Secondary battery manufacturing equipment

Abstract

The manufacturing apparatus for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one pressurizing unit that pressurizes a plurality of battery cells while the plurality of battery cells are enclosed therein. The pressurizing unit includes an outermost shell of the plurality of battery cells, a plurality of pressurizing blocks respectively positioned between the plurality of battery cells, and a pressure supply unit that applies pressure to the plurality of pressurizing blocks. The pressurizing block has a pressurizing plate and a pressure sensor unit positioned on one surface of the pressurizing plate, and the pressure sensor unit corresponds to the body surface of the battery cell.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0183595 filed December 23, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0184107 filed December 18, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus that can apply a desired pressure regardless of changes in cell thickness during a battery cell activation process and can apply a uniform pressure to the entire pressure surface of the cell. [Background technology]

[0003] With technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. In particular, secondary batteries are attracting attention as an energy source not only for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, and wearable devices, but also for power devices such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0004] Research into the use of lithium secondary batteries with high energy density and discharge voltage is being actively conducted, and some of them are already at the commercialization stage.

[0005] Such a lithium secondary battery is manufactured by coating a current collector with a positive or negative electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material in the form of a slurry, followed by drying to form an electrode mixture layer, thereby manufacturing a positive electrode and a negative electrode, interposing a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and incorporating the laminated electrode assembly together with an electrolyte into a battery case.

[0006] Lithium metal batteries use a thin film of lithium metal (Li-metal) as the negative electrode active material, and have the advantage of theoretically having a higher energy density and capacity than secondary batteries that use graphite-based negative electrodes, etc. Therefore, research and development into applying lithium metal batteries to secondary batteries, which require high energy density, is ongoing.

[0007] However, due to the characteristics of lithium metal, which acts as the negative electrode active material, lithium metal batteries experience large volume changes in the negative electrode during charge / discharge processes, resulting in greater thickness changes than lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, the pressure applied to the battery cell during operation can change the way lithium forms in the negative electrode, which can affect the battery cell's performance. In particular, lithium metal batteries experience large thickness changes during charge / discharge during the activation process, so if pressure is not applied to the battery cell, problems such as sudden drops in long-term cycle performance can occur. To address this issue, a positive pressure method can be used, placing plates above and below the battery cell. However, this method has the disadvantage of increasing pressure during charging and completely releasing the pressure during discharge.

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a secondary battery manufacturing device that can apply a desired pressure regardless of changes in cell thickness during the activation process of the battery cell and that can apply the same pressure to the entire pressure surface of the cell. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus that can maintain or change the pressure during the activation process of a battery cell, regardless of changes in cell thickness, and can apply the same pressure to the entire pressure surface of the cell.

[0010] The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those described above, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery includes at least one pressurizing unit that applies pressure to a plurality of battery cells installed inside the plurality of battery cells, the pressurizing unit including a plurality of pressurizing blocks respectively positioned at the outermost periphery of the plurality of battery cells and between the plurality of battery cells, and a pressure supply unit that applies pressure to the plurality of pressurizing blocks, the pressurizing block including a pressurizing plate and a pressure sensor unit positioned on one surface of the pressurizing plate, the pressure sensor unit corresponding to a body surface of the battery cell.

[0012] The pressure block may further include a protection pad attached to a surface of the pressure plate facing the body surface of the battery cell.

[0013] The battery pack may further include a pair of side plates respectively positioned at outermost edges of the plurality of battery cells, and the plurality of pressure blocks may be positioned between the pair of side plates.

[0014] The pressurizing device may further include first guide members at upper and lower parts of the plurality of pressurizing blocks, connecting the pair of side plates to each other.

[0015] The pressure supply unit may include a pressure supply plate and at least two pressure supply units located on one surface of the pressure supply plate, and the pressure supply plate may face an outermost pressure block among the plurality of pressure blocks.

[0016] In the pressure supplying part, the pressure supplying unit may include one or more selected from a servo motor, a pneumatic cylinder, and a hydraulic press.

[0017] The at least two pressure supply units may include a first pressure supply unit and a second pressure supply unit, and the first pressure supply unit and the second pressure supply unit may be arranged spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction on one surface of the pressure supply plate.

