Patent Description:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch.

In general, secondary batteries are chargeable and dischargeable unlike primary batteries that are not chargeable and are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and the like, electric vehicles, or the like. Particularly, since a lithium secondary battery has larger capacity than a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery and has a high energy density per unit weight, a degree of its utilization is rapidly increasing.

A secondary battery is classified according to an electrode assembly having a positive electrode/separator/negative electrode structure. Representatively, exemplary examples of the electrode assembly may include a jelly-roll type (winding type) electrode assembly in which long sheet-shaped electrodes are wound with a separator therebetween, a stack-type electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrodes, which are cut into units, each of which has a predetermined size, are sequentially stacked with a separator therebetween, a stack-folding type electrode assembly in which bi-cells or full cells, which are stacked with a separator therebetween, are wound, and the like.

In addition, such a secondary battery may be classified into a cylindrical battery or a prismatic battery in which an electrode assembly is built in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can and a pouch type battery in which an electrode assembly is built in a pouch type case provided as an aluminum lamination sheet.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a pouch-type secondary battery. A pouch-type secondary battery <NUM> includes an electrode assembly <NUM>, in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked, and a pouch <NUM>, into which the electrode assembly is inserted. In addition, the pouch includes a cup part <NUM> of the pouch, which has a recessed shape so that the electrode assembly is directly accommodated. The cup part of the pouch may be provided with a cup part <NUM> of a left pouch and a cup part 11R of a right pouch to surround the electrode assembly at both sides. A peripheral part <NUM> of the pouch is formed around the periphery of each of the cup parts of the pouch to seal the pouch from the outside.

The cup part of the pouch is usually molded by pressing a pouch film by using a punch. However, an impact may be applied to the punch or the like during such a pressing process. Such an impact may adversely affect the outer appearance of the pouch or the lifespan of the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch, and thus, it is preferable to effectively buffer the cup part.

Document <CIT> related to a pouch-type secondary battery having an increased energy density by reducing a dead space and an apparatus for forming a pouch film that is used for the pouch-type secondary battery.

Document <CIT> discusses a pouch molding method and apparatus, in which, when a cup part of a pouch is formed, elongation of a pouch film is uniformly maintained to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the cup part.

Document <CIT> discusses a semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method including a mold die and a lead frame suitable for improving production efficiency and product quality in <NUM>%.

Document <CIT> discusses a pouch forming apparatus and method capable of preventing the occurrence of wrinkles or cracks in the cup portion by improving the stretching quality of the pouch film when forming the cup portion of the pouch.

Document <CIT> discusses a pouch forming apparatus and method, in which a non-sealing part formed when a pouch film, in which two cup parts are formed, is bent is reduced in area.

Document <CIT> discusses a battery sheet manufacturing apparatus capable of preventing the defective product caused by wrinkles or the like formed on the outer surface of the battery case in the process of manufacturing the battery case of the built-in secondary battery.

Document <CIT> relates to a device for shaping deep-drawn containers.

Document <CIT> relates to the technical field of presses, in particular to a press with high processing precision.

Document <CIT> relates to complex sheeting of composite material, more exactly to the production of shaped structures or pieces with relatively thin wall elements, arranged in several planes to make.

An object of the prevent invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch, which is capable of effectively alleviating an impact applied to a punch while pressing a pouch film by the punch or an impact applied to a member that is in direct or indirect contact with the pouch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch, which is capable of better molding an outer appearance of the pouch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch, which is capable of more angularly molding a cup part and more uniformly molding a depth of the cup part.

The present invention is defined by the features of claim <NUM>. In an embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch includes a lower die provided with a forming groove for forming a cup part in a pouch film, an upper die disposed to be spaced upward from the lower die, and a punch supported by the upper die and configured to move toward the forming groove so as to press the pouch film to be disposed on the lower die, wherein the punch includes: an upper punch vertically movably connected to the upper die; a lower punch disposed to be spaced downward from the upper punch and configured to move together with the upper punch to press the pouch film; and an elastic part disposed between the upper punch and the lower punch to elastically support the lower punch.

