Cap plate cutting separation apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a cap plate cutting and separation device capable of rapidly performing the cutting and separation operation of a cap plate by rapidly extracting a cap plate that is cut and separated from an array member to the outside. The cap plate cutting and separation device comprises: a lower mold having a holder that supports an array member in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged, and an extraction unit that extracts the cut and separated cap plate to the outside; and an upper mold having a punch that moves toward the lower mold with the array member in between and cuts and separates the cap plate from the array member. The extraction unit includes a main body, a pusher, and an elastic member. The main body has a seating portion on which a cap plate separated from the array member is seated, and an inclined portion that extends obliquely downward from one side of the seating portion. The pusher is positioned on the opposite side of the inclined portion relative to the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion and protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion or is inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion. The elastic member elastically supports the lower end of the pusher so that the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion. Accordingly, when the punching pressure of the punch is removed, the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion by the restoring force of the elastic member, and one side of the cap plate supported by the pusher is lifted and moves along the inclined portion.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap plate cutting and separation device, and more specifically, to a device for cutting and separating a cap plate from an array member in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged. Background Technology

[0002] Secondary batteries can be classified according to the structure of the electrode assembly into a jellyroll type, in which a separator is placed between a long sheet-type positive electrode coated with an active material and wound, and a stack type, in which a separator is placed between multiple positive electrodes and negative electrodes of a predetermined size and sequentially stacked. Additionally, secondary batteries can be classified according to the shape of the battery case in which the electrode assembly is housed into a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and a pouch-type battery, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch-type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0003] Among various types of secondary batteries, jellyroll-type electrode assemblies have the advantages of being easy to manufacture and having a high energy density per unit weight. In particular, cylindrical secondary batteries, which encapsulate high-energy-density jellyroll-type electrode assemblies in cylindrical metal cans, are widely used in fields requiring high-capacity secondary batteries, such as electric vehicles.

[0004] A cylindrical secondary battery can be manufactured by inserting an electrode assembly into a can with an open top, injecting an electrolyte, and then mounting a cap assembly on the open top of the can. The cap assembly may include a cap plate, which is made of a conductive material and can function as a terminal (positive terminal) for connection with an external circuit. Furthermore, it is a component that prevents thermal runaway in the secondary battery by allowing a portion of the plate to deform and separate the vent area when the internal pressure of the secondary battery exceeds a set pressure value.

[0005] The cap plate manufacturing process basically involves processing an array base material to form an array member (1) in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged on the array base material, and then cutting and separating a plurality of cap plates (2) from the array member (1) through a punching process. (See FIG. 1)

[0006] The punching process for cutting and separating multiple cap plates from an array member basically utilizes a fixed lower die and a movable upper die positioned between the array member, and cuts and separates multiple cap plates from the array member through repeated punching operations of the movable upper die.

[0007] However, in each punching process to cut and separate the cap plate, an extraction process is required to remove the previously cut cap plate present in the lower mold from the mold. This extraction process takes a long time, and as the time taken for the extraction process increases, the time required for the punching process also increases proportionally, which causes a problem of significantly reduced productivity of the manufactured cap plate. Prior art literature

[0008] Republic of Korea Published Patent Application No. 10-2024-0100156 (Published July 1, 2024) The problem to be solved

[0009] The objective of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problem is to provide a cap plate cutting and separation device capable of rapidly extracting a cap plate, which is cut and separated from an array member, to the outside, thereby enabling the rapid cutting and separation of the cap plate.

[0010] The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0011] A cap plate cutting and separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem comprises: a lower mold having a holder that supports an array member in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged; The apparatus comprises an upper mold having a punch that moves toward the lower mold with the array member in between and cuts and separates the cap plate from the array member, and the lower mold further comprises an extraction unit that extracts the cap plate cut and separated from the array member to the outside, wherein the extraction unit comprises a main body having a seating portion on which the cap plate separated from the array member is seated and an inclined portion extending downwardly from one side of the seating portion, a pusher positioned opposite the inclined portion with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion and protruding from the bottom surface of the seating portion or inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion, and an elastic member that elastically supports the lower end of the pusher so that the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion, and when the punching pressure of the punch is removed, the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion by the restoring force of the elastic member, and one side of the cap plate supported by the pusher is lifted and moves along the inclined portion.

