WO2023043177A1 - Electrode assembly, apparatus for manufacturing same, and method for manufacturing same - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an electrode supply unit provided with an electrode sheet on which a plurality of electrodes are formed; a separator supply unit which is provided with a separator sheet that is folded when the electrodes are seated, thereby covering and being laminated with the electrodes; a table on which the electrodes are seated to have the separator sheet folded between the electrodes in order to form the electrode assembly; a separator guide for guiding the folding direction of the separator sheet; and a pair of upper applicators for applying adhesive to at least a portion of the upper part of the electrodes seated on the table, wherein the separator guide and the pair of upper applicators linearly reciprocate left and right with respect to the table, and the table is fixed.

Description

Electrode assembly, apparatus for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing the same

Cross-citation with related application(s)

This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0124051 dated September 16, 2021 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0114323 dated September 08, 2022, and the All material disclosed in the literature is incorporated as part of this specification.

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a battery cell in which electrodes and a separator sheet are stacked in a Z-folding type, in which the electrode can be prevented from departing from its position It relates to an electrode assembly, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof.

In general, types of secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, lithium ion batteries, and lithium ion polymer batteries. These secondary batteries are used not only for small products such as digital cameras, P-DVDs, MP3Ps, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, and E-bikes, but also for large products that require high power, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and surplus power generation. It is applied and used to a power storage device for storing power or renewable energy and a power storage device for backup.

In order to manufacture such a secondary battery, first, an electrode assembly having a predetermined shape is formed by applying an electrode active material slurry to a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector to prepare a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and then stacking them on both sides of a separator. Then, the electrode assembly is accommodated in the battery case, and the electrolyte is injected and then sealed.

Electrode assemblies are classified into various types. For example, a simple stack type in which anodes, separators, and cathodes are continuously stacked by crossing anodes, separators, and cathodes without manufacturing unit cells is first manufactured using anodes, separators, and cathodes, and then these unit cells are manufactured. Lamination & Stack Type (L&S, Lamination & Stack Type), stack and folding in which a plurality of unit cells are spaced apart and attached to one side of a long separator sheet, and the separator sheet is repeatedly folded in the same direction from one end. (S&F, Stack & Folding Type), a plurality of electrodes or unit cells are alternately attached to one side and the other side of a long separator sheet, respectively, and the separator sheet is folded from one end in a specific direction and then folded in the opposite direction. There is a Z-folding type that alternates and repeats the method. Among them, the Z-folding type has been frequently used recently due to its high degree of alignment and impregnation of the electrolyte.

However, in the prior art, there was a problem in that the electrodes and the separator sheet were not adhered to each other because a separate laminating process was not performed after the electrodes and the separator sheet were laminated in such a Z-folding type, so that the electrodes were detached from their positions. In order to solve this problem, a separate laminating process was performed after the electrodes and the separator sheet were laminated, but since the entire thickness of the laminate in which the electrodes and the separator sheet are laminated is thick, heat is not transmitted to the inside of the laminate, so the adhesive strength is poor. There was a problem with deterioration. In addition, in order to perform such a separate laminating process, there was also a problem in that the electrodes were detached from their positions in the process of transferring the laminate. Depending on the material of the separator sheet, this problem is more aggravated when the adhesive strength of the separator sheet itself is low.

Accordingly, there is a need to develop an electrode assembly including a Z-folding type electrode assembly with improved battery cell performance while preventing the electrode from being moved out of position, a manufacturing apparatus therefor, and a manufacturing method therefor.

An object to be solved by the present invention is an electrode assembly in which an electrode and a separator sheet are stacked in a Z-folding type, and an electrode assembly capable of preventing the electrode from departing from its original position, a manufacturing device thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof. is to do

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. .

An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode supply unit provided with an electrode sheet on which a plurality of electrodes are formed; a separator supply unit that is folded when the electrode is seated and provided with a separator sheet covering the electrode and stacked with the electrode; a table for seating the electrodes on an upper surface to have the separator sheet folded between the electrodes to form the electrode assembly; a separator guide for guiding a folding direction of the separator sheet; and a pair of upper applicators for applying an adhesive to at least a portion of an upper portion of the electrode seated on the table, wherein the separator guide and the pair of upper applicators linearly reciprocate from side to side with respect to the table, The table is fixed.

The electrode supply unit may include a first electrode supply unit provided with a first electrode sheet on which a plurality of first electrodes are formed; and a second electrode supply unit provided with a second electrode sheet on which a plurality of second electrodes are formed.

The pair of top applicators include a first top nozzle and a second top nozzle, the first top nozzle applies the adhesive on the first electrode, and the second top nozzle applies the adhesive on the second electrode. The adhesive may be applied.

The first upper nozzle and the second upper nozzle may be disposed on both sides with the separator guide interposed therebetween.

The first electrode may be seated on a first region of the separator sheet, and the second electrode may be seated on a second region of the separator sheet.

When the first electrode is seated on the first region of the separator sheet, the first upper nozzle moves linearly on the first electrode, and when the second electrode is seated on the second region of the separator sheet, the first upper nozzle moves in a straight line. The second upper nozzle may linearly move on the second electrode.

