Heating device and lamination facility including same

Abstract

A heating device of the present invention comprises: a heating unit which is spaced a set distance from a laminate in which electrodes and separators are alternately disposed, and which heats the laminate through a heat source to form a first region having adhesiveness; and a shielding unit which blocks a portion of the heat source of the heating unit facing the laminate, thereby forming, in the laminate, a second region which has no adhesiveness or less adhesiveness than the first region.

Description

Heating device and lamination equipment including the same

[0001] Cross-citation with related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0089907, filed July 8, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] The present invention relates to a heating device capable of increasing electrolyte impregnation power and a lamination equipment including the same.

[0005] In general, a secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged, unlike a primary battery that cannot be recharged. These secondary batteries are widely used in phones, laptop computers, camcorders, etc.

[0006] The above secondary battery is classified into a can-type secondary battery in which the electrode assembly is built into a metal can, and a pouch-type secondary battery in which the electrode assembly is built into a pouch.

[0007] The can-type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including one or more laminates, a can accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly mounted in an opening of the can. The pouch-type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including one or more laminates, a pouch accommodating the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead connected to the electrode assembly and extended out of the pouch.

[0008] Meanwhile, the laminate has a structure in which electrodes and separators are arranged alternately, and the electrodes may be anodes and cathodes. That is, the laminate has a structure in which anodes and cathodes are arranged alternately with a separator interposed therebetween.

[0009] Here, the secondary battery undergoes a lamination process to increase the bonding strength of the laminate, and the lamination process includes a heating step of heating the laminate and a pressing step of pressing and bonding the laminate.

[0010] However, the conventional lamination process can increase the adhesive strength because the entire surface of the electrode and separator is bonded, but it has the problem that it takes a long time for electrolyte impregnation, and as a result, there is a problem that the defect rate increases as lithium precipitation occurs.

[0011] The present invention provides a heating device and a lamination equipment including the same, which can pattern-bond a laminate during lamination by forming a heated area and a non-heated area in the laminate, that is, can form an adhesive area in the laminate through the heated area and a non-adhesive area in the laminate through the non-heated area, and as a result, can simultaneously improve adhesive strength and electrolyte impregnation strength.

[0012] The heating device of the present invention may include a heating unit spaced apart from a laminate in which electrodes and separators are alternately arranged at a set distance and heating the laminate through a heat source to form a first region having adhesive strength; and a shielding unit that blocks a portion of the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate to form a second region having no adhesive strength or an adhesive strength lower than that of the first region.

[0013] The above heating unit may include a heater that irradiates a heat source toward the laminate; and a heating body to which the heater is fixed.

[0014] The above shielding unit may include a shielding portion provided between the laminate and the heating unit to block a portion of the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate; and a fixing portion connecting the shielding portion to the heating body.

[0015] The above shielding portion is formed long along the transport direction of the laminate, and the fixing portion is provided at each end of the shielding portion, and the ends can be connected to the heating body.

[0016] The above shielding member may include a reflector that reflects the heat source of the heating unit and blocks it from being irradiated to the laminate.

[0017] The above-mentioned shielding member may further include a heat-resistant plate having thermal conductivity and heat resistance, which is provided on one surface of the reflector.

[0018] The above shielding member may further include a blocking plate having thermal conductivity and provided on the outer surface of the heat-insulating plate.

[0019] The above-mentioned covering unit may be provided in at least two units to form two or more second regions in the laminate.

[0020] The above shielding unit may further include a coupling unit that connects the shielding unit to the heating unit, and the coupling unit may include a horizontal adjustment member that connects the shielding unit so that it can move in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the laminate.

[0021] The above horizontal adjustment member may be arranged on the side of the heating body, and a horizontal guide hole may be formed to which the fixing part of the shielding unit is connected so as to be movable in the horizontal direction.

[0022] The above-mentioned coupling unit may further include a vertical adjustment member that couples the horizontal adjustment member to the heating body, and adjusts the distance between the laminate and the covering unit while the horizontal adjustment member is coupled so as to be movable in a vertical direction toward the laminate.

[0023] Meanwhile, the lamination equipment of the present invention may include a heating device and a lamination device that presses a laminate that has passed through the heating device.