[0018] The at least two pressure supply units may include a pair of first pressure supply units and a pair of second pressure supply units, and the pair of first pressure supply units may be arranged spaced apart from each other on an upper side of one surface of the pressure supply plate, and the pair of second pressure supply units may be arranged spaced apart from each other on a lower side of one surface of the pressure supply plate.

[0019] The pressure supply unit may further include a load cell connected to an outermost pressure block among the plurality of pressure blocks, and another surface of the pressure supply plate may be connected to the load cell to apply pressure to the plurality of pressure blocks.

[0020] The pressure supplying plate and the pressure blocks may further include second guide members above and below the load cell, the second guide members connecting the pressure supplying plate and the pressure blocks to each other.

[0021] The pressure relief device may further include at least one pair of pressure relief portions located between adjacent pairs of pressure relief blocks among the plurality of pressure relief blocks, and the at least one pair of pressure relief portions may be located above and below the pair of pressure relief blocks, respectively.

[0022] The at least pair of pressure relief portions may include a pair of first pressure relief portions and a pair of second pressure relief portions, the pair of first pressure relief portions being located adjacent to one side of the pair of pressure blocks, and the pair of second pressure relief portions being located adjacent to the other side of the pair of pressure blocks.

[0023] The pressure release unit includes a rotating roll and a rotation shaft passing through the center of the rotating roll, and the rolling surface of the rotating roll can rotate along the space between the pair of pressure blocks.

[0024] The cross section of the rotating roll taken along the pressure direction of the pressure block may have an elliptical shape.

[0025] The at least one pressurizing unit may include a chamber unit that can be spaced apart from each other, and a temperature adjusting unit that adjusts the temperature inside the chamber unit.

[0026] In the chamber unit, the at least one pressure unit may be disposed such that a pressure direction of each pressure unit is perpendicular to a direction of gravity.

[0027] In the chamber unit, the at least one pressurizing unit may be disposed such that a pressure direction of the at least one pressurizing unit is the same as a direction of gravity.

[0028] The pressure sensor may further include a pressure information acquiring unit that acquires pressure information measured by the pressure sensor unit, and a pressure adjusting unit that adjusts the pressure applied to the battery cell based on the pressure information acquired by the pressure information acquiring unit.

[0029] The pressure sensor unit can acquire pressure information on the entire body surface of the battery cell.

[0030] The pressure sensor unit can measure the surface pressure of the battery cells in a grid pattern. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to the embodiment, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a pressure unit that can apply pressure uniformly to the inside of a lithium metal battery, and can maintain or change the pressure regardless of changes in the thickness of the battery cell during the battery cell activation process, and can apply the same pressure to the entire pressure surface of the cell.

[0032] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus for the secondary battery of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram showing a pressurizing unit included in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the pressure unit in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 5 is a diagram showing pressure information acquired from a pressure sensor unit included in the pressure block of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram showing a pressure supply unit included in the pressurizing unit of FIG. 3; [Figure 7] 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of a pressure unit included in an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a pressure release unit located between a pair of pressure plates; [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure release unit included in the pressure release unit of FIG. 7; [Figure 9] 8 is a perspective view of a part of the pressure unit of FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing the positions of a pressure supply unit and a pressure release unit based on the pressure surface of the pressure unit in FIGS. 8 and 9; [Figure 11] 10 is a diagram showing the positions of a pressure supply unit and a pressure release unit based on the pressure surface of the pressure unit in FIGS. 8 and 9; [Figure 12] 1 is a view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art. The present invention can be implemented in several different forms and is not limited to the examples described herein.

[0035] In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts that are not relevant to the description will be omitted and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0036] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses are exaggerated to clearly show multiple layers and regions. In the drawings, thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0037] Furthermore, throughout this specification, when a part "comprises" a certain component, it does not mean that it excludes other components, but that it may further include other components, unless otherwise specified.

[0038] Also, throughout the specification, "on a plane" means when the target part is viewed from above, and "on a cross section" means when the target part is cut vertically and viewed from the side.

[0039] Hereinafter, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0040] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

[0041] 1 to 3, a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one pressurizing unit 1100 that applies pressure to the plurality of battery cells 100 while the plurality of battery cells 100 are installed inside.

