Electrode assembly, apparatus for manufacturing electrode assembly, and method for manufacturing electrode assembly
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
Smart Images
Figure KR2026001397_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Electrode assembly and electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus, and electrode assembly manufacturing method
[0001] Cross-citation with related application(s)
[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0011356 filed January 24, 2025 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2026-0003524 filed January 8, 2026, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein as part of this specification.
[0003] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly, an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly, and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly. More specifically, the invention relates to providing an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly with improved productivity, and to providing an electrode assembly with improved electrode quality.
[0004] In modern society, as the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, camcorders, and digital cameras, as well as energy storage systems (ESS), has become commonplace, the development of technologies in related fields is becoming active. Furthermore, rechargeable secondary batteries are being utilized as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs) as a solution to address air pollution caused by conventional gasoline vehicles using fossil fuels; consequently, the need for the development of secondary batteries is increasing.
[0005] Currently commercialized rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium, nickel-hydrogen, nickel-zinc, and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries are receiving the most attention due to their advantages of free charging and discharging, low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.
[0006] These lithium secondary batteries primarily use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as the positive and negative active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly in which a positive plate and a negative plate, each coated with the positive and negative active materials, are arranged with a separator in between, and an outer casing, namely a battery case, that seals and houses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.
[0007] These lithium secondary batteries primarily use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as the positive and negative active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly in which a positive plate and a negative plate, each coated with the positive and negative active materials, are arranged with a separator in between, and an outer casing, namely a battery case, that seals and houses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.
[0008] Such electrode assemblies may consist of a jelly-roll type assembly having a structure in which a separator is interposed between sheet-type anodes and cathodes and then wound, a stack type assembly consisting of unit cells having a structure in which rectangular anodes and cathodes are stacked with a separator interposed between them, a stack-folding type assembly in which unit cells are wound by a long separating film, or a lamination-stack type assembly in which unit cells are stacked with a separator interposed between them and attached to one another.
[0009] Among these, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a process for manufacturing an electrode assembly using conventional zigzag stacking.
[0010] The separator sheet (3) moves in one direction and is placed on the stack unit (4) (see Sc1), and then the negative plate (1) is placed on the separator sheet (3) placed on the stack unit (4) (see Sc2). Next, the separator sheet (3) is folded and moves in the other direction to cover the negative plate (1) (see Sc3). The positive plate (2) is placed on the top layer of the separator sheet (3) placed on the stack unit (4) (see Sc4). Next, the separator sheet (3) is folded and moves in one direction again to cover the positive plate (2).
[0011] Meanwhile, in the conventional technology, where the separator sheet is folded in a zigzag pattern and the negative and positive plates are alternately inserted one by one from each side, only one electrode plate is supplied at a time. Accordingly, an apparatus and method are required to further improve the productivity of the electrode assembly compared to the conventional technology.
[0012] The present invention aims to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly with improved productivity and a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, and to provide an electrode assembly with improved electrode quality.
[0013] However, the problems that the embodiments of the present invention aim to solve are not limited to the problems described above and can be expanded in various ways within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention.
[0014] An electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates, and a cover separator sheet coupled to the laminate to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides where the electrode tab of the laminate is not located.
[0015] The above cover separator sheet can be bonded to the separator sheets on the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate, respectively.
[0016] The electrode assembly may include an overlapping portion in which both ends of the cover separator sheet in the vertical direction are folded to overlap between the cover separator sheet and the separator sheet on the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate.
[0017] The above overlap portion may include a joint formed between the upper and lower surface separator sheets of the laminate and the cover separator sheet.
[0018] The above joint may be formed by heating and fusing the separator sheet on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate and the cover separator sheet.
[0019] The above joint may include at least one line shape or a plurality of point shapes.
[0020] The separator sheet and the cover separator sheet of the above laminate may be the same type of separator sheet.
[0021] The height of the cover separator sheet is equal to or greater than the height of at least one of the two sides of the laminate, and both ends of the cover separator sheet in the height direction are each folded, and the length of the folded portions of both ends may be smaller than the length in the horizontal direction of the laminate.
[0022] When viewed from one side of the above laminate, the separator sheet interposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate may not be folded.
[0023] When viewed from one side of the above-described laminate, the separator sheet interposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate may not be connected to each other between the laminated separator sheets.
[0024] When viewed from the other side of the two sides of the laminate, the separator sheet may be folded to wrap the upper and lower surfaces of either the anode plate or the cathode plate from the other side.
[0025] When viewed from the other side of the two sides of the above laminate, either of the anode plate and the cathode plate may be inserted into the folded portion of the folded separator, and the other of the anode plate and the cathode plate may be interposed between adjacent folded separators.
[0026] The above laminate may be separated into a second laminate in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed between the set of positive plates and the set of negative plates, and the second laminate is cut to form a zigzag-shaped laminate in which a set of positive plates and a set of negative plates are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed between the set of positive plates and the set of negative plates, thereby being separated into a second laminate in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed between them.
[0027] An electrode assembly manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a stack unit in which a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates is stacked, and a cover separator providing unit that provides a cover separator sheet to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides of the laminate where the electrode tab is not located.
[0028] The above cover separator providing unit may include a receiving portion having a concave shape to receive the cover separator sheet and including at least three faces, and a fixing portion disposed at both ends in the upper and lower directions of the receiving portion and including a plurality of adsorption holes.
[0029] The above cover separator providing unit further includes heating members disposed at both ends in the upper and lower directions of the receiving portion, and the heating members can heat the overlapping portion of the cover separator sheet and the separator sheet of the unit laminate when the cover separator sheet received in the receiving portion is provided to the open surface of the unit laminate.
[0030] The heating element may be a heat conductor comprising at least one line shape or a plurality of point shapes.
[0031] The height of the cover separator sheet is equal to or greater than the height of at least one of the two sides of the laminate, and both ends of the cover separator sheet in the height direction are each folded, and the length of the folded portions of both ends may be smaller than the length in the horizontal direction of the laminate.
