Slot die coater with automatic shim plate position adjustment capability and method for adjusting the shim plate position of the slot die coater

Abstract

The present invention relates to a slot die coater capable of automatically adjusting the position of a shim plate, including a slot die, at least one motor disposed inside the slot die, a shim plate disposed on the slot die, and at least one pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to the motor and is movable by the motor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0102619 filed on August 17, 2022, and includes all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean Patent Application as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to a slot die coater capable of adjusting the position of a shim plate and a method for adjusting the position of the shim plate of a slot die coater. More specifically, the present invention relates to a slot die coater capable of automatically adjusting the position of a shim plate based on information measured by a vision system and a method for automatically adjusting the position of the shim plate.

Background Art

[0003] Recently, as energy prices have risen due to the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution has become more serious, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has been increasing. Along with this, research on various power generation technologies such as nuclear power, wind power, tidal power, and solar power has been progressing, and interest in power storage devices for more efficiently using the generated energy has also been increasing.

[0004] In particular, with the development of mobile device technology and the increasing demand, the demand for batteries as an energy source has been rapidly increasing, and accordingly, research on secondary batteries that can meet various needs has been progressing.

[0005] A secondary battery can include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive electrode and the negative electrode can be coated with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively, on a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector. At this time, a slot die coater can be used to coat the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material.

[0006] A slot die coater can perform coating while maintaining a constant coating width for both the positive and negative electrode active materials. To maintain a constant coating width, the shim plates of the slot die coater must be precisely adjusted within the machine.

[0007] However, the conventional method of manually adjusting the shim bracket to position the shim plate has limitations, such as the difficulty in precisely adjusting the position of the shim plate, and the disadvantage of incurring time and labor costs because it requires direct human intervention to adjust the position of the shim plate.

[0008] Therefore, in order to overcome these limitations and shortcomings, research is underway on technologies that automatically adjust the position of the shim plates. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The objective of the present invention is to provide a slot die coater capable of automatically adjusting the position of the shim plate.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically adjusting the position of a shim plate.

[0011] However, the problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve the object of the present invention described above, a slot die coater according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a slot die, at least one motor disposed within the slot die, a shim plate disposed on the slot die, and at least one pin connected to the motor through the shim plate and movable by the motor.

[0013] In one embodiment, the pin may be movable in a first direction to which the coating liquid is applied and in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the pin may be movable in a third direction, which is the direction in which the pin penetrates the shim plate, and in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction.

[0015] In one embodiment, the pin may be movable in a fifth direction perpendicular to the first and third directions, and in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the motor can adjust the position of the shim plate by moving the pin when the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die, as measured by the vision system, exceeds a preset error range.

[0017] In one embodiment, there may be multiple motors and pins.

[0018] To achieve the object of the present invention, a shim plate position adjustment method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of: measuring the distance between the end of a slot die and the end of a shim plate disposed on the slot die; determining whether the distance is within a preset error range; and adjusting the position of the shim plate according to the result of the determination.

[0019] In one embodiment, the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate can be performed by a pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to a motor located within the slot die.

[0020] In one embodiment, the step of fixing the shim plate in place may be further included after the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the step of fixing the shim plate can be performed by a pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to a motor disposed within the slot die.

[0022] In one embodiment, after the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate, the step of re-measuring the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die can further be included.

[0023] In one embodiment, after the step of re-measuring, when the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die exceeds the preset error range, the step of generating an alarm can further be included.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, the position of the shim plate disposed on the slot die is automatically adjusted by a pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to the slot die. The pin is connected to a motor disposed within the slot die, and the motor can adjust the distance between the shim plate and the slot die by adjusting the position of the pin based on the information measured by the vision system. Thereby, the present invention can uniformly apply the coating liquid on the substrate. Further, since the position of the shim plate is automatically adjusted via the vision system and the motor, there is no need to add manual labor, and cost and time can be reduced, and the position of the shim plate can be finely adjusted via the motor and the pin.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] Figs. 1a to 1c show a slot die coater according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Fig. 1a shows an embodiment of the shim plate included in the slot die coater. [Figure 3]Figures 3a to 3c show an embodiment of adjusting the position of the shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a. [Figure 4] Figures 4a and 4b show an embodiment of adjusting the position of the shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a. [Figure 5] Figures 5a to 5c show an embodiment of adjusting the position of the shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. The inventor should interpret them in accordance with the meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain his invention in the best way. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. It should be understood that there are various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0027] The slot die coater of the present invention is a device that includes a slot and applies a coating liquid onto a substrate through the slot. The slot die coater can include a first slot die and a second slot die. The "substrate" described below is a current collector, and the coating liquid is an "electrode active material slurry". However, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the substrate may be a porous support that constitutes a separator membrane, and the coating liquid may correspond to an organic substance. That is, in the case where thin film coating is required, the substrate and the coating liquid can be any materials.