When the first upper nozzle applies the adhesive to at least a part of the upper part of the first electrode, the separator guide moves linearly in a direction in which the separator sheet covers the first electrode, and at least a part of the upper part of the second electrode When the second upper nozzle applies the adhesive, the separator guide may linearly move in a direction in which the separator sheet covers the second electrode.

A lower applicator for applying the adhesive to a lower portion of the first electrode and a lower portion of the second electrode may be included.

a first header adsorbing the first electrode and seating the first electrode in the first region; and a second header adsorbing the second electrode so as to be seated in the second region.

When the first electrode is adsorbed to the first header, the lower applicator applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode, and when the second electrode is adsorbed to the second header, the lower applicator applies the second electrode to the second header. The adhesive may be applied to the lower part of the electrode.

a first transfer device for transferring the first electrode toward the table; and a second transfer device for transferring the second electrode toward the table.

The first transport device includes a first groove open toward the first electrode, and the lower applicator applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode through the first groove, and the second transport device includes a second groove open toward the second electrode, and the lower applicator may apply the adhesive to the lower portion of the second electrode through the second groove.

A battery cell manufacturing method according to another embodiment of the present invention includes forming a plurality of first electrodes by cutting a first electrode sheet unwound from a first electrode supply unit; seating the separator sheet unwound from the separator supply unit on a table along the separator guide; applying an adhesive to a lower portion of the first electrode by a lower applicator; seating the first electrode on a first region of the separator sheet; applying an adhesive to an upper portion of the first electrode by a first upper nozzle; and folding the separator sheet in a folding direction guided by a separator guide so that a second region of the separator sheet covers the first electrode.

After the step of covering the top of the first electrode, cutting the second electrode sheet unwound from the second electrode supply unit to form a plurality of second electrodes; applying an adhesive to a lower portion of the second electrode by a lower applicator; seating the second electrode on a second region of the separator sheet; applying an adhesive to an upper portion of the second electrode by a second upper nozzle; and folding the separator sheet in a folding direction guided by a separator guide so that a first region of the separator sheet covers the second electrode.

After the step of covering the top of the first electrode, cutting the second electrode sheet provided from the second electrode supply unit to form a plurality of second electrodes; applying an adhesive to a lower portion of the second electrode by a lower applicator; seating the second electrode on a second region of the separator sheet; applying an adhesive to an upper portion of the second electrode by a second upper nozzle; and folding the separator sheet in a folding direction guided by the separator guide so that the first region of the separator sheet covers the second electrode.

The table is fixed, and the separator guide, the first upper nozzle, and the second upper nozzle may rectilinearly reciprocate with respect to the table.

An electrode assembly in which electrodes and separator sheets are alternately stacked according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the separator sheet has a zigzag shape formed by folding at least twice. The separator sheet is folded in a state in which the first electrode is seated on the first region of the separator sheet so that the second region of the separator sheet covers the first electrode, and on the second region The second electrode is folded in a seated state so that the first region of the separator sheet covers the second electrode, and an adhesive layer is formed between the electrode and the separator sheet.

The adhesive layer may include a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer, the first adhesive layer may be positioned between the lower part of the electrode and the separator sheet, and the second adhesive layer may be positioned between the upper part of the electrode and the separator sheet. .

Each of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer may be formed by applying an adhesive in the form of a plurality of dots.

A battery cell according to another embodiment of the present invention is a battery cell including the electrode assembly described above, and includes a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte solution, and the adhesive layer is dissolved in the electrolyte solution.

According to the embodiments, the present invention is an electrode assembly in which electrodes and separator sheets are laminated in a Z-folding type, and an adhesive is pre-coated on top and bottom of the electrode, an apparatus for manufacturing the same, and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the electrode is Deviation from position can be prevented.

The effect of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic view showing a state in which a first electrode is seated on a first region of a separator sheet in an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to a lower portion of a first electrode in an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the state of applying an adhesive to the lower part of the first electrode in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to an upper portion of a first electrode while a first upper nozzle linearly moves in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a separator guide linearly moves and a second electrode is seated on a second region of a separator sheet in an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to an upper portion of a second electrode while a second upper nozzle linearly moves in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

In addition, since the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the shown bar. In the drawings, the thickness is shown enlarged to clearly express the various layers and regions. And in the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated.

In addition, throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it means that it may further include other components without excluding other components unless otherwise stated.

In addition, throughout the specification, when it is referred to as "planar image", it means when the target part is viewed from above, and when it is referred to as "cross-sectional image", it means when a cross section of the target part cut vertically is viewed from the side.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which a first electrode is seated on a first region of a separator sheet in an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode supply unit provided with an electrode sheet on which a plurality of electrodes are formed, a separator sheet that is folded when the electrode is seated and covers the electrode and is laminated with the electrode a separator supply unit, a table for seating the electrodes on an upper surface to have the separator sheet folded between the electrodes to form the electrode assembly, a separator guide for guiding the folding direction of the separator sheet, and a separator seated on the table A pair of upper applicators for applying adhesive to at least a part of the upper part of the electrode, and the separator guide and the pair of upper applicators linearly reciprocate from side to side with respect to the table, and the table is fixed .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the method of manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming electrodes 11 by cutting electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 (S101); A step of seating the separator sheet 122 on the table 16 (S102); Applying an adhesive to the lower portion of the electrode 11 (S103); A step of seating the electrode 11 on the separator sheet 122 (S104); Applying an adhesive on the electrode 11 (S104); and folding the separator sheet 122 and covering the electrode 11 (S105).