[0012] In a cap plate cutting and separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the extraction unit may further include an air nozzle formed in the pusher and spraying air toward the lower surface of the cap plate, which is lifted on one side when the punching pressure of the punch is removed and the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion.

[0013] In a cap plate cutting and separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of pushers are provided symmetrically with respect to a centerline passing through the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion, and the air nozzle may be arranged to face the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion.

[0014] A cap plate cutting and separation device according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises: a lower mold having a holder that supports an array member in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged; The invention is further characterized by including an upper mold having a punch that moves toward the lower mold with the array member in between and cuts and separates the cap plate from the array member, and the lower mold further includes an extraction unit that extracts the cap plate cut and separated from the array member to the outside, wherein the extraction unit includes a main body having a seating portion on which the cap plate separated from the array member is seated and an inclined portion extending downwardly from one side of the seating portion, a pusher positioned opposite the inclined portion with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion and protruding from the bottom surface of the seating portion or inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion, and an air seal that supports the lower end of the pusher from air supplied from the outside so that the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion, and when the punching pressure of the punch is removed, the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion by the air pressure of the air seal, and one side of the cap plate supported by the pusher is lifted and moves along the inclined portion.

[0015] In a cap plate cutting and separation device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the extraction unit may further include an air nozzle formed in the pusher in communication with the air seal, which sprays air toward the lower surface of the cap plate that is opened and lifted on one side as the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion when the punching pressure of the punch is removed. Effects of the invention

[0016] According to the present invention, by rapidly and accurately extracting the cap plate, which is cut and separated from the array member, to the outside through the extraction unit, a fast punching operation is possible, and the productivity of the manufactured cap plate can be greatly improved.

[0017] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 is a planar example diagram showing a cap plate array member. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a cap plate cutting and separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the extraction unit of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a planar example diagram for explaining the extraction unit of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a process example diagram to explain the operation of the extraction unit of Figure 2. FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an extraction unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] The present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is therefore not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification have been given similar reference numerals.

[0020] Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a part is "connected (connected, in contact, combined)" with another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected," but also cases where they are "indirectly connected" with other members interposed between them. Furthermore, when it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but rather allows for the inclusion of additional components.

[0021] The terms used herein are merely for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a planar example diagram showing a cap plate array member.

[0024] An array member (1) in which a plurality of cap plates (2) are arranged on an array base material can be formed using a stamping device, and subsequently, each cap plate (2) can be cut and separated from the array member (1) using a cap plate cutting and separation device according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a cap plate cutting and separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the cap plate cutting and separation device may include a lower mold (10) and an upper mold (20).

[0027] By moving the movable upper mold (20) toward the fixed lower mold (10) with the array member (1) in between, the cap plate (2) can be cut and separated from the array member (1).

[0028] The array member (1) can be moved and stopped repeatedly from left to right in the drawing by a transfer unit not shown, and a plurality of cap plates (2) can be continuously cut and separated from the repeated movement of the upper mold (20) linked thereto.

[0029] The lower mold (10) may have a holder (11), and the holder (11) may support an array member (1) in which a plurality of cap plates (2) are arranged.

[0030] The holder (11) can be provided on the main body (51) of the lower mold (10) and can fix and support the periphery of the array member (1) where the cap plate (2) is not formed. That is, the holder (11) can be formed to protrude upward from the periphery area without forming a seating portion (52) on the main body (51), and through this, the array member (1) can be supported in a state spaced upward from the upper surface of the main body (51). In addition, the holder (11) may have a support groove on its upper side, and the width-direction end of the array member (1) can be inserted into the support groove. Accordingly, the position of the array member (1) can be stably supported when the array member (1) is transported from left to right in the drawing. In this case, the holder (11) may be configured to be rotatable relative to the main body (51), such as a roller.

[0031] The upper mold (20) may have a punch (21), and the punch (21) can cut and separate the cap plate (2) from the array member (1) by a punching operation that presses the cap plate (2) supported by the holder (11) downward.