[0024] The heating device of the present invention is characterized by including a heating unit and a covering unit. Due to this characteristic, a first region having adhesiveness to a laminate and a second region having no adhesiveness or an adhesiveness lower than that of the first region can be formed, thereby increasing the adhesiveness through the first region of the laminate and increasing the electrolyte impregnation ability through the second region, thereby simultaneously satisfying the adhesiveness and electrolyte impregnation ability of the laminate.

[0025] Meanwhile, in the heating device of the present invention, the shielding unit is characterized by including a shielding portion that blocks a portion of the heat source of the heating unit; and a fixing portion that connects the shielding portion to the heating body. Due to such a feature, the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate can be effectively blocked, and as a result, a second region can be stably secured in the laminate.

[0026] Meanwhile, the covering portion of the heating device of the present invention is characterized by including a reflector that reflects the heat source of the heating unit and blocks it from being irradiated to the laminate. Due to this characteristic, the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate can be effectively blocked.

[0027] Meanwhile, the shielding portion of the heating device of the present invention is characterized by further including a heat-resistant plate with high thermal conductivity and heat resistance and a blocking plate with low thermal conductivity. Due to these features, the laminate can be effectively blocked from being heated by the heat source of the heating unit, and as a result, the generation of adhesive force in the second region can be effectively blocked.

[0028] Meanwhile, the heating device of the present invention further includes a coupling unit that connects the shielding unit to the heating unit, wherein the coupling unit is characterized in that the shielding unit is coupled to be movable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the laminate and in a vertical direction toward the laminate. Due to this characteristic, the position of the shielding unit can be adjusted based on the laminate, and as a result, the position of the second region formed in the laminate can be adjusted.

[0029] Figure 1 is a plan view showing a laminate of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 is an assembled perspective view showing only the heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a front view showing a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Fig. 5 is a side view illustrating a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in Figure 5.

[0035] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in Fig. 5.

[0036] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of a covering part in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example of a covering part in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Fig. 10 is a side view showing the state of use of a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 11 is a process diagram illustrating a lamination facility according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description have been omitted to clearly explain the present invention, and similar parts have been designated with similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0041] [Laminate of the present invention]

[0042] Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a laminate of the present invention.

[0043] The laminate (1) of the present invention has a structure including an electrode and a separator, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Here, the electrode may be an anode and a cathode.

[0044] As a first example, the laminate (1) may be a laminated laminate in which electrodes and separators are alternately laminated. As a second example, the laminate (1) may be a jelly-roll-type laminate in which electrodes are sequentially arranged through long sheet-shaped separator sheets. Meanwhile, the present invention describes a laminated laminate in which electrodes and separators are alternately laminated as one embodiment.

[0045] Meanwhile, the laminate (1) includes a first region (1a) having adhesive force and a second region (1b) having no adhesive force or having an adhesive force less than that of the first region (1a).

[0046] Here, a first region (1a) having adhesive force is formed at both ends of the laminate (1), thereby increasing the adhesive force of the electrode and separator included at the ends of the laminate (1).

[0047] The laminate (1) of the present invention can increase the electrolyte impregnation capacity by forming the second region (1b). That is, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, the electrolyte impregnation capacity can be greatly increased by impregnating the electrolyte through the outside of the laminate (1) and the second region (1b) formed in the laminate (1).

[0048] In order to manufacture the laminate (1) of the present invention having such a structure, a lamination process is performed, and in particular, a heating process for heating the laminate (1) is first performed during the lamination process.

[0049] And the above heating process heats the laminate (1) using a heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In particular, the heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention can form a first region with adhesive strength in some of the laminate (1), and a second region (1b) with no adhesive strength or an adhesive strength lower than that of the first region (1a) for the remainder. Accordingly, the adhesive strength can be increased through the first region (1a), and the electrolyte impregnation strength can be increased through the second region (1b). As a result, the working time can be significantly shortened.

[0051] Hereinafter, a heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0052] [Heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention]

[0053] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view showing only the heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of a covering part in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example of a covering part in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state of use of the heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] The heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a heating unit (11) and a covering unit (12), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0055] heating unit

[0056] The heating unit (11) is for forming a first region (1a) having adhesive force on the laminate (1).

[0057] That is, the heating unit (11) is spaced a set distance from the laminate (1) and heats the laminate (1) through a heat source to form a first region (1a) having adhesive strength.

