Automatic replacement device of secondary battery material

An automatic replacement device of a secondary battery material including reel support parts to support a supply reel; a material support part spaced apart from the reel support part; clamping parts, each including a clamping roller to come into contact with the material when replacing the supply reel, a vacuum suction part to suction the material by vacuum, a clamping frame to rotatably support the clamping roller and the vacuum suction part, and a cutter to cut the material when coming into contact with the material; first drive parts to move the clamping roller toward/away from the material; and second drive parts to move the cutter toward/away from the material, wherein the automatic replacement device cuts the material as the material is suctioned to the vacuum suction part after being adhered to a material wound around a replacement supply reel when the supply reel is replaced.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments relate to an automatic replacement device of a secondary battery material.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, chemical batteries refer to batteries each including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and each generating electrical energy using a chemical reaction. The chemical batteries may be classified into primary batteries used for one-time use and secondary batteries that can be charged and discharged to be repeatedly usable.

Among the secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries have high energy density per unit weight and are thus widely used for power sources of electronic communication devices, high-output hybrid vehicles, etc.

This detailed information described in the background technology is merely to improve understanding on the background, and thus may include information that does not constitute a related art.

SUMMARY

The embodiments may be realized by providing an automatic replacement device of a secondary battery material, the device including reel support parts configured to support a supply reel around which the secondary battery material is windable; a material support part spaced apart from the reel support part and configured to support the secondary battery material as it is unwound from the supply reel; clamping parts, each including a clamping roller spaced apart from the reel support parts and configured to come into contact with the secondary battery material when replacing the supply reel, a vacuum suction part adjacent to the clamping roller and configured to suction the secondary battery material by vacuum, a clamping frame configured to rotatably support the clamping roller and the vacuum suction part, and a cutter coupled to one side of the clamping frame and configured to cut the secondary battery material when coming into contact with the secondary battery material; first drive parts spaced apart from the clamping parts and configured to move the clamping roller toward and away from the secondary battery material; and second drive parts between the clamping parts and the first drive parts and configured to move the cutter toward and away from the secondary battery material, wherein the automatic replacement device is configured to cut the secondary battery material as the secondary battery material is suctioned to the vacuum suction part after being adhered to a secondary battery material wound around a replacement supply reel when the supply reel is replaced.

The reel support parts, the clamping parts, the first drive parts, and the second drive parts may be each provided as a pair that are arranged symmetrically to each other.

The reel support parts may each include a reel rotation shaft onto which the supply reel is insertable, and a reel frame configured to rotatably support the reel rotation shaft.

The material support part may include a first roller adjacent to the supply reel and configured to come into contact with and support one surface of the secondary battery material; a second roller spaced apart from the first roller and configured to come into contact with and support the other surface of the secondary battery material; and a third roller spaced apart from the second roller and configured to come into contact with and support the one surface of the secondary battery material.

The material support part may further include a fourth roller adjacent to the replacement supply reel and configured to come into contact with and support the one surface of the secondary battery material wound around the replacement supply reel; and a fifth roller spaced apart from the fourth roller and adjacent to the second roller and configured to come into contact with and support the other surface of the secondary battery material wound around the replacement supply reel.

The first drive parts may each include a first cylinder configured to provide a hydraulic pressure or a pneumatic pressure; and a first cylinder rod inserted into the first cylinder and configured to linearly move in a lengthwise direction of the first cylinder, and the first cylinder rod may be connected to a lower side of the clamping frame and is configured to move the lower side of the clamping frame forward toward the secondary battery material or rearward so as to be spaced apart from the secondary battery material.

The second drive parts may each include a second cylinder configured to provide a hydraulic pressure or a pneumatic pressure; a second cylinder rod inserted into the second cylinder and configured to linearly move in a lengthwise direction of the second cylinder; and a cylinder frame connected to one side of the clamping frame, and the second cylinder rod may be configured to move the cylinder frame forward toward the secondary battery material or rearward so as to be spaced apart from the secondary battery material.

When the cylinder frame moves forward, the cutter may come into contact with the secondary battery material and may cut the secondary battery material.