[0032] The above electrode assembly manufacturing device further includes a first transfer unit and a second transfer unit for transferring a separator sheet to the cover separator providing unit, and a cover separator cutting unit provided between the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit, wherein the separator sheet moves along the first transfer unit and then moves a predetermined distance along the second transfer unit, and is then cut by the cover separator cutting unit, and the cover separator providing unit can receive the separator sheet cut to a predetermined length located on the second transfer unit and provide it to the open surface of the second laminate as the cover separator sheet.
[0033] The first transfer unit and the second transfer unit may each include an adsorption type transfer belt and a drive pulley that drives the transfer belt.
[0034] In the stack unit above, a first laminate is stacked in which a set of positive plates and a set of negative plates are alternately stacked in a plurality of units and a separator sheet is interposed between the set of positive plates and the set of negative plates, and the electrode assembly manufacturing device further includes a laminate cutting unit that separates the first laminate into a second laminate in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed between them, and the cover separator sheet may be provided on the open surface of the second laminate to cover the open surface of the second laminate.
[0035] A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of: manufacturing a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates; and providing a cover separator sheet to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides of the laminate where the electrode tab is not located.
[0036] The step of combining the laminate and the cover separator sheet may include the step of overlapping the cover separator sheet on each of the upper and lower separator sheets of the laminate, and the step of bonding the cover separator sheet to each of the upper and lower separator sheets of the laminate.
[0037] In the bonding step above, the bonding portion between the separator sheet on the upper surface and the lower surface of the laminate and the cover separator sheet can be heated and fused.
[0038] According to the present invention, the production speed of the electrode assembly manufacturing process can be improved.
[0039] In addition, as the production speed of the electrode assembly increases, the number of devices required for the process can be reduced, thereby improving space utilization.
[0040] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.
[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a process for manufacturing an electrode assembly using conventional zigzag stacking.
[0042] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a laminate manufacturing apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates the S0 process, which is an initial process, during the process of manufacturing a first laminate in the laminate manufacturing device (100) of FIG. 3.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S1 following process S0 of FIG. 4.
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S2 following process S1 of FIG. 5.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S3 following process S2 of FIG. 6.
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S4 following process S3 of FIG. 7.
[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates a first laminate (A) and a winding process S5, in which lamination is completed according to the process described in FIG. 3 to 8.
[0049] FIG. 10 illustrates a process S6 for separating the first laminated body (A) of FIG. 9, which has completed lamination, from the membrane guide unit.
[0050] FIG. 11 illustrates a process S7 for separating the first laminate (A) of FIG. 10 into the second laminate (B).
[0051] FIG. 12 is a reference drawing of FIG. 11 and illustrates a separated second laminate (B).
[0052] FIG. 13 illustrates a process S8 of attaching a cover separator sheet (30a) to a second laminate (B).
[0053] FIG. 14, as a reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 11, illustrates an electrode assembly (1000) in which the bonding of the cover separator sheet (30a) is completed.
[0054] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the electrode assembly (1000) of FIG. 14.
[0055] FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate a process for manufacturing a cover separator sheet (30a) in a cover separator providing device (200).
[0056] FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the cover separator providing unit (210) in the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the movable bridge unit (250) of FIG. 16 to 18.
[0058] FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of the movable bridge unit (250) of FIG. 16 to 18.
[0059] FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0060] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
[0061] To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components throughout the specification.
[0062] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily for convenience of explanation, and thus the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is illustrated. Thicknesses have been enlarged in the drawings to clearly represent various layers and regions. Additionally, for convenience of explanation, the thickness of some layers and regions has been exaggerated in the drawings.
[0063] Furthermore, when a part such as a layer, membrane, region, or plate is said to be "on" or "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Also, saying that a part is "on" or "on" a reference part means that it is located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean that it is located "on" or "on" facing the opposite direction of gravity.
[0064] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.
[0065] Additionally, throughout the specification, "planar" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "cross-sectional" means when the cross-section obtained by vertically cutting the subject part is viewed from the side.
[0066] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0067] First, an electrode assembly manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a laminate manufacturing device (100) and a cover separator providing device (200). The laminate manufacturing device (100) is described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 15, and the cover separator providing device (200) is described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 21.
[0068] A laminate manufacturing device (100) is provided in multiple numbers and manufactures a laminate comprising an anode plate and a cathode plate alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate (e.g., see second laminate (B) in FIG. 15).
[0069] Additionally, the cover separator providing device (200) provides a cover separator sheet (30a, see FIG. 15) to the laminate (B).
[0070] First, referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the cover separator sheet (30a) covers at least one of the two opposing sides of the laminate (B) where the electrode tab is not located. More specifically, the cover separator sheet (30a) covers the open side (i.e., the side not covered by the separator sheet (30)) of the two opposing sides of the laminate (B) where the electrode tab is not located. The cover separator sheet (30a) can be attached to the separator sheet (30) of the upper and lower sides of the laminate (B), respectively.
[0071] For reference, FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a case where a cover separator sheet (30a) is provided on one side of the laminate (B), but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to what is illustrated and two cover separator sheets (30a) may be provided on each of the two sides facing each other of the laminate (B).
[0072] Meanwhile, for a more detailed description of the cover separator sheet (30a), refer to the embodiments described below in FIG. 13.
[0073] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a laminate manufacturing apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0074] The stack unit (110) is in the shape of a plate or table, and it is sufficient if it allows a stack to be stacked on a flat upper surface, and it can be appropriately modified and changed to suit the environment in which the present invention is implemented.
[0075] A stack is formed by stacking a plurality of first electrode plates (10) and second electrode plates (20) alternately stacked on a stack unit (110), and a separator sheet (30) interposed between the first electrode plates (10) and the second electrode plates (20). The first electrode plate (10) is either a positive plate or a negative plate, and the second electrode plate (20) is the other between the positive plate and the negative plate.
[0076] It should be noted that there are no special limitations on the method of stacking a laminate in the stack unit (110) of the laminate manufacturing device (100) of the electrode assembly manufacturing device according to the present invention, and that it is not limited to the stacking method described in FIGS. 4 to 12 below. In the stack unit (110) of the electrode assembly manufacturing device according to the present invention, stacking of the laminate can be performed in various ways to suit the environment in which the present invention is implemented or the laminate to be manufactured.
