Separator inspection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a separator inspection device, and more specifically, to a separator inspection device for automatically inspecting the tensile strength of a separator by receiving a separator laminated to copper foil in order to inspect the tensile strength among the quality inspection items of a separator. In addition, a separator inspection device for inspecting the tensile strength of a separator by receiving a separator laminated to copper foil to inspect the tensile strength among the quality inspection items of a separator is characterized by including a table to which an inspection target, in which the separator is laminated to copper foil, is supplied, and an inspection unit that grasps the inspection target placed on the table and performs a tensile strength inspection.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a separator inspection device, and more specifically, to a separator inspection device for automatically inspecting the tensile strength of a separator by receiving a separator laminated to copper foil in order to inspect the tensile strength among the quality inspection items of a separator. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, a lithium secondary battery consists of an electrode assembly composed of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and an electrolyte.

[0005] A lithium secondary battery uses a material capable of inserting and extracting lithium ions as an active material for the positive and negative electrodes, and charging and discharging can be performed through an oxidation-reduction reaction resulting from the insertion and extraction of lithium ions.

[0007] The main function of the above separator is to electrically insulate the anode and the cathode to prevent a short circuit, and to ensure ion conductivity by allowing lithium ions to pass through based on high porosity.

[0009] The characteristics required for separators for lithium secondary batteries include excellent air permeability, low heat shrinkage, and high puncture strength, as well as bonding strength when laminated to an electrode assembly.

[0011] Accordingly, although automated technologies such as Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2023-0000877, "Separator Air Permeability Inspection Device and Separator Air Permeability Inspection Method Using the Same," have been developed for air permeability testing, there was a problem in that the inspection to check the bonding strength of the separator in an electrode assembly in which the separator is laminated to copper foil had to rely on manual work by an operator.

[0013] Accordingly, as the operator had to manually mount the separator laminated on the copper foil onto the tensile testing device and conduct the test, it took a long time, and there was a problem where the test conditions were inconsistent because the extremely thin separator was damaged during the mounting process. Prior art literature

[0015] Korean Published Patent No. 10-2023-0000877 "Membrane air permeability testing device and membrane air permeability testing method using the same" The problem to be solved

[0016] The objective of the present invention is to solve the problems described above and to provide a separator inspection device for testing tensile strength by mounting a separator laminated to a copper thin film in a form optimized for tensile testing. means of solving the problem

[0018] To achieve the above objective, the separator inspection device according to the present invention is a separator inspection device that receives a separator laminated to copper foil to inspect the tensile strength among the quality inspection items of a separator, and inspects the tensile strength of the separator, characterized by comprising a table to which an inspection target, in which the separator is laminated to copper foil, is supplied, and an inspection unit that grasps the inspection target placed on the table and performs a tensile strength inspection.

[0019] In addition, the above inspection target is characterized by having a copper foil overlapped on one side of the upper surface of the separator, and then laminating from a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the position where the copper foil began to overlap, so that a non-laminating area is formed at a predetermined distance from the position where the copper foil began to overlap.

[0020] In addition, the invention further includes a fixing part for fixing the other end of an inspection target placed on the table and an inversion part that grips one end of the inspection target and folds it inward to expose the non-laminating area of ​​the copper foil to the outside, and the inspection part is characterized by gripping the non-laminating area of ​​the copper foil exposed by the inversion part and the other end of the separator to perform a tensile strength test.

[0021] In addition, the inversion unit is characterized by being configured to include a gripper for gripping an object to be inspected and an eccentric drive unit positioned such that the gripper is eccentric.

[0022] In addition, the table is characterized by being composed of a fixed table having a slot formed in the direction of transport of the first clamp so that the first clamp of the inspection unit can be transported on the other side while gripping the separator of the inspection target, and a transport table that is transported up and down on one side.

