Patent Publication Number: US-2023137474-A1

Title: Pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, and more particularly, to a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, which is capable of cutting terrace of a pouch-type secondary battery having a large width. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     In general, a pouch-type secondary battery  1  includes an electrode assembly  2  (a main chamber), a pouch casing  3  configured to receive the electrode assembly  2 , and electrode tabs  4  extending and protruding from the electrode assembly  2 . 
     Further, the pouch casing  3  includes a casing main body  5  configured to provide a space that may receive the electrode assembly  2 , and a casing cover  6  configured to cover the casing main body  5 . In this case, edges of the casing main body  5  and the casing cover  6  are typically sealed. 
     In addition, a sealed edge  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1 , that is, the edge (terrace)  7  from which the electrode tab  4  is not exposed is folded in order to prevent corrosion occurring at the sealed portion, improve rigidity of the pouch, and reduce an overall size of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  to minimize a space occupied by the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     In this case, portions  7   a  (hereinafter, referred to as “remaining portions”) of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1 , which remain except for folded portions, are cut after the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is aligned before a folding process. Korean Patent No. 10-1974438 discloses an apparatus for cutting the remaining portions  7   a.    
     However, the cutting apparatuses in the related art, including the cutting apparatus disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1974438, have the following problems. 
     First, because the cutting apparatus in the related art each have a structure in which both an upper cutter and a lower cutter move upward or downward during a cutting process, there is a problem in that the structure of the cutting apparatus is complicated. 
     Second, because the upper cutter of each of the cutting apparatuses in the related art has a vertically extending cross-sectional shape, i.e., a shape such as a typical blade when viewed from the lateral side, there is a problem in that the upper cutter is pushed during the cutting process, which causes a deterioration in cutting quality. 
     Third, because the cutting apparatus in the related art is coupled to an upper cutting die by means of bolts that penetrate an upper side of a front surface and an upper side of a rear surface of the upper cutter, a spring force is applied to a lower end of the upper cutter, which causes a problem in that the upper cutter and the lower cutter are damaged by colliding with each other. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, which is capable of cutting remaining portions of a terrace of a pouch-type secondary battery by moving an upper cutter upward or downward. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, which is capable of improving a shape of an upper cutter and a structure for coupling the upper cutter, thereby preventing the upper cutter from being pushed during a process of cutting remaining portions of a terrace of a pouch-type secondary battery. 
     Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, which is capable of cutting remaining portions of a terrace of a pouch-type secondary battery based on the principle of scissors. 
     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 pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries, which cuts remaining portions of a terrace of a pouch-type secondary battery except for folded portions, the pouch cutting apparatus including: a frame; a lower cutting unit fixed to a lower side of a front surface of the frame and configured to support a lower portion of the terrace in a longitudinal direction of the terrace so that the remaining portion extends to the outside of a rear surface thereof in a state in which the pouch-type secondary battery to be cut is fixed; and an upper cutting unit disposed at an upper side of the front surface of the frame so as to be movable upward or downward and configured to cut the remaining portion extending to the outside of the rear surface of the lower cutting unit, in which the upper cutting unit includes: an upper cutter extending in the longitudinal direction of the terrace and having a quadrangular cross-section when viewed from the lateral side; and an upper cutter holder having a lower surface on which the upper cutter is fixedly mounted by means of a plurality of bolts perpendicularly penetrating the upper cutter. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the frame may include: a base plate; a top plate having a lower surface disposed to be spaced apart from an upper surface of the base plate while facing the upper surface of the base plate; and a column having a vertical plate shape and configured to connect the base plate and the top plate, first guide rails may be fixedly mounted at two opposite sides of a front surface of the column and support the lower cutting unit and the upper cutting unit, and the first guide rails may extend in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the column. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the lower cutting unit may include: a lower cutter having a vertical plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the terrace, the lower cutter having cutting support surfaces formed at upper and lower ends of the lower cutter and configured to selectively support the lower portion of the terrace so that the remaining portion extends to the outside of the rear surface; and a lower cutter holder extending in a longitudinal direction of the lower cutter and having a seat part provided at an upper side of a front surface of the lower cutter holder and configured such that the lower cutter is fixedly mounted on the seat part, the lower cutter holder having lower cutter transfer guide blocks mounted at two opposite sides of a rear surface so as to be slidably fitted with the first guide rails, and the lower cutter holder may be fixedly mounted, by means of bolts, on sub-frames extending from an upper surface of the base plate toward two opposite ends of the lower cutter holder. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an accommodation groove may be formed in a front surface of the lower cutter so as to conform to a shape of a lateral portion of an electrode assembly of the pouch-type secondary battery, and the accommodation groove may be recessed toward a central portion of the lower cutter from the cutting support surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the lower cutter. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the seat part may include: a bottom surface having a seat groove into which a lower end of the lower cutter is inserted; and an inner surface on which a rear surface of the lower cutter is fixedly mounted by means of bolts so as to be in close contact with the inner surface, and the lower cutter may be fixedly mounted in the seat part so that any one of the cutting support surfaces is exposed to the outside of an upper side of the inner surface. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an upper surface of the lower cutter holder may be formed to be inclined downward in a direction from an upper end of the inner surface to the column so that the cut remaining portion is easily discharged, a scrap discharge hole may be penetratively formed in the column facing the upper surface of the lower cutter holder, and a discharge guide plate may be mounted in the scrap discharge hole and guide the cut remaining portion to the outside of the frame. 
     The pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure may include: a vacuum suction plate configured to suck and fix, by using a vacuum pressure, the pouch-type secondary battery having the remaining portion to be cut, in which the vacuum suction plate horizontally extends in a longitudinal direction of the pouch-type secondary battery to be sucked and fixed, in which the vacuum suction plate is disposed outside a front surface of the lower cutter by support brackets extending from two opposite sides of a front surface of the lower cutter holder, in which a suction support surface is formed on an upper surface of the vacuum suction plate and having a plurality of vacuum suction pads on which a lower side of an electrode assembly of the pouch-type secondary battery is seated and sucked, and in which the suction support surface is disposed to be lower than the cutting support surface. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the upper cutting unit may include: the upper cutter extending in the longitudinal direction of the terrace; the upper cutter holder extending in a longitudinal direction of the upper cutter and having a lower surface on which the upper cutter is fixedly mounted, the upper cutter holder having upper cutter transfer guide blocks mounted at two opposite sides of a rear surface of the upper cutter holder and slidably fitted with the first guide rails; a stripper disposed at a front side of the upper cutter holder so as to be movable upward or downward and horizontal extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper cutter, the stripper being configured to press an upper portion of the terrace supported on the cutting support surface exposed to the outside of an upper end of the inner surface of the seat part during a process of cutting the remaining portion of the terrace; and a lifting cylinder configured to move the upper cutter, the upper cutter holder, and the stripper upward or downward, the lifting cylinder may be fixedly mounted on an upper surface of the top plate, and an extension end of a cylinder rod of the lifting cylinder may be connected to an upper surface of the upper cutter holder while perpendicularly penetrating the top plate. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the upper cutter may have a quadrangular cross-section in which a width of each of lower and upper surfaces is larger than a height of each of front and rear surfaces when viewed from a lateral side, the upper cutter may be fixedly mounted on a lower surface of the upper cutter holder by means of a plurality of bolts perpendicularly penetrating the upper cutter, and the upper cutter may be fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder so as to be inclined in a direction from one end to the other end. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, blade parts may be formed on lower and upper portions of a front surface of the upper cutter and lower and upper portions of a rear surface of the upper cutter that connect the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter, the blade parts may extend and protrude in the longitudinal direction of the upper cutter and cut the remaining portion of the terrace, the blade parts may each include: a parallel portion connected to the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter; and a vertical portion vertically connected to an extension end of the parallel portion, the parallel portion may press the remaining portion of the terrace extending to the outside of the rear surface of the lower cutter during the process of cutting the remaining portion of the terrace, and the vertical portion may cut the remaining portion while maximally coming into close contact with the rear surface of the lower cutter. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cutting edge portion may be formed at one side of a lower end connected to a front surface of the stripper, the cutting edge portion may press the upper portion of the terrace supported on the cutting support surface, the cutting edge portion may protrude toward a lower side of the stripper while extending in a longitudinal direction of the stripper, and an extension end of the cutting edge portion may be disposed at a position lower than a lower surface of the upper cutter. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more vertical lifting rods may be formed at a front side of the upper cutter holder, a rear surface of the stripper may be fitted with the vertical lifting rod so as to be movable upward or downward, a compression coil spring may be interposed between the lower cutter, which supports an upper end of the lifting rod, and an upper surface of the stripper, the lower cutter may be fixedly mounted at an upper side of a front surface of the upper cutter holder by means of a bolt, and the other side of the lower end connected to the rear surface of the stripper may be placed on a catching projection protruding from a lower side of the front surface of the upper cutter holder. 
