horn to the welding object during welding based on this.

[0008] Therefore, in fact, there is a need for a technology related to a welding pressure control system that can control the pressure applied by the horn to the welding object during welding. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to control the lifting and lowering of a horn and feedback control the welding pressure based on the pressure values sensed by the lifting and lowering of the horn, and to provide a welding pressure control system, a welding pressure control method using the same, and a method for measuring the thickness of a welding object using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present invention includes an anvil on which a welding object is supported; a horn provided facing the anvil for pressing the welding object; a lifting and lowering unit that supports the horn so as to be movable up and down; a sensing unit that senses pressure values that change with the lifting and lowering of the horn; and a control unit that controls the driving of the lifting and lowering unit based on the pressure values obtained from the sensing unit. The lifting and lowering unit includes a motor unit; a screw unit that rotates when a driving force is transmitted from the rotation shaft of the motor unit; a vertical movement unit that is coupled to the screw unit and moves in the vertical direction when the screw unit rotates; and a support unit that is coupled to the vertical movement unit and supports the horn. The sensing unit is provided in the circumferential direction of the screw unit and is pressurized by the vertical movement of the vertical movement unit, and provides a welding pressure control system characterized by this.

[0011] The sensing unit may be inserted into the screw unit so that the screw unit can rotate. is It may be inserted.

[0012] The sensing unit may have an annular shape with a hollow formed inside.

[0013] The sensing unit may be located adjacent to the screw unit and provided at a predetermined distance from the periphery of the screw unit.

[0014] The motor unit may include a servo motor.

[0015] The control unit can control the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation number of the motor unit based on the pressure value acquired from the sensing unit.

[0016] The screw part may be a ball screw.

[0017] The sensing unit may be a load cell sensor.

[0018] The control unit may include a processing unit that processes drive information for driving control of the motor unit based on the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit; and a drive unit that transmits a drive signal to the motor unit when drive information is input from the processing unit.

[0019] The processing unit may include a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

[0020] The drive unit may include a servo motor drive.

[0021] Further, the welding pressure control system according to the present invention may further include a monitoring unit that outputs the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit as an image and provides it to the user.

[0022] On the other hand, the present invention provides a welding pressure control method including: a pressurizing step of pressurizing a welding object placed on the upper side of an anvil by raising and lowering a horn through a lifting and lowering unit that supports the horn so as to be able to be raised and lowered; a sensing step of sensing a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn through a sensing unit provided in a peripheral direction of a screw part that rotates by being connected to a rotation shaft of a motor unit that transmits a driving force to the lifting and lowering unit; and a control step of controlling the driving of the lifting and lowering unit based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing step.

[0023] In the sensing stage, the sensing unit can sense the pressure value by being combined with the screw part and being pressurized by a vertically moving part that moves vertically when the screw part rotates.

[0024] In the control stage, the driving of the lifting and lowering part can be controlled by controlling the driving of a motor part including a servo motor.

[0025] In the control stage, the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation number of the motor part can be controlled based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit.

[0026] On the other hand, the present invention provides a setting stage of setting the position value of a motor that transmits a driving force to a lifting and lowering part that lifts and lowers the horn when the horn contacts the anvil as an initial value; a welding object providing stage of providing a welding object above the anvil; a position change value measuring stage of measuring the position change value of the motor when the horn contacts the welding object; and a thickness calculating stage of calculating the thickness of the welding object based on the position change value. A method for measuring the thickness of a welding object is provided, which is characterized by including these stages.

[0027] The motor may include a servo motor.

Effect of the Invention

[0028] The welding pressure control system and the welding pressure control method according to the present invention include a sensing unit that senses the pressure value that changes due to the lifting and lowering of the horn, and a control unit that controls the driving of a lifting and lowering part that supports the horn to be able to lift and lower based on the pressure value. By doing so, the pressure value during welding can be monitored in real time, and the welding efficiency can be optimized by controlling the pressure with which the horn presses the welding object in real time according to the pressure value.

[0029] The method for measuring the thickness of a welding object according to the present invention measures the thickness of the welding object using the position variation value of a motor that transmits driving force to an elevating part for raising and lowering a horn, and thus has the advantage of automatically detecting problems such as defects (e.g., electrode tab breakage) in the welding object and improving workability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1a

Figure 1b

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0032] To clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts not related to the explanation or known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention are omitted. When adding reference signs to the components of each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference signs are given to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0033] In addition, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary and dictionary meanings. In accordance with the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain the invention in the best way, they must be construed in a meaning and concept that conforms to the technical idea of the present invention.

