Apparatus and method for manufacturing secondary battery

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery, wherein, in a post-treatment process for a pouch-type secondary battery, main sealing is enabled in a state in which a secondary battery is vertically erected, so that pre-sealing and pre-cutting processes can be omitted and a layout of manufacturing equipment can be thus reduced. Therefore, reduction of the cost of a pouch through reduction of a pouch gas pocket part can be achieved.

Description

Secondary battery manufacturing device and method

[0001] Cross-citation with related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0011441, filed January 25, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] The present invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and method capable of eliminating processes such as pre-sealing and pre-cutting by enabling main sealing in a vertically standing state of a pouch-type secondary battery in a post-processing process, thereby reducing the manufacturing equipment layout and reducing the pouch cost through reduction of a pouch gas pocket portion.

[0005] Common types of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries. These batteries are used not only in small products such as digital cameras, DVDs, MP3 players, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, and e-bikes, but also in larger products requiring high output, such as electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as in power storage devices that store surplus power or renewable energy, and as backup power storage devices.

[0006] Referring to Fig. 1, in order to manufacture such a secondary battery (B), first, an electrode active material slurry is applied to a positive electrode collector and a negative electrode collector to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and these are laminated on both sides of a separator to form an electrode assembly (10) of a predetermined shape. Then, the electrode assembly (10) is housed in the cup portion (21) of a pouch case (20) (hereinafter referred to as 'pouch'), and an electrolyte is injected and then sealed to manufacture an initial cell (secondary battery) (B). In the secondary battery (B), electrode leads (30) connected to the electrode assembly (10) can protrude in both directions.

[0007] Referring to Fig. 1, in the initial secondary battery (B), the pouch (20) may include a gas pocket portion (22) extending to one side of the cup portion (21) in which the electrode assembly (10) is accommodated. After the electrode assembly (10) and the electrolyte (not shown) are accommodated in the cup portion (21), the edge of the pouch (20) may be sealed.

[0008] In this case, sealing can be performed at the edge of the cup portion (21) and the outer edge of the gas pocket portion (22). That is, the edge of the area where the cup portion (21) and the gas pocket portion (22) are combined can be sealed to draw a closed curve so that the area where the cup portion (21) and the gas pocket portion (22) are combined can be sealed to be sealed from the outside. When the initial secondary battery (B) is manufactured in a form that is sealed from the outside, a post-processing process can be performed to manufacture the final cell by post-processing the initial secondary battery. This post-processing process can be the last process of charging and discharging, stabilizing, measuring data, and selecting the pouch-type secondary battery.

[0009] Referring to Fig. 2, the initial secondary battery manufactured in this manner undergoes a post-processing process, which may include an activation charging process, a piercing process, a pre-sealing process, a pre-cutting process, a main-sealing process, and a trimming process.

[0010] Referring first to Figure 2(a), the activation charging process may be a process for initially charging a secondary battery. During this process, the electrolyte and electrodes within the pouch react during charging, generating gases such as C2H4, CO, C2H2, H2, and CO2. These gases can be removed in a degas process.

[0011] For reference, Fig. 2(a) depicts two drawings. The left one is a frontal view (viewing the wide surface) of the secondary battery, and the right one is a right-side view of the frontal view of the secondary battery. All drawings (a) through (e) of Fig. 2 depict frontal and side views in the same manner.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 2(b), the process for degas may include a piercing process and a pre-sealing process.

[0013] The piercing process may involve creating a hole in the gas pocket portion using a sharp device to release gas. The area where this hole is formed may be the piercing portion (24). This process may be performed within a vacuum chamber. A vacuum must be formed outside the pouch (20) to ensure smooth and efficient escape of gas within the pouch (20).

[0014] The pre-sealing process may be a process of sealing the pouch (20) at a position between the hole formed by the piercing process and the cup portion (21) of the pouch. Sealing may be achieved through the pre-sealing. However, in order to secure the length of the pouch edge portion required in a subsequent process, the pre-sealing may be performed at a position that is further offset (=closer) to the piercing portion (24) than the cup portion (21) of the pouch. Since the pre-sealing process does not require that the sealing portion be formed at an exact position, the sealing may be performed while the secondary battery is placed vertically, as illustrated in Fig. 2(b).