[0042] Here, the battery cell 100 is a pouch battery cell that includes an electrode assembly inside a battery case. The battery cell 100 has a structure in which electrode leads connected to electrode tabs of the electrode assembly are exposed to the outside, and lead films are attached to the upper and lower parts of the electrode leads. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead of the battery cell 100 may protrude from the same side of the battery case. However, the structure of the battery cell 100 is not limited thereto, and the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may protrude from different sides of the battery case.

[0043] The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. More specifically, the electrode assembly may be configured such that a positive electrode and a negative electrode are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween and insulated from each other. Here, the electrode assembly may be a stacked electrode assembly or a stack / folded electrode assembly. However, the form of the electrode assembly is not limited thereto, and any electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator may be included in this embodiment. In addition, the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator may be made of materials commonly used in battery cells.

[0044] The negative electrode included in the battery cell 100 may be made of lithium metal. In particular, lithium metal is softer than graphite, which is used in conventional negative electrodes, and is foldable. Furthermore, lithium metal has the advantage of being easily joined to other components with relatively weak crimping, compared to materials used in conventional negative electrodes. Furthermore, lithium metal undergoes significant thickness changes during charge / discharge in the activation process of the battery cell 100, and it is therefore necessary to apply appropriate pressure to the battery cell 100 to prevent performance changes or sudden drop.

[0045] In addition, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment may further include a pressure sensor unit 1115 included in the pressurizing unit 1100, a pressure information acquiring unit 1200 that acquires pressure information acquired from FIG. 4, and a pressure adjusting unit 1300 that adjusts the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 based on the pressure information acquired by the pressure information acquiring unit 1200.

[0046] Here, the pressure adjusting unit 1300 can adjust the pressure applied to the plurality of battery cells 100 by controlling the operation of the pressure supplying unit 1140 and / or the pressure releasing unit 1190 included in the pressurizing unit 1100, which will be described later.

[0047] In addition, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment further includes a temperature control unit 1400 that controls the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 100 disposed in at least one pressurizing unit 1100. As an example, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment further includes chamber units 1600 that may be spaced apart from each other, and the temperature control units 1400 can control the temperature inside the chamber units 1600. The chamber units 1600 can be used to control the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 100 during a long-term charge / discharge test of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0048] Here, the temperature control unit 1400 may have a configuration similar to a heater, and may be included in this embodiment as long as it is a device for controlling the temperature inside the chamber unit 1600. However, the location of the temperature control unit 1400 is not limited thereto, and a method of directly controlling the temperature of the pressurizing block 1110 included in the pressurizing unit 1100 may also be included in this embodiment.

[0049] In addition, the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment may further include a control unit 1500 that controls the pressurizing unit 1100, the pressure information acquiring unit 1200, the pressure adjusting unit 1300, and the temperature adjusting unit 1400. More specifically, the control unit 1500 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a graphic processing unit (GPU), one or more microprocessors, and other electronic components capable of processing input data according to predetermined logic. For example, the control unit 1500 may load a pressurizing process for the battery cell 100, which can be performed by the pressurizing unit 1100, onto the RAM, and perform various processes, such as adjusting the pressure and temperature applied to the battery cell 100, according to the loaded program.

[0050] In the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, at least one pressure unit 1100 may be disposed in the chamber unit 1600 such that the pressure direction of each pressure unit 1100 is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0051] 2, the at least one pressure unit 1100 may include a first pressure unit 1100a, a second pressure unit 1100b, a third pressure unit 1100c, a fourth pressure unit 1100d, a fifth pressure unit 1100e, and a sixth pressure unit 1100f. The first pressure unit 1100a, the second pressure unit 1100b, the third pressure unit 1100c, the fourth pressure unit 1100d, the fifth pressure unit 1100e, and the sixth pressure unit 1100f may be arranged such that the pressure direction is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The first pressure unit 1100a and the second pressure unit 1100b, the third pressure unit 1100c and the fourth pressure unit 1100d, and the fifth pressure unit 1100e and the sixth pressure unit 1100f may be arranged symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to an imaginary reference line. The first, third, and fifth pressure members 1100a, 1100c, and 1100e may be spaced apart from one another in the direction of gravity, and the second, fourth, and sixth pressure members 1100b, 1100d, and 1100f may be spaced apart from one another in the direction of gravity.

