carrier

Abstract

A carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention penetrates a winding center hole of an electrode assembly that defines a core and an outer peripheral surface by winding a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode around a winding axis, and includes a center pin extending in a direction parallel to the winding axis of the electrode assembly, a support base located below the center pin and supporting the electrode assembly from below, and a base including at least a pair of bearings configured to be rotatable on a plane perpendicular to the winding axis and located below the support base.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier, and more particularly to a carrier for supporting and / or transporting an electrode assembly of a battery cell.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0174176, filed on December 13, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability across a range of products and electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries not only have the temporary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also have the advantage of producing no by-products associated with energy use, and are therefore attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency.

[0004] Currently widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. The operating voltage of such a unit secondary battery cell, i.e., a unit battery cell, is approximately 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Furthermore, a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel depending on the required charge / discharge capacity of the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set depending on the required output voltage and / or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] Meanwhile, conventional electrode assembly carriers include a component called an insert ring. The insert ring is a component required for the taping process and the electrode assembly insertion process. However, carriers including such insert rings require an additional equipment unit for raising and lowering the insert ring during the taping process, which can lead to problems such as improper placement of the insert ring when it is raised and lowered. This can cause equipment malfunctions and / or process issues.

[0006] In addition, if the insert ring is not properly placed inside the carrier after the 180° rotation, problems such as improper placement of the electrode assembly, such as tilting and / or pinching, may occur.

[0007] Furthermore, if the insert ring inside the carrier becomes dislodged during the rotary process, this can cause issues when the process continues.

[0008] In addition, the insert ring is a key point in operational management that must be controlled during cleaning and wear, and this has been viewed as a problem from an operational perspective as well. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to enable two processes, namely, the tape winding process (taping process) and the electrode assembly insertion / insertion process into the battery housing, to be carried out while eliminating the insert ring, which is a control point of the carrier.

[0010] Specifically, another object of the present invention is to achieve a simplified structure and process by using a pin carrier type, compared to a double-structure insert ring carrier.

[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, it is still another object of the present invention to eliminate causes of abnormal placement of the insert ring and its removal during processing, which causes equipment immobility and process issues, by removing the insert ring from the carrier.

[0012] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention given below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a carrier comprising: a central pin that penetrates a central winding hole of an electrode assembly, which defines a core and an outer peripheral surface when a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator sandwiched between the first and second electrodes are wound around a winding shaft; the central pin extending in a direction parallel to the winding shaft of the electrode assembly; a support base located below the central pin and supporting the electrode assembly from below; and a base located below the support base and including at least one pair of bearings configured to be rotatable on a plane perpendicular to the winding shaft.

[0014] Preferably, the base may be configured to rotate the support platform.

[0015] In one aspect of the present invention, the carrier may be configured not to include an insert ring.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, the length of the center pin may be configured to be smaller than or equal to the length of the electrode assembly in the direction of the winding axis.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention, the central pin may have a shape with a decreasing radius as it progresses toward the distal end.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the support may support a current collector bonded onto one side of the electrode assembly.

[0019] Here, the current collector may include a support portion disposed on one surface of the electrode assembly, a tab coupling portion extending from the support portion and coupled to a first uncoated portion of the electrode assembly, and a housing coupling portion extending from the support portion and configured to be electrically coupled to an inner surface of a battery housing.

[0020] Preferably, the housing coupling portion may include a contact portion coupled to an inner surface of the battery housing, and a connecting portion connecting the support portion and the contact portion.

[0021] Preferably, the connection portion may have a structure that is convex on one side with respect to an imaginary line connecting both ends of the connection portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion may have a shape whose slope decreases stepwise or gradually as it progresses toward the contact portion.

[0023] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the support base may be configured so that its radius increases as it moves away from the electrode assembly.

[0024] For example, the shape of the support base can be configured to match the shape of the connection portion of the current collector.

[0025] In one aspect of the present invention, the diameter of the support may be configured to be larger than the diameter of a winding center hole provided in the core of the electrode assembly.

[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, the diameter of the support may be configured to be larger than the diameter of the current collector hole formed in the center of the current collector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to the present invention, the carrier does not include an insert ring, and the electrode assembly can be supported and rotated.

[0028] In addition, the structure in which a bearing is included inside the carrier base allows the taping process to be carried out smoothly.