[0077] For example, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are alternately placed on a stack unit (110) with a separator sheet (30) interposed between them. A set of first electrode plates (10) means that a plurality of first electrode plates (10) are provided and arranged side by side. Likewise, a set of second electrode plates (20) means that a plurality of second electrode plates (20) are provided and arranged side by side.
[0078] The separator sheet (30) is folded at one side and the other side of the stack unit (110), respectively, and is interposed between one set of first electrode plates (10) and one set of second electrode plates (20), respectively, so that a zigzag stack-type first laminate (A) can be stacked on the stack unit (110).
[0079] The first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are each provided as individual plate-shaped electrode plates. The polarity of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) is different. That is, the first electrode plate (10) is either a positive plate or a negative plate, and the second electrode plate (20) is the other of a positive plate and a negative plate.
[0080] Meanwhile, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary case in which two first electrode plates (10) are provided on the stack unit (110) at once and arranged side by side, and two second electrode plates (20) are provided on the stack unit (110) at once and arranged side by side. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes are possible, such as providing three or more first electrode plates (10) and three or more second electrode plates (20) on the stack unit (110) at once, depending on the case.
[0081] A holding member (111) is additionally provided on the stack unit (110) so that the stacking of the laminate can proceed while holding each of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) in a stepwise aligned state. The holding member (111) may be, for example, a mandrel, but is not limited thereto and various modifications and changes are possible.
[0082] The separator guide unit (120) provides a separator sheet (30) on the stack unit (110). The separator guide unit (120) may be, for example, a pair of guide members (e.g., roller shape), but the present invention is not limited thereto; it is sufficient as long as the separator sheet (30) can be drawn out and guided, and the present invention can be appropriately modified and changed to suit the environment in which it is implemented.
[0083] The membrane guide unit (120) may alternately move between one side and the other side of the stack unit (110) on top of the stack unit (110), as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to 8 described later. Alternatively, although not illustrated in the present invention, in the opposite case, the membrane guide unit (120) may be fixed in the middle, and the stack unit (110) may alternately move between the other side and the one side with the membrane guide unit (120) in between. Alternatively, various modifications are possible, such as by combining the above-described implementation methods, the membrane guide unit (120) and the stack unit (110) may alternately move between the other side and the one side in relatively opposite directions.
[0084] A pair of electrode supply units (130) are positioned on each side of the stack unit (110), with the stack unit (110) in between. Each of the pair of electrode supply units (130) has a plurality of first electrode plates (10) and second electrode plates (20) loaded thereon, and may be, for example, magazines. Each of the electrode supply units (130) positioned on both sides of the stack unit (110) alternately provides the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) one by one onto the stack unit (110).
[0085] An alignment unit (140) may be additionally provided between the stack unit (110) and the electrode supply unit (130). A first electrode plate (10) picked up individually from the electrode supply unit (130) may be placed side by side in a plurality on the alignment unit (140) and inspected for misalignment or defects of the first electrode plate (10) using a vision unit (camera). Afterward, the first electrode plate (10) that is determined to be normal and correctly aligned may be picked up again from the alignment unit (140) and provided onto the stack unit (110). A second electrode plate (20) may also be placed side by side in a plurality on the alignment unit (140) in the same manner and inspected using a vision unit (camera), and then picked up again from the alignment unit (140) and provided onto the stack unit (110).
[0086] Meanwhile, the laminate manufacturing device (100) of FIG. 3 additionally includes a laminate cutting unit (180) to be described later in FIG. 11, but the component will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.
[0087] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8, a stacking process of a first laminate (A) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the first laminate (A) may be stacked by employing a zigzag stacking method.
[0088] FIG. 4 illustrates the S0 process, which is an initial process, during the process of manufacturing a laminate in the laminate manufacturing device (100) of FIG. 3.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 4, the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is placed on the stack unit (110), and the separator sheet (30) is extended in one direction (S0). For example, the separator guide unit (120) may move in one direction. Additionally, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) may be supplied from an electrode supply unit (130, see FIG. 3) and wait at an alignment unit (140, see FIG. 3) respectively, so that a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) may be alternately provided on each side of the stack unit (110).
[0090] Next, FIG. 5 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S1 following process S0 of FIG. 4.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 5, a set of first electrode plates (10) is placed on a separator sheet (30) located on a stack unit (110) (S1). For example, a set of first electrode plates (10) may be placed in a parallel arrangement on an alignment unit (140) and wait in a properly aligned state, then picked up by a pickup unit or a gripper (not shown), and the set of first electrode plates (10) may be placed on the separator sheet (30) located on the stack unit (110) at once.
[0092] Next, FIG. 6 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S2 following process S1 of FIG. 5.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 6, the separator sheet (30) is folded from one side and extended in the other direction (S2). For example, the separator guide unit (120) may move in the other direction. Additionally, the separator sheet (30) is folded from one side of the stack unit (110). That is, the separator sheet (30) is folded from one side of a set of first electrode plates (10) placed on the top layer and extends in the other direction to cover the set of first electrode plates (10) placed on the stack unit (110) in process S1.
[0094] Next, FIG. 7 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S3 following process S2 of FIG. 6.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 7, a set of second electrode plates (20) is placed on a separator sheet (30) located on a stack unit (110) (S3). For example, a set of second electrode plates (20) may be placed in a parallel arrangement on an alignment unit (140) and wait in a properly aligned state, then picked up by a pickup unit or a gripper (not shown), and the set of second electrode plates (20) may be placed on the separator sheet (30) located on the stack unit (110) at once.
[0096] Next, FIG. 8 illustrates a first laminate stacking process S4 following process S3 of FIG. 7.
[0097] Referring to FIG. 8, the separator sheet (30) is folded from the other side and extended in one direction (S4). The separator sheet (30) is folded from the other side of the stack unit (110). That is, the separator sheet (30) is folded from the other side of the set of second electrode plates (20) placed on the top layer and extends in one direction, covering the set of second electrode plates (20) placed on the stack unit (110) in process S3.