Accordingly, in the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, when the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 are stacked in a Z-folding type, the adhesive is applied to the upper and lower portions of the electrode 11, (11) can be prevented from departing from its original position.

Hereinafter, each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 .

An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes electrode reels 111 and 112 from which an electrode sheet on which a plurality of electrodes 11 are formed is unwound; a separator reel 121 that is folded when the electrode 11 is seated, and from which a separator sheet 122 covering the electrode 11 and stacked with the electrode 11 is unwound; a table 16 on which the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 are seated; and a separator guide 125 for guiding the folding direction of the separator sheet 122; It includes a pair of upper nozzles 17 for applying adhesive to at least a part of the upper part of the electrode 11 seated on the table 16. The electrode reels 111 and 112 are examples of the electrode supply unit described above, and the separator reel 121 may be an example of the separator supply unit described above. Also, the pair of upper nozzles 17 may be an example of the upper applicator described above.

The electrode reels 111 and 112 include a first electrode reel 111 from which a first electrode sheet 1111 on which a plurality of first electrodes 1112 are formed is unwound; and a second electrode reel 112 on which the second electrode sheet 1121 on which the plurality of second electrodes 1122 are formed is unwound.

The electrode reels 111 and 112 are reels on which the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 are wound, and the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 are unwound from the electrode reels 111 and 112 . Then, the electrode 11 is formed by cutting the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 . More specifically, according to this embodiment, the first electrode reel 111 is a reel on which the first electrode sheet 1111 is wound, and the first electrode sheet 1111 is unwound from the second electrode reel 111 . In addition, the second electrode reel 121 is a reel on which the second electrode sheet 1121 is wound, and the second electrode sheet 1121 is unwound from the second electrode reel 121 .

Here, the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 may be manufactured by coating a slurry of an electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder on an electrode current collector, and then drying and pressing the slurry. However, the manufacturing method of the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 is not limited thereto, and any method of manufacturing the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 generally in the related art may be included in the present embodiment.

More specifically, the first electrode sheet 1111 and the second electrode sheet 1121 may include electrode active materials having different polarities. That is, the first electrode 1112 and the second electrode 1122 may be electrodes 11 having different polarities. For example, if the first electrode 1112 is an anode, the second electrode 1122 may be a cathode. As another example, if the first electrode 1112 is a cathode, the second electrode 1122 may be an anode.

The separator reel 121 is a reel in which the separator sheet 122 is wound, and the separator sheet 122 is unwound from the separator reel 121 . Thereafter, the separator sheet 122 is laminated with the electrode 11 formed by cutting the electrode sheets 1111 and 1121 . Here, the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 are stacked in a Z-folding type. More specifically, in this embodiment, when the first electrode 1112 is seated on the separator sheet 122, one side is folded to cover the first electrode 1112, and when the second electrode 1122 is seated, the other side is folded. to cover the second electrode 1122. The separator sheet 122 may have a zigzag shape.

The table 16 may be stacked with the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 seated on the upper surface. More preferably, the upper surface of the table 16 is formed substantially flat, so that the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 can be stably stacked.

The table 16 may be disposed between the first electrode reel 111 and the second electrode reel 112 . More specifically, the table 16 may be fixed between the first electrode reel 111 and the second electrode reel 112 .

Accordingly, the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 can be stacked on the table 16 while the table 16 is fixed, so that the alignment of the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 is further improved. It can be.

The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first conveying device 141 for conveying the first electrode 1112 toward the table 16; and a second transfer device 142 for transferring the second electrode 1122 toward the table 16 . Here, the first transport device 141 may transport the first electrode 1112 formed by cutting the first electrode sheet 1111 unwound from the first electrode reel 111 toward the table 16 . In addition, the second transport device 142 may transport the second electrode 1122 formed by cutting the second electrode sheet 1121 unwound from the second electrode reel 112 toward the table 16 .

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first electrode 1112 and the second electrode 1122 can be transferred to both sides of the table 16 through the first transfer device 141 and the second transfer device 142, respectively. It may be easy to alternately stack the first electrode 1112 and the second electrode 1122 on the separator sheet 122 .

The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may include headers 141 and 142 for adsorbing the electrode 11 and seating the electrode 11 on the separator sheet 122 . More specifically, the headers 141 and 142 adsorb the first header 151 and the second electrode 1122, which adsorb the first electrode 1112 and seat it on the separator sheet 122, so as to A second header 152 for seating may be further included. Here, the first header 151 and the second header 152 may each rectilinearly reciprocate toward the table 16 .

More specifically, the first header 151 may adsorb the first electrode 1112 transferred from the first transfer device 141 toward the table 16, and the second header 152 may adsorb the second transfer device. At 142, the second electrode 1122 transferred toward the table 16 may be adsorbed. Also, the first header 151 and the second header 152 may linearly move toward the table 16 .

