Patent Publication Number: US-2023135809-A1

Title: Battery cell terrace alignment device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a battery cell terrace alignment device, and more particularly, to a battery cell terrace alignment device capable of precisely aligning a pouch-type battery cell for cutting an edge of the terrace of the battery cell by aligning the battery cell by simultaneously bringing a plurality of alignment blocks into contact with an electrode and the terrace, the plurality of alignment blocks corresponding in shape to the electrode and the terrace of the battery cell. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     A battery cell includes a rectangular main chamber area in which an electrode assembly formed by stacking a positive plate, a separator, and a negative plate is received in a pouch, and a sealing area formed by sealing a rim of the pouch. This sealing area is referred to as a terrace. 
     In this case, in the case of a pouch-type battery cell, sealing is very important in ensuring sealability, insulation resistance, and the like, and thus a sealing area increases. To reduce an unnecessary space of the battery cell, an area, which remains after the sealing, is bent. In a case in which the remaining area is excessively large, a volume of the battery cell increases. Therefore, the remaining area is cut and removed, except for a necessarily required portion. 
     In addition, the terrace of the battery cell may be folded several times to prevent an insulation breakdown and minimize a size of the secondary battery cell. An edge portion of the terrace may be removed to improve accuracy and convenience in bending the terrace. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery cell terrace alignment device capable of precisely aligning a battery cell for cutting an edge of a terrace of the battery cell by simultaneously bringing a plurality of alignment blocks into contact with an electrode and the terrace, the plurality of alignment blocks corresponding in shape to the electrode and the terrace of the battery cell. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery cell terrace alignment device capable of preventing upward and downward movements of a battery cell for cutting a terrace of the battery cell by stably supporting and fixing the battery cell by using a plurality of vacuum pads provided on a table on which the battery cell to be aligned is seated. 
     Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery cell terrace alignment device, in which a plurality of lifting holes is provided in a table on which a battery cell to be aligned is seated, such that the battery cell may be lifted from a lower side to an upper side, and a plurality of alignment blocks may easily push and move the battery cell, thereby precisely aligning the battery cell to a desired position. 
     Technical Solution 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery cell terrace alignment device including: a base part configured to support respective components to align a battery cell placed on an XY-plane; a table provided straight (in an X-axis direction) in parallel with a process direction and configured to support a lower surface of the battery cell in the process direction; a first front end support part provided on the base part and configured to be movable along XY-axes so as to come into close contact with one side of a front end of the battery cell; a second front end support part provided on the base part and configured to be movable along the XY-axes so as to come into close contact with the other side of the front end of the battery cell; a first rear end support part provided on the base part and configured to be movable along the XY-axes so as to come into close contact with one side of a rear end of the battery cell; a second rear end support part provided on the base part and configured to be movable along the XY-axes so as to come into close contact with the other side of the rear end of the battery cell; alignment blocks respectively provided in the first front end support part, the second front end support part, the first rear end support part, and the second rear end support part and configured to come into contact with the battery cell; a close-contact member provided in any one of the first front end support part and the second front end support part or any one of the first rear end support part and the second rear end support part and configured to provide an elastic force in an X-axis direction to allow the alignment block to come into close contact with the battery cell in a rear end direction or a front end direction; and a main chamber guide member provided in the other of the first front end support part and the second front end support part or the other of the first rear end support part and the second rear end support part, where the close-contact member is not provided, the main chamber guide member being configured to guide a main chamber area of the battery cell. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the first front end support part, the second front end support part, the first rear end support part, and the second rear end support part each may include: an X-axis guide configured to move the alignment block in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the table; and a Y-axis guide configured to move the alignment block in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis guide, and the alignment block may come into contact with the battery cell by being moved by the X-axis guide and the Y-axis guide. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the alignment block may come into contact with a lateral surface of the battery cell or come into contact with an electrode and a terrace of the battery cell. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the alignment block may have a contact end formed at a portion of the alignment block that comes into contact with the electrode and the terrace of the battery cell, and the contact end may have a stepped portion corresponding in shape to an insulation film. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the table may be provided in the form of a straight bar parallel to the process direction, the tables may be provided in two parallel rows to support two opposite sides of the lower surface of the battery cell in the process direction, and the table may have a plurality of vacuum pads configured to hold the battery cell by a vacuum by a vacuum holding force that is selectively applied. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, among the plurality of vacuum pads, the vacuum pad at a middle portion may relatively further protrude than the vacuum pads at two opposite ends, and the vacuum pad at the middle portion may have an elastic body, such that the vacuum pad is movable upward or downward. 
