Sealing tool of pouch-type secondary battery and sealing method of pouch-type secondary battery

Abstract

A sealing tool according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other. The first sealing block includes: a first fixed part; and a first replacement part configured to be coupled to and separated from the first fixed part. The second sealing block includes: a second fixed part; and a second replacement part configured to be coupled to and separated from the second fixed part. At least one of the first and second replacement parts is provided with a groove formed at a position corresponding to an electrode lead to seat the electrode lead.

Description

Sealing tool for pouch-type secondary batteries and sealing method for pouch-type secondary batteries

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0115920, filed on September 1, 2023.

[0002] The present invention relates to a sealing tool and a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, and more particularly, to a sealing tool and a sealing method that can reduce the time and cost required for manufacturing a new sealing tool in response to changes in the specifications of an electrode lead.

[0003] Lithium secondary batteries can be classified according to the structure of the positive electrode / separator / negative electrode assembly. Representative examples of the electrode assembly include a jelly-roll (winding type) electrode assembly having a structure in which long sheet-shaped positive and negative electrodes are rolled up with a separator interposed therebetween, a stacked (laminated) electrode assembly having a plurality of positive and negative electrodes cut into units of a predetermined size and sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stacked / folding type electrode assembly having a structure in which bi-cells or mono-cells in which positive and negative electrodes of a predetermined size are rolled up with a separator interposed therebetween are used.

[0004] Lithium secondary batteries can be classified into cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries depending on their shape. Among them, pouch batteries use a pouch outer shell composed of a multilayer film of a metal layer (foil) and synthetic resin layers coated on the upper and lower surfaces of the metal layer to form the exterior. Therefore, the weight of the battery can be significantly reduced compared to cylindrical or prismatic batteries that use metal cans, enabling lightweight batteries and allowing for changes in various shapes.

[0005] The pouch outer shell typically consists of a lower outer shell that houses the electrode assembly and an upper outer shell that seals the upper portion of the lower outer shell. The electrode assembly is then housed in the lower outer shell's housing, the edges surrounding the lower outer shell's housing are pressed against the corresponding edges of the upper outer shell, the sealed portion is heat-sealed, an electrolyte is added, and the remaining portion is sealed, thereby pre-assembling the secondary battery.

[0006] Sealing of the pouch outer material is performed using a sealing tool. A typical sealing tool consists of a first sealing block for pressing the upper surface of the pouch outer material sealing portion and a second sealing block for pressing the lower surface of the sealing portion.

[0007] Meanwhile, electrode lead specifications and pouch casing types are diversifying. Optimizing the sealing process requires adapting the sealing tool design to accommodate these changes. However, due to time and cost constraints associated with new sealing tools, the sealing process is typically performed using identically sized tools, impacting sealing quality. Therefore, technology development is needed to optimize sealing tools while reducing costs and improving visual acuity.

[0008] The problem that the technical idea of ​​the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a sealing tool that is optimized to respond to changes in the specifications of electrode leads and changes in the specifications of lead films, while saving cost and time.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built-in is provided. The sealing tool includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block including a first fixing portion; and a first replacement portion configured to be coupled to and detached from the first fixing portion; and the second sealing block including a second fixing portion; and a second replacement portion configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing portion; and at least one of the first and second replacement portions has a groove formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead for seating an electrode lead therein.

[0010] In one embodiment, the groove has a dimension corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove and corresponding to the thickness direction (z-direction) length of the electrode lead.

[0011] In one embodiment, the groove has a size corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length of the lead film to be seated in the groove and corresponding to the sum of the thickness direction (z-direction) lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first sealing block and the second sealing block are configured to pressurize a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery disposed therebetween.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first and second replacement parts each have first and second pressing surfaces for pressing the sealing part of the pouch-type secondary battery.

[0014] In one embodiment, the groove is a trapezoidal shape in which the transverse (x-direction) length of the entrance of the groove is greater than the transverse length inside the groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, the groove comprises two or more stepped portions.

[0016] A sealing tool according to one embodiment further includes a heating member coupled to each of the first and second fixing members and configured to heat the first and second fixing members.

