Battery cell pressing device and battery cell pressing method

Abstract

According to various embodiments, this battery cell pressing device may comprise: a pair of plates arranged to face each other so as to accommodate a battery cell therebetween; a first pressing unit which fixes the pair of plates and presses the edges of the pair of plates; and a second pressing unit which presses the central parts of the pair of plates, wherein the second pressing unit comprises: a first pressing member and a second pressing member respectively arranged at the central parts of the outer surfaces of the pair of plates; and a pressure adjustment assembly which presses the first pressing member and the second pressing member. In addition, other embodiments are possible.

Description

Battery cell pressurizing device and battery cell pressurizing method

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0003947 dated January 10, 2025, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery cell pressurizing device and a battery cell pressurizing method, and more specifically, to a technology capable of delivering uniform pressure to an entire battery cell by simultaneously pressing the center and the edge of a pair of plates in order to apply uniform pressure to an entire battery cell disposed between a pair of plates.

[0003] The development of all-solid-state batteries has been undertaken to address the limitations of conventional lithium-ion batteries and to meet the increasing demands for large-capacity energy storage and safety. Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in electronic devices and electric vehicles (EVs) due to their high energy density and excellent charge-discharge efficiency; however, they have the disadvantage of posing a risk of explosion or fire as they are vulnerable to high temperatures or physical shocks due to the use of liquid electrolytes. To solve these problems and enhance battery safety, technology to replace liquid electrolytes with solid ones has become necessary, and consequently, the development of all-solid-state batteries is actively underway.

[0004] All-solid-state batteries are primarily composed of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte. The positive electrode plays the role of generating energy by releasing electrons and lithium ions, and metal oxides such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese are generally used. The negative electrode stores energy by accepting lithium ions, and materials such as lithium metal or graphite are mainly used.

[0005] Solid electrolytes play a role in facilitating the movement of lithium ions between the anode and cathode, and solid materials with high ionic conductivity are primarily used. Representative solid electrolyte materials include oxides, sulfides, and polymers, and each material can significantly influence ionic conductivity, mechanical stability, and battery performance. By working in harmony with these components, all-solid-state batteries can significantly improve energy density and safety, and are attracting attention as an innovative battery technology in various application fields, such as electric vehicles and Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

[0006] Meanwhile, in order to charge and discharge an all-solid-state battery cell, it is necessary to insert the cell into the charging and discharging device while it is pressurized and fixed. This is because the solid electrolyte used in all-solid-state batteries does not possess fluidity; by pressurizing and fixing the cell, the electrodes and the solid electrolyte are kept in close contact, thereby enabling charging and discharging. Through this pressurization and fixation, contact resistance between the electrodes is reduced, allowing for efficient ion movement and improving charging and discharging efficiency.

[0007] However, as the size of battery cells increases, devices that apply pressure only to the edges of the cell, such as conventional jigs, have faced limitations in applying uniform pressure across the entire cell. Due to this non-uniform pressure distribution, excessive pressure is applied to the edges of the cell, resulting in a pressure difference between the center and the edges. This difference causes deformation and expansion of the battery cell during the charging and discharging process, which can lead to problems such as cell damage and degradation.

[0008] Therefore, in response to the increase in the area of ​​all-solid-state battery cells, a method capable of applying uniform pressure across the entire battery cell is required.

[0009] The embodiments of the present disclosure are proposed to solve the above-described problems and can provide a battery cell pressurizing device and a battery cell pressurizing method capable of delivering uniform pressure to the entire battery cell by simultaneously pressing the center and the edge of a pair of plates to apply uniform pressure to the entire battery cell disposed between a pair of plates.

[0010] The technical problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other technical problems can be inferred from the following embodiments.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery cell pressurizing device comprises a pair of plates positioned opposite each other to accommodate a battery cell between them, a first pressurizing unit that fixes the pair of plates and presses the edges of the pair of plates, and a second pressurizing unit that presses the center of the pair of plates, wherein the second pressurizing unit may include a first pressurizing member and a second pressurizing member respectively positioned at the center of each outer surface of the pair of plates, and a pressure regulating assembly that presses the first pressurizing member and the second pressurizing member.

[0012] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressure regulating assembly comprises a rod that presses the first pressurizing member and a connecting member that is connected to the rod and presses the second pressurizing member, wherein the connecting member may include a first part that is positioned above the first pressurizing member and is connected to the rod, a second part that is positioned below the second pressurizing member and presses the second pressurizing member, and a plurality of third parts that connect both ends of the first part and both ends of the second part.

[0013] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first portion includes a through hole formed in the center, and the rod penetrates the through hole to press the first pressing member, and the rod includes a first screw thread formed on the outer surface, and the through hole may include a second screw thread formed to be screw-coupled with the first screw thread.

[0014] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as the rod is drawn further through the through hole, the rod and the second part can each press the first pressing member and the second pressing member with greater pressure.

[0015] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rod includes a coupling portion formed at the end of the rod, and the pressure regulating assembly may further include a torque wrench coupled to the coupling portion to apply pressure.

[0016] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure unit includes two or more bolts that press the edges of the pair of plates, and the pair of plates may include two or more guide holes formed on the edges of the pair of plates so that the two or more bolts pass through.

[0017] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the two or more bolts and the two or more guide holes may be spaced apart at regular intervals in an area where the battery cell is not located.

[0018] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell pressurizing device further includes a press unit that preliminarily presses the pair of plates, and the first pressurizing unit can press the edges of the pair of plates while the pair of plates are pressed by the press unit.

[0019] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the edges of the pair of plates are pressed by the first pressing unit, the press unit releases the pressure, and the second pressing unit can press the center of the pair of plates.

[0020] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell pressurizing device may further include a pressure measuring sensor capable of measuring the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the first pressurizing unit and the second pressurizing unit.

[0021] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery cell pressurization method comprises the steps of aligning at least one battery cell between a pair of plates, pressing the edges of the pair of plates using a first pressurization unit, and pressing the center of the pair of plates using a second pressurization unit after the edges of the pair of plates are pressed by the first pressurization unit, wherein the second pressurization unit may include a pair of pressurization members each disposed at the center of the outer surface of each of the pair of plates, and a pressure regulating assembly for pressing the pair of pressurization members.

[0022] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell pressurization method further includes a step of preliminarily pressing the pair of plates using a press unit prior to the step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates, and the step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates can be performed while the pair of plates are pressed by the press unit.

[0023] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell pressurization method further includes, after the step of pressurizing the edges of the pair of plates, the step of releasing the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the press unit, and the step of pressurizing the center of the pair of plates may be performed in a state where the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the press unit is released.

[0024] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell pressurization method may further include the step of measuring the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the first pressurization unit and the second pressurization unit, and the step of adjusting the pressure applied by at least one of the first pressurization unit and the second pressurization unit when the pressure applied to the entire battery cell is uneven.

[0025] Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery cell pressurization method comprises the steps of aligning at least one battery cell between a pair of plates, pressing the center of the pair of plates using a second pressurization unit, and pressing the edge of the pair of plates using a first pressurization unit after the center of the pair of plates is pressed by the second pressurization unit, wherein the second pressurization unit may include a pair of pressurization members each disposed at the center of the outer surface of each of the pair of plates; and a pressure regulating assembly for pressing the pair of pressurization members.

[0026] According to the present invention, by simultaneously pressing the center and the edge of a pair of plates, uniform pressure can be delivered to the entire battery cell disposed between the pair of plates.

[0027] In addition, according to the present invention, uniform pressure can be transmitted to the entire battery cell without making the jig thick or designing the jig using a heavy material.

[0028] In addition, according to the present invention, uniform pressure is applied to the entire battery cell, thereby preventing the battery cell from expanding or deforming, which can improve the quality of the produced battery cell and reduce the defect rate.

[0029] In addition, according to the present invention, uniform pressure is applied to the entire battery cell, thereby stably maintaining the external and internal structures of the battery cell, so that the battery cell can be maintained robustly even during repeated charging and discharging processes.

