Patent Description:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying an adhesive, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for applying an adhesive, which are capable of preventing non-coating of a liquid adhesive and improving productivity of a secondary battery.

In general, secondary batteries include nickelcadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, lithium ion batteries, and lithium ion polymer batteries. Such a secondary battery is being applied to and used in small-sized products such as digital cameras, P-DVDs, MP3Ps, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, E-bikes, and the like as well as large-sized products requiring high power such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, power storage devices for storing surplus power or renewable energy, and backup power storage devices.

In general, in order to manufacture the lithium secondary battery, first, electrode active material slurry is applied to a positive electrode collector and a negative electrode collector to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Then, the electrodes are stacked on both sides of a separator form an electrode assembly. Also, the electrode assembly is accommodated in a battery case, an electrolyte is injected, and then, sealing is performed.

Such a secondary battery is classified into a pouch type secondary battery and a can type secondary battery according to a material of a case accommodating the electrode assembly. In the pouch type secondary battery, an electrode assembly is accommodated in a pouch made of a flexible polymer material having a variable shape.

When a sealing part is left as it is after the pouch type battery case is sealed, a metal of a pouch film is exposed to the outside through a cross-section of the sealing part. Thus, the metal may be corroded or come into contact with an electrode of the secondary battery to cause short circuit. As a result, it is necessary not to expose the cross-section of the sealing part.

According to the related art, a double side folding method in which the sealing part is folded twice is performed, or a method in which an insulation tape is attached to the sealing part has been performed. However, this method has a disadvantage in that manufacturing yield is deteriorated, and a time taken to optimize the equipment is long. In order to solve this problem, recently, a method for applying a liquid adhesive to a sealing part to cure the liquid adhesive has been developed. However, a portion of a nozzle that applies the liquid adhesive may be blocked to cause a problem that the liquid adhesive is not applied to the sealing parts of some secondary batteries.

Document <CIT> discloses an apparatus for applying liquid adhesive.

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for applying an adhesive, which are capable of preventing non-coating of a liquid adhesive and improving productivity of a secondary battery.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned object, but only by the appended claims.

An apparatus for applying a liquid adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above object is defined in the appended set of claims. The apparatus includes a side part including a support surface being flat and extending up to a lower part; and the lower part disposed below the side part, and including an adhesion space and a passage connected to the adhesion space so that the liquid adhesive intended to be accommodated in the adhesion space can flow to the adhesion space,wherein the adhesion space is recessed downward from a top surface of the lower part.

Also, the adhesion space may have a width that is gradually narrowed downward.

Also, in the adhesion space, an inner wall facing the support surface may include an upper inner wall of which an edge is chamfered or filleted and a lower inner wall that is parallel to the support surface.

Also, the apparatus may further include a dispenser configured to inject the liquid adhesive into the passage.

Also, the apparatus may further include an adhesive tank that stores the liquid adhesive to supply the liquid adhesive to the dispenser.

Also, the passage may be provided in plurality.

Also, the side part may further include an inclined surface having a specific inclination toward the inside of the side part from a lower end of the support surface.

A method for applying a liquid adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above object includes: a step of accommodating the liquid adhesive in an adhesion space of an apparatus for applying the liquid adhesive through a passage; a step of positioning the secondary battery upright and inserting a sealing part disposed at one side of the secondary battery into the adhesion space; a step of withdrawing the secondary battery; and a step of irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sealing part coated with the liquid adhesive.

Also, in the step of injecting the liquid adhesive, the liquid adhesive may be injected into the passage by using a dispenser.

Also, the dispenser may receive the liquid adhesive from an adhesive tank storing the liquid adhesive to inject the liquid adhesive into the passage.

Also, in the step of injecting the sealing part, the secondary battery may have one surface supported by a support surface of the apparatus for applying the adhesive, and the sealing part disposed at the one side of the secondary battery may be inserted into the adhesion space.

Also, the liquid adhesive may be a urethane acrylate-based adhesive.

Particularities of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention may have at least the following effects.

Since a nozzle is not used, the non-coating of the liquid adhesive due to the blocking of the nozzle may be prevented.

Also, since it is unnecessary to set the line, along which the nozzle moves to apply the liquid adhesive, and the coating time, the manufacturing yield may be improved, and also, the productivity of the secondary battery may be improved.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Further, the present invention is only defined by scopes of claims.