The automatic replacement device may further include a frame part including a pair of main frames installed facing each other and configured to rotatably support the second roller and the fifth roller; and a sub frame installed across the pair of main frames between the main frames.

The sub frame may further includes a through part on one side to pass through the sub frame in a lengthwise direction of the sub frame and through which the cutter passes; a suction tube installed inside the sub frame in the lengthwise direction; and a plurality of suction parts in communication with the suction tube and configured to suction foreign substances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in this description, the terms “or” and “and/or” include any one or all combinations of one or more among the listed items. In addition, the term “connected” in this description means not only the case in which member A and member B are directly connected but also the case in which member A and member B are indirectly connected with member C interposed between member A and member B.

The terms used in this description will be used to describe a specific embodiment and not be construed to be limiting. As used in this description, singular forms do not clearly indicated a case different in context but may include a plurality of forms. In addition, when used in this description, the terms “comprise, include” and/or “comprising, including” specify presence of described shapes, numerals, operations, members, elements and/or a group thereof, and do not exclude presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numerals, operations, members, elements and/or a group thereof.

In this description, the terms such as first and second are used to describe various members, components, regions, layers and/or portions, and the members, components, regions, layers and/or portions should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only to discriminate one member, component, region, layer or portion from other regions, layers or portions, and should not be considered to require sequential inclusion. Thus, a first member, a first component, a first region, a first layer or a first portion to be described below may refer to a second member, a second component, a second region, a second layer or a second portion.

The space-relating terms such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above” or “upper” may be used for easy understanding of one element or feature, or another element or feature illustrated in a drawing. Such space-relating terms are for easy understanding according to various process states or use states, and are not limiting. For example, when an element or a feature is inverted, the element described as “lower” or “below” may be “upper” or “above”. Thus, the term “lower” is a concept including the term “upper” or “below”.

Hereinafter, a nonstop winding device for a secondary battery according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Herein, “a secondary battery material” may include a separator, a negative electrode, and a positive electrode that have plate shapes with predetermined lengths, and are used as terms that mean a material in a state before undergoing a step of being stacked or wound to make an electrode assembly.

An electrode assembly of a secondary battery may be formed by stacking a negative electrode plate and a positive electrode plate in a state of being separate from each other by a separator or winding the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate in a roll shape. In order to be stacked or wound as much as a length required for manufacturing the electrode assembly, the negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate, and the separator may be continuously supplied to a manufacturing process of the electrode assembly. To this end, an automatic replacement device A of a material according to an embodiment may be used.

FIG.1is a front view of an automatic replacement device of a secondary battery material according to an embodiment.FIG.2is an expanded perspective view in one direction of the automatic replacement device according toFIG.1.FIG.3is an expanded perspective view in another direction of main parts of the automatic replacement device according toFIG.1.FIG.4is an expanded perspective view of main parts of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to3, an automatic replacement device A of a secondary battery material according to an embodiment may include, e.g., a reel support part100for supporting a supply reel30; a material support part200for supporting a secondary battery material10so as to feed the secondary battery material to the next process; a clamping part300used (e.g., for clamping) during replacement of the secondary battery material; a first drive part400, a second drive part500, and a frame part600for supporting the clamping part300, the first drive part400, and the second drive part500.

When viewed inFIG.1, the clamping part300, the first drive part400, the second drive part500, and the frame part600may be below the supply reel30, or may be not in a vertical arrangement but on the same plane. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, with respect toFIG.1, a structure in which the clamping part300, the first drive part400, the second drive part500, and the frame part600are below the supply reel30will be exemplarily described.

The reel support part100may include a reel rotation shaft110(into which a supply reel30wound in a roll shape is insertable); and a reel frame120(that rotatably supports the reel rotation shaft110). In an implementation, in the reel support part100, the reel rotation shaft110may be fixed on the reel frame120, and the reel rotation shaft110may rotatably support the supply reel30. An end section of the secondary battery material10may be unwound from a state of being wound on the supply reel30, and may then be fed to the next process via the material support part200.