[0032] The cap plate (2), which is cut and separated from the array member (1) by the punching operation of the punch (21) of the upper mold (20), can fall onto the upper surface of the main body (51) of the lower mold (10).

[0033] The present invention includes an extraction unit (50) for extracting to the outside a cap plate (2) that has been cut and separated from an array member (1) and dropped onto the upper surface of the main body (51) of a lower mold (10).

[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the extraction unit of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the extraction unit of FIG. 2.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the extraction unit (50) may include a main body (51), a pusher (55), and an elastic member (57).

[0036] The main body (51) may have a seating portion (52) and an inclined portion (53).

[0037] The seating portion (52) is formed on the upper surface of the main body (51) and can be provided in a planar shape corresponding to the shape of the cap plate (2). The seating portion (52) can accommodate the cap plate (2) that is cut and separated from the array member (1) by the punching operation of the punch (21).

[0038] The inclined portion (53) is formed on the upper surface of the main body (51), and can be formed to extend downward in an inclined direction from one side of the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0039] The pusher (55) is positioned on the seating portion (52), but can be positioned on the opposite side of the inclined portion (53) with respect to the center (C) of the bottom surface of the seating portion (52). Additionally, the pusher (55) is installed to be movable up and down along a through hole (51a) formed on the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), and can protrude from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) or be inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion (52). Furthermore, a pair of pushers (55) may be provided symmetrically on the left and right with respect to a center line (CL) passing through the center (C) of the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0040] The elastic member (57) is installed to connect the main body (51) and the pusher (55), and can elastically support the lower end of the pusher (55) so that the pusher (55) has a restoring force that causes it to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0041] Accordingly, when the punching pressure of the punch (21) is removed, the pusher (55) can be protruded upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) by the restoring force of the elastic member (57). Then, the cap plate (2) that was seated on the seating portion (52) tilts with one side lifted upward, and the tilted cap plate (2) can be discharged to the outside by sliding along the inclined portion (53).

[0042] The extraction unit (50) may further include an air nozzle (55b).

[0043] The air nozzle (55b) can be formed at the upper end of the pusher (55) so as to face the inclined portion (53). Accordingly, when the punching pressure of the punch (21) is removed and the pusher (55) protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), air can be sprayed toward the lower surface of the cap plate (2) that has one side lifted by the pusher (55). Then, the cap plate (2) can be pushed by the air, separated from the seating portion (52), and rapidly transported toward the inclined portion (53).

[0044] In other words, air supplied from an external air supply unit (not shown) can pass through a first air passage (51b) formed in the main body (51) and a second air passage (55a) formed in the pusher (55), and then be sprayed in the direction of the inclined part (53) through an air nozzle (55b) formed at the upper end of the pusher (55). Then, the cap plate (2), which is supported by the pusher (55) and has one side lifted, can be separated from the seating part (52) and rapidly transported toward the inclined part (53).

[0045] When a pair of pushers (55) are provided that are symmetrical with respect to a center line (CL) passing through the center (C) of the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), the air nozzle (55b) formed on each pusher (55) can be positioned to face the center (C) of the bottom surface of the seating portion (52). Then, the cap plate (2) can be moved quickly and accurately in the direction of the inclined portion (53) without being deviated to the left or right.

[0046] For example, air injection through the air nozzle (55b) can be controlled according to an on / off signal controlled by an external air supply unit. That is, air injection through the air nozzle (55b) can be stopped when the pusher (55) is inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), and air can be injected through the air nozzle (55b) only when the pusher (55) is protruding from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0047] In another example, an appropriate air injection pressure may always be maintained in the air nozzle (55b). In this case, when the pusher (55) is inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), the air nozzle (55b) can be blocked by the inner circumference of the through hole (51a) formed in the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) and remain closed, and when the pusher (55) protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52), the air nozzle (55b) can automatically open and inject air.

[0048] Figure 5 is a process example diagram to explain the operation of the extraction unit of Figure 2.

