Patent Publication Number: US-2023135675-A1

Title: Tape Removal Apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2021/008576 filed on Jul. 6, 2021, and now published as WO 2022/014933, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0087012 filed on Jul. 14, 2020, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a tape removal apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus capable of automatically removing a tape attached to an electrode roll in a tape removal process without a worker. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A lithium secondary battery, which is capable of being charged and discharged, is appropriately used as a built-in battery cell, since it is unnecessary to replace a battery cell, and functional improvement, such as stability improvement and capacity increase, has been rapidly achieved. Accordingly, kinds of devices to which the lithium secondary battery is applied have gradually increased. 
     For example, the lithium secondary battery has been widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices, which are small multifunctional products, or wearable devices, which are worn on bodies, and has also been used as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles, which cause air pollution. 
     An electrode assembly of the lithium secondary battery is classified depending on the structure of an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode. Typically, the electrode assembly includes a stacked type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which one or more positive electrode plates and one or more negative electrode plates are stacked in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween, a stacked and folded type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which stacked type unit cells, each of which includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, are wound using a separation sheet, a laminated and stacked type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which stacked type unit cells, each of which includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, are stacked in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween, and a jelly-roll type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are wound in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween. 
     A process of manufacturing an electrode including the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a step of coating the remaining part of an electrode sheet wound in the form of a roll, excluding a part at which an electrode tab is to be formed, with an electrode agent, a step of drying and rolling the electrode agent, a step of slitting the electrode sheet, and a step of notching the slit electrode sheet into unit electrodes. 
     In order to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll during manufacture of the electrode, the electrode roll is stored and transported in the state in which a tape is attached to a start portion or an end portion of the electrode roll. In addition, the tape must be removed such that the electrode roll, to which the tape is attached, is unwound so as to be used in an electrode manufacturing process. A worker is needed in order to attach and remove the tape. However, the state in which the tape is attached and removed may not be uniform depending on skill of the worker, which may delay the electrode manufacturing process. 
     In connection therewith, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-162781 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a sewing machine including a rotary unit configured to rotate a paper roll and a tape removal unit configured to remove a winding fixing tape used to fix a winding end of the paper roll. 
     The tape removal unit of Patent Document 1 is used to remove a tape, a tip of which is bent such that adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other, wherein a bent portion of the tape is lifted using a tape scraper and the paper roll is further rotated in a winding direction in the state in which the bent portion is supported, whereby the tape is removed from the paper roll. 
     However, the tape removal unit of Patent Document 1 includes a frame constituted by a post portion and a beam portion. Since the tape removal unit is configured to have a structure in which the paper roll is disposed in the frame in order to remove the tape, the size of the paper roll may be limited. In addition, the paper roll may be damaged while the bent portion of the tape is lifted using the tape scraper. 
     Therefore, there is a high necessity for an apparatus capable of removing a tape attached to an electrode roll in order to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll, wherein the apparatus is applicable to the electrode roll irrespective of the size of the electrode roll and is capable of automatically removing the tape from the electrode roll without a worker. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     (Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-162781 (2008 Jul. 17) 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape removal apparatus capable of automatically removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, thereby improving productivity of an electrode manufacturing process. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a tape removal apparatus for removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, the tape removal apparatus including a sensing unit configured to sense the tape attached to the electrode roll, an injection unit configured to inject air toward the tape, a support unit configured to support a non-adhesive portion of the tape, and a gripper configured to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape together with the support unit. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the sensing unit may sense the color of the tape. 
     The tape removal apparatus according to the present invention may further include a rotary roll configured to rotate the electrode roll, wherein the sensing unit may sense a tape attached to an end of the electrode roll rotated by the rotary roll, and the injection unit may inject air when the sensing unit senses the tape. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the tape may include an adhesive portion attached to an end of the electrode roll and a non-adhesive portion extending from the adhesive portion, the non-adhesive portion not being attached to the electrode roll, and the injection unit may inject air between the non-adhesive portion and the outer surface of the electrode roll. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the rotary roll may be configured to be movable upwards and downwards, and the rotary roll may be moved downwards such that the non-adhesive portion of the tape is located on one surface of the support unit. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the gripper may be configured to be movable upwards and downwards, to be movable leftwards and rightwards, and to be movable forwards and rearwards, and the gripper may be moved toward the non-adhesive portion of the tape located at the outer surface of the support unit in order to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the gripper may be provided with a sensor configured to sense the non-adhesive portion of the tape. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the rotary roll may be rotated in the state in which the non-adhesive portion of the tape is fixed by the support unit and the gripper, whereby the adhesive portion of the tape may be removed from the electrode roll. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the injection unit and the gripper may be provided in equal number to the tape, and the number of the tapes may be two or more. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the position of the injection unit may be adjustable. 
