Electrode manufacturing device and electrode manufacturing method using same

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrode manufacturing device comprising: an unwinder on which an electrode sheet is wound; a rewinder for recovering and winding the electrode sheet; a plurality of guide rolls configured to guide the movement of the electrode sheet between the unwinder and the rewinder; a rolling mill located between the unwinder and the rewinder and including an upper rolling roll and a lower rolling roll configured to roll the electrode sheet; and a conveyor transfer device configured to move a connection sheet attached to any one of two separated parts of the electrode sheet, wherein the conveyor transfer device is configured to move the connection sheet so that the connection sheet passes through a rolling gap provided between the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll.

Description

Electrode manufacturing device and electrode manufacturing method using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing device and an electrode manufacturing method using the same, and more specifically, to an electrode manufacturing device for manufacturing a secondary battery electrode and an electrode manufacturing method using the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126163, filed September 21, 2023, and all contents of the document in that Republic of Korea patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] With technological advancements and growing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries is also rapidly increasing. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are widely used as a power source for various mobile devices and electronic products due to their high energy density, high operating voltage, and excellent storage and lifespan characteristics. Recently, as the application areas for secondary batteries have expanded, the demand for higher-capacity secondary batteries has skyrocketed.

[0004] Typically, when manufacturing secondary batteries, electrode sheets are manufactured by coating a current collector with an electrode active material, and subsequent processes are performed on the electrode sheets. Because these electrode sheets are thin, they are prone to breaking during handling. If the electrode sheets break, the two separated halves are manually reconnected, and then the process for manufacturing the electrode sheets is repeated.

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrode manufacturing device.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an electrode.

[0007] In order to solve the above-described problem, the technical idea of ​​the present invention provides an electrode manufacturing device including an unwinder on which an electrode sheet is wound; a rewinder for recovering and winding the electrode sheet; a plurality of guide rolls configured to guide movement of the electrode sheet between the unwinder and the rewinder; a rolling mill including an upper rolling roll and a lower rolling roll, which are located between the unwinder and the rewinder and are configured to roll the electrode sheet; and a conveyor transport device configured to move a connecting sheet attached to one of two parts of the electrode sheet that are separated from each other, wherein the conveyor transport device is configured to move the connecting sheet such that the connecting sheet passes through a rolling gap provided between the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll.

[0008] In exemplary embodiments, the conveyor transport device comprises a plurality of conveyor rolls; and a conveyor belt guided by the plurality of conveyor rolls and moving; wherein the connecting sheet is attached to the conveyor belt, and when the conveyor belt moves, the connecting sheet is characterized in that it moves together with a portion of the electrode sheet attached to the connecting sheet.

[0009] In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of conveyor rolls are characterized in that they are installed on the rotation axes of the plurality of guide rolls.

[0010] In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of conveyor rolls are each configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the rotational axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

[0011] In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of conveyor rolls are each characterized in that they are installed on the side of the rotation axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

[0012] In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of guide rolls are characterized by including at least one guide roll disposed between the unwinder and the rolling mill, and at least one guide roll disposed between the rewinder and the rolling mill.

[0013] In exemplary embodiments, the conveyor transport device is characterized by further comprising a drive pulley configured to move the conveyor belt.

[0014] In exemplary embodiments, the present invention further comprises a cutter for cutting the connecting sheet so that the connecting sheet is separated from the conveyor belt.

[0015] In exemplary embodiments, the rolling mill is characterized in that it is configured to move at least one of the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll to adjust the rolling gap.

[0016] In exemplary embodiments, the rolling mill is configured to adjust the rolling gap between a first gap for pressing the electrode sheet with the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll and a second gap larger than the first gap,

[0017] The above rolling mill is characterized in that the rolling gap is maintained as the second gap while the connecting sheet moves through the rolling gap by the conveyor transport device.