[0098] In addition, process S4 is in the same state as when the separator sheet (30) is extended in one direction in process S0, except that there is a laminated body stacked up to the previous process. The lamination process proceeds while repeating the processes described above in processes S1 to S4.
[0099] Accordingly, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are alternately placed on a stack unit (110) with a separator sheet (30) interposed between them, and the separator sheet (30) is folded at one side and the other side of the stack unit (110) respectively and interposed between a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) respectively, so that a zigzag stack-type first laminate (A, see FIG. 9) is stacked on the stack unit (110).
[0100] For reference, in FIGS. 3 to 8, regarding the one-sided and other-sided directions in which the separator sheet (30) extends, for convenience, when the direction in which the laminate is stacked is set as the z-axis, the one-sided direction is shown as the +x-axis direction and the other-sided direction is shown as the -x-axis direction. However, the present invention is not limited to what is shown, and various modifications and changes are possible, such as implementing the one-sided direction as the -x-axis direction and the other-sided direction as the +x-axis direction.
[0101] FIG. 9 illustrates a first laminate (A) and a winding process (S5) in which lamination is completed according to the process described in FIG. 3 to 8.
[0102] In the first laminate (A) according to the embodiment of FIG. 9, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are alternately stacked. That is, in one layer, a plurality of first electrode plates (10) are arranged side by side, or a plurality of second electrode plates (20) are arranged side by side.
[0103] To elaborate, when a laminate in which one first electrode plate (10) and one second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked is called a second laminate (B), the first laminate (A) with completed stacking in FIG. 9 can be said to be in a state in which a plurality (two in the example of FIG. 9) of second laminates (B) are stacked.
[0104] After the lamination of the first laminate (A) is completed, a winding process (S5) of the first laminate (A) can be performed. A process can be performed in which the membrane sheet (30) is further drawn out from the membrane guide unit (120, see FIG. 8) and wrapped at least once along the perimeter of the first laminate (A). Accordingly, the first laminate (A) that has been laminated can be fixed. The winding process (S5) can be performed while the membrane sheet (30) that has been further extended from the first laminate (A) is fixed to the adsorption plate (150).
[0105] Alternatively, the separator sheet (30) may be wrapped two or three times along the perimeter of the first laminate (A), and the number of windings may be varied depending on the environment in which the invention is implemented or the specifications of the laminate to be manufactured.
[0106] In an embodiment of the present invention, in the winding process (S5) after the stacking of the first laminate (A) is completed, rather than the winding process of the separator sheet (30) being performed along the perimeter of each second laminate (B), the winding process of the separator sheet (30) is performed along the perimeter of the first laminate (A) composed of a plurality of second laminates (B).
[0107] Regarding other winding techniques in the winding process (S5), winding techniques used in general electrode assembly manufacturing processes may be applied. For example, the winding process may be performed by rotating the first laminate (A) while gripping it with a winding gripper (not shown), etc.
[0108] In addition, depending on the case, a winding process of the separator sheet (30) may be additionally performed along the perimeter of the second laminate (B, see FIG. 13) while separated into one second laminate (B) to be described later.
[0109] FIG. 10 illustrates a process S6 for separating the first laminated body (A) of FIG. 9, which has completed lamination, from the membrane guide unit.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 10, the first laminate (A) of FIG. 9, which has been laminated (additionally wound), is separated (S6). That is, the end of the separator sheet (30) of the first laminate (A) that has been wound is cut by a separator sheet cutting unit (160) to separate it from the separator sheet (30) that is drawn out from the separator guide unit (120, see FIG. 8).
[0111] Next, FIG. 11 illustrates a process S7 for separating the first laminate (A) of FIG. 10 into the second laminate (B).
[0112] Referring to FIG. 11, the first laminate (A) is separated into the second laminate (B) (S7). After fixing both sides of the first laminate (A) with a pair of laminate fixing units (170), the portion where only the separator sheet (30) is laminated between adjacent electrode plates (10, 20) of the first laminate (A) is cut using a laminate cutting unit (180). The cut surface of the second laminate (B) formed by cutting the first laminate (A) becomes the open surface (C).
[0113] When the portion consisting only of the separator sheet (30) between adjacent second laminates (B) within a first laminate (A) is cut, the second laminates (B) are separated. At this time, in order to prevent electrical short circuits, the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are not cut.
[0114] In the first laminate (A), if a plurality of first electrode plates (10) and a plurality of second electrode plates (20) are each arranged, for example, in the horizontal direction of the first laminate (A) (the x-axis direction in FIG. 11), the open surface (C) has a plane formed by the vertical direction of the first laminate (A) (the y-axis direction in FIG. 11) and the stacking direction of the first laminate (A) which is orthogonal to the horizontal direction of the first laminate (A). That is, since FIG. 11 corresponds to a front view, the open surface (C) is indicated by a dotted line, but note that the open surface (C) is a surface. For reference, the electrode tab of the first electrode plate (10), the electrode tab of the second electrode plate (20), and the electrode leads formed by joining them are provided on at least one of the two sides facing each other in the vertical direction (the y-axis direction in FIG. 11) of the first laminate (A).
[0115] Additionally, in the first laminate (A), if a plurality of first electrode plates (10) and a plurality of second electrode plates (20) are each arranged in the horizontal direction (x-axis direction of FIG. 11) of the first laminate (A), the open surface (C) may be formed by dividing the horizontal direction of the first laminate (A) equally.
[0116] FIGS. 4 to 10 illustrate the case in which the first laminate (A) in the above-described embodiment is composed of two second laminates (B). Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 11, the open surface (C) of the first laminate (A) may be a portion consisting only of the separator sheet (30) between the two second laminates (B). The open surface (C) may be formed on the centerline in the horizontal direction of the first laminate (A) by bisecting the horizontal direction of the first laminate (A).
[0117] The laminate fixing unit (170) may be, for example, a gripper that grips each of the two opposing sides of the first laminate (A). The laminate cutting unit (180) may be, for example, a heating blade. With respect to the laminate fixing unit (170) and the laminate cutting unit (180), the present invention is not limited to those described above, and it is sufficient that they are capable of performing the process (S7) of separating the first laminate (A) into the second laminate (B), and the present invention may be implemented with various modifications and changes to suit the environment in which it is implemented.
