Electrode assembly folding device and folding method using the same

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the opposing separators, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, thereby supplying the electrode assembly in which first units having first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected, the apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, a holding unit that holds and transports the first units supplied from the supply unit, and a stack unit in which the first units transported by the holding unit are stacked.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0143662, filed October 26, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0135649, filed October 20, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly folding device and a folding method therefor, and more particularly to an electrode assembly folding device and a folding method therefor that simplify the folding process of an electrode assembly. [Background technology]

[0003] In modern society, as the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, video cameras, and digital cameras has become commonplace, the development of technologies related to these mobile devices is accelerating. Furthermore, rechargeable secondary batteries are a solution to address air pollution caused by existing gasoline-powered vehicles that use fossil fuels, and are used as the power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs), creating a growing need for the development of secondary batteries.

[0004] Currently commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries are attracting the most attention due to their advantages of being able to be charged and discharged freely, having a low self-discharge rate, and having a high energy density.

[0005] Secondary batteries are classified according to the shape of the battery case into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and pouch batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch-shaped case made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0006] Secondary batteries are also classified according to the structure of the electrode assembly, which is a stacked structure of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. Representative examples include a jelly-roll (wound) electrode assembly, in which long sheet-like positive and negative electrodes are wound with a separator interposed between them, and a stack (folded) electrode assembly, in which multiple positive and negative electrodes cut into predetermined sizes are stacked in sequence with a separator interposed between them. Recently, to address the issues associated with the jelly-roll and stacked electrode assemblies, a stack / folded electrode assembly, which is a hybrid of the jelly-roll and stacked types, has been developed.

[0007] Meanwhile, in manufacturing a stacked or stack / folded electrode assembly, conventional methods involve manufacturing multiple bi-cells in which anodes, separators, and cathodes are sequentially stacked, and then stacking the bi-cells or attaching the bi-cells to a sheet-like separator and then folding the sheet-like separator in one direction. However, this conventional structure involves manufacturing bi-cells in advance and then attaching them to a sheet-like separator and stacking them, which results in a complicated manufacturing process. In addition, the sheet-like separators are stacked multiple times from the surface of the final battery cell, which can result in unnecessary gaps between the electrodes and the separators.

[0008] In addition to the lamination method, a zigzag stacking method has also been used to manufacture electrode assemblies. The zigzag stacking method is a method of stacking electrode assemblies in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately inserted as a separator unwound from a wound roll moves from one side to the other and back again. However, the zigzag stacking method has the drawback of requiring separate storage of cut electrodes and the risk of the inserted electrodes moving during the stacking process. Furthermore, when producing long battery cells, it is difficult to control the tension of the separator, resulting in a slow stacking speed and reduced manufacturing efficiency.

[0009] Therefore, there is a current need for a new folding device and method that can improve manufacturing efficiency and enhance the durability and stability of the product by simplifying the process of the above-mentioned stacked or stacked / folded electrode assembly. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly folding device and a folding method therefor that can improve manufacturing efficiency and product quality by simplifying the conventional electrode assembly folding process.

[0011] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the opposing separators, and first electrodes alternately positioned above and below on outer surfaces of the two separators. The apparatus may include a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, in which first units having first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected, a holding unit that holds and transports the first units supplied from the supply unit, and a stack unit that stacks the first units transported by the holding unit.

[0013] The holding unit may place the first unit to be transferred on the stack unit, then rise and move toward the supply unit, and then descend to a position where it holds the following first unit.

[0014] The holding unit may move cyclically along a path including the first position and the second position, the first position being a position where the first unit is stacked on the stack unit, and the second position being a position where the holding unit holds the first unit supplied from the supply unit.

[0015] When the supply unit is located on the left side and the stack unit is located on the right side, the holding unit can circulate counterclockwise.

[0016] When the supply unit is located on the right side and the stack unit is located on the left side, the holding unit can circulate in a clockwise direction.

[0017] the holding units include a first holding unit for transferring a k-th first unit and a second holding unit for transferring a k+1-th first unit;

[0018] After the k-th first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second holding unit holds the k+1-th first unit, where k may be a natural number.

[0019] The holding unit may be attached to an upper surface of the first electrode of the first unit.

[0020] The holding unit may be a suction device that uses a gas suction method.

[0021] The holding unit includes a tubular suction line having a plurality of suction holes.

[0022] The plurality of suction holes are arranged in a direction extending in a width direction of the electrode assembly.

[0023] When the first unit is transferred by the holding unit, the stack unit descends, so that the space between the already transferred first unit and the adjacent second unit, and the space between the second unit and the transferred first unit are folded in opposite directions.

[0024] The stack unit can be raised again so that the transferred first unit is stacked on the existing stack.

[0025] The device may include a detection unit for detecting the position of the first unit.

[0026] Based on the position information of the first unit detected by the detection unit, at least one of the stack unit and the first unit moves or rotates in the transport direction of the electrode assembly or the width direction of the electrode assembly, thereby aligning the stack unit and the first unit with each other.

[0027] Based on the position information of the first unit detected by the detection unit, at least one of the holding unit and the first unit moves or rotates in the transport direction of the electrode assembly or the width direction of the electrode assembly, thereby aligning the holding unit and the first unit with each other.