[0017] According to one embodiment, a sealing tool is provided in which the heating element is respectively embedded in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

[0018] A sealing tool according to one embodiment further includes a first lifting member coupled to the first sealing block to move the first and second blocks in a pressing direction and an opposite direction; and a second lifting member coupled to the second sealing block.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening a bolt and nut, and the second fixed portion and the second replacement portion are coupled and fixed by fastening a bolt and nut.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first fixed portion and the first replacement portion are configured to be slidably coupled, and the second fixed portion and the second replacement portion are configured to be slidably coupled.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first replacement part and / or the second replacement part are provided in several types with different positions and specifications of the grooves.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built-in is provided. The sealing method of the pouch-type secondary battery includes a replacement part selection process of selecting first and second replacement parts having grooves formed therein having specifications corresponding to positions of electrode leads and specifications of the electrode leads; a sealing block preparation process of preparing a first sealing block by combining the selected first replacement part with a first body part and a second sealing block by combining the selected second replacement part with a second body part; a placement process of arranging a sealing part of a pouch-type secondary battery between the first sealing block and the second sealing block; and a process of pressing the sealing part by bringing the first sealing block and the second sealing block into contact.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sealing method utilizes a sealing tool, wherein the sealing tool comprises:

[0024] Includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other,

[0025] The first sealing block includes a first fixing portion; and a first replacement portion configured to be coupled and detachable from the first fixing portion;

[0026] The second sealing block includes a second fixing portion; and a second replacement portion configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing portion;

[0027] At least one of the first and second replacement parts is formed with a groove for seating the electrode lead at a position corresponding to the electrode lead.

[0028] In one embodiment, in the replacement part selection process, the first replacement part and / or the second replacement part are provided in several types with different positions and specifications of the grooves.

[0029] In one embodiment, the groove has a dimension corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove and corresponding to the thickness direction (z-direction) length of the electrode lead.

[0030] In one embodiment, the groove has a dimension corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length of the lead film to be seated in the groove and corresponding to the sum of the thickness direction (z-direction) length of the electrode lead and the thickness direction (z-direction) length of the lead film.

[0031] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a sealing tool can be manufactured by manufacturing in advance various types of replacement parts having various positions and specifications of grooves in which electrode leads are to be installed, and as the position and / or specifications of the electrode leads change, assembling the replacement parts corresponding thereto to the fixed part, thereby providing a sealing tool capable of optimizing sealing performance, and reducing costs and preventing the possibility of mold errors.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a top view and a cross-sectional view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment.

[0034] Figure 3 is a front view of a sealing tool according to one embodiment.

[0035] Figures 4 and 5 are drawings for explaining the effects of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 6 is a drawing showing various embodiments of the sealing block of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a top view and a front view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment.

[0039] Figure 9 is a front view of a sealing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining a method of combining a fixed part and a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 11 is a front view of a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Fig. 12 is a front view of a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 13 is a flowchart for explaining a sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10: Pouch-type secondary battery

[0046] 13: Electrode leads

[0047] 14a: Sealing part

[0048] 15a,15b: Pouch outer material

[0049] 17: Lead Film

[0050] 20,30,40: Sealing tool

[0051] 21,31: 1st sealing block

[0052] 21a,31a,41a: 1st replacement

[0053] 21b,31b: First fixed part

[0054] 22,32: Second sealing block

[0055] 22a,32a: Second replacement

[0056] 22b,32b: Second fixed part

[0057] 21c,22c,31c,32c,41c,42c: Groove

[0058]

[0059] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings. Based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best explain his or her invention, they should be interpreted in a way that aligns with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0060] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0061] In addition, when describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

[0062] Since the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for clearer explanation. Accordingly, the sizes and proportions of each component do not fully reflect the actual sizes or proportions.

[0063]

[0064] (Example 1)

[0065] The present invention provides a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery as a first embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a top view and a cross-sectional view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment, FIG. 3 is a front view of a sealing tool according to one embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are drawings for explaining the effects of the present invention.

[0067] Referring to these drawings, a sealing tool (20) of a pouch-type secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is for sealing a pouch outer material (15a, 15b) having an electrode assembly (not shown), and includes a first sealing block (21) and a second sealing block (22) facing each other, wherein the first sealing block (21) includes a first fixing part (21b); and a first replacement part (21a), and the second sealing block (22) includes a second fixing part (22b) and a second replacement part (22a), and at least one of the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) may have an internally recessed groove (Groove, 21c, 22c) formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead (13), respectively.