[0023] In addition, the inspection unit is characterized by comprising an inspection body having a second clamp disposed at an end for gripping a copper foil of an inspection target, a first clamp for gripping a separator of an inspection target, a tension transfer unit for transporting the first clamp along the longitudinal direction of the inspection body to tension the separator, a rotation unit for rotating the inspection body to vertically position the inspection target gripped by the second clamp and the first clamp, and a measurement unit disposed between the first clamp and the tension transfer unit for measuring the tension force. Effects of the invention

[0025] As described above, the separator inspection device according to the present invention has the effect of being able to inspect the tensile force in a vertical state after positioning the separator laminated to the copper thin film downward in alignment with the direction of the tensile test. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the inversion section of a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the inversion section of the membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an inspection target that is folded by the inversion part of a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the state in which the inspection unit of the membrane inspection device according to the present invention holds an inspection target. FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a fixed table and a slot of a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the state in which the inspection unit of the membrane inspection device according to the present invention grasps and transports an inspection target. FIG. 8 is a drawing showing the inspection unit of the membrane inspection device according to the present invention in a rotated state while gripping an object to be inspected. FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the state before inspecting the tensile strength of a laminated membrane through the inspection unit of a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of inspecting the tensile strength of a laminated membrane through an inspection unit of a membrane inspection device according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0028] Specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments according to the concept of the present invention disclosed herein are provided merely for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0029] Embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be subject to various modifications and may take various forms; therefore, embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification. However, this is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and includes all modifications, equivalents, or substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0031] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an inversion unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the operation of the inversion unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an inspection target folded by the inversion unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the state in which the inspection unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention grips the inspection target; FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a fixed table and a slot of the separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the state in which the inspection unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention grips the inspection target and is transported; FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating the state in which the inspection unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention grips the inspection target and is rotated; FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating the state before inspecting the tensile strength of a laminated separator through the inspection unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention; FIG. 10 is a drawing of a laminated separator through the inspection unit of the separator inspection device according to the present invention This is a drawing illustrating the operation of testing the tensile strength of a separator.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the separator inspection device according to the present invention is designed to inspect the tensile strength among the quality inspection items of a separator, and receives a separator laminated to a copper foil to inspect the tensile strength of the separator.

[0037] More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, the inspection target (50), on which a separator is laminated to a copper foil, is supplied through a transfer (10) and the inspection unit (2) that holds the inspection target (50) placed on the table (1) and performs a tensile strength test is included.

[0039] At this time, it is preferable that the inspection target (50) be supplied in a laminated state where a portion of the upper surface of the separator (52) overlaps with a portion of the copper foil (51).

[0041] That is, the above inspection target (50) is supplied by laminating for a predetermined distance (L2) from a position spaced by a predetermined distance (L1) from the position where the copper foil (51) begins to overlap on one side of the upper surface of the separator (52), thereby forming a non-laminating area (54) for a predetermined distance (L1) from the position where the copper foil (51) begins to overlap, and subsequently forming a laminating area (53) for a predetermined distance (L2).

[0043] Additionally, the device further includes a fixing part (3) for fixing the other end of the inspection target (50) placed on the table (1), and an inversion part (4) that grips one end of the inspection target (50) and folds it inward to expose the non-laminated area (54) that is not laminated to a predetermined length (L1) on the copper foil (51) to the outside. The inspection part (2) performs a tensile strength test by gripping the non-laminated area (54) of the copper foil (51) exposed by the inversion part (4) and the other end of the separator (52) (the end of the non-laminated part).

[0045] That is, the inspection unit (2) holds the end portion (unlaminated portion) of the separator (52) and the unlaminated portion (non-laminated area, 54) of the copper foil (51) with a predetermined length (L1) to perform a tensile strength test.

[0047] Additionally, the above-mentioned inversion unit (4) is preferably configured to include a gripper (41) for gripping an inspection target (50) that is advanced by a gripper transfer unit (43), and an eccentric drive unit (42) arranged so that the gripper (41) is eccentrically positioned. When the gripper (41) is rotated around a rotation center (R1) by the eccentric drive unit (42), the non-laminating area (54) of the copper foil (51) is exposed to the outside and folded to the lower part of the separator (52).

[0049] Additionally, the inspection unit (2) is configured to include an inspection body (20) having a second clamp (22) that holds the copper foil of the inspection target (50) placed at the end, a first clamp (21) that holds the separator (52) of the inspection target (50), a tension transfer unit (23) for transferring the first clamp (21) along the longitudinal direction of the inspection body (20) to pull the separator (52) from the laminated copper foil (51) and tension it, and a rotation unit (25) for rotating the inspection body to vertically position the inspection target (50) held by the second clamp (22) and the first clamp (21), and a measurement unit (24) for measuring the tension force is configured to be placed between the first clamp (21) and the tension transfer unit (23).