[0015] Referring to the pre-cutting process of Fig. 2(c), a pre-cutting process may be performed after the pre-sealing process. The pre-cutting process may be a process of cutting centered on the pre-sealing portion (23). Since sealing is performed at the pre-sealing portion (23), it may be a process of cutting out unnecessary portions after the pre-sealing portion (23).

[0016] Referring to Fig. 2(d), the main sealing process may be a process of performing sealing in the area between the pre-sealing portion (23) and the pouch cup portion (21). Sealing may be performed at a position that is more inclined toward the pouch cup portion (21) than the pre-sealing portion (23). The main sealing portion (25) may be formed by the main sealing process.

[0017] Meanwhile, the main sealing process may be a process that secures an area for double-side folding. Double-side folding is a process that folds the edges of the pouch twice to create a clean appearance, folding it to a specified size. Therefore, the main sealing process must be performed at a precise location. For example, the main sealing must meet the die-sealing gap (d) and sealing thickness standards.

[0018] Referring to Fig. 3, the die-sealing gap (d) refers to the distance between the lower end (E) of the pouch sealing portion (250) where the main sealing is performed and the upper end (C) of the cup portion (21). The main sealing process must be performed so that this die-sealing gap is formed according to a predetermined design value.

[0019] Conventionally, to meet the criteria for this die-sealing gap (d), the main sealing process was performed with the secondary battery lying down. The secondary battery was placed on the die performing the main sealing process, and the sealing was performed based on a reference point. For convenience, FIGS. 2(d) and (e) depict the secondary battery standing upright, but the process itself is performed with the secondary battery (B) lying horizontally.

[0020] Figure 2(e) illustrates a trimming process performed after the main sealing process. The trimming process is a process of cutting out unnecessary portions after the main sealing portion (25).

[0021] Meanwhile, the main sealing process described above could not be performed while the secondary battery was standing vertically. This was because the reference position of the die-sealing gap (d) could not be determined. This resulted in a lengthy and complex process.

[0022] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus and method that can eliminate the pre-sealing and pre-cutting processes by enabling main sealing in a vertically standing state of a pouch-type secondary battery in a post-processing process of the secondary battery, thereby reducing the manufacturing equipment layout and reducing the pouch cost through the reduction of the pouch gas pocket portion.

[0023] The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch that accommodates the electrode assembly in a cup portion having a recessed shape, the apparatus comprising: a chamber in which a vacuum is formed inside; a support portion that supports a secondary battery (B) positioned inside the chamber and moves the secondary battery upward; an alignment unit that stops the secondary battery so that the secondary battery raised by the support portion is positioned at a reference position; a pusher unit that presses the secondary battery from both sides after the secondary battery is stopped by the aligning unit and fixes the position of the secondary battery; a piercing unit that makes a hole in a portion of the pouch after the pusher unit fixes the position of the secondary battery; and a sealing unit that seals the pouch between a portion of the pouch in which the piercing unit made a hole and a cup portion of the pouch in which the electrode assembly is accommodated.

[0024] The pusher unit can guide the upward movement of the secondary battery when the support member moves the secondary battery upward.

[0025] The align unit may include an align arm that supports the cup portion of the pouch and stops the secondary battery.

[0026] The alignment unit may include an alignment body portion extending downward from an end of the alignment arm portion.

[0027] The align arm stops the secondary battery so that it is positioned at the reference position.

[0028] The reference position may be a position where the distance between the lower end of the pouch sealing portion, which is the area where the sealing unit seals the pouch, and the upper end of the cup portion of the pouch becomes a predetermined distance (d).

[0029] The support portion may have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the secondary battery.

[0030] It may further include a moving unit that moves the support upward.

[0031] The moving unit includes a cylinder member that can move up and down; and an elastic member that can expand in a direction parallel to the direction in which the secondary battery moves upward, and the cylinder member can support the support part through the elastic member.

[0032] The alignment unit includes a first alignment unit and a second alignment unit, and the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance based on the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery.