[0118] FIG. 12 is a reference drawing of FIG. 11 and illustrates a separated second laminate (B). A second laminate (B1) and a second laminate (B2) separated along the open surface (C) at the center of the first laminate (A) of FIG. 11 are illustrated in FIG. 12 (a) and FIG. 12 (b), respectively.
[0119] First, referring to FIG. 12(a), a separator sheet (30) is not folded on one of the two sides of the second laminate (B1) (e.g., one side in the +x axis direction; open side (C)), but a separator sheet (30) is folded on the other of the two sides of the second laminate (B1) facing it (e.g., the other side in the -x axis direction).
[0120] To elaborate, when viewed from one side of the second laminate (B1), the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked from the bottom layer in order on one side of the second laminate (B1) (i.e., the open side (C)) with a separator sheet (30) in between, and the separator sheet (30) is not folded at one end of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) facing the open side (C). Additionally, when viewed from one side of the second laminate (B1), the stacked separator sheets (30) are not connected to each other.
[0121] Meanwhile, on the other side of the second laminate (B1), the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked in order from the bottom layer with a separator sheet (30) in between, and the separator sheet (30) is folded at either of the other ends of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20). In the example of FIG. 12 (a), the separator sheet (30) is folded at the other end of the second electrode plate (20) so that the separator sheet (30) wraps around the upper and lower surfaces of the second electrode plate (20) from the other side.
[0122] That is, the separator sheet (30) disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the second electrode plate (20) is formed integrally, and the second electrode plate (20) is inserted into the folded portion of the folded separator sheet (30). The first electrode plate (10) is interposed between one set of separator sheets (30) into which the second electrode plate (20) is inserted and another set of separator sheets (30) into which the second electrode plate (20) is inserted adjacent thereto.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 12(b), the separator sheet (30) is not folded on one of the two sides of the second laminate (B2) (e.g., the other side in the -x-axis direction; open side (C)), but the separator sheet (30) is folded on the other of the two sides of the second laminate (B2) facing it (e.g., one side in the +x-axis direction).
[0124] To elaborate, as shown in FIG. 12(b), when viewed from the other side of the second laminate (B2), the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked from the bottom layer in order with a separator sheet (30) in between, and the separator sheet (30) is not folded at the other end of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) facing the open side (C). When viewed from the other side of the second laminate (B2), the stacked separator sheets (30) are not connected to each other.
[0125] Meanwhile, on one side of the second laminate (B2), the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked in order from the bottom layer with a separator sheet (30) in between, and the separator sheet (30) is folded at one end of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20). In the example of FIG. 12 (b), the separator sheet (30) is folded at one end of the first electrode plate (10) so that the separator sheet (30) wraps around the upper and lower surfaces of the first electrode plate (10) from one side.
[0126] That is, the separator sheet (30) disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first electrode plate (10) is formed integrally, and the first electrode plate (10) is inserted into the folded portion of the folded separator sheet (30). The second electrode plate (20) is interposed between one set of separator sheets (30) into which the first electrode plate (10) is inserted and another set of separator sheets (30) into which the first electrode plate (10) is inserted adjacent thereto.
[0127] Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, a case was described in which the first laminate (A) is laminated using a zigzag stacking method. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first laminate (A) may be manufactured using a lamination and stacking method, and the invention may be modified and changed to suit the environment in which it is implemented.
[0128] Next, FIG. 13 illustrates a process S8 of attaching a cover separator sheet (30a) to the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B).
[0129] First, the cover separator sheet (30a) may be cut to a height equal to or greater than the height of the laminate so that it can cover either of the two opposing sides of the laminate where the electrode tabs of the laminate are not located along the height direction (lamination direction) of the laminate (e.g., the second laminate (B) in the example of FIG. 13).
[0130] Additionally, both ends (top and bottom) of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction of FIG. 13) are each folded, and the length of each of the folded portions of both ends is smaller than the length in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) of the laminate. The folded portions of both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) can be overlapped with one edge and the vicinity of the top separator sheet (30) of the laminate and one edge and the vicinity of the bottom separator sheet (30), respectively.
[0131] In the example of FIG. 13, a cover separator sheet (30a) is attached to the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B) (S8). Accordingly, the side ends of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) that were exposed to the open surface (C) are also covered with the cover separator sheet (30a).
[0132] The cover separator sheet (30a) may be cut to a height equal to or greater than the height of the second laminate (B) (the height of the first laminate (A)) so that it can cover either of the two sides of the second laminate (B) (e.g., the open side (C)) along the height direction (laminar direction) of the second laminate (B). As shown in FIG. 15, the cover separator sheet (30a) may cover the whole area of the open side (C) of the second laminate (B). Alternatively, in some cases, although not shown in FIG. 15, it may cover at least a portion of the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction) of the open side (C).
[0133] For the convenience of explanation, the cover separator sheet (30a) is distinguished from the separator sheet (30) and indicated by a different reference number; however, the cover separator sheet (30a) may be a separator sheet of the same type as the separator sheet (30), or it may be formed by partially unwinding the separator sheet (30) from a separator sheet supply unit (not shown) and cutting it. Of course, depending on the case, the cover separator sheet (30a) may be a separator sheet of a different type than the separator sheet (30).
[0134] Both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in FIG. 13) are folded and overlap with the separator sheet (30) on the outermost upper and lower surfaces of the second laminate (B). In the specification of the present invention, the portion where the cover separator sheet (30a) and the separator sheet (30) of the second laminate (B) overlap is referred to as the overlap portion (S).
[0135] For example, as shown in the enlarged view of the overlap portion (S) of FIG. 14, the folded ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) may overlap with one edge and its vicinity facing the open surface (C) of the uppermost separator sheet (30) of the second laminate (B), and one edge and its vicinity facing the open surface (C) of the lowermost separator sheet (30), respectively.
[0136] In addition, the cover separator sheet (30a) and the separator sheet (30) of the second laminate (B) may be joined, for example, in the overlapping portion (S).
