Electrode material trimming and stripping device of electrode material coating device for secondary battery

Abstract

An electrode material trimming and stripping device of an electrode material coating device for a secondary battery of the present invention configured as described above makes it possible to simultaneously perform a stripping process as well as an edge trimming process on an electrode material rolled by a rolling mill, and to adjust the position of a stripping point, thereby producing electrode sheets of various standards.

Description

Electrode trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode coating device

[0001] The present invention relates to the processing of an electrode material installed in an electrode material coating device for a secondary battery, and more specifically, to an electrode material trimming and stripping device of an electrode material coating device for a secondary battery that can precisely perform edge trimming and stripping on an electrode material rolled by a rolling roll.

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, which are used once and then discarded, secondary batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be reused repeatedly and possess high output and excellent charge / discharge performance. Accordingly, they are being used importantly in various fields, ranging from mobile IT devices such as smartphones and laptop computers to power sources for electric vehicles and storage devices for storing electricity generated from wind or solar power.

[0003] A secondary battery has a basic composition of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are each manufactured into a secondary battery cell through an electrode process in which an active material, a conductive material, and a binder are dispersed or dissolved in a solvent to prepare a slurry, and the slurry is coated onto a current collector and then dried, followed by an assembly process and an activation process.

[0004] However, wet electrode manufacturing methods using solvents may result in defects such as pinholes or cracks during the drying process. Pinholes or cracks occur as the contained solvent evaporates. In addition, powder flotation occurs due to differences in the solvent evaporation rate, and powder flotation is a cause of degraded electrode quality.

[0005] To solve the aforementioned problems, a dry manufacturing method for producing electrodes without using a solvent is known. The dry manufacturing method is performed by passing an electrode material powder containing an active material, a binder, and a conductive material through a plurality of calender rolls. The electrode material powder that has passed through the calender rolls is laminated and fixed to a current collector as a dry electrode film having a certain thickness.

[0006] In this regard, Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2022-0052852 (powder for electrodes for manufacturing a dry electrode for a secondary battery, a method for manufacturing the same, a method for manufacturing a dry electrode using the same, a dry electrode, a secondary battery including the same, an energy storage device, and a dry electrode manufacturing device) has been disclosed.

[0007] The disclosed dry electrode manufacturing apparatus comprises: a blender for mixing composite raw materials including an active material, a conductive material, and a binder; a kneader for kneading the mixture to produce a mixture mass in order to fiberize the binder; a grinder for crushing the mixture mass to form a powder for electrodes; a calender for forming the powder for electrodes into a composite film; and a lamination roll for positioning the composite film on at least one surface of a current collector and laminating it.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide an electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, which can simultaneously perform edge trimming and stripping processing of an electrode material rolled by a rolling roll, and can adjust the stripping point, thereby enabling the production of electrode sheets of various specifications.

[0009] The electrode material trimming and stripping device of the electrode material coating device for a secondary battery according to the present invention, as a means of solving the problem for achieving the above objective, cuts the electrode material rolled by the rolling roll while being installed in a state corresponding to the rolling roll that is axially rotatably installed on a plurality of roll support blocks, and comprises: a support beam that is parallel to the rotational center axis of the rolling roll, is spaced apart from the rolling roll, and provides support force; a cutter unit having a disc blade that is supported by the support beam and can be positioned in the longitudinal direction of the support beam and cuts the electrode material conveyed by the rotation of the rolling roll; and a stripping unit that is positionally adjustable on the support beam and separates the cut portion of the electrode material sheet from the rolling roll.

[0010] Additionally, the cutter unit comprises: a blade carrier capable of sliding along the longitudinal direction of a support beam; a blade assembly fixed to the blade carrier and including the disc blade; and a cutter fixing part that fixes the blade carrier at a positioned point.

[0011] Additionally, the cutter fixing part comprises: an anchor body adjustable in position along the longitudinal direction of the support beam; a body fixing part for fixing the anchor body to the support beam; and a carrier fixing means for coupling a blade carrier to the fixed anchor body to maintain the blade carrier in a state fixed by the anchor body.