[0052] As a result, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure direction of the pressure unit 1100 is perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and each component included in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 and the multiple battery cells 100 housed inside the pressure unit 1100 can be more free from the weight of the multiple battery cells 100 themselves.

[0053] However, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the number, position, and arrangement direction of the pressure applying units 1100 are not limited to this, and the number, position, and arrangement direction of the pressure applying units 1100 can be changed and applied as needed.

[0054] Hereinafter, the pressurizing unit 1100 included in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be mainly described.

[0055] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a pressurizing unit included in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an enlarged view of a part of the pressurizing unit of Fig. 3.

[0056] 3 and 4, the pressure unit 1100 includes a plurality of pressure blocks 1110 located at the outermost periphery of the plurality of battery cells 100 and between the plurality of battery cells 100, respectively, and a pressure supply unit 1140 that applies pressure to the plurality of pressure blocks 1110.

[0057] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of pressure blocks 1110 may be respectively positioned between adjacent battery cells 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100, and may be respectively positioned on the outer surface of the battery cell 100 located at the outermost periphery among the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0058] As a result, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, multiple battery cells 100 are respectively arranged between multiple pressure blocks 1110 within the pressure section 1100, and the multiple pressure blocks 1110 can apply a desired constant pressure to the multiple battery cells 100, thereby applying pressure uniformly to the inside of the battery cells 100.

[0059] Furthermore, even when the negative electrode included in the battery cell 100 contains lithium metal, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment can prevent performance changes or sudden drops by applying appropriate pressure to each battery cell 100 using multiple pressure blocks 1110 during charging / discharging in the activation process of the battery cell 100, and can also stabilize the interface of the lithium metal and increase the lifespan of the battery cell 100.

[0060] 3, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressing unit 1100 may further include a pair of side plates 1120 positioned at the outermost periphery of the plurality of battery cells 100. The plurality of pressing blocks 1110 may be positioned between the pair of side plates 1120. That is, the plurality of pressing blocks 1110 may incorporate the plurality of battery cells 100 between the pair of side plates 1120.

[0061] 3, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressing unit 1100 may further include a first guide member 1130 connecting a pair of side plates 1120 to each other at the upper and lower parts of the plurality of pressing blocks 1110. As an example, the first guide member 1130 may be a guide shaft.

[0062] As a result, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the multiple battery cells 100 in the pressing unit 1100 can be stably fixed to each other while being respectively arranged between the multiple pressing blocks 1110.

[0063] However, the fixing method of the internal components of the pressure unit 1100 is not limited to this, and any method that can stably fix the state in which multiple battery cells 100 are respectively arranged between multiple pressure blocks 1110 other than the connecting structure of a pair of side plates 1120 and a first guide member 1130 can be included in this embodiment.

[0064] 4, in the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment, the pressure block 1110 may include a pressure plate 1111 and a pressure sensor unit 1115 located on one surface of the pressure plate 1111. Here, the pressure sensor unit 1115 may correspond to the body surface of the battery cell 100. That is, the pressure sensor unit 1115 may be in contact with the body surface of the battery cell 100. The pressure sensor unit 1115 may also correspond to the entire body surface of the battery cell 100, thereby obtaining pressure information for the entire body surface of the battery cell 100. For example, the pressure sensor unit 1115 may be the same size as or larger than the body surface of the battery cell 100.

[0065] However, this embodiment is not limited to the case where one pressure sensor unit 1115 is formed for each battery cell 100 as shown in Figure 4, and unlike Figure 4, this embodiment can also include the case where at least two or more pressure sensor units 1115 are arranged within multiple battery cells 100.

[0066] Here, the pressure sensor unit 1115 can acquire information about pressures applied to the body surface of each battery cell 100 at different positions. That is, the pressure sensor unit 1115 can acquire information about pressure deviations at different positions on the body surface of the battery cell 100.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 4, in the battery cell manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure block 1110 may further include a protection pad portion 1119 attached to the surface of the pressure plate 1111 facing the body surface of the battery cell 100 .