[0137] With the second laminate (B) fixed by the laminate fixing unit (170), the cover separator providing unit (210), which receives the cover separator sheet (30a) in the receiving portion (211), moves to the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B). The cover separator sheet (30a) received in the receiving portion (211) of the cover separator providing unit (210) covers the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B). Additionally, as described later in FIGS. 14 and 15, bonding is performed with both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in FIG. 13) overlapping with the separator sheet (30) of the second laminate (B).
[0138] FIG. 14, as a reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 11, illustrates an electrode assembly (1000) in which a second laminate (B) and a cover separator sheet (30a) are combined. FIG. 15 illustrates the electrode assembly (1000) of FIG. 14 in a perspective view.
[0139] Referring to the reference drawings in FIGS. 14 and 15, for example, the folded ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) may overlap above the separator sheet (30) on the top surface of the second laminate (B) and below the separator sheet (30) on the bottom surface, respectively. In this overlapped state, as described below, if the overlapped portion (S) is heated and / or pressed along the portion labeled as the joint portion (Sa), the separator sheet (30) of the second laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (30a) overlapped on its surface are fused and joined together.
[0140] Although the illustration in FIG. 15 is omitted for convenience, the electrode tab of the first electrode plate (10) of the electrode assembly (1000) (second laminate (B)), the electrode tab of the second electrode plate (20), and the electrode leads joined thereto are provided on at least one of the two sides facing each other in the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction in FIG. 15) of the second laminate (B). For reference, the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B) is provided on at least one of the two sides facing each other in the transverse direction (y-axis direction in FIG. 15) of the second laminate (B).
[0141] Meanwhile, it should be noted that the cover separator sheet (30a) according to the present invention is sufficient if it can cover the open side of the laminate where the electrode tab is not located, and the cover separator sheet (30a) of the present invention is not limited to being combined only with the second laminate (B) manufactured in the manner described in FIGS. 3 to FIGS. 12 above.
[0142]
[0143] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18, a process for manufacturing a cover separator sheet (30a) in a cover separator providing device (200) will be described.
[0144] The cover separator providing device (200) mainly comprises a cover separator providing unit (210), a first transfer unit (220) and a second transfer unit (230), and a cover separator cutting unit (240).
[0145] Referring to FIG. 16, as illustrated in FIG. 16 (a), the separator sheet (30) first moves along the first transfer unit (220) and then moves along the second transfer unit (230). Between the first transfer unit (220) and the second transfer unit (230), a cover separator cutting unit (240) is disposed to cut the separator sheet (30) to a predetermined length to form a cover separator sheet (30a).
[0146] The first transfer unit (220) may include, for example, a rotary transfer belt (221) on which a membrane sheet (30) is placed and moved, and a drive pulley (222) that drives the transfer belt (221). The second transfer unit (230) may also include, for example, a rotary transfer belt (231) on which a membrane sheet (30) is placed and moved, and a drive pulley (232) that drives the transfer belt (231). The transfer belt (221) and the transfer belt (231) may include, for example, an adsorption portion capable of adsorbing the membrane sheet (30). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the membrane sheet (30) from unintentionally detaching from the surface of the transfer belt (221) and the transfer belt (231). Meanwhile, regarding the first transfer unit (220) and the second transfer unit (230), the present invention is not limited to what has been described above, and can be applied with various modifications and changes as long as a cover separator sheet (30a) can be provided.
[0147] The cover separator providing device (200) may additionally include a movable bridge unit (250). The movable bridge unit (250) is movable between the first transfer unit (220) and the second transfer unit (230). The movable bridge unit (250) is located at the first transfer unit (220) and then moves from the first transfer unit (220) to the second transfer unit (230) by adsorbing the starting end of the separator sheet (30) that moves along the first transfer unit (220). Once the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is moved to the second transfer unit (230), it can return to the first transfer unit (220).
[0148] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 16 (b), the separator sheet (30) is not moved only along the path within the first transfer unit (220) along the rotating first transfer unit (220), but the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is moved along the path of the second transfer unit (230) by the movable bridge unit (250).
[0149] Referring to FIG. 17, as illustrated in FIG. 17 (a), after the separator sheet (30) has moved a predetermined distance along the second transfer unit (230), a cover separator cutting unit (240) located between the first transfer unit (220) and the second transfer unit (230) cuts the separator sheet (30).
[0150] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 17 (b), the separator sheet (30) located on the surface of the second transfer unit (230) becomes a cover separator sheet (30a) having a predetermined length. That is, as described above in FIG. 13, the cover separator sheet (30a) has a predetermined length sufficient to cover the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B) and to overlap and bond with the second laminate (B). At this time, the cover separator providing unit (210) is waiting and moves toward the second transfer unit (230).
[0151] Referring to FIG. 18, as illustrated in FIG. 18 (a), the cover separator providing unit (210) moved to the second transfer unit (230) receives the cover separator sheet (30a) that was on the surface of the second transfer unit (230). The cover separator providing unit (210) may, for example, adsorb, grip, or pick up the cover separator sheet (30a).
[0152] In FIG. 19, which will be described later, the cover separator providing unit (210) is illustrated as an example of adsorbing, for instance, a cover separator sheet (30a), but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is sufficient if the cover separator providing unit (210) receives and accommodates the cover separator sheet (30a) that was on the surface of the second transfer unit (230) and then provides it to the second laminate (B) as described above in FIG. 13, and various modifications and changes are possible to suit the environment in which the present invention is implemented.
[0153] Figure 18 (b) shows a state in which a cover separator sheet (30a) on the surface of the second transfer unit (230) is received in the receiving portion (211) of the cover separator providing unit (210). In this state, the cover separator providing unit (210) moves to provide the cover separator sheet (30a) to the second laminate (B).
[0154] FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the cover separator providing unit (210) in the above-described embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 (a) shows each component of the cover separator providing unit (210) in a front view, and FIG. 19 (b) shows an enlarged perspective view of the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 19 (a).
[0155] Referring to FIG. 19 (a), the cover separator providing unit (210) includes a receiving portion (211) in which a cover separator sheet (30a) is received, a fixing portion (212) that fixes at least both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the upper and lower directions, and a heating portion (213) that joins the overlapping portion (S) of the cover separator sheet (30a) and the second laminate (B).