[0030] In addition, according to the present invention, uniform pressure is applied to the entire battery cell, thereby preventing excessive pressure from being applied only to the edges of the battery cell, which can reduce damage and degradation of the battery cell and thereby extend the lifespan of the battery cell.

[0031] The effects of the invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the pressure control assembly of the battery cell pressurization device of Figure 1.

[0034] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell pressurizing device cut along line II of Figure 1.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell pressurizing device cut along line II-II of Figure 4.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device composed of a plurality of second pressurizing units according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell pressurizing device cut along line III-III of Figure 7.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIGS. 10 to 13 are drawings sequentially illustrating the battery cell pressurization process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIGS. 15 to 17 are drawings sequentially illustrating the battery cell pressurization process according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] The terms used in the embodiments have been selected to be as widely used as possible, taking into account their functions in the present disclosure; however, these may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, case law, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Additionally, in specific cases, terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant explanatory section. Therefore, terms used in the present disclosure should be defined not merely by their names, but based on their meanings and the overall content of the present disclosure.

[0045] When a part of a specification is described as "comprising" a certain component, this implies that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Furthermore, terms such as "~part" or "~module" as used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this may be implemented in hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software.

[0046] The expression "at least one of a, b, and c" described throughout the specification may include 'a alone', 'b alone', 'c alone', 'a and b', 'a and c', 'b and c', or 'a, b, and c all'.

[0047] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0048] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure relating to a battery cell pressurizing device and a battery cell pressurizing method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a pressure control assembly of the battery cell pressurizing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell pressurizing device cut along line II of FIG. 1.

[0050] A battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention can pressurize and fix a battery cell (20). Specifically, the battery cell pressurizing device (10) can pressurize the battery cell (20) so that the internal components of the battery cell (20) can be stably in contact before the battery cell (20) is inserted into a charging / discharging device. By doing so, the battery cell pressurizing device (10) can contribute to stably charging and discharging the battery cell (20) by improving the ion conductivity of the battery cell (20) and minimizing contact resistance between the components of the battery cell (20).

[0051] The battery cell pressurizing device (10) can prevent the battery cell (20) from being damaged by external environmental changes by absorbing and cushioning vibrations or shocks applied from the outside during the charging and discharging process of the battery cell (20), while also preventing physical deformation and displacement of the battery cell (20).

[0052] A battery cell (20) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte. In this case, the solid electrolyte is placed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to physically separate the positive electrode and the negative electrode. That is, the solid electrolyte itself can act as a separator, and as a result, the battery cell (20) can prevent the risk of leakage of the electrolyte due to unexpected chemical reactions caused by temperature changes or external shocks.

[0053] Additionally, the contact area between the components of the battery cell (20) can be increased by pressurizing the battery cell (20) with the battery cell pressurizing device (10). At this time, the solid electrolyte can act as a channel for ions within the battery cell (20). For example, when the battery cell (20) is pressurized by the battery cell pressurizing device (10), the contact area between the solid electrolyte and the positive electrode can be increased, and at the same time, the contact area between the solid electrolyte and the negative electrode can also be increased. Through this, the resistance at the contact surface between each component can be minimized, and as a result, the solid electrolyte can perform its role as an ion channel more effectively. Accordingly, the ion conductivity of the battery cell (20) can be improved.

[0054] Meanwhile, solid electrolytes can be broadly classified into sulfide-based, oxide-based, and polymer-based solid electrolytes. For example, sulfide-based solid electrolytes include Li3PS4 and Li7P3S 11 Lithium and others can be used, and such electrolytes can provide high ionic conductivity and flexibility. As for oxide-based solid electrolytes, Li7La3Zr2O 12(LLZO), Li3PO4, etc. can be used, and these electrolytes can provide excellent thermal and chemical stability. In addition, as polymer-based solid electrolytes, polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based lithium salt mixtures, etc., can be used, and these electrolytes can provide excellent processability and flexibility.

[0055] Hereinafter, various components of a battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a pair of plates (100), a first pressurizing unit (200), and a second pressurizing unit (300). Although only the components related to this embodiment of the battery cell pressurizing device (10) are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it will be understood by those skilled in the art related to this embodiment that other general-purpose components may be included in addition to the components shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0057] A pair of plates (100) are arranged facing each other to accommodate a battery cell (20) between them. At this time, the battery cell (20) is placed in the space between the pair of plates (100) and can be properly aligned so that uniform pressure can be applied to the entire battery cell (20). According to FIGS. 1 to 3, one battery cell (20) is placed between the pair of plates (100), but the present invention is not limited thereto and at least one battery cell (20) may be placed.

[0058] Additionally, a pair of plates (100) can press the battery cell (20) in both directions. For example, a pair of plates (100) can be pressed by a first pressing unit (200) and a second pressing unit (300) to be described below. As they are pressed by the first and second pressing units (200, 300), the pair of plates (100) move in a direction that brings them closer to each other, thereby allowing the battery cell (20) to be compressed and fixed between the pair of plates (100).

[0059] A pair of plates (100) may consist of an upper plate (100a) and a lower plate (100b). In this case, a battery cell (20) may be placed in the space between the upper plate (100a) and the lower plate (100b).

[0060] For example, the upper plate (100a) can be placed on the upper part of the battery cell (20) to press the upper part of the battery cell (20). Specifically, the upper plate (100a) moves in a direction that approaches the upper surface of the battery cell (20) as it is pressed by the first and second pressing units (200, 300), and subsequently, the upper surface of the battery cell (20) and the lower surface of the upper plate (100a) come into contact, thereby pressing the battery cell (20) downward.

[0061] Additionally, the lower plate (100b) is positioned at the bottom of the battery cell (20) to support and press the lower surface of the battery cell (20). Specifically, the lower surface of the battery cell (20) can be stably seated on the upper surface of the lower plate (100b). When the upper plate (100a) presses the battery cell (20) downward while the battery cell (20) is seated on the lower plate (100b), the lower plate (100b) can press the battery cell (20) upward as it is pressed by the first and second pressing units (200, 300).

[0062] In this way, the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b) can stably fix the battery cell (20) by pressing the battery cell (20) from both directions by the first and second pressing units (200, 300). Through this, the battery cell (20) has resistance to external shock or vibration, and can stably maintain the initial state of the battery cell (20) without deformation of position or shape even during repeated charging and discharging processes.

[0063] Additionally, a pair of plates (100) may include two or more guide holes (110). Two or more guide holes (110) may be placed at the respective edges of the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b), such that the center axes of the respective guide holes (110) of the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b) may coincide with each other. The number of guide holes (110) may be two or more, which may correspond to the number of the first pressurizing unit (200).

[0064] The first pressurizing unit (200) and the second pressurizing unit (300) can pressurize and fix the battery cell (20) between the pair of plates (100) by pressing the pair of plates (100) in both directions. Even if the description below only states that the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) pressurize the pair of plates (100), this can be interpreted to include the battery cell (20) being pressed together.

[0065] The first pressure unit (200) is positioned at the edge of a pair of plates (100) and can apply pressure to the pair of plates (100). The first pressure unit (200) can apply pressure to the pair of plates (100) by providing uniform pressure so that excessive pressure is not applied to a specific part of the edge of the pair of plates (100), thereby causing the pair of plates (100) to move closer to each other, and at the same time, the edge of the battery cell (20) can be uniformly pressured and fixed.

[0066] Here, the term "edge" may refer to an area adjacent to each corner of a pair of plates (100), and broadly, may refer to a point or area closer to the corner than to the center of a pair of plates (100). Alternatively, it may refer to at least a portion of an area that does not overlap with the battery cell (20) provided between a pair of plates (100) in the Z-axis direction.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure unit (200) may include two or more bolts (210). Two or more bolts (210) may be placed at the edges of a pair of plates (100). For example, two or more bolts (210) may be placed at the edges of a pair of plates (100) by passing through two or more guide holes (110) formed in a pair of plates (100). In this case, the number of guide holes (110) may correspond to the number of bolts (210) placed at the edges of a pair of plates (100).