In the reel support part100in this embodiment, all constituent components each are prepared in one pair and facing each other so as to be symmetrical to each other. For example, as will be described in greater detail below, some components on a left side of the apparatus may be arranged in a mirror image arrangement with respect to the corresponding components on the right side of the apparatus. When the secondary battery material10on the supply reel30installed in one reel support part100is completely consumed, a secondary battery material10on another supply reel30installed on the facing reel support part100may be supplied in place of the secondary battery material10in the one reel support part100. The material support part200may be on a movement path along which the secondary battery material10is unwound and moves. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the left supply reel30is defined as a first supply reel30aand the right supply reel30is defined as a second supply reel30bwith respect toFIG.1.

The material support part200may be provided as a plurality of rollers, which may be spaced apart from each other on the movement path of the secondary battery material10. The material support part200may be configured as free rollers that rotate by a force pulling the secondary battery material10from the outside of the automatic replacement device A. In an implementation, the material support part200may provide support while rotating by an external force so that a tension of the secondary battery material10may be maintained. In an implementation, the material support part200may alternately support one or the other surface of the secondary battery material10.

In an implementation, the material support part200may include, e.g., a first roller210adjacent to the first supply reel30a; a second roller220spaced apart from the first roller210; and a plurality of third rollers230in a direction toward the next process. In an implementation, the material support part200may include a fourth roller240adjacent to the second supply reel30band spaced apart from the first roller210; and a fifth roller250adjacent to the second roller220.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the first roller210and the fourth roller240may be on the reel frame120, and as illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the second roller220and the fifth roller250may be on a main frame610on the frame part600(this will be described in greater detail below).

The first roller210to the second roller220may be used when the second battery material10is supplied from the first supply reel30a, and the fourth roller240and the fifth roller250may be used to support the secondary battery material10when the secondary battery material10on the first supply reel30ais completely consumed and then the first supply reel is replaced with the second supply reel30.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the clamping part300may be installed on the frame part600and may be spaced apart from the second roller220, and the secondary battery material10may pass between the second roller220and the clamping part300.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and4, the clamping part300may include, e.g., a pair of clamping rollers310; a vacuum suction part320between the clamping rollers310; a clamping frame for supporting the clamping rollers310; and a cutter340on one side of the clamping frame330.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the clamping part300may be disposed so that the same structures are symmetrical to each other at mutually facing positions on the frame unit600. That is, in the clamping part300, all components each may be provided in one pair which is disposed facing each other on the frame part600. The mutually facing clamping parts300may function to clamp and cut the secondary battery material10when the secondary battery material10is replaced.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the pair of clamping rollers310may be coupled to roller support shafts with the vacuum suction part320therebetween, and the roller support shafts may be rotatably supported on the clamping frame330. The vacuum suction part320and a vacuum connection tube322may be in communication (e.g., fluid communication) with each other. The clamping rollers310may press the secondary battery material10suctioned or held by the vacuum suction part320from both surface directions. The clamping rollers310may be rotatably installed on the clamping frame330. The clamping rollers310may only be used during clamping of the second battery material10, and the rotation angles thereof may be limited so that the clamping rollers310rotate only up to a suction position from a standby position of the vacuum suction part320.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the vacuum suction part320may suction the surface of the secondary battery material10by vacuum and may cause the secondary battery material10to come into close contact with outer circumferential surfaces of the clamping rollers310. In an implementation, the vacuum suction part320may be connected to the vacuum connection tube322and may generate a suction force by application of a vacuum. The vacuum connection tube322may pass through the clamping rollers310so as not to interfere with the operation of the clamping rollers310and may be connected to the outside of the clamping frame330.

The vacuum suction part320may face toward the second roller220and the fifth roller250at a standby position (position shown inFIG.4), and may face the secondary battery material10at a suction position (refer toFIG.6to be described below).

In order to replace the secondary battery material10, when the mutually facing clamping rollers310on the frame part600come into close contact with the secondary battery material10, the clamping rollers310may press the secondary battery material10. Both surfaces of each of the secondary battery materials10on the first supply reel30aand the second supply reel30bmay be uniformly pressed while the secondary battery materials10pass through or between the clamping rollers310facing each other, the secondary battery materials10on the first supply reel30aand the second supply reel30bmay come into uniform contact without an air bubble and may be connected to each other (a method for connecting the secondary battery materials in the first supply reel and the second supply reel will be described below).

