Unit cell inspection device, manufacturing equipment and manufacturing method of an electrode assembly including the same

Abstract

The unit cell inspection apparatus of the present invention includes an inspection unit that measures positions of edges of electrodes included in the unit cell by photographing an edge portion of a unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays, and the inspection unit may include a main heating unit that heats the edge portion of the unit cell to increase a temperature of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell, a photographing unit that photographs the edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to obtain a thermal photograph of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell, and an inspection unit that measures the edge portion of the electrode from the thermal photograph taken by the photographing unit and measures the position of the electrode via the measured electrode edge portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2021 - 0113449, filed on August 26, 2021, and all the contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a unit cell inspection apparatus for measuring and inspecting electrodes included in a unit cell using long - wavelength infrared rays, a manufacturing facility for an electrode assembly including the same, and a manufacturing method.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, a secondary battery, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, is a battery that can be charged and discharged, and such secondary batteries are widely used in the field of advanced electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders.

[0004] The secondary battery is classified into a can - type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is built into a metal can and a pouch - type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is built into a pouch. And the pouch - type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch for housing the electrode assembly and the electrolyte.

[0005] And the electrode assembly includes one or more unit cells, and each unit cell has a structure in which a first electrode and a second electrode are alternately arranged with a separator interposed therebetween. Here, the first electrode is a positive electrode and the second electrode is a negative electrode. In particular, the negative electrode has a larger area than the positive electrode.

[0006] Here, when the electrode assembly arranges unit cells in multiple stages based on the electrodes arranged on the outermost shell of the unit cell, when a positive electrode is arranged on the outermost shell of the unit cell, since the area of the positive electrode is smaller than that of the negative electrode, there is a problem that a large tolerance occurs in the total length and total width between unit cells.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Since the present invention can accurately measure the position of the negative electrode included in the unit cell using long-wavelength infrared rays, the unit cells can be arranged in multiple stages based on the negative electrodes. As a result, the total length and total width tolerances between the unit cells can be significantly reduced. That is, even when the negative electrode is arranged inside the unit cell, the problem to be solved is a unit cell inspection device that can accurately measure the position of the negative electrode using long-wavelength infrared rays, a manufacturing facility for an electrode assembly including the same, and a manufacturing method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The unit cell inspection device of the present invention includes an inspection unit that photographs the edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the position of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell. The inspection unit includes a main heating unit that heats the edge portion of the unit cell to raise the temperature of the electrode edge portion included in the unit cell, a photographing unit that photographs the edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to obtain a thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell; and an inspection unit that measures the edge portion of the electrode from the thermogram photographed by the photographing unit and measures the electrode position via the measured electrode edge portion.

[0009] The unit cell has a structure in which electrodes are arranged between separation membranes, and the photographing unit may obtain a thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell by transmitting the separation membrane with long-wavelength infrared rays.

[0010] The photographing unit is provided in four long-wavelength infrared cameras that photograph the edge portions of the unit cell respectively, and the main heating unit is provided in four long-wavelength infrared lamps that heat the edge portions of the unit cell with high-temperature light respectively to raise the temperature of the electrodes included in the unit cell. The four long-wavelength infrared lamps may be respectively coupled to the four long-wavelength infrared cameras.

[0011] The inspection unit may further include an auxiliary heating unit that supports and heats both ends of the unit cell located in the imaging unit, thereby raising the temperature of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell.

[0012] The unit cell inspection device may further include a transfer unit that transfers the unit cell to the inspection unit.

[0013] The unit cell inspection device may further include a main body unit where the inspection unit and the transfer unit are installed. The main body unit includes a lower main body where the transfer unit is installed, an upper main body installed on the upper part of the lower main body, and a first bracket that couples the inspection unit to the upper main body. The first bracket may include an up-down coupling part coupled to the upper main body, a left-right coupling part coupled to the up-down coupling part, and a front-back coupling part with one end coupled to the left-right coupling part and the other end coupled to the imaging unit.

[0014] The up-down coupling part is coupled to the upper main body so that the height can be adjusted in the thickness direction of the unit cell, and the height of the imaging unit is adjusted based on the unit cell. The left-right coupling part is coupled to the up-down coupling part so that the position can be adjusted in the full length direction of the unit cell, and the position of the imaging unit is adjusted in the full length direction of the unit cell. The imaging unit may be coupled to the front-back coupling part so that the position can be adjusted in the full width direction of the unit cell, and the position of the imaging unit is adjusted in the full width direction of the unit cell.

[0015] The main body unit may further include a second bracket that connects the front-back coupling part and the auxiliary heating unit positioned in the up-down direction to enhance the fixing force of the front-back coupling part. The front-back coupling part may be coupled to the second bracket so that the height can be adjusted in the thickness direction of the unit cell.