[0068] Here, the protective pad portion 1119 can mitigate the impact that the battery cells 100 located between the adjacent pressure blocks 1110 receive when they are subjected to pressure from the pressure blocks 1110 or when swelling of the battery cells 100 themselves occurs.

[0069] For example, the protective pad portion 1119 may be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urethane, silicone, rubber, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), and PE (polyethylene). However, the material of the protective pad portion 1119 is not limited to these, and any material that can absorb impacts applied to the battery cell 100 may be included in this embodiment.

[0070] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing pressure information acquired from a pressure sensor unit included in the pressure block of FIG.

[0071] 4 and 5, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure sensor unit 1115 is a surface pressure sensor and can measure the surface pressure of the battery cell 100 as an electrical signal having a grid shape. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure sensor unit 1115 can obtain pressure information regarding a pressure deviation depending on the level of the surface pressure of the battery cell 100.

[0072] As a result, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure sensor unit 1115 can acquire pressure information regarding the pressure deviation due to the surface pressure applied to each of the multiple battery cells 100, and the accuracy of the pressure information regarding the battery cells 100 can be further improved.

[0073] In addition, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment can vary the pressure of the pressure block 1110 on the battery cell 100 based on the pressure information, and can reduce pressure deviations at different positions on the battery cell 100 while maintaining a constant target pressure on the battery cell 100.

[0074] In addition, when the negative electrode included in the battery cell 100 includes lithium metal, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment can apply pressure to the battery cell 100 based on the pressure information to minimize positional pressure deviations in response to thickness changes that occur in the battery cell 100 during charging / discharging in the activation process of the battery cell 100. As a result, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment can prevent performance changes or sudden drop of the battery cell 100 and can also increase the lifespan of the battery cell 100 by stabilizing the interface of the lithium metal.

[0075] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a pressure supply unit included in the pressurizing unit of FIG.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure supply units 1140 correspond to the body surface of the battery cell 100 and can be uniformly distributed on one surface of the pressing block 1110 .

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the pressure supply section 1140 may include a pressure supply plate 1150 and at least two pressure supply units 1160 located on one side of the pressure supply plate 1150 .

[0078] Here, the pressure supply plate 1150 may face the outermost pressing block 1110 among the plurality of pressing blocks 1110. That is, one of a pair of side plates 1120 each positioned at the outermost periphery of the plurality of pressing blocks 1110 and the pressure supply plate 1150 may face each other.

[0079] For example, in the pressure supply unit 1140, the pressure supply unit 1160 may include one or more selected from a servo motor, a pneumatic cylinder, and a hydraulic press. However, the method of providing pressure by the pressure supply unit 1160 is not limited thereto, and any method that can apply a certain pressure to the battery cell 100 may be included in this embodiment.

[0080] 3, in the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment, the pressure supplying unit 1140 may further include a load cell 1170 connected to the outermost pressing block 1110 among the plurality of pressing blocks 1110. More specifically, the load cell 1170 may be connected to one of a pair of side plates 1120 each located at the outermost edge of the plurality of pressing blocks 1110. In particular, the other surface of the pressure supplying plate 1150 may be connected to the load cell 1170 to apply pressure to the plurality of pressing blocks 1110.

[0081] More specifically, a second guide member 1180 may be further included that connects the pressure supply plate 1150 and the plurality of pressure blocks 1110 to each other above and below the load cell 1170 .

[0082] 6(a), the pressure supply unit 1140 may include at least two pressure supply units 1160, including a first pressure supply unit 1160a and a second pressure supply unit 1160b. More specifically, the first pressure supply unit 1160a and the second pressure supply unit 1160b may be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction on one surface of the pressure supply plate 1150.

[0083] 6(b), the at least two pressure supply units 1160 may include a pair of first pressure supply units 1160a and a pair of second pressure supply units 1160b in the pressure supply unit 1140. More specifically, the pair of first pressure supply units 1160a may be spaced apart from each other on an upper surface of the pressure supply plate 1150, and the pair of second pressure supply units 1160b may be spaced apart from each other on a lower surface of the pressure supply plate 1150.