[0029] As a result, insert rings are no longer required during the rotation process when inserting the electrode assembly into the battery housing. This eliminates the problem of electrode assembly tilt due to improper placement of the insert ring during electrode assembly transportation and insertion. Furthermore, the elimination of the insert ring simplifies the design and structure of the equipment and eliminates operational management issues.

[0030] Furthermore, by adding bearings, the rotation of the carrier can be made smoother, thereby eliminating the cause of issues related to the progress of the taping process, which is the tape winding process.

[0031] However, the effects obtained through the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other technical effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0032] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention as well as the content of the invention, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters depicted in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a view illustrating a current collector included in a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are views illustrating a coupling configuration between an electrode assembly and a current collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a view illustrating a state in which a current collector is bonded to one side of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 4A to 4C are views illustrating a process of mounting an electrode assembly and a current collector on a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 3 is a view illustrating a state in which an electrode assembly and a current collector are mounted on a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 4A and 4B are views for explaining in detail how a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention supports an electrode assembly and a current collector. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are views illustrating a state in which a carrier rotates an electrode assembly and a current collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms himself in order to best describe the invention.

[0035] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a battery cell B according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a current collector 30 included in the battery cell B according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a bonding form between an electrode assembly 10 and a current collector 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a current collector 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention is bonded to one side of an electrode assembly 10.

[0037] 1, a battery cell B according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an electrode assembly 10, a battery housing 20, and a current collector 30. Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited by the shape of the battery cell B.

[0038] The electrode assembly 10 includes a first uncoated region 11 and a second uncoated region 12. More specifically, the electrode assembly 10 has a structure in which a first electrode, a second electrode, and the separator sandwiched therebetween are wound around a winding shaft to define a core and an outer circumferential surface. That is, the electrode assembly 10 applicable to the present invention may be a jelly roll type electrode assembly 10. In this case, an additional separator may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the electrode assembly 10 for insulation from the battery housing 20. The electrode assembly 10 may have any winding structure known in the art, without limitation.

[0039] The first electrode includes a first electrode current collector 30 and a first electrode active material coated on one or both sides of the first electrode current collector 30. An uncoated portion, where the first electrode active material is not coated, exists at one end of the first electrode in the width direction (the direction parallel to the height direction of the cylindrical battery cell B shown in FIG. 1). That is, the first electrode includes a uncoated portion at the end of the long side along the winding direction that is not coated with an active material and is exposed to the outside of the separator. Hereinafter, the uncoated portion that functions as the first electrode tab will be referred to as a first uncoated portion 11. The first uncoated portion 11 is provided at the upper portion of the electrode assembly 10 housed in the battery housing 20 in the height direction (the direction parallel to the height direction of the cylindrical battery cell B shown in FIG. 1). That is, the first electrode includes a first uncoated region 11 at the end of the long side where an active material layer is not coated and is exposed to the outside of the separator, and at least a portion of the first uncoated region 11 is used as an electrode tab by itself. The first uncoated region 11 may be, for example, a negative electrode tab.

[0040] Meanwhile, at least a portion of the first uncoated portion 11 may include a plurality of segments divided along the winding direction of the electrode assembly 10. In this case, the plurality of segments 11a may be folded along the radial direction of the electrode assembly 10.

[0041] 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the plurality of segment pieces 11a of the folded first non-coating portion 11 may overlap in multiple places to form a folded surface. In this case, a tab coupling portion 32 of a current collector 30, which will be described later, may be coupled to the folded surface. The tab coupling portion 32 may be coupled to the region where the plurality of segment pieces overlap in multiple places. In this case, welding may be performed on a certain region while the tab coupling portion 32 is placed on the folded surface of the first non-coating portion 11. That is, the tab coupling portion 32 may be coupled to the region where the plurality of segment pieces of the first non-coating portion 11 overlap in multiple places.