[0156] A cover separator sheet (30a) is received along the surface of the receiving portion (211). The receiving portion (211) may have a concave shape and, for example, may have at least three faces. Both ends of the receiving portion (211) in the vertical direction each receive both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the vertical direction. The fixing portion (212) and the heating portion (213) are respectively disposed at both ends of the receiving portion (211) in the vertical direction. The remaining face connecting both ends of the receiving portion (211) in the vertical direction receives a portion of the cover separator sheet (30a) facing the open surface (C) of the second laminate (B).
[0157] The fixing part (212) is provided at the upper and lower ends of the receiving part (211) of the cover separator providing unit (210) and fixes at least both ends of the cover separator sheet (30a) in the vertical direction. The fixing part (212) may be, for example, a plurality of suction holes. However, as described above, there are no limitations on the method of fixing the cover separator sheet (30a), and various modifications and changes are possible.
[0158] Meanwhile, although the embodiment of FIG. 19 illustrates a case where the fixing part (212) is provided at the upper and lower ends of the receiving part (211) of the cover separator providing unit (210), the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes are possible, such as providing a plurality of adsorption holes on part or all of the surface connecting the upper and lower ends of the receiving part (211).
[0159] The heating unit (213) is provided at the upper and lower ends of the receiving portion (211) of the cover separator providing unit (210) and may be, for example, a thermal conductor. The heating unit (213) heats and joins the overlapping portion (S) of the cover separator sheet (30a) and the second laminate (B).
[0160] The heating portion (213) and the joint portion (Sa, see FIG. 15) formed in the overlapping portion (S) of the cover separator sheet (30a) and the second laminate (B) accordingly may include at least one line shape (straight or curved) or a plurality of point shapes.
[0161] As illustrated in (b) of FIG. 19 as an example, the shape of the heating portion (213) may have a rectangular border shape. Accordingly, the bonding portion (Sa, see FIG. 15) formed on the overlapping portion (S) of the cover separator sheet (30a) and the second laminate (B) may also have a rectangular border shape corresponding to the shape of the heating portion (213). However, the present invention is not limited to what is illustrated, and it is sufficient that the overlapping portion (S) of the cover separator sheet (30a) and the second laminate (B) can be bonded by heating, and the present invention can be implemented by modifying and changing in various ways.
[0162] The cover separator providing unit (210) may be formed as a single unit, but various modifications and changes are possible, such as the upper and lower parts being provided in a manner that allows for separate connection with a connecting body that connects the upper and lower parts along the dotted line, for example.
[0163] FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the movable bridge unit (250) of FIG. 16 to 18.
[0164] As described above, the movable bridge unit (250) is located in the first transfer unit (220) and then moves from the first transfer unit (220) to the second transfer unit (230) by adsorbing the starting end of the separator sheet (30) that moves along the first transfer unit (220). Once the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is moved to the second transfer unit (230), it can return to the first transfer unit (220).
[0165] The movable bridge unit (250) may include, for example, a plurality of adsorption holes on its upper surface. After the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is adsorbed to the adsorption holes provided on the upper surface of the movable bridge unit (250) and then transferred to the second transfer unit (230) by the movable bridge unit (250), when the separator sheet (30) is adsorbed to the second transfer unit (230), the movable bridge unit (250) can release the adsorption and return to the first transfer unit (220).
[0166] In the embodiment of FIG. 20, so that the suction port on the upper surface of the movable bridge unit (250) can be exposed in the transition zone indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 20 (a), the transfer belt (221) of the first transfer unit (220) and the transfer belt (231) of the second transfer unit (230) may each include an open surface in at least the corresponding transition zone, as shown in FIG. 20 (b).
[0167] FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of the movable bridge unit (250) of FIG. 16 to 18.
[0168] In the embodiment of FIG. 21, the lower surface of the movable bridge unit (250) may include an adsorption hole.
[0169] Likewise, the starting end of the separator sheet (30) is adsorbed to the adsorption port provided on the lower surface of the movable bridge unit (250) and then transferred to the second transfer unit (230) by the movable bridge unit (250). When the separator sheet (30) is adsorbed to the second transfer unit (230), the movable bridge unit (250) can release the adsorption and return to the first transfer unit (220).
[0170] FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
[0171] Referring to FIG. 22, the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: manufacturing a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates; and providing a cover separator sheet to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides of the laminate where the electrode tab is not located.
[0172] For example, the above method for manufacturing an electrode assembly may include the steps of manufacturing a first laminate (A), separating the first laminate (A) into a second laminate (B), and combining the second laminate (B) with a cover separator sheet (30a) to cover an open surface (C) of the second laminate (B).
[0173] The step of manufacturing the first laminate (A) may be, for example, manufacturing a zigzag stack-type first laminate (A), and may be performing processes S0 to S6 in the laminate manufacturing device (100) in the embodiment described above in FIGS. 3 to 10.
[0174] Next, the step of separating the first laminate (A) into the second laminate (B) may be to perform process S7 of the embodiment described above in FIG. 11 and 12 in the laminate manufacturing device (100) of the embodiment.
[0175] Next, the step of combining the second laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (30a) may be to perform process S8 in the embodiment described in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 using the cover separator providing unit (210) described in FIG. 19.
[0176] The step of combining the second laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (30a) may include the step of overlapping the cover separator sheet (30a) on the separator sheets (30) of the upper and lower surfaces of the second laminate (B), and the step of bonding the cover separator sheet (30a) to the separator sheets (30) of the upper and lower surfaces of the second laminate (B). At this time, the bonding portion between the separator sheets (30) of the upper and lower surfaces of the second laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (30a) may be heated to fuse.
[0177] The specific details of the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention overlap with those described in FIGS. 3 to 21, so please refer to the details therein.
[0178] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.