[0028] The detection unit may include a first detection unit and a second detection unit, the first detection unit being located on the first position and the second detection unit being located on the second position, the first position being a position where the first unit body is stacked in the stack unit, and the second position being a position where the holding unit holds the first unit body.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the opposing separators, and first electrodes alternately positioned above and below on outer surfaces of the two separators, and includes the steps of: a supply unit supplying an electrode assembly in which first units each having a first electrode positioned on an upper surface thereof and second units each having a first electrode positioned on a lower surface thereof are connected in series; a holding unit holding and transporting the first units supplied from the supply unit; and stacking the first units transported by the holding unit on the stack unit, wherein the holding unit may place the transported first units on the stack unit, then rise and move toward the supply unit, and then descend to a position to hold the subsequent first units.

[0030] The holding unit may include a first holding unit that transfers the kth first unit and a second holding unit that transfers the k+1th first unit, and after the kth first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second holding unit holds the k+1th first unit, where k may be a natural number.

[0031] When the first unit is transferred by the holding unit, the stack unit descends, folding in opposite directions between the already transferred first unit and the adjacent second unit, and between the second unit and the first unit to be transferred, and the stack unit can rise again so that the transferred first unit is stacked on top of the existing stack.

[0032] The method may further include, before the step of stacking the first units, a step of detecting position information of the first units by a detection unit, and a step of adjusting the position of the stack unit based on the position information of the first units by the detection unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] According to the embodiment, the electrode assembly folding device and folding method of the present invention apply a horizontal zigzag stacking method to prevent movement of electrodes during the stacking process, thereby reducing the size of the process equipment and maximizing the production speed of the electrode assembly.

[0034] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a zigzag stacking method of an electrode assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the holding unit according to FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a holding unit and a stacking unit in an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a holding unit and a detection unit in an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a holding unit and a detection unit in an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a holding unit included in FIG. 2. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged view of the holding unit shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the intake section shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the end portion shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 11]3 is a diagram showing another example of the holding unit included in FIG. 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036]

[0030] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the embodiments. The present invention can be realized in various different forms other than those described below, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0037] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not necessary for the explanation will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0038] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily enlarged or reduced for the convenience of explanation, and it is obvious that the content of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings. In the following drawings, the thickness of each layer is enlarged to clearly show various layers and regions. In the following drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0039] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "on" another portion, this should be interpreted as including not only the case where the corresponding layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is "directly on" the other portion, but also the case where there is another portion between them. Conversely, when a corresponding layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "directly on" the other portion, it can mean that there is no other portion between them. Furthermore, being "on" a reference portion means being located above or below the reference portion, and does not necessarily mean being located "on" in the opposite direction of gravity. Meanwhile, the description of being "on" another portion, as well as the description of being "on" another portion, can also be understood by referring to the above content.

[0040] Also, throughout the specification, when a part "comprises" a certain element, this means that it can further include other elements, not excluding other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0041] Furthermore, throughout the specification, "in a plane" means the part is viewed from above, and "in cross section" means the part is viewed from the side through a vertical cross section.

[0042] An electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0043] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a zigzag stacking method for an electrode assembly according to the present invention.

[0044] In the present invention, the electrode assembly 100 used in the zigzag stacking method is formed by stacking a long sheet-like separator 130 and electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120). The separator 130 is provided as two long sheet-like separators 130. The two separators 130 are stacked with a plurality of second electrodes 120 interposed between the inner surfaces of the two separators 130 facing each other. The plurality of second electrodes 120 interposed between the separators 130 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (x-axis direction). Here, the first electrode 110 may be a positive electrode and the second electrode 120 may be a negative electrode, but this is not necessarily limited to this.

[0045] A first electrode 110 may be positioned on the outer surface of each separator 130. In this case, the first electrodes 110 may be alternately positioned on the upper side (+z axis) or the lower side (-z axis) on the outer surface of the separator 130. The first electrodes 110 are spaced apart from each other on the outer surface of each separator 130.

[0046] Here, the electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) and separator 130 may be bonded to each other. When the electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) are attached to the separator 130, not only can a strong electrode assembly 100 be formed, but shrinkage of the separator 130 can be prevented, further improving the safety of the battery. In this case, an adhesive material may be used to bond the electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) and separator 130, or a bonding method using heat and pressure, such as lamination, may be used.

[0047] The electrode assembly 100 can also be described as a configuration in which a plurality of units 101, 102 are connected to each other. That is, in the present invention, the electrode assembly 100 used in the zigzag stacking method can be described as a configuration in which first units 101, in which the first electrodes 110 are located in the upper (+z-axis) direction, and second units 102, in which the first electrodes 110 are located in the lower (-z-axis) direction, are alternately connected.

[0048] Meanwhile, the electrode assembly 100 of this embodiment is manufactured in a stacked form by folding a sheet-like separator 130 having electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) arranged thereon in a zigzag stacking manner. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the "stacked electrode assembly 100" folded in a zigzag stacking manner will be referred to as a "stack 190."

[0049] Specifically, the sheet-shaped electrode assembly 100 is manufactured into a laminate 190 by folding the connecting portions between the first unit 101 and the second unit 102 in opposite directions. Here, the connecting portions may be portions of the electrode assembly 100 where no electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) are disposed and only the separator 130 is present.

[0050] 1, the connecting portion between the first unit 101 and the second unit 102 is folded to one side p1, and the connecting portion between the adjacent second unit 102 and the first unit 101 is folded to the other side p2. As a result, the separation membrane 130 on the lower surface of the first unit 101 can contact the first electrode 110 on the lower surface of the second unit 102, and the separation membrane 130 on the upper surface of the second unit 102 can contact the first electrode 110 on the upper surface of the first unit 101.