In another embodiment, the elastic part may be provided to elastically press the lower punch downward.

The elastic part includes a connection bar fixed to one of the upper punch and the lower punch and connected to the other one of the upper punch and the lower punch so as to be movable in a vertical direction with respect to the other one, and an elastic member provided to surround the connection bar between the upper punch and the lower punch.

In further another embodiment, the upper punch may include an upper punch body configured to define an outer appearance of the upper punch, a first through-hole configured to pass through the upper punch body from a top surface of the upper punch body to one point between the top surface and a bottom surface of the upper punch body, and a second through-hole having an inner diameter greater than that of the first through-hole and configured to pass through the upper punch body from the one point to the bottom surface of the upper punch body, wherein the second through-hole communicates with the first through-hole.

In further another embodiment, the connection bar may include a head disposed outside the top surface of the upper punch body, and a fixed bar extending downward from the head to pass through the first and second through-holes so as to be fixed to the lower punch at a lower end thereof.

In further another embodiment, the head may have a diameter greater than that of the first through-hole so as not to be inserted into the first through-hole or have a diameter greater than that of a central hole of a washer disposed between the head and the top surface of the upper punch body.

In further another embodiment, an upper end of the elastic member may be inserted into the second through-hole so as to be seated on a jaw provided by a difference in inner diameter between the first through-hole and the second through-hole.

In further another embodiment, the upper punch may include an upper punch body configured to define an outer appearance of the upper punch, and a through-groove configured to pass through the upper punch body from one point between a top surface and a bottom surface of the upper punch body to the bottom surface of the upper punch body, and the connection bar may include a head disposed inside the through-groove, and a fixed bar having a diameter less than that of the head and extending downward from the head so as to be fixed to the lower punch at a lower end thereof, wherein an upper end of the elastic member may be inserted into the through-groove so as to be disposed below the head.

In further another embodiment, the elastic part may include a body portion inserted into the through-groove of the upper punch and having an inverted U-shaped cross-section, and an extension portion horizontally extending outward from a lower end of the body portion so as to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the upper punch body, wherein the connection bar and the elastic member may be inserted into an inner space of the body portion inserted into the through-groove.

In further another embodiment, the elastic part may include an outer elastic member disposed adjacent to an outer edge of the lower punch, and an inner elastic member disposed closer to a center of the lower punch than the outer elastic member.

In further another embodiment, the outer elastic member may have an elastic modulus less than that of the inner elastic member.

In further another embodiment, the lower die may include a lower die body which is configured to define an outer appearance of the lower die and in which the forming groove is defined, and a nest disposed to be vertically movable inside the forming groove and provided to support the punch moving into the forming groove.

In further another embodiment, the punch may be configured to move downward until the pouch film is in close contact with a top surface of the nest.

According to the present invention, since the punch pressing the pouch film includes the upper and lower punches, which are spaced apart from each other, and the elastic part disposed between the upper punch and the lower punch, the impact applied to the punch while being pressed by the punch or the impact applied to the member that is in direct or indirect contact with the punch may be effectively alleviated.

In addition, according to the present invention, even though the nest is applied to the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch, the elastic member for the buffering is provided in the punch, but not the nest, the outer appearance of the pouch may be more better molded compared to the case in which the elastic member is provided in the nest.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the vacuum elongation process may be applied to the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch, and when the vacuum elongation process is applied, the cup part of the pouch may be more angularly molded due to the vacuum operation and the pressing of the punch, and the depth of the cup part may be more uniformly molded.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art can easily carry out the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in several different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following examples.

In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of portions that are irrelevant to the description or related known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention have been omitted, and in the present specification, reference symbols are added to components in each drawing. In this case, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention. As illustrated in <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing a pouch according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention includes a lower die <NUM>, an upper die <NUM>, and a punch <NUM>.