     In the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the table may have a plurality of lifting holes disposed between the plurality of vacuum pads and configured to provide a lifting force to the battery cell. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to precisely align the battery cell for cutting the edge of the terrace of the battery cell by simultaneously bringing the plurality of alignment blocks into contact with the electrode and the terrace, and the plurality of alignment blocks may correspond in shape to the electrode and the terrace of the battery cell. 
     Further, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the upward and downward movements of the battery cell for cutting the terrace of the battery cell by stably supporting and fixing the battery cell by using the plurality of vacuum pads provided on the table on which the battery cell to be aligned is seated. 
     In addition, according to the present disclosure, the plurality of lifting holes is provided in the table on which the battery cell to be aligned is seated, such that the battery cell may be lifted from the lower side to the upper side, and the plurality of alignment blocks may easily push and move the battery cell, thereby precisely aligning the battery cell to a desired position. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a battery cell terrace alignment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5    are views for explaining the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  6  and  7    are views for explaining a battery cell terrace alignment device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     MODES OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing a battery cell terrace alignment device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     However, it should be noted that the intrinsic technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by the following exemplary embodiment, and the following exemplary embodiment may easily be substituted or altered by those skilled in the art based on the intrinsic technical spirit of the present disclosure. 
     In addition, the terms used herein are selected for convenience of description and should be appropriately interpreted as a meaning that conform to the technical spirit of the present disclosure without being limited to a dictionary meaning when recognizing the intrinsic technical spirit of the present disclosure. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a battery cell terrace alignment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIGS.  2  to  5    are views for explaining the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , a battery cell terrace alignment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a base part  110 , a table  120 , a first front end support part  130 , a second front end support part  140 , a first rear end support part  150 , and a second rear end support part  160 . 
     The base part  110  may serve to support respective components to align a battery cell  10  and stably support the respective components by using a structure including a support frame, a support plate, and the like. The base part  110  may have various shapes made by combining a plurality of support frames, a plurality of support plates, and the like. 
     The table  120  may be provided above the base part  110  and serve to hold and support the battery cell  10  by a vacuum from below the battery cell  10 . The table  120  may be provided in the form of a straight bar parallel to a process direction. The tables  120  may be provided in parallel two rows to support two opposite sides of a lower surface of the battery cell  10  in the process direction. The table  120  may have a plurality of vacuum pads  121  that holds the battery cell  10  by a vacuum by using a vacuum holding force that is selectively applied. 
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , among the plurality of vacuum pads  121 , the vacuum pads  121   b  at a middle portion relatively further protrude than the vacuum pads  121   a  at two opposite ends, and elastic bodies may be provided on the vacuum pads at the middle portion, such that the vacuum pads at the middle portion are movable upward or downward. At the time of seating the battery cell  10  on an upper portion of the table, the vacuum pads  121   b  at the middle portion come into contact with the battery cell  10  first, and the vacuum pads  121   b  at the middle portion are moved downward by a weight of the battery cell  10 . When the battery cell  10  being moved downward comes into contact with the vacuum pads  121   a  at the two opposite ends, the battery cell  10  may be held by a vacuum by a vacuum holding force. 