[0034] Welding Pressure Control System The present invention provides a welding pressure control system including an anvil 100 on which a welding object is supported; a horn 200 provided facing the anvil 100 to pressurize the welding object; a lifting part 300 that supports the horn 200 so as to be able to move up and down; a sensing part 400 that senses the pressure value that changes due to the up and down movement of the horn 200; and a control part 500 that controls the driving of the lifting part 300 based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing part 400.

[0035] Here, the welding object (not shown) can have any configuration as long as it is configured to be welded by the anvil 100 and the horn 200. For example, the welding object may be an electrode tab of a secondary battery, and at this time, it may further include an electrode lead connected to the electrode tab.

[0036] The anvil 100 is configured to support a welding object, and various configurations are possible.

[0037] For example, the anvil 100 may have various shapes. At this time, it is preferable that the upper surface of the anvil 100 is formed flat so as to support the welding object.

[0038] And, as shown in FIGS. 1a to 1b, the anvil 100 may be placed and fixed on an anvil frame 100'. Here, the anvil frame 100' can be of any configuration as long as it can support the anvil 100 below the anvil 100. Further, the anvil frame 100' may include an actuator or the like so that the anvil 100 can move up and down in the vertical direction.

[0039] On the other hand, the horn 200 is provided facing the anvil 100 and configured to press the object to be welded, and various configurations are possible.

[0040] Specifically, the horn 200 may be provided so as to be movable up and down with respect to the anvil 100 at a position facing the anvil 100, thereby pressing the object to be welded placed on the anvil 100. At this time, the horn 200 may perform welding of the object to be welded by applying ultrasonic vibration to the object to be welded in a pressurized state.

[0041] Therefore, the horn 200 may include a vibrator (not shown) that converts electrical energy into mechanical vibration energy so as to apply ultrasonic vibration to the object to be welded, a booster (not shown) that decreases or amplifies the amplitude of the vibrator, and a head (not shown) that transmits vibration energy to the object to be welded and fuses it.

[0042] On the other hand, the elevating part 300 is configured to support the horn 200 so that it can move up and down, and various configurations are possible.

[0043] Here, the elevating part 300 can be of any configuration as long as it can support the horn 200 so that it can move up and down. For example, the elevating part 300 may include a linear actuator that can linearly move the horn 200 in the vertical direction.

[0044] The lifting and lowering unit 300 may be supported by a fixing unit 600 provided below the lifting and lowering unit 300.

[0045] More specifically, the lifting and lowering unit 300 may include a motor unit 310; a screw unit 320 that rotates by having a driving force transmitted from the rotation shaft of the motor unit 310; a vertical movement unit 330 that is coupled to the screw unit 320 and moves in the vertical direction when the screw unit 320 rotates; and a support unit 340 that is coupled to the vertical movement unit 330 and supports the horn 200.

[0046] Here, the motor unit 310 is a configuration that generates a driving force for rotating the screw unit 320, and various configurations are possible.

[0047] Specifically, the motor unit 310 may include a rotation shaft (not shown) that rotates by having a rotational force transmitted from a stator (not shown) and a rotor (not shown), and the rotation shaft may be directly or indirectly connected to the screw unit 320 to transmit a driving force to the screw unit 320.

[0048] At this time, the motor unit 310 may include various types of motors. At this time, the motor unit 310 preferably includes a servo motor that can precisely control the rotation direction, rotation speed, rotational acceleration, and rotation angle so as to more accurately control the lifting and lowering of the horn 200.

[0049] On the other hand, the screw unit 320 is a configuration that rotates by having a driving force transmitted from the rotation shaft of the motor unit 310, and various configurations are possible.

[0050] Here, the screw unit 320 may have a thread formed along the longitudinal direction of the screw unit 320 on the outer peripheral surface so that the vertical movement unit 330 described later can be screw-coupled and the vertical movement unit 330 can be moved by the rotation of the screw unit 320.

[0051] And the screw part 320 may include various types of screws. At this time, the screw part 320 may include a ball screw that can obtain high electric efficiency through the rolling of balls.