The lower die <NUM> may be a die in which a forming groove <NUM> for forming a cup part <NUM> (see <FIG>) is defined. The forming groove <NUM> may be a groove or hole defined by be recessed downward from a top surface 112U of a lower die body <NUM> that defines an outer appearance of the lower die <NUM>. A pouch film F (see <FIG>) disposed on the top surface 112U of the lower die body <NUM> may be pressed to a lower side of the forming groove <NUM> by the punch <NUM> to be described later to form the cup part <NUM>.

The upper die <NUM> may be a die disposed to be spaced upward from the lower die <NUM>. A connection pillar B may be provided between the upper die <NUM> and the lower die <NUM> to maintain a separation distance therebetween. Cylinders <NUM> and <NUM> for vertical movement of the punch <NUM> or vertical movement of a stripper <NUM> to be described later may be disposed on the upper die <NUM>.

The punch <NUM> may be a block for pressing the pouch film F disposed on the lower die <NUM>. The punch <NUM> may be supported by the upper die <NUM>. The punch <NUM> may be provided to move toward the forming groove <NUM>. For example, the punch <NUM> may be connected to a punch cylinder <NUM> fixed to the upper die <NUM> so as to be indirectly fixed to the upper die <NUM> and may vertically move with respect to the upper die <NUM> according to the operation of the punch cylinder <NUM>. The punch cylinder <NUM> may include a cylinder body <NUM> and a cylinder rod <NUM> that is reciprocated according to a hydraulic pressure supplied to the inside of the cylinder body <NUM>. The punch <NUM> may be connected to the cylinder rod <NUM>.

The punch <NUM> may include an upper punch <NUM>. The upper punch <NUM> may be a block vertically movably connected to the upper die <NUM>. The cylinder rod <NUM> of the punch cylinder <NUM> may be coupled to the upper punch <NUM>. The upper punch <NUM> may include an upper block <NUM> disposed at an upper side, and a lower block <NUM> disposed at a lower side and provided wider in a left and right direction than the upper block <NUM> in <FIG>. The upper punch <NUM> may have an inverted T-shaped cross-section.

The punch <NUM> may include a lower punch <NUM>. The lower punch <NUM> may be a block disposed to be spaced downward from the upper punch <NUM>. The lower punch <NUM> may move together with the upper punch <NUM> according to the movement of the upper punch <NUM>. During such movement, the lower punch <NUM> may be in contact with the pouch film F to press the pouch film F (see <FIG>). The lower punch <NUM> is connected to the upper punch <NUM> by a predetermined bar and may move together with the upper punch <NUM> while being spaced apart from the upper punch <NUM>. For example, the lower punch <NUM> may be connected to be spaced apart from the upper punch <NUM> by a fixed bar <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be described later.

The punch <NUM> may include an elastic part <NUM> that elastically supports the lower punch <NUM> with respect to the upper punch <NUM>. For example, when the lower punch <NUM> is pressed upward by a nest <NUM> or the like to be described later while the lower punch <NUM> presses the pouch film F, the elastic part <NUM> may alleviate an impact applied to the lower punch <NUM> while pressing the elastic member <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be described (see <FIG>).

The elastic part <NUM> may be provided to elastically press the lower punch <NUM> downward in a state of being supported by the upper punch <NUM> so as to buffer the lower punch <NUM>. For example, the elastic member <NUM> of the elastic part <NUM> may be disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM> in the pressed state. An amount of compression of the elastic member <NUM> may be determined according to a required degree of the buffering.

The elastic part <NUM> may be disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>. For example, the whole or portion of the elastic part <NUM> may be disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a case in which a portion of the elastic part <NUM> is disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>.