[0016] The inspection unit may further inspect whether the electrode edge portion is deformed by comparing the thermogram taken by the imaging unit with a normal image of the edge portion of the electrode input in advance.

[0017] The electrode may be a negative electrode.

[0018] On the other hand, the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly of the present invention may include a unit cell supply device for supplying unit cells; a unit cell inspection device according to claim 1 that photographs an edge portion of the unit cell supplied by the unit cell supply device with long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the position of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell, and measures the position of the electrode through the measured electrode edge portion; and a unit cell arrangement device that sequentially arranges unit cells based on the position of the electrode measured by the unit cell inspection device.

[0019] The unit cell arrangement device may include a unit cell arrangement unit that sequentially arranges unit cells whose electrode positions have been measured, and a unit cell inspection unit that inspects the arrangement state of the sequentially arranged unit cells.

[0020] On the other hand, the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly of the present invention includes: (a) a step of supplying unit cells; (b) a step of photographing an edge portion of the supplied unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell, and measuring the electrode position through the measured electrode edge portion; and (c) a step of sequentially arranging the unit cells whose electrode positions have been measured to manufacture an electrode assembly. The step (b) includes a transfer process of transferring the unit cells supplied in the step (a); a heating process of heating the edge portion of the transferred unit cell to raise the temperature of the electrode included in the unit cell; a photographing process of photographing the edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to obtain a thermal photograph of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell; and an inspection process of measuring the edge portion of the electrode with the thermal photograph of the edge portion of the electrode and measuring the electrode position through the measured electrode edge portion.

[0021] In the heating process, the edge portion of the unit cell may be heated using a long-wavelength infrared lamp, and in the photographing process, the edge portion of the unit cell may be photographed using a long-wavelength infrared camera.

[0022] The unit cell has a structure in which an electrode is disposed between separation membranes, the electrode is provided as a negative electrode, and in the photographing step, after passing through the separation membrane using long-wavelength infrared rays, the edge portion of the negative electrode may be photographed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] The unit cell inspection apparatus of the present invention includes an inspection unit, so that the edge portion of the unit cell can be photographed with long-wavelength infrared rays, the position of the edge portion of the electrode (i.e., the negative electrode) included in the unit cell can be accurately measured, and further, it is possible to inspect whether the edge portion of the electrode is deformed.

[0024] In addition, since the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly of the present invention includes a unit cell inspection apparatus and can arrange unit cells in multiple stages based on the negative electrodes included in the unit cells, the overall length and overall width tolerances between unit cells can be significantly reduced. As a result, defective unit cell arrangements can be prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 7

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Figure 10

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Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

[0026] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, 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 to the embodiments described herein. And, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the explanation are omitted, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts throughout the specification.

[0027] [Electrode Assembly According to the First Embodiment of the Present Invention] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which one or two or more unit cells 10 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the unit cell 10 has a structure in which electrodes 11 and separation membranes 12 are alternately arranged.

[0028] The electrode 11 includes a positive electrode 11a and a negative electrode 11b, and the negative electrode 11b has a larger area than the positive electrode 11a. Of course, the separation membrane 12 has a larger area than the negative electrode 11b.

[0029] For example, referring to FIG. 1, the electrode assembly 1 has a structure in which three or more unit cells 10 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the unit cell 10 has a four-layer structure in which a positive electrode 11a, a separator 12, a negative electrode 11b, and a separator 12 are sequentially arranged along the vertical direction.

[0030] In the electrode assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention having such a structure, the unit cells 10 are arranged in multiple stages based on the negative electrode 11b included in the unit cell.

[0031] That is, referring to FIG. 1, in the electrode assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the unit cell 10 is arranged based on the negative electrode 11b arranged between the separators 12, the unit cells are aligned based on the "α" vertical line, so that the overall width tolerance and the overall length tolerance between the unit cells 10 can be reduced. As a result, misalignment of the unit cells 10 can be prevented.

[0032] Here, the negative electrode 11b arranged between the separators 12 is measured via the unit cell inspection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the unit cell inspection device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can accurately measure the position of the negative electrode 11b arranged inside the unit cell 10, and in particular, can also inspect whether the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b is deformed.

[0033] Hereinafter, the unit cell inspection device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] On the other hand, the present invention describes, as one embodiment, a unit cell 10 having a four-layer structure in which a positive electrode 11a, a separator 12, a negative electrode 11b, and a separator 12 are sequentially arranged along the vertical direction.