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first header 151 and the second header 152 can move the electrode 11 upward on the table 16, and stably attach the electrode 11 to the separator sheet 122. can be settled with

In addition, the headers 151 and 152 measure whether the first electrode 1112 or the second electrode 1122 is distorted for each first electrode 1112 or the second electrode 1122, and then correct the position as necessary. , It can be accurately seated in a desired position on the separator sheet 122 located on the table 16. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the degree of alignment between the electrodes 11 and the separator sheet 122 stacked and aligned on the table 16 can be further improved.

Referring to FIG. 2 , in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the electrode 11 may be seated on the separator sheet 122 in a state in which an adhesive is applied to at least a part of the lower portion of the electrode 11. there is. More specifically, in this embodiment, the adhesive is applied to at least a part of the lower portion of the electrode 11 when positioned on the transfer devices 141 and 142, or the electrode 11 when adsorbed to the headers 151 and 152. An adhesive may be applied to at least a part of the lower part of the.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to a lower portion of a first electrode in an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the state of applying an adhesive to the lower part of the first electrode in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may include a lower nozzle 173 for applying adhesive to at least a part of the lower portion of the first electrode 1112 . More specifically, the lower nozzle 173 may apply adhesive to at least a part of the lower surface of the first electrode 1112 . Accordingly, the first adhesive layer 1710 may be formed on the lower surface of the first electrode 1112 . Here, the lower nozzle 173 may be an example of a lower applicator.

For example, referring to FIG. 3 , when the first electrode 1112 is adsorbed to the first header 151, the lower nozzle 173 may apply an adhesive to at least a part of the lower portion of the first electrode.

As another example, referring to FIG. 4 , the first transfer device 141a includes a first groove 141a′ open toward the first electrode 1112, so that the lower nozzle 173 has a first groove ( An adhesive may be applied to at least a part of the lower portion of the first electrode 1112 through 141a'). Here, in the first transfer device 141a, at least one first groove 141a' may be formed, and a plurality of first grooves 141a' may be spaced apart from each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 , the first groove 141a′ may extend along the width direction of the first electrode 1112, but is not limited thereto and may extend in various directions.

However, for convenience of description, the first electrode 1112 is described as an example, and the second electrode 1122 may be equally described as the second header 152 or the second transfer device 142 .

Accordingly, the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can apply an adhesive to at least a part of the lower part of the electrode 11 during the transfer process of the electrode 11, thereby improving the convenience and speed of the process. There is an advantage to being able to

Here, it may be preferable that the adhesive is uniformly applied to the lower portion of the electrode 11 . However, if the adhesive is applied to the entire lower surface of the electrode 11, the amount of adhesive applied may be excessive. In this case, the adhesive may flow to the outside of the separator sheet 122 and contaminate other parts, and the function of generating power when the secondary battery is manufactured may not be smooth.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, it may be preferable to apply the adhesive to the lower portion of the electrode 11 in a spot application method in a dot form or a line application method in a line form. That is, the first adhesive layer 1710 may be formed in a spot pattern or a line pattern.

On the other hand, if the application amount of the adhesive is excessively small, the electrode 11 is still not fixed to the separator sheet 122 while the cell moves, and may be detached from its original position. Therefore, it may be desirable that the spacing of the area where the adhesive is applied is not excessively wide.

In addition, the adhesive may be applied to the surface of the electrode 11 in a minimum amount capable of securing adhesion between the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 . On the other hand, when the adhesive is directly applied on the separator sheet 122, the separator sheet 122 absorbs some of the adhesive, so that the adhesive strength between the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 is secured. There is a problem of applying a large amount of adhesive.

Meanwhile, the adhesive may be dissolved in an electrolyte solution. More specifically, when the first adhesive layer 1710 formed below the electrode 11 is impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the adhesive included in the first adhesive layer 1710 may be dissolved in the electrolyte solution. Here, dissolving the adhesive may mean melting the adhesive into the electrolyte. That is, the area of the first adhesive layer 1710 formed under the electrode 11 is reduced, or the first adhesive layer 1710 is completely removed, so that the first adhesive layer 1710 does not remain under the electrode 11. that can mean

For example, the adhesive may be an acrylate-based adhesive. Accordingly, in this embodiment, as the acrylate-based adhesive is applied to the lower portion of the electrode 11 as the adhesive, the adhesive may be dissolved into the electrolyte solution included in the final battery cell.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first adhesive layer 1710 fixes the electrode 11 to the separator sheet 122 during the manufacturing process, thereby preventing the electrode 11 from being moved out of position. In addition, since the first adhesive layer 1710 is dissolved in the electrolyte solution included in the final battery cell, the movement of lithium ions between the electrode and the separator may not be hindered, and battery cell performance may be further improved.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to an upper portion of a first electrode while a first upper nozzle linearly moves in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a pair of upper nozzles 17 apply adhesive to at least a portion of the upper portion of the electrode 11 . More specifically, the pair of upper nozzles 17 include a first upper nozzle 171 for applying adhesive to at least a portion of the upper portion of the first electrode 1112 and an adhesive to at least a portion of the upper portion of the second electrode 1122. It includes a second upper nozzle 172 for applying.