As illustrated inFIG.2, the clamping rollers310and the vacuum suction part320may be coupled to the penetrated inside of the clamping frame330having a rectangular frame shape, and the cutter340may be on one outer surface of the clamping frame330. The clamping frame330may rotatably support the roller support shafts that pass through and are inserted into the pair of clamping rollers310. To this end, both ends of the roller support shafts may be rotatably supported on two mutually facing surfaces in the rectangular frame of the clamping frame330. The vacuum connection tube322may be drawn out by passing through one surface of the two surfaces. In an implementation, the clamping rollers310may be rotatably supported inside the rectangular frame of the clamping frame330.

The clamping frame330may rotationally move toward the secondary battery material10in link with the operation of the first drive part400or the second drive part500(this will be described below).

With respect toFIG.2, the cutter340may be coupled to an outer upper surface of the clamping frame330and may be installed below a safety cover640to be described below. The cutter340may have a length smaller than the length of the upper surface of the clamping frame330. The cutter340may be installed so that a cutting blade protrudes (e.g., inwardly) more than the clamping frame330, and may come into contact with and cut the secondary battery material10when the upper side of the clamping frame330approaches the secondary battery material10.

The operation of the cutter340may be performed in link with the operation of the clamping frame330, and the movement or operation of the clamping frame330may be performed by the first drive parts400and the second drive parts500.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a forward movement is defined as a movement in a direction approaching the clamping parts that face each other with respect to the lengthwise directions of a first cylinder and a second cylinder, a backward movement is defined as a movement in a direction moving away from the clamping parts, and the first drive parts400and the second drive parts500will be described.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to4, the first drive parts400may be respectively installed below the pair of supply reels30, and may be installed below the second drive parts500. The first drive parts400may be respectively installed below the first supply reel30aand the second supply reel30band may have mutually symmetrical structures. The first drive parts400may each include, e.g., a first cylinder410and a first cylinder rod420, a cylinder fixing bracket430for fixing the first cylinder to a cylinder frame530of the second drive part500; a rod fixing bracket440for fixing the first cylinder rod420; and a first connection bracket450for connecting the rod fixing bracket440to the clamping frame330.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the first cylinder410may provide a drive force by hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure, and may be installed approximately perpendicular to the movement direction of the secondary battery material10unwound toward the second roller220from the first roller210. The first cylinder rod420may be inserted into the first cylinder410and may linearly move in the forward or rearward direction along the lengthwise direction of the first cylinder410. One end of the first cylinder410may be fixed onto the cylinder frame530of the second drive parts500by the cylinder fixing bracket430. The first cylinder rod420may pass through the cylinder fixing bracket430and may be coupled to the rod fixing bracket440.

The rod fixing bracket440may be fixed to an end of the first cylinder rod420and may linearly move in the lengthwise direction of the first cylinder rod420due to movement of the first cylinder rod420. The rod fixing bracket440may have a frame shape that is folded or bent a plurality of times according to need and may be coupled to the first connection bracket450.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the first connection bracket450may have a shape to which one or a plurality of brackets folded or bent a plurality of times are coupled, and may connect the rod fixing bracket440and the clamping frame to each other. The first connection bracket450may be coupled to an outer lower surface of the clamping frame330with respect toFIGS.2and3. In an implementation, as illustrated in the drawings, the rod fixing bracket440and the first connection bracket450may be provided in plurality and mutually connected, or may have a one-frame structure.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to4, the second drive parts500may be respectively installed below the pair of supply reels30, and may be installed between the first drive parts400and the supply reels30. The second drive parts500may be respectively installed below the first supply reel30aand the second supply reel30band may have mutually symmetrical structures. The second drive parts500may each include, e.g., a second cylinder510and a second cylinder rod520; a cylinder frame530that moves due to movement of the second cylinder rod520; a connection pin540and a second connection bracket550that connect the cylinder frame530to the clamping frame330.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the second cylinder510may provide a drive force by a hydraulic pressure or a pneumatic pressure, and the second cylinder rod520may be inserted into the second cylinder510and may linearly move forward or rearward in the lengthwise direction of the second cylinder510. One end of the second cylinder510may be fixed to the reel frame120or on an installation surface by a support frame630. The second cylinder rod520may pass through the support frame630. The second cylinder rod520may push a push arm532of the cylinder frame530to be described below and may move the cylinder frame530.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the cylinder frame530may have a plate shape having a predetermined size and thickness, and may have one side to which the cylinder fixing bracket430is coupled and the other side to which one side of the clamping frame330is coupled. The other side coupled to the cylinder frame530may be a surface opposite to a surface to which the vacuum connection tube322exposes in the clamping frame330. With respect toFIGS.2and3, a push arm532may protrude from an upper surface of the cylinder frame530and a connection pin540may be coupled to one lower surface.