Unless terms used in the present invention are defined differently, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art. Also, unless defined clearly and apparently in the description, the terms as defined in a commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively construed as having formal meaning.

In the following description, the technical terms are used only for explaining a specific exemplary embodiment while not limiting the present invention, as defined by the claims. In this specification, the terms of a singular form may comprise plural forms unless specifically mentioned. The meaning of "comprises" and/or "comprising" does not exclude other components besides a mentioned component.

<FIG> is an assembled view of a pouch type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view of the pouch type secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In a process of manufacturing a pouch type secondary battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, slurry in which an electrode active material, a binder, and a plasticizer are mixed with each other is applied to a positive electrode collector and a negative electrode collector to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Thereafter, the negative electrode collector and the positive electrode plate are respectively laminated on both sides of a separator to form an electrode assembly <NUM> having a predetermined shape, and then, the electrode assembly <NUM> is inserted into a battery case <NUM>, an electrolyte is injected, and sealing is performed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the electrode assembly <NUM> includes an electrode tab <NUM>. The electrode tab <NUM> is connected to each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the electrode assembly <NUM> to protrude to the outside of the electrode assembly <NUM>, thereby providing a path, through which electrons are moved, between the inside and outside of the electrode assembly <NUM>. A collector of the electrode assembly <NUM> is constituted by a portion coated with an electrode active material and a distal end, on which the electrode active material is not applied, i.e., a non-coating portion. Also, the electrode tab <NUM> may be formed by cutting the non-coating portion or by connecting a separate conductive member to the non-coating portion through ultrasonic welding. As illustrated in <FIG>, the electrode tabs <NUM> may protrude from one side of the electrode assembly <NUM> in the same direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the electrode tabs <NUM> may protrude in directions different from each other.

In the electrode assembly <NUM>, the electrode lead <NUM> is connected to the electrode tab <NUM> through spot welding. Also, a portion of the electrode lead <NUM> is surrounded by an insulation part. The insulation part may be disposed to be limited within a sealing part <NUM>, at which an upper pouch <NUM> and a lower pouch <NUM> of the battery case <NUM> are thermally fused, so that the electrode lead <NUM> is bonded to the battery case <NUM>. Also, electricity generated from the electrode assembly <NUM> may be prevented from flowing to the battery case <NUM> through the electrode lead <NUM>, and the sealing of the battery case <NUM> may be maintained. Thus, the insulation part may be made of a nonconductor having non-conductivity, which is not electrically conductive. In general, although an insulation tape which is easily attached to the electrode lead <NUM> and has a relatively thin thickness is mainly used as the insulation part, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, various members may be used as the insulation part as long as the members are capable of insulating the electrode lead <NUM>.

The electrode lead <NUM> may extend in the same direction or extend in directions different from each other according to the formation positions of the positive electrode tab <NUM> and the negative electrode tab <NUM>. The positive electrode lead <NUM> and the negative electrode lead <NUM> may be made of materials different from each other. That is, the positive electrode lead <NUM> may be made of the same material as the positive electrode plate, i.e., an aluminum (Al) material, and the negative electrode lead <NUM> may be made of the same material as the negative electrode plate, i.e., a copper (Cu) material or a copper material coated with nickel (Ni). Also, a portion of the electrode lead <NUM>, which protrudes to the outside of the battery case <NUM>, may be provided as a terminal part and electrically connected to an external terminal.

In the pouch type secondary battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery case <NUM> may be a pouch made of a flexible material. Hereinafter, the case in which the battery case <NUM> is the pouch will be described. The battery case <NUM> accommodates the electrode assembly <NUM> so that a portion of the electrode lead <NUM>, i.e., the terminal part is exposed and then is sealed. As illustrated in <FIG>, the battery case <NUM> includes the upper pouch <NUM> and the lower pouch <NUM>. An accommodation space <NUM> in which the electrode assembly <NUM> is accommodated may be provided in the lower pouch <NUM>, and upper pouch <NUM> may cover an upper side of the accommodation space <NUM> so that the electrode assembly <NUM> is not separated to the outside of the battery case <NUM>. Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, the accommodation space <NUM> may also be provided in the upper pouch <NUM> to accommodate the electrode assembly <NUM> through an upper side of the upper pouch <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, one side of the upper pouch <NUM> and one side of the lower pouch <NUM> may be connected to each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the upper pouch <NUM> and the lower pouch may be separately manufactured to be separated from each other.

