Electrode assembly, apparatus for manufacturing electrode assembly, and method for manufacturing electrode assembly

Abstract

An electrode assembly according to the present invention comprises a stack including: a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate laminated on the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet, respectively; and a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate laminated on the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet, respectively. The laminated first electrode plate and second electrode plate and the laminated third electrode plate and fourth electrode plate are each provided in plurality and are alternately stacked by interposing one of the first separator sheet or the second separator sheet therebetween. On one side of the stack, the first separator sheet is folded at one side of the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate, and the second separator sheet is folded at one side of the third electrode plate on the inside of the first separator sheet.

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. 10-2025-0011357 filed January 24, 2025 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2026-0003525 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 first electrode plate and a second electrode plate respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet, and a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet, wherein each of the joined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the joined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate is provided in a plurality of numbers and is alternately laminated with one of the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet interposed therebetween, and the laminate may include a region on one side of the laminate in which the first separator sheet is folded at one side of the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate, and the second separator sheet is folded at one side of the third electrode plate inside the first separator sheet.

[0015] When viewed from the other side of the above laminate, the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet may not be folded.

[0016] In a unit in which the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate of the above-described laminate are stacked in that order, the first separator sheet interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate may be folded on one side of the laminate and interposed between the combined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the combined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate of the next unit.

[0017] In a unit in which the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate of the above laminate are stacked in that order, the second separator sheet interposed between the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate is folded on one side of the laminate and can be interposed between the combined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the combined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate within the unit.

[0018] The polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate may be different.

[0019] The electrode assembly may further include a cover separator sheet that covers the other side of the laminate.

[0020] The separator sheet on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the above laminate and the cover separator sheet can be combined.

[0021] The upper and lower ends of the cover separator sheet are folded to include an overlapping portion that overlaps between the upper and lower surface separator sheets of the laminate and the cover separator sheet.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The separator sheet and the cover separator sheet of the above laminate may be the same type of separator sheet.

[0025] The height of the cover separator sheet may have a dimension equal to or greater than the height of the other side of the laminate so as to cover the other side of the laminate along the height direction of the laminate.

[0026] The electrode assembly may be fused between the stacked separator sheets when viewed from the other side of the laminate.

[0027] The above laminate may be provided on one side in a state where a plurality of the first electrode plates and a plurality of the second electrode plates are each aligned side by side and aligned with the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet, and on the other side in a state where a plurality of the third electrode plates and a plurality of the fourth electrode plates are each aligned side by side and aligned with the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet, so that the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are folded while being alternately laminated, and the zigzag primary laminate may be separated into unit laminates by cutting between the electrode plates aligned side by side.

[0028] An electrode assembly manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a stack unit in which a zigzag stack-type primary laminate is stacked, wherein a set of first electrode plates and a set of second electrode plates aligned with the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet provided on one side, and a set of third electrode plates and a set of fourth electrode plates aligned with the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet provided on the other side are alternately stacked, and a laminate cutting unit for separating the primary laminate into unit laminates in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked with the separator sheet interposed therebetween.

[0029] The first electrode plate of the above set and the second electrode plate of the above set are each aligned side by side and provided on the stack unit in a state aligned with the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet, and the third electrode plate of the above set and the fourth electrode plate of the above set are each aligned side by side and provided on the stack unit in a state aligned with the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet.

[0030] A starting end of the second separator sheet supplied from the other side of the stack unit is placed on top of the stack unit, and a first electrode plate of the set and a second electrode plate of the set are respectively joined at the lower and upper ends of the starting end of the first separator sheet at a position spaced apart from one side of the stack unit, thereby initiating a stacking process of the primary laminate.

[0031] A first process may be performed in which a first electrode plate of one set and a second electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, and a third electrode plate of one set and a fourth electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from the other side of the stack unit, and a second process may be performed in which a third electrode plate of one set and a fourth electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, and a first electrode plate of one set and a second electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from one side of the stack unit.

[0032] In the first process above, the first separator sheet is folded on one side of the stack unit and covers the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate of the set that were placed in the previous second process, and subsequently, the first separator sheet is folded on the other side of the stack unit, and the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, can be placed thereon.

[0033] In the second process above, the second separator sheet is folded on the other side of the stack unit and covers the first electrode plate of the set and the second electrode plate of the set that were placed in the previous first process, and subsequently, the second separator sheet is folded on one side of the stack unit, and the third electrode plate of the set and the fourth electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, can be placed thereon.

[0034] The above first process and the above second process can be performed alternately in multiple circuits.

[0035] The polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate may be different.

[0036] The cover separator sheet may be provided on the cut surface of the unit laminate to cover the cut surface of the unit laminate.

[0037] The cover separator sheet can be overlapped and bonded to the separator sheets on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the unit laminate.

[0038] The bonding portion between the separator sheet on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the unit laminate and the cover separator sheet can be heated and fused.

[0039] The above electrode assembly manufacturing device may further include a separator sealing unit that seals between stacked separator sheets on the cutting surface of the unit laminate.

[0040] A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the step of manufacturing a zigzag-shaped primary laminate in which a plurality of first electrode plates and a plurality of second electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided on one side in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet, and a plurality of third electrode plates and a plurality of fourth electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided on the other side in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet, thereby alternately stacking and folding the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet; and the step of separating the primary laminate into unit laminates in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately stacked and the separator sheet is interposed therein.