[0035] [Unit Cell Inspection Device According to the Second Embodiment of the Present Invention] The unit cell inspection apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can measure the position of the electrode (i.e., the negative electrode) included in the unit cell 10 by photographing the edge portion of the unit cell 10 using long-wavelength infrared rays, and can also inspect whether the edge portion of the electrode 11 is deformed.

[0036] That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the unit cell inspection apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer unit 210, an inspection unit 220, and a main body unit 230.

[0037] Transfer unit The transfer unit 210 is for transferring the supplied unit cell 10 to the inspection unit.

[0038] That is, the transfer unit 210 includes a conveyor belt that transfers the supplied unit cell 10 to the inspection unit 220, and a suction portion that is provided at regular intervals on the conveyor belt and attaches the unit cell 10 to the conveyor belt so that the unit cell 10 is transferred along the conveyor belt. Here, the suction portion attaches the unit cell 10 to the conveyor belt by sucking the unit cell 10 using an air suction force.

[0039] When the unit cell 10 is supplied, the transfer unit 210 having such a structure causes the unit cell 10 to adhere to the conveyor belt by the suction portion, and the unit cell 10 adhered to the conveyor belt is transferred to the inspection unit 220 by the conveyor belt. At this time, the unit cell 10 is separated from the conveyor belt while the suction force of the suction portion is removed.

[0040] Inspection unit The inspection unit 220 has a structure that photographs the edge portion of the unit cell 10 via long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the electrode 11, preferably the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b, included in the unit cell 10, and measures the position of the negative electrode 11b via the measured edge portion of the negative electrode 11b. In particular, when measuring the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b, the inspection unit 220 also inspects whether the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b is deformed.

[0041] That is, the inspection unit 220 includes a main heating unit 221, a photographing unit 222, an inspection unit 223, and an auxiliary heating unit 224.

[0042] The main heating unit 221 is for raising the temperature of the edge portion of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10 in order to photograph the edge portion of the electrode 11 with long-wavelength infrared rays.

[0043] That is, the main heating unit 221 heats the edge portion of the unit cell 10 transferred from the transfer unit 210 to raise the temperature of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10. Here, the electrode 11 includes a positive electrode 11a and a negative electrode 11b. Thereby, the main heating unit 221 raises the temperatures of the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a and the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b included in the unit cell 10.

[0044] On the other hand, the main heating unit 221 is provided with four long-wavelength infrared lamps that heat the edge portions of the unit cell 10 with high-temperature light respectively to raise the temperature of the edge portion of the electrode 11.

[0045] On the other hand, a long-wave infrared lamp emits long-wave infrared rays to illuminate and heat an object with a light source. Here, the long-wave infrared rays are a general term for electromagnetic waves reaching a wavelength of about 700 nm, which corresponds to the outside of the red portion in the light spectrum. That is, when the electrode 11 included in the unit cell absorbs long-wave infrared rays, the temperature rises due to the thermal motion in the electrode 11.

[0046] The photographing unit 222 is for photographing the edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to obtain a thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10.

[0047] That is, referring to FIG. 2, the photographing unit 222 is provided above the edge portion of the unit cell 10 and is provided in four long-wavelength infrared cameras that respectively photograph the edge portions of the unit cell 10. The four long-wavelength infrared cameras respectively acquire thermographs of the edge portions of the electrodes 11 located at the edge portions of the unit cell 10. In other words, referring to FIG. 1, the photographing unit 222 acquires thermographs of the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a arranged at the uppermost end of the unit cell 10 and the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b arranged inside the unit cell 10. At this time, since the negative electrode 11b has a larger area than the positive electrode 11a, the positive electrode 11a edge portion and the negative electrode 11b edge portion are displayed in an overlapping state in the thermograph (see FIGS. 13 and 14).

[0048] On the other hand, a long-wave infrared camera, also called a thermal image infrared camera, has a function of easily detecting heat emitted from an object.

[0049] Thereby, since the four long-wavelength infrared cameras can easily detect the heat generated from the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b arranged between the separation membranes 12 of the unit cell 10, a thermograph of the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b can be taken.

[0050] The photographing unit 222 having such a structure can accurately photograph thermographs of the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a arranged at the uppermost end of the unit cell 10 and the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b arranged inside the unit cell 10.

[0051] On the other hand, the four long-wavelength infrared lamps are respectively coupled to the four long-wavelength infrared cameras. That is, the long-wavelength infrared lamp is coupled to the lower part of the long-wavelength infrared camera in a state of being arranged between the long-wavelength infrared camera and the edge portion of the unit cell 10. Thereby, it can be configured by an assembly in which the long-wavelength infrared lamp and the long-wavelength infrared camera are combined.