[0051] By manufacturing the stack 190 through such a folding process, the process of separately manufacturing individual bi-cells is omitted, so the stack 190 can be manufactured in a simpler and easier manner than conventional methods, thereby reducing the cost and time required to manufacture the battery.

[0052] An electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The electrode assembly folding device of this embodiment simplifies the manufacturing device by implementing a zigzag stacking method in the horizontal direction, and minimizes damage to the electrodes by using a holding unit that uses an inhalation method.

[0053] FIG. 2 is a side view of an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the holding unit according to FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the holding unit and stack unit in an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the holding unit and detection unit in an electrode assembly folding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease of understanding, the electrode assembly 100 shown in the following drawings is simplified to show two separators 130 and a plurality of second electrodes 120 interposed between the inner surfaces of the two separators 130 facing each other in the electrode assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1. Meanwhile, the first electrode 110 located on the outer surface of the separator 130 is shown as is.

[0054] 2 to 4, the electrode assembly folding device 200 of this embodiment may include a supply unit 210 that supplies sheet-shaped electrode assemblies 100, a stack unit 220 on which the zigzag-folded electrode assemblies 100 are placed, and a holding unit 230 that holds a portion of the electrode assembly 100 supplied from the supply unit 210 and moves it to the stack unit 220. Also, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the electrode assembly folding device 200 of this embodiment may include a detection unit 240.

[0055] The supply unit 210 can move the electrode assembly 100 in an initial state, i.e., the sheet-shaped electrode assembly 100, in one direction (x-axis direction). The supply unit 210 may be in the form of a conveyor. The supply unit 210 can continuously move the sheet-shaped electrode assembly 100 in the direction where the stack unit 220 is located by continuously moving along a predetermined track.

[0056] The stack unit 220 may support the zigzag-folded stack 190 and move to stack additional first units 101 or second units 102 on the existing stack 190. The stack unit 220 may be in the form of a table or a plate. The stack unit 220 may further include a gripper (not shown) for fixing the stack 190. The grippers may have a mandrel structure, and for example, two to four grippers may be provided on each side of the stack unit 220 in the overall length direction (y-axis) of the stack 190. The stack unit 220 may mainly move up and down, but may also move more precisely up and down or left and right so that the first units 101 or second units 102 transferred by the holding unit 230 correspond to the top surfaces of the existing stacks 190 placed on the stack unit 220. In some cases, the stack unit 220 may circulate in the direction opposite to the circulating direction of the holding unit 230. At this time, the movement, that is, the position adjustment, of the stack unit 220 may be based on the position information transmitted from the detection unit 240 .

[0057] The holding unit 230 can move the first unit 101 or the second unit 102 to the stack unit 220. The holding unit 230 can move the first unit 101, on which the first electrode 110 is placed on its upper surface, to the stack unit 220 so that the sheet-shaped electrode assembly 100 can be folded in a zigzag pattern. The holding unit 230 can also move the second unit 102 in addition to the first unit 101, but the following description will focus on the holding unit 230 moving the first unit 101.

[0058] The holding unit 230 can move between a first position where the stack unit 220 is located and a second position where the first unit 101 closest to the first position is located, separated from the first position. The first position is a position where the first unit 101 is stacked on an existing stack (i.e., an already stacked electrode assembly) in the stack unit 220, and the second position is a position where the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101 supplied from the supply unit 210. Here, the first and second positions may be fixed positions, or, more specifically, may be positions defined based on a state where the first unit 101 is held by the holding unit 230 and before it moves toward the stack unit 220. Here, the first position may be located distal to the second position in the transfer direction (x-axis direction) of the electrode assembly 100.

[0059] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the holding unit 230 descends (in the -z-axis direction) to a second position to hold the first unit 101, moves the first unit 101 to a first position along the transport direction (x-axis direction) of the electrode assembly 100, and when stacking of the first unit 101 is completed, ascends (in the +z-axis direction) at the first position, moves in the opposite direction to the transport direction (in the -x-axis direction) to descend, and then returns to the second position.

[0060] That is, the holding unit 230 can circulate along a path including the first and second positions. In the example of FIG. 2, when the supply unit 210 is located on the left side and the stack unit 220 is located on the right side, the holding unit 230 moves along a counterclockwise path. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, if the supply unit 210 and the stack unit 220 are arranged symmetrically to FIG. 2, the holding unit 230 can move along a clockwise path. Modifications and changes can be made to suit various environments in which the present invention is implemented. The holding unit 230 can also move more precisely up and down or left and right so that the first unit 101 or second unit 102 transferred by the holding unit 230 corresponds to the top surface of the existing stack 190 placed in the stack unit 220.