[0052] On the other hand, the vertical movement part 330 is configured to be coupled with the screw part 320 and move in the vertical direction when the screw part 320 rotates, and various configurations are possible.

[0053] Here, the vertical movement part 330 may have a thread formed on its inner peripheral surface corresponding to the thread of the screw part 320 so that it can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the screw part 320 by the rotation of the screw part 320. Therefore, the vertical movement part 330 may linearly move in the vertical direction by the rotation of the screw part 320.

[0054] At this time, the vertical movement part 330 may slide along a guide part (not shown) that guides the movement direction of the vertical movement part 330. The guide part may be formed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the screw part 320.

[0055] On the other hand, the support part 340 is configured to be coupled with the vertical movement part 330 and support the horn 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0056] For example, the support part 340 may include a placement part 341 provided between the horn 200 and the vertical movement part 330 to support the horn 200, and a housing 342 provided above the placement part 341 and coupled to the horn 200.

[0057] Here, the placement part 341 is configured to be provided between the horn 200 and the vertical movement part 330 to support the horn 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0058] More specifically, the placement part 341 may move together with the vertical movement part 330 in response to the movement of the vertical movement part 330 by being coupled to the vertical movement part 330. At this time, since the placement part 341 is configured to support the horn 200, the horn 200 placed on the placement part 341 may also be moved vertically.

[0059] Such a placement part 341 may have various shapes. For example, it may have a plate shape on which the horn 200 is placed on the upper surface.

[0060] On the other hand, the housing 342 is provided above the placement part 341 and is configured to be coupled to the horn 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0061] More specifically, the housing 342 may be coupled to the horn 200 placed on the placement part 341. At this time, the housing 342 may have a structure in which an empty space is formed inside so that at least a part of the horn 200 is inserted and fixed. And a part of the horn 200 inserted into the housing 342 may be a part including a booster that decreases or amplifies the amplitude of the vibrator described above.

[0062] Such a housing 342 may be detachably provided with the horn 200 so as to facilitate the replacement of the horn 200. For this purpose, the housing 342 may include a lower housing (not shown) disposed below the horn 200; and an upper housing (not shown) disposed above the horn 200.

[0063] Here, the lower housing and the upper housing may be detachably coupled to each other in various ways. For example, they may be bolted to each other by a plurality of tightening bolts.

[0064] On the other hand, the sensing unit 400 is configured to sense a pressure value that changes due to the ascending and descending of the horn 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0065] Specifically, the sensing unit 400 may sense a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200 by interfering with the raising and lowering unit 300 that raises and lowers the horn 200. At this time, the sensing unit 400 may sense in real time the pressure value that changes during the welding process, and may be supported by the fixing unit 600 as shown in FIGS. 1a to 2b.

[0066] Such a sensing unit 400 may be provided at any position as long as it can sense the pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200.

[0067] At this time, the sensing unit 400 is preferably provided in the circumferential direction of the screw part 320 described above so that the welding pressure control system of the present invention can more accurately sense the pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200 while having a simple structure. In this case, the sensing unit 400 may be provided between the vertical movement unit 330 and the fixing unit 600 so that it can be pressurized by the end of the vertical movement unit 330 that moves along the screw part 320.

[0068] As an example, as shown in FIGS. 1a to 1b, the sensing unit 400 may be provided by being inserted into the screw part 320 so that the screw part 320 can rotate. is In this case, the sensing unit 400 may be provided in an annular ring type with a hollow formed inside. At this time, the inner diameter of the sensing unit 400 is preferably formed to have a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the screw part 320 so that the screw part 320 can rotate.

[0069] As another example, as shown in FIGS. 2a to 2b, the sensing unit 400 may be located adjacent to the screw part 320 and provided at a predetermined distance from the screw part 320 at the periphery of the screw part 320. In this case, the sensing unit 400 can sense a change in the pressure value by being pressurized by at least a part of the region by the vertical movement unit 330.

[0070] Such a sensing unit 400 may be composed of a pressure sensor. More specifically, the sensing unit 400 may be a load cell sensor that outputs the applied pressure as an electrical signal. At this time, various types of load cell sensors may be used. For example, the load cell sensor may be various types of load cell sensors such as a strain gauge type load cell, a beam load cell, a platform load cell, an S-beam load cell, a canister load cell, and a tension compression load cell.