[0018] In order to solve the above-described problem, the technical idea of ​​the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electrode, comprising: a rework step of connecting a first part and a second part of an electrode sheet separated from each other with a connecting sheet; and a step of rolling the electrode sheet by moving the electrode sheet including the connecting sheet through a rolling gap provided between an upper rolling roll and a lower rolling roll, wherein the rework step includes a step of attaching the connecting sheet to the first part of the electrode sheet and a conveyor belt, and moving the conveyor belt to move the connecting sheet so that the connecting sheet passes through the rolling gap.

[0019] In exemplary embodiments, the rework step is characterized in that, after the step of moving the connecting sheet, the step of attaching the connecting sheet to the second portion of the electrode sheet; and the step of separating the connecting sheet from the conveyor belt.

[0020] In exemplary embodiments, the rework step further comprises, prior to the step of moving the connecting sheet, a step of increasing the rolling gap from a first gap to a second gap, wherein the second gap is greater than a thickness of the connecting sheet.

[0021] In exemplary embodiments, the step of rolling the electrode sheet is characterized by including the step of adjusting the rolling gap from the second gap to the first gap.

[0022] In exemplary embodiments, the electrode sheet is configured to move guided by a plurality of guide rolls provided between the unwinder and the rewinder, and the plurality of conveyor rolls configured to guide the movement of the conveyor belt are installed on the rotational axes of the plurality of guide rolls, and the plurality of conveyor rolls are each configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the rotational axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

[0023] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a reworking operation for an electrode sheet, which connects two parts of an electrode sheet separated due to a break in the electrode sheet with a connecting sheet, can be automated. By automating the reworking operation for an electrode sheet, worker safety accidents can be prevented and the productivity of an electrode manufacturing process including the reworking operation for an electrode sheet can be improved.

[0024] The effects that can be obtained from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure pertain from the following description. In other words, unintended effects resulting from practicing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived by those skilled in the art from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an electrode manufacturing device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 1b is a cross-sectional view of an electrode manufacturing device along the line BB-BB' of Fig. 1a.

[0027] Fig. 1c is a cross-sectional view of an electrode manufacturing device along the CC-CC' line of Fig. 1a.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an electrode manufacturing method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] FIGS. 3A to 9B are drawings showing an electrode manufacturing method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034]

[0035] (Example 1)

[0036] Fig. 1a is a plan view showing an electrode manufacturing device (10) according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 1b is a cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing device (10) taken along line BB-BB' of Fig. 1a. Fig. 1c is a cross-sectional view of the electrode manufacturing device (10) taken along line CC-CC' of Fig. 1a.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, an electrode manufacturing device (10) may be configured to roll an electrode sheet (ES). The electrode manufacturing device (10) may be configured to perform a rolling process for manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery. The electrode sheet (ES) may include a substrate and an electrode slurry layer applied to at least one of both surfaces of the substrate. The substrate may be a current collector and may include, for example, copper or aluminum. The electrode slurry layer may include a positive electrode active material slurry or a negative electrode active material slurry. The electrode manufacturing device (10) may perform a rolling process on the electrode sheet (ES) to press the electrode slurry layer applied to at least one of the surfaces of both surfaces of the substrate so that the electrode slurry layer becomes flat.

[0038] Furthermore, the electrode manufacturing device (10) may be configured to perform a rework operation on the electrode sheet (ES) by connecting the two separated parts of the electrode sheet (ES) using a connecting sheet (CS) when a break occurs in the electrode sheet (ES) and the electrode sheet (ES) is separated into two parts (i.e., a first part (ES1) and a second part (ES2)). The connecting sheet (CS) may include, for example, a PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) film.

[0039] The electrode manufacturing device (10) may include an unwider (110), a rewinder (120), a rolling mill (130), and a plurality of guide rolls (140).