[0033] A secondary battery manufacturing method according to the present invention comprises a secondary battery manufacturing method including an electrode assembly and a pouch that accommodates the electrode assembly in a cup portion having a recessed shape, the method comprising: a preparation step of positioning the secondary battery inside a chamber in which a vacuum is formed inside; an elevation step of moving the secondary battery upward using a support portion that supports the secondary battery located inside the chamber; an aligning step of stopping the secondary battery using an aligning unit so that the secondary battery elevated by the support portion is positioned at a reference position; a fixing step of pressing the secondary battery from both sides using a pusher unit after the secondary battery is stopped in the aligning step and fixing the position of the secondary battery; a piercing step of making a hole in a portion of the pouch using a piercing unit after the position of the secondary battery is fixed in the fixing step; and a sealing step of sealing the pouch using a sealing unit between a portion of the pouch in which the hole is formed and a cup portion of the pouch in which the electrode assembly is accommodated.

[0034] Before the ascending step, an alignment unit forward step may be further included in which the alignment unit moves in a direction closer to the secondary battery.

[0035] After the fixing step, the alignment unit may further include an alignment unit backward step in which the alignment unit moves away from the secondary battery.

[0036] The secondary battery manufacturing device and method according to the present invention enable main sealing in a vertically standing state of the secondary battery in the post-processing process of a pouch-type secondary battery, thereby eliminating the processes of pre-sealing and pre-cutting, thereby reducing the manufacturing equipment layout and reducing the pouch cost through reduction of the pouch gas pocket portion.

[0037] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a secondary battery undergoing a post-processing process in the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the front view and side view of each process that is performed in the post-processing process of a conventional secondary battery.

[0039] Figure 3 is a side view showing only a secondary battery that undergoes a post-processing process in the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4 is a side view illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing device according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 5 is a front view showing a part of a secondary battery manufacturing device according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a process of post-processing a secondary battery using a secondary battery manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to Example 2 of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a front view and a side view showing the processes of a secondary battery post-processing process changed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following examples.

[0046] In order to clearly explain the present invention, a detailed description of a part that is irrelevant to the description or a related known technology that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention has been omitted, and when adding reference signs to components of each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference signs are attached to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0047] In addition, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to explain his or her own invention in the best way.

[0048]

[0049] Example 1

[0050]

[0051] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a secondary battery undergoing a post-processing process in the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating only a secondary battery undergoing a post-processing process in the present invention. Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating a portion of a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating a process of post-processing a secondary battery using a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] First, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 of the present invention may be a secondary battery manufacturing device (100) for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) including an electrode assembly (10) and a pouch (20) that accommodates the electrode assembly (10) in a cup portion (21) of a recessed shape.

[0053] First, the secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 of the present invention may include a chamber (110), a support (120), an align unit (130), a pusher unit (140), a piercing unit (150), and a sealing unit (160).

[0054] The chamber (110) may be configured to form a vacuum inside. A secondary battery (B) may be placed inside the chamber (110). The secondary battery (B) may be placed vertically. In order to discharge gas generated inside the secondary battery (B) pouch (20) during the activation charging process, the inside of the chamber (110) may be formed as a vacuum or negative pressure. Accordingly, the gas inside the secondary battery (B) may smoothly escape through the piercing hole.

[0055] The support (120) may be configured to support a secondary battery (B) positioned inside the chamber (110). The support (120) may be moved upward by a moving unit (170) to be discussed below. As the support (120) moves upward, the secondary battery (B) may be moved upward. Referring to FIG. 5, the support (120) may have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the secondary battery (B). Accordingly, the secondary battery (B) may be stably supported. That is, the secondary battery (B) may not tilt to one side and may be well maintained horizontally.

[0056] The alignment unit (130) may be configured to stop the secondary battery (B) so that the secondary battery (B) rising by the support (120) is positioned at a reference position. To this end, the alignment unit (130) may approach the secondary battery (B) and stop before the secondary battery (B) rises by the support (120) or during the process of rising.

[0057] Specifically, the alignment unit (130) may include an alignment arm portion (130a) and an alignment body portion. The alignment arm portion (130a) may be configured to support the cup portion (21) of the pouch and suspend the secondary battery (B). The alignment body portion (130b) may be configured to extend downward from an end of the alignment arm portion (130a). Referring to the drawing, the alignment arm portion (130a) may have a bar shape extending horizontally. The alignment body portion (130b) may have a shape extending downward from the right end of the alignment arm portion (130a). In addition, the thickness of the alignment body portion (130b) may be thicker than the thickness of the alignment arm portion (130a). Accordingly, the alignment unit (130) can stably maintain a posture and move.

