Automatic separator supply device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic separator supplying device. The automatic separator supplying device according to the present invention is a device that supplies a separator winding roll, and includes a unit shaft to which the separator winding roll is transmitted, a transfer unit that moves the transmitted separator winding roll, and an unwinder shaft to which the separator winding roll moved via the transfer unit is attached, and includes an unwinder that unwinds the separator from the separator winding roll attached to the unwinder shaft when winding the electrodes and the separator, and the transfer unit aligns the unit shaft with the unwinder shaft of the unwinder, and then attaches the separator winding roll to the unwinder shaft of the unwinder.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0171352 filed December 2, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0166549 filed December 2, 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 automatic separator supply device. [Background technology]

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and have the potential to be miniaturized and have large capacities. Due to technological developments and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin-type batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch-type batteries depending on the shape of the battery case. In secondary batteries, the electrode assembly installed inside the battery case is a power generating element that can be charged and discharged and is made up of a laminated structure of electrodes and separators.

[0005] Electrode assemblies are generally classified into jelly-roll types, in which a separator is interposed between a sheet-like positive electrode and a negative electrode coated with an active material and wound up, stack types, in which multiple positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked in order with a separator interposed between them, and stack / folding types, in which a stack-type unit cell is wound up with a long separating film.

[0006] A jelly roll type electrode assembly is manufactured by winding up positive and negative electrodes and a separator, and during the winding process, separator rolls on which separators are wound are manually replaced to supply the separators.

[0007] This has the drawback that the operation of the equipment must be stopped when the operator manually replaces the separator roll, resulting in a loss of work load for the operator in replacing the material. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is to provide an automatic separator supplying device that can automatically supply separators. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device for supplying a separator take-up roll, and includes a unit shaft to which the separator take-up roll is transferred, a transfer unit for moving the transferred separator take-up roll, and an unwinder shaft to which the separator take-up roll moved via the transfer unit is attached. The automatic separator supply device further includes an unwinder that unwinds the separator from the separator take-up roll attached to the unwinder shaft when winding the electrodes and the separator, and the transfer unit can align the unit shaft with the unwinder shaft of the unwinder and then attach the separator take-up roll to the unwinder shaft of the unwinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, when an electrode and a separator are wound up to manufacture an electrode assembly, the separator can be automatically supplied by an unwinder that provides the separator to be wound via a transfer unit. In addition, by further including a lift unit and a logistics supply unit, the separator can be automatically supplied more easily.

[0011] After aligning the unit shaft of the transfer unit on which the separator take-up roll is located with the unwinder shaft of the unwinder, the separator take-up roll can be easily attached to the unwinder by attaching the separator take-up roll to the unwinder shaft of the unwinder. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a physical distribution supply unit and a lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view showing a physical distribution supply unit and a lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred from a logistics supply unit to a lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the lift unit rotates after the separator take-up roll is transferred to the lift unit in the automatic separator supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a plan view showing a state before a lift unit descends to transfer a separator take-up roll to a transfer unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred from a lift unit to a transfer unit in the automatic separator supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the transfer unit moves after the separator take-up roll is transferred to the transfer unit in the separator automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a front view showing a state in which the transfer unit moves after the separator take-up roll is transferred to the transfer unit in the separator automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred from a transfer unit to an unwinder in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred to an unwinder in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The objectives, particular advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this specification, when referring to components in each drawing, please note that the same components will be numbered the same as much as possible even if they appear in different drawings. Furthermore, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, when describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a logistics supply unit and a lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the logistics supply unit and the lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred from the logistics supply unit to the lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the lift unit rotates after the separator take-up roll has been transferred to the lift unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the lift unit descends to transfer the separator take-up roll to the transfer unit in an automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] 1 to 5, the automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that supplies a separator winding roll 10 on which a separator is wound in order to wind up an electrode and a separator to manufacture an electrode assembly, and includes a transfer unit 140 that moves the transferred separator winding roll 10, and an unwinder 160 that includes an unwinder shaft 161 on which the separator winding roll 10 moved via the transfer unit is mounted.

[0016] In addition, the automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a lift unit 120 that receives the separator winding roll 10 and transfers it to the transfer unit 140, and a logistics supply unit 110 that supplies the separator winding roll 10 to the lift unit 120.

[0017] The automatic separator supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a supply alignment sensor C1, a lift alignment sensor C2, and an unwinder alignment sensor C3.

[0018] 1 to 3, a logistics supply unit 110 can supply a separator take-up roll 10 on which a separator is wound to a lift unit 120.

