Patent Description:
The secondary battery is drawing attentions as a new energy source for enhancing energy efficiency and environment friendliness in that the use of fossil fuels can be reduced greatly and no byproduct is generated during energy consumption.

Secondary batteries widely used at the preset include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries and the like. 5V to <NUM>.

When a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, it is common to configure a battery module composed of at least one battery cell first, and then configure a battery pack by using at least one battery module and adding other components. Here, the battery cells configuring a battery module or a battery pack may be pouch-type secondary batteries that may be easily stacked on one another.

Referring to <FIG>, a conventional battery cell <NUM>, which is a pouch-type secondary battery, includes an electrode assembly <NUM>, a pouch case <NUM> for packaging the electrode assembly <NUM>, and a pair of electrodes lead <NUM> protruding out of the pouch case <NUM> and electrically connected to the electrode assembly <NUM>.

Here, the pouch case <NUM> includes a pouch body <NUM> having an accommodation space for accommodating the electrode assembly <NUM>, and a pouch terrace <NUM> extending from the pouch body <NUM> and thermally fused by using a pouch case sealing device <NUM> for sealing the pouch case <NUM>.

The conventional pouch sealing device <NUM> is configured to include a pair of sealing jigs to seal four surfaces or three surfaces of the pouch case <NUM>. In recent years, three-surface sealing where only three surfaces among four side surfaces of the pouch body <NUM> are sealed is increasing in terms of securing the capacity of the battery cell <NUM> and space utilization. The conventional pouch sealing device <NUM> seals the pouch case <NUM> while the pair of sealing jigs press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace <NUM>.

However, when the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> is sealed by using the conventional pouch sealing device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, at least one end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> is compressed due to pressing and thus protrudes by a predetermined distance b out of one side surface of the pouch body <NUM>, which is non-sealed in a horizontal direction.

Since the protruding portion b of the pouch terrace <NUM> is disposed in the form of a so-called bat ear, it acts as a factor forming an unnecessary dead space when configuring a battery module or a battery pack, thereby lowering an energy density or deteriorating the efficiency of the assembling process.

Prior art is disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may prevent an end portion of a pouch terrace from protruding toward a non-sealing surface when a pouch case of a battery cell is sealed.

In addition, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may increase an energy density of the battery cell.

Moreover, a further object of the present disclosure is to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may enhance the efficiency of the assembling process.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pouch case sealing apparatus for sealing a pouch case that includes a pouch body for accommodating an electrode assembly of a battery cell and a pouch terrace extending from the pouch body on three surfaces among four side surfaces of the pouch body, the pouch case sealing apparatus comprising: a pair of sealing jigs configured to press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace in upper and lower directions of the pouch terrace so that the pouch case is sealed; and a terrace anti-protruding unit formed at a pressing surface of the pair of sealing jigs configured to prevent an end portion of the pouch terrace from protruding out of the pouch body at the non-sealed side surface in a horizontal direction of the pouch body when the pouch terrace is pressed and thermally fused.

The terrace anti-protruding unit may include: an anti-protruding guide projection configured to protrude with a slope from the pressing surface of any one sealing jig; and an anti-protruding guide groove having a shape corresponding to the anti-protruding guide projection and formed at the pressing surface of the other sealing jig.

When the pair of sealing jigs press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace, the anti-protruding guide projection and the anti-protruding guide groove may be engaged with the end portion of the pouch terrace being interposed therebetween while bending the end portion of the pouch terrace in at least one of upper and lower directions of the pouch body.

The anti-protruding guide projection and the anti-protruding guide groove may be provided at one end portions of the pressing surfaces of the pair of sealing jigs, respectively.

The anti-protruding guide projection and the anti-protruding guide groove may have a triangular shape.

The terrace anti-protruding unit may be formed integrally with the pair of sealing jigs.

The pouch case is sealed on three surfaces thereof.

According to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may prevent an end portion of a pouch terrace from protruding toward a non-sealing surface when a pouch case of a battery cell is sealed.

In addition, according to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may increase an energy density of the battery cell.