[0068] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first replacement part (21a) and / or the second replacement part (22a) in which the groove (21c, 22c) is formed are provided in various types having different positions and specifications of the grooves (21c, 22c). When the position and / or specification of the electrode lead (13) is changed, among the various types of the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a), the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) having grooves corresponding to the changed positions and / or specifications of the electrode lead are selected, and these can be configured to be coupled to the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b), respectively.

[0069] The sealing block of the conventional sealing tool was configured as an integral piece, and in such a sealing tool, if any one of the position of the electrode lead, the thickness of the electrode lead, and the transverse length of the electrode lead was changed, a new sealing tool had to be manufactured to optimize the sealing.

[0070] The sealing block of the present invention comprises a fixed portion; and a replacement portion configured to be detachably attached to the fixed portion, wherein the replacement portion is provided in various types with different groove positions and specifications, so that when the position and / or specifications of the electrode lead change, a suitable replacement portion can be selected and assembled to the fixed portion to manufacture a sealing tool. Accordingly, a sealing tool optimally designed for the sealing target can be provided, and not only can sealing quality be improved, but also costs can be reduced and the possibility of mold errors can be prevented.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pouch-type secondary battery (10) sealed by the sealing tool of the present invention includes an electrode assembly (not shown), an electrode lead (13) coupled to the electrode assembly, and a pouch outer case (15a, 15b) in which the electrode assembly is accommodated with the tip of the electrode lead (13) extended outward. The pouch outer case (15a, 15b) may include a receiving portion (12) for accommodating the electrode assembly and a sealing portion formed along the edge surface of the receiving portion (12) and sealing the receiving portion (12). In addition, the electrode lead (13) is extended outward through one of the sealing portions (14a) formed on the edge surface of the receiving portion. Here, the sealing portion is a concept including a portion to be sealed.

[0072] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, in order to prevent electricity generated from the electrode assembly from flowing through the electrode lead (13) to the pouch outer material (15a, 15b), a portion of the electrode lead (13) may be surrounded by a lead film (17). That is, sealing may be performed with the lead film (17) interposed between the electrode lead (13) and the pouch outer material (15a, 15b).

[0073] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sealing tool of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0074]

[0075] A sealing tool (20) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a sealing tool for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery in which the tips of a pair of electrode leads (13) are pulled out in opposite directions, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, and includes a first sealing block (21) and a second sealing block (22) facing each other. The first and second sealing blocks (21, 22) serve as a body that performs sealing and may be made of a metal material.

[0076] The first sealing block (21) includes a first fixing part (21b); and a first replacement part (21a) configured to be coupled to and detached from the first fixing part (21b), and the second sealing block (22) includes a second fixing part (22b); and a second replacement part (22a) configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing part (22b).

[0077] The first sealing block (21) and the second sealing block (22) are configured to pressurize the sealing portion (14a) of the pouch-type secondary battery disposed therebetween. As the distance between the first sealing block (21) and the second sealing block (22) decreases, they can contact the upper and lower surfaces of the sealing portion (14a), respectively, thereby sealing the sealing portion (14a).

[0078] The first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) are provided with first and second pressing surfaces (21e, 22e) for pressing the sealing part (14a) of the pouch-type secondary battery, respectively. The first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) may be provided with the first and second pressing surfaces (21e, 22e) on opposite sides of the portions where they are coupled to the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b), and the first pressing surface (21e) is brought into contact with the sealing part (14a) by the downward movement of the first sealing block (21), and the second pressing surface (22e) is brought into contact with the sealing part (14a) by the upward movement of the second sealing block (22).

[0079] The sealing tool (20) according to the present invention may further include a first lifting member (21d) coupled to the first sealing block (21) to move the first and second blocks (21, 22) in the pressing direction and the opposite direction; and a second lifting member (22d) coupled to the second sealing block (22). Here, the lifting member (21d, 22d) may be provided as a cylinder or the like, which is generally and widely used, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and includes all means that enable the sealing blocks to be lifted.