[0012] And, the carrier fixing means comprises: a link bracket fixed to the blade carrier and extended toward the anchor body, and a bracket fixing part that fixes the link bracket to the anchor body.

[0013] In addition, the blade assembly comprises a head fixed to a blade carrier and a blade housing fixed to the head and rotatably accommodating the disc blade, and the disc blade is rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation center axis of the rolling roll.

[0014] In addition, an elastic pressure member that elastically supports the disc blade toward the rolling roll is embedded inside the head.

[0015] In addition, the stripping unit comprises: a stripper carrier that is position-adjustable in the longitudinal direction of a support beam; a stripper supported by the stripper carrier and separating the cut electrode material from the rolling roll; and a stripper fixing part that fixes the stripper carrier at a position-adjustable point.

[0016] Additionally, the stripper fixing part comprises: an anchor body adjustable in position along the longitudinal direction of the support beam; a body fixing part for fixing the anchor body to the support beam; and a carrier fixing means for fixing the stripper carrier to the anchor body. Additionally, the carrier fixing means comprises a link bracket fixed to the stripper carrier and extended toward the anchor body, and a bracket fixing part for fixing the link bracket to the anchor body.

[0017] The electrode material trimming and stripping device of the electrode material coating device for a secondary battery according to the present invention, as described above, can simultaneously perform edge trimming as well as stripping processing of the electrode material rolled by a rolling roll, and can adjust the position of the stripping point, thereby enabling the production of electrode sheets of various specifications.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention applied to an electrode material coating device.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the arrangement structure of a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention mounted on a rolling roll.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the trimming and stripping device of FIG. 3 separately.

[0022] FIGS. 5 to 7 are drawings for explaining the detailed configuration of the trimming and stripping device of FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing an example of use of a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Hereinafter, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the appearance of a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention applied to an electrode material coating device (10), and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the arrangement structure of a trimming and stripping device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electrode material coating device (10) will be described first.

[0026] As described above, the electrode material coating device (10) comprises a frame (11) and a rolling unit (20). The frame (11) is a support structure fixed to the ground and has a plurality of guide rolls (11a). A current collector (101) provided from the outside is guided by the guide rolls (11a) and, after passing through the rolling unit (20), is wound onto an external electrode sheet winding roll (not shown).

[0027] The current collector (101) receives electrode material (103) on both sides as it passes downward through the rolling unit (20). The current collector (101) passes through a transport path designed as a continuous material having a certain width and thickness while supported by a guide roll (11a). The result of coating electrode material (103) on both sides of the current collector (101) is an electrode sheet (100). The electrode material (103) is formed by rolling the electrode material (103) in a powder state supplied through the hopper (23).

[0028] The rolling unit (20) is horizontally supported on the frame (11) and rolls electrode material powder to form it into a certain thickness. The electrode material (103) rolled by the rolling unit (20) takes the form of a sheet, so to speak, having a certain thickness. The electrode material (103) formed in the rolling unit (20) is coated on both sides of the current collector (101) passing through the rolling unit (20).

[0029] The rolling unit (20) includes a housing (21), a plurality of rolling rolls (25), a roll support block (26), and a block pusher (27). The housing (21) is a structure that allows a current collector (101) to be coated to pass through the bottom and is open at the top and bottom. While the current collector (101) passes through the housing (21), an electrode material (103) is coated on both sides of the current collector (101). The roll support block (26) is positionally supported within the housing (21), and two of them form a pair. Both ends of the rolling rolls (25) can rotate while supported by the roll support block (26). Adjacent rolling rolls (25) rotate in opposite directions. The spacing of the roll support block (26) can be adjusted by the block pusher (27). When the spacing of the roll support block (26) is adjusted, the gap of the rolling rolls (25) is also adjusted. In addition, the thickness of the electrode material (103) can be adjusted by adjusting the gap of the rolling roll (25).

[0030] The rolling rolls (25) are housed in a housing (21) in parallel with each other and roll electrode material powder fed from the hopper (23) and coat it onto the current collector (101). The rolling rolls are parallel and spaced apart at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the electrode material to be produced. As mentioned, the spacing of the rolling rolls is adjusted by adjusting the spacing of the roll support block (22). Each rolling roll receives rotational force from a motor (not shown) and rotates.