[0084] Therefore, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure supply unit 1140 has pressure supply units 1160 arranged for each position of the battery cell 100, and can provide and maintain a target pressure for each position of the battery cell 100, which has the advantage of being able to maintain a constant pressure, i.e., positive pressure, depending on the position of the battery cell 100.

[0085] In addition, when the negative electrode included in the battery cell 100 includes lithium metal, the apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment can provide appropriate pressure to each position of the battery cell 100 through the pressure supply units 1160 arranged at each position of the battery cell 100 to deal with thickness changes that occur in the battery cell 100 during charging / discharging in the activation process of the battery cell 100. As a result, the apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment can prevent performance changes or sudden drop of the battery cell 100 and can also increase the lifespan of the battery cell 100 by stabilizing the interface of the lithium metal.

[0086] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of a pressurizing unit included in an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a pressure relieving unit located between a pair of pressurizing plates. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure relieving unit included in the pressurizing unit of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the pressurizing unit of Fig. 7.

[0087] In the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, the pressurizing unit 1100 may further include at least one pair of pressure relieving units 1190 located between adjacent pairs of the pressurizing blocks 1110 among the plurality of pressurizing blocks 1110. More specifically, the at least one pair of pressure relieving units 1190 may be located above and below the pair of pressurizing blocks 1110, respectively.

[0088] 9, the at least one pair of pressure relief parts 1190 may include a pair of first pressure relief parts 1190a and a pair of second pressure relief parts 1190b. The pair of first pressure relief parts 1190a may be located adjacent to one side of the pair of pressure blocks 1110, and the pair of second pressure relief parts 1190b may be located adjacent to the other side of the pair of pressure blocks 1110.

[0089] 8, the pressure release unit 1190 may include a rotating roll 1191 and a rotating shaft 1195. Here, the rotating shaft 1195 passes through the center of the rotating roll 1191, and the rolling surface of the rotating roll 1191 may rotate in the space between a pair of pressure blocks 1110. In addition, a portion of the rolling surface of the rotating roll 1191 may contact the inner surface of the pressure block 1110.

[0090] Here, the pressure relieving unit 1190 may rotate at different speeds depending on the degree of pressure deviation at each position of the battery cell 100. For example, in areas where the pressure is relatively high or low according to the pressure information acquired from the pressure sensor unit 1115, the pressure relieving unit 1190 may rotate quickly to quickly decrease or increase the pressure.

[0091] For example, in the pressure release unit 1190, the cross section of the rotating roll 1191 cut based on the pressure direction of the pressure block 1110 may have an oval shape. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, a first diameter (d1) extending horizontally based on the center of the cross section of the rotating roll 1191 may be larger than a second diameter (d2) extending vertically.

[0092] 7 to 9, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure release unit 1190 can adjust the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 based on the difference between the first diameter (d1) and the second diameter (d2) of the rotating roll 1191.

[0093] That is, when the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 positioned between the pair of pressure blocks 1110 is measured to be higher than the target value, the pressure release unit 1190 can rotate so that the first diameter (d1) of the rotating roll 1191 coincides with the pressure direction, thereby adjusting the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 to be relatively low. On the other hand, when the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 positioned between the pair of pressure blocks 1110 is measured to be lower than the target value, the pressure release unit 1190 can rotate so that the second diameter (d2) of the rotating roll 1191 coincides with the pressure direction, thereby adjusting the pressure applied to the battery cell 100 to be relatively high.

[0094] In addition, when the negative electrode included in the battery cell 100 includes lithium metal, the apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment can appropriately adjust the pressure at each position on the battery cell 100 through the pressure release unit 1190 to accommodate thickness changes that occur in the battery cell 100 during charging / discharging in the activation process of the battery cell 100. This can prevent performance changes or sudden drop of the battery cell 100, stabilize the interface of the lithium metal, and increase the lifespan of the battery cell 100.

[0095] 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the positions of the pressure supply unit and the pressure release unit based on the pressure surface of the pressure unit in FIGS.