[0080] At least one of the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) is provided with a groove (21c, 22c) for seating the electrode lead at a position corresponding to the electrode lead (13). The groove (21c, 22c) is configured such that the electrode lead (13) or the laminate of the electrode lead (13) and the lead film (17) is seated therein so that the portion other than the electrode lead (13) is sufficiently pressed and sealed. In addition, the electrode lead (13) or the laminate of the electrode lead (13) and the lead film (17) is sealed in a state where its thickness is compensated for by the groove (21c, 22c). Therefore, despite the difference in thickness between the portion where only the two layers of the pouch outer material are sealed and the portion where the pouch outer material / lead film / electrode lead / lead film / pouch outer material are sealed together, they can be uniformly pressed.

[0081] However, since the electrode lead (13) is not always positioned in the groove (21c, 22c) in the current sealing process, it is preferable that the groove (21c, 22c) have a margin that takes into account the tolerance in the cross-sectional shape of the electrode lead (13) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Specifically, the transverse direction (x-axis direction) length of the groove (21c, 22c) can be formed to be 1 to 15%, 3 to 15%, or 5 to 15% wider than the transverse direction (x-axis direction) length of the electrode lead (13). However, the transverse direction length of the groove is not limited thereto.

[0082] The above groove may be formed in both the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a), or may be formed in either of the first and second replacement parts, and in this case, may be formed in the second replacement part (22a) located at the lower portion of the electrode lead (13).

[0083] The electrode lead (13) may have different pull-out positions, horizontal (x-direction) lengths, vertical (y-direction) lengths, and thickness-direction (z-direction) lengths depending on the material, sales company, capacity of the electrode assembly, and design of the secondary battery, and the lead film (17) may also vary accordingly. In order to cope with these changes, the sealing tool (20) according to the present invention has a first replacement part (21a) and / or a second replacement part (22a) in which the groove is formed, formed in various types having different positions and specifications of the groove, and the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) are replaced depending on the position and specifications of the electrode lead (13).

[0084] Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the sealing portion of the portion where the electrode lead (13) is positioned is sealed while the electrode lead (13) is sandwiched between two layers of pouch outer materials (15a, 15b). The electrode lead (13) may have a transverse (x-direction) length EW and a thickness-direction (z-direction) length ET, and when the transverse length EW and / or the thickness-direction length ET of the electrode lead (13) is changed, it is necessary to change the transverse length SW and / or the thickness-direction length ST of the grooves (21c, 22c) in which the electrode lead is seated in the sealing block accordingly. According to the present disclosure, the grooves (21c, 22c) have a specification corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length EW of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove, and have a specification corresponding to the thickness-direction (z-direction) length ET of the electrode lead. That is, by selecting a replacement part equipped with a groove having a specification corresponding to the specification of the electrode lead and connecting it to the fixing part, a sealing tool optimized for the specification of the changed electrode lead can be provided. In addition, even when the position of the electrode lead is changed, a sealing tool optimized for the change in the position of the electrode lead can be provided by selecting a replacement part equipped with a groove at a position suitable for seating the electrode lead among various types of replacement parts with various groove positions and connecting it to the fixing part.

[0086] Also, referring to FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the sealing portion where the electrode lead (13) is positioned may be sealed with a lead film (17) interposed between the electrode lead (13) and the pouch outer material (15a, 15b). Even when the transverse (x-direction) length FW of the lead film (17) changes, it is necessary to change the transverse (x-direction) length SW of the groove in which the electrode lead (13) and the lead film (17) are seated in the sealing block accordingly. In addition, when the thickness of the lead film (17) and / or the thickness of the electrode lead (13) changes, it is necessary to change the thickness-direction length ST of the grooves (21c, 22c) in which the electrode lead is seated in the sealing block accordingly. According to the present disclosure, the grooves (21c, 22c) have a specification corresponding to the transverse (x-direction) length FW of the lead film to be seated in the groove. And the grooves (21c, 22c) have a size corresponding to the total ELT of the thickness direction (z direction) lengths of the electrode leads and lead films seated in the grooves. That is, by selecting a replacement part having a groove having a size corresponding to the size of the electrode leads and lead films and connecting it to the fixing part, a sealing tool optimized for the size of the changed lead film and / or the size of the changed electrode leads can be provided. In addition, even when the positions of the electrode leads and lead films are changed, a sealing tool optimized for the change in the position of the electrode leads can be provided by selecting a replacement part having a groove formed at a position suitable for seating the electrode leads and lead films among various types of replacement parts with various groove positions and connecting it to the fixing part. In Fig. 5, an embodiment in which the transverse length of the lead film is greater than the transverse length of the electrode leads is illustrated, but when the transverse length of the lead film is equal to or less than the transverse length of the electrode leads, the groove may have a size corresponding to the transverse length of the electrode leads instead of the transverse length of the lead film.

