Secondary battery manufacturing equipment and method for manufacturing secondary battery by using same

Abstract

According to exemplary embodiments, equipment for manufacturing a secondary battery is provided. The equipment comprises: a first jig assembly for fixing a weldment and including a first opening for exposing the surface of the weldment; a second jig assembly for fixing the weldment and including a second opening for exposing the surface of the weldment; and a beam irradiation system for irradiating the weldment with a welding beam through one of the first and second openings; and a cleaning assembly for clean the first and second openings.

Description

Secondary battery manufacturing equipment and method for manufacturing secondary batteries using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a secondary battery manufacturing facility and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2024-0019288, filed February 8, 2024, and all contents of the document in that Republic of Korea patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. They are widely used as a power source for various wireless devices, including handsets, laptops, and cordless vacuum cleaners. Recently, improved energy density and economies of scale have dramatically reduced the per-unit manufacturing cost of secondary batteries. Furthermore, as the range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased to match that of fuel-powered vehicles, the primary use of secondary batteries is shifting from mobile devices to mobility.

[0004] To meet the rapidly growing demand for secondary batteries for mobility, cell manufacturers are undertaking massive capital expenditures. Each company is increasing per-line productivity to maximize return on invested capital, and various research efforts are ongoing to improve yield and productivity.

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a productive secondary battery manufacturing facility and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery using the same.

[0006] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a facility for manufacturing a secondary battery is provided. The facility includes a first jig assembly configured to secure a weldment and including a first opening exposing a surface of the weldment; a second jig assembly configured to secure the weldment and including a second opening exposing a surface of the weldment; a beam irradiation system configured to irradiate a welding beam to the weldment through one of the first and second openings; and a cleaning assembly configured to clean the first opening and the second opening.

[0007] The cleaning assembly is configured to move between a working position overlapping each of the first and second openings and a standby position spaced from the working position.

[0008] The first jig assembly is configured to move in a first direction toward the second jig assembly to secure the weldment.

[0009] The above cleaning assembly includes a tool body and a spatter collection fan coupled to the tool body.

[0010] The tool body includes a first part configured to clean the first opening and a second part configured to clean the second opening.

[0011] The above first portion has a tapered shape toward the first opening.

[0012] The second portion has a tapered shape facing the second opening.

[0013] The hardness of the above tool body is lower than the hardness of the jig of the above first jig assembly.

[0014] According to exemplary embodiments, a method of manufacturing a secondary battery is provided. The method comprises the steps of: moving a cleaning assembly including a tool body to a working position; and moving a first jig assembly including a first opening and a second jig assembly including a second opening toward the tool body, thereby removing spatter from the first and second openings.

[0015] In the above working position, the tool body overlaps each of the first and second openings.

[0016] The tool body includes a first portion having a tapered shape facing the first opening and a second portion having a tapered shape facing the second opening.

[0017] The above spatter is removed by physical contact with the tool body.

[0018] The hardness of the above tool body is lower than the hardness of the jig of the above first jig assembly.

[0019] After removing the spatter from the first opening, the cleaning assembly is moved to a standby position away from the working position.

[0020] A secondary battery manufacturing facility according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a cleaning assembly. This reduces the time required to clean the jig assembly, thereby improving productivity in secondary battery manufacturing.

[0021] 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.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a secondary battery manufacturing facility according to exemplary embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a secondary battery manufacturing facility according to exemplary embodiments.

[0024] Figure 3 shows the openings of the first and second jig assemblies.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments.

[0028] Figure 7 illustrates cleaning of the openings of the first and second jig assemblies by the cleaning assembly.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033]

[0034] (Example 1)

[0035] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) according to exemplary embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) according to exemplary embodiments. More specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) loaded with a weldment (WM).

[0037] Figure 3 shows the openings (113H / 123H) of the first and second jig assemblies (110, 120).

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to exemplary embodiments, a secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) may include a first jig assembly (110), a second jig assembly (120), a beam irradiation system (130), and a cleaning assembly (140).

[0039] A secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) may be configured to perform a secondary battery manufacturing process. The secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) may be configured to perform a welding process. The secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) may be configured to perform a laser welding process. The secondary battery manufacturing facility (100) may be configured to weld elements of a weldment (WM) by irradiating a welding beam (WB) onto the weldment (WM). According to exemplary embodiments, the weldment (WM) may include an electrode lead and a bus bar.

[0040] The first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) may be configured to move relative to each other so that the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) move closer to each other (or move away from each other). For example, the first jig assembly (110) may move toward the stationary second jig assembly (120), the second jig assembly (120) may move toward the stationary first jig assembly (110), or the first and second jig assemblies (110, 120) may move toward each other.