[0096] 10(a), in the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment, a first pressure supply unit 1160a may be located above the pressurizing unit 1100 and a second pressure supply unit 1160b may be located below the pressurizing unit 1100, based on the pressure surface of the pressurizing unit 1100. Here, a pair of first pressure relievers 1190a may be located above the pressurizing unit 1100, with the first pressure supply unit 1160a located between the pair of first pressure relievers 1190a. Also, a pair of second pressure relievers 1190b may be located below the pressurizing unit 1100, with the second pressure supply unit 1160b located between the pair of second pressure relievers 1190b.

[0097] 10(a), in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, pressure supply units 1160 are located above and below the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, and pressure can be applied evenly to the upper and lower parts of the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, thereby relatively reducing the pressure deviation applied to the plurality of battery cells 100. In addition, pressure release units 1190 are located at each corner of the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, and can appropriately adjust the pressure according to the pressure deviation applied to the battery cells 100.

[0098] 10(b), in the apparatus 1000 for manufacturing a secondary battery according to this embodiment, a pair of first pressure supply units 1160a may be located above the pressure unit 1100 and a pair of second pressure supply units 1160b may be located below the pressure unit 1100, based on the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100. Here, a pair of first pressure relievers 1190a may be located above the pressure unit 1100, and the pair of first pressure relievers 1190a may be located at positions corresponding to the first pressure supply units 1160a, respectively. Also, a pair of second pressure relievers 1190b may be located below the pressure unit 1100, and the pair of second pressure relievers 1190b may be located at positions corresponding to the pair of second pressure supply units 1160b, respectively.

[0099] 10(b), in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure supply units 1160 are located at each corner of the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, so that the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100 can provide pressure in a more balanced manner overall, effectively reducing the pressure deviation applied to the plurality of battery cells 100. In addition, the pressure release units 1190 are located at positions corresponding to the pressure supply units 1160 at each corner of the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, so that the pressure can be more effectively adjusted according to the pressure deviation applied to the battery cells 100.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 11, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment, the pressure supply unit 1160 may include one pressure supply unit based on the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, unlike the above-described embodiment, and the pressure supply unit 1160 may be located in the center of the pressure unit 1100.

[0101] 11(a), the pair of first pressure relief parts 1190a may be located at the top of the pressurizing part 1100, and the pair of second pressure relief parts 1190b may be located at the bottom of the pressurizing part 1100. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the first pressure relief part 1190a may be located at the top of the pressurizing part 1100, and the second pressure relief part 1190b may be located at the bottom of the pressurizing part 1100, and a pressure supply unit 1160 may be located between the first pressure relief part 1190a and the second pressure relief part 1190b.

[0102] In this case, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 10, the pressure provided by the pressure supply unit 1160 is not relatively uniform, but the pressure release units 1190 are located at each corner or at the top and bottom of the pressure surface of the pressure unit 1100, and can appropriately adjust the pressure according to the pressure deviation applied to the battery cell 100.

[0103] FIG. 12 is a view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 12, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 2000 according to this embodiment can be explained in almost the same manner as the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 1000 explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, and only the differences will be explained below.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 12, the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 2000 according to this embodiment may have at least one pressure unit 2100 arranged in the chamber unit 2600 such that the pressure direction of each of the at least one pressure unit 2100 is the same as the direction of gravity.

[0106] 12, at least one pressure unit 2100 may include a first pressure unit 2100a, a second pressure unit 2100b, a third pressure unit 2100c, and a fourth pressure unit 2100d. In this case, the first pressure unit 2100a, the second pressure unit 2100b, the third pressure unit 2100c, and the fourth pressure unit 2100d may all be arranged such that the pressure direction and the gravity direction are the same. Also, the first pressure unit 2100a, the second pressure unit 2100b, the third pressure unit 2100c, and the fourth pressure unit 2100d may be spaced apart from one another in the horizontal direction.

[0107] As a result, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 2000 according to this embodiment, the pressure direction of the pressure unit 2100 is perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the pressure unit 2100 can pressurize the multiple battery cells 100 with relatively little pressure due to the gravity caused by the weight of the multiple battery cells 100 themselves.

[0108] However, in the secondary battery manufacturing apparatus 2000 according to this embodiment, the number, position, and arrangement direction of the pressure units 2100 are not limited to this, and the number, position, and arrangement direction of the pressure units 2100 can be changed and applied as needed.