[0049] First, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), with the array member (1) supported by the holder (11), the pusher (55) maintains a state of protruding upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0050] Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the cap plate (2) is cut and separated from the array member (1) by a punching motion that moves the punch (21) downward, the pusher (55) can be inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) while compressing the elastic member (57) by the punching pressure of the punch (21). Then, the cut and separated cap plate (2) can be seated on the seating portion (52).

[0051] Afterward, as shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. 5, when the punching pressure applied to the cap plate (2) is removed by moving the punch (21) upward, the pusher (55) protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) by the restoring force of the elastic member (57). Then, as one side of the cap plate (2) supported by the pusher (55) is lifted, the cap plate (2) can slide along the inclined portion (53) and be discharged to the outside. In addition, when the pusher (55) protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) by the restoring force of the elastic member (57), air is sprayed through the air nozzle (55b), so the cap plate (2) can be separated from the seating portion (52) and quickly moved toward the inclined portion (53). Accordingly, since the rapid punching motion of the punch (21) can be repeated, the cutting and separation operation of the cap plate (2) for the array member (1) can be repeated quickly.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an extraction unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, the extraction unit (50) according to the present embodiment may include a main body (51), a pusher (55), and an air seal (58).

[0054] The extraction unit (50) according to the present embodiment has the greatest difference from the extraction unit (50) described above in that it forms an air seal (58) instead of excluding the elastic member (57).

[0055] That is, the air seal (58) shares the lower end of the pusher (55), and the lower end of the pusher (55) can be supported by air supplied from the outside so that the pusher (55) has a restoring force that causes it to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52).

[0056] Accordingly, when the punching pressure of the punch (21) is removed, the pusher (55) can be protruded upward from the seating portion (52) by the air pressure filled in the air seal (58). Then, the cap plate (2) that was seated on the seating portion (52) tilts with one side lifted upward, and the tilted cap plate (2) can be discharged to the outside by sliding along the inclined portion (53).

[0057] In this case, the air nozzle (55b) can be connected to the air seal (58) via the second air passage (55a). Consequently, when the punching pressure of the punch (21) is removed, the pusher (55) protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the seating portion (52) by the air pressure filled in the air seal (58), and at the same time, the air nozzle (55b) connected to the air seal (58) is naturally opened and can automatically spray air toward the lower surface of the cap plate (2) that is lifted on one side.

[0058] The cap plate cutting and separation device according to the present invention can rapidly and accurately extract the cap plate (2) that has been cut and separated from the array member (1) to the outside through the extraction unit (50)(50"), thereby enabling a fast punching operation and greatly improving the productivity of the manufactured cap plate.

[0059] The foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that other specific forms can be easily modified without altering the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single unit may be implemented in a distributed manner, and components described as distributed may likewise be implemented in a combined form.

[0060] The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0061] 10: Lower mold 11: Holder 20: Upper mold 21: Punching 50: Extraction Unit 51: Main body 52: Settlement 53: Sloping section 55: Pusher 57: Elastic member 58: Air seal

Claims

Claim 1 A lower mold having a holder that supports an array member in which a plurality of cap plates are arranged; The apparatus comprises an upper mold having a punch that moves toward the lower mold with the array member in between and cuts and separates the cap plate from the array member, and the lower mold further comprises an extraction unit that extracts the cap plate cut and separated from the array member to the outside, wherein the extraction unit comprises a main body having a seating portion on which the cap plate separated from the array member is seated and an inclined portion extending downwardly from one side of the seating portion, a pusher disposed opposite to the inclined portion with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion and protruding from the bottom surface of the seating portion or inserted into the bottom surface of the seating portion, and an elastic member that elastically supports the lower end of the pusher so that the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion, wherein when the punching pressure of the punch is removed, the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion by the restoring force of the elastic member, and one side of the cap plate supported by the pusher is lifted and moves along the inclined portion, and the extraction unit is formed on the pusher, and the punch A cap plate cutting and separating device further comprising an air nozzle that sprays air toward the lower surface of the cap plate, which is lifted on one side, when the punching pressure is removed and the pusher protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating portion, wherein a pair of pushers are provided symmetrically with respect to a centerline passing through the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion, and the air nozzle is positioned to face toward the center of the bottom surface of the seating portion. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete

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