Moreover, according to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide a pouch case sealing apparatus, which may enhance the efficiency of the assembling process.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams for illustrating a pouch case sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> is for sealing a pouch case <NUM>, which includes a pouch body <NUM> for accommodating an electrode assembly <NUM> of a battery cell <NUM> and a pouch terrace <NUM> extending from the pouch body <NUM>.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described based on a case where the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> performs three-surface sealing that seals only three surfaces among four side surfaces of the pouch body <NUM> in terms of securing the capacity of the battery cell <NUM> and space utilization.

The pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> includes a sealing jig <NUM>, <NUM> and a terrace anti-protruding unit <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition to these components, the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> further includes other components for sealing the pouch case <NUM> such as a jig lifting unit and a jig driving unit.

The sealing jig <NUM>, <NUM> presses and thermally fuses the pouch terrace <NUM> in upper and lower directions of the pouch case <NUM> so that the pouch case <NUM> is sealed.

The sealing jig <NUM>, <NUM> is provided in a pair. The pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> has pressing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> that press the pouch terrace <NUM> in the pressing direction of the pouch terrace <NUM>.

The terrace anti-protruding unit <NUM>, <NUM> are formed at the pressing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM>. When the pouch terrace <NUM> is thermally fused due to the pressure, the terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> prevent an end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding out of the pouch body <NUM> in a horizontal direction of the pouch body <NUM>. The terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> are integrally formed at the pressing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively.

The terrace anti-protruding unit <NUM>, <NUM> is provided in a pair. The pair of terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> includes an anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and an anti-protruding guide groove <NUM>.

The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> may be formed at any one sealing jig <NUM>, and the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> may be formed at the other sealing jig <NUM>. For example, the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> may be formed at the sealing jig <NUM> that is disposed at an upper side among the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM>, and the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> may be formed at the sealing jig <NUM> that is disposed at a lower side among the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM>. On the contrary, it is also possible that the anti-protruding guide groove is formed at the sealing jig disposed at the upper side and the anti-protruding guide projection is formed at the sealing jig disposed at the lower side.

The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> protrudes with a slope from the pressing surface <NUM> of the any one sealing jig <NUM>. The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> may be formed with a substantially triangular shape and is provided at one end portion of the pressing surface <NUM> of the any one sealing jig <NUM>.

When the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace <NUM>, the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> is engaged with the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> with an end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> being interposed therebetween, to bend the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> in at least one of upper and lower directions of the pouch body <NUM>.

The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> includes a first inclined surface <NUM>, a second inclined surface <NUM>, and a guide surface <NUM>.

The first inclined surface <NUM> protrudes downward from the pressing surface <NUM> of the any one sealing jig <NUM>. Here, when the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> press the pouch case <NUM>, the first inclined surface <NUM> protrudes in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> to a height that does not exceed a bottom portion of the pouch body <NUM>. If the first inclined surface <NUM> may protrude over the bottom portion of the pouch body <NUM>, after the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, the pouch terrace <NUM> protrudes out of the bottom portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM>.

The second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes upward with a slope from the first inclined surface <NUM>. The second inclined surface <NUM> is formed longer than the first inclined surface <NUM> to secure a bending space.

The second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> to a height that does not exceed a top portion of the pouch body <NUM>. If the second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes further, after the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, the pouch terrace <NUM> may protrude out of the top portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM>.

The guide surface <NUM> extends from the second inclined surface <NUM> along the horizontal direction of the any one sealing jig <NUM>. When the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, if the pouch terrace <NUM> moves out of the second inclined surface <NUM>, the guide surface <NUM> prevents the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding out of the top portion of the pouch body <NUM>.

Moreover, if the pouch terrace <NUM> moves out of the second inclined surface <NUM>, the guide surface <NUM> additionally prevents the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding out of the pouch body <NUM> in the horizontal direction of the pouch case <NUM>.

The anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and is formed at the pressing surface <NUM> of the other sealing jig <NUM>.

The anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> may have a triangular shape corresponding to the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM>, and may be provided at one end portion of the pressing surface <NUM> of the other sealing jig <NUM>.

When the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace <NUM>, the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> is engaged with the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> with the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> being interposed therebetween, and bend the end portion of the pouch body <NUM> in at least one of the upper and lower directions of the pouch body <NUM>.

The anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> may include a first inclined surface <NUM>, a second inclined surface <NUM>, and a guide surface <NUM>.