[0041] The step of manufacturing the above primary laminate may include: a first step of placing the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of the first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, on the stack unit, and placing the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of the second separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from the other side of the stack unit; and a second step of placing the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of the second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, on the stack unit, and placing the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of the first separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from one side of the stack unit.

[0042] The above first step and the above second step can be performed alternately in multiple circuits.

[0043] The polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate may be different.

[0044] The above method for manufacturing the electrode assembly may further include the step of combining the unit laminate and the cover separator sheet to cover the cut surface of the unit laminate.

[0045] The step of combining the unit 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 unit laminate, and the step of bonding the cover separator sheet to each of the upper and lower separator sheets of the unit laminate.

[0046] In the bonding step above, the bonding portion between the separator sheet on the upper surface and the lower surface of the unit laminate and the cover separator sheet can be heated and fused.

[0047] The above method for manufacturing the electrode assembly may further include a separator sealing step of sealing between the stacked separator sheets on the cutting surface of the unit laminate.

[0048] According to the present invention, the production speed of the electrode assembly manufacturing process can be improved.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a process for manufacturing an electrode assembly using conventional zigzag stacking.

[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates a laminate manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention and a process S0, which is an initiation process among the processes for manufacturing a primary laminate.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a primary laminate stacking process S1 following process S0 of FIG. 3.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a primary laminate stacking process S2 following process S1 of FIG. 4.

[0055] FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7 are reference drawings illustrating cases where processes S1 to S2 are repeated, respectively.

[0056] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a primary laminate completed according to the process described in FIGS. 3 to 8, and a process S3 for separating it from a separator supply unit.

[0057] Figure 10 shows a partial enlarged view of the primary laminate of Figure 8.

[0058] FIG. 11 illustrates process S4 for separating the primary laminate of FIG. 9 into unit laminates.

[0059] FIG. 12 illustrates process S5 of attaching a cover separator sheet to the cut surface of a separated unit laminate.

[0060] FIG. 13 illustrates an electrode assembly in which a cover separator sheet is bonded to the cut surface of a unit laminate.

[0061] FIG. 14 illustrates a process S5' for sealing a separator sheet on the cut surface (C) of a separated unit laminate (B).

[0062] FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0070] FIG. 3 illustrates a laminate manufacturing apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention and an initial process (initial process) S0 process among the processes for manufacturing a primary laminate.

[0071] First, referring to FIG. 3, a laminate manufacturing apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a stack unit (110) and a laminate cutting unit (160, see FIG. 11). The components thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. 11. Additionally, the laminate manufacturing apparatus (100) of FIG. 3 further includes a pair of separator supply units (120).

[0072] 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.

[0073] As will be described in detail later, among the two sides of the stack unit (110), a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are combined with a first separator sheet (51) provided on one side and a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are combined with a second separator sheet (52) provided on the other side, and are alternately seated.

[0074] The first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) are each folded near one side and the other side of the stack unit (110), respectively, and are stacked with electrode plates interposed between them. Accordingly, a stacking process of a zigzag stack-type primary laminate (A) with improved productivity is performed on the stack unit (110).

[0075] The first electrode plate (10), the second electrode plate (20), the third electrode plate (30), and the fourth electrode plate (40) are each provided as individual plate-shaped electrode plates. The polarity of the first electrode plate (10) and the third electrode plate (30) and the polarity of the second electrode plate (20) and the fourth electrode plate (40) are different. That is, the first electrode plate (10) and the third electrode plate (30) are either positive plates or negative plates, and the second electrode plate (20) and the fourth electrode plate (40) are the other positive plates or negative plates.

[0076] The first electrode plate (10) of the set means that a plurality of first electrode plates (10) are provided and arranged side by side. The second electrode plate (20) of the set means that a plurality of second electrode plates (20) are provided and arranged side by side. The third electrode plate (30) of the set means that a plurality of third electrode plates (30) are provided and arranged side by side. The fourth electrode plate (40) of the set means that a plurality of fourth electrode plates (40) are provided and arranged side by side.

[0077] Meanwhile, FIG. 3 illustrates a case in which, as an example, two first electrode plates (10) and two second electrode plates (20) are arranged side by side at one side of the stack unit (110) and are provided on the stack unit (110) in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of the first separator sheet (51), and similarly, two third electrode plates (30) and two fourth electrode plates (40) are arranged side by side at the other side of the stack unit (110) and are provided on the stack unit (110) in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of the second separator sheet (52). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes are possible, such as in cases where three or more first electrode plates (10), second electrode plates (20), third electrode plates (30), and fourth electrode plates (40) are provided at one time.

[0078] A holding member (not shown) is additionally provided on the stack unit (110) so that the stacking of the stacked bodies can proceed while holding the stacked bodies stacked on the stack unit (110) in a stepwise aligned state. The holding member may be, for example, a mandrel, but is not limited thereto and various modifications and changes are possible.

[0079] A pair of separator supply units (120) are positioned on each side of the stack unit (110), with the stack unit (110) in between. Separator sheets (50) may be supplied by unwinding a separator sheet (50), for example, in a roll type, from each of the pair of separator supply units (120). A first separator sheet (51) is supplied from a separator supply unit (121) positioned on one side of the stack unit (110), and a second separator sheet (52) is supplied from a separator supply unit (122) positioned on the other side of the stack unit (110). The separator supply unit (121) and the separator supply unit (122) each alternately supply the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) to the stack unit (110).

