Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a secondary battery and an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery.

Rechargeable batteries are classified into coin type batteries, cylindrical type batteries, prismatic type batteries, and pouch type batteries according to a shape of a battery case. In such a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generating device having a structure in which an electrode and a separator are stacked.

The electrode assembly may be approximately classified into a jelly roll type electrode assembly in which a separator is interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, each of which is provided as the form of a sheet coated with an active material, and then, the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are wound, a stacked type electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes with a separator therebetween are sequentially stacked, and a stack/folding type electrode assembly in which stacked type unit cells are wound together with a separation film having a long length.

According to the related art, a notching process of the electrode is performed through a mold press. Here, in the case of the mold press, a shape is not changed in the notching unless the mold is exchanged, and when the electrode is determined as being defective before the notching process, an operation of the device may be stopped to display the defect by a person. Thereafter, even after the notching process, a production rate is reduced to be displayed and processed so as to display the defect. Thus, there is a problem in that manufacturing productivity is lowered.

[Prior Art Document] (Patent Document) <CIT>.

Document <CIT> discloses a testing device for detecting a generated defect of known type.

Document <CIT> discloses a system for producing an electrode for use in a rechargeable battery according to the prior art.

Document <CIT> discloses a known secondary battery electrode notching system.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a secondary battery, which is capable of improving manufacturing productivity by enabling a continuous operation without moving equipment during manufacturing the secondary battery, and an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery.

A method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the attached claims.

In addition, an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery is also provided.

According to the present invention, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion of the electrode is be notched into different shapes through the laser to perform the continuous operation without moving the equipment, thereby improving the manufacturing productivity. Thereafter, when the plurality of cells comprising the notched electrode are manufactured, the defective cell comprising the abnormal electrode portion that is notched as the abnormal electrode portion may be detected and discharged to perform the continuous operation without moving the equipment, thereby significantly improving the manufacturing productivity.

The objectives, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the reference numerals are added to the components of the drawings in the present specification with the same numerals as possible, even if they are illustrated in other drawings. Also, the present invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the following description of the present invention, the detailed descriptions of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a first inspection process and a notching process in a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode supply process of supplying an electrode <NUM>, a first inspection process of detecting the electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other in a first inspection part V1, and a notching process of notching the electrode at a notching part <NUM>.

In addition, the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a winding process of winding the notched electrode <NUM> around an electrode winding part <NUM>.

In more detail, referring to <FIG>, in the electrode supply process, the electrode <NUM> may be supplied through the electrode supply part <NUM>. Here, the electrode supply part <NUM> comprises an electrode supply roll <NUM> on which the electrode <NUM> is wound. In the electrode supply process, the electrode <NUM> wound around the electrode supply roll <NUM> may be unwound to supply the electrode <NUM> to a position for the subsequent process. Here, the electrode <NUM> may be wound around the electrode supply roll <NUM> in various forms such as a sheet or film shape.

In the electrode supply process, a supply speed of the electrode <NUM> may be adjusted according to a speed of the notching performed in the notching process.

In the electrode supply process, the electrode supply part <NUM> may comprise a rollers R for supplying the electrode. Here, a rotation speed of each of the rollers R may be adjusted to adjust a supply rate.

In the first inspection process, the first inspection part V1 detects the supplied electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other.

In addition, in the first inspection process, the first inspection part V1 divides the normal electrode portion from the abnormal electrode portion through a vision sensor and transmits a notching signal to the notching part <NUM> through a main control system <NUM>. Here, the main control system <NUM> may transmit a notch-type signal together when the notching signal is transmitted to the notching part <NUM>. In this case, the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a control process of controlling the notching part <NUM> in the main control system <NUM> to adjust a notched shape of the electrode <NUM>.

In addition, in the first inspection process, for example, the first inspection part V1 senses a defective electrode display tag (NG Tag) T attached to a defective portion of the electrode <NUM> to detect the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion. In the first inspection process, for another example, the second inspection part V2 may sense a shape of the electrode <NUM> to detect the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion. Here, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion may be detected by sensing a width dimension, distortion, an applied state of an active material, etc., in the electrode <NUM>.

In the notching process, the electrode <NUM> that is subjected to the first inspection process is notched in the notching part <NUM>.

In addition, in the notching process, the notching is performed by irradiating laser light B to the electrode <NUM> through a laser <NUM> so that the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are detected in the first inspection process, are divided from each other.

Furthermore, in the notching process, the notching part <NUM> notches the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are distinguished from each other in the first inspection part V1, in different shapes based on the received notching signal.