[0052] The inspection unit 223 measures the edge part image of the electrode 11 in the thermal photograph taken by the photographing unit 222, and measures the position of the electrode 11 through the measured edge part of the electrode 11. That is, the edge part image of the electrode 11 is measured in four thermal photographs taken by four long-wavelength infrared cameras, and the positions (or images) of the electrode 11 are measured by connecting the measured edge parts of the four electrodes 11.

[0053] In particular, the inspection unit 223 can accurately measure the position (or image) of the electrode 11 disposed between the separation membranes 12.

[0054] On the other hand, the inspection unit 223 can inspect whether the edge part of the electrode 11 is deformed by comparing the thermal photograph taken by the photographing unit 222 with a normal photograph of the edge part of the electrode input in advance. That is, after measuring the image of the edge part of the electrode 11 in the taken thermal photograph, the inspection unit 223 compares it with the edge part of the normal electrode input in advance. At this time, if the edge part of the measured electrode 11 is broken, wrinkled, or lifted out of the normal range, it is determined as defective, and if it is located within the normal range, it is determined as normal.

[0055] On the other hand, the inspection unit 220 may further include an auxiliary heating unit 224 in order to enhance the heatability of the electrode edge part. That is, the main heating unit 221 heats the upper surface of the edge part of the electrode 11, and the auxiliary heating unit 224 heats the bottom surface of the edge part of the electrode 11.

[0056] More specifically, the auxiliary heating unit 224 includes a support plate 224a that supports both ends in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10 located in the photographing unit 222, and heating pieces 224b that heat both ends of the unit cell 10 supported by the support plate 224a, respectively. That is, when both ends of the unit cell 10 are supported by the support plate 224a, the auxiliary heating unit 224 heats both ends of the unit cell 10 supported by the support plate 224a by the heating pieces 224b to increase the temperature of the edge part of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10.

[0057] Therefore, by applying long-wavelength infrared rays, the inspection unit 220 of the present invention can accurately measure the position of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10, particularly the negative electrode 11b, which is the electrode disposed between the separation membranes 12. In particular, it is possible to easily inspect whether the edge portion of the electrode 11 is deformed.

[0058] Main body unit The main body unit 230 is where the inspection unit 220 and the transfer unit 210 are installed, and includes a lower main body 231 where the transfer unit 210 is installed, an upper main body 232 installed on the upper part of the lower main body 231, and a first bracket 233 that couples the inspection unit 220 to the upper main body 232.

[0059] Here, the first bracket 233 includes an up-and-down coupling portion 233a coupled to the upper main body 232, a left-and-right coupling portion 233b coupled to the up-and-down coupling portion 233a, and a front-and-back coupling portion 233c having one end coupled to the left-and-right coupling portion 233b and the other end extending long in the transfer direction of the unit cell 10 and to which the imaging unit 222 is coupled.

[0060] In particular, since the up-and-down coupling portion 233a is coupled to the upper main body 232 and has a structure that allows height adjustment in the direction toward the unit cell 10 (the up-and-down direction as viewed from FIG. 2) or the opposite direction, the height of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted based on the unit cell 10. For example, a first long hole 233a-1 is formed long in the thickness direction of the unit cell 10 in the up-and-down coupling portion 233a, and a first bolt 233a-2 is formed in the upper main body 232 so as to penetrate the first long hole and to which a first nut 233a-3 is coupled. Thus, since the up-and-down coupling portion 233a can be raised or lowered within the first long hole according to the tightening and loosening of the first nut, the height of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted based on the unit cell 10 while the imaging unit 222 moves in conjunction with the up-and-down coupling portion 233a.

[0061] In addition, the left and right coupling portions 233b are coupled to the upper and lower coupling portions 233a and are coupled in a manner that enables position adjustment in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10 (in the entire length direction of the unit cell, as shown in FIG. 2). As a result, the position of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10. For example, a second long hole 233b-1 that is long in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10 is formed in the left and right coupling portions 233b, and the upper and lower coupling portions 233a are formed with a second bolt 233b-2 through which a second nut 233b-3 is coupled through the second long hole of the left and right coupling portions 233b. As a result, the left and right coupling portions 233b can be moved in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10 within the second long hole according to the tightening and loosening of the second nut, and as a result, the position of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted in the entire length direction of the unit cell 10 in conjunction with the left and right coupling portions 233b.

[0062] In addition, the imaging unit 222 is coupled to the front and rear coupling portions 233c and has a structure that enables position adjustment in the entire width direction of the unit cell 10 (in the entire width direction of the unit cell, as shown in FIG. 2). As a result, the position of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted in the entire width direction of the unit cell 10. For example, a third long hole 233c-1 that is long in the entire width direction of the unit cell 10 is formed in the front and rear coupling portions 233c, and the imaging unit 222 is formed with a third bolt 233c-3 through which a third nut 233c-3 is coupled through the third long hole of the front and rear coupling portions 233c. As a result, the position of the imaging unit 222 can be adjusted in the entire width direction of the unit cell 10 within the third long hole according to the tightening and loosening of the third nut.