[0080] A gripper (130) may be additionally provided to grip and combine electrode plates (10, 20, 30, 40) on the separator sheets (50) provided from each of the separator supply units (120).

[0081] The gripper (130) may bring the individual electrode plates to the separator sheet (50) and combine them while gripping both corners of the plates vertically. For example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the gripper (130) moves the third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) to the second separator sheet (52) while gripping both corners vertically.

[0082] When the electrode plates (10, 20, 30, 40) each come into contact with the separator sheet (50), the gripper (130) located between each electrode plate (10, 20, 30, 40) and the separator sheet (50) may be retracted and removed. For example, as shown on the right side of FIG. 3, the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) each come into contact with the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet (51), respectively, and the gripper (130) located between each of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) and the first separator sheet (51) is removed. Meanwhile, the gripper (130) located at the outermost edge of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) may remain in place and may be brought onto the stack unit (110) while gripping the first electrode plate (10), the second electrode plate (20), and the first separator sheet (51) interposed between them.

[0083] For reference, the gripper (130) is omitted from the drawings below Fig. 4 for convenience of understanding the process, and reference is made to the details described in Fig. 3.

[0084] In addition, a vision unit (not shown, e.g., a camera) is provided at the location where each of the electrode plates (10, 20, 30, 40) and the separator sheet (50) are joined, and / or on the stack unit (110), etc., to inspect the alignment state of a plurality of electrode plates (10, 20, 30, 40) arranged side by side. If misaligned, the alignment state of the electrode plates is corrected, and the stacking process proceeds.

[0085] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9, a stacking process of a primary laminate (A) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In an embodiment of the present invention, the primary laminate (A) may be stacked by, for example, adopting a zigzag stacking method.

[0086] FIG. 3 illustrates the S0 process, which is an initial process, among the processes of manufacturing a laminate in the laminate manufacturing device (100) described above.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 3, in process S0, the starting end of a second separator sheet (52) supplied from a separator supply unit (122) on the other side of the stack unit (110) is placed on the stack unit (110). Additionally, in process S0, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are respectively placed on the lower and upper ends of the starting end of a first separator sheet (51) supplied from a separator supply unit (121) on one side of the stack unit (110). The former and the latter may be performed simultaneously, or one of them may be performed first and the other. However, when compared to the processes (S1 to S5) described later, it is reasonable to interpret them collectively as a single process (S0).

[0088] For reference, in process S0, on the other side of the stack unit (110), a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) may be waiting at the bottom and top of the second separator sheet (52), respectively. Each of the set of third electrode plates (30) and the set of fourth electrode plates (40) is joined to the second separator sheet (52) in the subsequent process S1.

[0089] Next, FIG. 4 illustrates a primary laminate stacking process S1 following process S0 of FIG. 3.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 4, in process S1, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are placed on the stack unit (110), respectively, on the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet (51) provided from one side of the stack unit (110). Additionally, in process S1, a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are placed on the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet (52) supplied from a separator supply unit (122) from the other side of the stack unit (110), respectively. The former and the latter may be performed simultaneously, or one of them may be performed first and the other first, but it is reasonable to interpret them collectively as a single process (S1).

[0091] At this time, each of the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20), which are respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet (51) provided from one side of the stack unit (110), are placed directly on the stack unit (110) while maintaining a state in which multiple electrode plates are aligned side by side.

[0092] Additionally, the positions where a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are respectively aligned with the lower and upper portions of the second separator sheet (52) on the other side of the stack unit (110) are aligned at a predetermined distance from the position where the primary laminate (A) is stacked on the stack unit (110). The predetermined distance corresponds to the full width of at least a set of third electrode plates (30) or the full width of at least a set of fourth electrode plates (40). The second separator sheet (52) of the predetermined distance is interposed in the subsequent process S2 between the set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) that are first stacked in the current process S1 and the set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) that are stacked in the subsequent process S2.

[0093] For reference, in process S1, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) may be waiting on the lower and upper sides of the first separator sheet (51), respectively, on one side of the stack unit (110). Each of the set of first electrode plates (10) and the set of second electrode plates (20) is joined to the first separator sheet (51) in the subsequent process S2.

[0094] Next, FIG. 5 illustrates a primary laminate stacking process S2 following process S1 of FIG. 4.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 5, in process S2, a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are placed on the stack unit (110), respectively, on the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet (52) provided from the other side of the stack unit (110). Additionally, in process S2, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are placed on the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet (51) supplied from a separator supply unit (121) from one side of the stack unit (110), respectively. The former and the latter may be performed simultaneously, or one of them may be performed first and the other first, but it is reasonable to interpret them collectively as one process (S2).

[0096] In process S2, each of the third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40), which are respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet (52) provided from the other side of the stack unit (110), are placed directly on the stack unit (110) while maintaining a state in which multiple electrode plates are aligned side by side.

[0097] The second separator sheet (52) provided from the other side of the stack unit (110) is first folded from the other side of the stack unit (110) in process S2, and then folded again from one side of the stack unit (110). The folding of the second separator sheet (52) is described in more detail as follows.

[0098] First, the second separator sheet (52), which was placed on the stack unit (110) in process S0, is folded on the other side of the stack unit (110), and the second separator sheet (52) covers the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) of the set that were placed on the stack unit (110) in process S1. To elaborate, since the second separator sheet (52) covers the top surface of the previously stacked stack, in the example of FIG. 5, it covers the second electrode plate (20) of the set.