[0061] Meanwhile, when the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101 and moves it to the stack unit 220, the stack unit 220 moves as follows: The stack unit 220 moves downward (in the -z-axis direction) along with the first unit 101 that has already been transferred. As a result, a fold is formed between the first unit 101 that has already been transferred and the adjacent second unit 102. Additionally, when the first unit 101 is stacked on the stack unit 220, the holding unit 230 drives at a constant speed in the transfer direction of the first unit 101 (x-axis direction), so that the stack unit 220 can also move in the x-axis direction in synchronization with the holding unit 230. After the stacking of the first unit 101 is completed, the stack unit 220 can move in the -x-axis direction faster than the speed at which the holding unit 230 returns in the -x-axis direction so that the subsequent second unit 102 can be stacked. The stack unit 220 again moves upward (in the +z-axis direction) so that the second units 102 are stacked on the first units 101 that have already been transferred, and the electrode assembly 100 is folded in a zigzag, i.e., Z-shape. At this time, the stack unit 220 is positioned lower by the height of the first units 101 and the second units 102 than the position at which the previously transferred first units 101 were stacked. As a result, as each transferred first unit 101 is stacked, the stack unit 220 gradually stacks the first unit 101 at a position lower by the height of the first unit 101 and the second unit 102 than before, as described above. As a result, the electrode assembly 100 is folded and stacked in a zigzag shape on the stack unit 220.

[0062] There may be two or more holding units 230. The holding units 230 may include a first holding unit 230a and a second holding unit 230b. The first holding unit 230a may transport the kth first unit, and the second holding unit 230b may transport the k+1th first unit, where k is a natural number. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, after the first holding unit 230a has completed the movement of the first unit 101 to the stack unit 220, while the first holding unit 230a is moving from the first position to the second position (e.g., immediately after rising from the first position and immediately before moving in the opposite direction to the movement of the first unit 101), the second holding unit 230b, which was located at the second position, may hold the first unit 101 and move it to the first position. In this way, when two or more holding units 230 are provided, the movement of the first unit 101 to the stack unit 220 is performed continuously. At this time, in order to prevent collision between the holding units 230, it is preferable that after one of the holding units 230 completes stacking of the first units 101, the other one holds the first units 101.

[0063] The holding unit 230 may have a suction function. Specific examples of the holding unit 230 and their structures will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.

[0064] The detection unit 240 may be configured to align the first unit 101 or the second unit 102 at a predetermined position in the existing stack 190 during stacking of the electrode assembly 100. The detection unit 240 may be configured to align the first unit 101 with the holding unit 230 or the stack unit 220.

[0065] In other words, based on the position information of the first unit 101 detected by the detection unit 240, at least one of the stack unit 220 and the first unit 101 moves or rotates in the transport direction or width direction of the electrode assembly, thereby aligning the stack unit 220 and the first unit 101 with each other.

[0066] Furthermore, based on the position information of the first unit 101 detected by the detection unit 240, at least one of the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101 moves or rotates in the transfer direction or the width direction of the electrode assembly, thereby aligning the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101 with each other. More specifically, the detection unit 240 may detect the position of the holding unit 230 or the first unit 101, which is the object of the holding unit 230. The detection unit 240 may detect the position of the holding unit 230 or the first unit 101 before the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101 or after the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101. Furthermore, the detection unit 240 may detect the position of the stack unit 220, the holding unit 230, or the first unit 101 before the first unit 101 is stacked on the stack unit 220.

[0067] The detection unit 240 may detect the position of a target object based on an acquired image. The detection unit 240 may include a camera capable of acquiring an image. The detection unit 240 may also be referred to as a "vision." The detection unit 240 or the electrode assembly folding device 200 of this embodiment may include a controller capable of data processing, and the controller may detect the position values of the first unit 101, the stack unit 220, or the holding unit 230 from the image acquired by the detection unit 240. The electrode assembly folding device 200 may also include a storage unit for storing the detected position values. Here, each position is calculated using (x, y, θ) values. In this case, the θ value may represent the angle at which the first unit 101 is tilted relative to the xy plane. Here, the x-axis may represent the transfer direction of the electrode assembly 100, and the y-axis may represent the width direction of the electrode assembly 100.

[0068] Meanwhile, for the sake of convenience, the detection unit 240's "detection" of a position value or position information of a specific component will be described as including detection of the position value or position information through a calculation process of the control unit. That is, the detection unit 240 will be described as including acquiring an image and calculating position information of each component as (x, y, θ) values, etc., based on the image.

[0069] The position value and position information of the first unit 101 confirmed by the detection unit 240 are used to correct the position of the stack unit 220. The stack unit 220 and the detection unit 240 may be connected via wired or wireless network communication, or may be connected via an input / output terminal and a cable. In addition, the stack unit 220 may include a control unit, which processes the position information and adjusts the position of the stack unit 220.

[0070] For example, before the first unit 101 is stacked on the stack unit 220, position information of the first unit 101 detected by the detection unit 240 is transmitted to the stack unit 220. The detection unit 240 can detect the position information of the stack unit 220, and the transmitted position information of the first unit 101 can be compared with the current position information of the stack unit 220. The stack unit 220 can move or rotate based on the position information of the first unit 101, the stack unit 220, or the holding unit 230 obtained by the detection unit 240. The stack unit 220 can be adjusted by moving in the x-axis or y-axis direction by the difference between the current position and the position of the first unit 101, or by rotating by an inclination angle θ, so that the transferred first unit 101 corresponds to the existing stack 190. Here, rotation may refer to rotation based on the xy plane. As a result, the displaced or tilted first unit 101 is transferred to the adjusted stack unit 220, and the first unit 101 is stacked on the existing stack 190 in an aligned manner.

[0071] In addition, the position information of the first unit 101 confirmed by the detection unit 240 may be used to correct the position of the holding unit 230 .