[0058] For example, the heating unit (11) includes a heater (111) that irradiates a heat source toward the laminate (1), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and a heating body (112) to which the heater (111) is fixed.

[0059] The above heater (111) is for generating heat.

[0060] That is, the heater (111) is formed to be long in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the laminate (1) and irradiates a heat source in the full-length direction of the laminate (1). In particular, a plurality of heaters (111) are provided, and the heaters (111) of the double-layered body can effectively heat the laminate (1) while being arranged in the transport direction of the laminate (1). Referring to Fig. 2, the heaters (111) are formed to be long in the "X" direction of the laminate (1), and a plurality of heaters are arranged in the "Y" direction.

[0061] Meanwhile, the heater (111) may use an IR heater (Infrared Radiation Heater). The IR heater transmits heat via infrared rays, which are directly absorbed by the object, effectively heating the object. Unlike harmful industrial heaters, the IR heater provides a safe and efficient heat source.

[0062] The above heating body (112) is for fixing the heater (111).

[0063] That is, the heating body (112) has a receiving space formed on the bottom surface of the heating body (112) to receive the heater (111). In particular, a plurality of heaters (111) are fixed in the receiving space while being arranged at regular intervals.

[0064] A heating unit (11) having such a structure irradiates a heat source by a heater (111) toward a laminate (1) that is continuously transported along the "Y" direction, and at this time, the first region (1a) of the laminate (1) irradiated with the heat source of the heater (111) is heated and acquires adhesive strength. In other words, the adhesive strength increases as the separator and electrode of the laminate (1) located in the first region (1a) are heated.

[0065] Here, the feature of increased adhesive strength when the separator and electrode are heated is a known technology in the lamination process, so a detailed description is omitted.

[0066] Covering unit

[0067] The shielding unit (12) is intended to block some of the heat source of the heating unit (11) directed toward the laminate (1) to form a second region (1b) having no adhesive force or an adhesive force less than that of the first region (1a) on the laminate (1).

[0068] That is, the shielding unit (12) can block some of the heat source of the heating unit (11) directed toward the laminate (1) to form the second region (1b) in the laminate (1).

[0069] For example, the shielding unit (12) includes a shielding portion (121) that is provided between the laminate (1) and the heating unit (11) and blocks a portion of the heat source of the heating unit (11) directed toward the laminate (1); and a fixing portion (122) that connects the shielding portion (121) to the heating body (112).

[0070] The above shielding portion (121) is for blocking a portion of the heat source of the heating unit (11) directed toward the laminate (1) to form a second region (1b) in the laminate (1), and the fixing portion (122) is for fixing the shielding portion (121) to the heating unit (11).

[0071] A shielding unit (12) having such a structure can form a second region (1b) in which the heat source of the heating unit (11) is not irradiated to the laminate (1) by blocking some of the heat sources of the heating unit (11) by the shielding portion (121), and accordingly, the second region (1b) has no adhesive force or has an adhesive force lower than that of the first region (1a). Meanwhile, as some of the heat sources of the first region (1a) are conducted to the second region (1b), the second region (1b) can also have an adhesive force. However, since the second region (1b) has a lower temperature than the first region (1a), it has an adhesive force lower than that of the first region (1a).

[0072] Meanwhile, the shielding portion (121) may be formed to be long along the transport direction of the laminate (1). That is, the shielding portion (121) may be formed to be long in the 'Y' direction shown in Fig. 2. Accordingly, a second region (1b) can be stably formed in a plurality of laminates (1) being transported.

[0073] Meanwhile, the fixing member (122) is provided at each end of the covering member (121), and the ends can be connected to the heating body (112). That is, the joining unit including the covering member (121) and the fixing member (122) can have an approximate 'U' shape.

[0074] Meanwhile, the covering part (121) has a laminated structure to effectively block the heat of the heating unit (11).

[0075] As a first example, the shielding portion (121) may include a reflector (1211) that reflects the heat source of the heating unit (11) and blocks it from being irradiated to the laminate (1), as illustrated in Fig. 8. The reflector (1211) may be formed of a silver foil material with high reflectivity.