[0099] Next, as the second separator sheet (52) is folded from one side of the stack unit (110), a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40), respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet (52) provided from the other side of the stack unit (110), are placed on the previously stacked stack with the second separator sheet (52) interposed between them.

[0100] Meanwhile, in process S2, the position where a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are respectively aligned with the lower and upper portions of the first separator sheet (51) on one side of the stack unit (110) is aligned at a predetermined distance from the position where a primary laminate (A) is stacked on the stack unit (110). The predetermined distance corresponds to the entire width of at least a set of first electrode plates (10) or the entire width of at least a set of second electrode plates (20). The first separator sheet (51) of the predetermined distance is interposed between the set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) that are stacked first in the current process S2 and the set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) that are stacked in the subsequent process S1.

[0101] For reference, in process S2, similarly, on the other side of the stack unit (110), a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) may be waiting at the bottom and top of the second separator sheet (52), respectively. Each of the set of third electrode plates (30) and the set of fourth electrode plates (40) is joined to the second separator sheet (52) in the subsequently repeated process S1.

[0102] Meanwhile, combining processes S0 to S2, on one side of the stack unit (110), a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20) are respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet (51), and the polarities of the first electrode plates (10) and the second electrode plates are different. Additionally, on the other side of the stack unit (110), a set of third electrode plates (30) and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet (52), and the polarities of the third electrode plates (30) and the fourth electrode plates (40) are different.

[0103] At this time, the polarity of the first electrode plate (10) and the third electrode plate (30) corresponding to the lower portions of the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52), respectively, is the same. The polarity of the second electrode plate (20) and the fourth electrode plate (40) corresponding to the upper portions of the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52), respectively, is the same. Accordingly, as described later in FIG. 8, the primary laminate (A) in which lamination is completed is in a state in which the positive plate and the negative plate are alternately laminated.

[0104] Subsequently, the lamination process of the primary laminate (A) is carried out by repeating the processes described above several times in processes S1 to S2.

[0105] FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7 are reference drawings illustrating cases where processes S1 to S2 are repeated, respectively.

[0106] First, referring to Fig. 6, process S1 is repeated following process S2, which was previously performed.

[0107] As described above in FIG. 4, a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20), respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet (51) provided from one side of the stack unit (110), are placed on the stack unit (110).

[0108] At this time, the first separator sheet (51) provided from one side of the stack unit (110) is first folded from one side of the stack unit (110) in process S1, and then folded again from the other side of the stack unit (110). The folding of the first separator sheet (51) is described in more detail as follows.

[0109] First, the first separator sheet (51) that was placed on the stack unit (110) in process S1 is folded on one side of the stack unit (110), and the first separator sheet (51) covers the set of third electrode plates (30) and the set of fourth electrode plates (40) that were placed on the stack unit (110) in process S2. To elaborate, since the first separator sheet (51) covers the top surface of the previously stacked stack, in the example of FIG. 6, it covers the set of fourth electrode plates (40).

[0110] Next, as the first separator sheet (51) is folded on the other side of the stack unit (110), a set of first electrode plates (10) and a set of second electrode plates (20), respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet (51) provided from one side of the stack unit (110), are placed on the previously stacked stack with the first separator sheet (51) interposed between them.

[0111] In addition, the description of process S1 and process S2, which are repeated in FIGS. 6 and 7, is identical except for the degree of stacking of the laminated body stacked up to the previous process, so refer to the description in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0112] Meanwhile, when processes S1 and S2 are performed in one cycle, a total of four layers of electrode plates are stacked on the stack unit (110). As shown in FIG. 8, which will be described later, the stacking of the primary stack (A) may be completed after repeating processes S1 and S2 alternately the same number of times. Accordingly, the primary stack (A) may have a total of 4n electrode plates (n is a natural number; n is the number of cycles of processes S1 and S2) stacked.

[0113] In some cases, the stacking of the primary laminate (A) may be completed after performing process S1 one more time. In this case, the primary laminate (A) may have a total of 4n+2 electrode plates stacked.

[0114] In some cases, in the former or latter case, the stacking of the primary laminate (A) may be completed by providing a set of electrode plates as only one layer. Additionally, one more layer of electrode plates with a polarity different from the polarity of the top layer of the laminate stacked up to that point may be provided.

[0115] For reference, in FIGS. 3 to 8, regarding the directions of one side and the other side of the stack unit (110), for convenience, the direction in which the stacked body is stacked is shown as the z-axis, and the direction of the other side 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 side direction as the -x-axis direction and the other side direction as the +x-axis direction.

[0116] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a primary laminate (A) that has been laminated according to the process described in FIGS. 3 to 8, and a process S3 for separating it from a separator supply unit (50). FIG. 10 illustrates a partial enlarged view of the primary laminate (A) of FIG. 8.

[0117] First, referring to FIGS. 8 and FIGS. 9, the primary laminate (A) with completed lamination is described as follows.

[0118] Referring to FIG. 8, since the polarity of the first electrode plate (10) and the third electrode plate (30) and the polarity of the second electrode plate (20) and the fourth electrode plate (40) are different, the positive plate and the negative plate are alternately stacked in the primary laminate (A).