[0087]

[0088] The present invention prepares various types of replacement parts having different positions and specifications of the grooves, selects a replacement part having a groove corresponding to changes in the position and specifications of the electrode lead, and combines it with a fixing part to form a sealing block.

[0089] In selecting a replacement part, a replacement part is selected in which a groove is formed at a position corresponding to an electrode lead and has a size corresponding to the specifications of the electrode lead. The groove may have a size corresponding to a transverse direction (x direction) length and a thickness direction (z direction) length of an electrode lead to be seated in the groove. The groove may also have a size corresponding to a sum of a transverse direction (x direction) length of a lead film to be seated in the groove and a thickness direction length of the electrode lead and the lead film. The groove is formed at a position corresponding to a position of the electrode lead or / and a position of the lead film in the replacement part.

[0090] Accordingly, the sealing tool (20) according to the present invention has a structure that allows for selecting an optimally designed replacement part when the position and specifications of the electrode lead change and combining it with the fixed part, so that pouch-type secondary batteries having various designs and specifications can be sealed without manufacturing a new sealing tool, resulting in cost savings.

[0091] The grooves (21c, 22c) above may have a trapezoidal shape, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the horizontal (x-direction) length of the entrance of the grooves (21c, 22c) is greater than the horizontal length of the inside of the grooves. In this case, the risk of damage to the pouch outer material can be reduced compared to when the grooves are rectangular in shape.

[0092] FIG. 12 is a front view of a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12, grooves (41c, 42c) formed in replacement parts (41a, 42a) may include a first step portion (SP1) and a second step portion (SP2). Although FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment with two step portions, the present invention is not limited thereto and may include three or more step portions. When there are two or more step portions, the sealing performance can be improved by more securely contacting the electrode leads (13) and the pouch outer material (15a, 15b) and the unsealed area can be reduced. Although the lead film is not illustrated in FIG. 12, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the design of the groove of the replacement part may be changed to include two or more step portions when sealing is performed with the lead film interposed around the electrode leads.

[0093] Fig. 6 is a drawing showing various embodiments of the sealing block of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 6, the fixed portion (22b) and the replacement portion (22a) can be designed and configured to be combined in various forms, as shown in (a) to (c).

[0094] In one embodiment, the first fixed part (21b) and the first replacement part (21a) can be fixedly joined by fastening a bolt and nut, and the second fixed part (22b) and the second replacement part (22a) can be fixedly joined by fastening a bolt and nut.

[0095] FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining a method of combining a fixed part and a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a front view of a replacement part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the first fixed part (21b) and the first replacement part (21a) may be configured to be slidably coupled, and the second fixed part (22b) and the second replacement part (22a) may be configured to be slidably coupled. The first and second fixed parts (21b, 22b) may have a sliding groove (not provided) into which the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) are coupled to be slidably coupled. The first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a) may have at least one connecting member (H), and these connecting members (H) may be hooks. When there are two or more hooks (H), the connecting members (H) may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval along the horizontal direction (x direction) of the first and second replacement parts (21a, 22a). The hook has a hook shape and serves to secure the connecting member coupled to the fixed part. When the fixed part and the replacement part are joined in a sliding-hook manner, they can be joined and separated more easily.

[0097] A sealing tool (20) according to one embodiment may further include a heating member (not shown) for heating the first and second sealing blocks (21, 22) in order to heat and pressurize the sealing portion. The heating member may be configured to be coupled to the first and second fixing portions (21b, 22b) to heat the first and second fixing portions (21b, 22b).

[0098] According to another embodiment, a sealing tool (20) may have a heating element (not shown) built into the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b) to heat and pressurize the sealing portion. The heating element may be positioned at the inner central portion of the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b). The heating element may include a main heating element and an auxiliary heating element to heat and pressurize the sealing portion at a uniform temperature. The main heating element may be positioned at the inner central portion of the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b), and the auxiliary heating element may be positioned at the inner outer portion of the first and second fixing parts (21b, 22b).