[0072] For example, before the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101, position information of the first unit 101 detected by the detection unit 240 is transmitted to the holding unit 230. The transmitted position information of the first unit 101 can be compared with position information of the holding unit 230. The holding unit 230 can be adjusted by moving the first unit 101 in the x-axis or y-axis direction or rotating by the tilt angle θ based on the compared value. As a result, the displaced or tilted first unit 101 is held by the adjusted holding unit 230, so that the first unit 101 is accurately held by the holding unit 230 in the second position. In this way, not only the stack unit 220 but also the holding unit 230 can adjust their positions based on the position information transmitted from the detection unit 240. The holding unit 230 may be connected to the detection unit 240 via wired or wireless network communication, or via an input / output terminal and a cable. Furthermore, the holding unit 230 may include a control unit, which processes the position information and adjusts the position of the holding unit 230 .

[0073] Meanwhile, calculating the difference between the positional information of the two components and adjusting the position of the stack unit 220 or the holding unit 230 based on the difference value may be performed by a separate control unit. Here, the control unit may be included in the electrode assembly folding device 200 or in a host system of the electrode assembly folding device 200, and the electrode assembly folding device 200 or the host system may include a communication unit to receive or transmit the processing results of the control unit.

[0074] 5 and 6, there may be two or more detection units 240. The detection units 240 may include a first detection unit 240a and a second detection unit 240b.

[0075] The detection units 240 can acquire images within a predetermined range at fixed positions, with the first detection unit 240a located at a first position and the second detection unit 240b located at a second position.

[0076] For example, in FIG. 5, the first detection unit 240a is the first one stacked (1 st 6, the position information of the second stacked first unit 101 and stack unit 220 is detected. nd It is used to detect the position information of the first unit 101 and stack unit 220 that are stacked.

[0077] The first detection unit 240a can acquire a position value of the first unit 101 moved from the first position by the holding unit 230, the stack unit 220, or the first unit 101 stacked on the stack unit 220. The first detection unit 240a is used to detect the position value of the first unit 101 stacked on the stack unit 220, thereby confirming whether the stacked first unit 101 is stacked alongside the existing stack 190. In addition, the first detection unit 240a can grasp the position values of the first unit 101 and the stack unit 220 before the moved first unit 101 is stacked, and these position values are used to ensure that the first unit 101 is stacked alongside the existing stack 190.

[0078] In addition, in FIG. 5, the second detection unit 240b is the second one stacked (2 nd 6, the third stacked unit 101 and the holding unit 230 are used to detect the position information of the third stacked unit 101 and the holding unit 230. rd It is used to detect the position information of the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 that are stacked.

[0079] The second detection unit 240b may acquire the position values of the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101 that the holding unit 230 is scheduled to hold or has already held at the first position. The second detection unit 240b may determine the position value of the held first unit 101, and this position value is used to adjust the position of the stack unit 220. Here, the position value of the held first unit 101 may be calculated based on the position value of the holding unit 230 picking the first unit 101. In this manner, the position value of the held first unit 101 is calculated as a relative value between the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101. In addition, the second detection unit 240b may determine the position values of the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101 before the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101, and this position value is used to match them.

[0080] The holding unit 230 of this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0081] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a holding unit included in Figure 2. Figure 8 is a partially enlarged view of the holding unit shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet portion shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the end portion shown in Figure 7.

[0082] 7, the holding unit 230 of this embodiment is provided as a suction device that uses a gas suction method. The holding unit 230 includes a moving part 232 that moves the holding unit 230, an adsorption part 234 that temporarily attaches to a target by adsorbing gas and lifts the target, and a terminal block 237 connected to the terminal of the adsorption part 234.

[0083] 8 and 9, the suction unit 234 may include at least one suction line 235 therein. The suction line 235 may be provided in the form of a tube having a circular, rectangular, or other cross-sectional shape. A plurality of suction lines 235 may be provided to cover a larger area. For example, three suction lines 235 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 9, the suction line 235 may have a plurality of suction holes 236 formed therein. The suction holes 236 are arranged in a direction extending in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the first unit 101 or the electrode assembly 100. When the suction unit 234 performs its suction function, external air flows into the suction unit 234, specifically, into the suction line 235, through the suction holes 236. This allows the target located below the suction unit 234, i.e., the first unit 101, to adhere to the suction unit 234. The greater the number of suction holes 236, the greater the performance of the suction unit 234. However, if there is a limit to the suction flow rate, the greater the number of suction holes 236, the lower the suction performance.

[0084] 10, the block 237 is connected to the end of the suction part 234 and may be located at the end of the holding unit 230. The block 237 may include a block connection hole 238 connected to the suction line 235 and a block suction hole 239 for sucking gas, similar to the suction hole 236 of the suction line 235. When the block suction hole 239 is formed in the block 237, the end of the first unit 101 and the suction part 234 can be easily attached, and the holding and movement performance of the first unit 101 can be further improved.

[0085] Meanwhile, FIGS. 7 to 10 show an example of the holding unit 230, and the holding unit 230 of this embodiment may be provided in a different form.

[0086] FIG. 11 illustrates another example of the holding unit included in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 11, the holding unit 230 of this embodiment is a suction device using a gas suction method and is provided as a bellows-type suction cup. The bellows-type holding unit 230 can suction gas through a suction hole opened to the bottom. The bellows-type suction cup may have an inverted tapered cross section as shown in FIG. 11(a), or may have a crease on the circumferential surface as shown in FIG. 11(b) to provide a cushioning effect that minimizes damage to the target object by responding to external forces. One or more of the above-described bellows-type suction cups may be provided in the holding unit 230 as needed, or multiple bellows-type suction cups may be provided to cover a larger area.