[0042] The second electrode includes a second electrode current collector 30 and a second electrode active material coated on one or both sides of the second electrode current collector 30. An uncoated portion, where the second electrode active material is not coated, exists at the other end of the second electrode in the width direction (the direction parallel to the height direction of the cylindrical battery cell B shown in FIG. 1 ). That is, the second electrode includes a uncoated portion at the end of the long side along the winding direction that is not coated with an active material and is exposed to the outside of the separator. Hereinafter, the uncoated portion functioning as the second electrode tab will be referred to as a second uncoated portion 12. The second uncoated portion 12 is provided at the lower portion in the height direction of the electrode assembly 10 housed in the battery housing 20. That is, the second electrode includes a second uncoated portion at the end of the long side that is not coated with an active material layer and is exposed to the outside of the separator, and at least a portion of the second uncoated portion itself can be used as an electrode tab. The second uncoated portion 12 may be, for example, a positive electrode tab.

[0043] Meanwhile, at least a portion of the second non-coating portion 12 may include a plurality of segments separated along the winding direction of the electrode assembly 10. In this case, the plurality of segments may be folded along the radial direction of the electrode assembly 10. Referring to FIG. 1 , the plurality of segments of the folded second non-coating portion 12 may overlap each other to form a folded surface. In this case, a second current collector 30, which will be described later, may be bonded onto the folded surface.

[0044] Meanwhile, in the present invention, the positive electrode active material coated on the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode active material coated on the negative electrode plate may be any active material known in the art without any limitations.

[0045] 1 and 4, the battery housing 20 is a generally cylindrical container having an opening on one side and is made of a conductive metal material. The side surface and the bottom surface (the bottom surface in FIG. 1) of the battery housing 20 opposite the opening are generally formed integrally. That is, the battery housing 20 generally has an open upper end in its height direction and a closed lower end. The bottom surface of the battery housing 20 may have a generally flat shape. The battery housing 20 accommodates the electrode assembly 10 through an opening formed on one side in its height direction (along the Z-axis). The battery housing 20 may also accommodate an electrolyte through the opening.

[0046] The battery housing 20 may include a beading portion 21 formed at an end adjacent to an opening provided at the upper end of the battery housing 20. The battery housing 20 may further include a crimping portion 22 formed on the beading portion 21. The beading portion 21 has a shape in which the periphery of the battery housing 20 is recessed to a predetermined depth. More specifically, the beading portion 21 may have a shape recessed inward in a region between an opening formed on the side of the battery housing 20 and a receiving portion that receives the electrode assembly 10.

[0047] The beading portion 21 may provide a support surface on which at least a portion of the periphery of the current collector 30 (described later) can be placed and coupled. That is, at least a portion of the periphery of the current collector 30 of the present invention may be placed on the upper surface of the beading portion 21. In order to stably support at least a portion of the periphery of the current collector 30, the upper surface of the beading portion 21 may have a shape extending in a direction substantially aligned with the lower surface of the battery housing 20, i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewall of the battery housing 20. Referring to FIG. 4 in combination with FIG. 1, the beading portion 21 may function as a support portion 31 for fixing the contact portion 33a of the current collector 30.

[0048] 1, the crimping portion 22 is formed on the upper part of the beading portion 21. The crimping portion 22 has an extended and bent shape so as to enclose the periphery of the housing cover disposed on the upper part of the beading portion 21. Due to the shape of the crimping portion 22, the housing cover is fixed onto the beading portion 21.

[0049] Next, the current collector 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0050] 1, a current collector 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention is housed inside a battery housing 20 and is electrically connected to an electrode assembly 10 and the battery housing 20. That is, the current collector 30 electrically connects the electrode assembly 10 and the battery housing 20.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 2 , the current collector 30 includes a support portion 31 disposed on one side of the electrode assembly 10, a tab connecting portion 32 extending from the support portion 31 and connected to a plain portion of the electrode assembly 10, and a housing connecting portion 33 extending from the support portion 31 and configured to be electrically connected to the inner surface of the battery housing 20.

[0052] The tab coupling portion 32 and the first housing coupling portion 33 are connected via the support portion 31 and are not directly connected to each other. Therefore, when an external impact is applied to the cylindrical battery cell B of the present invention, the possibility of damage to the coupling portion between the current collector 30 and the electrode assembly 10 and the coupling portion between the current collector 30 and the battery housing 20 can be minimized. At least one tab coupling portion 32 and / or one first housing coupling portion 33 may be provided. The at least one tab coupling portion 32 and the at least one first housing coupling portion 33 may be arranged, for example, in a generally radial shape, a cross shape, or a combination thereof, based on the center of the current collector 30. In another embodiment, each of the multiple first housing coupling portions 33 may be arranged between adjacent tab coupling portions 32.