[0028] In this specification, the first direction (DR1) is defined as the direction in which the coating liquid is discharged, the second direction (DR2) is defined as the direction opposite to the first direction (DR1), the third direction (DR3) and the fourth direction (DR4) are defined as directions perpendicular to the first direction (DR1) and the second direction (DR2), respectively, and the fifth direction (DR5) and the sixth direction (DR6) are defined as directions perpendicular to the first direction (DR1) and the third direction (DR3), respectively.

[0029] Figures 1a to 1c show a slot die coater according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1a to 1c, a slot die coater (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a first slot die (100a), a second slot die (100b), and a shim plate (100c). The slot die coater (100) can apply a coating liquid (220) onto a substrate (210). This allows the substrate (210) to be coated with the coating liquid (220). A coating roll (200) can transport the substrate (210). The coating roll (220) is positioned in front of the slot die coater (100), and the substrate (210) can be transported by the rotation of the coating roll (220). As the coating roll (220) travels over the substrate (210), the discharged coating liquid (220) can be uniformly applied to the substrate (210). For this reason, the coating roll (220) must rotate at a constant speed. Furthermore, the slot die coater (100) must discharge the coating liquid (220) to have a constant spread width and at a constant speed.

[0030] Although not shown in the figures, at least one of the first slot die (100a) and the second slot die (100b) is provided with a storage space for storing coating liquid (220), and the storage space can receive a supply of coating liquid (220) via a passage connected from the outside.

[0031] The shim plate (100c) has an opening formed by cutting one region and is positioned between the opposing first slot die (100a) and second slot die (100b). The opening is positioned between the first die lip (110a) and the second die lip (110b). Except for the region where the opening is formed, the shim plate (100c) also functions as a gasket to prevent the coating liquid (220) from leaking into the gap between the first slot die (100a) and the second slot die (100b), so it is preferable that it be made of a sealing material.

[0032] The width of the opening in the shim plate (100c) may determine the width to which the coating liquid (220) is applied. Multiple such openings may exist, thereby allowing multiple coating layers to be formed on the substrate (210) spaced apart from each other.

[0033] The coating results obtained by the slot die coater (100) can be affected by various factors. For example, the coating results may differ depending on the alignment of the first die lip (110a), which is at the end of the first slot die (100a), and the second die lip (110b), which is at the end of the second slot die (100b). Alternatively, the coating results may differ depending on the distance between the first and second die lips (110a, 110b) and the shim end (110c), which is at the end of the shim plate (100c).

[0034] If the distance between the first and second die lips (110a, 110b) and the shim end (110c) is too large, the coating liquid (220) may spread too widely when applied, resulting in uneven coating of the coating liquid (220) on the substrate (210). Therefore, to adjust the distance between the first and second die lips (110a, 110b) and the shim end (110c), the slot die coater (100) may further include a motor and pins. The motor can move or fix the shim plate (100c) by moving the pins connected to the motor. Such a motor and pins will be explained with reference to the drawings described later.

[0035] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a. Referring to Figures 1a and 2, the shim plate (100c) may include two openings (OP1, OP2). The first opening (OP1) and the second opening (OP2) can each be defined as spaces through which the coating liquid (220) is discharged. That is, the coating liquid (220) stored in the slot die coater (100) can be discharged through the first opening (OP1) and the second opening (OP2), respectively. However, this is illustrative, and the shim plate (100c) may include at least one opening.

[0036] As mentioned above, the coating result may differ depending on the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b). Therefore, in a slot die coater (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an error range for the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) can be defined, and the position of the shim plate (100c) can be adjusted so that the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) is within a preset error range. The position of the shim plate (100c) can be adjusted before the first slot die (100a) and the second slot die (100b) are joined with the shim plate (100c) in between.

[0037] Whether the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls within the error range can be determined by various criteria. For example, the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) can be measured at three locations on a plane—left, center, and right—and then compared to determine whether each measured distance falls within a predetermined error range. However, this is merely an example, and it is also possible to determine whether the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls within a predetermined error range by using only the left and right locations as criteria.

[0038] Each error range can be determined based on the target value and the adjusted value. The target value can be defined as the ideal distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b). The ideal distance can mean the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) for the coating liquid to be applied correctly. For example, using the left side of the shim plate (100c) as the reference, the left-side distance (OFS_L), which is the shortest distance between the left portion of the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b), can have a target value of 500 μm. The target value can be determined by considering various factors. For example, the target value can be determined based on the results of quality measurements such as coating width, mismatch, sliding, and fat edge.