     The pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure may further include: an interval adjustment unit configured to adjust an interval between the pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries and a traveling route through which the pouch-type secondary battery is guided, in which the interval adjustment unit includes: a servo motor; a ball screw coupled to the servo motor and extending to perpendicularly intersect the traveling route in a plan view; second guide rails disposed side by side at two opposite sides of the ball screw; and a slider configured such that two opposite sides of a lower surface thereof are slidably mounted on the second guide rails, and a nut block coupled to the ball screw is mounted at a center of the lower surface, and in which the base plate is mounted on an upper surface of the slider. 
     In the pouch cutting apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a discharge port may be formed on the upper surface of the slider facing the rear surface of the column and guide the cut remaining portion, which is discharged and guided along the discharge guide plate, to the outside. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the present disclosure, the upper cutter cuts the remaining portions of the terrace while moving upward or downward relative to the fixed lower cutter. Therefore, the entire structure is simplified, and maintenance and manufacturing costs for the apparatus may be reduced. 
     According to the present disclosure, the length of each of the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter is longer than the length of each of the front and rear surfaces of the upper cutter, and the upper cutter is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder by the bolts perpendicularly penetrating the upper cutter. 
     Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper cutter from being pushed, which occurs in the related art, during the process of cutting the remaining portions of the terrace. 
     According to the present disclosure, the upper cutter is fixedly mounted to be inclined in the direction from one end to the other end, which makes it possible to gradually cut the remaining portions of the terrace based on the principle of scissors. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a pouch-type secondary battery related to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged view of a lower cutting unit, an upper cutting unit, and a vacuum suction plate, except for an interval adjustment unit illustrated in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a view illustrating the lower cutting unit, the upper cutting unit, and the vacuum suction plate illustrated in  FIG.  2    when viewed from the lateral side. 
         FIG.  5    is a view illustrating the lower cutting unit, the upper cutting unit, and the vacuum suction plate illustrated in  FIG.  2    when viewed from the rear side. 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged view of a lower cutter illustrated in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  7    is an enlarged view of an upper cutter illustrated in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIGS.  8 ,  9  and  10    are views illustrating a state in which the pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure is used. 
     
    
    
     MODES OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries 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. 
     A pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure may be mounted on a movable robot (not illustrated) during a preceding process and cut portions of a terrace  7  of a supplied pouch-type secondary battery  1  (see  FIG.  1   ), except for folded portions, i.e., remaining portions  7   a  (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     To this end, the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure is installed prior to a folding process of folding the terrace  7  at a target angle. The pouch cutting apparatus  100  is installed at one side or two opposite sides of a traveling route D for the pouch-type secondary battery  1  that travels along the movable robot (not illustrated) to fold the terrace  7 . 
       FIG.  2    is a view illustrating the pouch cutting apparatus for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure.  FIG.  2    illustrates the pouch cutting apparatuses  100  for secondary batteries are installed at the two opposite sides of the traveling route D so as to face each other with the traveling route D for the pouch-type secondary battery  1  having the terrace  7  to be folded interposed therebetween. 