[0053] The support portion 31 and the plurality of tab connecting portions 32 may be disposed on one side of the electrode assembly 10. For example, referring to FIG. 1 , the support portion 31 and the plurality of tab connecting portions 32 may be disposed on the upper portion of the electrode assembly 10. The tab connecting portion 32 is connected to the first uncoated portion 11 of the electrode assembly 10. The tab connecting portion 32 may be connected to the first uncoated portion 11 along the radial direction of the electrode assembly 10, for example, by welding. The tab connecting portion 32 may be connected to the first uncoated portion 11 by welding, for example, in a state substantially parallel to the lower surface of the battery housing 20.

[0054] Meanwhile, not only the tab coupling portion 32 but also the support portion 31 may be coupled to the first uncoated portion 11. The tab coupling portion 32 and the first uncoated portion 11 may be coupled by welding. When a beading portion 21 is formed on the battery housing 20, the support portion 31 and the tab coupling portion 32 may be located below the beading portion 21.

[0055] The support part 31 may have a current collector hole H2 formed at a position corresponding to a winding center hole H1 formed at approximately the center of the electrode assembly 10. The winding center hole H1 and the current collector hole H2, which are in communication with each other, may function as a passage for inserting a welding rod or irradiating a laser beam for welding a battery terminal to the second current collector 30 or a terminal to a lead tab.

[0056] The plurality of first housing coupling portions 33 may have a shape extending generally radially from the support portion 31 of the current collector 30 toward the sidewall of the battery housing 20. The plurality of first housing coupling portions 33 may be spaced apart from one another along the circumference of the support portion 31. At least one first housing coupling portion 33 may be located between adjacent tab coupling portions 32. The plurality of first housing coupling portions 33 may be coupled to, for example, the beading portion 21 on the inner surface of the battery housing 20. The first housing coupling portion 33 may be coupled to, in particular, the upper surface of the beading portion 21. When this structure is applied to the cylindrical battery cell B of the present invention, the first housing coupling portions 33 can be naturally placed on the beading portion 21 through the process of placing the electrode assembly 10, to which the current collector 30 is coupled, into the battery housing 20. This facilitates the welding process between the battery housing 20 and the current collector 30. The welding for joining the battery housing 20 and the current collector 30 may be performed by, for example, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or spot welding.

[0057] 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first housing coupling portion 33 may include a contact portion 33a coupled to the inner surface of the battery housing 20 and a first connecting portion 33b connecting the support portion 31 and the contact portion 33a. The first connecting portion 33b and the contact portion 33a may have substantially the same width along the extension direction. The first tab coupling portion 32 may have a width greater than the first connecting portion 33b. The contact portion 33a may have a width greater than the first connecting portion 33b.

[0058] The contact portion 33a is bonded onto the inner surface of the battery housing 20. When the beading portion 21 is formed on the battery housing 20, the contact portion 33a may be bonded onto the beading portion 21 as described above. In this case, as described above, for stable contact and bonding, both the beading portion 21 and the contact portion 33a may have a shape extending in a direction substantially aligned with the lower surface of the battery housing 20, i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall of the battery housing 20.

[0059] 1 to 4, connection portion 33b before the sizing process may have a structure that is convex on one side relative to an imaginary line connecting the connection point between contact portion 33a and connection portion 33b and the connection point between connection portion 33b and tab coupling portion 32, i.e., an imaginary line connecting both longitudinal ends of connection portion 33b. For example, connection portion 33b before the sizing process may have a structure that is convex upward relative to an imaginary line connecting the connection point between contact portion 33a and connection portion 33b and the connection point between connection portion 33b and tab coupling portion 32, i.e., an imaginary line connecting both longitudinal ends of connection portion 33b.

[0060] Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, the slope of the connecting portion 33b is preferably not constant, and the slope in the upper region is smaller than the slope in the lower region from a predetermined point. The predetermined point may be located above the midpoint of the connecting portion 33b. Alternatively, the connecting portion 33b may have a shape that is convex upward from an imaginary line connecting the tab coupling portion 32 and the contact portion 33a. Furthermore, the slope of the connecting portion 33b may decrease stepwise or gradually as the connecting portion 33b progresses toward the contact portion 33a.