     Meanwhile, the table  120  may have a plurality of lifting holes  123  provided between the plurality of vacuum pads  121  and configured to provide a lifting force to the battery cell  10 . During a process of aligning the battery cell  10  by using the first front end support part  130 , the second front end support part  140 , the first rear end support part  150 , and the second rear end support part  160 , air is discharged to the contact surface of the battery cell  10  through the plurality of lifting holes  123 , and the battery cell  10  may be easily pushed and moved upward, such that mobility of the battery cell  10  is improved, which makes it possible to easily align the battery cell  10 . 
     In this case, the supply of the vacuum holding force to the plurality of vacuum pads  121  may cut off or the amount of vacuum holding force may be decreased, such that the movement of the battery cell  10  may be easily adjusted by the air discharged through the plurality of lifting holes  123 . 
     The first front end support part  130  may be disposed above the base part  110  and provided at one side of the table  120  at a front end based on the process direction so as to be movable along XY-axes to come into close contact with the battery cell  10 . The first front end support part  130  may include a first X-axis guide  131 , a first Y-axis guide  133 , a first alignment block  135 , and the like. In this case, the X-axis means a longitudinal direction of the table  120 , and the Y-axis means a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the table  120 . 
     The first X-axis guide  131  moves the first alignment block  135  in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the table  120 , and the first Y-axis guide  133  moves the first alignment block  135  in the direction perpendicular to the first X-axis guide  131 . The first alignment block  135  may come into contact with the battery cell  10  by being moved by the first X-axis guide  131  and the first Y-axis guide  133 . 
     For example, the first alignment block  135  may be moved by the first X-axis guide  131  to a position at which the first alignment block  135  comes into contact with a front end tip of the terrace  15 , and then the battery cell  10  may be moved to an X-axis position at which the terrace cutting is performed. The first alignment block  135  may be moved by the first Y-axis guide  133  to a position at which the first alignment block  135  comes into contact with a lateral tip of the electrode  13 , and then the battery cell  10  may be moved to a Y-axis position at which the terrace cutting is performed. 
     In addition, the first alignment block  135  may be moved by the first Y-axis guide  133  to a position at which the first alignment block  135  comes into contact with a lateral surface of the electrode  13 , and then the battery cell  10  may be moved to the Y-axis position at which the terrace cutting is performed. The first alignment block  135  may be moved by the first X-axis guide  131  to the position at which the first alignment block  135  comes into contact with the front end tip of the terrace  15 , and then the battery cell  10  may be moved to the X-axis position at which the terrace cutting is performed. 
     In this case, the first alignment block  135  may come into contact with the lateral surface of the battery cell  10  or come into contact with the electrode  13  and the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10 . A contact end  135   a  may be formed on a portion that comes into contact with the electrode  13  and the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10 , and the contact end  135   a  has a stepped portion corresponding in shape to an insulation film  17 . 
     For example, the electrodes  13  of the battery cell  10  are provided at two opposite ends of a main chamber area  11  based on the longitudinal direction of the main chamber area  11 , and the terrace  15  is provided along a peripheral portion of the main chamber area  11 . Because the terrace  15  is formed in a state in which the electrode  13  is insulated by the insulation film  17 , a bent portion of the electrode  13  and a bent portion of the terrace  15  each have a stepped portion because of the insulation film  17 . Therefore, the contact end  135   a  is formed in a shape corresponding the stepped portion defined by the electrode  13 , the terrace  15 , and the insulation film  17  and disposed at each of the two opposite sides of the end of the first alignment block  135 , such that the first alignment block  135  may come into close contact with the electrode  13 , the terrace  15 , and the insulation film  17  of the battery cell  10  while corresponding in shape to the electrode  13 , the terrace  15 , and the insulation film  17  of the battery cell  10 . 