[0087] The above description of the holding unit 230 has focused on the holding unit 230 having a gas suction function. However, the holding unit 230 may be provided without the gas suction function. For example, the holding unit 230 may be provided in the form of a clamp or gripper that grips, fixes, and moves a target object. However, because the electrode assembly 100 of this embodiment is formed by connecting multiple unit bodies 101 and 102, using a gripping-type holding unit 230 may cause unnecessary tension in the electrode assembly 100. Furthermore, if a clamp or gripper-type holding unit 230 grips the unit bodies 101 and 102 and stacks them on an existing stack 190, a portion of the holding unit 230 will be located between the existing stack 190 and the unit bodies 101 and 102. This may damage the electrodes (first electrode 110, second electrode 120) or the separator 130 during the process of removing the holding unit 230. In addition, the holding unit 230 of this embodiment attaches to and releases from the units 101 and 102 by ascending or descending in the z-axis direction, but in the case of a clamp or gripper-type holding unit 230, it grips and releases the units 101 and 102 by moving forward or backward in the y-axis direction toward the units 101 and 102, which results in a somewhat complicated operation and an increased operating time.

[0088] A folding method for an electrode assembly according to this embodiment will now be described. The folding method described below is a method for folding an electrode assembly using the above-described electrode assembly folding device 200. Therefore, the folding method for an electrode assembly includes all of the content related to the above-described electrode assembly folding device 200, and therefore, detailed description of overlapping content will be omitted.

[0089] It should be made clear in advance that the numbers S1000 to S1500 shown in parentheses below are not actually shown in the drawings, but are shown to make it easier to distinguish between the steps.

[0090] The manufacturing method S1000 of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: The process may include step S1100 in which the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101 of the electrode assembly 100 supplied by the supply unit 210, step S1200 in which the holding unit 230 transfers the first unit 101 toward the stack unit 220, step S1300 in which the stack unit 220 moves downward, and step S1400 in which the first unit 101 transferred by the holding unit 230 is stacked on the stack 190 placed on the stack unit 220.

[0091] In step S1100, the first unit 101 is held by suction of gas by the holding unit 230. For example, step S1100 may include step S1110 of the holding unit 230 descending toward the first unit 101, step S1120 of starting the suction function of the holding unit 230, step S1130 of flowing gas into the suction line 235 through the suction holes 236 of the holding unit 230, and step S1140 of attaching the holding unit 230 and the first unit 101 to each other.

[0092] At this time, the holding unit 230 can be located in the second position.

[0093] Meanwhile, the first units 101 held by the holding unit 230 are subsequently formed as the stack 190, and it is preferable that the holding unit 230 always holds a specific position of the first units 101 in step S1100 so that the first units 101 are stacked side by side in the stack 190. Therefore, this embodiment may further include a step of obtaining position information by the detection unit 240 to correspond the positions of the first units 101 and the holding unit 230. The detection unit 240 positioned at the second position used here may be a second detection unit 240b.

[0094] For example, before the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101, the detection unit 240 can detect the positions of the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 so that the positions of the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 correspond to each other.

[0095] In this case, step S1100 may include a step of detecting position information of the first unit 101 or the holding unit 230 by the detection unit 240, and a step of adjusting the position of the holding unit 230 so that the positions of the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 correspond to each other based on the position information from the detection unit 240. Also, before the step of adjusting the position of the holding unit 230, a step of comparing the position information of the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 may be further included.

[0096] The above steps are performed before step S1110 in which the holding unit 230 descends toward the first unit 101 or step S1120 in which the suction function of the holding unit 230 is initiated.

[0097] However, due to the traveling characteristics of the first unit 101, it may be difficult for the holding unit 230 to always hold the first unit 101 at a specific position. Therefore, after the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101, it is preferable to determine the relative position information between the held first unit 101 and the holding unit 230 and displace the stack unit 220 based on this information to form the aligned stack 190. For example, after the holding unit 230 holds the first unit 101, the detection unit 240 can detect the position of the first unit 101 or the holding unit 230. Here, the detection unit 240 can detect the relative position between the first unit 101 and the holding unit 230. The detection unit 240 can determine the position of the first unit 101 based on the position of the holding unit 230. The detection unit 240 can calculate a position value where the holding unit 230 picks the first unit 101, and based on the calculated position value, detect the position value of the first unit 101. For example, the detection unit 240 can ascertain the position information of the first unit 101 by checking whether the holding unit 230 is coupled to the center or the periphery of the first unit 101.

[0098] In this case, the electrode assembly folding method S1000 of this embodiment may further include, after step S1100, a step in which the detection unit 240 detects position information of the holding unit 230 or the held first unit 101. Also, after the step S1100, the method may further include a step in which the detection unit 240 transmits the detected position information to the stack unit 220.

[0099] This step does not necessarily have to be performed immediately after step S1100, but must be performed within a range where the detection unit 240 can detect the position information.

[0100] In addition, the electrode assembly folding method S1000 of this embodiment may include both the step of using the detection unit 240 to match the first unit 101 with the holding unit 230 before holding the holding unit 230, or the step of using the detection unit 240 to obtain position information of the held first unit 101 after holding the holding unit 230, or it may include only one of these steps.