     Hereinafter, a surface of the pouch cutting apparatus, which faces the traveling route D for the pouch-type secondary battery  1 , is defined as a front surface, and a surface opposite to the front surface is defined as a rear surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  to  10   , the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure includes a lower cutting unit  130 , an upper cutting unit  160 , a vacuum suction plate  150 , and a frame  110 . 
     First, the frame  110  supports the lower cutting unit  130 , the upper cutting unit  160 , and the vacuum suction plate  150 . 
     The frame  110  includes a base plate  112 , a top plate  114 , and a column  116 . 
     The base plate  112  and the top plate  114  are each provided in the form of a horizontal plate shape. As illustrated, the base plate  112  and the top plate  114  are disposed to be spaced apart from each other while facing each other in a vertical direction. That is, an upper surface of the base plate  112  and a lower surface of the top plate  114  are disposed to be spaced apart from each other while facing each other in the vertical direction. 
     Meanwhile, the column  116  is provided in the form of a vertical plate shape. As illustrated, the column  116  connects the base plate  112  and the top plate  114  disposed to be spaced apart from each other while facing each other in the vertical direction. 
     In this case, a cutting region in which a process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is performed is provided between a front side of the column  116 , the base plate  112 , and the top plate  114 . The lower cutting unit  130 , the upper cutting unit  160 , and the vacuum suction plate  150  are disposed in the cutting region. 
     Further, first guide rails  118  are fixedly mounted at two opposite sides of a front surface of the column  116  and support the lower cutting unit  130  and the upper cutting unit  160 . The first guide rails  118  allow the lower cutting unit  130  and the upper cutting unit  160  to be positioned on the same line. 
     The first guide rail  118  vertically extends in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the column  116  so as not to interfere with the base plate  112  and the top plate  114 . 
     As described above, the lower cutting unit  130  and the upper cutting unit  160  are supported on the first guide rails  118  that is fixedly mounted as described above. The vacuum suction plate  150  is supported on the lower cutting unit  130 . 
     The lower cutting unit  130  supports a lower portion of the terrace  7  so that the remaining portions  7   a  is smoothly cut during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     The lower cutting unit  130  includes a lower cutter  132 , and a lower cutter holder  138  configured to support the lower cutter  132 . 
     The lower cutter  132  has a thickness that enables the lower cutter  132  to support the lower portion of the terrace  7  except for the remaining portions  7   a  to be cut. Further, the lower cutter  132  is provided in the form of an approximately vertical plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the terrace  7  (see  FIG.  7   ). 
     In this case, cutting support surfaces  134  are formed at upper and lower ends of the lower cutter  132  and selectively support the lower portion of the terrace  7  during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     That is, the lower portion of the terrace  7 , which is to be folded during a subsequent folding process, is supported on any one of the cutting support surfaces  134 . The remaining portions  7   a  to be cut extends to the outside of the cutting support surface  134 , i.e., to the outside of a rear surface of the lower cutter  132 . 
     In this case, an edge portion connecting the rear surface of the lower cutter  132  and the rear surface of the cutting support surface  134  serves as a point of action at which the remaining portion  7   a  are cut during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a.    
     Meanwhile, accommodation grooves  136  are formed in a front surface of the lower cutter  132  and each have a shape that conforms to a shape of a lateral portion of the electrode assembly  2  (see  FIG.  1   ) accommodated in a pouch casing  3  (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     As illustrated, the accommodation groove  136  is recessed toward a central portion of the lower cutter  132  for each of the cutting support surfaces  134  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the lower cutter  132 . 
     The accommodation groove  136  formed as described above prevents the lateral portion of the electrode assembly  2  from colliding with the cutting support surface  134  when the terrace  7  is supported on the cutting support surface  134 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent deformation of and damage to the electrode assembly  2  and prevent the pouch casing  3  from being torn. 
     The lower cutter holder  138  extends in the longitudinal direction of the lower cutter  132  to support the lower cutter  132 . 
     Further, a seat part  140  (see  FIG.  4   ) is provided at an upper side of a front surface of the lower cutter holder  138  and has a front end. The lower cutter  132  is fixedly mounted on the seat part  140 . 