In the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, since the punch <NUM> pressing the pouch film F includes the elastic part <NUM> disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>, the impact applied to the punch <NUM> while being pressed by the punch <NUM> or the impact applied to member (e.g., the nest <NUM> to be described) that is in direct or indirect contact with the punch <NUM> may be effectively alleviated.

The elastic part <NUM> of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the punch applied to the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch of <FIG>. The elastic part <NUM> may include a connection bar <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

The connection bar <NUM> may be a bar that is fixed to any one of the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM> and is movably connected to the other one of the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM> in a vertical direction with respect to the other one. <FIG> illustrates the connection bar <NUM> fixed to the lower punch <NUM> and movably connected to the upper punch <NUM>.

When the upper punch <NUM> moves in the vertical direction in <FIG>, the lower punch <NUM> connected to the upper punch <NUM> by the connection bar <NUM> may also move in the vertical direction together with the upper punch <NUM>. <FIG>, when the lower punch <NUM> moves upward by external force, only the connection bar <NUM> fixed to the lower punch <NUM> may move upward together with the lower punch <NUM> without moving the upper punch <NUM>. Here, the elastic member <NUM> may be pressed, and during the pressing, the elastic member <NUM> may elastically support the lower punch <NUM>. Thus, the impact applied to the lower punch <NUM> and the like may be alleviated.

The connection bar <NUM> may include a head <NUM> and a fixed bar <NUM> so as to be vertically movably connected to the upper punch <NUM> and fixed to the lower punch <NUM>.

The upper punch <NUM> may include an upper punch body <NUM> (including an upper block <NUM> and a lower block <NUM>) defining an outer shape of the upper punch <NUM>, and the head <NUM> may be disposed outside a top surface 134U of the upper punch body <NUM>. The head <NUM> may have a diameter greater than that of a through-hole <NUM> so as not to be inserted into the through-hole <NUM> (e.g., a first through-hole 135a to be described later). A washer W may be disposed between the head <NUM> and the top surface 134U of the upper punch body <NUM>. In this case, the head <NUM> may have a diameter greater than that of a central hole of the washer W passing through the fixed bar <NUM> to be described later.

The upper punch <NUM> may include a through-hole <NUM> (e.g., a first through-hole 135a and a second through-hole 135b to be described later) passing through the upper punch body <NUM> from the top surface 134U to a bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM>. Here, the fixing bar <NUM> may extend downward from the head <NUM> to pass through the through-hole <NUM>. A lower end of the fixed bar <NUM>, which is exposed to a lower side of the upper punch body <NUM>, may be fixed to the lower punch <NUM>. In <FIG>, the lower end of the fixed bar <NUM> provided to be pointed is exemplified, and a screw thread for screw-coupling with the lower punch <NUM> may be disposed at the pointed lower end of the fixed bar <NUM>.

The elastic member <NUM> is configured to provide elastic force of the elastic part <NUM> and may be, for example, a spring. The whole or a portion of the elastic member <NUM> may be disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an example in which a portion of the elastic member <NUM> is inserted into the second through-hole 135b to be described later, and a remaining portion of the elastic member <NUM> is disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may be provided to surround the connection bar <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. When the elastic member <NUM> is disposed to surround the connection bar <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM> may more stably support the lower punch <NUM> during the relative movement of the lower punch <NUM> with respect to the upper punch <NUM>. However, on the other hand, the elastic member may be disposed separately from the connection bar.