[0061] A carrier 1 capable of supporting and / or transporting and / or rotating the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 included in such a battery cell B will be described below.

[0062] Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a process in which an electrode assembly 10 and a current collector 30 are mounted on the carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 are mounted on the carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 8 is a view illustrating in detail how the carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention supports the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30.

[0063] 5, the carrier 1 includes a center pin 100, a support 200, and a base 300. More specifically, the carrier 1 may include the center pin 100 that passes through a winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10, which defines a core and an outer circumferential surface as the first electrode, the second electrode, and the separator sandwiched therebetween are wound around a winding shaft, and that extends in a direction parallel to the winding shaft of the electrode assembly 10, the support 200 that is located below the center pin 100 and supports the electrode assembly 10 from below, and the base 300 that is located below the support 200 and includes at least one pair of bearings 310 configured to be rotatable on a plane perpendicular to the winding shaft.

[0064] The carrier 1 can support and transport the electrode assembly 10. More specifically, the carrier 1 can support and transport the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 coupled thereto.

[0065] The base 300 may be fixed. At least one bearing 310 may be included in an interior region of the base 300. Preferably, the base 300 may be configured to rotate the support 200. More specifically, the bearing 310 included in the base 300 may be structurally coupled to the support 200. That is, as the bearing 310 rotates within the base 300, the support 200 connected to the bearing 310 may also rotate together. When the base 300 rotates the support 200, the support 200, which supports and contacts the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 from below, rotates, and the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 may also rotate together. In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 300 includes the bearing 310, which allows the support 200 to rotate more smoothly.

[0066] With this structure, the carrier 1 can perform a taping process for the electrode assembly 10. Here, the taping process is a process of winding tape around the electrode assembly 10, which requires 360° rotation of the electrode assembly 10. In the present invention, at least one pair of bearings 310 is provided on the base 300, so that the electrode assembly 10 mounted on the carrier 1 can be easily rotated.

[0067] Furthermore, with the above-described structure, the carrier 1 may perform an insertion process of the electrode assembly 10. For example, the carrier 1 may support the electrode assembly 10 from below. In this case, the carrier 1 may push the electrode assembly 10 located at the bottom upward into the battery housing 20 located at the top in a rotary device that inserts the electrode assembly 10 into the battery housing 20.

[0068] Furthermore, the structure of the pin carrier 1 including the bearing 310 allows for a simplified structure and process compared to the double-structure insert ring carrier 1. That is, the taping process, which is a tape winding process, can be successfully performed using the bearing 310 included in the carrier 1 of the present invention. Also, the process of fixing the electrode assembly 10 and inserting it into the battery housing 20 can be successfully performed using the structure of the center pin 100 included in the carrier 1 of the present invention.

[0069] In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier 1 does not include an insert ring.

[0070] For example, referring to FIG. 5 , it can be seen that, unlike conventional carriers, the carrier 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention does not include an insert ring. In this regard, conventional carriers include an insert ring. During the taping process, the insert ring is raised via a cylinder to wind the tape, and then the insert ring is placed to complete the process. However, in this case, an additional equipment unit is required to raise or lower the insert ring during the taping process. This can lead to problems such as equipment malfunction or process issues. Furthermore, when the insert ring is placed inside the carrier after the electrode assembly 10 is rotated 180°, the insert ring may not be properly placed. That is, there are problems with improper placement, such as the electrode assembly 10 being tilted or pinched. Furthermore, the insert ring often becomes detached from the carrier during the rotary process, ultimately causing issues during the process. Moreover, the insert ring is a key point in operational management that must be controlled during cleaning and wear, and from an operational standpoint, it was by no means easy.

[0071] For this reason, integrated pin carriers have been used in the past as an alternative to insert ring carriers. However, pin carriers, which are generally used to transport raw materials with center holes, have the problem that they are not suitable for winding processes such as taping because they are integrated with the pin. Furthermore, when using integrated pin carriers, there is a possibility that process and equipment issues will arise in the taping process, which is a winding process for rotary-type tape, because there is no rotating part. Therefore, there is a growing demand for a carrier 1 that can proceed with the winding process without including an insert ring.