In addition, the first upper nozzle 171 and the second upper nozzle 172 may be disposed on both sides with the separator sheet 122 interposed therebetween. That is, the first upper nozzle 171 applies an adhesive to at least a part of the upper portion of the first electrode 1112 before the separator sheet 122 covers the upper portion of the first electrode 1112 to form a second adhesive layer 1750. ) can be formed. In addition, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 , the second upper nozzle 172 attaches an adhesive to at least a portion of the upper portion of the second electrode 1122 before the separator sheet 122 covers the upper portion of the second electrode 1122 . may be applied to form the second adhesive layer 1750 .

In addition, the pair of upper nozzles 17 may linearly reciprocate left and right with respect to the table 16 . That is, the pair of upper nozzles 17 may apply adhesive to at least a part of the upper portion of the electrode 11 while linearly moving in a direction from one side of the table 16 to the other side or in an opposite direction thereto.

In addition, the description of the adhesive applied from the pair of upper nozzles 17 may be the same as the adhesive applied from the lower nozzle 173 described above.

Here, the pair of upper nozzles 17 may reciprocate left and right simultaneously or individually with respect to the table 16 . More preferably, the pair of upper nozzles 17 can reciprocate left and right simultaneously with respect to the table 16 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , when the first upper nozzle 171 applies the adhesive from one side of the table 16 to the other side, as will be described later in FIG. 7 , the second upper nozzle 172 is ) The adhesive may be applied from the other side toward one side.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the process time of the adhesive application process of the pair of upper nozzles 17 can be reduced, and process efficiency can be further improved.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a separator guide linearly moves and a second electrode is seated on a second region of a separator sheet in an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , in this embodiment, the separator sheet 122 may be guided in a folding direction by a separator guide 125 . More specifically, the membrane guide 125 may rectilinearly reciprocate left and right with respect to the table 16 .

For example, the separator guide 125 may have a shape in which a pair of rolls are arranged horizontally, and a separator sheet 122 may be inserted between the pair of rolls. However, the shape of the separator guide 125 is not limited thereto, and any shape capable of controlling the folding direction of the separator sheet 122 may be included in the present embodiment.

In addition, the membrane guides 125 may be located at upper and lower portions of the pair of upper nozzles 17 , respectively. However, the position and number of the separator guides 125 are not limited thereto, and any position and number capable of controlling the folding direction of the separator sheet 122 may be included in this embodiment.

Here, when the separator guide 125 rectilinearly reciprocates toward the first transfer device 141 and the second transfer device 142 based on the table 16, the separator sheet 122 moves along the separator guide 125. Folded along the moving direction of , the separator sheet 122 may cover the electrode 11 .

For example, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , in a state in which the first electrode 1112 is seated on the first area 1221 of the separator sheet 122, the separator guide 125 moves the first transport device 141 ), the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 may cover the upper portion of the first electrode 1112 .

Here, the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122 refers to a region of the separator sheet 122 to which the first electrode 1112 is attached. In some cases, the first region 1221 refers to a region of the separator sheet 122 to which the first electrode 1112 is attached while covering the second electrode 1122 . Also, the second region 1222 refers to a region of the separator sheet 122 to which the second electrode 1122 is attached while covering the first electrode 1112 . In other words, the first electrode 1112 is seated on the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122, and the second electrode 1122 is seated on the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122. can

In addition, the separator guide 125 simultaneously reciprocates left and right with respect to the table 16 together with the pair of upper nozzles 17, or the separator guide 125 and the pair of upper nozzles 17 move left and right, respectively. can reciprocate.

That is, in this embodiment, when the first upper nozzle 171 applies the adhesive to at least a part of the upper portion of the first electrode 1112 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the separator guide 125 is moves linearly in a direction covering the first electrode 1112 . In addition, as will be described later in FIG. 7 , when the second upper nozzle 172 applies the adhesive to at least a portion of the upper portion of the second electrode 1122, the separator guide 125 moves the separator sheet 122 to the second electrode It can move linearly in a direction covering 1122.

Accordingly, the separator guide 125 may cover upper and lower portions of the electrode 11 with the separator sheet 122 in a Z-folding shape.

More preferably, the membrane guide 125 and the pair of upper nozzles 17 may simultaneously reciprocate left and right with respect to the table 16 . For example, when the first upper nozzle 171 applies the adhesive from one side of the table 16 to the other side as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the membrane guide 125 also moves from one side of the table 16 to the other side. The separator sheet 122 may be folded by linear motion.

Accordingly, the process of applying the adhesive of the pair of upper nozzles 17 and the process of folding the separator sheet 122 by the separator guide 125 can be simultaneously performed, thereby reducing process time and improving process efficiency. It can be.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an adhesive is applied to an upper portion of a second electrode while a second upper nozzle linearly moves in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, 6 and 7, in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, similar to the first electrode 1112, the second electrode 1122 is provided on the second header 152. It is adsorbed and can perform linear reciprocating motion. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , in a state in which the second electrode 1122 is attached to the second header 152 , the second header 152 may linearly move to be located above the table 16 . In this case, the second electrode 1122 may be seated on the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 . In addition, descriptions of the second electrode 1122 and the second header 152 may be the same as those of the first upper nozzle 171 described above.

Also, similar to the first upper nozzle 171 , the second upper nozzle 172 may linearly reciprocate with respect to the table 16 . For example, as the second upper nozzle 172 moves from one side of the table 16 to the other side, the adhesive may be applied to at least a part of the upper portion of the second electrode 1122 . In addition, the description of the second upper nozzle 172 may be the same as that of the first upper nozzle 171 described above.