[0031] The hopper (23) is located above two rolling rolls (25) located at the left and right ends of a plurality of rolling rolls and supplies electrode material powder. The electrode material powder passes between the two rolling rolls located at the ends and is rolled once, then starts toward the current collector (101).

[0032] The circumferential speeds of the rolling rolls (25) are all different. The circumferential speed of the rolling rolls located at the left and right ends is the slowest, and the circumferential speed of the two rolling rolls passing through the current collector (101) is the fastest. The circumferential speed of the rolling rolls gradually increases from the end rolling rolls (25) to the central rolling rolls. As the circumferential speed of the rolling rolls gradually increases toward the center as described above, the electrode material powder fed into the hopper (23) can pass between each rolling roll (25) and move to the current collector (101) to be coated. It is a known fact that the current collector passing through two rollers rotating at different speeds is conveyed by adhering to the outer surface of the relatively faster roller.

[0033] Meanwhile, the trimming and stripping device (30) according to the present embodiment is installed at the central lower part of the two end rolling rolls (25) and above the two rolling rolls (25) through which the current collector (101) passes, as shown in FIG. 2. A total of four trimming and stripping devices (30) are applied. The configuration of the multiple trimming and stripping devices (30) themselves is all the same. Also, the installation location may vary depending on the embodiment. The trimming and stripping device (30) performs trimming and stripping on a sheet-type electrode material that is formed into a sheet shape while passing between the rolling rolls (25). In the following description, the sheet-type electrode material that is rolled while passing through the rolling rolls (25) will be referred to as an "electrode sheet." The trimming cuts off the jagged parts of both ends in the width direction of the rolled electrode sheet so that both ends have a straight shape. Electrode sheets can be produced with a desired width through trimming.

[0034] In addition, stripping is a process of stripping the inner portion (the portion between the two ends in the width direction) of the electrode material sheet to a certain width. For example, the central portion of the electrode material sheet is removed to a width of 1 cm. Through this stripping process, two electrode material sheets are obtained with a 1 cm gap. When the electrode material sheet, after the trimming and stripping processes are completed, is coated onto the current collector (101), a non-surface area is naturally formed. The place where the electrode material removed through the stripping process was located becomes the non-surface area. The width or location of the stripping portion naturally varies depending on the specifications of the required electrode sheet.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a trimming and stripping device (30) according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned correspondingly to a rolling roll (25), and FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the trimming and stripping device of FIG. 3 separately. In addition, FIG. 5 to 7 are drawings for explaining the detailed configuration of the trimming and stripping device of FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 is a drawing showing an example of use of the trimming and stripping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] As described above, the electrode material trimming and stripping device (30) according to the present embodiment includes a support beam (33), a cutter unit (40), and a stripping unit (50).

[0037] The support beam (33) is parallel to the rotational center axis of the rolling roll (25), is spaced apart from the rolling roll, and serves to provide support. Side fixing plates (31) are mounted on both ends of the support beam (33). The side fixing plates (31) are fixed to the roll support block (26). Additionally, four guide rails (33c, 33f) are installed on the support beam (33). The guide rails are straight members that extend parallel to each other.

[0038] Two guide rails (33c) support the cutter unit (40) in an adjustable position. Additionally, the remaining two guide rails (33f) support the stripping unit (50) in an adjustable position. The cutter unit (40) and the stripping unit (50) are supported by the guide rails (33c, 33f) and can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam (33). In this embodiment, four sets of cutter units (40) and stripping units (50) are applied. Each cutter unit (40) and stripping unit (50) can be positioned independently.

[0039] The cutter unit (40) is supported by a support beam (33) and can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam, and is equipped with a disc blade (45b) that cuts an electrode material sheet conveyed by the rotation of a rolling roll. As described later through FIG. 8, the disc blade (45b) takes the shape of a disc and cuts the electrode material sheet. The disc blade (45b) is elastically supported toward the rolling roll (25) by an elastic providing part (45f) described later.