[0119] Additionally, since the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) combined on each side of the stack unit (110) and the third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) combined with each other are alternately provided, the first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) combined with the third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) combined in the primary stack (A) are alternately stacked. As a result, the electrode plates are stacked in the order of first electrode plate (10) - second electrode plate (20) - third electrode plate (30) - fourth electrode plate (40) or third electrode plate (30) - fourth electrode plate (40) - first electrode plate (10) - second electrode plate (20), and the unit includes multiple units.

[0120] Also, referring to FIG. 9, a first separator sheet (51) and a second separator sheet (52) are alternately provided on each side of the stack unit (110), and the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) are alternately folded on one side and the other side of the stack unit (110).

[0121] For convenience of explanation, the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) are distinguished and indicated by different reference numbers, but the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) may be separator sheets of the same type. In some cases, the first separator sheet (51) and the second separator sheet (52) may be separator sheets of different types.

[0122] Referring to the enlarged view of FIG. 10 (a), when viewed from a unit stacked in the order of the first electrode plate (10) - second electrode plate (20) - third electrode plate (30) - fourth electrode plate (40), the first separator sheet (51) interposed between the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) is folded on one side of the primary stack (A) (one side of the second electrode plate (20), the third electrode plate (30), and the fourth electrode plate (40)) and covers the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40). That is, the first separator sheet (51) folded on one side is interposed between the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) and the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) of the next unit.

[0123] Additionally, the second separator sheet (52) interposed between the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) is folded on one side of the primary laminate (A) (one side of the third electrode plate (30)) and interposed between the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) and the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) within one unit.

[0124] Accordingly, the second separator sheet (52) is folded into the inner side of the first separator sheet (51) folded on one side of the primary laminate (A). That is, the first separator sheet (51) folded on one side covers the second separator sheet (52) folded on one side of the primary laminate (A) from the outside.

[0125] Referring to the enlarged view of Fig. 10(b), when viewed from a unit stacked in the order of the third electrode plate (30) - the fourth electrode plate (40) - the first electrode plate (10) - the second electrode plate (20), the second separator sheet (52) interposed between the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) is folded on the other side of the primary stack (A) (one side of the fourth electrode plate (40), the first electrode plate (10), and the second electrode plate (20)) and covers the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20). That is, the second separator sheet (52) folded on the other side is interposed between the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) and the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) of the next unit.

[0126] Additionally, the first separator sheet (51) interposed between the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) is folded on the other side of the primary laminate (A) (one side of the first electrode plate (10)) and interposed between the combined first electrode plate (10) and the second electrode plate (20) and the combined third electrode plate (30) and the fourth electrode plate (40) within one unit.

[0127] Accordingly, the first separator sheet (51) is folded into the inner side of the second separator sheet (52) folded on the other side of the primary laminate (A). That is, the second separator sheet (52) folded on the other side covers the first separator sheet (51) folded on the other side of the primary laminate (A) from the outside.

[0128] Referring again to FIGS. 8 and 9, the process S3 for separating the primary laminate (A) that has been laminated and the primary laminate from the separator supply unit (50) is described as follows.

[0129] Referring to FIG. 8, the primary laminate (A) that has been completed is separated from the first membrane sheet (51) supplied from the membrane supply unit (121) and the second membrane sheet (52) supplied from the membrane supply unit (122). A pair of membrane sheet cutting units (140) are provided on both sides of the stack unit (110), and each membrane sheet cutting unit (140) cuts the first membrane sheet (51) and the second membrane sheet (52). A pair of adsorption units (150) may be additionally provided, so that each adsorption unit (150) adsorbs the first membrane sheet (51) and the second membrane sheet (52).

[0130] Referring to FIG. 9, the adsorption unit (150) adsorbing the first separator sheet (51) moves so that the cut first separator sheet (51) is folded on one side of the stack unit (110) and covers the combined third electrode plate (30) and fourth electrode plate (40). That is, it covers the top surface of the primary laminate (A).

[0131] Although not shown in FIG. 9, if the stacking is completed with the combined first electrode plate (10) and second electrode plate (20) stacked on the top surface of the primary laminate (A), the adsorption unit (150) for adsorbing the second separator sheet (52) moves so that the cut second separator sheet (52) covers the top surface of the primary laminate (A).

[0132] Additionally, although not illustrated in FIG. 9, after the lamination of the primary laminate (A) is completed, a winding process of the primary laminate (A) may be additionally performed. That is, a process of wrapping the separator sheet (50) at least once along the perimeter of the primary laminate (A) may be performed. Accordingly, the primary laminate (A) that has been laminated may be fixed. The winding process may be performed while the separator sheet (50) extending further from the primary laminate (A) is fixed by the adsorption unit (150). Depending on the environment in which the present invention is implemented or the specifications of the laminate to be manufactured, the number of windings may be varied and implemented.

[0133] In addition, depending on the case, a winding process of the separator sheet (50) may be additionally performed along the perimeter of the unit laminate (B, see FIG. 13) while separated into a single unit laminate (B) to be described later.

[0134]

[0135] FIG. 11 illustrates a process S4 for separating the primary laminate (A) of FIG. 9 into unit laminates (B).

[0136] In the primary laminate (A), a set of first electrode plates (10), a set of second electrode plates (20), a set of third electrode plates (30), and a set of fourth electrode plates (40) are each laminated. That is, in one layer, a plurality of first electrode plates (10), second electrode plates (20), third electrode plates (30), and fourth electrode plates (40) are arranged side by side.