[0040] The electrode sheet (ES) may extend between the unwinder (110) and the rewinder (120). The electrode sheet (ES) may be wound and provided to the unwinder (110). The electrode sheet (ES) supplied from the unwinder (110) may move along a predetermined movement path and be recovered from the rewinder (120). The rewinder (120) may rotate so that the electrode sheet (ES) is wound. The rewinder (120) may rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the unwinder (110). The rewinder (120) and the unwinder (110) may each be connected to a driving motor and configured to rotate about a rotation axis by a driving force provided by the driving motor. Hereinafter, advancing the electrode sheet (ES) and / or the connection sheet (CS) may refer to moving the electrode sheet (ES) and / or the connection sheet (CS) in a direction from the unwinder (110) toward the rewinder (120), and moving the electrode sheet (ES) and / or the connection sheet (CS) backward may refer to moving the electrode sheet (ES) and / or the connection sheet (CS) in a direction from the rewinder (120) toward the unwinder (110).

[0041] A plurality of guide rolls (140) may be arranged on a movement path of an electrode sheet (ES) provided between a rewinder (120) and an unwinder (110). The plurality of guide rolls (140) may guide the movement of the electrode sheet (ES) so that the electrode sheet (ES) moves along a predetermined movement path. Each guide roll (140) may include a rotation shaft (141) and a roll body that rotates around the rotation shaft (141) and contacts the electrode sheet (ES). The plurality of guide rolls (140) may include at least one guide roll (140) arranged between a rolling mill (130) and an unwinder (110), and at least one guide roll (140) arranged between a rolling mill (130) and a rewinder (120). In FIGS. 1A to 1C, the electrode manufacturing device (10) is illustrated as including four guide rolls (140), but is not limited thereto, and the electrode manufacturing device (10) may include several to several tens of guide rolls (140).

[0042] A rolling mill (130) may be arranged between the unwinder (110) and the rewinder (120). The rolling mill (130) may perform a rolling process on an electrode sheet (ES). The rolling mill (130) may include an upper rolling roll (131) and a lower rolling roll (133). The upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) may each be configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) may be spaced apart in a vertical direction (e.g., in the Z direction) with a rolling gap therebetween. The rolling gap is a space defined between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133), and the electrode sheet (ES) may move through the rolling gap. Hereinafter, the front of the rolling mill (130) may refer to the direction from the rolling mill (130) toward the rewinder (120), and the rear of the rolling mill (130) may refer to the direction from the rolling mill (130) toward the unwinder (110).

[0043] The rolling mill (130) may be configured to adjust the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133). The rolling gap may refer to a distance in the vertical direction (e.g., Z direction) between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133). The rolling mill (130) may adjust the rolling gap by moving at least one of the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) in the vertical direction (e.g., Z direction).

[0044] In exemplary embodiments, the rolling gap may be configured to be adjusted between a first gap (see G1 in FIG. 4c) for pressing the electrode sheet (ES) with the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) and a second gap (see G2 in FIG. 5) larger than the first gap. While performing a rolling process for the electrode sheet (ES) by pressing the electrode sheet (ES) with the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133), the rolling mill (130) can maintain the rolling gap at the first gap. During a rework operation for connecting two separated parts of the electrode sheet (ES) using a connecting sheet (CS), the rolling mill (130) can maintain the rolling gap at the second gap.

[0045] The electrode manufacturing device (10) may include a conveyor transfer device (200) configured to move a connecting sheet (CS) during a rework operation on an electrode sheet (ES).

[0046] The conveyor transport device (200) can move the connecting sheet (CS) so that the connecting sheet (CS) attached to either the first part (ES1) or the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) moves through the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133). The conveyor transport device (200) can move the connecting sheet (CS) forward and / or backward so that the connecting sheet (CS) passes through the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133). When the connecting sheet (CS) is moved by the conveyor transport device (200), a part of the electrode sheet (ES) attached to the connecting sheet (CS) (the first part (ES1) or the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES)) can move forward or backward together with the connecting sheet (CS).

[0047] The conveyor transport device (200) may include a conveyor belt (210), a plurality of conveyor rolls (220), and a driving pulley (230).

[0048] The conveyor belt (210) can move along a path provided by a plurality of conveyor rolls (220). The movement path of the conveyor belt (210) can have a closed-loop form. The plurality of conveyor rolls (220) are each configured to rotate and can guide the movement of the conveyor belt (210) so that the conveyor belt (210) moves along a predetermined movement path. Each conveyor roll (220) can include a roller, a gear, a gear, or a drum.