[0063] Therefore, the present invention can accurately adjust the position of the imaging unit 222 to fit the edge portion of the unit cell 10 by including the first bracket 233.

[0064] On the other hand, the main body unit 230 further includes a second bracket 234 that connects the front and rear coupling portions 233c located in the vertical direction and the auxiliary heating unit 224 to enhance the fixing force of the imaging unit 222 coupled to the front and rear coupling portions 233c.

[0065] That is, the second bracket 234 is for enhancing the fixing force of the photographing unit 222. By connecting the end of the front-back coupling part 233c to the auxiliary heating part 224, the fixing force of the photographing unit 222 can be enhanced.

[0066] On the other hand, the front-back coupling part 233c has a structure that is vertically height-adjustably coupled to the second bracket 234. For example, a fourth long hole 234a that is long in the unit cell direction is formed in the second bracket 234, and a fourth bolt 234b through which a fourth nut 234c is coupled is formed at the end of the front-back coupling part 233c to penetrate the fourth long hole. Thereby, the front-back coupling part 233c can be moved within the fourth long hole of the second bracket 234 according to the tightening and loosening of the fourth nut.

[0067] Therefore, the unit cell inspection device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can accurately measure the electrodes 11 included in the unit cell 10, particularly the edge part of the negative electrode 11b, by using long-wavelength infrared rays, and can particularly accurately inspect whether the negative electrode 11b is deformed.

[0068] Hereinafter, the inspection method of the unit cell inspection device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0069] First, when the unit cell 10 is supplied, the transfer unit 210 transfers the unit cell 10 to the inspection unit 220. At this time, both ends of the unit cell 10 are respectively supported by the auxiliary heating part 224. In such a state, the main heating part 221 and the auxiliary heating part 224 of the inspection unit 220 heat both ends of the unit cell 10 to raise the temperature of the electrodes 11 included in the unit cell 10. Here, the main heating part 221 is provided with four long-wavelength infrared lamps and can effectively raise the temperature of the edge part of the electrodes 11 included in the unit cell 10.

[0070] When the temperature of the electrode 11 rises, the imaging unit 222 captures an edge portion of the unit cell with long-wavelength infrared rays to obtain a thermal image of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10, preferably the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b. At this time, when the negative electrode 11b is located at the uppermost end of the unit cell 10, the imaging unit 222 directly obtains a thermal image, and when it is located within the unit cell 10, it obtains a thermal image of the negative electrode 11b through the separator 12.

[0071] Next, the inspection unit 223 measures the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b from the obtained thermal image of the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b, and can measure the position of the negative electrode 11b by connecting the measured edge portions of the negative electrode 11b. In particular, the inspection unit 223 inspects whether the edge portion of the electrode 11 can be deformed by comparing the thermal image of the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b with the normal image of the edge portion of the input electrode 11. That is, the inspection unit 223 may determine that it is defective when deformation such as the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b being bent, wrinkled, or broken occurs.

[0072] Hereinafter, when describing other embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for configurations having the same configurations and functions as those of the above-described embodiments, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0073] [Manufacturing Equipment for Electrode Assembly According to the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention] As shown in FIG. 10, the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a structure including the inspection device according to the second embodiment described above. Therefore, the unit cells 10 can be arranged in multiple stages based on the negative electrode 11b, which is an electrode included in the unit cell 10, to manufacture the electrode assembly 1.

[0074] That is, the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a unit cell supply device 100 that supplies the unit cell 10, an edge portion of the unit cell 10 supplied from the unit cell supply device 100 is photographed with long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the position of the edge portion of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10, and the position of the electrode 11 is measured through the measured edge portion of the electrode 11. A unit cell inspection device 200, and a unit cell placement device 300 that sequentially arranges the unit cells 10 for which the inspection has been completed by the unit cell inspection device 200 to manufacture the electrode assembly 1.

[0075] On the other hand, since the unit cell inspection device 200 has the same configuration and function as the unit cell inspection device 200 of the second embodiment, duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0076] Since the unit cell placement device 300 places the unit cell 10 based on the negative electrode 11b which is the electrode included in the unit cell measured by the unit cell inspection device 200, the total length and total width tolerances between the unit cells 10 can be reduced.