[0068] Two or more bolts (210) may be spaced apart at regular intervals. For example, two or more bolts (210) may be spaced apart at regular intervals in an area where the battery cell (20) is not located. At this time, the spacing between the two or more bolts (210) may mean a spacing set so that the pressure applied to a pair of plates (100) by the fastening (e.g., screw connection) of the bolts (210) and the guide holes (110) does not overlap. This spaced arrangement can prevent the pressure applied by the bolts (210) from overlapping in specific parts of the pair of plates (100). As a result, the bolts (210) can apply uniform pressure to the pair of plates (100), and thus the pressure applied to the battery cell (20) is not concentrated only in specific parts, thereby preventing deformation of the battery cell (20).

[0069] Meanwhile, as two or more bolts (210) are spaced apart at regular intervals, two or more guide holes (110) formed in a pair of plates (100) can also be spaced apart at regular intervals. At this time, the two or more bolts (210) can be arranged such that the shortest distance from each bolt (210) to the corner of an adjacent pair of plates (100) is constant.

[0070] Additionally, the bolt (210) can pass through the guide hole (110) and press against the edge of a pair of plates (100). Specifically, the guide hole (110) may include a screw thread formed on its inner surface. At this time, the screw thread formed in the guide hole (110) may be formed to correspond to the shape and specifications of the screw thread formed on the outer surface of the bolt (210). As a result, the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be screw-coupled by interlocking the screw threads of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110), respectively.

[0071] This screw connection can be achieved by rotating the bolt (210) relative to the fixed guide hole (110). For example, if the bolt (210) rotates clockwise relative to the fixed guide hole (110), the bolt (210) engages with the guide hole (110) and is retracted deeper, thereby applying greater downward pressure to the pair of plates (100). On the other hand, if the bolt (210) rotates counterclockwise relative to the fixed guide hole (110), the bolt (210) is released from the guide hole (110), thereby reducing the pressure applied to the edges of the pair of plates (100).

[0072] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fastening of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be performed automatically or manually. For example, if two or more bolts (210) are not fastened uniformly, the fastening state of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be automatically adjusted so that a pair of plates (100) can be uniformly pressed. This can be implemented through a monitoring system using a torque sensor or an automatic adjustment mechanism. For example, if one bolt (210) is fastened more than another bolt (210), the pressure of each bolt (210) can be uniformly adjusted by rotating the bolt (210) counterclockwise relative to the guide hole (110). Conversely, if one bolt (210) is fastened less than another bolt (210), the pressure of each bolt (210) can be uniformly adjusted by rotating the bolt (210) clockwise relative to the guide hole (110).

[0073] As another example, the tightening of the bolt (210) can be performed manually by an operator. For example, a connecting portion (211) to which a rotating member, such as a torque wrench (390), can be attached may be formed at the end (e.g., head portion) of the bolt (210). By attaching the rotating member to the connecting portion (211) of the bolt (210) and transmitting rotational force to the bolt (210), the bolt (210) can move vertically downward along the guide hole (110) and press against the edge of a pair of plates (100). At this time, the portion of the rotating member that is connected to the connecting portion (211) of the bolt (210) is designed to correspond to the shape of the groove formed in the connecting portion (211) of the bolt (210) so that they can be fully engaged with each other.

[0074] In this way, if two or more bolts (210) are not uniformly fastened to two or more guide holes (110), the operator can use a rotating member to adjust the bolts (210) by rotating them relative to the guide holes (110) in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to fasten or loosen them so that a pair of plates (100) can be uniformly pressed.

[0075] In contrast, the first pressurizing unit (200) is composed of a bolt (210) and a nut, and can pressurize a pair of plates (100) and a battery cell (20) through the fastening of the bolt (210) and the nut.

[0076] For example, the pressurizing mechanism of the first pressurizing unit (200) can be configured as follows. A nut is placed at the bottom of the lower plate (100b), and a bolt (210) can be inserted into a guide hole (110) formed in the upper plate (100a). Subsequently, the bolt (210) passes through the guide holes (110) formed in the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b), respectively, and is fastened to the nut, thereby pressurizing the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b). In this process, when one of the bolt (210) or the nut is fixed and the other is rotated relatively, the bolt (210) and the nut are joined, and as the number of rotations increases, the gap between the bolt (210) and the nut narrows, and the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b) can be brought into close contact with each other. At this time, the bolt (210) and the nut can be fastened by the threads formed on the outer surface of the bolt (210) and the threads formed on the inner surface of the nut engaging with each other.

[0077] As another example, the first pressurizing unit (200) may be composed of one bolt (210) and two nuts. For example, the nuts are each placed on the upper part of the upper plate (100a) and the lower part of the lower plate (100b), and the bolt (210) may be fastened to the nut placed on the upper part of the upper plate (100a) and to the nut placed on the lower part of the lower plate (100b) by passing through the guide hole (110) formed in the pair of plates (100). At this time, the nut placed between the bolt (210) and the upper plate (100a) can prevent the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) from being worn by the bolt (210) when the bolt (210) is fastened to the nut placed on the lower part of the lower plate (100b) and the pair of plates (100) are pressed. However, this is merely a simple example, and the present invention may include various embodiments.

[0078] Meanwhile, the first pressurizing unit (200) may include various pressurizing mechanisms. The mechanism of the first pressurizing unit (200) is not limited to the aforementioned pressurizing mechanism, and various pressurizing mechanisms using a spring pressurizing device, a small cam device, a small screw clamp, etc., may be applied. This first pressurizing unit (200) is small in size and efficiently pressurizes a battery cell (20) located between a pair of plates (100), so that the first pressurizing unit (200), the pair of plates (100), and the battery cell (20) can be inserted into a charging / discharging device in a state where they are fixed as a single unit.

[0079] The second pressure unit (300) is positioned at the center of a pair of plates (100) and can apply pressure to the pair of plates (100). The second pressure unit (300) can apply pressure to the pair of plates (100) by providing uniform pressure so that excessive pressure is not applied to a specific part of the center of the pair of plates (100), thereby causing the pair of plates (100) to move closer to each other, and at the same time, the center of the battery cell (20) can be uniformly pressured and fixed. At this time, the second pressure unit (300) can apply pressure to the pair of plates (100) before the first pressure unit (200), or additionally apply pressure to the pair of plates (100) that have already been applied by the first pressure unit (200).

[0080] Meanwhile, the center of a pair of plates (100) may refer to an area closer to the center of the pair of plates (100) than the area pressed by the first pressurizing unit (200) (e.g., the edge of the pair of plates (100)). That is, the second pressurizing unit (300) may press an area closer to the center of the pair of plates (100) than the area pressed by the first pressurizing unit (200).

[0081] At this time, the center of a pair of plates (100) may be an area spaced apart from each corner of a pair of plates (100) at a constant distance, for example, the distance between the center and both end corners may be 1 cm to 4 cm, and the distance between the center and both end corners may be 1 cm to 4 cm. The center may refer to a point or area closer to the center than to the corners of a pair of plates (100). Alternatively, the center may be at least a part of an area that overlaps on the Z-axis with a cell (20) to be placed between a pair of plates (100).

[0082] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second pressurizing unit (300) may include a first pressurizing member (310), a second pressurizing member (330), and a pressure regulating assembly.

[0083] Each of the first and second pressure members (310, 330) may be positioned at the center of each outer surface of a pair of plates (100). Specifically, the first pressure member (310) may be positioned at the center of the outer surface of the upper plate (100a) (e.g., the upper surface of the upper plate (100a)), and the second pressure member (330) may be positioned at the center of the outer surface of the lower plate (100b) (e.g., the lower surface of the lower plate (100b)).

[0084] The first pressing member (310) can press the upper plate (100a) downward, and the second pressing member (330) can press the lower plate (100b) upward. Specifically, each of the first and second pressing members (310, 330) can receive pressure from a pressure control assembly described below and press the upper and lower plates (100a, 100b) in a direction that brings them closer to each other.