     As illustrated, the seat part  140  includes a bottom surface  141   a  configured to support a lower end of the lower cutter  132 , and an inner surface  141   b  configured to be in close contact with the rear surface of the lower cutter  132 . A seat groove  142  is formed in the bottom surface  141   a , and the lower end of the lower cutter  132  is inserted into the seat groove  142 . 
     In this case, the lower cutter  132  is disposed in the seat part  140  so that the cutting support surface  134  provided at the upper end of the lower cutter  132  is exposed to the outside of an upper side of the seat part  140 . The rear surface of the lower cutter  132 , which is disposed in the seat part  140  as described above, is fixedly mounted by means of a plurality of bolts so as to be in close contact with the inner surface  141   b.    
     Meanwhile, lower cutter transfer guide blocks  146  are mounted at two opposite sides of a rear surface of the lower cutter holder  138  and slidably fitted with the first guide rails  118  adjacent to the lower cutter transfer guide blocks  146 . 
     Further, two opposite ends of the lower cutter holder  138  are fixedly mounted on sub-frames  120  by means of bolts, and the sub-frames  120  vertically extend from an upper surface of the base plate  112  to the two opposite ends of the lower cutter holder  138 . 
     That is, the lower cutter holder  138  may move upward or downward along the first guide rails  118  so that a position of the cutting support surface  134  is adjusted in accordance with a thickness of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  having the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  that are to be cut. The lower cutter holder  138 , which is completely moved upward or downward, is fixedly mounted on the sub-frames  120 . 
     Further, an upper surface of the lower cutter holder  138  extends toward the column  116  from an upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140 . The upper surface of the lower cutter holder  138  is inclined downward toward the column  116  from the upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140  so that the cut remaining portions  7   a  may be discharged while sliding during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a.    
     In this case, a scrap discharge hole  122  (see  FIGS.  1  and  5   ) is formed through the column  116  facing the upper surface of the lower cutter holder  138 . A discharge guide plate  124  is mounted in the scrap discharge hole  122  and guides the cut remaining portions  7   a  to the outside of the frame  110 . 
     In this case, like the lower cutter holder  138 , the discharge guide plate  124  extends while being inclined downward from the scrap discharge hole  122  to the outside of the rear surface of the column  116 . A detection means (not illustrated), i.e., a typical sensor or the like may be mounted at one side of the discharge guide plate  124  and detect the cut remaining portions  7   a  being discharged. 
     For example, when the detection means does not detect the remaining portions  7   a , which have been cut and are being discharged, even though the upper cutting unit  160  moves downward toward the lower cutting unit  130  to cut the remaining portions  7   a , the detection means may output a signal (raise an alarm or emit light) so that an operator may recognize this situation, or the detection means may allow the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure to stop operating. 
     The vacuum suction plate  150  sucks and fixes, by using a vacuum pressure, the pouch-type secondary battery  1  supplied by the movable robot during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     To this end, as illustrated, the vacuum suction plate  150  is disposed outside the front surface of the lower cutter  132  and horizontally extends in the longitudinal direction of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  to be sucked and fixed. 
     In this case, a suction support surface  151  is formed on an upper surface of the vacuum suction plate  150 , and the lower portion of the electrode assembly  2  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is seated and sucked onto the suction support surface  151 . A plurality of vacuum suction pads  152  is mounted on the suction support surface  151 . 
     In this case, the suction support surface  151  is disposed to be lower than the cutting support surface  134  so that the lower portion of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  may be horizontally placed, without being bent, on the cutting support surface  134  of the lower cutter  132  exposed to the outside of the upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140  during the process of sucking and fixing the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     Meanwhile, fittings  154  are mounted at the two opposite ends of the vacuum suction plate  150 . The fittings  154  guide the vacuum pressure into the vacuum suction plate  150  and guide the discharge of the vacuum pressure that has been guided into the vacuum suction plate  150 . 
     Further, the vacuum suction plate  150  formed as described above is supported by support brackets  156  extending from the two opposite sides of the front surface of the lower cutter holder  138 . 