[0040] The cutter unit (40) includes a blade carrier (43), a blade assembly (45), and a cutter fixing part (41). The blade carrier (43) is supported on a guide rail (33c) and can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail (33c). The blade carrier (43) is coupled with the blade assembly (45). The blade assembly (45) rotatably supports a disc blade (45b) while fixed to the blade carrier (43). As shown in FIG. 8, the blade assembly (45) includes a head (45a), a resilient part (45f), a blade housing (45d), and a disc blade (45b).

[0041] The head (45a) is a hollow member fixed to the side of the blade carrier (43) and accommodates a resilient member (45f) inside it. The resilient member (45f) elastically supports the blade housing (45d) toward the rolling roll (25). The resilient member (45f) may be a spring. The blade housing (45d) is located on the lower side of the head (45a) and rotatably accommodates the disc blade (45b). As shown in FIG. 8, the disc blade (45b) contacts the outer surface of the rolling roll (25) and rotates by receiving rotational force from the rolling roll. The disc blade (45b) can rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation center axis of the rolling roll (25).

[0042] Additionally, the cutter fixing part (41) serves to fix the blade carrier (43) at a positioned point. That is, when the manager moves the blade carrier (43) to position the disc blade (45b) at the required cutting point, the blade carrier (43) is fixed to prevent movement. The cutter fixing part (41) allows the spacing of the four disc blades (45b) to be maintained at a constant level. The cutter fixing part (41) includes an anchor body (41a), a body fixing part, and a carrier fixing means. The anchor body (41a) is supported on the guide rail (33c) and can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam (33). The anchor body (41a) forms a set with the blade carrier (43).

[0043] The body fixing part serves to fix the anchor body (41a) to the support beam (33). The anchor body (41a) fixed by the body fixing part does not move in the longitudinal direction of the support beam. In this embodiment, the body fixing part is a stopping screw (41b).

[0044] The stopping screw (41b) presses the portion of the anchor body (41a) in contact with the guide rail (33c) toward the guide rail, thereby preventing sliding of the anchor body (41a). A lever (41e) that is held by a worker's hand is fixed to the end of the stopping screw (41b). As long as the anchor body (41a) can be fixed, the body fixing part can be implemented in various ways. In addition, the carrier fixing means attaches the blade carrier (43) to the anchor body (41a) in a fixed state, thereby maintaining the state in which the blade carrier (43) is fixed by the anchor body (41a).

[0045] The carrier fixing means includes a link bracket (43a) and a bracket fixing part. The link bracket (43a) is a plate-shaped member that is fixed to the blade carrier (43) and extends toward the anchor body (41a). Additionally, the bracket fixing part is a link screw (43c) that fixes the extended end of the link bracket (43a) to the anchor body. A lever (43e) that is gripped by a worker is fixed to the end of the link screw (43c).

[0046] Meanwhile, the stripping unit (50) is mounted on the support beam (33) so as to be position-adjustable and supports the stripper (55 in FIG. 8) by separating the cutting portion of the electrode material sheet from the rolling roll. The stripping unit (50) includes a stripper carrier (53), a stripper (55), and a stripper fixing part (51).

[0047] The stripper carrier (53) is a structure that can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam. The stripper carrier (53) is simultaneously supported by two guide rails (33f) and can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the guide rails (33f).

[0048] As shown in FIG. 8, the stripper (55) is mounted on the lower part of the stripper carrier (53). The stripper (55), while supported by the stripper carrier (53), follows the disc blade (45b) and separates the electrode material sheet cut by the disc blade (45b) from the rolling roll (25).

[0049] The stripper (55) comprises a body (55b), a blade (55a), and a control screw (55c). The body (55b) has a blade (55a) at its tip and is coupled to the control screw (55c). The control screw (55c) is screwed approximately in the center to a nut block (53e) and is coupled to the body (55b). The tip of the control screw (55c) is axially rotatable while engaged with the body (55b). Thus, as the control screw (55c) rotates, the body (55b) can be positioned in the direction of the arrow h or the opposite direction. The stripper (55) is detachable from the stripper carrier (53).