[0071] On the other hand, a plurality of the sensing units 400 may be provided. At this time, some of the sensing units 400 may be provided on the periphery of the screw part 320 and the rest may be provided under the anvil 100 or the like so as to obtain more various pressure values. Such pressure values can be usefully used for CTQ (Critical To Quality) item management.

[0072] On the other hand, the welding pressure control system according to the present invention includes a control unit 500 that can control the welding pressure at which the horn 200 pressurizes the welding object based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit 400. Here, since the welding pressure at which the horn 200 pressurizes the welding object changes according to the vertical position of the horn 200, the control of the welding pressure can be implemented by controlling the lifting and lowering unit 300 that moves the horn 200 up and down.

[0073] Specifically, the control unit 500 is configured to control the driving of the lifting and lowering unit 300 based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit 400, and various configurations are possible.

[0074] Specifically, the control unit 500 can feedback control the welding pressure of the horn 200 so that the welding pressure of the horn 200 on the welding object is maintained at an appropriate pressure and constant during the welding process based on the pressure value sensed in real time from the sensing unit 400.

[0075] Therefore, the control unit 500 can control the motor unit 310 that transmits a driving force to the lifting unit 300 based on the pressure value acquired from the sensing unit 400. Specifically, the control unit 500 can control the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, rotation speed, etc. of the motor unit 310.

[0076] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 500 may include a processing unit 510 that processes driving information for driving control of the motor unit 310 based on the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400; and a drive unit 520 that receives the driving information from the processing unit 510 and transmits a driving signal to the motor unit 310.

[0077] Here, the processing unit 510 is configured to process driving information for driving control of the motor unit 310 based on the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400, and various configurations are possible.

[0078] Specifically, the processing unit 510 can calculate the driving information for driving control of the motor unit 310 or output it through the drive unit 520.

[0079] Here, the driving information may be a signal value for raising or lowering the lifting unit 300 by the difference between the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400 and a preset reference value. At this time, the preset reference value may be set in various ways by the user.

[0080] For example, when the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400 is smaller than the preset reference value, the processing unit 510 can calculate and output a signal value for lowering the lifting unit 300 so that the pressure value applied to the sensing unit 400 increases. When the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400 is larger than the preset reference value, the processing unit 510 can calculate and output a signal value for raising or lowering the lifting unit 300 so that the pressure value applied to the sensing unit 400 decreases, thereby enabling feedback control of the welding pressure.

[0081] Therefore, by including a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), the processing unit 510 can control the processing of the drive information. In this case, the processing unit 510 may include a central processing unit (CPU), an input unit (not shown) for connecting signals with external devices, an output unit (not shown), a memory unit (not shown) for storing data, and the like.

[0082] On the other hand, the drive unit 520 is configured to transmit a drive signal to the motor unit 310 when drive information is input from the processing unit 510, and various configurations are possible.

[0083] Specifically, the drive unit 520 can calculate the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation speed of the motor unit 310 based on the drive information input from the processing unit 510, and then transmit a drive signal (e.g., voltage, current) for motor drive to the motor unit 310.

[0084] As long as the drive unit 520 can control the motor unit 310 described above, any configuration is possible. For example, when the motor unit 310 described above is configured as a servo motor, it goes without saying that the drive unit 520 may include a servo motor drive.

[0085] On the other hand, the welding pressure control system according to the present invention may further include a monitoring unit 700 that provides the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400 to the user.

[0086] Here, the monitoring unit 700 is configured to output the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400 as an image and provide it to the user, and various configurations are possible.

[0087] For example, the monitoring unit 700 can transmit drive information from the processing unit 510 described above and output it as an image to the user. At this time, the drive information may be the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit 400.

[0088] Here, the monitoring unit 700 can be configured in any way as long as it can output the pressure value to the user in the form of an image. Therefore, the monitoring unit 700 may include a display device capable of outputting the pressure value as video data, and can be implemented, for example, in a computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, etc.

[0089] Welding Pressure Control Method On the other hand, the present invention can provide a welding pressure control method capable of controlling the welding pressure using the welding pressure control system described above.