When the electrode lead <NUM> is connected to the electrode tab <NUM> of the electrode assembly <NUM>, and the insulation part is provided on a portion of the electrode lead <NUM>, the electrode assembly <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM> provided in the lower pouch <NUM>, and the upper pouch <NUM> may cover the upper side of the accommodation space <NUM>. Also, when the electrolyte is injected, and the sealing part <NUM> provided on the edge of each of the upper pouch <NUM> and the lower pouch <NUM> is sealed, the secondary battery <NUM> is manufactured as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method for applying an adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In a method for applying an adhesive according to the present invention, since a nozzle is not used, non-coating of a liquid adhesive <NUM> due to blocking of the nozzle may be prevented. Also, since it is unnecessary to set a line, along which the nozzle moves to apply the liquid adhesive <NUM>, and a coating time, manufacturing yield may be improved, and also, productivity of a secondary battery <NUM> may be improved.

For this, the method for applying the adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a step of accommodating the liquid adhesive <NUM> in an adhesion space <NUM> of an apparatus <NUM> for applying an adhesive through a passage <NUM>; a step of standing up the secondary battery <NUM> to insert a sealing part <NUM> disposed at one side of the secondary battery <NUM> into the adhesion space <NUM>; a step of withdrawing the secondary battery <NUM>; and a step of irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sealing part <NUM> coated with the liquid adhesive <NUM>.

Hereinafter, each of the steps illustrated in the flowchart of <FIG> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive according to the present invention includes: a side part <NUM> including a support surface <NUM> supporting one surface of the upright secondary battery <NUM>; and a lower part <NUM> including an adhesion space <NUM> which accommodates the liquid adhesive <NUM> and in which the sealing part <NUM> disposed at the one side of the upright secondary battery <NUM> is inserted and a passage <NUM> connected to the adhesion space <NUM> so that the liquid adhesive <NUM> flows to the adhesion space <NUM>, wherein the lower part <NUM> is disposed below the side part <NUM>.

The side part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive includes the support surface <NUM>. The support surface <NUM> supports one surface of the secondary battery <NUM> when the secondary battery <NUM> is positioned upright to be inserted into the adhesion space <NUM>. For this purpose, the support surface <NUM> may be flat. It is preferable that the support surface <NUM> is parallel to the one surface of the upright secondary battery <NUM>. Thus, the one surface of the secondary battery <NUM> may be stably supported.

The lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive <NUM> is disposed below the side part <NUM> and includes the adhesion space <NUM> and the passage <NUM>. The side part <NUM> and the lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive <NUM> may be manufactured separately and then assembled, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the side part <NUM> and the lower part <NUM> may be manufactured integrally, i.e., in various manners without being limited thereto.

The adhesion space <NUM> accommodates the liquid adhesive <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the sealing part <NUM> disposed at the one side of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM>. For this, as illustrated in <FIG>, the adhesion space <NUM> may be recessed downward from a top surface of the lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive. When the secondary battery <NUM> is positioned upright, the one surface of the secondary battery <NUM>, which is supported by the support surface <NUM>, may face a left or right side, and the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery may face a lower side. Thus, since the adhesion space <NUM> is formed in the lower part <NUM> disposed below the side part <NUM>, the sealing part <NUM> may be smoothly inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> while the secondary battery <NUM> is supported by the support surface <NUM>.

The adhesion space <NUM> accommodates the liquid adhesive <NUM>. Thus, when the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM>, the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>. Also, when the secondary battery <NUM> is withdrawn again, the liquid adhesive <NUM> is applied to a portion of the sealing part <NUM> immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>. Thus, the more the adhesion space <NUM> increases in depth, the more an amount of liquid adhesive <NUM> to be accommodated may increase. As a result, an area of the sealing part <NUM> to be coated with the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be widened. Also, as the more the adhesion space <NUM> decreases in depth, the more an amount of liquid adhesive <NUM> to be accommodated may decrease. As a result, the area of the sealing part <NUM> to be coated with the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be narrowed.

The liquid adhesive <NUM> may be a urethane acrylate (UA)-based adhesive that is cured when ultraviolet (UV) rays are irradiated. The urethane acrylate is a compound produced by a UV-curable urethane resin and is a general name of a compound having a urethane bond and an acrylate group together. The urethane acrylate is excellent in insulation, flexibility, and abrasion resistance. Thus, when the UV rays <NUM> (see <FIG>) is irradiated to the liquid adhesive <NUM> applied to the sealing part <NUM>, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be cured to insulate a metal exposed to a cross-section of the sealing part <NUM>.