[0041] The first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) can overlap in the first direction, and the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) can be configured to move in the first direction.

[0042] The first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) may be configured to clamp the weldment (WM) by moving in the first direction. The first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) may be configured to clamp the weldment (WM) by applying pressure to the weldment (WM) interposed between the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120).

[0043] The first jig assembly (110) may include a first base (111) and a first jig (113). The first jig (113) may include a first opening (113H). The first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) may expose a first surface of the weldment (WM). The first jig (113) may be coupled to the first base (111). The first jig (113) may be moved by the first base (111).

[0044] The second jig assembly (120) may include a second base (121) and a second jig (123). The second jig (123) may include a second opening (123H). The second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) may expose a second surface of the weldment (WM). The second surface may be opposite the first surface. The second jig (123) may be coupled to the second base (121). The second jig (123) may be moved by the second base (121).

[0045] The beam irradiation system (130) may be configured to generate a welding beam (WB) and irradiate the welding beam (WB) to a weldment (WM). The beam irradiation system (130) may be a laser device. The beam irradiation system (130) may include a generator configured to generate the welding beam (WB) and a scanner head configured to direct and irradiate the welding beam.

[0046] According to exemplary embodiments, the welding beam (WB) may be near-infrared. According to exemplary embodiments, the wavelength of the welding beam (WB) may be in a range of about 750 nm to about 2500 nm. According to exemplary embodiments, the wavelength of the welding beam (WB) may be about 1070 nm.

[0047] For example, the generator may be a solid-state laser device, such as, but not limited to, a semiconductor laser device, an Nd:YAG laser device, a titanium-sapphire laser device, or a fiber optic laser device. In another example, the generator may be a liquid laser device, such as a dye laser device. In another example, the generator may be a gaseous laser device, such as a helium-neon laser, a carbon dioxide laser, or an excimer laser.

[0048] A welding beam (WB) generated by a first beam source may be coupled to a scanner head. According to exemplary embodiments, the welding beam (WB) may be delivered to the scanner head via any one of free space optics, an optical integrated circuit, and a fiber optics system.

[0049] As the weldment (WM) is processed by the welding beam (WB), the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) may become contaminated. Spatter (SPT) may adhere to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123).

[0050] Spatter (SPT) attached to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) can deform the profiles of the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123). Spatter (SPT) attached to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) can interfere with the welding beam (WB), causing non-welding or weak welding of the weldment (WM), which can lower the yield of secondary battery manufacturing.

[0051] The cleaning assembly (140) may be configured to clean the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123). The cleaning assembly (140) may be configured to mechanically remove spatter (SPT) attached to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123).

[0052] The cleaning assembly (140) may include a tool body (141), a spatter collection fan (143), and a driving device (145). The tool body (141) may include a metal material. The hardness of the tool body (141) may be different from the hardness of each of the first and second jigs (113, 123). The hardness of the tool body (141) may be smaller than the hardness of each of the first and second jigs (113, 123). Accordingly, damage to the first and second jigs (113, 123) may be prevented or mitigated while removing spatter (SPT) attached to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) by a mechanical method.

[0053] The spatter collection fan (143) may be configured to collect spatter (SPT) separated from the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113). The spatter collection fan (143) may surround the tool body (141).

[0054] The driving device (145) may be configured to move the cleaning assembly (140). The driving device (145) may be configured to move the cleaning assembly (140) such that the cleaning assembly (140) is in the standby position of FIGS. 1 and 2, or such that the cleaning assembly (140) is in the working position of FIG. 5.

[0055]

[0056] (Example 2)

[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments.

[0058] FIGS. 5 and 6 are drawings for explaining a method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments.

[0059] Figure 7 shows cleaning of the openings (113H / 123H) of the first and second jig assemblies (110, 120) by the cleaning assembly (140).

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, at P110, the cleaning assembly (140) can be moved to a working position. The working position can be spaced apart from the standby position. Cleaning of the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) by the cleaning assembly (140) can be based on a predetermined maintenance cycle. For example, when the processing of the weldment (WM, see FIG. 2) by the welding beam (WB, see FIG. 2) has been performed a set number of times (e.g., 1000 times) or more, the cleaning assembly (140) can be moved to the working position.

[0061] When the cleaning assembly (140) is in the working position, the tool body (141) can overlap the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123).

[0062] Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, at P120, spatter (SPT) can be removed. Removing spatter (SPT) may include moving the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) toward the tool body (141).