[0072] According to the carrier 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the carrier 1 does not include an insert ring. Instead, the carrier 1 includes a bearing 310 as a component for rotating the electrode assembly 10, and the bearing 310 may be included inside a base 300 located below the electrode assembly 10. For example, a plurality of bearings 310 may be provided.

[0073] According to this structure, it is possible to fundamentally prevent the insert ring from being placed incorrectly, which can cause equipment immobility and process issues, by removing the insert ring from the carrier 1. It is also possible to fundamentally prevent the insert ring from falling off during the process.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 6 , the electrode assembly 10 may have a generally cylindrical jelly-roll shape. Here, a current collector 30 may be coupled to one surface of the cylinder. In FIG. 6 , the current collector 30 may be coupled to the lower surface of the electrode assembly 10. More specifically, a support portion 31 of the current collector 30 may be coupled to a folded surface of the first uncoated portion 11 of the electrode assembly 10. For example, the folded surface and the support portion 31 may be coupled by welding. Meanwhile, a tab coupling portion 32 extending from the support portion 31 may also be coupled to the folded surface. Meanwhile, a housing coupling portion 33 of the current collector 30 may extend from the support portion 31 in a direction away from the electrode assembly 10. That is, referring to FIG. 6 , the housing coupling portion 33 may extend in the +X direction and the −Z direction.

[0075] In one aspect of the present invention, the center pin 100 may be provided at the center of the carrier 1. The center pin 100 may have a long rod shape so that the winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 fits into the center pin. The diameter of the center pin 100 may be configured to be smaller than or equal to the diameter of the winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10. The center pin 100 may have a shape connected to a center pillar provided on the base 300. Since the center pillar of the base 300 is fixed to the base 300, the center pin 100 may also be fixed. That is, the center pin 100 may not rotate.

[0076] The central pin 100 may include a body portion 110 and a distal end portion 120. Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the body portion 110 of the central pin 100 may have a rod shape provided at the center of the carrier 1. That is, the body portion 110 may be a generally cylindrical structure extending along the winding axis direction of the electrode assembly 10. The distal end portion 120 refers to a distal region extending from the body portion 110 to the distal end. The distal end portion 120 may have a shape in which the radius decreases toward the distal end. That is, the central pin 100 may have a shape in which the radius decreases toward the distal end. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the distal end portion 120 may have a pointed shape. This structure facilitates the process of attaching the electrode assembly 10 to the central pin 100. If the distal end 120 of the center pin 100 were rounded or had the same radius as the main body 110, the difference in radius from the central winding hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 would not be large, and even a slight error would increase the possibility that the area around the central winding hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 would be damaged by the central pin 100. Therefore, it is preferable that the distal end 120 has a shape in which the radius decreases as it approaches the distal end.

[0077] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7, the length of the center pin 100 may be configured to be smaller than or equal to the length of the electrode assembly 10 in the direction of the winding axis.

[0078] If the length of the center pin 100 were longer than the length of the electrode assembly 10 in the direction of the winding axis, the electrode assembly 10 would not be able to be fully inserted into the battery housing 20 to the bottom surface of the battery housing 20. Therefore, it is preferable that the length of the center pin 100 be configured to be smaller than or equal to the length of the electrode assembly 10 in the direction of the winding axis.

[0079] 7 and 8, the support table 200 may include a support surface 210 and a support body 220. The support table 200 may support the current collector 30 attached to one side of the electrode assembly 10. More specifically, the support surface 210 may support the current collector 30. The support body 220 refers to a body portion of the support table 200 extending downward from the support surface 210. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the support body 220 has a shape extending downward from the support surface 210, and its radius gradually or stepwise increases as it extends downward. That is, the support table 200 may be configured so that its radius increases as it moves away from the electrode assembly 10.