[0179] [Explanation of the symbol]
[0180] 10: First electrode plate
[0181] 20: Second electrode plate
[0182] 30: Separator sheet
[0183] 40: Cover separator sheet
[0184] 100: Laminate manufacturing device
[0185] 110: Stack Unit
[0186] 120: Separator guide unit
[0187] 130: Electrode supply unit
[0188] 140: Alignment Unit
[0189] 150: Adsorption plate
[0190] 160: Separator sheet cutting unit
[0191] 170: Laminate fixing unit
[0192] 180: Laminate cutting unit
[0193] 200: Cover separator providing device
[0194] 210: Cover separator providing unit
[0195] 220: 1st Transfer Unit
[0196] 230: 2nd Transfer Unit
[0197] 240: Cover separator cutting unit
[0198] 250: Mobile Bridge Unit
[0199] 1000: Electrode assembly
[0200] A: First laminate
[0201] B: Second laminate
[0202] C: Open surface
[0203] S: Overlapping part
[0204] Sa: Joint
Claims
1. A laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates; and An electrode assembly comprising a cover separator sheet coupled to the laminate to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides where the electrode tab of the laminate is not located.
2. In Paragraph 1, The above cover separator sheet is an electrode assembly coupled to the separator sheets of the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the above laminate.
3. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly comprising an overlapping portion in which both ends of the cover separator sheet in the vertical direction are folded to overlap between the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate and the cover separator sheet, respectively, and the cover separator sheet.
4. In Paragraph 3, The above overlap portion comprises a bonded portion formed between the upper and lower surface separator sheets of the laminate and the cover separator sheet, respectively, in an electrode assembly.
5. In Paragraph 4, The above-described joint is an electrode assembly formed by heating and fusing the separator sheet on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate and the cover separator sheet.
6. In Paragraph 4, The above-mentioned joint comprises at least one line shape or a plurality of point shapes, forming an electrode assembly.
7. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which the separator sheet and the cover separator sheet of the above laminate are separator sheets of the same type.
8. In Paragraph 1, The height of the cover separator sheet is equal to or greater than the height of at least one of the two sides of the laminate, and An electrode assembly in which both ends in the height direction of the above cover separator sheet are each folded, and the length of the folded portions of both ends is each smaller than the length in the horizontal direction of the above laminate.
9. In Paragraph 1, When viewed from one side of the above laminate, the separator sheet interposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate is an unfolded electrode assembly.
10. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which, when viewed from one side of the above-described laminate, the separator sheet interposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate is not connected to one another between the laminated separator sheets.
11. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which, when viewed from the other side of the two sides of the laminate, the separator sheet is folded to wrap the upper and lower surfaces of either the positive plate or the negative plate from the other side.
12. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which, when viewed from the other side of the two sides of the above-described laminate, either one of the anode plate and the cathode plate is inserted into the folded portion of the folded separator, and the other of the anode plate and the cathode plate is interposed between adjacent folded separators.
13. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned laminate is an electrode assembly in which a zigzag-shaped laminate is cut to alternately stack a set of positive plates and a set of negative plates arranged side by side, and a separator sheet is interposed between the set of positive plates and the set of negative plates, and the laminate is separated into a second laminate in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed between them.
14. A stack unit in which a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates is stacked; and An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus comprising a cover separator providing unit that provides a cover separator sheet to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides of the laminated body where the electrode tab is not located.
15. In Paragraph 14, The above cover separator providing unit is: A receiving portion having a concave shape to accommodate the above-mentioned cover separator sheet and including at least three faces; and An electrode assembly manufacturing device comprising a fixing part disposed at both ends in the vertical direction of the receiving part and including a plurality of adsorption holes.
16. In Paragraph 15, The above cover separator providing unit further includes heating members disposed at both ends in the upper and lower directions of the receiving portion, and The above heating unit heats the overlapping portion of the cover separator sheet and the separator sheet of the unit laminate when the cover separator sheet received in the above receiving unit is provided to the above open surface of the unit laminate.
17. In Paragraph 16, The above heating element is a thermal conductor comprising at least one linear shape or a plurality of dot shapes, forming an electrode assembly manufacturing device.
18. In Paragraph 15, The height of the cover separator sheet is equal to or greater than the height of at least one of the two sides of the laminate, and An electrode assembly manufacturing device in which both ends in the height direction of the above cover separator sheet are each folded, and the length of the folded portions of both ends is each smaller than the length in the horizontal direction of the above laminate.
19. In Paragraph 15, The above electrode assembly manufacturing device is: A first transfer unit and a second transfer unit for transferring a separator sheet to the above-mentioned cover separator providing unit; and It further includes a cover separator cutting unit provided between the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit, and The above separator sheet moves along the first transfer unit and then moves a predetermined distance along the second transfer unit, and is then cut by the cover separator cutting unit, and The above cover separator providing unit receives a separator sheet cut to a predetermined length located on the second transfer unit and provides it to the open surface of the second laminate as the cover separator sheet, an electrode assembly manufacturing device.
20. In Paragraph 19, The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus, wherein the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit each comprise an adsorption type transfer belt and a drive pulley for driving the transfer belt.
21. In Paragraph 15, In the stack unit above, a first stack is stacked in which a plurality of positive plates and a plurality of negative plates are alternately stacked and a separator sheet is interposed between the set of positive plates and the set of negative plates. The above electrode assembly manufacturing device further includes a laminate cutting unit that separates the first laminate into second laminates in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately laminated and a separator sheet is interposed therebetween. An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the cover separator sheet is provided on the open surface of the second laminate to cover the open surface of the second laminate.
22. A step of manufacturing a laminate comprising a plurality of positive plates and negative plates alternately stacked, and a separator sheet interposed between the positive plates and the negative plates; and A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising the step of providing a cover separator sheet to cover at least one of two mutually facing sides of the laminate where the electrode tab is not located.
23. In Paragraph 22, The step of combining the above laminate and the above cover separator sheet is: A step of overlapping the cover separator sheet on each of the upper and lower separator sheets of the laminate; and A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly comprising the step of bonding the cover separator sheet to the separator sheets on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the laminate.
24. In Paragraph 23, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, wherein, in the bonding step, the bonding portion between the upper surface and lower surface separator sheet of the laminate and the cover separator sheet is heated and fused.