Using the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 1 as described above, the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed as follows.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the first electrode sheet 1111 is unwound from the first electrode reel 111, the first cutter 131 cuts the first electrode sheet 1111, and A first electrode 1112 is formed (S101).

Meanwhile, when the separator sheet 122 is unwound from the separator reel 121, it is placed on the upper surface of the table 16 (S102).

In addition, the lower nozzle 173 applies an adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode 1112 (S103). For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , in a state in which the first header 151 adsorbs the first electrode 1112 , the lower nozzle applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode 1112 . As another example, as shown in FIG. 4, while the first transfer device 141 transfers the first electrode 1112, the lower nozzle 173 applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode 1112.

Also, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first header 151 may linearly move onto the table 16 while the first electrode 1112 is attached thereto. And, when the first header 151 is positioned above the table 16, as shown in FIG. 2 , the first header 151 is attached to the first area 1221 of the separator sheet 122 as a first adhesive layer. The first electrode 1112 on which 1710 is formed is seated (S104).

In addition, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 , when the first electrode 1112 is seated on the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122, the first upper nozzle 171 is placed on the upper portion of the first electrode 1112. An adhesive may be applied to (S105). Here, as the first upper nozzle 171 moves toward the first transfer device 141 , a second adhesive layer 1750 may be formed on the first electrode 1112 .

1 and 6 , in a state in which at least a portion of the second adhesive layer 1750 is formed on the first electrode 1112, the membrane guide 125 moves in the direction in which the first upper nozzle 171 moves. moving in the same direction as the separator sheet 122, one side of the separator sheet 122 is folded so that the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 covers the first electrode 1112 (S106).

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2 , when the second electrode sheet 1121 is unwound from the second electrode reel 112 , the second cutter 132 cuts the second electrode sheet 1121 . Then, a plurality of second electrodes 1122 are formed. When the second transfer device 142 transfers the second electrode 1122, the second header 152 adsorbs the second electrode 1122. Here, like the first electrode 1112 , a first adhesive layer 1710 formed by applying an adhesive from the lower nozzle 173 may be positioned below the second electrode 1122 .

And, as shown in FIG. 6 , when the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 covers the first electrode 1112, the second header 152 adsorbing the second electrode 1122 Moving toward the top of the region 1222 , the second electrode 1122 is seated on the top of the second region 1222 .

And, as shown in FIG. 7 , the second upper nozzle 172 applies the adhesive to the upper part of the second electrode 1122 . Here, as the second upper nozzle 172 moves toward the second transfer device 142 , the second adhesive layer 1750 may be formed on the second electrode 1122 .

Thereafter, in a state in which at least a portion of the second adhesive layer 1750 is formed on the upper portion of the second electrode 1122, the separator guide 125 moves in the same direction as the moving direction of the second upper nozzle 172, so that the separator sheet The other side of 122 is folded so that the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122 covers the second electrode 1122 .

That is, the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed by repeating the above processes.

When the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to the embodiments of the present invention is performed, when the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 are stacked in a Z-folding type, the adhesive is applied to the upper and lower portions of the electrode 11, respectively. As a result, it is possible to prevent the electrode 11 from departing from its proper position.

8 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 and 8, in the electrode assembly 10 in which electrodes and separator sheets are alternately stacked according to another embodiment of the present invention, the electrode 11 includes a first electrode 1112 and a second electrode. 1122, and the separator sheet 122 has a zigzag shape formed by folding at least twice.

Here, the separator sheet 122 is folded in a state where the first electrode 1112 is seated on the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122, so that the second region 1222 of the separator 122 is the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122. The electrode 11 is covered. In addition, the second electrode 1122 is seated on the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 and is folded so that the first region 1221 of the separator sheet 122 covers the second electrode 1122. are doing

In particular, in the electrode assembly 10 according to the present embodiment, the electrodes 11 may be stacked one by one on the first region 1221 or the second region 1222 of the separator sheet 122 . At this time, the electrode 11 may be stacked at an accurate position on the separator sheet 122 in a state where the position is corrected as necessary after measuring whether or not the electrode 11 is distorted. Accordingly, in the electrode assembly 10 according to the present embodiment, the degree of alignment between the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 may be further improved.

Here, an adhesive layer 1700 is formed between the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 . More specifically, the adhesive layer 1700 includes a first adhesive layer 1710 and a second adhesive layer 1750 . The first adhesive layer 1710 may be positioned between the lower portion of the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122, and the second adhesive layer 1750 may be positioned between the upper portion of the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122.

For example, each of the first adhesive layer 1710 and the second adhesive layer 1750 may be formed by applying an adhesive in the form of a plurality of dots. However, as described above in the battery cell manufacturing apparatus 1, the shapes of the first adhesive layer 1710 and the second adhesive layer 1750 are not limited thereto, and may be formed in various shapes.

Accordingly, in the electrode assembly 10 according to the present embodiment, the adhesive layer 1700 is formed between the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122, so that even in the case of a low-cost separator having an excessively low adhesive strength, the electrode 11 and the Since the separation membranes can be stably fixed to each other, it is possible to prevent the electrode 11 from being separated from its original position. In addition, the electrode assembly 10 of this embodiment covers the top and bottom of the electrode 11 in a form in which one separator sheet 122 is folded, so that the alignment of the electrode 11 and the efficiency of the process are further improved. It can be.