[0019] The logistics supply unit 110 may include a supply shaft 111 on which the separator take-up roll 10 is positioned in order to supply the separator take-up roll 10. Here, the logistics supply unit 110 may further include a supply cylinder 113 and a supply cylinder shaft 112 attached to the supply cylinder 113. Here, the separator take-up roll 10 positioned on the supply shaft 111 can be pressed and moved toward the lift unit 120 by moving the supply cylinder shaft 112, thereby attaching the separator take-up roll 10 to the lift unit 120.

[0020] The feed cylinder shaft 112 can include a feed movement shaft 112b and a feed block 112a mounted on the feed movement shaft 112b.

[0021] The supply block 112a is positioned, for example, opposite one side of the separator take-up roll 10, and as the supply movement shaft 112b moves toward the other side, the supply block 112a can move the separator take-up roll 10 toward the other side. Here, for example, the distance between the supply shaft 111 of the logistics supply unit 110 and the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120 can be smaller than the width of the separator take-up roll 10.

[0022] Meanwhile, the logistics supply unit 110 aligns the supply shaft 111 with the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120, and then the separator take-up roll 10 can be attached to the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120. Here, the supply alignment sensor C1 can detect the alignment state of the supply shaft 111 of the logistics supply unit 110 and the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120.

[0023] Meanwhile, the logistics supply unit 110 may include a moving jig S for moving the logistics supply unit 110. The moving jig S may include a horizontal portion S2 on which the supply cylinder 113 of the logistics supply unit 110 is mounted, and a vertical portion S1 connected to the horizontal portion S2.

[0024] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in Fig. 2. Here, Fig. 11 does not show the moving jig S portion.

[0025] 2 and 11, a slit-shaped slide hole 111a is formed in the shaft portion of the supply shaft 111, allowing the supply block 112a and the supply moving shaft 112b to be connected thereto. That is, the supply shaft 111 has a slide hole 111a that penetrates the interior space in which the supply moving shaft 112b is accommodated and the exterior thereof. The supply moving shaft 112b extends and connects to the supply block 112a via the slide hole 111a, allowing the supply block 112a to move easily with the movement of the supply moving shaft 112b. Here, the slide hole 111a may be formed in the supply shaft 111 along the X-axis direction, which is the movement direction of the supply moving shaft 112b. Meanwhile, similar to the supply shaft 111 of the logistics supply unit 110, a slit-shaped slide hole is also formed in the shaft portion of the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120, which will be described later, allowing the lift block 122a and the lift moving shaft 122b to be connected thereto (see FIG. 6). In addition, the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140 described later also has a slit-shaped slide hole formed in the shaft portion, similar to the supply shaft 111 of the logistics supply unit 110, so that the transfer block 142a and the transfer moving shaft 142b can be connected (see Figure 9).

[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the separator take-up roll is transferred from the lift unit 120 to the transfer unit in the automatic separator supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] 4 to 6, the lift unit 120 may receive the separator take-up roll 10 from the logistics supply unit 110 and transfer it to the transfer unit 140. Here, the lift unit 120 may include a lift shaft 121 on which the separator take-up roll 10 received from the logistics supply unit 110 is positioned.

[0028] In addition, the lift unit 120 can rotate horizontally and move vertically to transfer the supplied separator take-up roll 10 to the transfer unit 140. Here, for example, the horizontal direction can be the XY-axis plane direction, and the vertical direction can be the Z-axis direction.

[0029] In addition, after receiving the separator take-up roll 10 from the logistics supply unit 110, the lift unit 120 rotates to be positioned in a direction parallel to the Y-axis direction of the unit axis 141 of the transfer unit 140, and then moves downward to be positioned on the same line as the unit axis 141 of the transfer unit 140. Here, the lift unit 120 can be set to be positioned in a direction parallel to the unit axis 141 of the transfer unit 140 when rotated, for example, by 90 degrees.

[0030] Meanwhile, the lift unit 120 includes a lift means 130 provided at its bottom, which moves up and down via the lift means 130 to transfer the separator take-up roll 10 to the transfer unit 140. The lift means 130 may include a vertical shaft 131, a moving part 132 that moves along the vertical shaft 131, and a moving shaft 134 that moves the moving part 132. Here, the lift means 130 may further include a fixing part 133 that fixes the moving part 132 to the lift unit 120. The moving shaft 134 may be coupled to, for example, an actuator and move up and down via the actuator. The moving part 132 is provided at an end of the moving shaft 134 and moves up and down as the moving shaft 134 moves, thereby supporting the bottom of the separator take-up roll 10 attached to the lift unit 120.

[0031] Meanwhile, the lift unit 120 further includes a rotating means provided below the lift means 130, and the lift means 130 can be rotated in a horizontal direction via the rotating means to rotate the lift unit 120 (here, the rotating means is a means for rotating a shaft by the rotational force of a motor, and such means is a well-known technology, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted).