[0050] The stripper fixing part (51) serves to fix the stripper carrier (53) at a position-adjusted point. The stripper fixing part (51) includes an anchor body (51a), a body fixing part, and a carrier fixing means. The anchor body (51a) can slide while supported on the guide rail (33f). The anchor body (51a) can move along the blade carrier (43) when the position of the blade carrier (43) is changed.

[0051] The body fixing part serves to fix the anchor body (51a) to the support beam. In this embodiment, the body fixing part is a stopping screw (51b). The stopping screw (51b) fixes the anchor body (51a) by tightening the part of the anchor body (51a) that contacts the guide rail (33f) toward the guide rail. A lever (51e) that a worker can grasp and turn with their hand is provided at the end of the stopping screw (51b).

[0052] Additionally, the carrier fixing means fixes the stripper carrier (53) to the anchor body (51a). The carrier fixing means includes a link bracket (53a) and a bracket fixing part. The link bracket (53a) is a plate-shaped member that extends toward the anchor body (51a) while fixed to the stripper carrier (53). Additionally, the bracket fixing part is a link screw (53c) that fixes the extended end of the link bracket (53a) to the anchor body (51a). A lever (53d) that is gripped by a worker is provided at the end of the link screw (53c).

[0053] Ultimately, as described above, the electrode material trimming and stripping device (30) of the present embodiment can continuously supply an electrode material sheet of a desired width to the current collector (101) by trimming both ends in the width direction of the electrode material sheet conveyed along the rolling roll and also stripping the central part.

[0054] Although the present invention has been described in detail through specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0055] Since it is installed in a secondary battery electrode material coating device and precisely performs edge trimming and stripping of the electrode material rolled by a rolling roll to manufacture high-quality electrode material, it is industrially usable.

Claims

1. A device for cutting an electrode material rolled by a rolling roll, which is installed in a state corresponding to a rolling roll that is axially rotatably installed on a plurality of roll support blocks, A support beam parallel to the rotational center axis of the rolling roll, spaced apart from the rolling roll, and providing support; A cutter unit having a disc blade that is supported by the support beam and can be positioned in the longitudinal direction of the support beam, and cuts an electrode material conveyed by the rotation of a rolling roll; and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by being mounted on a support beam so as to be position-adjustable and having a stripping unit that separates the cut portion of the electrode material sheet from the rolling roll.

2. In Paragraph 1, The cutter unit above is, A blade carrier capable of sliding along the longitudinal direction of a support beam, and A blade assembly including the disc blade, which is fixed to a blade carrier, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by including a cutter fixing part that fixes a blade carrier at a position-adjusted point.

3. In Paragraph 2, The cutter fixing part above is, An anchor body that can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam, and A body fixing part that fixes the anchor body to the support beam, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by including a carrier fixing means that combines a blade carrier with a fixed anchor body to maintain the blade carrier in a fixed state by the anchor body.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above carrier fixing means, A link bracket fixed to the blade carrier and extended toward the anchor body, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by having a bracket fixing part that fixes a link bracket to an anchor body.

5. In Paragraph 2, The blade assembly comprises a head fixed to a blade carrier and a blade housing fixed to the head and rotatably accommodating the disc blade. An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized in that the disc blade is provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation center axis of the rolling roll.

6. In Paragraph 5, Inside the head above, An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by having an embedded elastic pressure member that elastically supports the disc blade toward the rolling roll side.

7. In Paragraph 1 The stripping unit above is, A stripper carrier adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the support beam, and A stripper supported on a stripper carrier and separating a cut electrode material from a rolling roll, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by including a stripper fixing part that fixes a stripper carrier at a position-adjusted point.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above stripper fixing part is, An anchor body that can be positioned along the longitudinal direction of the support beam, and A body fixing part that fixes the anchor buddy to the support beam, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by including a carrier fixing means for fixing a stripper carrier to an anchor body.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above carrier fixing means is, A link bracket fixed to the stripper carrier and extended toward the anchor body, and An electrode material trimming and stripping device for a secondary battery electrode material coating device, characterized by having a bracket fixing part that fixes a link bracket to an anchor body.

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