     In this case, as anyone may know, a vacuum tube line (not illustrated) extending from a vacuum facility (not illustrated) is connected to the fitting  154 , and an operation of the vacuum suction plate  150  connected to the vacuum facility is a publicly-known technology. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     That is, during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 , the vacuum suction plate  150  sucks and fixes the portion of the electrode assembly  2  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  supplied to the upper surface of the vacuum suction plate  150  by the movable robot. When the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  are completely cut, the vacuum suction plate  150  detaches the pouch-type secondary battery  1  so that the pouch-type secondary battery  1  may be supplied to the folding process. 
     The upper cutting unit  160  is disposed above the lower cutting unit  130  and cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     The upper cutting unit  160  include an upper cutter  162 , and an upper cutter holder  168  configured to support the upper cutter  162 . Further, the upper cutting unit  160  further include a lifting cylinder  172  configured to move the upper cutter  162  upward or downward. 
     Like the lower cutter  132 , the upper cutter  162  is provided in the form of a bar extending in the longitudinal direction of the terrace  7 . The upper cutter  162  has a quadrangular cross-section in which a width of each of the lower and upper surfaces is larger than a height of each of the front and rear surfaces when viewed from the lateral side. 
     In this case, blade parts  164  are formed on lower and upper portions of a front surface of the upper cutter  162  and lower and upper portions of a rear surface of the upper cutter  162  that connect the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter  162 . The blade parts  164  substantially cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . The blade parts  164  integrally protrude (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     As illustrated, the blade parts  164  each extend in the longitudinal direction of the upper cutter  162 . The blade parts  164  each include a parallel portion  166   a  connected to the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter  162 , and vertical portions  166   b  vertically connected to extension ends of the parallel portion  166   a . During the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 , the parallel portion  166   a  of each of the blade parts  164  presses the remaining portion  7   a  of the terrace  7  extending to the outside of the rear surface of the lower cutter  132 , and the vertical portions  166   b  maximally come into close contact with the rear surface of the lower cutter  132  at the same time when the parallel portion  166   a  presses the remaining portion  7   a , such that the remaining portion  7   a  is cut. 
     In this case, an edge portion of the blade part  164  at which the vertical portion  166   b  is connected to the parallel portion  166   a  may serve as a point of action at which the remaining portion  7   a  is cut during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a . The blade parts  164  formed on the single upper cutter  162  may alternately cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     The upper cutter holder  168  extends in the longitudinal direction of the upper cutter  162  to support the upper cutter  162 . The upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted on a lower surface of the upper cutter holder  168  and faces the lower cutter  132 . 
     In this case, the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder  168  by means of a plurality of bolts that vertically penetrates the upper cutter  162  without interfering with the blade parts  164 . Further, the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder  168  so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ (see  FIG.  5   ) in a direction from one end to the other end. 
     That is, because the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder  168  by the bolts that vertically penetrate the upper cutter  162 , it is possible to prevent the upper cutter  162  from being pushed during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . Further, because the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted to be inclined in the direction from one end to the other end, the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  may be gradually cut based on the principle of typical scissors. 
     Meanwhile, upper cutter transfer guide blocks  170  are mounted at two opposite sides of a rear surface of the upper cutter holder  168  and slidably fitted with the first guide rails  118  adjacent to the upper cutter transfer guide blocks  170 . 
     The lifting cylinder  172  may move the upper cutter  162  downward toward the lower cutter  132  so that the upper cutter  162  may cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     To this end, as illustrated, the lifting cylinder  172  is fixedly mounted on an upper surface of the top plate  114 . Further, an extension end of a cylinder rod  174  of the lifting cylinder  172  vertically penetrates the top plate  114  and is connected to an upper surface of the upper cutter holder  168 . 
     That is, the lifting cylinder  172  extends the cylinder rod  174  during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . Therefore, the upper cutter holder  168  and the upper cutter  162  cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  while moving downward toward the lower cutter  132  along the first guide rails  118 . 
     Further, when the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  are completely cut, the lifting cylinder  172  returns the cylinder rod  174 . Therefore, the upper cutter holder  168  and the upper cutter  162  are returned to the side above the lower cutter  132  while moving along the first guide rails  118  and prepared for the next cutting process. 