[0058] The alignment arm (130a) can stop the secondary battery (B) so that the secondary battery (B) rising by the support (120) is positioned at a datumn. Here, the datumn may be a position where the distance between the lower end (E) of the pouch sealing portion, which is the area where the sealing unit (160) seals the pouch (20), and the upper end (C) of the cup portion (21) of the pouch becomes a predetermined distance (d) (see FIG. 3). To this end, the alignment unit (130) (specifically, the alignment arm (130a)) can be positioned at a pre-designed or set height in relation to the sealing unit (160).

[0059] Referring to FIG. 5, the alignment unit (130) may include a first alignment unit (131) and a second alignment unit (132). The first alignment unit (131) and the second alignment unit (132) may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance based on the longitudinal direction (L) of the secondary battery (B). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the predetermined distance by which the first alignment unit (131) and the second alignment unit (132) are spaced apart from each other may be smaller than the distance by which the two cylinder members (171) are spaced apart from each other.

[0060] The pusher unit (140) may be configured to pressurize the secondary battery (B) from both sides after the secondary battery (B) is stopped by the align unit (130) and to fix the position of the secondary battery (B). The pusher units (140) may be provided as a pair, one on each side of the secondary battery (B). They may move in a direction approaching the secondary battery (B) from both sides to pressurize the secondary battery (B) from both sides.

[0061] In addition, the pusher unit (140) is not pressurizing the secondary battery (B) when the support member (120) moves the secondary battery (B) upward, and at this time, it can also play a role in guiding the upward movement of the secondary battery (B). If the side support member (120) only supports the bottom of the secondary battery (B), there is a risk that the secondary battery (B), which is vertically standing, may fall to both sides when it moves upward by the support member (120). However, since the pusher unit (140) is arranged at a predetermined distance from each other on both sides of the secondary battery (B), even if the secondary battery (B) tries to fall to both sides, the pusher unit (140) can support the secondary battery (B) so that it does not fall. In addition, when the secondary battery reaches the correct position by the align unit (130), the pusher unit (140) can fix the secondary battery by pressurizing it from both sides.

[0062] The piercing unit (150) may be configured to make a hole in a portion of the pouch (20) after the pusher unit (140) fixes the position of the secondary battery (B). The piercing unit (150) may be configured to include a sharp pin, etc. The portion of the pouch (20) where the hole is made may be a portion of the gas pocket portion (22). The piercing unit (150) may form a hole in the upper portion of the gas pocket portion (22). Accordingly, gas may be smoothly discharged. In addition, a plurality of holes may be formed. The plurality of holes may be arranged at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction (L) of the secondary battery (B).

[0063] The sealing unit (160) may be configured to seal the pouch (20) between a portion of the pouch (20) in which the piercing unit (150) has made a hole and a cup portion (21) of the pouch in which the electrode assembly (10) is accommodated. The portion sealed by the sealing unit (160) may be a pouch sealing portion (250). In addition, this pouch sealing portion (250) may be a sealing portion formed by the main sealing previously reviewed in the background art.

[0064] The secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 of the present invention may further include a moving unit (170). The moving unit (170) may be configured to move the support member (120) upward. The moving unit (170) may specifically include a cylinder member (171) and an elastic member (172). The cylinder member (171) may be configured to be able to move up and down by including a cylinder. The cylinder member (171) may serve to provide power for the support member (120) to move upward or downward. The elastic member (172) may be configured to be elastic in a direction parallel to the direction in which the secondary battery (B) moves upward. The cylinder member (171) may support the support member (120) through the elastic member (172). The elastic member (172) may be, for example, a spring.

[0065] Since the elastic member (172) is present, the secondary battery (B) may not be damaged during the process in which the alignment unit (130) stops the secondary battery (B). If the elastic member (172) is not present, damage to the secondary battery (B) may occur when there is even a slight difference between the point at which the alignment unit (130) stops the secondary battery (B) and the point at which the support member (120) completes raising the secondary battery (B). That is, the secondary battery (B) that is raised by the support member (120) is stopped by the alignment arm member (130a), and the secondary battery (B) may be stopped when the alignment arm member (130a) is caught by the cup member (21) of the secondary battery (B). In other words, the alignment arm member (130a) can support and stop the cup member (21) of the secondary battery (B). However, if the support part (120) rises further even though the alignment arm part (130a) is standing upright blocking the secondary battery (B) cup part (21), the secondary battery (B) cup part (21) may be damaged.