[0085] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first and second pressing members (310, 330) may have a plate-like shape. However, they are not limited thereto and may be formed in various shapes. For example, the shape of the surface where the first and second pressing members (310, 330) press a pair of plates (100) may be circular, elliptical, square, etc.

[0086] Meanwhile, the sizes of the first and second pressure members (310, 330) can be varied within an appropriate range. For example, the sizes of the first and second pressure members (310, 330) can be set within a design range that can apply uniform pressure to the center of a pair of plates (100).

[0087] The pressure regulating assembly can apply pressure to the first and second pressurizing members (310, 330) to mutually pressurize the pair of plates (100). Additionally, the pressure regulating assembly can adjust the magnitude of the pressure applied to the first and second pressurizing members (310, 330). For example, if the pressure applied to the edges and the center of the pair of plates (100) is different, the pressure regulating assembly can adjust the pressure imbalance between the edges and the center by adjusting the magnitude of the pressure applied to the center through the first and second pressurizing members (310, 330). As a result, the pressure applied to the entire pair of plates (100) can be maintained uniformly.

[0088] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the pressure regulating assembly may include a rod (350), a connecting member (370), and a torque wrench (390).

[0089] The rod (350) is positioned on the upper side of the first pressure member (310) and can apply pressure to the first pressure member (310). Specifically, the rod (350) is a component that supplies pressure to the first pressure member (310) in a pressure control assembly, and the lower surface of the rod (350) can come into contact with the upper surface of the first pressure member (310) to apply downward pressure to the upper surface of the first pressure member (310).

[0090] Additionally, the rod (350) can be connected to the first part (371) of the connecting member (370). At this time, as the rod (350) presses the first pressing member (310), the first part (371) of the connecting member (370) can move toward the first pressing member (310). At the same time, the second part (377) facing the first part (371) of the connecting member (370) can also move toward both the first part (371) and the second pressing member (330). Through this, the connecting member (370) can press the second pressing member (330) with a pressure equal to the magnitude of the pressure applied to the first pressing member (310). For example, if the rod (350) presses the first pressing member (310) downward with greater pressure, the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) can press the second pressing member (330) upward with greater pressure.

[0091] Additionally, the rod (350) can press the first pressing member (310) by penetrating the center of the first part (371) of the connecting member (370). At this time, the first part (371) may include a through hole (373) formed in the center so that the rod (350) can pass through. The rod (350) may include a first screw thread (355) formed on the outer surface, and the through hole (373) may include a second screw thread (375) formed on the inner surface. At this time, the second screw thread (375) may be formed corresponding to the shape and specifications of the first screw thread (355) so that a screw connection can be made that interlocks with the first screw thread (355). For example, the first thread (355) of the rod (350) and the second thread (375) of the connecting member (370) can be screwed together by engaging through the relative rotation of the rod (350) while the connecting member (370) is fixed. In this process, the rod (350) is inserted deeper by penetrating the through hole (373) of the connecting member (370) and can effectively press the first pressing member (310).

[0092] As the rod (350) is inserted deeper through the through hole (373), it can apply downward pressure to the first pressure member (310) with greater pressure. During this process, the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) can apply upward pressure to the second pressure member (330) with greater pressure. Specifically, as the rod (350) is inserted deeper through the through hole (373) to apply pressure to the first pressure member (310) with greater pressure, the first part (371) of the connecting member (370) can move closer to the first pressure member (310). At the same time, the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) can also apply pressure to the second pressure member (330) with greater pressure by moving closer to both the first part (371) and the second pressure member (330). In this way, as the rod (350) is drawn further in through the through hole (373), the rod (350) and the second part (377) can each apply greater pressure to the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (330), respectively. Additionally, the connecting member (370) may be made of a material with excellent flexibility and strength so that breakage does not occur in the plurality of third parts (379) even as the first part (371) and the second part (377) move closer to each other.

[0093] Thus, the magnitude of the pressure applied by the second pressure unit (300) to the center of a pair of plates (100) may vary depending on the depth to which the rod (350) having the first screw thread (355) is inserted into the through hole (373) having the second screw thread (375) formed in the center of the first part (371).

[0094] Meanwhile, the rod (350) may provide pressure to the first pressure member (310) by the operator directly rotating the rod (350), or may provide pressure to the first pressure member (310) using a torque wrench (390) to be described later for ease and convenience in providing pressure. For example, when the torque wrench (390) is coupled to the end (351) of the rod (350) and transmits rotational force to the rod (350), the rod (350) may be inserted deeper through the through hole (373) of the connecting member (370) to provide pressure to the first pressure member (310).

[0095] Meanwhile, the rod (350) can be inserted into a groove formed in the first pressure member (310) to apply pressure to the first pressure member (310). Through this configuration, the rod (350) can stably apply pressure to the first pressure member (310) even if unexpected variables, such as external impact, occur. At this time, the axis of the rod (350) and the axis of the groove of the first pressure member (310) may coincide. However, this is merely a simple example, and the groove may be omitted depending on the design of the first pressure member (310).

[0096] The connecting member (370) can be connected to the rod (350) to support the second pressing member (330). Specifically, the connecting member (370) may include a first part (371) and a second part (377). The first part (371) of the connecting member (370) is connected to the rod (350), and the second part (377) is positioned at the bottom of the second pressing member (330) to support the second pressing member (330). In this way, while the second part (377) supports the second pressing member (330), if the rod (350) is inserted deeper through the through hole (373), the second part (377) can move closer to the second pressing member (330) and press the second pressing member (330) upward.

[0097] Additionally, the connecting member (370) may include a plurality of third parts (379) that connect the first part (371) and the second part (377). Specifically, the third parts (379) may form a single connecting member (370) by connecting both ends of the first part (371) and both ends of the second part (377), respectively. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the plurality of third parts (379) may be connected to both ends of the first part (371) and the second part (377), respectively, so as to be perpendicular to each other. At this time, the plurality of third parts (379) may form a 90-degree angle with each of the first part (371) and the second part (377). However, it is not limited thereto, and the third part (379) can form various angles with each of the first part (371) and the second part (377) within the range where the first part (371) and the second part (377) do not come into contact with the pair of plates (100).

[0098] Meanwhile, the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) may be configured to include a member protruding from the center to press the second pressing member (330). The member protruding from the center may be connected to the second pressing member (330) to press the second pressing member (330) upward. However, this is merely an exemplary configuration, and even without the protruding member, the center of the second part (377) itself may be connected to the second pressing member (330) to press the second pressing member (330) upward.

[0099] Meanwhile, the connecting member (370) may be positioned such that the longitudinal direction of the connecting member (370) is perpendicular to the long side of the pair of plates (100) and parallel to the short side of the pair of plates (100).

[0100] Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connecting member (370) may be formed in a 'ㅁ' shape. A pair of plates (100) and a part of a battery cell (20) may be accommodated in the internal space of the connecting member (370). This allows the battery cell pressurizing device (10), including the battery cell (20), to be inserted into the charging / discharging device without becoming excessively large.

[0101] However, the shape of the connecting member (370) is not necessarily limited to a 'ㅁ' shape, and can be implemented in a shape having a stable left-right symmetrical structure, such as an 'O' shape. In addition, the connecting member (370) can be formed in various shapes having an open structure, such as a 'ㄷ', 'C', or 'G' shape obtained by cutting a 'ㅁ' shape in half.

[0102] Additionally, the connecting member (370) may be made of a material with excellent flexibility and strength. This is to prevent breakage from occurring in a specific part (e.g., the central part of the third part (379)) of a plurality of third parts (379) during the process in which the first part (371) and the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) come closer to each other when the rod (350) is inserted deeper through the through hole (373) formed in the center of the first part (371). For example, the connecting member (370) may be made of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silicone rubber, spring steel, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), stainless steel (SUS), carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), etc.

[0103] Meanwhile, the combined relationship and configuration of the rod (350) and the connecting member (370) are not limited to the above description and can be implemented through various embodiments. For example, the rod (350) and the connecting member (370) may be formed as an integrated structure rather than as individual components to simultaneously transmit pressure to the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (330).