[0077] For example, the unit cell placement device 300 includes a unit cell placement unit 310 that places the unit cell 10 for which the inspection has been completed by the unit cell inspection device 200 based on the negative electrode 11b included in the unit cell 10, and a unit cell inspection unit 320 that inspects the placement state of the unit cells 10 sequentially placed by the unit cell placement unit 310.

[0078] That is, the unit cell inspection unit 320 photographs the unit cell 10 arranged at the uppermost end to measure the position and form of the unit cell 10. Next, another unit cell 10 is stacked on the uppermost unit cell 10. Next, another unit cell 10 arranged on the uppermost unit cell 10 is photographed to measure the position and form of the other unit cell 10. Next, the uppermost unit cell 10 and the other unit cell 10 are compared to inspect for meandering defects (defects such as distortion).

[0079] On the other hand, the unit cell inspection unit 320 is coupled to the upper main body 232 and uses a vision camera.

[0080] On the one hand, the unit cell arrangement unit 310 may lower the placement plate on which the unit cells 10 are arranged at set intervals in order to keep the height of the unit cells 10 arranged at the uppermost end constant.

[0081] On the one hand, the unit cell inspection unit 320 further includes a unit cell illumination unit 321 that illuminates the arranged unit cells 10. The unit cell illumination unit 321 is hinged to the upper main body 232 and is rotatably coupled above or below about the hinge as viewed from FIG. 3. Thereby, the unit cells 10 can be stably illuminated.

[0082] Therefore, the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention can increase the alignment degree by arranging the unit cells 10 based on the negative electrode 11b, and can minimize the total length and total width tolerances between the unit cells 10.

[0083] Hereinafter, a manufacturing method using the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0084] [Manufacturing Method of Electrode Assembly According to the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention] The manufacturing method of the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes, as shown in FIG. 11, (a) a step of supplying the unit cells 10, (b) a step of measuring the edge portions of the electrodes 11 included in the supplied unit cells 10 and measuring the positions of the electrodes 11 through the measured edge portions of the electrodes 11, and (c) a step of sequentially arranging the unit cells 10 determined to be normal to manufacture the electrode assembly.

[0085] On the one hand, the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention uses the manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly. The manufacturing equipment for the electrode assembly includes a unit cell supply device 100, a unit cell inspection device 200, and a unit cell arrangement device 300.

[0086] (a) The step supplies the unit cell 10 using the unit cell supply device 100. On the other hand, the unit cell 10 has a structure in which the electrodes 11 and the separation membranes 12 are alternately arranged, and the electrode 11 includes a positive electrode 11a and a negative electrode 11b. On the other hand, the negative electrode 11b has a larger area than the positive electrode 11a, and the separation membrane 12 has a larger area than the negative electrode 11b.

[0087] Here, the unit cell 10 has a four-layer structure in which the positive electrode 11a, the separation membrane 12, the negative electrode 11b, and the separation membrane 12 are sequentially arranged in the vertical direction.

[0088] (b) The step uses the unit cell inspection device 200 to photograph the edge portion of the unit cell supplied in the (a) step with long-wavelength infrared rays to measure the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b among the electrodes included in the unit cell 10, and measures the position of the negative electrode 11b through the measured edge portion of the negative electrode 11b.

[0089] For example, the (b) step includes a transfer process, a heating process, a photographing process, and an inspection process. The unit cell inspection device 200 includes a transfer unit 210 and an inspection unit 220. The inspection unit 220 includes a transfer unit, a main heating unit 221, a photographing unit 222, an inspection unit 223, and an auxiliary heating unit 224.

[0090] The transfer process transfers the unit cell 10 supplied in the (a) step to the inspection unit 220 through the transfer unit 210.

[0091] The heating process heats both ends (preferably, the edge portion of the unit cell) of the unit cell 10 transferred to the inspection unit 220 with the main heating unit 221 to raise the temperature of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10. At this time, in the heating process, the main heating unit 221 heats the edge portion of the unit cell 10 using a long-wavelength infrared lamp.

[0092] In particular, in the heating process, the auxiliary heating unit 224 is used to heat the bottom surface of the end of the unit cell 10 transferred to the inspection unit 220, thereby raising the temperature of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10.

[0093] In the photographing process, the edge portion of the unit cell 10 is photographed with long-wavelength infrared rays through the photographing unit 222 to obtain a thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode 11 included in the unit cell 10. That is, a thermogram of the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a and a thermogram of the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b are obtained.

[0094] At this time, the photographing unit 222 accurately photographs the edge portion of the unit cell 10 using a long-wavelength infrared camera.

[0095] In summary, in the photographing process, the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a is directly photographed using long-wavelength infrared rays, and the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b is photographed after passing through the separation membrane 12 using long-wavelength infrared rays.