[0066] However, if there is an elastic member (172), the force due to this error can be absorbed by the elastic member (172) as it is compressed, so that the cup portion (21) of the secondary battery (B) may not be damaged. In other words, in a situation where the secondary battery (B) is compressed by the force due to the error, the elastic member (172) can be compressed instead, so that damage to the secondary battery (B) can be prevented.

[0067] In particular, in the case where there are two cylinder members (171) and two alignment units (130) as in Fig. 5, the degree to which the cylinder members (171) on both sides rise may not be completely identical due to an error. In this case, a situation may occur in which the secondary battery (B) touches the first alignment unit (131) but does not touch the second alignment unit (132). In this case, since the secondary battery (B) must also touch the second alignment unit (132) to become the reference position, the two cylinders may continue to rise further. In this case, since there is an elastic unit, the cup part (21) of the secondary battery (B) may not be damaged at the part where the first alignment unit (131) is located. The elastic member (172) can solve this problem.

[0068] As reviewed above, the secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 of the present invention can perform sealing while the secondary battery (B) is standing vertically, and can design the distance between the lower end (E) of the pouch sealing portion (250) and the upper end (C) of the cup portion (21) of the pouch to be a die-sealing gap (d), which is a predetermined distance. That is, the secondary battery (B) can be stopped at a reference position for this purpose and the sealing can be performed. Accordingly, even though the secondary battery (B) is standing, the main sealing can be performed at a fixed position that accurately secures a double-side folding area.

[0069] FIG. 8 is a front view and a side view showing the processes of a secondary battery (B) post-processing process changed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] If the main sealing can be performed while the secondary battery (B) is standing, the post-processing process of the secondary battery (B) can be simplified. Referring to Fig. 8, the post-processing process of the secondary battery (B) can be simplified into an activation charging process, a piercing process, a main sealing process, and a trimming process.

[0071] First, referring to Fig. 8(a), the activation charging process may be a process for charging the initial secondary battery (B). In this process, during charging, the electrolyte and electrodes inside the pouch (20) react to generate gases such as C2H4, CO, C2H2, H2, and CO2. The gases generated in this way can be removed in a degas process.

[0072] Referring to Fig. 2(b), the degas process may include a piercing process and a main sealing process. The piercing process may be a process of making a hole in the gas pocket portion (22) using a sharp unit and releasing the gas to the outside. The portion where this hole is formed may be a piercing portion (240). This process may be performed within a vacuum chamber (110). A vacuum must be formed externally to ensure that the gas within the pouch (20) can smoothly escape.

[0073] The main sealing process may be a task of sealing the pouch (20) at a position between the piercing portion (240) formed by the piercing process and the cup portion (21) of the pouch. The portion sealed in this way may be the pouch sealing portion (250) that becomes the main sealing portion. Due to the effects of the present invention discussed above, this main sealing process can be performed while the secondary battery (B) is standing up. Even when performed in this standing state, the die-sealing gap (d) standard can be satisfied. Therefore, the main sealing may be a process of accurately securing a double-side folding area. The main sealing process can satisfy this standard while sealing at a position closer to the pouch cup portion (21) than the piercing portion (240). Therefore, there is no need to extend the pouch gas pocket portion (22). As a result, the cost of the pouch can be reduced by reducing the size of the pouch gas pocket portion (22).

[0074] In addition, the secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 of the present invention enables main sealing in a state where the secondary battery (B) is vertically erected in the post-processing process of the pouch-type secondary battery (B), thereby eliminating the processes of pre-sealing and pre-cutting, and thus reducing unnecessary manufacturing equipment layout.

[0075] Meanwhile, Fig. 8(c) represents a trimming process, and the explanation is replaced with that described previously in Fig. 2(e).

[0076]

[0077] Example 2

[0078] Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating a process of post-processing a secondary battery (B) using a secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a secondary battery (B) according to an embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0079] In Example 2 of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) using a secondary battery manufacturing device (100) according to Example 1 is described, and in this respect, it is different from Example 1.

[0080] We will explain Example 2 focusing on the differences, omitting as much of the common content as possible with Example 1. In other words, it is self-evident that if content not explained in Example 2 is required, it can be considered as the content of Example 1.