[0104] As another example, a separate pressure device may be additionally coupled to the second part (377) of the connecting member (370), so that this pressure device applies independent pressure to the second pressure member (330). For example, the separate pressure device may include various devices such as a hydraulic cylinder, a cam, an electric actuator, etc. Through this, the battery cell pressure device (10) can individually control the pressure required for the first and second pressure members (310, 330).

[0105] In addition, the rod (350) and the connecting member (370) can be designed in various shapes different from those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and different pressurizing mechanisms can be applied depending on these shape changes. That is, the pressurizing mechanism of the second pressurizing unit (300) is not limited to the threaded coupling structure and pressure transmission method between the rod (350) and the connecting member (370), but can implement various types of pressurizing mechanisms.

[0106] For example, a pressure mechanism may be applied that applies downward pressure to the first pressure member (310) using a hydraulic cylinder or a gear mechanism, while simultaneously applying upward pressure to the second pressure member (330) through a connecting member (370). As another example, a pressure mechanism that controls pressure in the vertical direction through a spring-based pressure transmission method or a cam mechanism may be applied.

[0107] As such, the pressurizing mechanism of the second pressurizing unit (300) of the present invention may include various embodiments and may be implemented in various modified forms without being limited to a specific structure or coupling method.

[0108] A torque wrench (390) is positioned on the upper part of a rod (350) and can be coupled to a coupling portion (353) formed at the end (351) of the rod (350). At this time, the central axis (A) of the torque wrench (390) and the coupling portion (353) of the rod (350) coincides, and the part of the torque wrench (390) that is coupled to the rod (350) is designed to correspond to the shape of a groove formed in the coupling portion (353) of the rod (350) so that they can be fully engaged with each other.

[0109] A torque wrench (390) can be coupled to the end (351) of a rod (350) to apply pressure. Specifically, when the torque wrench (390) is coupled to the coupling part (353) and then transmits rotational force to the rod (350), the rod (350) can move vertically downward along the through hole (373) of the connecting member (370) and apply pressure to the first pressure member (310). For example, when the torque wrench (390) applies clockwise rotational force to the rod (350), the rod (350) is inserted deeper through the through hole (373) and can apply pressure to the first pressure member (310) with greater pressure. Conversely, when the torque wrench (390) applies a counterclockwise rotational force to the rod (350), the rod (350) is withdrawn through the through hole (373), and the pressure applied to the first pressure member (310) can be reduced. In this way, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the first pressure member (310) can be adjusted according to the rotational direction of the torque wrench (390).

[0110] Meanwhile, in the battery cell pressurizing device (10), the component that transmits rotational force to the rod (350) is not limited to a torque wrench (390), and various mechanisms such as a spanner or a drive can be used and can be flexibly replaced as needed.

[0111] Meanwhile, the second pressure unit (300) can be designed to be easily separated or replaced from both sides of the pair of plates (100) as needed. This is because a separate pressure unit can be positioned to primarily pressure the center of the pair of plates (100) before the first pressure unit (200) presses the edges of the pair of plates (100). Therefore, the second pressure unit can be designed to be detachable from the pair of plates (100) so that the second pressure unit (300) can perform additional pressure work after the separate pressure unit is removed.

[0112] Additionally, the pressing sequence of the battery cell pressing device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may not be limited to a specific order. For example, a first pressing unit (200) may first press the edges of a pair of plates (100), and then a second pressing unit (300) may press the center, thereby applying uniform pressure to the entire pair of plates (100). Alternatively, a press unit (400), which will be described later, may perform preliminary pressing to adjust the initial state before the first pressing unit (200) presses.

[0113] As another example, the second pressurizing unit (300) can first pressurize the center of the pair of plates (100), and then the first pressurizing unit (200) can pressurize the edges of the pair of plates (100) to apply uniform pressure to the entire pair of plates (100). At this time, the second pressurizing unit (300) can perform preliminary pressurization by replacing the role of the press unit (400).

[0114] A battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a pressure measuring sensor. The pressure measuring sensor can measure the pressure applied to the battery cell (20) and a pair of plates (100) by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300). Through this, it is possible to determine whether the pressure applied by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) is uniform. For example, if the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20) by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) is non-uniform, the magnitude of the pressurizing force of the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) can be adjusted automatically or manually.

[0115] In addition, as another example, the pressure measuring sensor may be composed of a plurality of small sensors, and each pressure measuring sensor may individually measure the pressure applied by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) to the battery cell (20) and a pair of plates (100). This allows for more precise verification of whether the pressure applied by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) is maintained uniformly across the entire area.

[0116] Additionally, a pressure measuring sensor may be positioned at the edge between the battery cell (20) and the upper plate (100a) or between the battery cell (20) and the lower plate (100b) to individually detect pressure applied to a pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20). For example, the pressure measuring sensor may be positioned between the upper surface of the battery cell (20) and the lower surface of the upper plate (100a) to monitor the pressure transmitted from the upper plate (100a) to the battery cell (20) in real time. As another example, the pressure measuring sensor may be positioned between the lower surface of the battery cell (20) and the upper surface of the lower plate (100b) to detect the pressure transmitted from the lower plate (100b) to the battery cell (20). Through this, the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) determine whether the pressure applied to the battery cell (20) through a pair of plates (100) is uniform, and if the pressure applied to the battery cell (20) is non-uniform, the magnitude of the pressure applied by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) can be adjusted.

[0117] Additionally, the pressure measuring sensor may be housed inside at least one of the pair of plates (100). Specifically, the pressure measuring sensor may be housed in a sensor housing space (e.g., a groove) formed on one side of the edge of at least one of the pair of plates (100). The sensor housed inside at least one of the pair of plates (100) can indirectly detect the pressure received by the pair of plates (100) when the pressure applied by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300) is transmitted to the battery cell (20) through the pair of plates (100). Furthermore, by placing the pressure measuring sensor inside at least one of the pair of plates (100), the influence of interfering factors such as external noise that may occur during the pressure measurement process can be reduced, thereby obtaining reliable information regarding the uniformity of pressure across the entire battery cell (20).

[0118] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell pressurizing device cut along line II-II of FIG. 4.

[0119] A battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention may include the same components as the battery cell pressurizing device (10) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Accordingly, a detailed description of the components is omitted with reference to the foregoing description.

[0120] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of battery cells (20) may be arranged between a pair of plates (100). At this time, the plurality of battery cells (20) may be arranged in a row along the short side of the pair of plates (100) and spaced apart at regular intervals. Specifically, the plurality of battery cells (20) may be symmetrically arranged at regular intervals with respect to the center of the short side of the pair of plates (100). Through this, uniform pressure can be applied to the plurality of battery cells (20) by additionally placing a bolt (210) on the short edge of the pair of plates (100). At this time, a guide hole (110) may be formed in the pair of plates (100) corresponding to the position where the bolt (210) is placed.

[0121] The number of bolts (210) additionally placed on one end edge of a pair of plates (100) may vary depending on the number of battery cells (20) accommodated between the pair of plates (100). Accordingly, the number of guide holes (110) may also vary depending on the number of battery cells (20). For example, if there are 2 battery cells (20), the number of guide holes (110) and bolts (210) placed on one end edge of a pair of plates (100) may be 3. As another example, if there are 3 battery cells (20), the number of guide holes (110) and bolts (210) may be 4. That is, as the number of battery cells (20) increases by 1, the number of guide holes (110) and bolts (210) placed on one end edge of a pair of plates (100) may also increase by 1.

[0122] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device composed of a plurality of second pressurizing units according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0123] As the length of the long side of a pair of plates (100) and a battery cell (20) increases, the battery cell pressurizing device (10) may include at least two second pressurizing units (300). At least two second pressurizing units (300) may be connected to each other in the Y-axis direction or arranged in a line while maintaining a constant distance. Accordingly, the distance between at least two second pressurizing units (300) may be 0 cm to 8 cm. For example, the distance between at least two second pressurizing units (300) may be set to 0 cm so that the second pressurizing units (300) are attached to each other, and if necessary, the distance between the second pressurizing units (300) may be increased up to a maximum of 8 cm.