In addition, since there is no need to perform a laminating process as in the prior art, the rate of defects in the process caused by high heat and pressure can be reduced. And, since the laminator can be removed, the volume of the manufacturing device can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

A separator according to an embodiment described herein may be a Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS). In general, the separator has a raw film and a coating layer formed on at least one surface of the raw film, and the coating layer may include alumina powder and a binder to aggregate them. In SRS (Safety Reinforced Separator), a large amount of binder is coated on the surface of the coating layer, but in CCS, the binder may not be coated on the surface of the coating layer, or the binder content distributed on the surface may be very low compared to SRS. For example, in the case of the CCS separator according to the present embodiment, the content of the binder coated on the surface of the coating layer of the separator may be about 3 wt% or less. For example, the content of the binder coated on the surface of the coating layer of the separator may be about 2wt% or less or about 1wt% or less.

When the separator is a CCS, since the internal electrodes included in the electrode assembly are transported in an unfixed state, alignment may be disturbed during transport. Of course, if the separator is CCS, it may be fixed with heat and pressure, but the alignment of the internal electrodes may be disturbed even in the process of forming a stack of electrodes and separators and transferring them to a heat and pressure fixing device. In addition, there is a disadvantage in that an expensive separator having a high binder content must be used in order to attach the electrode and the separator with heat and pressure. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the fixing force while preventing the alignment of the internal electrodes from being disturbed during transportation.

9 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, 8 and 9, a battery cell according to another embodiment of the present invention is a battery cell including the electrode assembly 10 described above, which accommodates the electrode assembly 10 together with an electrolyte solution. A battery case 50 is included, and an adhesive layer 1700 is dissolved in the electrolyte.

Here, a fixing member such as a fixing tape 30 may be attached to the outside of the electrode assembly 10 . Accordingly, the stack alignment of the electrode 11 and the separator sheet 122 may be maintained. The electrode assembly 10 to which the fixing tape 30 is attached may be referred to as a final electrode assembly 20.

The battery case 50 includes an accommodating part 60 in which the electrode assembly 10 or the final electrode assembly 20 is mounted and a sealing part 70 sealing the outer periphery of the accommodating part 60 . For example, the battery case 50 may be a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer. More specifically, the battery case 50 is made of a laminate sheet, and may be composed of an outer resin layer constituting the outermost shell, a barrier metal layer preventing penetration of materials, and an inner resin layer for sealing.

In addition, the storage part 60 of the battery case 50 may accommodate the electrolyte solution together with the electrode assembly 10 . Here, the adhesive layer 1700 included in the electrode assembly 10 may be dissolved into the electrolyte. In particular, in the battery cell according to the present embodiment, in an activation process such as a formation process, the adhesive layer 1700 included in the electrode assembly 10 may be dissolved into the electrolyte under high temperature and/or pressurized conditions.

More specifically, in the battery cell according to the present embodiment, when the adhesive layer 1700 formed between the electrode 11 of the electrode assembly 10 and the separator sheet 122 is dissolved into the electrolyte, the surface of the electrode 11 Little or all of the adhesive 14 may remain.

Unlike this, since the separator sheet 122 is generally a porous sheet, a portion of the adhesive 14 may permeate the separator sheet 122 . However, even in the case of the adhesive layer 1700 that penetrates the separator sheet 122, most or all of it may be dissolved in the electrolyte, and in this process, traces of the application of the adhesive layer 1700 may remain on the separator sheet 122. there is.

Here, the application traces of the adhesive layer 1700 may mean that some of the outer surface of the separator sheet 122 is deformed by the adhesive layer 1700, although the adhesive component included in the adhesive layer 1700 does not remain. However, it is not limited thereto, and the application traces of the adhesive layer 1700 may mean traces that can be used to check whether the adhesive has been applied in various ways, such as traces that can be visually confirmed whether or not the adhesive has been applied. Accordingly, the application trace of the adhesive layer 1700 formed on the separator sheet 122 may be formed at the same location as the location where the adhesive is applied.

Accordingly, in the battery cell according to the present embodiment, the adhesive layer 1700 is completely dissolved on the surface of the electrode 11 or the separator 122, and the unreacted area due to the adhesive layer 1700 disappears, preventing performance degradation and excellent battery performance. this can be implemented.

Although the 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 of those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims are also provided. It falls within the scope of the right of invention.

