Welding apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a welding apparatus for welding an electrode tab of a secondary battery, the welding apparatus comprising: an anvil on which the electrode tab is seated; and a horn for welding the electrode tab by approaching from the opposite direction of the anvil with the electrode tab therebetween. The horn can include: a main body part including a first contact surface contacting the electrode tab; and an extension part which is detachably coupled to the main body part and which includes a second contact surface extending from the first contact surface and making contact with the electrode tab.

Description

welding device

[0001] Cross-citation with related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0188233 filed on December 17, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein as part of this specification.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] The present invention relates to a welding device, and more specifically, to a welding device that reduces the production and replacement costs of a horn and improves welding efficiency.

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

[0006] To manufacture such a secondary battery, a positive electrode active material slurry is first applied to a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material slurry is applied to a negative electrode current collector to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode, respectively, and an electrode assembly of a predetermined shape is formed by stacking them on both sides of a separator. Then, the electrode assembly is placed in a battery case, and after injecting the electrolyte, it is sealed.

[0007] In a single electrode assembly, multiple electrodes are stacked, and to easily supply the electricity generated from these electrodes to the outside, an electrode tab is formed for each electrode. Then, the electrode tabs are connected by welding, with positive tabs coming into contact with each other and negative tabs coming into contact with each other. They are then connected to a single positive lead and a single negative lead, respectively. The process of connecting the electrode tabs can be carried out through an ultrasonic welding process. By applying pressure to both sides of the electrode tabs and applying ultrasound using an ultrasonic welding device, the vibrational energy of the welding device is converted into thermal energy through friction, and welding can be performed.

[0008] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a welding device that reduces the production and replacement costs of horns and improves welding efficiency.

[0009] A welding device for welding an electrode tab of a secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an anvil on which the electrode tab is seated and a horn that approaches from the opposite direction of the anvil with the electrode tab in between to weld the electrode tab. The horn may include a main body portion having a first contact surface that contacts the electrode tab, and an extension portion that is detachably coupled to the main body portion and extends from the first contact surface and has a second contact surface that contacts the electrode tab.

[0010] A fastening hole is defined on the side of the main body, and a through hole is defined in the extension that penetrates the side and faces the fastening hole.

[0011] The above horn may further include a connecting member that detachably combines the main body and the extension.

[0012] The above connecting member is a bolt having screw threads formed on its outer surface, and a female screw hole corresponding to the screw threads may be formed on the inner surface of the fastening hole.

[0013] The above connecting member can be coupled to the main body and the extension by passing through the through hole of the extension and coupling to the fastening hole of the main body.

[0014] The above extension may include a first extension coupled to one side of the main body and a second extension coupled to the other side of the main body.

[0015] The above connecting member may include a first connecting member that detachably connects the main body portion and the extension portion, and a second connecting member that is spaced apart from the first connecting member in the thickness direction of the horn and detachably connects the main body portion and the extension portion.

[0016] The main body of the above horn further includes a non-contact surface extending in a first direction from the first contact surface, and the second contact surface of the extension portion may extend in a second direction parallel to the width direction of the horn, intersecting the first direction from the first contact surface.

[0017] The sum of the second direction width of the first contact surface and the second direction width of the second contact surface may be greater than the second direction width of the non-contact surface.

[0018] The sum of the second direction width of the first contact surface and the second direction width of the second contact surface may correspond to the second direction width of the electrode tab.

[0019] As described above, the horn can weld various electrode tabs having different widths as the extension part is detachably coupled to the main body. The welding device of the present invention can weld an electrode tab corresponding to the width of the main body using a single horn, and can weld an electrode tab corresponding to the combined width of the main body and the extension part. Accordingly, the production and replacement costs of the horn can be reduced, and welding efficiency can be improved.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a front view of a welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a side view of a welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are 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 embodied in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0024] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that are irrelevant to the explanation or that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention have been omitted. Furthermore, when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are assigned to identical or similar components throughout the entire specification.

[0025] Furthermore, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0026]

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front view of a welding device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of a welding device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a welding device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the welding device (1) can weld the electrode tab (2) of a secondary battery. For example, the welding device (1) can apply ultrasonic waves to the electrode tab (2) of the secondary battery to cause fine vibrations and melt the contact area with thermal energy from friction to join them.

[0029] The welding device (1) may include an anvil (10) and a horn (20). An electrode tab (2) may be placed on the anvil (10). The anvil (10) may support the electrode tab (2) and prevent shaking of the electrode tab (2). The horn (20) may approach the electrode tab (2) from the opposite direction of the anvil (10) with the electrode tab (2) in between and weld the electrode tab (2). The horn (20) may be spaced apart from the anvil (10) in a third direction (DR3) with the electrode tab (2) in between, and the horn (20) may transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the workpiece (e.g., electrode tab (2)).

[0030] In this specification, the third direction (DR3) may indicate a normal direction with respect to the plane defined by the first direction (DR1) and the second direction (DR2). The first to third directions (DR1, DR2, DR3) described below may be relative directions.

[0031] The horn (20) may include a main body (200) and an extension (210) detachably coupled to the main body (200). The extension (210) may include a first extension (210) coupled to one side of the main body (200) and a second extension (210) coupled to the other side of the main body (200). The first extension (210) and the second extension (210) may be coupled to both sides of the main body (200) in a direction parallel to the second direction (DR2).

[0032] The main body (200) may include a first contact surface (201) that contacts the electrode tab (2). The extension (210) may include a second contact surface (211) that extends from the first contact surface (201) and contacts the electrode tab (2). That is, the first contact surface (201) and the second contact surface (211) may be surfaces that contact the electrode tab (2). The first contact surface (201) and the second contact surface (211) may contact the electrode tab (2) flatly.