[0081] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) according to Example 2 of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) including an electrode assembly (10) and a pouch (20) that accommodates the electrode assembly (10) in a cup portion (21) having a recessed shape, and includes a preparation step, an elevation step, an aligning step, a fixing step, a piercing step, and a sealing step.

[0082] Referring to Fig. 6(a), the preparation step may be a step of positioning a secondary battery (B) inside a chamber (110) in which a vacuum is formed inside. The support (120) supports the secondary battery (B), and the pusher unit (140) may be in an open state. The secondary battery (B) may be positioned between a pair of pusher units (140). The piercing unit (150) and the sealing unit (160) may remain stationary in their original positions.

[0083] Referring to Fig. 6(b), the rising step may be a step of moving (U) the secondary battery (B) upwards by using the support member (120) that supports the secondary battery (B) located inside the chamber (110). The cylinder member (171) moves upwards, and the support member (120) can move upwards by the force thereof. An elastic member (172) is positioned between the cylinder member (171) and the support member (120) to cushion the impact. This elastic member (172) may include a spring. When the cylinder member (171) rises, the support member (120) can rise by means of the elastic member (172).

[0084] However, in this case, before the rising step, the alignment unit (130) may further include an align unit (130) forward step in which the align unit (130) moves (F) in a direction closer to the secondary battery (B). In the align unit forward step, the align unit (130) may move horizontally in a direction closer to the secondary battery (B) and remain stationary.

[0085] Referring to Fig. 6(c), the alignment step may be a step of using the alignment unit (130) to stop the secondary battery (B) so that the secondary battery (B) rising by the support (120) is positioned at a reference position. That is, when the cup part (21) of the rising secondary battery (B) touches the alignment arm part (130a), the secondary battery (B) can be stopped at the reference position.

[0086] Referring to Fig. 6(d), the fixing step may be a step of fixing the position of the secondary battery (B) to a reference position by applying pressure to the secondary battery (B) from both sides using a pusher unit (140) after the secondary battery (B) is stopped in the alignment step. In this case, even if the alignment unit (130) moves (or is absent), the secondary battery (B) can be continuously fixed to the reference position.

[0087] Therefore, in this respect, the method for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) according to Example 2 of the present invention may further include, after the fixing step, an alignment unit (130) moving backward in a direction (R) away from the secondary battery (B) (see FIG. 6(e)).

[0088] Referring to Fig. 6(f), the piercing step may be a step of making a hole in a portion of the pouch (20) using a piercing unit (150) after the position of the secondary battery (B) is fixed in the fixing step. Through the hole thus formed, gas generated in the activation charging step can be discharged (degas) to the outside.

[0089] The piercing process may involve creating a hole in the gas pocket (22) using a sharp device and releasing gas to the outside. The area where this hole is formed may be the piercing portion (240). This process may be performed within a vacuum chamber (110). A vacuum must be formed externally to ensure that the gas within the pouch (20) can smoothly escape.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 6(f), the sealing step may be a step of sealing the pouch (20) using a sealing unit (160) between a portion of the pouch (20) in which a hole is formed and a cup portion (21) of the pouch in which the electrode assembly (10) is accommodated.

[0091] The sealing step may be a task of sealing the pouch (20) at a position between the hole formed by the piercing process (i.e., the piercing portion (240)) and the cup portion (21) of the pouch. This may be the main sealing process described above. This sealing step may be performed while the secondary battery (B) is standing up. Even when performed while standing up, the die-sealing gap (d) standard can be satisfied. Therefore, the double-side folding area can be accurately secured during the sealing step. The sealing step can satisfy this standard while performing the sealing at a position closer to the pouch cup portion (21) than the piercing portion (240) hole. Therefore, there is no need to extend the gas pocket portion (22) of the pouch. As a result, the cost of the pouch can be reduced by reducing the size of the gas pocket portion (22) of the pouch.

[0092] In addition, the method for manufacturing a secondary battery (B) according to Example 2 of the present invention reviewed above enables main sealing in a state where the secondary battery (B) is vertically placed in the post-processing process of the pouch-type secondary battery (B), thereby eliminating the processes of pre-sealing and pre-cutting, and thus reducing unnecessary manufacturing equipment layout.