[0049] To prevent the conveyor belt (210) from interfering with the movement path of the electrode sheet (ES), the conveyor belt (210) may be spaced apart from the electrode sheet (ES) in a horizontal direction (e.g., in the Y direction).

[0050] The drive pulley (230) is arranged on the movement path of the conveyor belt (210) and may be configured to move the conveyor belt (210). The drive pulley (230) may include a drive motor that generates a driving force to move the conveyor belt (210). In some exemplary embodiments, the conveyor transport device (200) may include a handle for moving the conveyor belt (210). When an operator rotates the handle, a drive shaft connected to the handle rotates, and the conveyor belt (210) may move in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft.

[0051] The conveyor transport device (200) may include a pair of conveyor belts (210) spaced apart in a horizontal direction (e.g., in the Y direction) with an electrode sheet (ES) therebetween. The pair of conveyor belts (210) may each move along a movement path provided by a plurality of conveyor rolls (220). The conveyor belts (210) may be spaced apart in a horizontal direction (e.g., in the Y direction) from the electrode sheet (ES) so that the pair of conveyor belts (210) do not interfere with the movement path of the electrode sheet (ES). When the connecting sheet (CS) is advanced or advanced for a rework operation on the electrode sheet (ES), the connecting sheet (CS) is respectively attached to the pair of conveyor belts (210), and a part of the electrode sheet (ES) (the first part (ES1) or the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES)) attached to the connecting sheet (CS) may advance or advance together with the connecting sheet (CS).

[0052] When the electrode sheet (ES) is broken by the stress applied by the rolling mill (130), the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) may be present on one side of the rolling mill (130) (i.e., the rear of the rolling mill (130)), and the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) may be present on the other side of the rolling mill (130) (i.e., the front of the rolling mill (130)). A rework operation for an electrode sheet (ES) may include attaching a connecting sheet (CS) to a conveyor belt (210) and one end of the electrode sheet (ES) (e.g., an end of a first portion (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES)), moving the conveyor belt (210) to advance or reverse the connecting sheet (CS) so that the connecting sheet (CS) approaches the other end of the electrode sheet (ES) (e.g., an end of a second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES)), and attaching the connecting sheet (CS) to the other end of the electrode sheet (ES). When advancing or reversing the connecting sheet (CS) with the conveyor belt (210), a portion of the electrode sheet (ES) attached to the connecting sheet (CS) advances or reverses together with the connecting sheet (CS), and another portion of the electrode sheet (ES) not attached to the connecting sheet (CS) stops.

[0053] In exemplary embodiments, a plurality of conveyor rolls (220) may be installed on a plurality of rotational axes (141) of a plurality of guide rolls (140). The plurality of conveyor rolls (220) may be installed on a side of the rotational axes (141) of the corresponding guide rolls (140) among the plurality of guide rolls (140). For example, when the rotational axes (141) of each guide roll (140) include a central portion on which a roll body that contacts the electrode sheet (ES) is mounted, a conveyor roll (220) may be installed on each of the two sides of each guide roll (140) spaced apart from the central portion of each guide roll (140). By installing the conveyor rolls (220) constituting the conveyor transport device (200) on the rotational axes (141) of the plurality of guide rolls (140), the number of parts of the conveyor transport device (200) can be reduced, thereby reducing costs and making it easier to install the conveyor transport device (200).

[0054] In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of conveyor rolls (220) may be configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the rotation axis (141) of the corresponding guide roll (140) among the plurality of guide rolls (140). That is, the rotation of each conveyor roll (220) may be performed independently of the rotation of the rotation axis (141) of the corresponding guide roll (140). For example, when moving (e.g., forward or backward) the connecting sheet (CS) to perform a rework operation on the electrode sheet (ES), the plurality of conveyor rolls (220) involved in the movement of the conveyor belt (210) may rotate, but the rotation axes (141) of the plurality of guide rolls (140) may not rotate and may remain stationary. For example, when performing a rolling process on an electrode sheet (ES) while advancing the electrode sheet (ES), the rotation axes (141) of a plurality of guide rolls (140) involved in the movement of the electrode sheet (ES) rotate, but a plurality of conveyor rolls (220) involved in the movement of the conveyor belt (210) do not rotate and can remain stationary.