[0090] Specifically, the present invention provides a welding pressure control method including: a pressurizing step of pressurizing a welding object by raising and lowering the horn 200 through a lifting and lowering unit 300 that supports the horn 200 so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the welding object placed on the upper side of the anvil 100; a sensing step of sensing a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200 through a sensing unit 400 provided in the circumferential direction of a screw unit 320 that rotates by being connected to the rotating shaft of a motor unit 310 that transmits a driving force to the lifting and lowering unit 300; and a control step of controlling the driving of the lifting and lowering unit 300 based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing step.

[0091] Here, the pressurizing step is a step of pressurizing the welding object by raising and lowering the horn 200 through a lifting and lowering unit 300 that supports the horn 200 so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the welding object placed on the upper side of the anvil 100, and may be performed in various ways.

[0092] Here, the lifting and lowering unit 300 is configured to support the horn 200 so as to be able to move up and down. For a specific description, reference is made to the content related to the lifting and lowering unit 300 described above.

[0093] Here, the sensing stage is a stage of sensing a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200 via a sensing unit 400 provided in the circumferential direction of a screw unit 320 that rotates by being connected to the rotating shaft of a motor unit 310 that transmits a driving force to the raising and lowering unit 300, and it may be performed in various ways.

[0094] In the sensing stage, the sensing unit 400 is coupled to the screw unit 320 and is pressurized by a vertical movement unit 330 that moves vertically when the screw unit 320 rotates, so that the pressure value can be sensed.

[0095] Here, the sensing unit 400 is configured to sense a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn 200, and for a specific description, it is replaced with the content related to the sensing unit 400 described above.

[0096] Here, the control stage is a stage of controlling the driving of the raising and lowering unit 300 based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing stage, and it may be performed in various ways.

[0097] The control stage can control the driving of the raising and lowering unit 300 by controlling the driving of a motor unit 310 including a servo motor. More specifically, the control stage can control the driving of the raising and lowering unit 300 by controlling the amount of rotation angle, rotation position, rotation speed, and number of rotations of the motor unit 310 based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit 400.

[0098] Here, the control stage may be performed by the control unit 500 described above, and for specific content related to the control unit 500, it is replaced with the content described above.

[0099] Method for Measuring Thickness of Welding Object On the other hand, the present invention can further provide a method for measuring the thickness of a welding object that can measure the thickness of a welding object using the welding pressure control system described above.

[0100] More specifically, the present invention provides a method for measuring the thickness of a welding object, including: a setting step of setting, as an initial value, a position value of a motor that transmits a driving force to a lifting part 300 that lifts and lowers the horn 200 when the horn 200 contacts the anvil 100; a welding object providing step of providing a welding object above the anvil 100; a position variation value measuring step of measuring a position variation value of the motor when the horn 200 contacts the welding object; and a thickness calculating step of calculating the thickness of the welding object based on the position variation value.

[0101] First, the setting step is a step of setting, as an initial value, a position value of a motor that transmits a driving force to a lifting part 300 that lifts and lowers the horn 200 when the horn 200 contacts the anvil 100, and this can be performed in various ways. At this time, the motor has a configuration corresponding to the motor part 310 described above, and the specific content described above is replaced with the content related to the motor part 310 described above. At this time, the motor may be a servo motor.

[0102] Specifically, in the setting step, the horn 200 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the anvil 100 in a state where no welding object is placed on the anvil 100, and the position value of the motor when the horn 200 contacts the anvil 100 can be set as the initial value. Here, the position value of the motor may be understood as the rotation angle of the motor.

[0103] On the other hand, the welding object providing step is a step of providing a welding object above the anvil 100, and this can be performed in various ways. Here, the welding object may be provided in various ways. For example, it may be an electrode tab of a secondary battery in which a plurality are stacked in the vertical direction.

[0104] And the position variation value measuring step is a step of measuring the position variation value of the motor when the horn 200 contacts the welding object, and this can be performed in various ways.

[0105] Specifically, the position variation value measurement step may be performed by measuring the position variation value of the motor when the horn 200 descends toward the welding object and contacts the welding object after the welding object is placed on the anvil 100.

[0106] That is, the height of the vertical movement part 330 that supports the horn 200 in the position variation value measurement step is less decreased by the thickness of the welding object than in the setting step. Therefore, the position value of the motor that controls the vertical position of the vertical movement part 330 varies and a position variation value is generated. Here, the position variation value of the motor may be understood as the variation value of the rotation angle of the motor.