The adhesion space <NUM> is narrower downward. That is, an upper width of the adhesion space <NUM> may be relatively wider than a lower width. On the other hand, the lower width of the adhesion space <NUM> may be relatively narrower than the upper width. Particularly, as illustrated in <FIG>, an inner wall (referred to a left inner wall in <FIG>) which faces the support surface <NUM> in the adhesion space <NUM> may include an upper inner wall <NUM> and a lower inner wall <NUM>. Also, the upper inner wall <NUM> may have an edge that is chamfered or filleted so that the width of the adhesion space <NUM> is continuously narrowed downward. Thus, the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> may be easily inserted. Also, the lower inner wall <NUM> may be parallel to the support surface <NUM>. Thus, when the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is fully inserted into the adhesion space <NUM>, the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> may be stably supported by the lower inner wall <NUM>. A stepped portion may not be formed on the inner wall <NUM> (referred to a right inner wall in <FIG>) which faces a side opposite to the support surface <NUM> in the adhesion space <NUM>. Thus, there may be no obstacle that prevents the insertion of the sealing unit <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM>.

The passage <NUM> is connected to the adhesion space <NUM> to provide a flow path through which the liquid adhesive <NUM> flows into the adhesion space <NUM>. Although only one passage <NUM> is formed, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is preferable that a plurality of passages <NUM> are formed so that the liquid adhesive <NUM> is quickly accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM>.

Although not shown, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be separately provided to be stored in an adhesive tank. Also, the adhesive tank supplies the liquid adhesive <NUM> stored therein to a dispenser, and the dispenser injects the supplied liquid adhesive <NUM> to the passage <NUM>. Thus, the liquid adhesive <NUM> injected into the passage <NUM> may flow through the passage <NUM> so as to be accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM>. When the passage <NUM> is provided in plurality, only one dispenser may be formed to inject the liquid adhesive <NUM> into each passage <NUM> while moving. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the dispenser may be provided in plurality so that the dispenser corresponding to each of the passages <NUM> injects the liquid adhesive <NUM> into the corresponding passage <NUM>.

In order to insert the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> into the adhesion space <NUM>, a user has to directly grip an upper portion of the secondary battery <NUM> or grip the upper portion of the secondary battery <NUM> by using a separate gripper. However, if a height of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive is greater than that of the secondary battery <NUM>, the support surface <NUM> and the user's hand or the gripper may collide with each other. Thus, it is preferable that the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive has a height less than that of the secondary battery <NUM> when the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which the liquid adhesive <NUM> is accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to apply the adhesive to the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, first, the liquid adhesive <NUM> is accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive through the passage <NUM> (S301). Here, when the adhesive tank storing the liquid adhesive <NUM> supplies the liquid adhesive <NUM> to the dispenser, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be injected into the passage <NUM> by using the dispenser. Thus, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may flow through the passage <NUM> so as to be accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM>.

If an amount of liquid adhesive <NUM> is too small, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may not be sufficiently applied to the sealing part <NUM>. If an amount of liquid adhesive <NUM> is too large, when the sealing part <NUM> is inserted into the adhesive space <NUM> and immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may leak to the outside of the adhesion space <NUM>. Thus, an optimum amount of liquid adhesive <NUM>, which is capable of being sufficiently applied to the sealing part <NUM> and does not leak to the outside of the adhesion space <NUM>, may be experimentally derived.

<FIG> is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a schematic front view illustrating a state in which the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the liquid adhesive <NUM> is sufficiently accommodated in the adhesion space <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the secondary battery <NUM> is positioned upright to insert the sealing part <NUM> disposed at the one side of the secondary battery <NUM> into the adhesion space <NUM> (S302). Here, when one surface of the secondary battery <NUM> is supported by the support surface <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive, the secondary battery may be stably erected.