The push arm532may be a portion pressed by the second cylinder rod520when the second cylinder rod520is extended from the second cylinder510. The second cylinder rod520pushes the push arm532, so that the mutually facing cylinder frames530may approach each other.

The connection pin540may have a cylindrical shape and may have one end coupled to one surface of the cylinder frame530and the other end extending in the width direction of the clamping rollers310. A link-like second connection bracket550may be coupled to the other end, and the second connection bracket550may connect the connection pin540and a lower side of the clamping frame330.

With respect toFIGS.2and3, the mutually facing clamping frames330may move forward so as to be adjacent to each other or move rearward to original positions thereof. In an implementation, when the first cylinder rod420extends with respect to the first cylinder410, the rod fixing bracket440and the first connection bracket450(which are connected to the first cylinder rod420) may push the lower side of the clamping frame330while moving. Accordingly, the lower end of the clamping frame330may move in a direction away from the first cylinder410, and the lower ends of the pair of pair of clamping frames330may approach each other. In an implementation, only the lower end of the clamping frame330may move due to movement of the first cylinder rod420, and the pair of mutually facing cutters340may be maintained at a state of being maximally spaced apart from each other.

In an implementation, when the push arm532of the cylinder frame530is pushed by the second cylinder rod520, the cylinder frame530may move in a direction away from the second cylinder510. The cylinder frame530may be connected to the clamping frame330by the connection pin540and the second connection bracket550, and when the cylinder frame530moves, the clamping frame330may also move in the same direction.

The first cylinder rod420may not be connected to the cylinder frame530, and may only be connected to the clamping frame330. When the first cylinder rod420moves, the cylinder frame530may not move and only the lower end of the clamping frame330moves in a direction away from the first cylinder410.

In an implementation, only the lower end of the clamping frame330moves by operation the first drive parts400. In an implementation, the clamping frame330or other portions connected thereto move at once by operation of the second drive parts500.

While the lower end of the clamping frame330is far from the first cylinder410, the cutters340may approach each other or move away from each other by the operation of the second drive parts500. The positions at which the cutters340make contact with the secondary battery material10are defined as the cut positions, and the cutters340may be approximately parallel to the first cylinder410or the second cylinder510at the cut positions, and may be approximately perpendicular to the contact positions of the secondary battery material10. The positions at which the cutters340are far from the secondary battery material10are defined as cutting standby positions, and the cutters may be in noncontact states with the secondary battery material10at the cutting standby positions. The cutting standby positions may include all positions between a state in which lower ends of the mutually facing clamping frames330approach each other and a state of maximum distance between the lower ends.