[0032] The lift unit 120 may further include a lift cylinder 123 and a lift cylinder shaft 122 attached to the lift cylinder 123. Here, the separator take-up roll 10 positioned on the lift shaft 121 can be pressed and moved toward the transfer unit 140 by moving the lift cylinder shaft 122, thereby attaching the separator take-up roll 10 to the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140.

[0033] The lift cylinder shaft 122 can include a lift movement shaft 122b and a lift block 122a provided on the lift movement shaft 122b.

[0034] The lift block 122a is positioned, for example, opposite one side of the separator take-up roll 10, and as the lift movement shaft 122b moves in the other direction, the lift block 122a can move the separator take-up roll 10 in the other direction.

[0035] Meanwhile, the lift unit 120 aligns the lift shaft 121 with the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140, and then the separator take-up roll 10 can be attached to the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140. Here, the lift alignment sensor C2 can detect the alignment state between the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120 and the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140. As a result, the transfer unit 140 can adjust the amount of vertical movement of the lift means 130 by referring to the detection value of the lift alignment sensor C2, thereby easily aligning the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120 with the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140.

[0036] Figure 7 is a plan view showing the state in which the transfer unit moves after the separator take-up roll is transferred to the transfer unit in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a front view showing the state in which the transfer unit moves after the separator take-up roll is transferred to the transfer unit in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] 7 and 8, the transfer unit 140 includes a unit shaft 141 to which the separator take-up roll 10 is transferred from the lift unit 120, and can move the transferred separator take-up roll 10.

[0038] The transfer unit 140 may further include a transfer cylinder 143 and a transfer cylinder shaft 142 attached to the transfer cylinder 143. Here, the separator take-up roll 10 located on the unit shaft 141 can be pressed and moved onto the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160 by moving the transfer cylinder shaft 142, thereby attaching the separator take-up roll 10 to the unwinder shaft 161.

[0039] The transfer cylinder shaft 142 can include a transfer movement shaft 142b and a transfer block 142a provided on the transfer movement shaft 142b.

[0040] The transfer block 142a is positioned, for example, opposite one side of the separator take-up roll 10, and as the transfer movement shaft 142b moves in the other direction, the transfer block 142a can move the separator take-up roll 10 in the other direction.

[0041] Furthermore, the transfer unit 140 may have a unit shaft 141 positioned at the same height as the unwinder shaft 161. The transfer unit 140 includes a traveling means 150 provided at the bottom thereof, and can move horizontally via the traveling means 150 to transfer the separator take-up roll 10 to the unwinder 160. The transfer unit 140 may move, for example, in the X-axis direction.

[0042] The traveling means 150 can move along the upper surface of the support table T. Here, for example, the traveling means 150 can include a wheel that contacts the upper surface of the support table T and a motor that rotates the wheel. The wheel is coupled to the rotation shaft of the motor and rotates by the operation of the motor, allowing the traveling means 150 to move horizontally along the upper surface of the support table T.

[0043] Meanwhile, the transfer unit 140 aligns the unit shaft 141 with the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160, and then can attach the separator take-up roll 10 to the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160. Here, the unwinder alignment sensor C3 can detect the alignment state between the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140 and the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160. As a result, the transfer unit 140 can adjust the horizontal movement amount of the traveling means 150 by referring to the detection value of the unwinder alignment sensor C3, and can align the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140 with the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160.

[0044] Figure 9 is a plan view showing the state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred from a transfer unit to an unwinder in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a plan view showing the state in which a separator take-up roll is transferred to an unwinder in an automatic separator supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the unwinder 160 includes an unwinder shaft 161 on which the separator winding roll 10 moved via a transfer unit is attached, and when winding the electrodes and separator, the separator can be unwound from the separator winding roll 10 attached to the unwinder shaft 161.

[0046] Here, the unwinder shaft 161 is fixed, and the separator winding roll 10 mounted on the unwinder shaft 161 rotates, so that the wound separator can be unwound and supplied when winding the electrode assembly.

[0047] Meanwhile, the automatic separator supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a removal jig that removes the separator winding roll 10 after the separator supply has been completed from the unwinder 160. As a result, the separator winding roll 10 after the separator supply has been completed can be removed from the unwinder 160 via the removal jig, and the separator winding roll 10 on which the separator has been automatically wound can be continuously loaded onto the unwinder 160.

[0048] Meanwhile, the automatic separator supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a controller for controlling each device. The controller may control the operation of the logistics supply unit 110, the lift unit 120, the transfer unit 140, etc.

[0049] 3, 6, and 9, the automatic separator supplying device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above can automatically supply a separator to an unwinder 160 that provides a separator to be wound via a transfer unit 140 when an electrode and a separator are wound to manufacture an electrode assembly. In addition, by further including a lift unit 120 and a logistics supply unit 110, the automatic supplying of a separator can be facilitated.