[0124] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of second pressure units (300) may be arranged in a line along the Y-axis direction such that each of the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (330) is spaced apart from each other at a constant distance (e.g., 1 cm to 4 cm). In this case, each of the plurality of first pressure members (310) may be arranged so as to be spaced 1 cm to 4 cm from both end corners of the upper plate (100a). Likewise, each of the plurality of second pressure members (330) may be arranged so as to be spaced 1 cm to 4 cm from both end corners of the lower plate (100b).

[0125] Meanwhile, unlike the arrangement method shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of second pressure units (300) may be arranged in a line along the Y-axis direction with each of the plurality of first pressure members (310) connected to each other. Similarly, a plurality of second pressure units (300) may be arranged in a line along the Y-axis direction with each of the plurality of second pressure members (330) connected to each other. In this case, the plurality of first and second pressure members (310, 330) may be arranged so as to be spaced 1 cm to 4 cm apart from both end corners of a pair of plates (100).

[0126] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell pressurizing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell pressurizing device cut along line III-III of FIG. 7.

[0127] A battery cell pressurizing device (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a press unit (400). In addition, detailed information regarding other components constituting the battery cell pressurizing device (10) is omitted with reference to the foregoing description.

[0128] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the press unit (400) can press the pair of plates (100) before the first press unit (200) presses the edges of the pair of plates (100). The press unit (400) can press the entire area of ​​the pair of plates (100) excluding the edges. After being pressed by the press unit (400), the first press unit (200) can press the edges of the pair of plates (100) with a pressure similar to the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) by the press unit (400).

[0129] A press unit (400) is positioned on the outer surface of each of a pair of plates (100) and can press the outer surfaces of the pair of plates (100) in both directions. For example, the press unit (400) can fix and support the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) and press the lower surface of the lower plate (100b) upward. However, this is merely a simple example, and the press unit (400) can press the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) downward and fix and support the lower surface of the lower plate (100b).

[0130] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the press unit (400) may include a fixed plate (410), a pressure plate (430), a hydraulic cylinder (450), and a plurality of guide rods (470).

[0131] The fixing plate (410) can be positioned on the upper side of the upper plate (100a) and fixed in a predetermined position. For example, the fixing plate (410) can be positioned at a certain distance from the upper surface of the upper plate (100a). Additionally, the fixing plate (410) can come into contact with the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) that has been moved upward by the pressure plate (430) to fix and support the upper plate (100a).

[0132] Additionally, the fixed plate (410) may include a member protruding from one side of the fixed plate (410). The protruding member may contact the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) to fix and support the upper plate (100a). At this time, the protruding member may be implemented in various forms. For example, if the lower surface of the fixed plate (410) has a wide cross-section capable of supporting and pressing an area other than the edge of the upper plate (100a), the shape of the fixed plate (410) itself may be varied as needed.

[0133] The pressure plate (430) can press the lower plate (100b) upward while supporting the lower surface of the lower plate (100b). Specifically, the pressure plate (430) can move vertically along a movement path formed by a plurality of guide rods (470) while pressing the lower surface of the lower plate (100b) upward. At this time, the pressure plate (430) can move vertically relative to the fixed guide rod (470) and move together with the lower plate (100b) in a direction that moves closer to or further away from the fixed plate (410).

[0134] Additionally, the pressure plate (430) may include a member protruding from one side of the pressure plate (430). The protruding member can move vertically toward the fixed plate (410) while pressing the lower surface of the lower plate (100b) upward while in contact with the lower surface of the lower plate (100b). At this time, the protruding member can be implemented in various forms. For example, if the protruding member has a wide cross-section capable of pressing an area other than the edge of the lower plate (100b), the shape of the protruding member itself can be varied as needed. As another example, the upper surface of the pressure plate (430) and the lower surface of the fixed plate (410) can be designed to have the same shape.

[0135] A hydraulic cylinder (450) is positioned at the bottom of the pressure plate (430) and can raise or lower the pressure plate (430) in a vertical direction using hydraulic pressure. Specifically, the hydraulic cylinder (450) can move the pressure plate (430) closer to the fixed plate (410) as the lower plate (100b) is pressed upward by the pressure plate (430) according to the action of hydraulic pressure.

[0136] For example, the hydraulic cylinder (450) may be composed of a cylinder body and a piston formed inside, and may include a mechanism that generates linear motion using fluid pressure. An inlet may be formed on one side of the cylinder body to allow hydraulic pressure to be injected. When hydraulic pressure is introduced into the cylinder body through the inlet, pressure may be formed inside the piston by the pressure of the fluid, thereby allowing the piston to move in a linear direction.

[0137] A plurality of guide rods (470) are components that penetrate through holes formed at both edges of the fixed plate (410) and the pressure plate (430), and can play an important role in ensuring the structural stability of the press unit (400). The plurality of guide rods (470) connect the fixed plate (410) and the pressure plate (430) to maintain alignment between the two plates (410, 430) and can provide mechanical rigidity. This contributes to enabling the entire press unit (400) to stably press the lower plate (100b) upward without shaking even under external shock or vibration.

[0138] A plurality of guide rods (470) can contribute to ensuring that the fixed plate (410) is fixed in a predetermined position without shaking even under external impact or load. Additionally, a plurality of guide rods (470) can perform the role of guiding the movement path of the pressure plate (430). For example, when the pressure plate (430) is raised or lowered by the hydraulic cylinder (450), the plurality of guide rods (470) can contribute to stably maintaining the movement path of the pressure plate (430) so that the pressure plate (430) can stably press the lower plate (100b) upward.

[0139] Meanwhile, in contrast, the fixed plate (410) can move toward the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) while spaced apart from the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) at a constant distance to support and press the upper plate (100b).

[0140] Meanwhile, the press unit (400) can perform the role of an auxiliary pressurizing device that assists the pressurization of the first pressurizing unit (200). That is, the press unit (400) can pre-press a pair of plates (100) to assist the first pressurizing unit (200) in uniformly pressing the edges of the pair of plates (100). After the edges of the pair of plates (100) are pressed by the first pressurizing unit (200), the press unit (400) can release the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and be removed from the pair of plates (100). This may be intended to prevent the problem that the pressurized battery cell (20) cannot be fed into the charging / discharging device due to the size of the press unit (400). Afterward, a second pressurizing unit (300) is positioned on both sides of a pair of plates (100) to apply pressure to the center of the battery cell (20) at a level similar to that of the edge of the battery cell (20), thereby pressurizing the center.

[0141] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to a pressurization mechanism by a hydraulic cylinder as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and various pressurization mechanisms may be applied. Depending on the type of mechanism applied, the hydraulic cylinder may be replaced with another pressurization device or changed as needed to suit the characteristics of the mechanism.

[0142] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a battery cell pressurization method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 10 to 13 are drawings sequentially illustrating a battery cell pressurization process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0143] A battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may be composed of the following series of steps to apply uniform pressure to the entire battery cell (20) aligned between a pair of plates (100). First, the center of the pair of plates (100) may be preliminarily pressed using a press unit (400). Subsequently, while the center of the pair of plates (100) is pressed, the edges of the pair of plates (100) may be pressed using a first pressurization unit (200). Finally, a second pressurization unit (300) may press the center of the pair of plates (100) in place of the press unit (400). This series of steps will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

[0144] A battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S110, a step of aligning at least one battery cell (20) between a pair of plates (100).

[0145] According to an embodiment, a battery cell (20) can be introduced into a battery cell pressurizing device (10) and pressurized so that the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the all-solid-state electrolyte can be in close contact. At this time, at least one battery cell (20) can be placed between a pair of plates (100) of the battery cell pressurizing device (10), and the introduced battery cell (20) can be aligned between the pair of plates (100) so that the entire battery cell (20) is uniformly pressurized.

[0146] Meanwhile, when two or more battery cells (20) are aligned between a pair of plates (100), the two or more battery cells (20) may be aligned at regular intervals along the short side of the pair of plates (100). For example, when multiple battery cells (20) are aligned between a pair of plates (100), the multiple battery cells (20) may be arranged symmetrically around the center of the short side of the pair of plates (100).