[0093]

[0094] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various embodiments are possible within the scope equivalent to the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the patent claims to be described below by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0095] [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 10: Electrode assembly

[0097] 20: Pouch

[0098] 21: Cup

[0099] 22: Gas pocket section

[0100] 23: Pre-sealing part

[0101] 24: Piercing part

[0102] 25: Main sealing part

[0103] 30: Electrode lead

[0104] 100: Secondary battery manufacturing equipment

[0105] 110: Chamber

[0106] 120: Support

[0107] 130: Align unit

[0108] 130a: Align arm

[0109] 130b: Aligned body

[0110] 131: First Alignment Unit

[0111] 132: Second Alignment Unit

[0112] 140: Pusher unit

[0113] 150: Piercing unit

[0114] 160: Sealing unit

[0115] 170: Mobile Unit

[0116] 171: Cylinder member

[0117] 172: Elastic member

[0118] 250: Pouch sealing part

[0119] B: Secondary battery

[0120] C: Top of the cup

[0121] E: Bottom of the pouch sealing part

[0122] d: Die-Sealing Gap

Claims

1. In a secondary battery manufacturing device for manufacturing a secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch that accommodates the electrode assembly in a cup portion of a recessed shape, A chamber in which a vacuum is formed inside; A support member that supports the secondary battery (B) located inside the chamber and moves the secondary battery upward; An alignment unit that stops the secondary battery so that the secondary battery rising by the support member is positioned at a reference position; A pusher unit that pressurizes the secondary battery from both sides after the secondary battery is stopped by the alignment unit and fixes the position of the secondary battery; A piercing unit that makes a hole in a portion of the pouch after the pusher unit fixes the position of the secondary battery; and A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized in that the piercing unit includes a sealing unit that seals the pouch between a portion of the pouch in which the piercing unit has made a hole and a cup portion of the pouch in which the electrode assembly is accommodated.

2. In claim 1, The above pusher unit, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized in that the support member guides the upward movement of the secondary battery when the secondary battery is moved upward.

3. In claim 1, The above align unit is, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized by including an aligning arm portion that supports the cup portion of the pouch and stops the secondary battery.

4. In claim 3, The above alignment unit is, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized by including an alignment body portion extending downward from an end of the alignment arm portion.

5. In claim 3, The above alignment arm stops the secondary battery so that the secondary battery is positioned at the reference position, The above reference position is, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized in that the sealing unit is positioned so that the distance between the lower end (E) of the pouch sealing portion, which is the area where the pouch is to be sealed, and the upper end (C) of the cup portion of the pouch is a predetermined distance (d).

6. In claim 1, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized in that the support portion has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the secondary battery.

7. In claim 6, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized by further including a moving unit that moves the support part upward.

8. In claim 7, The above moving unit is, A cylinder member that can move up and down; and The secondary battery includes an elastic member that can be stretched in a direction parallel to the direction in which it moves upward, A secondary battery manufacturing device characterized in that the above cylinder member supports the support part through the above elastic member.

9. In claim 1, The above alignment unit is, comprising a first alignment unit and a second alignment unit, A secondary battery manufacturing device, characterized in that the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance based on the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery.

10. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch that accommodates the electrode assembly in a cup portion having a recessed shape, A preparatory step of positioning the secondary battery inside a chamber in which a vacuum is formed inside; A rising step of moving the secondary battery upward using a support member that supports the secondary battery located inside the chamber; An alignment step of stopping the secondary battery by using an alignment unit so that the secondary battery rising by the support member is positioned at a reference position; A fixing step of fixing the position of the secondary battery by applying pressure to both sides of the secondary battery using a pusher unit after the secondary battery is stopped in the alignment step; A piercing step of making a hole in a part of the pouch using a piercing unit after the position of the secondary battery is fixed in the above fixing step; and A secondary battery manufacturing method characterized by including a sealing step of sealing the pouch using a sealing unit between a portion of the pouch in which a hole is formed and a cup portion of the pouch in which the electrode assembly is accommodated.

11. In claim 10, Before the above rising phase, A secondary battery manufacturing method characterized in that it further includes an alignment unit advancing step in which the alignment unit moves in a direction closer to the secondary battery.

12. In claim 10, After the above fixing step, A secondary battery manufacturing method characterized in that it further includes an alignment unit reversing step in which the alignment unit moves away from the secondary battery.

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