[0080] 7, the housing coupling portion 33 of the current collector 30 may have a structure that is convex in one direction relative to an imaginary line connecting the connection point between the contact portion 33a and the connecting portion 33b and the connection point between the connecting portion 33b and the tab coupling portion 32, i.e., an imaginary line connecting both longitudinal ends of the connecting portion 33b. Using the coordinate system of FIG. 7 as a reference, the housing coupling portion 33 may have a structure that is convex in the -Z direction relative to an imaginary line connecting the connection point between the contact portion 33a and the connecting portion 33b and the connection point between the connecting portion 33b and the tab coupling portion 32, i.e., an imaginary line connecting both longitudinal ends of the connecting portion 33b. For example, the housing coupling portion 33 of the current collector 30 of FIG. 7 may be bent once at the connection point between the contact portion 33a and the connecting portion 33b and once within the region of the connecting portion 33b. Here, both of the bent angles may be obtuse angles. That is, the connecting portion 33b may have a shape in which its inclination decreases stepwise or gradually as it progresses toward the contact portion 33a. That is, the housing coupling portion 33 may have a shape in which the length measured from the winding shaft in the horizontal direction to the housing coupling portion 33 gradually increases. In other words, the radius of the housing coupling portion 33 measured in the horizontal direction from the winding shaft may gradually increase as it moves away from the electrode assembly 10.

[0081] Meanwhile, the support 31 supports the current collector 30 having such a shape from below. Therefore, it is preferable that the support 31 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the current collector 30. For example, the shape of the support base 200 may be configured so that its radius increases with increasing distance from the electrode assembly 10, which may generally correspond to the shape of the radius of the housing coupling portion 33, measured in the horizontal direction from the winding shaft, gradually increasing with increasing distance from the electrode assembly 10. More specifically, the support body 220 of the support base 200 may have a roughly cone shape whose radius increases with increasing distance from the electrode assembly 10. However, the support base 200 may have a cone shape cut by a generally flat support surface 210.

[0082] This structure allows the housing coupling part 33 to be supported and protected by the support base 200. That is, the support base 200, which has substantially the same shape as the housing coupling part 33, contacts the housing coupling part 33 in some areas and supports the housing coupling part 33, so that the housing coupling part 33, which is not yet coupled to the battery housing 20 and is in an unstable state, can be prevented from being damaged by other components.

[0083] In a more preferred embodiment, the shape of the support 200 may be configured to match the shape of the connection portion 33b of the current collector 30. In this case, the shape of the support body 220 of the support 200 matches the shape of the housing coupling portion 33 of the current collector 30, particularly the coupling portion 33b, so that all points of the coupling portion 33b can be contacted and supported by the support 200. This further improves the support and protection effect of the housing coupling portion 33.

[0084] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the diameter of the support table 200 may be configured to be larger than the diameter of the winding center hole H1 formed in the core of the electrode assembly 10. More specifically, the diameter of the support surface 210 may be configured to be larger than the diameter of the winding center hole H1 formed in the core of the electrode assembly 10. This allows the electrode assembly 10 to be fully supported on the flat surface of the support table 200. If the winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 were larger than the diameter of the support surface 210, the winding region on the outer periphery of the electrode assembly 10 may flow downward along the inclined surface of the support body 220. Therefore, it is preferable that the diameter of the support table 200 be configured to be larger than the diameter of the winding center hole H1 formed in the core of the electrode assembly 10.

[0085] In a similar vein, the diameter of the support table 200 may be configured to be larger than the diameter of the current collector hole H2 formed in the center of the current collector 30. More specifically, the diameter of the support surface 210 may be configured to be larger than the diameter of the current collector hole H2 formed in the center of the current collector 30. This allows the current collector 30 to be completely supported on the flat surface of the support table 200. More specifically, this allows the support portion 31 of the current collector 30 to be completely supported on the flat surface of the support table 200. If the winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 were larger than the diameter of the support surface 210, the inner winding region of the electrode assembly 10 may protrude upward along the inclined surface of the support body 220 due to the shape of the support table 200. Therefore, it is preferable that the diameter of the support table 200 be configured to be larger than the diameter of the current collector hole H2 formed in the center of the current collector 30.

[0086] Meanwhile, the support 200 may be in direct contact with the current collector 30. The support 200 and the current collector 30 are in contact with each other and do not slide due to friction. Therefore, when the support 200 rotates, the current collector 30 in contact with the support 200 can also rotate together.

[0087] In another embodiment of the present invention, the radius of the support surface 210 may be configured to be smaller than or equal to the radius of the support portion 31 of the current collector 30. Referring to Figure 8, it is clear that the radius of the support surface 210 is the same as the radius of the support portion 31 of the current collector 30. Here, the radius of the support portion 31 means the distance from the winding shaft to the point where the support portion 31 is bent downward.