[0101] In step S1200, the holding unit 230 may move from the second position to the first position. The holding unit 230 may transfer the first unit 101 from the second position to the first position toward the stack unit 220. Here, the suction function of the holding unit 230 may be in the disclosed state, or the lower surface of the holding unit 230 and the upper surface of the first unit 101 may be in a state of mutual adhesion.

[0102] In step S1300, the stack unit 220 may move downward. As the holding unit 230 moves from the second position to the first position, the stack unit 220 may move downward. Here, the term "downward" may refer to the downward position relative to one surface of the electrode assembly 100 transferred from the supply unit 210. An existing stack 190 may be positioned in the stack unit 220. As the top surface of the existing stack 190 moves downward, the first unit 101 is transferred, and the second unit 102, which was located in the transfer direction (x-axis direction) of the first unit 101, and the transferred first unit 101 are folded toward one side p1, and the second unit 102 and the existing stack 190 are folded toward the other side p2, thereby folding the electrode assembly 100 in a zigzag shape.

[0103] At this time, the position information acquired by the detection unit 240 is used to stack the first unit 101 next to the existing stack 190. The stack unit 220 can adjust its position based on the position information acquired by the detection unit 240, so that the first unit 101 can be stacked next to the existing stack 190.

[0104] In this case, step S1300 may include step S1310 of adjusting the position of the stack unit 220 using the position information received from the detection unit 240. Also, before the step of adjusting the position of the stack unit 220, a step of comparing the position information of the first unit 101 and the stack unit 220 may be included.

[0105] Here, the above-mentioned step S1310 may be performed before the stack unit 220 moves downward, while the stack unit 220 moves downward, or after the stack unit 220 moves downward. That is, step S1310 is performed before step S1400.

[0106] Here, the location information received from the detection unit 240 may include the location information detected by the second detection unit 240b.

[0107] Specifically, after holding the holding unit 230 at the second position, the second detection unit 240b can detect position information of the held first unit 101 and transmit the same to the stack unit 220. The stack unit 220 can adjust the position of the stack unit 220 based on the position information of the first unit 101.

[0108] Therefore, as described above, before step S1310, the second detection unit 240b detects the position information of the holding unit 230 or the held first unit 101, and the second detection unit 240 transmits the detected position information to the stack unit 220.

[0109] Here, the position information received from the detection unit 240 may also include the position information detected by the first detection unit 240a.

[0110] In addition, the first detection unit 240a can detect the current position of the stack unit 220 or the position of the first unit 101 before the first unit 101 moved from the first position is stacked, and can transmit this to the stack unit 220. The stack unit 220 can adjust its position based on this position information.

[0111] Therefore, before step S1310, the first detection unit 240a detects the position information of the first unit 101 or the stack unit 220, and the first detection unit 240a transmits the detected position information to the stack unit 220.

[0112] In step S1400, the transferred first unit 101 is placed on the stack unit 220. The first unit 101 is stacked on the existing stack 190 of the stack unit 220. As a result, the second unit 102, which was located distal to the first unit 101 in the transfer direction (x-axis direction), and the transferred first unit 101 are stacked on the upper surface of the existing stack 190.

[0113] Meanwhile, the detection unit 240, specifically the first detection unit 240a, is used to check whether the stacked first unit bodies 101 are stacked side by side with the existing stack 190. If the first unit bodies 101 are not stacked side by side, the stack 190 is determined to be defective and is rejected outside the process.

[0114] Therefore, the electrode assembly folding method S1000 of this embodiment may further include, after step S1400, step S1500 in which the detection unit 240 checks whether the first unit 101 corresponds to the existing stack 190. Here, this step is performed by the first detection unit 240a.

[0115] Therefore, step S1500 in which the detection unit 240 checks whether the first unit 101 corresponds to the existing stack 190 is embodied as a step in which the first detection unit 240a detects the position of the stacked first unit 101, stack 190 or stack unit 220, a step in which the position information of the first unit 101 and stack 190 is compared, and a step in which the first unit 101 is determined to be defective if it does not correspond to the existing stack 190.

[0116] After this step, the holding unit 230 may rise and wait for the next operation, or may move in the opposite direction to the transport direction to transport the first unit 101. Also, if this step is performed by the first holding unit 230a, step S1100 is performed again by the second holding unit 230b after this step.

[0117] By repeating the above steps, the first units 101 and the second units 102 are continuously stacked on the stack unit 220, thereby increasing the stack height of the stack 190. The stack 190 formed by the above steps can be stacked quickly and accurately by being stacked in a horizontal zigzag stacking manner. In addition, the stack 190 formed by the above steps is minimized in damage because the movement of the electrodes is performed by a suction device using an inhalation method.

[0118] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 110: 1st electrode 120: 2nd electrode 130: Separation membrane 190: Laminate 200: Electrode assembly folding device 210: Supply unit 220: Stack Unit 230: Holding unit 232: Mobile unit 234: Adsorption part 235: Suction line 236: Suction hole 237: Block 238: Block-linked hole 239: Block suction hole 240:Detection unit

Claims

1. An electrode assembly folding device for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, the holding unit places the first unit to be transferred on the stack unit, then ascends and moves toward the supply unit, and then descends to a position where it holds the following first unit; Electrode assembly folding device.

2. An electrode assembly folding device that folds an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, the holding units include a first holding unit for transferring a k-th first unit and a second holding unit for transferring a k+1-th first unit; After the k-th first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second holding unit holds the k+1-th first unit; k is a natural number, Electrode assembly folding device.