     The second front end support part  140  may be disposed above the base part  110  and provided at the other side of the table  120  at the front end based on the process direction so as to be movable along the XY-axes to come into close contact with the battery cell  10 . The second front end support part  140  may include a second X-axis guide  141 , a second Y-axis guide  143 , a second alignment block  145 , and the like. Because the second X-axis guide  141 , the second Y-axis guide  143 , and the second alignment block  145  are similar to the first X-axis guide  131 , the first Y-axis guide  133 , and the first alignment block  135 , a specific description thereof will be omitted. 
     The first rear end support part  150  may be disposed above the base part  110  and provided at one side of the table  120  at a rear end based on the process direction so as to be movable in the XY-axes to come into close contact with the battery cell  10 . The first rear end support part  150  may include a third X-axis guide  151 , a third Y-axis guide  153 , a third alignment block  155 , and the like. Because the third X-axis guide  151 , the third Y-axis guide  153 , and the third alignment block  155  are similar to the first X-axis guide  131 , the first Y-axis guide  133 , and the first alignment block  135 , a specific description thereof will be omitted. 
     The second rear end support part  160  may be disposed above the base part  110  and provided at the other side of the table  120  at the rear end based on the process direction so as to be movable along the XY-axes to come into close contact with the battery cell  10 . The second rear end support part  160  may include a fourth X-axis guide  161 , a fourth Y-axis guide  163 , a fourth alignment block  165 , and the like. Because the fourth X-axis guide  161 , the fourth Y-axis guide  163 , and the fourth alignment block  165  are similar to the first X-axis guide  131 , the first Y-axis guide  133 , and the first alignment block  135 , a specific description thereof will be omitted. 
     An operation of aligning the battery cell  10  by using the first front end support part  130 , the second front end support part  140 , the first rear end support part  150 , and the second rear end support part  160  may be performed in a predetermined manner in accordance with the size of the main chamber area  11  of the battery cell  10 . The front end of the battery cell  10  may be aligned by using the first front end support part  130  and the second front end support part  140  so that the rear end of the battery cell  10  is moved to the terrace cutting position in order to cut the edge portion of the rear end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  along an oblique line. 
     In this case, to align the battery cell  10  by using the first front end support part  130  and the second front end support part  140 , the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145  may respectively have a first close-contact member  137  and a second close-contact member  147  that provide an elastic force in the X-axis direction to allow the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145  to come into close contact with the front end of the battery cell  10  in the rear end direction. 
     When the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145  are moved to the X-axis position, at which the terrace cutting is performed on the rear end of the battery cell  10 , after the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145  are moved from the front end position of the battery cell  10  in the rear end direction by the first X-axis guide  131  and the second X-axis guide  141  to the positions at which the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145  come into contact with the terrace  15 , the first and second close-contact members  137  and  147  each including an elastic spring or the like respectively may provide the elastic force in the rear end direction to the first and second alignment blocks  135  and  145 , thereby preventing in advance the movement of the battery cell  10 . 
     Meanwhile, to align the battery cell  10  by using the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145 , a third main chamber guide member  159  and a fourth main chamber guide member  169  may be respectively provided on the third alignment block  155  of the first rear end support part  150  and the fourth alignment block  165  of the second rear end support part  160  and disposed opposite ends of the first close-contact member  137  and the second close-contact member  147 . The third main chamber guide member  159  and the fourth main chamber guide member  169  may guide the main chamber area  11  of the battery cell  10  to the inner side at which the battery cell  10  is positioned. 
     For example, the third and fourth alignment blocks  155  and  165  may respectively have main chamber guide plates and main chamber guide pins provided to be movable inward or outward along the main chamber guide plates. Therefore, the main chamber area  11  may be aligned to the terrace cutting position while being guided by the third and fourth main chamber guide members  155   c  and  165   c  at the rear end of the battery cell  10 , which is the opposite end, while the front end of the battery cell  10  is aligned by the first alignment block  135  and the second alignment block  145 . 