     Meanwhile, a stripper  176  is mounted at a front side of the upper cutter holder  168  and presses the cutting support surface  134  of the lower cutter  132 , i.e., an upper portion of the terrace  7  supported on the cutting support surface  134  of the lower cutter  132  exposed to the outside of the upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140  during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     The stripper  176  horizontally extends in the longitudinal direction of the upper cutter  162  to press the upper portion of the terrace  7 . A cutting edge portion  178  is integrally formed at one side of the lower end connected to the front surface of the stripper  176 . 
     As illustrated, the cutting edge portion  178  vertically protrudes to the outside of the lower end of the stripper  176 . The cutting edge portion  178  extends in the longitudinal direction of the stripper  176 . 
     In this case, an extension end of the cutting edge portion  178  is disposed at a position lower than the lower surface of the upper cutter  162  mounted on the upper cutter holder  168  so that the extension end of the cutting edge portion  178  may move downward first before the downward movement of the upper cutter  162  and then press the upper portion of the terrace  7  supported on the cutting support surface  134  during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     Meanwhile, the stripper  176  may be disposed at the front side of the upper cutter holder  168  and configured to be resiliently movable upward or downward. 
     To this end, one or more vertical lifting rods  180  are disposed at the front side of the upper cutter holder  168 , and the rear surface of the stripper  176  is fitted with the vertical lifting rods  180  so as to be movable upward or downward. Compression coil springs  184  are interposed between an upper surface of the stripper  176  and fixing brackets  182  configured to support upper ends of the lifting rods  180 . 
     In this case, the fixing brackets  182  are fixedly mounted at an upper side of the front surface of the upper cutter holder  168  by means of bolts. The other side of the lower end of the stripper  176  connected to the rear surface of the stripper  176  is placed on catching projections  186  protruding from a lower side of the front surface of the upper cutter holder  168  so as not to interfere with the cutting edge portion  178 . 
     That is, the stripper  176  moves upward or downward between the fixing brackets  182  and the catching projections  186  along the lifting rods  180 . During the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 , the stripper  176  is moved downward along the upper cutter  162  and the upper cutter holder  168  by the lifting cylinder  172  and presses the upper portion of the terrace  7  supported on the cutting support surface  134  of the lower cutter  132  exposed to the outside of the upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140 . Next, when the lifting cylinder  172  moves the upper cutter  162  and the upper cutter holder  168  downward to cut the remaining portion  7   a , the stripper  176  moves upward along the lifting rods  180  while compressing the compression coil springs  184 . 
     Further, when the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  are completely cut and the lifting cylinder  172  moves the upper cutter  162  and the upper cutter holder  168  upward, the stripper  176  moves along the upper cutter holder  168  while releasing the terrace  7 . In this case, the stripper  176  is moved downward along the lifting rods  180  by restoring forces of the compression coil springs  184 . 
     Meanwhile, the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure further includes an interval adjustment unit  190  configured to adjust an interval between the traveling route D of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  and the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     That is, the interval adjustment unit  190  may adjust the traveling route D for the pouch-type secondary battery  1  and the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure when the size of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  having the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  to be cut is changed. 
     The interval adjustment unit  190  includes: a servo motor  191 ; a ball screw  192  coupled to the servo motor  191  by means of a typical coupling and extending to perpendicularly intersect the traveling route D for the pouch-type secondary battery  1  in a plan view; second guide rails  193  disposed side by side at two opposite sides of the ball screw  192 ; and a slider  195  configured such that two opposite sides of a lower surface thereof are slidably mounted on the second guide rails  193 , and a nut block  194  coupled to the ball screw  192  is mounted at a center of the lower surface. 
     In this case, the base plate  112  of the frame  110  is mounted on an upper surface of the slider  195 . A discharge port  196  is formed on the upper surface of the slider  195  facing the rear surface of the column  116  and guides the cut remaining portions  7   a , which is discharged and guided along the discharge guide plate  124 , to the outside of the pouch cutting apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
     Because the operation of the interval adjustment unit  190  is a publicly-known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     Hereinafter, an operating state of the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure configured as described above will be briefly described. 