[0055]

[0056] (Example 2)

[0057] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an electrode manufacturing method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figs. 3a to 9b are drawings showing an electrode manufacturing method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figs. 3a, 4a, 7a, 8, and 9a are plan views showing an electrode manufacturing device (10). Figs. 3b, 4b, 6b, 7b, and 9b are cross-sectional views of the electrode manufacturing device (10) taken along a line corresponding to the BB-BB' line of Fig. 1a. Figs. 3c, 4c, 5, 6c, and 7c are cross-sectional views of the electrode manufacturing device (10) taken along a line corresponding to the CC-CC' line of Fig. 1a.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrode manufacturing method may include a step (S100) of performing a rework operation on an electrode sheet (ES) in which a fracture has occurred and a step (S200) of performing a rolling process on an electrode sheet (ES) in which the rework operation has been completed. The step (S100) of performing a rework operation may include a step (S110) of stopping the equipment operation when a breakage is detected in the electrode sheet (ES), a step (S120) of attaching the connection sheet (CS) to the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) and the conveyor belt (210), a step (S130) of adjusting the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133), a step (S140) of moving the connection sheet (CS) through the rolling gap provided between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133), a step (S150) of attaching the connection sheet (CS) to the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES), and a step (S160) of separating the connection sheet (CS) from the conveyor belt (210).

[0059] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9b, the electrode manufacturing method using the electrode manufacturing device (10) described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 1c will be described in more detail.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 3a to 3c, when a break is detected in the electrode sheet (ES), the operation of the equipment is stopped (S110).

[0061] In step S110, when the electrode sheet (ES) is broken by the stress applied by the rolling mill (130), the electrode sheet (ES) is separated into a first portion (ES1) and a second portion (ES2). At this time, the first portion (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) may be present at the rear of the rolling mill (130), and the second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) may be present at the front of the rolling mill (130). For example, the breakage of the electrode sheet (ES) may be detected based on a signal output from a tension sensor configured to detect tension on the electrode sheet (ES) or a signal output from a camera configured to capture an image of the electrode sheet (ES).

[0062] At step S110, as soon as a break in the electrode sheet (ES) is detected, the equipment is shut down. As the equipment is shut down, the operation of the unwinder (110), the rewinder (120), the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) of the rolling mill (130), etc., may be stopped.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 4a to 4c, a connection sheet (CS) is attached to a first portion (ES1) of an electrode sheet (ES) and a conveyor belt (210) (S120).

[0064] In step S120, the connection sheet (CS) can be attached and fixed to the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) and the conveyor belt (210) by an adhesive material such as a tape. Alternatively, the connection sheet (CS) has adhesiveness, and the connection sheet (CS) can be attached to the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) and the conveyor belt (210) by the adhesiveness of the connection sheet (CS) without a separate adhesive medium.

[0065] In exemplary embodiments, step S120 may be performed by an attachment mechanism for attaching the connection sheet (CS) to the first portion (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) and the conveyor belt (210). For example, the attachment mechanism may include gripper fingers for gripping and moving the connection sheet (CS) and the electrode sheet (ES), respectively, and a tape supply unit for providing an adhesive material between the connection sheet (CS) and the electrode sheet (ES). In exemplary embodiments, step S120 may be performed manually.

[0066] Referring to Fig. 5, the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) is adjusted (S130).

[0067] In step S130, the rolling mill (130) can adjust the rolling gap from a first gap (G1 in FIG. 4c) for pressing the electrode sheet (ES) with the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) during the rolling process to a second gap (G2) larger than the first gap (G1). The second gap (G2) may be larger than the thickness of the connecting sheet (CS) and the thickness of the electrode sheet (ES). When the rolling gap is maintained at the second gap (G2), while the connecting sheet (CS) and the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) move through the rolling gap in the subsequent step, the connecting sheet (CS) and the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) can be prevented from causing strong friction with the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133).