[0137] To elaborate, when a laminate in which one first electrode plate (10) and one second electrode plate (20) are alternately stacked is called a unit laminate (B), the primary laminate (A) in which stacking is completed in FIG. 9 can be described as a state in which a plurality (two in the example of FIG. 9) of unit laminates (B) are stacked.

[0138] Referring to FIG. 11, the primary laminate (A) is separated into unit laminates (B). Both sides of the primary laminate (A) are fixed with a pair of laminate fixing units (not shown), and then the primary laminate (A) is cut along the cutting surface (C) using a laminate cutting unit (160).

[0139] When the portion consisting only of a separator sheet (50) is cut between adjacent unit laminates (B) within a single primary laminate (A), the unit laminates (B) are separated. At this time, in order to prevent electrical short circuits, the first electrode plate (10), the second electrode plate (20), the third electrode plate (30), and the fourth electrode plate (40) are not cut.

[0140] In a primary laminate (A), if a plurality of first electrode plates (10), a plurality of second electrode plates (20), a plurality of third electrode plates (30), and a plurality of fourth electrode plates (40) are each arranged in the horizontal direction (x-axis direction of FIG. 11) of the primary laminate (A), for example, the cutting plane (C) has a plane formed by the vertical direction (y-axis direction of FIG. 11) of the primary laminate (A) and the stacking direction (z-axis direction) of the primary laminate (A), which are orthogonal to the horizontal direction of the primary laminate (A). That is, since FIG. 11 corresponds to a front view, the cutting plane (C) is indicated by a dotted line, but note that the cutting plane (C) is a surface. For reference, the electrode tabs of each of the first electrode plate (10), second electrode plate (20), third electrode plate (30) and fourth electrode plate (40) 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. 11) of the primary laminate (A).

[0141] At this time, the cutting surface (C) may be formed by evenly dividing the horizontal direction of the primary laminate (A). That is, in the example of FIG. 11, the cutting surface (C) of the primary laminate (A) may be a portion consisting only of the separator sheet (50) between two unit laminates (B). The cutting surface (C) may be formed on the centerline in the horizontal direction of the primary laminate (A) by bisecting the horizontal direction of the primary laminate (A).

[0142] The laminate cutting unit (160) may be, for example, a heating blade. The laminate fixing unit (not shown) may be, for example, a gripper that grips each of the two opposing sides of the primary laminate (A). With respect to the laminate cutting unit (160) and the laminate fixing unit, the present invention is not limited to those described above, and it is sufficient if they are capable of performing the process (S4) of separating the primary laminate (A) into unit laminates (B), and the present invention may be implemented with various modifications and changes to suit the environment in which it is implemented.

[0143] As illustrated in FIG. 13, which will be described later, even if the primary laminate (A) is laminated in a zigzag shape where the separator sheet (50) is folded, the separator sheet (50) is not folded at the cutting surface (C) of the separated unit laminate (B).

[0144] Next, FIG. 12 illustrates a process S5 of attaching a cover separator sheet (60) to a cut surface (C) of a separated unit laminate (B). FIG. 13 illustrates an electrode assembly (1000) in which a cover separator sheet (60) is attached to a cut surface (C) of a unit laminate (B).

[0145] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a cover separator sheet (60) is attached to the cut surface (C) of a separated unit laminate (B). Accordingly, the side of the unit laminate (B) that was exposed through the cut surface (C) is covered with the cover separator sheet (60).

[0146] The cover separator sheet (60) may be cut to a height equal to or greater than the height of the unit laminate (B) (the height of the primary laminate (A)) so that it can cover the cut surface (C) of the unit laminate (B) along the height direction (lamination direction) of the unit laminate (B). The cover separator sheet (60) may cover the whole area of ​​the cut surface (C) of the unit laminate (B). Alternatively, in some cases, it may cover at least a portion of the vertical direction (y-axis direction) of the cut surface (C).

[0147] For the convenience of explanation, the cover separator sheet (60) is distinguished from the separator sheet (50) and indicated by a different reference number; however, the cover separator sheet (60) may be a separator sheet of the same type as the separator sheet (50), or it may be formed by partially unwinding the separator sheet (50) from a separator sheet supply unit (not shown) and cutting it. Of course, depending on the case, the cover separator sheet (60) may be a separator sheet of a different type than the separator sheet (50).

[0148] Both ends of the cover separator sheet (60) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in FIG. 13) are folded and overlap with the separator sheet (50) on the outermost upper and lower surfaces of the unit laminate (B). In the specification of the present invention, the portion where the cover separator sheet (60) and the separator sheet (50) of the unit laminate (B) overlap is referred to as the overlap portion (S).

[0149] For example, as shown in the enlarged view of the overlap portion (S) of FIG. 13, the folded ends of the cover separator sheet (60) may overlap with one edge and its vicinity facing the cutting surface (C) of the top separator sheet (50) of the unit laminate (B), and one edge and its vicinity facing the cutting surface (C) of the bottom separator sheet (50), respectively.

[0150] In addition, the cover separator sheet (60) and the separator sheet (50) of the unit laminate (B) may be joined, for example, in the overlapping portion (S).

[0151] The folded ends of the cover separator sheet (60) may overlap the top of the separator sheet (50) on the top surface of the unit laminate (B) and the bottom of the separator sheet (50) on the bottom surface, respectively. When the overlapped portion (S) is heated and / or pressed as described below in this overlapped state, the separator sheet (50) of the unit laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (60) overlapped on its surface are fused and bonded together.