[Description of code]

1: cell manufacturing device

11: electrode

16: table

17: nozzle

111: first electrode reel

112: second electrode reel

121: separator reel

122: separator sheet

125: separator guide

131: first cutter

132: second cutter

141: first transfer device

142: second transfer device

151: first header

152: second header

171: first upper nozzle

172: second upper nozzle

1111: first electrode sheet

1112: first electrode

1121: second electrode sheet

1122 second electrode

1221 first area

1222 Second area

1710: first adhesive layer

1750: second adhesive layer

Claims (19)

1. an electrode supply unit provided with an electrode sheet on which a plurality of electrodes are formed;

   a separator supply unit that is folded when the electrode is seated and provided with a separator sheet covering the electrode and stacked with the electrode;

   a table for seating the electrodes on an upper surface to have the separator sheet folded between the electrodes to form an electrode assembly;

   a separator guide for guiding a folding direction of the separator sheet; and

   A pair of upper applicators for applying adhesive to at least a part of upper portions of the electrodes seated on the table;

   The separator guide and the pair of upper applicators linearly reciprocate from side to side with respect to the table,

   The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus in which the table is fixed.
2. In paragraph 1,

   The electrode supply unit,

   a first electrode reel from which a first electrode sheet on which a plurality of first electrodes are formed is unwound; and

   An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly comprising a second electrode reel on which a second electrode sheet on which a plurality of second electrodes are formed is unwound.
3. In paragraph 2,

   The pair of top applicators include a first top nozzle and a second top nozzle,

   The first upper nozzle applies the adhesive to the upper portion of the first electrode,

   The second upper nozzle applies the adhesive to the upper part of the second electrode.
4. In paragraph 3,

   The first upper nozzle and the second upper nozzle are disposed on both sides with the separator guide interposed therebetween.
5. In paragraph 3,

   The first electrode is seated on the first region of the separator sheet,

   The second electrode is seated on the second region of the separator sheet electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus.
6. In paragraph 5,

   When the first electrode is seated on the first region of the separator sheet, the first upper nozzle moves linearly on the first electrode,

   When the second electrode is seated on the second region of the separator sheet, the second upper nozzle moves linearly on the second electrode.
7. In paragraph 6,

   When the first upper nozzle applies the adhesive to at least a part of the upper portion of the first electrode, the separator guide moves linearly in a direction in which the separator sheet covers the first electrode,

   When the second upper nozzle applies the adhesive to at least a part of the upper part of the second electrode, the separator guide moves linearly in a direction in which the separator sheet covers the second electrode.
8. In paragraph 5,

   An electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus comprising a lower applicator for applying the adhesive to a lower portion of the first electrode and a lower portion of the second electrode, respectively.
9. In paragraph 8,

   a first header adsorbing the first electrode and seating the first electrode in the first region; and

   The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus further comprises a second header adsorbing the second electrode and seating it in the second region.
10. In paragraph 9,

    When the first electrode is attached to the first header, the lower applicator applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode;

    When the second electrode is adsorbed to the second header, the lower nozzle applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the second electrode.
11. In paragraph 8,

    a first transfer device for transferring the first electrode toward the table; and

    Electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus further comprising a second transfer device for transferring the second electrode toward the table.
12. In paragraph 11,

    The first transfer device includes a first groove open toward the first electrode, and the lower nozzle applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the first electrode through the first groove;

    The second transfer device includes a second groove that is open toward the second electrode, and the lower nozzle applies the adhesive to the lower portion of the second electrode through the second groove.
13. cutting the first electrode sheet unwound from the first electrode supply unit to form a plurality of first electrodes;

    seating the separator sheet provided from the separator supply unit on the table along the separator guide;

    applying an adhesive to a lower portion of the first electrode by a lower applicator;

    seating the first electrode on a first region of the separator sheet;

    applying an adhesive to an upper portion of the first electrode by a first upper nozzle; and

    The electrode assembly manufacturing method comprising the step of folding the separator sheet in a folding direction guided by a separator guide so that a second region of the separator sheet covers the first electrode.
14. In paragraph 13,

    After covering the top of the first electrode,

    cutting the second electrode sheet provided from the second electrode supply unit to form a plurality of second electrodes;

    applying an adhesive to a lower portion of the second electrode by a lower applicator;

    seating the second electrode on a second region of the separator sheet;

    applying an adhesive to an upper portion of the second electrode by a second upper nozzle; and

    The electrode assembly manufacturing method further comprising the step of folding the separator sheet in a folding direction guided by the separator guide so that a first region of the separator sheet covers the second electrode.
15. In paragraph 14,

    The table is fixed,

    The electrode assembly manufacturing method of the electrode assembly manufacturing method in which the separator guide, the first upper nozzle, and the second upper nozzle linearly reciprocate with respect to the table.
16. An electrode assembly in which electrodes and separator sheets are alternately laminated,

    The electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode,

    The separator sheet has a zigzag shape formed by folding at least twice,

    The separator sheet is folded in a state in which the first electrode is seated on the first region of the separator sheet so that the second region of the separator sheet covers the first electrode, and the second region is on the second region. The electrode is folded in a seated state so that the first region of the separator sheet covers the second electrode,

    An adhesive layer is formed between the electrode and the separator sheet,

    The adhesive layer is an electrode assembly that is dissolved in an electrolyte solution for use in a battery cell.
17. In clause 16,

    The adhesive layer includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer,

    The first adhesive layer is located between the lower part of the electrode and the separator sheet,

    The second adhesive layer is an electrode assembly positioned between the upper portion of the electrode and the separator sheet.
18. In paragraph 17,

    The electrode assembly wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are each formed by applying an adhesive in the form of a plurality of dots.
19. A battery cell comprising the electrode assembly of claim 16,

    A battery case accommodating the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte,

    The battery cell wherein the adhesive layer is dissolved in the electrolyte solution.

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