In the notching process, the normal electrode portion is notched to form an electrode tab <NUM>, and the abnormal electrode portion is notched in at least one shape among a marked shape, a shape having a hole, among a shape of a cut electrode tab <NUM>'. Here, in the notching process, the notching part <NUM> irradiates the laser light B to a side end of the abnormal electrode portion in the electrode <NUM> through the laser <NUM> to notch the abnormal electrode portion so that the shape of the electrode tab <NUM> at the abnormal electrode portion is different from that of the electrode tab <NUM> at the normal electrode portion. Here, in more detail, the notched shape of the abnormal electrode portion may have a shape, in which an electrode tab <NUM>' having a rectangular shape, in which a portion at which the electrode tab <NUM>' is to be formed is short, is cut, a shape, in which an edge of a portion at which an electrode tab <NUM>" is to be formed is chamfered, a marked shape in which a pattern is formed, or a shape in which a circular or polygonal hole is formed.

In the winding process, the notched electrode <NUM> may be wound around the electrode winding part <NUM>. Here, the electrode winding part <NUM> may comprise an electrode winding roll <NUM>, on which the electrode <NUM> is wound, to wind the electrode <NUM> moved in the winding process around the electrode winding roll <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the method for manufacturing the secondary battery, which has the above-described configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion in the supplied electrode <NUM> are distinguished from each other through the first inspection part V1 and then are notched in different shapes through the laser <NUM> to perform a continuous process without moving equipment, thereby improving manufacturing productivity.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a first inspection process and a notching process in a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a second inspection process, a cell cutting process, and a discharge process in the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode supply process of supplying an electrode <NUM>, a first inspection process of detecting the electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other in a first inspection part V1, and a notching process of notching the electrode <NUM> at a notching part <NUM>. In addition, in the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention may further comprise, after the notching process, a lamination process of laminating an electrode <NUM> and a separator <NUM>, a second inspection process of an electrode portion notched as the abnormal electrode portion through a second inspection part V2, a cell cutting process of cutting the electrode portion into a plurality of cells <NUM>, and a discharge process of discharging a defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion.

The method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention is different from the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention in that the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention further comprises the lamination process, the second inspection process, the cell cutting process, and the discharge process. Thus, in descriptions of the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, contents duplicated with the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to the forgoing embodiment of the present invention will be omitted or briefly described, and also, differences therebetween will be mainly described.

In more detail, referring to <FIG>, in the electrode supply process, the electrode <NUM> may be supplied through the electrode supply part <NUM>.

In the electrode supply process, the electrode supply part <NUM> may comprise a rollers R supplying the electrode <NUM>. Here, a rotation speed of each of the rollers R may be adjusted to adjust a supply rate.

In the first inspection process, the first inspection part V1 divides the normal electrode portion from the abnormal electrode portion through a vision sensor and transmits a notching signal to the notching part <NUM> through a main control system <NUM>.

In addition, in the notching process, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are detected in the first inspection process, are notched through a laser <NUM> so as to be divided from each other.

In the notching process, the normal electrode portion is notched to form an electrode tab <NUM>, and the abnormal electrode portion is notched in the form of at least one of a marked shape, a shape having a hole, or a shape of a cut electrode tab <NUM>'. Here, in the notching process, the notching part <NUM> irradiates the laser light B to a side end of the abnormal electrode portion in the electrode <NUM> through the laser <NUM> to notch the abnormal electrode portion so that the shape of the electrode tab <NUM> at the abnormal electrode portion is different from that of the electrode tab <NUM> at the normal electrode portion. Here, in more detail, the notched shape of the abnormal electrode portion may have a shape, in which an electrode tab <NUM>' having a rectangular shape, in which a portion at which the electrode tab <NUM>' is to be formed is short, is cut, a shape, in which an edge of a portion at which an electrode tab <NUM>" is to be formed is chamfered, a marked shape in which a pattern is formed, or a shape in which a circular or polygonal hole is formed.

In the lamination process, after the notching process, the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM> may be alternately stacked to be laminated. Here, in the lamination process, heat and a pressure are applied to a stack S of the notched electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>, and thus, the electrode and the separator <NUM> may be bonded to each other through the lamination part <NUM>.

Here, the separator <NUM> wound around the separator supply roll <NUM> may be unwound to supply the separator <NUM> to the lamination part <NUM>.

In the second inspection process, the second inspection part V2 may detect an electrode portion notched as the abnormal electrode portion after the lamination process. Here, in the second inspection process, a cut electrode tab <NUM>', a mark, or a hole of the electrode portion notched as the abnormal electrode portion may be sensed through the second inspection part V2 comprising a vision sensor to detect the abnormal electrode portion, thereby transmitting a detection signal to a discharge part <NUM>.