[0096] In the inspection process, the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b in the thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode is measured through the inspection unit 223, and the measured edge portions of the negative electrode 11b are connected to measure the position of the negative electrode 11b. At this time, the position of the negative electrode 11b may be the entire area of the negative electrode 11b or the center point of the negative electrode 11b.

[0097] In particular, in the inspection process, the deformability of the edge portion of the electrode is inspected by comparing the thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode with a normal image of the edge portion of the electrode input in advance.

[0098] In step (c), the unit cells 10 determined to be normal in step (b) are sequentially arranged through the unit cell arrangement device 300 to manufacture the electrode assembly 1. At this time, the unit cells 10 are arranged based on the negative electrode 11b.

[0099] Here, the unit cell arrangement device 300 includes a unit cell arrangement unit 310 and a unit cell inspection unit 320.

[0100] That is, in step (c), the unit cells 10 that have been inspected by the unit cell inspection device 200 are sequentially stacked via the unit cell arrangement unit 310 to manufacture the electrode assembly 1.

[0101] At this time, in step (c), the meandering defect (i.e., distortion) of the unit cell 10 stacked via the unit cell inspection unit 320 is inspected.

[0102] When the above steps are completed, the finished electrode assembly 1 can be manufactured.

[0103] [Experimental Example] Prepare a plurality of unit cells 10 having a four-layer structure in which the positive electrode 11a, the separator 12, the negative electrode 11b, and the separator 12 are sequentially arranged along the vertical direction.

[0104] Comparative Example Prepare an optical system thermal imaging camera and photograph the edge portion 10a of the unit cell 10 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0105] Manufacturing Example Prepare an optical system long-wavelength infrared camera and photograph the edge portion 10a of the unit cell 10 as shown in FIG. 12. On the other hand, the optical system long-wavelength infrared camera of the manufacturing example has the same structure as the photographing unit 222 included in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Experimental Results When comparing a part of the photograph of the comparative example in which the edge portion of the unit cell 10 was photographed with the photograph of the manufacturing example, it is the same as FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0107] In FIG. 13, when comparing the photograph of the comparative example and the photograph of the production example that photographed the same edge portion of the unit cell 10, it can be confirmed that the edge portion 11a-1 of the positive electrode 11a, the separation membrane 12, and the edge portion 11b-1 of the negative electrode 11b were photographed. In particular, in the production example, it can be confirmed that the edge portion 11a-1 of the positive electrode 11a, the separation membrane 12, and the edge portion 11b-1 of the negative electrode 11b were photographed more accurately and clearly than in the comparative example. In particular, in the production example, it can be accurately confirmed that a fold occurred in the edge portion 11b-1 of the negative electrode 11b.

[0108] In FIG. 14, it can be confirmed that the edge portion 11a-1 of the positive electrode 11a, the separation membrane 12, and the edge portion 11b-1 of the negative electrode 11b were photographed in the photograph of the comparative example and the photograph of the production example. In particular, in the production example, it can be confirmed that the edge portion of the positive electrode 11a, the separation membrane 12, and the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b were photographed more accurately than in the comparative example. In particular, in the production example, it can be accurately confirmed that wrinkles occurred in the edge portion 11b-1 of the negative electrode 11b.

[0109] Therefore, it can be confirmed that the production example using the optical system long-wavelength infrared camera can photograph the edge portion of the negative electrode 11b more accurately than the comparative example.

[0110] The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims described later rather than by the above detailed description, and various embodiments derived from the meaning and scope of the scope of claims and the concept of their equivalents are possible.

Explanation of Signs

[0111] 1 Electrode assembly 10 Unit cell 10a Unit cell edge portion 11 Electrode 11a Positive electrode 11a-1 Positive electrode edge portion 11b Negative electrode 11b-1 Negative electrode edge portion 12 Separation membrane 100 Unit cell supply device 200 Unit cell inspection device 210 Transfer Unit 220 Inspection Unit 221 Main Heating Section 222 Imaging Section 223 Inspection Section 224 Auxiliary Heating Section 224a Support Plate 224b Heating Sheet 230 Body Unit 231 Lower Body 232 Upper Body 233 First Bracket 233a Vertical Coupling Section 233b Horizontal Coupling Section 233c Front - Rear Coupling Section 234 Second Bracket 300 Unit Cell Arrangement Device 310 Unit Cell Arrangement Unit 320 Unit Cell Inspection Unit 321 Unit Cell Lighting Section

Claims

1. A unit cell inspection device including an inspection unit that photographs an edge portion of a unit cell with infrared rays to measure the position of an edge portion of an electrode included in the unit cell, wherein the inspection unit includes a main heating unit that heats an edge portion of the unit cell to raise the temperature of an electrode edge portion included in the unit cell, a photographing unit that photographs an edge portion of the unit cell with infrared rays to obtain a thermogram of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell, and an inspection unit that measures an edge portion of the electrode from the thermogram photographed by the photographing unit and measures an electrode position via the measured electrode edge portion, wherein the photographing unit is provided in four infrared cameras that respectively photograph edge portions of the unit cell, the main heating unit is provided in four infrared lamps that heat edge portions of the unit cell with high-temperature light to raise the temperature of an electrode included in the unit cell, and the four infrared lamps are respectively coupled to the four infrared cameras, a unit cell inspection device.