     In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the injection unit may include a structure capable of adjusting the direction in which air is injected. 
     In another embodiment, a tape removal apparatus for removing a tape attached to an electrode roll may be configured to have a structure including a sensing unit configured to sense the tape attached to the electrode roll and a suction unit configured to suction the tape in order to remove the tape from the electrode roll. 
     In addition, the suction unit may include a tape gripper configured to grip a non-adhesive portion of the tape. 
     As is apparent from the above description, a tape removal apparatus according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which an electrode roll is fixed to a rotary roll movable in an upward-downward direction and in which a gripper is moved toward a tape attached to the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to use the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention irrespective of the radius of the electrode roll. 
     In addition, a part of the tape includes a non-adhesive portion, which is not attached to the electrode roll, and air is injected toward the non-adhesive portion in order to separate the tape from the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to prevent damage to the electrode roll in a process of separating the non-adhesive portion from the electrode roll. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a set of front views showing an operation process of a tape removal apparatus according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( a )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( a ) . 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1   € during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( c ) . 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( d )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( d ) . 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( e )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( e ) . 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( f )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( f ) . 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a tape removal apparatus according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a tape removal apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the principle of operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, however, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may obscure the subject matter of the present invention. 
     In addition, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to parts that perform similar functions or operations. In the case in which one part is said to be connected to another part throughout the specification, not only may the one part be directly connected to the other part, but also, the one part may be indirectly connected to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is included does not mean that other elements are excluded, but rather means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise. 
     In addition, a description to embody elements through limitation or addition may be applied to all inventions, unless particularly restricted, and does not limit a specific invention. 
     Also, in the description of the invention and the claims of the present application, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless mentioned otherwise. 
     Also, in the description of the invention and the claims of the present application, “or” includes “and” unless mentioned otherwise. Therefore, “including A or B” means three cases, namely, the case including A, the case including B, and the case including A and B. 
     In addition, all numeric ranges include the lowest value, the highest value, and all intermediate values therebetween unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a set of front views showing an operation process of a tape removal apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , which shows a process of removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, the electrode roll  101  may be rotated in a state of being mounted to a rotary roll  170 . A tape attachment direction is set depending on a winding direction of the electrode roll  101 . The electrode roll  101  of  FIG.  1    is shown as being wound in a counterclockwise direction. 
     The electrode roll  101  may be an electrode roll before punching is performed to form electrode tabs or an electrode roll in the state in which electrode tabs are formed. 
     A tape  110  configured to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll  101  is attached to an end of the electrode roll  101 . 
     As described above, the tape removal apparatus removes the tape attached to the electrode roll. Specifically, the tape removal apparatus includes a sensing unit  120  configured to sense the tape  110  attached to the electrode roll  101 , an injection unit  130  configured to inject air toward the tape  110  such that a non-adhesive portion of the tape  110  is separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll, a support unit  140  configured to support the non-adhesive portion separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll by the air, and a gripper  150  configured to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape  110  together with the support unit  140 . 
     View (a) of  FIG.  1    shows the state in which the electrode roll  101  having the tape  110  attached thereto is disposed above the tape removal apparatus, wherein the electrode roll is rotated in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction such that the sensing unit  120  senses the position of the tape  110 . 
     The sensing unit  120  may sense the color of the tape  110 . The sensing unit  120  may include an ultraviolet sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, or a vision sensor, which may be selectively disposed, depending on the color added to the tape or the kind of a light-emitting material added to the tape. 
     View (b) of  FIG.  1    shows the state in which the tape  110  is disposed above the sensing unit  120 . Specifically, the tape  110  may be located in a state of deviating from above the sensing unit  120  such that the tape  110  is located in a direction in which air is injected from the injection unit, as shown in View (c) of  FIG.  1   . 
     That is, the injection unit injects air between the non-adhesive portion of the tape and the outer surface of the electrode roll such that the non-adhesive portion is separated from the electrode roll. 
     View (d) of  FIG.  1    shows the state in which the electrode roll is moved downwards in a y-axis direction such that the non-adhesive portion separated from the electrode roll is located on one surface of the support unit  140 . 