[0152] FIG. 14 is a modified embodiment of process S5 of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 illustrates process S5' for sealing the separator sheets (50) so that they are fused between the separator sheets (50) of the cut surface (C) of the separated unit laminate (B).

[0153] Referring to FIG. 14, the stacked separator sheets (50) at the cut surface (C) of the separated unit laminate (B) are joined (fused, sealed) by heating and / or pressing with a separator sealing unit (170). At this time, the first electrode plate (10), the second electrode plate (20), the third electrode plate (30), and the fourth electrode plate (40) are not positioned, and the portion stacked between the separator sheets (50) is heated and / or pressed with the separator sealing unit (170). Accordingly, the side of the unit laminate (B) where the first electrode plate (10), the second electrode plate (20), the third electrode plate (30), and the fourth electrode plate (40) were exposed due to the cut surface (C) can be stably fixed.

[0154] The membrane sealing unit (170) can be applied by appropriately modifying or changing the sealing unit used in a conventional membrane sealing process.

[0155] In order to heat and / or press only the excess separator sheet (50) with the separator sealing unit (170) in process S5', in processes S0 to S2 regarding the stacking of the primary laminate described above, sufficient spacing is provided between the first electrode plates (10) that are provided in multiple numbers and arranged side by side in a set of first electrode plates (10). Likewise, in processes S0 to S2, sufficient spacing is provided between the second electrode plates (20) that are provided in multiple numbers and arranged side by side in a set of second electrode plates (20), between the third electrode plates (30) that are provided in multiple numbers and arranged side by side in a set of third electrode plates (30), and between the fourth electrode plates (40) that are provided in multiple numbers and arranged side by side in a set of fourth electrode plates (40).

[0156] FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 15, the method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of manufacturing a primary laminate (A), separating the primary laminate (A) into unit laminates (B), and combining the unit laminate (B) with a cover separator sheet (60) to cover the cut surface (C) of the unit laminate (B).

[0158] The step of manufacturing a primary laminate (A) may be to manufacture a zigzag stack-type primary laminate (A) in a laminate manufacturing device (100), and may be to perform processes S0 to S3 in the embodiments described above in FIGS. 3 to 10.

[0159] Next, the step of separating the primary laminate (A) into unit laminates (B) may be to perform process S4 of the embodiment described above in FIG. 11 in the laminate manufacturing device (100) of the embodiment.

[0160] Next, the step of combining the unit laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (60) may be to perform process S5 in the embodiment described above in FIG. 12.

[0161] The step of combining the unit laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (60) may include the step of overlapping the cover separator sheet (60) on the separator sheets (50) on the upper and lower surfaces of the unit laminate (B), and the step of bonding the cover separator sheet (60) to the separator sheets (50) on the upper and lower surfaces of the unit laminate (B). At this time, the bonding portion between the separator sheets (50) on the upper and lower surfaces of the unit laminate (B) and the cover separator sheet (60) may be heated to fuse.

[0162] 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 13, so please refer to the details therein.

[0163] 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.

[0164] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0165] 10: First electrode plate

[0166] 20: Second electrode plate

[0167] 30: Third electrode plate

[0168] 40: 4th electrode plate

[0169] 50: Separator sheet

[0170] 51: First separator sheet

[0171] 52: Second separator sheet

[0172] 60: Cover separator sheet

[0173] 100: Laminate manufacturing device

[0174] 110: Stack Unit

[0175] 120, 121, 122: Membrane supply unit

[0176] 130: Gripper

[0177] 140: Separator sheet cutting unit

[0178] 150: Adsorption unit

[0179] 160: Laminate cutting unit

[0180] 170: Separator sealing unit

[0181] 1000: Electrode assembly

[0182] A: Primary laminate

[0183] B: Unit laminate

[0184] C: Cutting surface

[0185] S: Overlapping part

Claims

1. An electrode assembly comprising a laminate including a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet, and a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet, wherein each of the joined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the joined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate is provided in a plurality and is alternately laminated with either the first separator sheet or the second separator sheet interposed therebetween, and the laminate includes a region on one side of the laminate in which the first separator sheet is folded at one side of the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate, and the second separator sheet is folded at one side of the third electrode plate inside the first separator sheet.

2. In Paragraph 1, When viewed from the other side of the above laminate, the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are an unfolded electrode assembly.

3. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which, in a unit stacked in the order of the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate of the above-described laminate, the first separator sheet interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate is folded on one side of the above-described laminate and interposed between the combined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the combined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate of the next unit.

4. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which, in a unit in which the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, the third electrode plate, and the fourth electrode plate of the above-mentioned laminate are stacked in the order of the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate, the second separator sheet interposed between the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate is folded on one side of the above-mentioned laminate and interposed between the combined first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and the combined third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate within the above-mentioned unit.

5. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly in which the polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate are different.

6. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly further comprising a cover separator sheet covering the other side of the laminate.

7. In Paragraph 6, An electrode assembly coupled between the upper and lower surface separator sheets of the above laminate and the cover separator sheet.

8. In Paragraph 6, 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.

9. In Paragraph 8, 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.

10. In Paragraph 9, 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.

11. In Paragraph 6, An electrode assembly in which the separator sheet and the cover separator sheet of the above laminate are separator sheets of the same type.