In the cell cutting process, after the second inspection process, the stack S of the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>, which are laminated, may be cut into a plurality of cells <NUM>. Here, in the cell cutting process, the stack S of the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>, which is disposed between a pair of cutters, may be cut through a cell cutting part <NUM> comprising the pair of cutters.

In this case, the cut cells <NUM> may be transferred to a subsequent process through conveyor belts C1 and C2.

In the discharge process, after the cutting process, the discharge part <NUM> may discharge defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion detected through the second inspection process from the plurality of cells <NUM>. Here, in the discharge process, the defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion may be gripped through the discharge part <NUM> comprising a jig to separate the defective cell <NUM>' from the cells comprising the normal electrode portion.

In the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion of the electrode <NUM> are notched in different shapes through the laser <NUM>, and then, the defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion, which is notched as the abnormal electrode portion, may be detected in the subsequent inspection process and then discharged in the discharge process. Therefore, a continuous operate may be possible without moving the equipment to significantly improve manufacturing productivity.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode supply part <NUM> supplying an electrode <NUM>, a first inspection part V1 detecting the supplied electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other, a notching part <NUM> notching the electrode <NUM> passing through the first inspection part V1, and a main control system <NUM> receiving a notching signal from the first inspection part V1 to transmit the notching signal to the notching part <NUM>. In addition, the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention may further comprise an electrode winding part <NUM> winding the electrode <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing the secondary battery applied to the method for manufacturing the secondary battery according to the forgoing embodiment and another embodiment of the present invention.

Therefore, in descriptions of the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the secondary battery according to this embodiment, contents duplicated with those of the apparatus according to the forgoing embodiment and another embodiment of the prevent invention will be omitted or briefly described, and differences will be mainly described.

In more detail, an electrode supply part <NUM> may supply an electrode <NUM>. Here, the electrode supply part <NUM> comprises an electrode supply roll <NUM> on which the electrode <NUM> is wound, and the electrode <NUM> wound around the electrode supply roll <NUM> may be unwound to supply the electrode <NUM> to a position for the subsequent process.

Also, the electrode supply part <NUM> may adjust a supply rate of the electrode <NUM> according to a notching speed performed by a notching part <NUM>. Here, the electrode supply part <NUM> may comprise a rollers R supplying the electrode <NUM>. Here, a rotation speed of each of the rollers R may be adjusted to adjust the supply rate.

The first inspection part V1 detects the supplied electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other.

In addition, the first inspection part V1 transmits a notching signal by dividing the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion through a vision sensor.

For example, the first inspection part V1 senses a defective electrode display tag (NG Tag) T attached to a defective portion of the electrode <NUM> to detect the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion.

For another example, a second inspection part V2 may sense a shape of the electrode <NUM> to detect the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion. Here, the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion may be detected by sensing a width dimension, distortion, an applied state of an active material, etc., in the electrode <NUM>.

A main control system <NUM> receives the notching signal from the first inspection part V1 to transmit the notching signal to the notching part <NUM>. Here, the main control system <NUM> may transmit a notch-type signal together when the notching signal is transmitted to the notching part <NUM>. That is, the notched shape of the electrode <NUM> may be adjusted by controlling the notching part <NUM> in the main control system <NUM>.

The notching part <NUM> notches the electrode <NUM> passing through the first inspection part V1.

In addition, the notching part <NUM> notches the electrode <NUM> through a laser <NUM> so that the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are detected in the first inspection part V1, are divided from each other.

Furthermore, the notching part <NUM> notches the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are distinguished from each other in the first inspection part V1, in different shapes based on the received notching signal.

In addition, the notching part <NUM> may notch the normal electrode portion to form an electrode tab <NUM>. Here, the notching part <NUM> may irradiate a laser beam B to a side end of the normal electrode portion through the laser <NUM> to form the rectangular electrode tab <NUM>.

In addition, the notching part <NUM> may notch the abnormal electrode portion in the form of at least one of a marked shape, a shape having a hole, or a shape of a cut electrode tab <NUM>'. Here, the notching part <NUM> may irradiate the laser light B to a side end of the abnormal electrode portion in the electrode <NUM> through the laser <NUM> to notch the abnormal electrode portion so that the shape of the electrode tab <NUM> at the abnormal electrode portion is different from that of the electrode tab <NUM> at the normal electrode portion. Here, in more detail, the notched shape of the abnormal electrode portion may have a shape, in which an electrode tab <NUM>' having a rectangular shape, in which a portion at which the electrode tab <NUM>' is to be formed is short, is cut, a shape, in which an edge of a portion at which an electrode tab <NUM>" is to be formed is chamfered, a marked shape in which a pattern is formed, or a shape in which a circular or polygonal hole is formed.