[0068] In Fig. 5, the upper rolling roll (131) is shown as being raised to adjust the rolling gap from the first gap (G1) to the second gap (G2). In some embodiments, adjusting the rolling gap from the first gap (G1) to the second gap (G2) may be realized by lowering the lower rolling roll (133) or by raising the upper rolling roll (131) and lowering the lower rolling roll (133).

[0069] Referring to FIGS. 6a to 6c, the connecting sheet (CS) is moved through the rolling gap provided between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) (S140).

[0070] At step S140, the conveyor belt (210) to which the connecting sheet (CS) is fixed can be moved so that the connecting sheet (CS) moves toward the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) located in front of the rolling mill (130). When the connecting sheet (CS) is moved backward by the conveyor belt (210), the connecting sheet (CS) and the first part (ES1) of the electrode sheet (ES) attached thereto pass through the rolling gap and move backward. Since the rotation of the plurality of conveyor rolls (220) is performed independently of the rotation of the rotation axes (141) of the plurality of guide rolls (140), the plurality of guide rolls (140) can be maintained in a stationary state while the conveyor belt (210) moves for the movement of the connecting sheet (CS).

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7C, a connection sheet (CS) is attached to a second portion (ES2) of an electrode sheet (ES) (S150). When attachment between the connection sheet (CS) and the second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) is completed, the first portion (ES1) and the second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) can be connected via the connection sheet (CS).

[0072] In step S150, the connection sheet (CS) may be attached and fixed to the second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) by an adhesive material such as a tape. Alternatively, the connection sheet (CS) may have adhesiveness, and the connection sheet (CS) may be attached to the second portion (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) by the adhesiveness of the connection sheet (CS) without a separate adhesive medium. In exemplary embodiments, step S150 may be performed by an attaching mechanism configured to perform step S120 in advance. In exemplary embodiments, step S150 may be performed manually.

[0073] Referring to Fig. 8, the connecting sheet (CS) is separated from the conveyor belt (210) (S160).

[0074] In S160, two parts of the connecting sheet (CS) can be cut so that the connecting sheet (CS) is separated from a pair of conveyor belts (210). The cutting of the connecting sheet (CS) can be performed by a cutter (310). The cutter (310) can be configured to be connected to an actuator and move. When the cutting of the connecting sheet (CS) is completed, the connecting sheet (CS) connecting the first part (ES1) and the second part (ES2) of the electrode sheet (ES) can be separated from the conveyor belt (210). As the connecting sheet (CS) is separated from the conveyor belt (210), the movement of the electrode sheet (ES) including the connecting sheet (CS) can be performed independently of the movement of the conveyor belt (210). That is, the movement of the electrode sheet (ES) including the connecting sheet (CS) becomes possible regardless of the movement of the conveyor belt (210).

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, after completing the rework operation for the electrode sheet (ES), a rolling process is performed for the electrode sheet (ES) including the connecting sheet (CS) (S200).

[0076] At step S200, before moving the electrode sheet (ES) using the unwinder (110) and the rewinder (120), the rolling gap between the upper rolling roll (131) and the lower rolling roll (133) can be adjusted to a gap suitable for performing the rolling process. That is, the rolling mill (130) can adjust the rolling gap from the second gap (G2 in FIG. 5) for performing a rework operation on the electrode sheet (ES) to the first gap (G1 in FIG. 4c) for performing the rolling process on the electrode sheet (ES). After adjusting the rolling gap, the electrode sheet (ES) can be advanced using the unwinder (110) and the rewinder (120), and the rolling process on the electrode sheet (ES) can be performed using the rolling mill (130).

[0077] As a comparative example, reworking of electrode sheets (ES) can be performed manually by workers. This poses a risk of worker safety accidents, and equipment operating rates decrease by the amount of time required for reworking the electrode sheets (ES).