[0088] This structure maximizes the contact area between the current collector 30 and the support 200, thereby improving the anti-slip effect when the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 are rotated. In addition, a structure in which the radius of the support surface 210 is the same as the radius of the support portion 31 of the current collector 30 increases the contact area between the current collector 30 and the support 200, thereby further improving the support and protection effect of the current collector 30.

[0089] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which the carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention rotates the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30. As shown in FIG.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 9 , the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 coupled thereto may be fitted onto a center pin 100 of a carrier 1. More specifically, the center pin 100 may be inserted into a winding center hole H1 of the electrode assembly 10 and a current collector hole H2 of the current collector 30. At this time, the electrode assembly 10 and the current collector 30 may be attached to the center pin 100 with the current collector 30 positioned on the underside of the electrode assembly 10. As a result, the support portion 31 of the current collector 30 may come into contact with the support surface 210 of the supporter 200. Meanwhile, the supporter 200 is structurally connected to a bearing 310 included within the base 300. Therefore, when the bearing 310 included within the base 300 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9 , the supporter 200 connected to the bearing 310 also rotates in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the current collector 30, which was in direct contact with the supporter 200, also rotates in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the electrode assembly 10 coupled with the current collector 30 can also rotate in the direction of the arrow. Meanwhile, the rotation of the bearing 310 can be performed by a separate power source (not shown).

[0091] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the carrier 1 does not include an insert ring, allowing the electrode assembly 10 to be supported and rotated. Furthermore, the structure including the bearing 310 within the base 300 of the carrier 1 allows the taping process to be performed smoothly. Consequently, the insert ring is not required during the rotation process when inserting the electrode assembly 10 into the battery housing 20. This prevents the electrode assembly 10 from tilting due to improper placement of the insert ring during transportation and placement of the electrode assembly 10. Furthermore, the elimination of the insert ring simplifies the design and structure of the equipment and eliminates operational management issues. Furthermore, the addition of the bearing 310 allows the carrier 1 to rotate smoothly, thereby eliminating issues related to the progress of the taping process, which is a tape winding process.

[0092] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to these, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] B Battery cell 10 Electrode assembly 11 Plain area 12 Second plain area H1 Winding center hole 20 Battery Housing 21 Beading section 22 Crimping section 30 Current collector 31 Support part 32 Tab joint 33 Housing joint 33a Contact part 33b Connection H2 collector hole 1 Carrier 100 Center Pin 110 Main body 120 End 200 Support stand 210 Support surface 220 Support body 300 base 310 Bearing

Claims

1. a center pin that penetrates a winding center hole of an electrode assembly that defines a core and an outer peripheral surface by winding a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode around a winding shaft, and extends in a direction aligned with the winding shaft of the electrode assembly; a support base positioned below the center pin and supporting the electrode assembly from below; a base located below the support table and including at least one pair of bearings configured to be rotatable on a plane perpendicular to the winding shaft; Including, carrier.

2. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to rotate the support platform.

3. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the carrier does not include an insert ring.

4. The carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the center pin is smaller than or equal to the length of the electrode assembly in the direction of the winding axis.

5. 10. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the central pin has a shape with a decreasing radius going toward the distal end.

6. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the support base supports a current collector bonded onto one side of the electrode assembly.

7. The current collector is a support disposed on one surface of the electrode assembly; a tab connecting portion extending from the support portion and connected to the first uncoated portion of the electrode assembly; a housing coupling portion extending from the support portion and configured to be electrically coupled onto an inner surface of the battery housing; 7. The carrier of claim 6, comprising:

8. The housing coupling portion is contacts coupled onto an inner surface of the battery housing; a connection portion connecting the support portion and the contact portion; 8. The carrier of claim 7, comprising:

9. The connection portion is 9. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion has a structure that is convex on one side relative to an imaginary line connecting both longitudinal ends of the connecting portion.

10. The connection portion is The carrier according to claim 8 , wherein the shape of the carrier has a slope that decreases stepwise or gradually toward the contact portion.

11. The carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the support base is configured so that its radius increases as it moves away from the electrode assembly.

12. The carrier according to claim 8 , wherein the shape of the support base is configured to match the shape of the connection portion of the current collector.

13. 2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the support base is larger than the diameter of a central winding hole provided in the core of the electrode assembly.

14. The carrier according to claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the support base is larger than the diameter of the current collector hole formed in the center of the current collector.

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