     View (e) of  FIG.  1    shows the state in which the gripper  150  is moved toward the support unit  140  in an x-axis direction in order to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape. 
     At this time, an adhesive portion of the tape is in a state of being attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll, and only the non-adhesive portion of the tape is separated from the electrode roll and is then fixed between the support unit and the gripper. Consequently, unwinding of the electrode roll is prevented by the adhesive portion attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll. 
     View (f) of  FIG.  1    shows a process in which the adhesive portion of the tape is removed from the outer surface of the electrode roll while the electrode roll  101  is rotated in the clockwise direction, wherein the electrode roll, from which the tape has been removed, may be moved upwards in the y-axis direction. 
       FIG.  2    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( a )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( a ) . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the electrode roll  101  is in a state of being wound in the counterclockwise direction, wherein the tape  110  is fixed to the end of the electrode roll by attachment. 
     The sensing unit  120 , the injection unit  130 , and the support unit  140  are disposed on the upper surface of a base unit  103 . The support unit  140  is configured to have a structure in which the support unit protrudes upwards such that the non-adhesive portion of the tape is disposed at the support unit. 
     The sensing unit  120  is disposed at a part of the upper surface of the support unit  140 . While the electrode roll  101  is rotated in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, the sensing unit  120  rapidly senses the position of the tape attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll  101 . 
     Although  FIG.  2    shows the state in which the linear sensing unit  120  is disposed so as to be equal to the length of the support unit  140  in a z-axis direction, the sensing unit  120  may protrude farther than the upper surface of the support unit, or a plurality of sensing units may be disposed in a state of being spaced apart from each other. 
     The injection unit  130  is disposed at one side of the support unit  140  and the sensing unit  120 . An injection port  131  of the injection unit  130  is disposed so as to face the electrode roll  101 , and the injection unit  130  may have a structure in which the direction in which air is injected is adjustable. For example, in the case in which the electrode roll is wound in the clockwise direction, the injection unit  130  may be mounted again such that the injection port  131  is open in a direction opposite the support unit  140 , although  FIG.  2    shows that the injection port  131  is open in a direction toward the support unit  140 . 
       FIG.  3    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( c )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( c ) . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the sensing unit  120  senses the tape attached to the end of the electrode roll rotated by the rotary roll. When the sensing unit  120  senses the position of the tape  110 , the injection unit  130  injects air. 
     The tape  110  includes an adhesive portion  111  attached to an end of the electrode roll and a non-adhesive portion  112  extending from the adhesive portion  111 , the non-adhesive portion  112  not being attached to the electrode roll. The injection unit  130  injects air between the non-adhesive portion  112  and the outer surface of the electrode roll  101 . At this time, the non-adhesive portion  112  is separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll  101 . 
     Two tapes  110  are attached to the electrode roll. Two injection units  130  are provided such that air can be injected toward the two tapes. The number of injection units  130  may be equal to the number of tapes  110  attached to the electrode roll  101 . The position of the injection unit  130  is adjustable such that the injection unit is disposed so as to face the tape  110 . The injection unit may be moved in the z-axis direction. 
       FIG.  4    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( d )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( d ) . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the non-adhesive portion  112  of the tape is disposed on one surface of the support unit  140  while the rotary roll  170 , which fixes and rotates the electrode roll  101 , is rotated in the clockwise direction. 
     The rotary roll  170  may be moved upwards and downwards in the y-axis direction such that the non-adhesive portion  112  of the tape is disposed at one surface of the support unit  140 . Alternatively, the base unit  103  and the support unit  140  may be separated from each other, and the support unit  140  may be moved upwards in the y-axis direction. 
       FIG.  5    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( e )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( e ) . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the gripper  150  is moved toward the non-adhesive portion  112  of the tape such that the non-adhesive portion is fixed to the support unit. 
     The gripper  150  may be mounted to a transfer unit  152 . The transfer unit  152  may be moved in a direction toward the base unit  103 , and additionally the gripper  150  may be moved toward the non-adhesive portion  112  on the transfer unit  152 . 
     The gripper  150  may be provided with a sensor  151  configured to sense the non-adhesive portion of the tape such that the gripper  150  is moved toward the non-adhesive portion of the tape. The sensor  151  may sense the non-adhesive portion  112  in the same manner as the sensing unit  120  provided at the upper surface of the support unit  140 . 