The elastic member <NUM> may be disposed to be seated in the second through-hole 135b of the first through-hole 135a and the second through-hole 135b defined in the upper punch body <NUM>. The first through-hole 135a may be a hole passing through the upper punch body <NUM> from the top surface 134U of the upper punch body <NUM> to one point P between the top surface 134U and the bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM>. The second through-hole 135b may have an inner diameter greater than that of the first through-hole 135a may a hole passing through the upper punch body <NUM> from the one point P to the bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM>. The first through-hole 135a and the second through-hole 135b may communicate with each other. Since the first through-hole 135a and the second through-hole 135b have different inner diameters, a jaw 135c may be disposed on a boundary between the first through-hole 135a and the second through-hole 135b. An upper end of the elastic member <NUM> may be inserted into the second through-hole 135b and be seated on the jaw 135c between the first and second through-holes 135a and 135b. Thus, the elastic member <NUM> may be stably disposed between the upper punch <NUM> and the lower punch <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to this embodiment may include a stripper <NUM> for pressing and fixing the pouch film F as illustrated in <FIG>. The stripper <NUM> may be connected to a stripper cylinder <NUM> fixed to the upper die <NUM> so as to be indirectly fixed to the upper die <NUM> and may vertically move with respect to the upper die <NUM> according to an operation of the stripper cylinder <NUM>. The stripper cylinder <NUM> may include a cylinder body <NUM> and a cylinder rod <NUM> that is reciprocated according to a hydraulic pressure supplied to the inside of the cylinder body <NUM>. The stripper <NUM> may be connected to the cylinder rod <NUM>. The punch <NUM> may move in the vertical direction by passing through the stripper <NUM> through a hole H defined in a central portion of the stripper <NUM>.

The lower die <NUM> according to this embodiment may include the lower die body <NUM> and the nest <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The lower die body <NUM> may be a block defining an outer appearance of the lower die <NUM>. A forming groove <NUM> may be defined in the lower die body <NUM> so as to be recessed inward. The nest <NUM> may be provided inside the forming groove <NUM> to support the punch <NUM> moving to the forming groove <NUM>. In order to change the support position according to the degree to which the punch <NUM> is inserted into the forming groove <NUM>, the punch <NUM> may be provided to move in the vertical direction inside the forming groove <NUM>. For this, a nest cylinder <NUM> for vertical movement of the nest <NUM> may be disposed on the lower die <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a process of molding the pouch film F by the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> are views for explaining a process of molding a pouch film using the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch of <FIG>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG>, a nest <NUM> moves downward. A moving distance of the nest <NUM> may be determined based on an insertion depth of a punch <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a case in which the nest <NUM> disposed adjacent to an upper opening of a forming groove <NUM> moves downward. When the nest <NUM> is disposed adjacent to a lower bottom surface of the forming groove <NUM>, the nest <NUM> may move upward.

Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, a stripper <NUM> descends by a stripper cylinder <NUM>. The stripper <NUM> may press a pouch film F disposed on a top surface 112U of a lower die body <NUM> to fix the pouch film F during molding of the pouch film F.

Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, internal air of the forming groove <NUM> is discharged through a vacuum passage <NUM> formed in the lower die body <NUM>. Thus, the pouch film F disposed on the top surface 112U of the lower die body <NUM> may be elongated downward. For such vacuum elongation, the vacuum passage <NUM> of the lower die body <NUM> may communicate with a vacuum pump (not shown).

The apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to this embodiment may be applied to a vacuum elongation process as described above. When the vacuum elongation process is applied, a cup part <NUM> of the pouch may be more angular, for example, an angle between a bottom surface and a side surface of the cup part <NUM> may be close to <NUM> degrees. The angled pouch may increase in volume of an electrode assembly accommodated in the same volume to improve energy density of the battery. In addition, when the vacuum elongation process is applied, in the manufactured pouch, a depth of the cup part <NUM> may be substantially constant.

It may be considered to disposed an elastic member under the nest <NUM> for buffering. However, if the elastic member is disposed under the nest <NUM>, during the vacuum elongation or during movement of the nest <NUM>, the pouch film F may be fitted between an inner wall of the lower die body <NUM>, which defines the forming groove <NUM>, and the nest <NUM> due to shaking of the nest <NUM>. This is undesirable because the outer appearance of the pouch is poor. However, in the apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to this embodiment, since the elastic member <NUM> for buffering is not disposed on the nest <NUM>, but disposed on the punch <NUM>, the above problem does not occur.

Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, the punch <NUM> descends by the punch cylinder <NUM>. As a result, the pouch film F is pressed, and thus, the cup part <NUM> of the pouch may be formed to be more angular. Here, an impact occurring between the punch <NUM> and the nest <NUM> may be alleviated by the elastic part <NUM> of the punch <NUM>. For example, when an impact is applied to the punch <NUM> by the nest <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the lower punch <NUM> may move toward the upper punch <NUM> in a state of being elastically supported by the elastic part <NUM>, and in this process, the impact occurring between the punch <NUM> and the nest <NUM> may be alleviated. This may be beneficial to the good outer appearance of the pouch or the lifetime of the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch.

The punch <NUM> may be provided to move downward until the pouch film F is in close contact with a top surface of the nest <NUM>. When moving as described above, the pouch film F may be pressed in a state in which a gap (except for a gap due to the film) is not formed between the punch <NUM> and the nest <NUM>, and thus, the outer appearance of the pouch is better molded.

Finally, as illustrated in <FIG>, the punch <NUM> ascends by the punch cylinder <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a punch applied to the apparatus for manufacturing the pouch of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a rear view illustrating a state after a lower punch of the punch of <FIG> is removed. A manufacturing apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM> is different from the manufacturing apparatus according to Embodiment <NUM> in a punch. Hereinafter, a punch <NUM> will be mainly described. For reference, the matters described in Embodiment <NUM> may be applied to Embodiment <NUM> in the same or similar manner.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention includes a lower die <NUM>, an upper die <NUM>, and a punch <NUM>. The lower die <NUM> may include a forming groove <NUM>. The lower die <NUM> may include a nest <NUM> disposed in the forming groove <NUM>. The punch <NUM> may include an upper punch <NUM> and a lower punch <NUM>. The upper punch <NUM> may include an upper block <NUM> and a lower block <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> for manufacturing the pouch according to this embodiment may include a stripper <NUM> for fixing a pouch film.

The punch <NUM> according to this embodiment may include an elastic part <NUM>. The elastic part <NUM> according to this embodiment may include an outer elastic member 246o and an inner elastic member 246i as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The outer elastic member 246o may be an elastic member disposed adjacent to an outer edge of the lower punch <NUM> (e.g., four vertexes of the lower punch with reference to <FIG>), and the inner elastic member 246i may be an elastic member disposed adjacent to a center of the lower punch <NUM> rather than the outer elastic member 246o. <FIG> illustrates an example in which four outer elastic members 246o and four inner elastic members 246i are provided. For reference, <FIG> is a rear view illustrating a state after removing the lower punch <NUM> of the punch <NUM>, but the outer edge and the center of the lower punch <NUM> may substantially correspond to an outer edge and a center of the upper punch <NUM>.

The punch <NUM> according to this embodiment may include elastic members 246o and 246i adjacent to the outer edge of the lower punch <NUM> or the upper punch <NUM> and adjacent to the center of the lower punch <NUM> or the upper punch <NUM>, respectively. Therefore, the lower punch <NUM> may be more stably supported through the elastic members 246o and 246i. For reference, connection bars <NUM> and <NUM>' (see <FIG>) may also be disposed at the centers of the outer elastic member 246o and the inner elastic member 246i as in Embodiment <NUM>.

In this embodiment, an elastic modulus of the outer elastic member 246o may be less than an elastic modulus of the inner elastic member 246i. In this case, the punch <NUM> may relatively strongly press a central portion on an area (e.g., an area corresponding to the forming groove) in which a cup part <NUM> will be formed in the pouch film F, and a peripheral portion may be relatively weakly pressed by the punch <NUM>. This may assist to suppress an occurrence of a problem in the edge (a boundary between a bottom surface and a side surface) of the cup part <NUM> during molding the cup part <NUM>. For reference, even if materials have the same elastic modulus, the above effect may be achieved by varying a degree of compression (e.g., by disposing the outer elastic member to be less pressed).