[0107] At this time, it goes without saying that the motor may be further provided with an encoder in order to detect the position variation value. Various types of encoders may be used as the encoder.

[0108] On the other hand, the thickness calculation step is a step of calculating the thickness of the welding object based on the position variation value, and may be performed by various methods.

[0109] For example, in the thickness calculation step, the thickness value of the welding object can be calculated by analyzing the correlation between the position variation value and the height of the vertical movement part (or the height of the horn). At this time, when the welding object is an electrode tab in which a plurality of electrode tabs are stacked, the operator can detect a defective factor such as a broken electrode tab by comparing the thickness of the stacked electrode tabs with a preset thickness value of the electrode tab based on the calculated thickness value.

[0110] As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea of the present invention and the claims described below by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0111] 100 Anvil 100' Anvil Frame 200 Horn 300 Lifting and Lowering Part 310 Motor Part 320 Screw Part 330 Up and Down Moving Part 340 Support Part 341 Placing Part 342 Housing 400 Sensing Part 500 Control Part 510 Processing Part 520 Drive Part 600 Fixing Part 700 Monitoring Part

Claims

1. An anvil that supports the object to be welded, A horn that faces the anvil and presses the object to be welded, A lifting and lowering unit that supports the horn so that it can be lifted and lowered, A sensing unit that senses the pressure value that changes due to the lifting and lowering of the horn, A control unit that controls the driving of the lifting and lowering unit based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit, and includes, The lifting and lowering unit is, A motor unit, A screw unit that rotates when a driving force is transmitted from the rotation shaft of the motor unit, A vertical movement unit that is coupled to the screw unit and moves vertically when the screw unit rotates, A support unit that is coupled to the vertical movement unit and supports the horn, and includes, The sensing unit is provided in the circumferential direction of the screw unit, and is a welding pressure control system that is pressed by the vertical movement of the vertical movement unit.

2. The sensing unit is inserted into the screw unit so that the screw unit can rotate, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

3. The sensing unit has an annular shape with a hollow formed inside, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 2.

4. The sensing unit is located adjacent to the screw unit and is provided at a predetermined distance from the periphery of the screw unit, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

5. The motor unit includes a servo motor, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

6. The control unit controls the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation number of the motor unit based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 5.

7. The screw unit is a ball screw, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

8. The sensing unit is a load cell sensor, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

9. The control unit is, A processing unit that processes drive information for driving control of the motor unit based on the pressure value sensed from the sensing unit, A drive unit that receives drive information from the processing unit and transmits a drive signal to the motor unit, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 1.

10. The processing unit includes a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), and the welding pressure control system according to claim 9.

11. The drive unit includes a servo motor drive, and the welding pressure control system according to claim 9.

12. The welding pressure control system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further including a monitoring unit that outputs the pressure value sensed by the sensing unit as an image and provides it to the user.

13. A pressurizing step of pressurizing the welding object by raising and lowering the horn through a lifting and lowering unit that supports the horn so as to be able to rise and fall with respect to the welding object placed on the anvil; A sensing step of sensing a pressure value that changes due to the raising and lowering of the horn through a sensing unit provided in the circumferential direction of a screw unit that is connected to the rotating shaft of a motor unit that transmits a driving force to the lifting and lowering unit; A control step of controlling the driving of the lifting and lowering unit based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing step, including: The sensing step is A welding pressure control method in which the sensing unit is screwed to the screw unit and senses a pressure value by being pressurized by a vertically moving unit that moves in the vertical direction when the screw unit rotates.

14. The control step controls the driving of the lifting and lowering unit by controlling the driving of the motor unit including a servo motor, and the welding pressure control method according to claim 13.

15. The control step controls the rotation angle amount, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation number of the motor unit based on the pressure value obtained from the sensing unit, and the welding pressure control method according to claim 13 or 14.

16. A method for measuring the thickness of a welding object using the welding pressure control system according to claim 1, including: A setting step of setting the position value of a motor that transmits a driving force to a lifting and lowering unit that raises and lowers the horn when the horn contacts the anvil as an initial value; A welding object providing step of providing a welding object on the upper side of the anvil; A position change value measuring step of measuring the position change value of the motor when the horn contacts the welding object; A thickness calculating step of calculating the thickness of the welding object based on the position change value.

17. The motor includes a servo motor, and the method for measuring the thickness of a welding object according to claim 16.

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