     The gripper  150  may be moved forwards and rearwards in the x-axis direction, may be moved upwards and downwards in the y-axis direction, and may be moved leftwards and rightwards in the z-axis direction. Two grippers may be independently moved in directions indicated by arrows shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     Movement of the gripper  150  is not particularly restricted. The gripper  150  itself may be moved upwards and downwards. Alternatively, unlike what is shown in  FIG.  5   , a base plate, which is a separate member, may be moved upwards and downwards in the state in which the gripper is mounted to the base plate. 
     Two tapes are attached to the electrode roll  101  of  FIG.  5   , and two grippers  150  are provided such that the grippers are attached to the two tapes, respectively, in order to fix the tapes. 
     That is, the number of grippers and the number of injection units may be equal to the number of tapes. It is preferable for the number of tapes to be two or more such that the electrode roll can be stably fixed by the tapes. 
       FIG.  6    is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG.  1 ( f )  during the process step of  FIG.  1 ( f ) . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , the transfer unit  152 , to which the gripper  150  is mounted, is moved in a direction toward the base unit  103  such that the base unit  103  and the transfer unit  152  abut each other. 
     The gripper  150  is further moved in a direction indicated by an arrow so as to abut the tape, and the tape may be fixed between the support unit  140  and the gripper  150 . 
     In this state, the adhesive portion  111  of the tape may be removed from the electrode roll  101  while the rotary roll  170  is rotated in the clockwise direction. 
     The rotary roll  170  that fixes the electrode roll  101 , from which the tape has been completely removed, may be moved upwards so as to become far from the support unit  140 , and the electrode roll  101  may be moved so as to be used in another process. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a tape removal apparatus according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , an electrode roll  201  has a structure in which the electrode roll is wound in the counterclockwise direction, unlike the electrode roll  101  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  6   . 
     When compared with the electrode roll  101 , therefore, the direction in which a tape is attached to the electrode roll  201  is changed. The injection direction of the injection unit  230  is opposite the injection direction of the injection unit  130  such that air can be injected between a non-adhesive portion of the tape and the electrode roll  201 . 
     Meanwhile, a sensing unit  220  senses the tape  210  attached to the electrode roll  201 , air is injected in order to separate a non-adhesive portion of the tape from the electrode roll, the non-adhesive portion separated from the electrode roll by the air is disposed between a support unit  240  and a gripper  250 , and an adhesive portion of the tape is separated from the electrode roll while the electrode roll  201  is rotated, in the same manner as described with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  6   . 
       FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a tape removal apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , a tape  310  is attached to a tip of an electrode roll  301 , and the tape  310  includes an adhesive portion  311  and a non-adhesive portion  312 . 
     The tape removal apparatus includes a sensing unit  320  configured to sense the tape  310  attached to the electrode roll  301  and a suction unit  380  configured to suction the tape  310  in order to remove the tape from the electrode roll  301 . 
     The suction unit  380  has a suction port formed in the surface thereof that joins the tape, and the tape may be suctioned through vacuum suctioning. 
     At this time, the non-adhesive portion of the tape is separated first from the electrode roll. The suction unit  380  may include a tape gripper  390  configured to grip the separated non-adhesive portion first and to separate the adhesive portion from the electrode roll. 
     As described above, the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention may remove the tape attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll in an automatic manner such that the electrode roll can be used. Since an electrode manufacturing process is performed without stopping, it is possible to prevent reduction in productivity. 
     Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various applications and modifications are possible within the category of the present invention based on the above description. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       101 ,  201 ,  301 : Electrode rolls 
       103 : Base unit 
       110 ,  210 ,  310 : Tapes 
       111 ,  311 : Adhesive portions 
       112 ,  312 : Non-adhesive portions 
       120 ,  220 ,  320 : Sensing units 
       130 ,  230 : Injection units 
       131 : Injection port 
       140 ,  240 : Support units 
       150 ,  250 : Grippers 
       151 : Sensor 
       152 : Transfer unit 
       170 : Rotary roll 
       380 : Suction unit 
       390 : Tape gripper 
     As is apparent from the above description, a tape removal apparatus according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which an electrode roll is fixed to a rotary roll movable in an upward-downward direction and in which a gripper is moved toward a tape attached to the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to use the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention irrespective of the radius of the electrode roll. 
     In addition, a part of the tape includes a non-adhesive portion, which is not attached to the electrode roll, and air is injected toward the non-adhesive portion in order to separate the tape from the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to prevent damage to the electrode roll in a process of separating the non-adhesive portion from the electrode roll.