[0099] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sealing process of a pouch-type secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a top view and a front view of a pouch-type secondary battery according to one embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a front view of a sealing tool according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] Referring to these drawings, the sealing tool (30) according to the second embodiment is a sealing tool for sealing a pouch-type secondary battery in which the tips of a pair of electrode leads (13) are pulled out in the same direction, and includes a first sealing block (31) and a second sealing block (32) facing each other.

[0101] The first sealing block (31) includes a first fixing part (31b); and a first replacement part (31a) configured to be coupled to and detached from the first fixing part (31b), and the second sealing block (32) includes a second fixing part (32b); and a second replacement part (32a) configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing part.

[0102] At least one of the first and second replacement parts (31a, 32a) is provided with a groove (31c, 32c) for seating the electrode lead in a position and number corresponding to the electrode lead (13).

[0103] The sealing tool (30) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 differs from the sealing tool of the first embodiment described above in the formation location and number of grooves (31c, 32c) in one replacement part. Since the remaining technical details have been described above, a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0104]

[0105] (Example 2)

[0106] The present invention provides, as a second embodiment, a sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built in.

[0107] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 13, the sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery according to the present invention includes a replacement part selection process (P110) of selecting first and second replacement parts having grooves formed with specifications corresponding to the specifications of electrode leads; a sealing block preparation process (P120) of preparing a first sealing block by combining the selected first replacement part with a first main body part and preparing a second sealing block by combining the selected second replacement part with a second main body part; a placement process (P130) of arranging a sealing part of a pouch-type secondary battery between the first sealing block and the second sealing block; and a process (P140) of pressing the sealing part by bringing the first sealing block and the second sealing block into contact.

[0108] The above sealing method may utilize the sealing tool (20, 30) described above. For example, the sealing tool includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, the first sealing block includes a first fixing part; and a first replacement part configured to be coupled to and detached from the first fixing part; and the second sealing block includes a second fixing part; and a second replacement part configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing part; and at least one of the first and second replacement parts may have a groove formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead for an electrode lead to be seated therein.

[0109] The above replacement part selection process (P110) may be a process for selecting a replacement part having a groove formed that is suitable for the position of the electrode lead, the specification of the electrode lead, and the specification of the lead film. The sealing tool according to the present invention includes a sealing block composed of a fixed part and a replacement part, and the replacement part is provided in various types with different positions and specifications of the groove. In the above replacement part selection process (P110), a replacement part having a groove that is optimized for the position of the electrode lead, the specification of the electrode lead, and the specification of the lead film is selected. When using the above-described sealing tool, in the above replacement part selection process (P110), the first replacement part (21a, 31a) and / or the second replacement part (22a, 32a) may be provided in various types with different positions and specifications of the grooves (21c, 22c, 31c, 32c).

[0110] As shown in Fig. 4, in an embodiment of sealing with an electrode lead (13) interposed between two layers of pouch outer materials (15a, 15b), the grooves (21c, 22c, 31c, 32c) may have a size corresponding to the length in the horizontal direction (x direction) of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove and corresponding to the length in the thickness direction (z direction) of the electrode lead.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment of sealing in which a lead film (17) is interposed between an electrode lead (13) and a pouch outer material (15a, 15b), the grooves (21c, 22c, 31c, 32c) may have a size corresponding to the horizontal direction (x direction) length of the lead film to be seated in the groove and the sum of the thickness direction (z direction) lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film.

[0112] The above sealing block preparation process (P120) may be a process of assembling a sealing block by joining a selected replacement part to a fixed part. The method of joining the fixed part and the sealing part has been described in detail above, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0113] The above arrangement process (P130) may be a step of arranging a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery between a first sealing block and a second sealing block. The first replacement portion of the first sealing block and the second replacement portion of the second sealing block may each have a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface for pressing the sealing portion, and when arranging the sealing portion, the first and second pressing surfaces may face the sealing portion.

[0114] The above pressurizing process (P140) may be a process of pressing the sealing portion by moving the first and second sealing blocks toward the sealing portion where the electrode leads are located and bringing them into contact with each other.