[0050] Furthermore, the lift unit 120 moves up and down via the lift means 130 to a position where the lift shaft 121 of the lift unit 120 and the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140 are aligned, by referring to the detection value of the lift alignment sensor C2, and the separator winding roll 10 can be easily and accurately transferred to the transfer unit 140.

[0051] In addition, the transfer unit 140 refers to the detection value of the unwinder alignment sensor C3 and moves horizontally via a traveling means to a position where the unit shaft 141 of the transfer unit 140 and the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160 are aligned, and then attaches the separator winding roll 10 to the unwinder shaft 161 of the unwinder 160, thereby allowing the separator winding roll 10 to be attached to the unwinder 160 accurately and easily.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments, these are merely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and the automatic separator supplying device and the electrode assembly and secondary battery manufactured thereby according to the present invention are not limited thereto. It can be said that various embodiments can be implemented by those skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present invention.

[0053] The specific scope of protection of the invention will be defined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Separator take-up roll 110 Logistics Supply Unit 111 Supply shaft 112 Supply cylinder shaft 112a Supply Block 112b Supply movement axis 113 Supply Cylinder 120 Lift Unit 121 Lift axis 122 Lift cylinder shaft 122a Lift Block 122b Lift movement axis 123 Lift cylinder 130 Lifting means 131 Vertical axis 132 Mobile Unit 133 Fixed part 134 Moving Axis 140 Transfer Unit 141 Unit axis 142 Transfer cylinder shaft 142a Transfer Block 142b Transfer moving axis 143 Transfer cylinder 150 Transportation 160 Unwinder 161 Unwinder shaft C1 Supply Align Sensor C2 Lift Align Sensor C3 Unwinder Align Sensor S moving jig S1 Vertical section S2 horizontal section

Claims

1. An automatic separator supplying device that supplies a separator winding roll on which a separator is wound, in order to wind up an electrode and a separator to manufacture an electrode assembly, comprising: a transfer unit including a unit shaft to which the separator take-up roll is transferred, the transfer unit moving the transferred separator take-up roll; an unwinder shaft on which the separator take-up roll moved via the transfer unit is mounted, and an unwinder that unwinds the separator from the separator take-up roll mounted on the unwinder shaft when winding up the electrode and the separator; the transfer unit aligns the unit shaft with the unwinder shaft of the unwinder, and then attaches the separator take-up roll to the unwinder shaft of the unwinder; The automatic separator supply device further includes a lift unit that receives the separator take-up roll and transfers it to the transfer unit.

2. The transfer unit further includes a transfer cylinder and a transfer cylinder shaft attached to the transfer cylinder, 2. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 1, wherein the separator take-up roll located on the unit shaft is pressed and moved against the unwinder shaft of the unwinder by moving the transfer cylinder shaft, thereby attaching the separator take-up roll to the unwinder shaft.

3. a unit axis of the transfer unit is located at the same height as the unwinder axis of the unwinder, 2. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit moves horizontally to transfer the separator take-up roll to the unwinder.

4. The transfer unit includes a travel means provided at a lower portion thereof, 4. The automatic separator supply device according to claim 3, wherein the separator take-up roll is transferred to the unwinder by horizontal movement along a support table via the traveling means.

5. 5. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 4, further comprising an unwinder alignment sensor for detecting an alignment state between a unit shaft of said transfer unit and an unwinder shaft of said unwinder.

6. 6. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 5, wherein the transfer unit moves horizontally via the traveling means to a position where the unit axis of the transfer unit and the unwinder axis of the unwinder are aligned, by referring to the detection value of the unwinder alignment sensor.

7. 2. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 1, wherein the lift unit rotates horizontally and moves vertically to transfer the supplied take-up roll to the transfer unit.

8. the lift unit includes a lift shaft on which the separator take-up roll to be supplied is positioned; 8. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 7, wherein the lift unit aligns the lift shaft with the unit shaft of the transfer unit, and then transfers the separator take-up roll to the unit shaft of the transfer unit.

9. 9. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 8, further comprising a lift alignment sensor for detecting an alignment state between a lift shaft of the lift unit and a unit shaft of the transfer unit.

10. The lift unit includes a lift means provided at a lower portion thereof, 10. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 9, wherein the lift unit moves up and down via the lift means to transfer the separator take-up roll to the transfer unit.

11. 11. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 10, wherein the lift unit moves up and down via the lift means to a position where the lift shaft of the lift unit and the unit shaft of the transfer unit are aligned, by referring to the detection value of the lift alignment sensor.

12. The separator automatic supply device according to claim 7 , further comprising a logistics supply unit that supplies the separator take-up roll to the lift unit.

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