[0033] A fastening hole (203) may be defined on the side of the main body (200), and a through hole (212) may be defined in the extension (210) that penetrates the side and faces the fastening hole (203). The width and shape of the through hole (212) may correspond to the width and shape of the fastening hole (203). In one embodiment, the fastening hole (203) may be formed by removing a portion of the side of the main body (200).

[0034] The horn (20) may further include a connecting member (220) that detachably connects the main body (200) and the extension (210). The connecting member (220) may be a bolt with screw threads formed on its outer surface, and a female screw hole corresponding to the screw threads may be formed on the inner surface of the fastening hole (203). The main body (200) and the extension (210) can be connected by the connecting member (220) passing through the through hole (212) of the extension (210) and connecting to the fastening hole (203) of the main body (200).

[0035] The connecting member (220) may be provided in multiple numbers. For example, the connecting member (220) may include a first connecting member (2210) and a second connecting member (2220). The first connecting member (2210) and the second connecting member (2220) can detachably connect the main body (200) and the extension part (210). The second connecting member (2220) may be spaced apart from the first connecting member (2210) in the thickness direction of the horn (20) (e.g., the third direction (DR3)). In one embodiment, the welding device (1) may include first and second connecting members (2210, 2220) that connect the main body (200) and the first extension (210), and may include first and second connecting members (2210, 2220) that connect the main body (200) and the second extension (210). Although four connecting members are illustrated as examples in FIG. 1, the number of connecting members is not limited to the above example as long as the main body (200) and the extension (210) can be detachably connected. For example, it may include three connecting members that connect the main body (200) and the first extension (210).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, the main body portion (200) of the horn (20) may further include a non-contact surface (202) extending from a first contact surface (201) in a first direction (DR1). The second contact surface (211) of the extension portion (210) may extend from the first contact surface (201) in a second direction (DR2) that intersects the first direction (DR1). The second direction (DR2) may be a direction parallel to the width direction of the horn (20) and may be a direction in which the extension portion (210) is coupled with the main body portion (200).

[0037] The width of the non-contact surface (202) in the second direction (DR2) may correspond to the width of the first contact surface (201) in the second direction (DR2). As the extension portion (210) is coupled to the main body portion (200), the sum of the width of the first contact surface (201) in the second direction (DR2) and the width of the second contact surface (211) in the second direction (DR2) may be greater than the width of the non-contact surface (202) in the second direction (DR2). The sum of the width of the first contact surface (201) in the second direction (DR2) and the width of the second contact surface (211) in the second direction (DR2) may correspond to the width of the electrode tab (2) in the second direction (DR2).

[0038] The horn (20) of the present invention can weld various electrode tabs (2) having different widths as the extension part (210) is detachably coupled to the main body part (200). The welding device (1) of the present invention can weld an electrode tab (2) corresponding to the width of the main body part (200) using a single horn (20), and can weld an electrode tab (2) corresponding to the width of the main body part (200) and the extension part (210) combined. Accordingly, the production and replacement costs of the horn (20) can be reduced, and welding efficiency can be improved.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0040] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0041] 1: Welding device

[0042] 2: Electrode tab

[0043] 10: Anvil

[0044] 20: Soul

[0045] 200: Main body

[0046] 201: First contact surface

[0047] 202: Non-contact surface

[0048] 203: Fastening hole

[0049] 210: Extension

[0050] 211: Second contact surface

[0051] 2110: 1st Expansion

[0052] 2120: 2nd Expansion

[0053] 220: Connecting member

[0054] 212: Through hole

[0055] 2210: First connecting member

[0056] 2220: Second connecting member

Claims

1. A welding device for welding electrode tabs of a secondary battery, An anvil on which the electrode tab is seated; and It includes a horn that approaches from the opposite direction of the anvil with the electrode tab in between and welds the electrode tab, and The above soul is, A main body portion including a first contact surface that contacts the electrode tab; and A welding device comprising an extension portion that is detachably coupled to the main body portion and includes a second contact surface extending from the first contact surface and contacting the electrode tab.

2. In Paragraph 1, A welding device in which a fastening hole is defined on the side of the main body, and a through hole is defined in the extension part that penetrates the side and faces the fastening hole.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above horn is a welding device further comprising a connecting member that detachably combines the main body and the extension.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above connecting member is a bolt having screw threads formed on its outer surface, and a welding device having a female screw hole corresponding to the screw threads formed on the inner surface of the fastening hole.

5. In Paragraph 4, A welding device in which the main body and the extension are joined by the above connecting member passing through the through hole of the extension and joining to the fastening hole of the main body.

6. In Paragraph 3, The above-mentioned extension is a welding device comprising a first extension coupled to one side of the main body and a second extension coupled to the other side of the main body.

7. In Paragraph 3, The above connecting member is, A first connecting member that detachably connects the main body portion and the extension portion; and A welding device comprising a second connecting member that is spaced apart from the first connecting member and the horn in the thickness direction and detachably connects the main body and the extension.

8. In Paragraph 3, The main body of the above horn further includes a non-contact surface extending in a first direction from the first contact surface, and The second contact surface of the above-mentioned extension is a welding device that extends in a second direction parallel to the width direction of the horn, intersecting the first direction from the first contact surface.

9. In Paragraph 8, A welding device in which the sum of the second direction width of the first contact surface and the second direction width of the second contact surface is greater than the second direction width of the non-contact surface.

10. In Paragraph 8, A welding device in which the sum of the second direction width of the first contact surface and the second direction width of the second contact surface corresponds to the second direction width of the electrode tab.

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