If the upper pouch <NUM> and the lower pouch <NUM> of the battery case <NUM> are manufactured by connecting one side of the upper pouch <NUM> to one side of the lower pouch <NUM>, the connected portion is folded when the upper pouch <NUM> covers the accommodation space <NUM>. The folded portion does not need to be coated with the liquid adhesive <NUM> because the metal of the pouch film is not exposed to the outside. Since the metal of the pouch film is exposed to the outside, the sealing part <NUM>, which is not the folded portion but thermally fused portion, has to be coated with the liquid adhesive <NUM>. Thus, when the battery case <NUM> is positioned upright, the battery case <NUM> is positioned so that the sealing part <NUM> to which the liquid adhesive <NUM> is to be applied is disposed to face a lower side.

Although the secondary battery is positioned upright so that the secondary battery <NUM> has a full width in a vertical direction in <FIG> and <FIG>, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the secondary battery <NUM> may be positioned upright so that the secondary battery <NUM> has a full length in the vertical direction. If the secondary battery <NUM> is positioned so that the secondary battery <NUM> has the full width in the vertical direction, the sealing part <NUM> that is lengthily disposed in a longitudinal direction of the secondary battery <NUM> may be disposed to face the lower side. Also, the sealing part <NUM> formed lengthily in the longitudinal direction is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> and immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>. However, if the secondary battery <NUM> is positioned so that the secondary battery <NUM> has the full length in the vertical direction, the sealing part <NUM> formed lengthily in the width direction of the secondary battery <NUM> is disposed to face the lower side. Also, the sealing part <NUM> formed lengthily in the width direction is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> and immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic view illustrating a state in which ultraviolet rays <NUM> are irradiated to the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

After the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is fully immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>, the secondary battery <NUM> is again withdrawn (S303). Thus, the liquid adhesive <NUM> is applied to a portion of the sealing portion <NUM> that is immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>. Also, as illustrated in <FIG>, the ultraviolet rays <NUM> are irradiated to the sealing part <NUM> to which the liquid adhesive <NUM> is applied by using an UV lamp <NUM> (S304).

The UV lamp <NUM> is a lamp which irradiates the ultraviolet rays <NUM> to the outside. Also, the ultraviolet rays <NUM> are an electromagnetic wave of which a wavelength is shorter than that of visible light and thus has a wavelength of approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM>. The ultraviolet rays <NUM> have a very short wavelength and thus is invisible to the human eye and also have high energy. Thus, ultraviolet rays <NUM> may be easily used for sterilization and bleaching.

As described above, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be a urethane acrylate (UA)-based adhesive that is cured when the ultraviolet rays <NUM> are irradiated. Thus, when the UV rays <NUM> is irradiated to the liquid adhesive <NUM> applied to the sealing part <NUM>, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may be cured to insulate a metal exposed to a cross-section of the sealing part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of an apparatus 2a for applying an adhesive according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the apparatus <NUM> for applying an adhesive according to an embodiment of the present invention, the support surface <NUM> of the side part <NUM> is parallel to one surface of the secondary battery <NUM>, and the support surface <NUM> extends up to the lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive. However, when the sealing portion <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is withdrawn after being immersed in the liquid adhesive <NUM>, a portion of the liquid adhesive <NUM> applied to the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> may drop to contaminate a top surface of the lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive. However, even if the dropping liquid adhesive <NUM> is cleanly cleaned, the liquid adhesive <NUM> may remain on the connected edge between the side part <NUM> and the lower part <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for applying the adhesive. As a result, when the sealing part <NUM> of the secondary battery <NUM> is inserted into the adhesion space <NUM> later, an outer surface of the secondary battery <NUM> may be contaminated.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in <FIG>, a side part 21a of an apparatus 2a for applying an adhesive has an inclined surface 212a having a specific inclination toward the inside of the side part 21a from a lower end of a support surface 221a. Thus, it is easy to visually determine whether the liquid adhesive <NUM> is contaminated on the top surface of the lower part <NUM>, and the top surface of the contaminated lower part <NUM> may be easily cleaned. Also, the outer surface of the secondary battery <NUM> may be prevented from being contaminated.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>) for applying a liquid adhesive (<NUM>), the apparatus comprising:
a side part (<NUM>) comprising a support surface (<NUM>) being flat and extending up to a lower part (<NUM>); and
the lower part (<NUM>) disposed below the side part (<NUM>), and comprising an adhesion space (<NUM>) and a passage (<NUM>) connected to the adhesion space (<NUM>) so that the liquid adhesive intended to be accommodated in the adhesion space (<NUM>) can flow to the adhesion space (<NUM>),
wherein the adhesion space (<NUM>) is recessed downward from a top surface of the lower part (<NUM>).