2. The unit cell has a structure in which an electrode is disposed between separation membranes, and the photographing unit obtains a thermogram of an edge portion of an electrode included in the unit cell by transmitting infrared rays through the separation membrane. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 1.

3. The inspection unit further includes an auxiliary heating unit that raises the temperature of an edge portion of an electrode included in the unit cell by supporting and heating both ends of the unit cell located at the photographing unit. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 1.

4. The unit cell inspection device further includes a transfer unit that transfers the unit cell to the inspection unit. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 1.

5. The unit cell inspection device further includes a main body unit in which the inspection unit and the transfer unit are installed, wherein the main body unit includes a lower main body in which the transfer unit is installed, an upper main body installed on an upper portion of the lower main body, and a first bracket that couples the inspection unit to the upper main body, and the first bracket includes an up-down coupling portion coupled to the upper main body, a left-right coupling portion coupled to the up-down coupling portion, and a front-back coupling portion having one end coupled to the left-right coupling portion and the other end coupled to the photographing unit. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 4.

6. The upper and lower coupling part is coupled to the upper main body so that the height can be adjusted in the thickness direction of the unit cell, and the height of the photographing part is adjusted based on the unit cell. The left and right coupling part is coupled to the upper and lower coupling part so that the position can be adjusted in the entire length direction of the unit cell, and the position of the photographing part is adjusted in the entire length direction of the unit cell. The photographing part is coupled to the front and rear coupling part so that the position can be adjusted in the entire width direction of the unit cell, and the position of the photographing part is adjusted in the entire width direction of the unit cell. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 5.

7. The main body unit further includes a second bracket that connects the front and rear coupling parts located in the vertical direction and the auxiliary heating part to enhance the fixing force of the front and rear coupling parts. The front and rear coupling part is coupled to the second bracket so that the height can be adjusted in the thickness direction of the unit cell. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 6.

8. The inspection part further inspects whether the edge part of the electrode can be deformed by comparing the thermal photograph taken by the photographing part with the normal photograph of the edge part of the electrode input in advance. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 1.

9. The electrode is a negative electrode. The unit cell inspection device according to claim 1.

10. A unit cell supply device for supplying unit cells, The edge part of the unit cell supplied by the unit cell supply device is photographed with infrared rays to measure the position of the edge part of the electrode included in the unit cell, and the position of the electrode is measured through the measured electrode edge part. The unit cell inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A unit cell arrangement device for sequentially arranging unit cells based on the position of the electrode measured by the unit cell inspection device. Manufacturing equipment for an electrode assembly including.

11. The unit cell arrangement device includes a unit cell arrangement unit for sequentially arranging unit cells whose electrode positions have been measured, and a unit cell inspection unit for inspecting the arrangement state of the sequentially arranged unit cells. The manufacturing equipment for an electrode assembly according to claim 10.

12. (a) A step of supplying unit cells, (b) Photographing the edge part of the supplied unit cell with infrared rays to measure the edge part of the electrode included in the unit cell, and measuring the electrode position through the measured electrode edge part, (c) A step of sequentially arranging the unit cells whose electrode positions have been measured to manufacture an electrode assembly, including, The step (b) is, A transfer process of transferring the unit cell supplied in the step (a), A heating step of heating an edge portion of the transferred unit cell to raise the temperature of the electrode included in the unit cell; An imaging step of imaging the edge portion of the unit cell with infrared rays to obtain a thermal image of the edge portion of the electrode included in the unit cell; An inspection step of measuring the edge portion of the electrode from the thermal image of the edge portion of the electrode and measuring the electrode position through the measured electrode edge portion, comprising: The heating step heats the edge portion of the unit cell using four infrared lamps; The imaging step images the edge portion of the unit cell using four infrared cameras respectively coupled to the four infrared lamps; A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly.

13. The unit cell has a structure in which electrodes are arranged between separation membranes, and the electrodes are provided as negative electrodes; The imaging step images the edge portion of the negative electrode after the infrared rays pass through the separation membrane, according to the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to claim 12.

Images