[0076] Meanwhile, the shielding portion (121) further includes a heat-resistant plate (1212) for reinforcing the strength of the reflector (1211) and blocking the heat source of the heating unit (11) from penetrating the reflector (1211). That is, the heat-resistant plate (1212) is provided on one surface of the reflector (1211) and is made of a material with high thermal conductivity and heat resistance. For example, the heat-resistant plate (1212) can be formed of a stainless steel material. This can quickly spread the heat source of the heating unit (11) throughout the heat-resistant plate (1212) to lower the temperature.

[0077] In summary, the shielding portion (121) has a structure in which a reflector (1211) and a heat-resistant plate (1212) are sequentially arranged in the direction toward the laminate (1).

[0078] As a second example, the shielding unit (121) includes a blocking plate (1213) and a heat-resistant plate (1212), as illustrated in FIG. 9. In particular, the shielding unit (121) may further include a blocking plate (1213) provided on the outer surface of the heat-resistant plate (1212) and having low thermal conductivity (i.e., lower thermal conductivity than the heat-resistant plate). The blocking plate (1213) completely blocks the heat source of the heating unit (11) from passing through the shielding unit (12). For example, the blocking plate (1213) may be formed of a synthetic resin material, preferably polypropylene.

[0079] In summary, the shielding portion (121) has a structure in which a reflector (1211), a heat-resistant plate (1212), and a blocking plate (1213) are sequentially arranged in the direction toward the laminate (1).

[0080] Meanwhile, the shielding unit (12) may be provided in at least two units to form two or more second regions (1b) in the laminate (1). For example, referring to Fig. 10, when two shielding units (12) are installed in the heating unit (11), a first region (1a), a second region (1b), a first region (1a), a second region (1b), and a first region (1a) may be formed in the laminate (1). This forms three bonding regions through the three first regions (1a) to increase the bonding strength, and forms two non-bonding regions through the two second regions (1b) to increase the electrolyte impregnation strength.

[0081] Therefore, the heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a heating unit (11) and a covering unit (12), thereby forming a first region (1a) having adhesive strength to the laminate (1) and a second region (1b) having no adhesive strength or having an adhesive strength lower than that of the first region (1a), thereby improving both the adhesive strength and the electrolyte impregnation strength, and as a result, preventing the occurrence of defects due to lithium precipitation.

[0082] Meanwhile, the heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a coupling unit (13) that connects the covering unit (12) to the heating unit (11).

[0083] Combination unit

[0084] The above-mentioned coupling unit (13) is for coupling the shielding unit (12) to the heating unit (11). In particular, the coupling unit (13) includes a horizontal adjustment member (131) that couples the shielding unit (12) so that it can move in a horizontal direction (the 'X' direction shown in Fig. 2) orthogonal to the transport direction of the laminate (1).

[0085] The above horizontal adjustment members (131) are provided in pairs so as to be positioned on both sides of the heating body (112) (i.e., the front and rear of the heating body (112) as seen in FIG. 2), and a guide hole (1311) is formed to which the fixing part (122) of the covering unit (12) is coupled so as to be movable in the horizontal direction.

[0086] That is, the shielding unit (12) can move in the 'X' direction shown in Fig. 2 along the guide hole (1311) of the horizontal adjustment member (131). Accordingly, the position of the shielding unit (12) can be adjusted based on the laminate (1), and as a result, the position of the second area (1b) to be formed in the laminate (1) can be adjusted.

[0087] Meanwhile, the shielding unit (12) can be fixed to the horizontal adjustment member (131) without moving by means of a fixing means. The fixing means may be a fixing bolt and a fixing nut. That is, the shielding unit (12) can be moved and fixed by means of the fixing bolt and the fixing nut.

[0088] Meanwhile, the coupling unit (13) may further include a vertical adjustment member (132) that couples the horizontal adjustment member (131) to the heating body (112), and adjusts the distance between the stack (1) and the covering unit (12) while the horizontal adjustment member (131) is coupled so as to be movable in a vertical direction (up and down direction when viewed in FIG. 2) toward the stack (1).

[0089] That is, the vertical adjustment member (132) is provided on each side of the heating body (112) and a plurality of bolt holes (1321) are formed in a vertical direction toward the laminate (1). That is, the horizontal adjustment member (131) can adjust the height of the horizontal adjustment member (131) based on the vertical adjustment member (132) by being coupled to any one of the plurality of bolt holes (1321), and accordingly, the height between the horizontal adjustment member and the laminate (1) can also be adjusted.