An electrode winding part <NUM> may wind the notched electrode <NUM> passing through the notching part <NUM>. Here, the electrode winding part <NUM> may comprise an electrode winding roll <NUM>, on which the electrode <NUM> is wound, to wind the moving electrode <NUM> around the electrode winding roll <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode supply part <NUM> supplying an electrode <NUM>, a first inspection part V1 detecting the supplied electrode <NUM> to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion from each other, a notching part <NUM> notching the electrode <NUM> passing through the first inspection part V1, a main control system <NUM> receiving a notching signal from the first inspection part V1 to transmit the notching signal to the notching part <NUM>, a lamination part <NUM> laminating the notched electrode <NUM> and a separator <NUM>, a second inspection part V2 detecting an electrode portion that is notched as the abnormal electrode portion, a cell cutting part <NUM> cutting a stack S of the electrode <NUM> and the separator into a plurality of cells <NUM>, and a discharge part <NUM> discharging a defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion.

The apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention is different from the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to the foregoing embodiment of the present invention in that the apparatus <NUM> further comprises the lamination part <NUM>, the second inspection part V2, the cell cutting part <NUM>, and the discharge part <NUM>.

Therefore, in descriptions of the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the secondary battery according to this embodiment, contents duplicated with those of the apparatus according to the forgoing embodiment of the prevent invention will be omitted or briefly described, and differences will be mainly described.

In more detail, in more detail, the electrode supply part <NUM> may supply an electrode <NUM>. Here, the electrode supply part <NUM> comprises an electrode supply roll <NUM> on which the electrode <NUM> is wound, and the electrode <NUM> wound around the electrode supply roll <NUM> may be unwound to supply the electrode <NUM> to a position for the subsequent process.

The first inspection part V1 transmits a notching signal by dividing the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion through a vision sensor.

The main control system <NUM> receives the notching signal to transmit the notching signal to the notching part <NUM>. Here, the main control system <NUM> may transmit a notch-type signal together when the notching signal is transmitted to the notching part <NUM>.

In addition, the notching part <NUM> notches the electrode through a laser <NUM> so that the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are detected in the first inspection part V1, are divided from each other.

The notching part <NUM> notches the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are distinguished from each other in the first inspection part V1, in different shapes based on the received notching signal.

The notching part <NUM> may notch the normal electrode portion to form an electrode tab <NUM> and notch the abnormal electrode portion in the form of at least one of a marked shape, a shape having a hole, or a shape of a cut electrode tab <NUM>'.

The lamination part <NUM> may alternately stack the notched electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM> to laminate the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>. Here, the lamination part <NUM> may press the stack S of the notched electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM> while applying heat to bond the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM> to each other.

The second inspection part V2 may detect an electrode portion notched as the abnormal electrode portion after passing through the lamination part <NUM>. Here, the second inspection part V2 may detect a cut electrode tab <NUM>', a mark, or a hole of the electrode portion notched as the abnormal electrode portion through the vision sensor to detect the abnormal electrode portion, thereby transmitting a detection signal to a discharge part <NUM>.

The cell cutting part <NUM> may cut the stack S of the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>, which are laminated after passing through the second inspection part V2, into a plurality of cells <NUM>. Here, the cell cutting part <NUM> may comprise a pair of cutters and may cut the stack S of the electrode <NUM> and the separator <NUM>, which is disposed between the pair of cutters, while moving the pair of cutters vertically.

Then, the cut cells <NUM> may be transferred to a subsequent process through conveyor belts C1 and C2.

The discharge part <NUM> may discharge defective cells <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion detected through the second inspection part V2 from the plurality of cells <NUM> after passing through the cell cutting part <NUM>. Here, the discharge part <NUM> may grip the defective cell <NUM>' comprising the abnormal electrode portion through a jig to separate the defective cell <NUM>' from the cells <NUM> comprising the normal electrode portion.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A method for manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising:
an electrode supply process of supplying an electrode (<NUM>) through an electrode supply part (<NUM>);
a first inspection process of detecting the supplied electrode (<NUM>) to distinguish a normal electrode portion and an abnormal electrode portion through a first inspection part (V1); and
a notching process of notching the electrode (<NUM>), which is subjected to the first inspection process, in a notching part (<NUM>),
wherein the notching process perform the notching through a laser so that the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are detected in the first inspection process, are divided from each other;
wherein, in the first inspection process, the first inspection part (V1) divides the normal electrode portion from the abnormal electrode portion through a vision sensor to transmit a notching signal to the notching part (<NUM>) through a main control system (<NUM>);
wherein, in the notching process, the notching part (<NUM>) notches the normal electrode portion and the abnormal electrode portion, which are distinguished from each other in the first inspection part (V1), in different shapes based on the received notching signal.