[0039] The adjusted value for left-side distance (OFS_L) can correspond to the maximum difference between the target value used to determine that the shim plate (100c) is in the desired position and the measurement taken by the vision system. For example, the adjusted value may be 80 μm, and if the left-side distance (OFS_L) measured by the vision system is between 420 and 580 μm, the shim plate (100c) can be determined to be in the desired position. In other words, the error range for the left-side distance (OFS_L) can be between 420 and 580 μm.

[0040] The target value can be set within a range of various values ​​and may have an upper and lower target limit. For example, the target value may be 500 μm, the upper target limit may be 900 μm, and the lower target limit may be 100 μm.

[0041] The aforementioned target values ​​and adjusted completion values ​​are illustrative examples, and these can be set using a variety of numerical values. Similarly, the upper and lower target limits can also be set using a variety of numerical values.

[0042] Furthermore, although the above explanation of the values ​​was based on the left-side distance (OFS_L), the same explanation can be applied to the right-side distance (OFS_R) and the intermediate distance (OFS_M).

[0043] However, if the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the left-side distance (OFS_L), right-side distance (OFS_R), and intermediate distance (OFS_M) exceeds a preset value, the shim plate (100c) may warp, potentially causing failure and performance degradation of the slot die coater (100). Therefore, it is desirable that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the left-side distance (OFS_L), right-side distance (OFS_R), and intermediate distance (OFS_M) be kept below a preset value, and this preset value can be defined as a set limit value. The set limit value may be 120 μm. For example, if the difference between the left-side distance (OFS_L) and the right-side distance (OFS_R) exceeds 120 μm, the position of the shim plate (100c) can be readjusted. The set limit value corresponds to the limit value at which the shim plate (100c) can be used without deformation, and therefore may vary depending on the size and material of the shim plate (100c).

[0044] The first and second pins (300a, 300b) can move in a first direction (DR1) and a second direction (DR2) opposite to the first direction (DR1) so that the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls within a predetermined error range. Each of the first pin (300a) and the second pin (300b) may be connected to the second slot die (100b) by passing through the shim plate (100c). The second slot die (100b) may be provided with passages for the movement of the first pin (300a) and the second pin (300b). Unlike in Figure 2, one pin may be used to move the shim plate (100c), or three or more pins may be used. However, for the sake of explanation, the description will proceed based on an embodiment in which two pins (300a, 300b) are used to move the shim plate (100c).

[0045] Figures 3a and 3c show one embodiment for adjusting the position of the shim plate included in the slot die coater shown in Figure 1a.

[0046] Referring to Figure 3a, the vision system (400) can measure the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b). The vision system (400) may also be a camera. The distance measured by the vision system (400) can be managed through a control unit (not shown). If the measured distance falls outside a preset error range, the second motor (500b) can move the second pin (300b). Here, the second motor (500b) can move the second pin (300b) in the first to sixth directions (DR1-DR6). Alternatively, the second motor (500b) may consist of multiple sub-motors, each moving the second pin (300b) in a different direction from the others. For example, the second motor (500b) includes first to third sub-motors, the first sub-motor can move the second pin (300b) in the first direction (DR1) and the second direction (DR2), the second sub-motor can move the second pin (300b) in the third direction (DR3) and the fourth direction (DR4), and the third sub-motor can move the second pin (300b) in the fifth direction (DR5) and the sixth direction (DR6).

[0047] In this configuration, the second motor (500b) can move the second pin (300b) in units of 100 μm. More preferably, the second motor (500b) can also move the second pin (300b) in units of 100 μm or less. For example, the second motor (500b) can also move the second pin (300b) in units of 50 μm or 10 μm. However, this is illustrative, and the second motor (200b) can also move the second pin (300b) in units of 100 μm or more. This allows the shim plate (100c) to be moved in units of 100 μm, or more, or less.

[0048] Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, the shim plate (100c) can be moved in the first direction (DR1) by the second motor (500b) and the second adjustment pin (300b), thereby allowing the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) to fall within a preset error range.

[0049] After the position of the shim plate (100c) is adjusted by the second motor (500b) and the second adjustment pin (300b), it can be re-checked whether the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls within a preset error range. Even after the position of the shim plate (100c) has been adjusted by the second motor (500b) and the second adjustment pin (300b), if the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls outside the preset error range, an alarm will sound and the system will be inspected, or a person can manually adjust the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) to be within the preset error range. However, the alarm can also be set to sound after the position of the shim plate (100c) has been adjusted N or more times (where N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2). For example, even after adjusting the position of the shim plate (100c) five times, if the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) falls outside a preset error range, an alarm can be set to sound.

[0050] Referring to Figures 3b and 3c, if the vision system (400) confirms that the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) is within a preset error range, the second motor (500b) can move the second pin (300b) in the fourth direction (DR4) to fix the shim plate (100c).