3. An electrode assembly folding device that folds an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, The holding unit is a suction device using a gas suction method. Electrode assembly folding device.

4. An electrode assembly folding device as described in claim 3, wherein the holding unit includes a tubular suction line having a plurality of suction holes.

5. An electrode assembly folding device as described in Claim 4, wherein the multiple suction holes are arranged in a direction extending in the width direction of the electrode assembly.

6. An electrode assembly folding device that folds an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, the holding unit circulates along a path including a first position and a second position; the first position is a position where the first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second position is a position where the holding unit holds the first unit supplied from the supply unit, a detection unit for detecting the position of the first unit; and at least one of the stack unit and the first unit is moved or rotated in a transfer direction or a width direction of the electrode assembly based on the position information of the first unit detected by the detection unit, thereby aligning the stack unit and the first unit with each other. Electrode assembly folding device.

7. An electrode assembly folding device that folds an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, the holding unit circulates along a path including a first position and a second position; the first position is a position where the first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second position is a position where the holding unit holds the first unit supplied from the supply unit, a detection unit for detecting the position of the first unit; and at least one of the holding unit and the first unit is moved or rotated in a transfer direction or a width direction of the electrode assembly based on the position information of the first unit detected by the detection unit, thereby aligning the holding unit and the first unit with each other. Electrode assembly folding device.

8. An electrode assembly folding device that folds an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, a supply unit that supplies the electrode assembly, which includes two sheet-like separators, a second electrode continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned up and down on outer surfaces of the two separators, and in which first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are alternately connected; a holding unit for holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; a stack unit on which the first units transferred by the holding unit are stacked, the holding unit circulates along a path including a first position and a second position; the first position is a position where the first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second position is a position where the holding unit holds the first unit supplied from the supply unit, a detection unit for detecting the position of the first unit; the detection unit includes a first detection unit and a second detection unit; the first detection unit is located on the first position; the second detection unit is located on the second position; the first position is a position where the first unit is stacked in the stack unit, the second position is a position where the holding unit holds the first unit; Electrode assembly folding device.

9. the holding unit circulates along a path including a first position and a second position; the first position is a position where the first unit is stacked on the stack unit, The electrode assembly folding device according to claim 1 , wherein the second position is a position where the holding unit holds the first unit supplied from the supply unit.

10. The electrode assembly folding device according to claim 9 , wherein the holding unit circulates counterclockwise when the supply unit is located on the left side and the stack unit is located on the right side.

11. The electrode assembly folding device according to claim 9 , wherein when the supply unit is located on the right side and the stack unit is located on the left side, the holding unit circulates clockwise.

12. The electrode assembly folding device of claim 1 , wherein the holding unit is attached to an upper surface of the first electrode of the first unit.

13. 9. The electrode assembly folding device of claim 1, wherein when the first unit is transferred by the holding unit, the stack unit descends, thereby folding the first unit already transferred and the adjacent second unit, and the second unit and the first unit to be transferred in opposite directions.

14. The electrode assembly folding device of claim 13 , wherein the stack unit is raised again so that the transferred first unit is stacked on an existing stack.

15. 1. A method for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, comprising: a supply unit supplying an electrode assembly including two sheet-like separators, second electrodes continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned vertically on outer surfaces of the two separators, whereby first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are continuously connected; a holding unit holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; stacking the first units transferred by the holding unit on a stack unit; the holding unit places the transferred first unit on the stack unit, then ascends to move toward the supply unit, and descends to a position where it holds the following first unit; A method for folding an electrode assembly.

16. A method for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, comprising: a supply unit supplying an electrode assembly including two sheet-like separators, second electrodes continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned vertically on outer surfaces of the two separators, whereby first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are continuously connected; a holding unit holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; stacking the first units transferred by the holding unit on a stack unit; the holding unit places the transferred first unit on the stack unit, then ascends to move toward the supply unit, and then descends to a position where it holds the following first unit; the holding units include a first holding unit for transferring a k-th first unit and a second holding unit for transferring a k+1-th first unit; After the k-th first unit is stacked on the stack unit, the second holding unit holds the k+1-th first unit; k is a natural number, A method for folding an electrode assembly.

17. A method for folding an electrode assembly in a zigzag shape, comprising: a supply unit supplying an electrode assembly including two sheet-like separators, second electrodes continuously positioned between inner surfaces of the separators facing each other, and first electrodes alternately positioned vertically on outer surfaces of the two separators, whereby first units having the first electrodes positioned on their upper surfaces and second units having the first electrodes positioned on their lower surfaces are continuously connected; a holding unit holding and transferring the first unit supplied from the supply unit; stacking the first units transferred by the holding unit on a stack unit; the holding unit places the transferred first unit on the stack unit, then ascends to move toward the supply unit, and then descends to a position where it holds the following first unit; Before the step of stacking the first units, a detecting unit detecting position information of the first unit; and adjusting a position of the stack unit or the holding unit based on the position information of the first unit obtained by the detection unit. A method for folding an electrode assembly.

18. When the first unit is transferred by the holding unit, the stack unit descends, so that the first unit already transferred and the adjacent second unit, and the second unit and the first unit to be transferred are folded in opposite directions to each other; The folding method of claim 15 , wherein the stack unit is raised again so that the transferred first unit is stacked on an existing stack.

19. In a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, 18. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising manufacturing a stacked electrode assembly by the folding method of an electrode assembly according to claim 15.

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