[0147] Additionally, a first pressure unit (200) is positioned at the edge of a pair of plates (100) to perform a preliminary step of step S150, which will be described later. The first pressure unit (200) is composed of two or more bolts (210) and can be inserted through two or more guide holes (110) formed at the edge of a pair of plates (100). At this time, the number of guide holes (110) may correspond to the number of bolts (210) positioned at the edge of a pair of plates (100).

[0148] Next, a battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S130, a step of preliminarily pressing a pair of plates (100) using a press unit (400).

[0149] According to an embodiment, after a battery cell (20) is aligned between a pair of plates (100), a press unit (400) may be positioned on both sides of the pair of plates (100) to preliminarily press the center of the pair of plates (100). At this time, the press unit (400) presses an area other than the edge of the pair of plates (100) that is pressed by the first press unit (200), and the press areas of the press unit (400) and the first press unit (200) do not overlap, thereby preventing excessive pressure from being applied to a specific part of the pair of plates (100).

[0150] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the press unit (400) may include a fixed plate (410), a pressure plate (430), a hydraulic cylinder (450), and a plurality of guide rods (470). The pressure mechanism of the press unit (400) can press and fix the battery cell (20) by having the fixed plate (410) fixed to the upper side of the upper plate (100a) and the pressure plate (430), operated by the hydraulic cylinder (450), press the lower plate (100b) upward.

[0151] For example, the fixed plate (410) can be fixed at a constant distance from the upper surface of the upper plate (100a), and the pressure plate (430) can be positioned spaced apart from the fixed plate (410) while supporting the lower surface of the lower plate (100b). Subsequently, the pressure plate (430) can move vertically along a movement path formed by a plurality of guide rods (470) while pressing the lower surface of the lower plate (100b) upward by the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder (450). Additionally, the fixed plate (410) can come into contact with the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) that has been moved upward, thereby fixing and supporting the upper surface of the upper plate (100a).

[0152] Next, a battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S150, a step of pressing the edges of a pair of plates (100) using a first pressurization unit (200).

[0153] According to an embodiment, after the press unit (400) preliminarily presses a pair of plates (100), the first press unit (200) can press the edges of the pair of plates (100) with a pressure similar to the pressure applied to the center by the press unit (400). At this time, the first press unit (200) may include two or more bolts (210).

[0154] As illustrated in FIG. 11, when the press unit (400) presses a pair of plates (100), two or more bolts (210) can press the edges of the pair of plates (100). Specifically, by rotating the bolt (210) clockwise with respect to a guide hole (110) formed in the pair of plates (100), the bolt (210) can be inserted deeper while engaging with the guide hole (110) to press the edges of the pair of plates (100).

[0155] Meanwhile, the fastening of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be performed automatically or manually. For example, if two or more bolts (210) are not fastened uniformly and the pressure applied to a pair of plates (100) is uneven, the fastening of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be adjusted through a monitoring system using a torque sensor or an automatic adjustment mechanism. As another example, the fastening of the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) can be performed manually with the intervention of an operator.

[0156] Next, a battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S170, a step of pressurizing the center of a pair of plates (100) using a second pressurization unit (300).

[0157] According to an embodiment, after the first pressurizing unit (200) pressurizes a pair of plates (100), the press unit (400) can release the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and be removed from the pair of plates (100). Subsequently, the second pressurizing unit (300) is positioned at the center of the pair of plates (100) where the press unit (400) was located, and can apply pressure to the center of the pair of plates (100) at a level similar to the pressure applied to the edges of the pair of plates (100).

[0158] As illustrated in FIG. 12, a battery cell pressurization method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a step in which a press unit (400) is removed from a pair of plates (100) before a second pressurization unit (300) pressurizes the center of a pair of plates (100). This may be to remove the press unit (400) from the battery cell (20) and the pair of plates (100) so that the battery cell (20) can be smoothly inserted into a charging / discharging device due to the size of the press unit (400).

[0159] For example, the press unit (400) can be removed from a pair of plates (100) while the press plate (430) supports the lower plate (100b) and returns to its original position separated from the fixed plate (410). Additionally, a pair of plates (100) including a battery cell (20) can be removed from the press unit and mounted with a second press unit (300).

[0160] As illustrated in FIG. 13, after the press unit (400) is removed from the pair of plates (100), the second press unit (300) may be positioned at the center of the pair of plates (100). Specifically, the second press unit (300) may include a first press member (310), a second press member (330), and a pressure regulating assembly. The first press member (310) may be positioned on the upper surface of the upper plate (100a) to press the upper surface downward, and the second press member (330) may be positioned on the lower surface of the lower plate (100b) to press the lower surface upward. Subsequently, as the first and second press members (310, 330) are pressed by the pressure regulating assembly, the center of the pair of plates (100) may be pressed.

[0161] The pressure regulating assembly may include a rod (350), a connecting member (370), and a torque wrench (390). The rod (350) may press the first pressing member (310), and the connecting member (370) may press the second pressing member (330).

[0162] For example, the rod (350) can be connected to the first part (371) of the connecting member (370) to apply downward pressure to the first pressing member (310). At this time, the rod (350) has a structure that is screw-coupled with a through hole (373) formed in the center of the first part (371), and as the rod (350) is inserted deeper into the through hole (373), the first pressing member (310) can be applied downward pressure with greater pressure. Additionally, as the rod (350) is inserted deeper into the through hole (373), the first part (371) and the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) can move in a direction that brings them closer to each other, and as a result, the second part (377) can apply upward pressure to the second pressing member (330) with greater pressure.

[0163] For example, pressure applied to the first and second pressure members (310, 330) can occur when the rod (350) itself rotates clockwise with respect to the fixed through hole (373) and is screw-coupled with the through hole (373). As another example, if a torque wrench (390) is coupled to the coupling portion (353) of the end (351) of the rod (350) and rotated clockwise, the rotational force of the torque wrench (390) is transmitted to the rod (350), and pressure can be generated in the same way as it is screw-coupled with the through hole (373).

[0164] Meanwhile, this pressure mechanism can be applied in an automatic or manual manner. For example, if an actuator such as a motor is used to automatically rotate the rod (350) clockwise with respect to the through hole (373) and screw connection is made, greater pressure can be applied to the first and second pressure members (310, 330). As another example, a worker may apply pressure in the same way through screw connection by manually operating the rod (350) or a torque wrench (390).

[0165] After going through this process, the battery cell (20) can be fixed under uniform pressure inside a pair of plates (100). The battery cell (20) fixed in this way can be introduced into a charging / discharging device together with the battery cell pressurizing device (10).

[0166] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 to 17 are drawings sequentially illustrating a battery cell pressurization process according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0167] A battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention may be composed of the following series of steps to apply uniform pressure to the entire battery cell (20) aligned between a pair of plates (100). First, the center of the pair of plates (100) can be primarily pressed through a second pressurization unit (300). Subsequently, while the center of the pair of plates (100) is pressed by the second pressurization unit (300), the edges of the pair of plates (100) can be pressed through a first pressurization unit (200). This series of steps will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17.

[0168] A battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S210, a step of aligning at least one battery cell (20) between a pair of plates (100). At this time, the battery cell (20) may be accommodated and aligned between the pair of plates (100) so that the entire battery cell (20) is uniformly pressurized.

[0169] Next, a battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S230, a step of pressurizing the center of a pair of plates (100) using a second pressurization unit (300).

[0170] Referring to FIG. 15, the second pressure unit (300) may be configured to be positioned on a pair of plates (100) to apply pressure to the center of the pair of plates (100). Specifically, when a torque wrench (390) or a rod (350) is screwed into a through hole (373) formed in the first part (371) of the connecting member (370) by rotating it clockwise, the rod (350) can apply pressure to the first pressure member (310). At the same time, the second part (377) of the connecting member (370) can move closer to the second pressure member (330) by the rotation of the rod (350), thereby applying pressure to the second pressure member (330). At this time, the second pressure unit (300) can replace the press unit (400) and perform the role of applying pressure to the center of the pair of plates (100) preferentially.