[0109] 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]

[0110] 100 battery cells 1000, 2000 Secondary battery manufacturing equipment 1100, 2100 pressure section 1110 Pressure Block 1111 Pressure plate 1115 Pressure sensor part 1119 Protective pad part 1120 Side Plate 1130 First guide member 1140 Pressure supply section 1150 Pressure Supply Plate 1160 Pressure Supply Unit 1170 Load Cell 1180 Second guide member 1190 Pressure relief section 1200 Pressure information acquisition unit 1300 Pressure adjustment unit 1400 Temperature control section 1500 control section 1600, 2600 chamber section

Claims

1. at least one pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the battery cells when the battery cells are installed inside the battery pack; the pressurizing unit includes a plurality of pressurizing blocks respectively positioned on the outermost periphery of the plurality of battery cells and between the plurality of battery cells, and a pressure supply unit that applies pressure to the plurality of pressurizing blocks; The pressure block includes a pressure plate and a pressure sensor unit located on one surface of the pressure plate. The pressure sensor unit corresponds to a body surface of the battery cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure block further comprises a protection pad attached to a surface of the pressure plate facing the body surface of the battery cell.

3. The battery pack further includes a pair of side plates respectively positioned at the outermost edges of the plurality of battery cells, The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pressure blocks are positioned between the pair of side plates.

4. The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 3 , further comprising first guide members connecting the pair of side plates to each other at the upper and lower parts of the plurality of pressure blocks.

5. the pressure supply section includes a pressure supply plate and at least two pressure supply units located on one surface of the pressure supply plate; The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure supply plate faces an outermost pressing block among the plurality of pressing blocks.

6. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein in the pressure supply section, the pressure supply unit includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a servo motor, a pneumatic cylinder, and a hydraulic press.

7. the at least two pressure supply units include a first pressure supply unit and a second pressure supply unit; The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first pressure supply unit and the second pressure supply unit are arranged spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction on one surface of the pressure supply plate.

8. the at least two pressure supply units include a pair of first pressure supply units and a pair of second pressure supply units; the pair of first pressure supply units are spaced apart from each other on an upper surface of the pressure supply plate; The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 5 , wherein the pair of second pressure supply units are disposed spaced apart from each other below one surface of the pressure supply plate.

9. the pressure supply unit further includes a load cell connected to an outermost pressurizing block among the plurality of pressurizing blocks, The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 5 , wherein the other surface of the pressure supply plate is connected to the load cell and applies pressure to the plurality of pressure blocks.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising second guide members connecting the pressure supply plate and the plurality of pressure blocks to each other above and below the load cell.

11. The pressure relief unit further includes at least one pair of pressure relief sections located between a pair of adjacent pressure relief blocks among the plurality of pressure relief blocks, The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of pressure release units are located above and below the pair of pressure blocks, respectively.

12. the at least one pair of pressure relief portions includes a pair of first pressure relief portions and a pair of second pressure relief portions, the pair of first pressure release portions are located adjacent to one side surfaces of the pair of pressure blocks, The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein the pair of second pressure release portions are located adjacent to other side surfaces of the pair of pressure blocks.

13. the pressure release unit includes a rotating roll and a rotating shaft passing through the center of the rotating roll, The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the rolling surface of the rotating roll rotates along the space between the pair of pressure blocks.

14. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a cross section of the rotating roll taken along the pressure direction of the pressure block has an elliptical shape.

15. a chamber portion in which the at least one pressure unit is spaced apart from one another; and The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature adjusting unit that adjusts the temperature inside the chamber unit.

16. The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one pressure unit in the chamber unit is arranged such that a pressure direction of the pressure unit is perpendicular to a direction of gravity.

17. The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one pressurizing unit in the chamber unit is arranged such that a pressing direction of the at least one pressurizing unit is the same as a direction of gravity.

18. 2. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure information acquisition unit that acquires pressure information measured by the pressure sensor unit; and a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts the pressure applied to the battery cell based on the pressure information acquired by the pressure information acquisition unit.

19. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor unit acquires pressure information for the entire body surface of the battery cell.

20. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the pressure sensor unit measures the surface pressure of the battery cells in a grid pattern.

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