[0051] Additionally, the table (1) is composed of a fixed table (11) having a slot (11a) formed in the direction of transport of the first clamp (21) so that the first clamp (21) of the inspection unit (2) can be transported in a state where it holds the separator (52) of the inspection target (50) on the other side, and a transport table (12) that is transported up and down on one side, and when the gripper (41) of the inversion unit (4) holds the inspection target, the transport table (12) is transported downward so that the inversion unit (4) can perform an inversion operation.

[0053] Additionally, it is preferable that an entry groove (13) formed at a predetermined depth is formed on the upper surface of the transfer table (12) so that one of the grippers (41) of the inversion unit (4) can enter the lower part of the inspection target (50).

[0055] When the inspection target is folded by the above-mentioned inversion unit (4), the inspection unit (2) is advanced through the operation of the transfer plate (26) that is transferred in a horizontal direction to grasp the inspection target (50).

[0056] At this time, the transfer plate (26) may be composed of a plurality of plates (26a, 26b) that are transferred in different directions.

[0058] When the inspection unit (2) grasps the inspection target (50), the gripper (41) of the inversion unit (4) releases the grasping operation and is moved backward by the gripper transfer unit (43).

[0060] At this time, it is preferable that the second clamp (22) is formed such that the lower clamp (22a) protrudes further by a predetermined length, so that even if the gripper (4) of the inversion part (4) retracts, the folded inspection target (50) can be placed on the upper part of the lower clamp (22a) in a folded state.

[0062] Additionally, when the reverse transfer of the inversion unit (4) is completed, the inspection unit (2) is moved backward through the operation of the transfer plate (26), and as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the rotation unit (25) vertically positions the inspection target (50) and the tension transfer unit (23) is moved upward, pulling the separator (52) of the inspection target (50) through the first clamp (21) to peel it off from the copper foil (51) fixed to the second clamp (22), and measuring the tension force through the measuring unit (24).

[0064] Afterward, when the measurement is completed, the inspection unit (2) maintains the inspection body (20) in a horizontal state again through the rotation unit (25), and picks up the inspection target (50) for which the measurement is completed through the transfer (10) and disposes of it.

[0066] As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is evident to those skilled in the art that many obvious variations are possible from this description without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be interpreted by the claims described to include examples of such many variations. Explanation of the symbols

[0068] 1 : Table 2 : Inspection Department 3 : Fixed part 4: Inversion 10 : Transfer 11 : Fixed table 12: Transfer table 13 : Entry Home 20 : Inspection body 21: 1st Clamp 22: Second clamp 23 : Tension transfer section 24 : Measurement section 25 : Rotating part 26 : Transfer plate 41 : Gripper 42 : Eccentric drive unit 43: Gripper transfer unit 50: Subject to test 51 : Copper foil 52 : Separator 53 : Laminating area 54 : Delaminating area

Claims

Claim 1 A separator inspection device for inspecting the tensile strength of a separator by receiving a separator laminated to a copper foil and inspecting the tensile strength of the separator, wherein the separator laminated to the copper foil is supplied to a test target; an inspection unit for gripping the test target placed on the table and performing a tensile strength inspection; a fixing unit for fixing the other end of the test target placed on the table; and an inversion unit for gripping one end of the test target and folding it inward to expose the non-laminated area of ​​the copper foil to the outside, wherein the inspection unit performs a tensile strength inspection by gripping the non-laminated area of ​​the copper foil exposed by the inversion unit and the other end of the separator. Claim 2 A separator inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection target is characterized by overlapping a copper foil on one side of the upper surface of the separator, laminating from a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the position where the copper foil began to overlap, and forming a non-laminated area at a predetermined distance from the position where the copper foil began to overlap. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A membrane inspection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inversion unit comprises a gripper for gripping an object to be inspected; and an eccentric driving unit arranged such that the gripper is eccentric. Claim 5 A membrane inspection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the table comprises a fixed table having a slot formed in the direction of transport of the first clamp so that the first clamp of the inspection unit can be transported on the other side while gripping the membrane to be inspected; and a transport table that is transported up and down on one side. Claim 6 A separator inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection unit comprises: an inspection body having a second clamp disposed at an end for gripping a copper foil of an inspection target; a first clamp for gripping a separator of an inspection target; a tension transfer unit for transporting the first clamp along the longitudinal direction of the inspection body to tension the separator; a rotation unit for rotating the inspection body to vertically position the inspection target gripped by the second clamp and the first clamp; and a measurement unit disposed between the first clamp and the tension transfer unit for measuring the tension force.

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