12. In Paragraph 6, An electrode assembly in which the height of the cover separator sheet has a dimension equal to or greater than the height of the other side of the laminate, such that the cover separator sheet covers the other side of the laminate along the height direction of the laminate.

13. In Paragraph 1, An electrode assembly that is fused between stacked separator sheets when viewed from the other side of the above laminate.

14. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned laminate is an electrode assembly in which a plurality of first electrode plates and a plurality of second electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided on one side in a state where they are aligned with the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet, and a plurality of third electrode plates and a plurality of fourth electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided on the other side in a state where they are aligned with the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet, so that the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are folded while being alternately laminated, and the zigzag primary laminate is cut between the aligned electrode plates to be separated into unit laminates.

15. A stack unit in which a zigzag stack-type primary laminate is stacked, wherein a set of first electrode plates and a set of second electrode plates aligned with the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet provided on one side, and a set of third electrode plates and a set of fourth electrode plates aligned with the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet provided on the other side are alternately stacked; and An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus comprising a laminate cutting unit that separates the above primary laminate into unit laminates in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately laminated and the separator sheet is interposed therebetween.

16. In Paragraph 15, The first electrode plate of the above set and the second electrode plate of the above set are each aligned side by side and provided on the stack unit in a state aligned with the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet, and An electrode assembly manufacturing device in which the third electrode plate of the above set and the fourth electrode plate of the above set are each aligned side by side and provided on the stack unit in a state aligned with the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet.

17. In Paragraph 15, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the starting end of the second separator sheet supplied from the other side of the stack unit is placed on the stack unit, and the first electrode plate of the first set and the second electrode plate of the first set are respectively joined at the lower and upper ends of the starting end of the first separator sheet at a position spaced apart from one side of the stack unit, thereby initiating the stacking process of the first laminate.

18. In Paragraph 15, A first process of placing a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, on the stack unit, and joining a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from the other side of the stack unit, and An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus, wherein a second process is performed in which a third electrode plate of one set and a fourth electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, and a first electrode plate of one set and a second electrode plate of one set are respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet at a position spaced apart from one side of the stack unit.

19. In Paragraph 18, In the first process above, the first separator sheet is folded on one side of the stack unit and covers the third electrode plate of the set and the fourth electrode plate of the set that were seated in the previous second process, Subsequently, the first separator sheet is folded on the other side of the stack unit, and the first electrode plate of the first set and the second electrode plate of the first set, respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, are seated thereon, forming an electrode assembly manufacturing device.

20. In Paragraph 18, In the second process above, the second separator sheet is folded on the other side of the stack unit and covers the first electrode plate of the set and the second electrode plate of the set that were seated in the previous first process, and Subsequently, the second separator sheet is folded at one side of the stack unit, and the third electrode plate of the set and the fourth electrode plate of the set, respectively joined to the lower and upper parts of the second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, are seated thereon, forming an electrode assembly manufacturing device.

21. In Paragraph 18, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the first process and the second process are performed alternately in multiple circuits.

22. In Paragraph 15, An electrode assembly manufacturing device in which the polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate are different.

23. In Paragraph 15, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which a cover separator sheet is provided on the cut surface of the unit laminate to cover the cut surface of the unit laminate.

24. In Paragraph 23, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the cover separator sheet is overlapped and bonded to the separator sheets on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the unit laminate.

25. In Paragraph 23, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the bonding portion between the separator sheet on the upper and lower surfaces of the above unit laminate and the cover separator sheet is heated and fused.

26. In Paragraph 23, An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus further comprising a separator sealing unit for sealing between stacked separator sheets on the cutting surface of the above unit laminate.

27. A step of manufacturing a zigzag-shaped primary laminate in which a plurality of the first electrode plates and a plurality of the second electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided from one side in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of the first separator sheet, and a plurality of the third electrode plates and a plurality of the fourth electrode plates are each aligned side by side and provided from the other side in a state aligned with the lower and upper portions of the second separator sheet, so that the first separator sheet and the second separator sheet are folded while being alternately stacked; and A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising the step of separating the above primary laminate into unit laminates in which one positive plate and one negative plate are alternately laminated and a separator sheet is interposed therebetween.

28. In Paragraph 27, The step of manufacturing the above primary laminate is: A first step of placing a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet provided from one side of the stack unit, on the stack unit, and joining a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet at a spaced-apart position from the other side of the stack unit; and A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, comprising a second step of placing a third electrode plate and a fourth electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a second separator sheet provided from the other side of the stack unit, on the stack unit, and joining a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate of a set, respectively joined to the lower and upper portions of a first separator sheet at a position spaced apart from one side of the stack unit.

29. In Paragraph 28, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly in which the first step and the second step are performed alternately in multiple circuits.

30. In Paragraph 27, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly in which the polarity of the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate and the polarity of the second electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate are different.

31. In Paragraph 27, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, further comprising the step of combining the unit laminate and the cover separator sheet to cover the cut surface of the unit laminate.

32. In Paragraph 31, The step of combining the above unit 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 unit 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 unit laminate.

33. In Paragraph 32, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, wherein, in the bonding step, the bonding portion between the separator sheet on the upper surface and the lower surface of the unit laminate and the cover separator sheet is heated and fused.

34. In Paragraph 27, A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly, further comprising a separator sealing step of sealing between stacked separator sheets on the cutting surface of the above unit laminate.

Images