[0115] The sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery according to the present invention can save time and cost for manufacturing a new sealing tool by manufacturing in advance various types of replacement parts having various specifications of grooves into which electrode leads are seated, selecting a replacement part having an optimized groove when the position and specifications of the electrode leads and the specifications of the lead film change, and sealing the sealing part where the electrode leads are positioned with a sealing block that combines the selected replacement part with a fixing part. In addition, the optimized design of the sealing tool can improve sealing performance.

[0116]

[0117] The present invention has been described in more detail through the drawings and examples. However, the configurations described in the drawings or examples described in this specification are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modified examples may exist as of the time of this application.

Claims

1. In a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built in, Includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, The first sealing block includes a first fixing portion; and a first replacement portion configured to be coupled and detachable from the first fixing portion; The second sealing block includes a second fixing portion; and a second replacement portion configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing portion; A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that at least one of the first and second replacement parts has a groove formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead for seating the electrode lead therein.

2. In claim 1, The above groove is a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery having a size corresponding to the transverse direction (x direction) length of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove and a size corresponding to the thickness direction (z direction) length of the electrode lead.

3. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that the groove has a size corresponding to the horizontal direction (x direction) length of the lead film to be placed in the groove and the sum of the thickness direction (z direction) lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film.

4. In claim 1, The first sealing block and the second sealing block are a sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery configured to pressurize a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery disposed therebetween.

5. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, wherein the first and second replacement parts each have first and second pressing surfaces for pressing the sealing part of the pouch-type secondary battery.

6. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that the groove has a trapezoidal shape in which the horizontal (x-direction) length of the entrance of the groove is greater than the horizontal length inside the groove.

7. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that the groove includes two or more stepped portions.

8. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery further comprising a heating member configured to heat the first and second fixing members, each of which is connected to the first and second fixing members.

9. In claim 8, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery in which a heating element is built into each of the first and second fixing parts.

10. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, further comprising: a first lifting member coupled to the first sealing block to move the first and second blocks in the pressing direction and the opposite direction; and a second lifting member coupled to the second sealing block.

11. In claim 1, The first fixed part and the first replacement part are fixed and joined together by fastening with a bolt and nut, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery in which the second fixed part and the second replacement part are fixed together by fastening with a bolt and nut.

12. In claim 1, The first fixed part and the first replacement part are configured to be slidably coupled, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, wherein the second fixing part and the second replacement part are configured to be slidably coupled.

13. In claim 1, A sealing tool for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that the first replacement part and / or the second replacement part are provided in various types with different positions and specifications of the grooves.

14. In a sealing method of a pouch-type secondary battery for sealing a pouch outer material having an electrode assembly built in, A replacement part selection process for selecting first and second replacement parts having grooves formed at positions and specifications corresponding to the positions and specifications of the electrode leads; A sealing block preparation process in which a first sealing block is prepared by combining the selected first replacement part with the first fixed part, and a second sealing block is prepared by combining the selected second replacement part with the second fixed part; A placement process for placing a sealing portion of a pouch-type secondary battery between the first sealing block and the second sealing block; and A sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, comprising a process of pressurizing the sealing portion by bringing the first sealing block and the second sealing block into contact.

15. In claim 14, The above sealing method uses a sealing tool, The above sealing tool is, Includes a first sealing block and a second sealing block facing each other, The first sealing block includes a first fixing portion; and a first replacement portion configured to be coupled and detachable from the first fixing portion; The second sealing block includes a second fixing portion; and a second replacement portion configured to be coupled to and detached from the second fixing portion; A sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, characterized in that at least one of the first and second replacement parts has a groove formed at a position corresponding to the electrode lead for seating the electrode lead therein.

16. In claim 15, In the above replacement part selection process, A sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, wherein the first replacement part and / or the second replacement part are provided in various types with different positions and specifications of the grooves.

17. In claim 14, A sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, wherein the groove has a size corresponding to the transverse direction (x direction) length of the electrode lead to be seated in the groove and a size corresponding to the thickness direction (z direction) length of the electrode lead.

18. In claim 14, A sealing method for a pouch-type secondary battery, wherein the groove has a size corresponding to the horizontal (x-direction) length of the lead film to be placed in the groove and a size corresponding to the sum of the thickness direction (z-direction) lengths of the electrode lead and the lead film.

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