The frame part600may include several frame structures that are coupled to and support the clamping part300, the first drive parts400, and the second drive parts500which are described above.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to4, the frame part600may include, e.g., a pair of main frames610that rotatably support the second roller220and the fifth roller250; and a sub frame620between and crossing the pair of main frames610. In addition, the frame part600may further include a plurality of support frames630and a safety cover640coupled to the main frames610. The support frames630are the plurality of frames that simply support and connect the various structures, and thus, detailed description thereon may be omitted.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the main frames610may have a shape of a pair of plate shapes facing each other, and the second roller220and the fifth roller250may be between the mutually facing surfaces of the main frames610. The sub frames620may be spaced apart from each other below the second roller220and the fifth roller250.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the sub frames620may be formed in a pair of mutually facing frame structures or in a rectangular frame structures. As illustrated inFIG.4, a through part622may be on one side of each sub frame620in the lengthwise direction of the sub frame. A suction tube624may be installed inside the sub frame620in the lengthwise direction of the sub frame, and a plurality of foreign substance suction parts624amay be formed in the suction tube624.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and4, the through part622may be a portion that functions as a window through which the cutter340moves in and out during the operation thereof, and may be a hole formed passing through the sub frame620. The through part622may be formed in a size of a degree that does not interfere with the operation of the cutter340.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and4, the suction tube624may have a hollow tube shape, and the foreign substance suction part624amay be formed in the lengthwise direction on the outer circumferential surface of the suction tube624. The suction tube624may have a structure that is connected to a pump or the like installed outside and in which a negative pressure is formed by suctioning air and foreign substances flow into the suction tube624through the foreign substance suction part624athat is op to and in fluid communication with the suction tube624. Foreign substances generated during the operation of the cutters340may be suctioned through the foreign substance suction part624aand may be discharged to the outside of the automatic replacement device A.

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the safety cover640may be coupled to the main frames610, and may be plate members with predetermined sizes installed in the lengthwise directions of the cutters340. The safety cover640may help prevent the cutters340from rotating at an angle more than a certain angle during the operations of the cutters340. In an implementation, when the cutters340rotate toward the second cylinder510by the predetermined angle or more, the cutters340may be prevented from coming into contact with the safety cover640and exposing to the outside of the safety cover640. To this end, the safety cover640may have a shape in which an end section thereof is bent at a portion for which the rotation angles of the cutters340are required to be controlled. In addition, the safety cover640may be formed greater than the lengths of the cutters340.

Hereinafter, a method for replacing a supply reel on which a secondary battery material is wound will be described with reference toFIGS.5to9. Structures that are not illustrated inFIGS.5to9will be described with reference toFIGS.1to4described above.

FIG.5is a front view of an operation state of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

As illustrated inFIG.5, when the secondary battery material10wound around the first supply reel30ais being supplied, the secondary battery material10may be in a state of moving sequentially via the first roller210, the second roller220and the third roller230.

At this point, the first cylinder rod420may be extended from the first cylinder410, the lower end of the clamping frame330may move forward and may be in a state of being maximally spaced apart from the first cylinder410, and the second cylinder rod520may be in a state of not being maximally extended. The upper end of the clamping frame330may be in a state of being spaced apart from the secondary battery material10(e.g., an acute angle may be formed between the clamping frame and the first cylinder rod). Accordingly, the cutters340may be in a state of being spaced apart from the secondary battery material10, and only the clamping rollers310may be in a state of coming into contact with the secondary battery material10. In addition, vacuum may not be provided to the vacuum suction part320, and the clamping rollers310may only function to support the secondary battery material10while rotating.

FIG.6is a front view of a standby reel preparation state of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

As illustrated inFIG.6, in order to replace the first supply reel30a, the second supply reel30bmay be prepared at a position symmetrical to the first supply reel30a. The secondary battery material10wound around the second supply reel30bmay have an end section to which an adhesive tape50is attached, and the adhesive tape50may be in a state of suctioned to the vacuum suction part320and may be temporarily fixed thereto.

At this point, the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape50may face the secondary battery material10wound around the first supply reel30a. An end section of the adhesive tape50may be slightly longer than the lower end of the vacuum suction part320, and may generate a suction force from the vacuum suction part320to be sufficiently applied.

The first cylinder rod420may be extended from the first cylinder410in a preparation state of the second supply reel30b, and the lower end of the clamping frame330may move forward and may be in a state of being maximally spaced apart from the first cylinder410. In addition, the second cylinder rod520may be maximally accommodated in the second cylinder510, and the upper end of the clamping frame330may be in a state of being minimally spaced apart from the second cylinder510(e.g., an acute angle may be formed between the clamping frame and the first cylinder rod). Accordingly, the cutters340may be in a state of being spaced apart from the secondary battery material10.