[0090] Therefore, the heating device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention can adjust the position of the covering unit (12) by including the coupling unit (13), and accordingly, can adjust the position of the second region (1b) formed in the laminate (1), and also can adjust the distance between the laminate (1) and the covering portion.

[0091] Hereinafter, in describing other embodiments of the present invention, the same component symbols are used for components having similar functions as the above-described embodiments, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0092] [Lamination equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention]

[0093] Figure 11 is a process diagram illustrating a lamination facility according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] A lamination equipment (2) according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a heating device (10) and a lamination device (20) that presses a laminate (1) that has passed through the heating device (10).

[0095] Here, the heating device (10) is the same as the heating device (10) according to the first embodiment described above, and thus, any duplicate description is omitted.

[0096] The above lamination device (20) is provided with a pair of rolling rollers, and the pair of rolling rollers roll the laminate (1) that has passed through the heating device (10). At this time, the first region (1a) formed in the laminate (1) is bonded by adhesive force, and the second region (1b) is not bonded or is bonded with an adhesive force lower than that of the first region (1a).

[0097] Therefore, the lamination equipment (2) according to the second embodiment of the present invention can manufacture a laminate (1) that can improve the adhesive strength through the first region (1a) and improve the electrolyte impregnation strength through the second region (1b).

[0098] The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and various embodiments are possible derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts.

[0099] [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1: Laminate

[0101] 1a: Area 1

[0102] 1b: Area 2

[0103] 2: Lamination equipment

[0104] 10: Heating device

[0105] 11: Heating unit

[0106] 111: Heater

[0107] 112: Heating body

[0108] 12: Covering unit

[0109] 121: Cover

[0110] 1211: Reflector

[0111] 1212: Heat-resistant plate

[0112] 1213: Blockade

[0113] 122: Fixed part

[0114] 13: Combination Unit

[0115] 131: Horizontal adjustment member

[0116] 1311: Guide Hall

[0117] 132: Vertical adjustment member

[0118] 1321: Bolt hole

[0119] 20: Lamination device

Claims

1. A heating unit that is spaced apart from a laminate in which electrodes and separators are alternately arranged at a set distance and heats the laminate through a heat source to form a first region having adhesive strength; and A heating device including a shielding unit that blocks a portion of the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate to form a second region having no adhesion to the laminate or having an adhesion less than the first region.

2. In claim 1, The above heating unit, a heater irradiating a heat source toward the laminate; and A heating device including a heating body to which the above heater is fixed.

3. In claim 2, The above shielding unit is, A shielding portion provided between the laminate and the heating unit to block some of the heat source of the heating unit directed toward the laminate; and A heating device including a fixing member connecting the covering member to the heating body.

4. In claim 3, The above covering part is, It is formed long along the transport direction of the above laminate, The above fixed part, A heating device provided at each end of the above-mentioned covering portion, the ends of which are connected to the heating body.

5. In claim 3, The above covering part is, A heating device including a reflector that reflects the heat source of the heating unit and blocks it from being irradiated to the laminate.

6. In claim 5, The above covering part is, A heating device further comprising a heat-resistant plate having thermal conductivity and heat resistance, provided on one side of the above reflector.

7. In claim 6, The above covering part is, A heating device further comprising a heat-conductive blocking plate provided on the outer surface of the above-mentioned heat-resistant plate.

8. In claim 1, The above shielding unit is, A heating device having at least two or more heating elements to form two or more second regions in the laminate.

9. In claim 2, It further includes a coupling unit that connects the above shielding unit to the above heating unit, The above combination unit is, A heating device including a horizontal adjustment member that allows the covering unit to move in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the laminate.

10. In claim 9, The above horizontal adjustment member, A heating device having a horizontal guide hole formed on the side of the heating body and to which the fixing part of the covering unit is connected so as to be movable in the horizontal direction.

11. In claim 9, The above combination unit is, A heating device further comprising a vertical adjustment member that adjusts the distance between the stack and the covering unit while connecting the horizontal adjustment member to the heating body and allowing the horizontal adjustment member to move in a vertical direction toward the stack.

12. Heating device according to claim 1; and A lamination device including a lamination device that presses a laminate that has passed through the above heating device.

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