     The pouch-type secondary battery  1  having the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  to be cut is aligned by an alignment means provided in the previous process of the present disclosure. The aligned pouch-type secondary battery  1 , i.e., the pouch-type secondary battery  1  having the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  to be cut is mounted on the movable robot and supplied to the suction support surface  151  of the vacuum suction plate  150  according to the present disclosure. 
     In this case, the lower portion of the terrace  7  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is supported on the cutting support surface  134  of the lower cutter  132  exposed to the outside of the upper end of the inner surface  141   b  of the seat part  140 . The remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 , which is to be cut, extends to the outside of the rear surface of the lower cutter  132  (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     When the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is supplied to the suction support surface  151  of the vacuum suction plate  150  as described above, the vacuum pressure is applied to the vacuum suction plate  150 , and the vacuum suction plate  150  sucks and fixes the pouch-type secondary battery  1 . 
     In this case, the vacuum suction pads  152  of the vacuum suction plate  150  sucks and fixes the portion of the electrode assembly  2  of the pouch-type secondary battery  1  (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     Meanwhile, when the pouch-type secondary battery  1  is sucked and fixed to the vacuum suction plate  150  as described above, the upper cutter holder  168  on which the upper cutter  162  and the stripper  176  are mounted moves downward and cuts the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  (see  FIGS.  9  and  10   ). 
     That is, when the lifting cylinder  172  operates to extend the cylinder rod  174 , the upper cutter holder  168  is moved downward toward the lower cutter  132 , and the stripper  176  and the upper cutter  162  are also moved downward as the upper cutter holder  168  is moved downward. In this case, the cutting edge portion  178  of the stripper  176  presses the upper portion of the terrace  7  supported on the cutting support surface  134  (see  FIG.  9   ). 
     Further, when the lifting cylinder  172  continuously moves the upper cutter holder  168  downward, the parallel portion  166   a  of the blade part  164  provided on the upper cutter  162  presses the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . In this case, the vertical portion  166   b  maximally comes into close contact with the rear surface of the lower cutter  132  while the parallel portion  166   a  presses the remaining portions  7   a , thereby cutting the remaining portions  7   a.    
     Further, at the same time when the remaining portions  7   a  are completely cut, the lifting cylinder  172  returns the cylinder rod  174 , such that the upper cutter holder  168  on which the upper cutter  162  and the stripper  176  are mounted is moved upward toward the position above the lower cutter  132 . 
     In this case, the remaining portions  7   a , which are cut by the lower cutter  132  and the upper cutter  162 , are moved along the upper surface of the inclined lower cutter holder  138  and discharged to the outside of the pouch cutting apparatus of the present disclosure through the discharge port  196  via the discharge hole  122 , and the discharge guide plate  124  (see  FIG.  10   ). 
     Further, when the remaining portions  7   a  are completely cut and the upper cutter holder  178  is moved upward, the vacuum suction plate  150  detaches the pouch-type secondary battery  1  so that the pouch-type secondary battery  1  from which the remaining portions  7   a  are cut may be supplied to the folding process by the movable robot. 
     According to the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure configured as described above, the upper cutter  162  cuts the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  while moving upward or downward relative to the fixed lower cutter  132 . Therefore, the entire structure is simplified, and maintenance and manufacturing costs for the apparatus may be reduced. 
     In addition, according to the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure, the length of each of the lower and upper surfaces of the upper cutter  162  is longer than the length of each of the front and rear surfaces of the upper cutter  162 , and the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper cutter holder  168  by the bolts perpendicularly penetrating the upper cutter  162 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper cutter  162  from being pushed, which occurs in the related art, during the process of cutting the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7 . 
     In addition, according to the pouch cutting apparatus  100  for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure, the upper cutter  162  is fixedly mounted to be inclined in the direction from one end to the other end, which makes it possible to gradually cut the remaining portions  7   a  of the terrace  7  based on the principle of scissors.