FIG.7is a front view of a second standby reel replacement step of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

As inFIG.7, in order to replace the first supply reel30a, the secondary battery material10wound around the second supply reel30bmay be close to the secondary battery material10wound around the first supply reel30a. In an implementation, the first drive part400below the second supply reel30bmay be driven. For convenience of description, when the second supply reel30bside is assumed to be the right side, the second cylinder rod520on the right side may be extended and moves forward to cause an end section of the right-side secondary battery material10to approach the left-side secondary battery material10.

FIG.8is a front view of a second standby reel replacement step of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

In the state ofFIG.7, when the supply of the secondary battery material10on the first supply reel30ais nearly completed, the main material supply source may be replaced to or by the second supply reel30b. In an implementation, a color tape may be attached on the secondary battery material10, and a sensor for detecting the color tape may be provided adjacent to the third roller230. When the color tape is detected by the sensor, a detection signal may be transmitted to a separate controller, and the (e.g., left-side) second drive part500is driven by the controller.

The second cylinder rod520may push a push arm532of the cylinder frame530while extended maximally from the second cylinder510, and the cylinder frame530may move the clamping frame330toward the right-side clamping part300.

At this point, the clamping rollers310on the left-side clamping part300may come into contact with the clamping part300of the right-side clamping part300, and the secondary battery material10, which is in contact with the left-side clamping rollers310and is on the first supply reel30a, may be attached to an adhesive tape50on an end section of the secondary battery material10on the second supply reel30b.

In this state, cutting may be performed while the cutters340come into contact with the secondary battery material10on the first supply reel30aby rotation of the clamping frame330. At this point, the angle formed by the clamping frame330and the first cylinder may be a dull or obtuse angle, an cutting may be performed after adhesion between the left and right-side secondary battery materials is firstly formed. Accordingly, cutting of the secondary battery material10on the first supply reel30amay be performed in a state of being adhered to the secondary battery material10on the second supply reel30b. For example, when the first supply reel30ais running out of material, only the cutter on the left side may be activated, such that only the secondary battery material10from the first supply reel30ais cut, and the secondary battery material10from the second supply reel30bis not cut.

Through such operations, the secondary battery material10on the first supply reel30amay be connected to the secondary battery material10on the second supply reel30b, and thus, the secondary battery material10may be continuously supplied from the second supply reel30bwithout a stop in the operation of the automatic replacement device A.

FIG.9is a front view of a standby reel preparation completion state of the automatic replacement device according toFIGS.2and3.

As inFIG.9, when the replacement from the first supply reel30aby the second supply reel30bis completed, the first drive part400and the second drive part500, which are on the left side, may move rearward and return to original positions thereof again. Subsequently, a replacement reel may be prepared again in the same manner as described above, and may be replaced in the same manner after waiting. In an implementation, the supply reel30around which the secondary battery material10is wound may be replaced without a stop in the operation of the automatic replacement device A, and the secondary battery material10may continuously be supplied.

In an implementation, two supply reels may be supplied. In an implementation, the number of supply reels may be increased by providing a plurality of material support parts and a plurality of clamping parts.

By way of summation and review, separators or electrode plates used for or during production of secondary batteries may be used while wound on a plurality of supply reels. When the separators and electrodes being supplied on the supply reels are completely supplied, e.g., when the supply reels are empty, an operator should manually replace the reels with other reels. There may be a limitation in that the production process of the second batteries is stopped and the productivity may be degraded during the replacement of the separators or electrodes.

One or more embodiments may provide an automatic replacement device of a secondary battery material with which a supply reel may be automatically or easily replaced without a stop in the production process of a secondary battery when a separator or an electrode plate supply reel is replaced.

According to an embodiment, the supply reel may be automatically replaced without a stop in the production process when replacing the supply reel for a separator or an electrode plate, and thus, there may be an effect of reducing a production process time as much as eliminating delay and waiting time.

In addition, a cutter-integrated clamp roller may be used, and an air bubble may not be generated when attaching end sections of the separator or the electrode plate, and adhesiveness may be improved. Therefore, supply of the separator or the electrode plate may be smoothly performed without a stop.