[0078] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a rework operation for an electrode sheet (ES) that connects two parts of an electrode sheet (ES) separated due to a break in the electrode sheet (ES) with a connecting sheet (CS) can be automated. By automating the rework operation for the electrode sheet (ES), worker safety accidents can be prevented, and the productivity of an electrode manufacturing process including the rework operation for the electrode sheet (ES) can be improved.

[0079] The present invention has been described in more detail through 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. Unwinder on which the electrode sheet is wound; A rewinder for recovering and winding the above electrode sheet; A plurality of guide rolls configured to guide movement of the electrode sheet between the unwinder and the rewinder; A rolling mill including an upper rolling roll and a lower rolling roll, which are located between the unwinder and the rewinder and are configured to roll the electrode sheet; and A conveyor transport device configured to move a connecting sheet attached to one of two parts of the above electrode sheets separated from each other, An electrode manufacturing device, wherein the conveyor transport device is configured to move the connecting sheet so that the connecting sheet passes through a rolling gap provided between the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll.

2. In paragraph 1, The above conveyor transport device, multiple conveyor rolls; and A conveyor belt that moves while being guided by the plurality of conveyor rolls; Including, The above connecting sheet is attached to the conveyor belt, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that, when the conveyor belt moves, the connecting sheet moves together with a portion of the electrode sheet attached to the connecting sheet.

3. In paragraph 2, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that the plurality of conveyor rolls are installed on the rotation axes of the plurality of guide rolls.

4. In paragraph 3, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that the plurality of conveyor rolls are configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the rotation axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

5. In paragraph 3, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that each of the plurality of conveyor rolls is installed on the side of the rotation axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

6. In paragraph 3, An electrode manufacturing device, characterized in that the plurality of guide rolls include at least one guide roll arranged between the unwinder and the rolling mill, and at least one guide roll arranged between the rewinder and the rolling mill.

7. In paragraph 2, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that the conveyor transport device further includes a drive pulley configured to move the conveyor belt.

8. In paragraph 2, An electrode manufacturing device further comprising a cutter for cutting the connecting sheet so that the connecting sheet is separated from the conveyor belt.

9. In paragraph 1, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that the rolling mill is configured to move at least one of the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll to adjust the rolling gap.

10. In paragraph 9, The rolling machine is configured to adjust the rolling gap between a first gap for pressing the electrode sheet with the upper rolling roll and the lower rolling roll and a second gap larger than the first gap, An electrode manufacturing device characterized in that the rolling mill maintains the rolling gap as the second gap while the connecting sheet moves through the rolling gap by the conveyor transport device.

11. A rework step of connecting the first and second parts of the electrode sheet, which are separated from each other, with a connecting sheet; and A step of rolling the electrode sheet by moving the electrode sheet including the connecting sheet through a rolling gap provided between an upper rolling roll and a lower rolling roll, A method for manufacturing an electrode, wherein the rework step comprises attaching the connecting sheet to the first portion of the electrode sheet and a conveyor belt, and moving the conveyor belt to move the connecting sheet so that the connecting sheet passes through the rolling gap.

12. In paragraph 11, The above rework step is, after the step of moving the connection sheet, a step of attaching the connecting sheet to the second portion of the electrode sheet; and A step of separating the above connecting sheet from the conveyor belt; A method for manufacturing an electrode, characterized in that it further includes.

13. In paragraph 11, A method for manufacturing an electrode, wherein the rework step further comprises, before the step of moving the connecting sheet, a step of increasing the rolling gap from a first gap to a second gap, wherein the second gap is larger than the thickness of the connecting sheet.

14. In paragraph 13, A method for manufacturing an electrode, characterized in that the step of rolling the electrode sheet includes a step of adjusting the rolling gap from the second gap to the first gap.

15. In paragraph 11, The above electrode sheet is configured to move guided by a plurality of guide rolls provided between the unwinder and the rewinder, A plurality of conveyor rolls configured to guide the movement of the conveyor belt are installed on the rotation axes of the plurality of guide rolls, An electrode manufacturing method characterized in that the plurality of conveyor rolls are configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the rotation axis of a corresponding guide roll among the plurality of guide rolls.

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