[0171] Next, a battery cell pressurization method according to another embodiment of the present invention may include, in step S250, a step of pressing the edges of a pair of plates (100) using a first pressurization unit (200).

[0172] Referring to FIG. 16, after the center of a pair of plates (100) is pressed by the second pressurizing unit (300), the first pressurizing unit (200) can press the edges of the pair of plates (100) with a pressure similar to the pressure applied by the second pressurizing unit (300). Specifically, the first pressurizing unit (200) can press the edges of the pair of plates (100) by fastening the bolt (210) and the guide hole (110) so that uniform pressure can be applied to the entire battery cell (20).

[0173] Referring to FIG. 17, the battery cell (20) can be fixed while receiving uniform pressure inside a pair of plates (100) by undergoing a process of sequentially pressurizing by the second pressurizing unit (300) and the first pressurizing unit (200). The battery cell (20) fixed in this way can be introduced into a charging / discharging device together with the battery cell pressurizing device (10).

[0174] Meanwhile, unlike the methods described above, the battery cell pressurization method may omit the step of a pair of plates (100) being preliminarily pressed by a press unit (400), and may include the step of first pressing the edges of a pair of plates (100) by a first pressurization unit (200), and then secondarily pressing the center of a pair of plates (100) by a second pressurization unit (300).

[0175] Meanwhile, in various embodiments, the battery cell pressurization method may further include the step of measuring the pressure applied to a pair of plates (100) by a first pressurization unit (200) and a second pressurization unit (300).

[0176] For example, the battery cell pressurizing device (10) may include a pressure measuring sensor, and the pressure measuring sensor can measure in real time the pressure applied to a pair of plates (100) and a battery cell (20) by the first and second pressurizing units (200, 300). This allows for accurate determination of whether uniform pressure is applied to the battery cell (20), and if necessary, the pressure can be adjusted to maintain a uniform pressurized state for the battery cell (20).

[0177] Additionally, the battery cell pressurization method may further include a step of adjusting the magnitude of the pressure applied by at least one of the first pressurization unit (200) and the second pressurization unit (300) when the pressure applied to the entire battery cell (20) is uneven.

[0178] For example, a pressure measuring sensor can determine whether a uniform pressure is applied to the battery cell (20), and if necessary, determine whether to adjust the pressure of either the first pressurizing unit (200) or the second pressurizing unit (300).

[0179] For example, if the pressure applied to the entire battery cell (20) and the pair of plates (100) is uneven, and the pressure of the first pressure unit (200) is lower than that of the second pressure unit (300), the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20) can be increased by rotating the bolt (210) of the first pressure unit (200) clockwise with respect to the fixed guide hole (110). Additionally, the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20) can be reduced by rotating the rod (350) of the second pressure unit (300) counterclockwise with respect to the fixed through hole (373) to reduce the pressure applied to the first pressure member (310).

[0180] Conversely, if the pressure of the first pressurizing unit (200) is greater than that of the second pressurizing unit (300), the bolt (210) of the first pressurizing unit (200) can be rotated counterclockwise with respect to the fixed guide hole (110) to reduce the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20). Additionally, the rod (350) of the second pressurizing unit (300) can be rotated clockwise with respect to the fixed through hole (373) to apply greater pressure to the first pressurizing member (310), thereby increasing the pressure applied to the pair of plates (100) and the battery cell (20).

[0181] The battery cell pressurization method described above is merely one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications, additions, or deletions may be made within the technical spirit and scope of the present invention, and each step of the battery cell pressurization method may be modified or adjusted as necessary.

[0182] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples including preferred modes of carrying out the present invention, this is merely illustrative and does not limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that numerous modifications and substitutions of the systems and technologies described above are possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, differences related to such modifications and applications should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pair of plates arranged facing each other to accommodate a battery cell between them; A first pressure unit that fixes the pair of plates and presses the edges of the pair of plates; and It includes a second pressure unit that presses the center of the above pair of plates, and The above second pressurizing unit is, A first pressure member and a second pressure member respectively disposed at the center of each outer surface of the pair of plates; and A pressure regulating assembly comprising a first pressurizing member and a second pressurizing member, wherein Battery cell pressurizing device.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above pressure regulating assembly is, A rod that presses the first pressing member; and It includes a connecting member that is connected to the above rod and presses the second pressing member, The above connecting member is, A first part disposed on the upper part of the first pressure member and connected to the rod; A second part disposed at the lower part of the second pressing member and pressing the second pressing member; and A plurality of third parts connecting both ends of the first part and both ends of the second part, Battery cell pressurizing device.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above first part includes a through hole formed in the center, and The above rod penetrates the through hole and presses the first pressing member, and The above rod includes a first screw thread formed on the outer surface, and The above through hole includes a second screw thread formed to be screw-coupled with the first screw thread, Battery cell pressurizing device.

4. In Paragraph 3, As the rod is further inserted through the through hole, the rod and the second part each pressurize the first pressing member and the second pressing member each with greater pressure. Battery cell pressurizing device.

5. In Paragraph 2, The above rod includes a coupling portion formed at the end of the rod, and The pressure regulating assembly further includes a torque wrench coupled to the coupling portion to apply pressure. Battery cell pressurizing device.

6. In Paragraph 1, The first pressure unit comprises two or more bolts that press the edges of the pair of plates, and The above pair of plates includes two or more guide holes formed at the edges of the pair of plates so that two or more bolts can pass through. Battery cell pressurizing device.

7. In Paragraph 6, The above two or more bolts and the above two or more guide holes are spaced apart at regular intervals in an area where the battery cell is not located, Battery cell pressurizing device.

8. In Paragraph 1, It further includes a press unit that preliminarily presses the above pair of plates, and The first pressing unit presses the edges of the pair of plates while the pair of plates are pressed by the press unit. Battery cell pressurizing device.

9. In Paragraph 8, After the edges of the pair of plates are pressed by the first pressing unit, the press unit releases the pressure, and the second pressing unit presses the center of the pair of plates. Battery cell pressurizing device.

10. In Paragraph 1, A pressure measuring sensor further comprising the pressure measuring sensor capable of measuring the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the first pressurizing unit and the second pressurizing unit. Battery cell pressurizing device.

11. A step of aligning at least one battery cell between a pair of plates; A step of applying pressure to the edges of the pair of plates using a first pressure unit; and The method includes the step of pressing the center of the pair of plates using a second pressure unit after the edges of the pair of plates are pressed by the first pressure unit, and The above second pressurizing unit is, A pair of pressure members each disposed at the center of the outer surface of each of the pair of plates; and A pressure regulating assembly comprising a pair of pressure members that apply pressure, Battery cell pressurization method.

12. In Paragraph 11, Prior to the step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates, the method further includes the step of preliminarily pressing the pair of plates using a press unit, and The step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates is performed while the pair of plates are pressed by the press unit. Battery cell pressurization method.

13. In Paragraph 12, After the step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates, the method further includes the step of releasing the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the press unit. The step of pressing the center of the pair of plates is performed when the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the press unit is released. Battery cell pressurization method.

14. In Paragraph 11, A step of measuring the pressure applied to the pair of plates by the first pressurizing unit and the second pressurizing unit; and If the pressure applied to the entire battery cell is non-uniform, the method further includes the step of adjusting the pressure applied by at least one of the first pressurizing unit and the second pressurizing unit. Battery cell pressurization method.

15. A step of aligning at least one battery cell between a pair of plates; A step of applying pressure to the center of the pair of plates using a second pressure unit; and The method includes the step of pressing the edges of the pair of plates using a first pressure unit after the center of the pair of plates is pressed by the second pressure unit, The above second pressurizing unit is, A pair of pressure members each disposed at the center of the outer surface of each of the pair of plates; and A pressure regulating assembly comprising a pair of pressure members that apply pressure, Battery cell pressurization method.

Images