An elastic part 240o (hereinafter, referred to as an outer elastic part) disposed adjacent to an outer edge of the lower punch <NUM> and an elastic part 240i (hereinafter, referred to an inner elastic part) disposed closer to a center of the lower punch <NUM> than the outer elastic part may have different structures as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The outer elastic part 240o may have the same structure as the elastic part <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the outer elastic part 240o may include a connection bar <NUM>, which is provided with a head <NUM> and a fixed bar <NUM>, and an elastic member 246o. The outer elastic portion 240o may be disposed on a lower block <NUM> of the upper punch <NUM> having an inverted T-shaped cross-section.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an inner elastic part 240i may be disposed in an area of the lower block <NUM>, which corresponds to an upper block <NUM>. The inner elastic part 240i may include a connection bar <NUM>' and an elastic member 246i. The connection bar <NUM>' may include a head <NUM>' disposed inside a through-groove <NUM>' formed in the upper punch body <NUM>. Here, the through groove <NUM>' may be a groove formed to pass through the upper punch body <NUM> from one point P' between a top surface 234U and a bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM> to the bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM>. The connection bar <NUM>' may include a fixed bar <NUM>' that is formed with a diameter less than that of the head <NUM>' and extends downward from the head <NUM>' so as to be fixed to the lower punch <NUM> at a lower end thereof. An upper end of the elastic member 246i may be inserted into the through-groove <NUM>' to be disposed below the head <NUM>'.

In the upper punch <NUM>, an area on which the upper block <NUM> and the lower block <NUM> overlap each other may be thicker than the lower block <NUM>, and a top surface of the upper block <NUM> may be in contact with a bottom surface of the upper die <NUM>. Thus, the inner elastic part 240i may preferably have a shape accommodated in the through-groove <NUM>' of the upper punch body <NUM>.

The inner elastic part 240i may include a fixing member <NUM> inserted into and fixed to the through-groove <NUM>' of the upper punch body <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> may include a body portion 247a inserted into the through-groove <NUM>' and having an inverted U-shaped cross-section and an extension portion 247b horizontally extending outward from a lower end of the body portion 247a so as to be in close contact with the bottom surface <NUM> of the upper punch body <NUM>.

The connection bar <NUM>' and the elastic member 246i may be inserted into an inner space of the body portion 247a inserted into the through-groove <NUM>'. A stopper 247c horizontally protruding inward may be formed in the inner space of the body portion 247a. The stopper 247c may prevent the head <NUM>' of the connection bar <NUM>' from being separated downward. The stopper 247c may be spaced a predetermined distance downward from a ceiling surface of the inner space of the body portion 247a so as to allow vertical movement of the connection bar <NUM>'. An upper end of the elastic member 246i may be disposed below the stopper 247c.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>; <NUM>) for manufacturing a pouch, the apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a lower die (<NUM>) provided with a forming groove (<NUM>) for forming a cup part (<NUM>) in a pouch film (F);
an upper die (<NUM>) disposed to be spaced upward from the lower die (<NUM>); and
a punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) supported by the upper die (<NUM>) and configured to move toward the forming groove (<NUM>) so as to press the pouch film (F) to be disposed on the lower die (<NUM>),
wherein the punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprises:
an upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) vertically movably connected to the upper die (<NUM>);
a lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) disposed to be spaced downward from the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and configured to move together with the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) to press the pouch film (F);
an elastic part (<NUM>; <NUM>) disposed between the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and the lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) to elastically support the lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>);
characterized in that
the elastic part (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprises:
a connection bar (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>') fixed to any one of the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and the lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and connected to the other one of the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and the lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) so as to be movable in a vertical direction with respect to the other one; and
an elastic member (<NUM>; 246o; 246i) provided to surround the connection bar (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>') between the upper punch (<NUM>; <NUM>) and the lower punch (<NUM>; <NUM>).