[0051] Once the shim plate (100c) is secured, the first slot die (100a), shim plate (100c), and second slot die (100b) can be assembled in order, as shown in the slot die coater (100) in Figure 1a.

[0052] Figures 4a and 4b show one embodiment for adjusting the position of the shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a.

[0053] Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, if the vision system (400) confirms that the distance between the shim end (110c) and the second die lip (110b) is within a preset error range, the second motor (500b) can fix the shim plate (100c) by moving the second pin (300b) only in the fourth direction (DR4) and not in the first direction (DR1) or the second direction (DR2).

[0054] Figures 5a to 5c show one embodiment of adjusting the position of a shim plate included in the slot die coater of Figure 1a. Figures 5a to 5c show an embodiment in which a motor moves a pin in a fifth direction (DR5) and a sixth direction (DR6).

[0055] Referring to Figures 5a and 5b, there may be two vision systems (400). Although only one vision system (400) is shown in the above description for convenience of explanation, there may be at least one vision system (400) in this specification. If the distance between the fifth direction (DR5) and / or sixth direction (DR6) ends of the shim plate (100c) measured by the vision system (400) and the fifth direction (DR5) and / or sixth direction (DR6) ends of the second slot die (100b) falls outside a preset error range, the first motor (500a) and the second motor (500b) can be moved to adjust the position of the shim plate (100c).

[0056] Subsequently, if the vision system (400) confirms that the shim plate (100c) is within the target error range, the first motor (500a) and the second motor (500b) can move the first pin (300a) and the second pin (300b) in the fourth direction (DR4) to fix the position of the shim plate (100c).

[0057] Thus, the slot die coater (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can adjust the position of the shim plate (100c) in a first direction (DR1), a second direction (DR2), a fifth direction (DR5), and a sixth direction (DR6) to apply the coating liquid (220) to the substrate (210) so that it has a target width at a target position.

[0058] Although 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 by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 100: Slot die coater 100a: First slot die 100b: Second slot die 100c: Shim Plate 110a: First Dilip 110b: Second dilip 110c: Shim plate end 200: Coating Roll 210: Base material 220: Coating liquid 300a, 300b: Pins 1 and 2 400: Vision System 500a, 500b: First and second motors

Claims

1. Slot die, At least one motor disposed inside the slot die, A shim plate placed on the slot die, and The shim plate is penetrated and connected to the motor, and includes at least one pin that is movable by the motor, A slot die coater in which the position of the shim plate can be automatically adjusted, wherein the shim plate has an opening of a certain width, and the width of the opening determines the width to which the coating liquid is applied.

2. The slot die coater according to claim 1, characterized in that the pin is movable in a first direction to which the coating liquid is applied and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby enabling automatic adjustment of the position of the shim plate.

3. The slot die coater according to claim 2, characterized in that the pin is movable in a third direction in which the pin penetrates the shim plate and in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, thereby enabling automatic adjustment of the position of the shim plate.

4. The slot die coater according to claim 3, characterized in that the pins are movable in a fifth direction perpendicular to the first and third directions and in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction, thereby enabling automatic adjustment of the position of the shim plate.

5. A slot die coater capable of automatically adjusting the position of a shim plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the motor adjusts the position of the shim plate by moving the pin when the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die, as measured by a vision system, falls outside a preset error range.

6. A slot die coater capable of automatically adjusting the position of a shim plate according to claim 5, characterized in that there are multiple motors and multiple pins.

7. A step of measuring the distance between the end of the slot die and the end of the shim plate placed on the slot die, A step of determining whether the distance is within a predetermined error range, and This includes the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate according to the result of the above determination, A method for adjusting the position of a shim plate in a slot die coater, wherein the shim plate has an opening of a certain width, and the width of the opening determines the width to which the coating liquid is applied.

8. The method for adjusting the position of a shim plate in a slot die coater according to claim 7, characterized in that the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate is carried out by a pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to a motor disposed in the slot die.

9. A method for adjusting the position of a shim plate in a slot die coater according to claim 7, further comprising the step of fixing the shim plate after the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate.

10. The method for adjusting the position of a shim plate in a slot die coater according to claim 9, characterized in that the step of fixing the shim plate is carried out by a pin that penetrates the shim plate and is connected to a motor disposed in the slot die.

11. A method for adjusting the position of a shim plate in a slot die coater according to claim 7, further comprising the step of remeasuring the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die after the step of adjusting the position of the shim plate.

12. A method for adjusting the position of a shim plate for a slot die coater according to claim 11, further comprising the step of generating an alarm if, after the remeasurement step, the distance between the end of the shim plate and the end of the slot die falls outside the preset error range.

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