     Meanwhile,  FIGS.  6  to  7    are views for explaining the battery cell terrace alignment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , a battery cell terrace alignment device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a base part  110 , a table  120 , a first front end support part  130 , a second front end support part  140 , a first rear end support part  150 , a second rear end support part  160 , and the like. Because these components are similar to those according to the above-mentioned embodiment, only the differences will be described below. 
     An operation of aligning the battery cell  10  by using the first front end support part  130 , the second front end support part  140 , the first rear end support part  150 , and the second rear end support part  160  may be performed in a predetermined manner in accordance with the size of the main chamber area  11  of the battery cell  10 . The rear end of the battery cell  10  may be aligned by using the first rear end support part  150  and the second rear end support part  160  so that the front end of the battery cell  10  is moved to the terrace cutting position in order to cut the edge portion of the front end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  along an oblique line. 
     In this case, to align the battery cell  10  by using the first rear end support part  150  and the second rear end support part  160 , the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165  may respectively have a third close-contact member  157  and a fourth close-contact member  167  that provide an elastic force in the X-axis direction to allow the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165  to come into close contact with the rear end of the battery cell  10  in the front end direction. 
     When the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165  are moved to the X-axis position, at which the terrace cutting is performed on the front end of the battery cell  10 , after the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165  are moved from the rear end position of the battery cell  10  in the front end direction by the third X-axis guide  151  and the fourth X-axis guide  161  to the positions at which the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165  come into contact with the terrace  15 , the third and fourth close-contact members  157  and  167  each including an elastic spring or the like may provide the elastic force in the front end direction to the third and fourth alignment blocks  155  and  165 , thereby preventing in advance the movement of the battery cell  10 . 
     Meanwhile, to align the battery cell  10  by using the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165 , a first main chamber guide member  139  and a second main chamber guide member  149  may be respectively provided on the first alignment block  135  of the first front end support part  130  and the second alignment block  145  of the second front end support part  140  and disposed opposite ends of the third close-contact member  157  and the fourth close-contact member  167 . The first main chamber guide member  139  and the second main chamber guide member  149  may guide the main chamber area  11  of the battery cell  10  to the inner side at which the battery cell  10  is positioned. 
     For example, the first and second alignment blocks  135  and  145  may respectively have main chamber guide plates and main chamber guide pins provided to be movable inward or outward along the main chamber guide plates. Therefore, the main chamber area  11  may be aligned to the terrace cutting position while being guided by the first and second main chamber guide members  139  and  149  at the front end of the battery cell  10 , which is the opposite end, while the rear end of the battery cell  10  is aligned by the third alignment block  155  and the fourth alignment block  165 . 
     Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to precisely align the battery cell for cutting the edge of the terrace of the battery cell by simultaneously bringing the plurality of alignment blocks into contact with the electrode and the terrace, and the plurality of alignment blocks may correspond in shape to the electrode and the terrace of the battery cell. 
     Further, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the upward and downward movements of the battery cell for cutting the terrace of the battery cell by stably supporting and fixing the battery cell by using the plurality of vacuum pads provided on the table on which the battery cell to be aligned is seated. 
     In addition, according to the present disclosure, the plurality of lifting holes is provided in the table on which the battery cell to be aligned is seated, such that the battery cell may be lifted from the lower side to the upper side, and the plurality of alignment blocks may easily push and move the battery cell, thereby precisely aligning the battery cell to a desired position. 
     In the embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the configuration has been described in which the edge of the rear end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  is cut while the battery cell  10  is aligned by the first front end support part  130  and the second front end support part  140  or the edge of the front end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  is cut while the battery cell  10  is aligned by the first rear end support part  150  and the second rear end support part  160 . However, the battery cell  10  may be aligned by the first front end support part  130  and the first rear end support part  140  or the battery cell  10  may be aligned by the second front end support part  140  and the second rear end support part  160 . Even in this case, the edge of the front end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  or the edge of the rear end of the terrace  15  of the battery cell  10  may be selectively cut.