[0063] The tool body (141) may include a first portion corresponding to the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113), and a second portion corresponding to the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123). The first portion of the tool body (141) may have a tapered shape toward the first opening (113H). Accordingly, a cross-sectional area (e.g., a horizontal cross-sectional area) of the tool body (141) may become smaller toward the first opening (113H). The second portion of the tool body (141) may have a tapered shape toward the second opening (123H). Accordingly, a cross-sectional area (e.g., a horizontal cross-sectional area) of the tool body (141) may become smaller toward the second opening (123H).

[0064] As the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) are moved toward the tool body (141), a first part of the tool body (141) can be inserted into a first opening (113H) of the first jig (113), and a second part of the tool body (141) can be inserted into a second opening (123H) of the second jig (123), and thus, the tool body (141) can mechanically remove spatter (SPT) through physical contact. The spatter (SPT) separated from the first opening (113H) can be collected by the spatter collection fan (143).

[0065] According to exemplary embodiments, the first and second openings (113H, 123H) are cleaned by moving the first and second jig assemblies (110, 120) in a manner for clamping a weldment (WM, see FIG. 2), so that there is no need to separate the first and second jigs (113, 123) from the first and second bases (111, 121) for cleaning the first and second jigs (113, 123). Accordingly, the time required for separating and joining the first and second jigs (113, 123) can be reduced, and the productivity of secondary battery manufacturing can be improved.

[0066] The insertion depth into the first and second openings (113H, 123H) of the tool body (141) can be determined according to the cleaning targets of the first and second jigs (113, 123). Since the first and second parts of the tool body (141) have a tapered shape, the greater the insertion depth into the first and second openings (113H, 123H) of the tool body (141), the greater the amount of spatter (SPT) that can be removed from the first and second openings (113H, 123H).

[0067] Unlike in Fig. 6, the second jig (123) may be cleaned after the first jig (113) is cleaned, or the first jig (113) may be cleaned after the second jig (123) is cleaned. In addition, instead of the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) moving toward the tool body (141), the tool body (141) may be configured to move toward the stationary first jig assembly (110) or the stationary second jig assembly (120).

[0068] After the first opening (113H) of the first jig (113) and the second opening (123H) of the second jig (123) are cleaned, the first jig assembly (110) and the second jig assembly (120) can be separated from the tool body (141), and the cleaning assembly (140) can be moved to the standby position of FIG. 1.

[0069]

[0070] 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. A first jig assembly configured to secure a weldment and including a first opening exposing a surface of the weldment; A second jig assembly configured to secure the weldment and including a second opening exposing a surface of the weldment; A beam irradiation system configured to irradiate a welding beam to the weldment through one of the first and second openings; and A secondary battery manufacturing facility comprising a cleaning assembly configured to clean the first opening and the second opening.

2. In paragraph 1, A secondary battery manufacturing facility, characterized in that the cleaning assembly is configured to move between a working position overlapping each of the first and second openings and a waiting position spaced apart from the working position.

3. In paragraph 1, A secondary battery manufacturing facility, characterized in that the first jig assembly is configured to move in a first direction toward the second jig assembly to secure the weldment.

4. In paragraph 1, A secondary battery manufacturing facility, characterized in that the cleaning assembly includes a tool body and a spatter collection fan coupled to the tool body.

5. In paragraph 4, A secondary battery manufacturing facility, characterized in that the tool body includes a first part configured to clean the first opening and a second part configured to clean the second opening.

6. In paragraph 5, A secondary battery manufacturing facility characterized in that the first part has a tapered shape toward the first opening.

7. In paragraph 5, A secondary battery manufacturing facility characterized in that the second part has a tapered shape toward the second opening.

8. In paragraph 4, A secondary battery manufacturing facility, characterized in that the hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the jig of the first jig assembly.

9. A step of moving the cleaning assembly including the tool body to the working position; and A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, comprising the step of removing spatter from the first and second openings by moving a first jig assembly including a first opening and a second jig assembly including a second opening toward the tool body.

10. In paragraph 9, A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, characterized in that, in the above working position, the tool body overlaps each of the first and second openings.

11. In paragraph 9, A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, characterized in that the tool body includes a first part having a tapered shape toward the first opening and a second part having a tapered shape toward the second opening.

12. In paragraph 9, A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, characterized in that the spatter is removed by physical contact with the tool body.

13. In paragraph 9, A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, characterized in that the hardness of the tool body is lower than the hardness of the jig of the first jig assembly.

14. In paragraph 9, A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, characterized in that after removing the spatter of the first opening, the cleaning assembly is moved to a standby position away from the working position.

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