The first inclined surface <NUM> is inclined downward from the pressing surface <NUM> of the other sealing jig <NUM> and may be formed at a position corresponding to the first inclined surface <NUM> of the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> in the vertical direction of the other sealing jig <NUM>.

The first inclined surface <NUM> is formed to have a depth that does not exceed the bottom portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> when the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> press the pouch case <NUM>. If the first inclined surface <NUM> has a greater depth, after the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, the pouch terrace <NUM> may protrude out of the bottom portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM>.

The second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes upward with a slope from the first inclined surface <NUM> and is formed at a position corresponding to the second inclined surface <NUM> of the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> in the vertical direction of the other sealing jig <NUM>. The second inclined surface <NUM> may be formed longer than the first inclined surface <NUM> to secure a bending space.

The second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes to a height that does not exceed the top portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM>. If the second inclined surface <NUM> protrudes further, after the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, the pouch terrace <NUM> may protrude out of the top portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the vertical direction of the pouch case <NUM>.

The guide surface <NUM> extends from the second inclined surface <NUM> along the horizontal direction of the any one sealing jig <NUM> and may be formed at a position corresponding to the guide surface <NUM> of the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM>.

When the pouch case <NUM> is sealed, if the pouch terrace <NUM> moves out of the second inclined surface <NUM>, the guiding surface <NUM> prevents the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding out of the top portion of the pouch body <NUM> together with the guiding surface <NUM> of the anti-protruding guiding projection <NUM>.

Moreover, if the pouch terrace <NUM> moves out of the second inclined surface <NUM>, the guide surface <NUM> additionally prevents the pouch case <NUM> from protruding out of the pouch body <NUM> in the horizontal direction together with the guide surface <NUM> of the anti-protruding guide projection <NUM>.

<FIG> are diagrams for illustrating terrace anti-protruding unit of the pouch case sealing apparatus according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> include an anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and an anti-protruding guide groove <NUM>. The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> are a square shape unlike the above-described embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> include an anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and an anti-protruding guide groove <NUM>. The anti-protruding guide projection <NUM> and the anti-protruding guide groove <NUM> are a semi-circular shape unlike the above-described embodiment.

As such, the shape of the terrace anti-protruding units may be a triangular shape, a square shape, or a semi-circular shape, as long as it can prevent the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding. In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to such a shape, and other shapes, for example, a trapezoidal shape or the like, which can prevent the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding, may be possible.

Hereinafter, the detailed operations of the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

<FIG> are diagrams for illustrating operations of the pouch case sealing apparatus of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> presses the pouch terrace <NUM> by means of the pair of sealing jigs <NUM>, <NUM> to seal the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, at this time, the terrace anti-protruding units <NUM>, <NUM> bend the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM>. Accordingly, the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> may be disposed not to exceed the end portion of the pouch body <NUM> in the horizontal direction of the pouch case <NUM>. Specifically, based on a non-sealing surface of the pouch body <NUM> where the pouch body <NUM> is not sealed, the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> may be disposed inner the non-sealing surface of the pouch body <NUM> by a predetermined distance d in the horizontal direction of the pouch case <NUM>, due to the bending.

Thus, the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment prevents the end portion of the pouch terrace <NUM> from protruding toward the non-sealing surface side when the pouch case <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> is sealed.

Accordingly, the pouch case sealing apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment may remarkably increase the energy density of the battery cell <NUM> because a dead space conventionally caused by a protruding burr is not formed.

Claim 1:
A pouch case sealing apparatus (<NUM>) for sealing a pouch case (<NUM>) that includes a pouch body (<NUM>) for accommodating an electrode assembly (<NUM>) of a battery cell (<NUM>) and a pouch terrace (<NUM>) extending from the pouch body (<NUM>) on three surfaces among four side surfaces of the pouch body (<NUM>), the pouch case sealing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a pair of sealing jigs (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to press and thermally fuse the pouch terrace (<NUM>) in upper and lower directions of the pouch terrace (<NUM>) so that the pouch case (<NUM>) is sealed; characterized by
a terrace anti-protruding unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed at a pressing surface (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the pair of sealing jigs (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to prevent an end portion of the pouch terrace (<NUM>) from protruding out of the pouch body (<NUM>) at the non-sealed side surface in a horizontal direction of the pouch body (<NUM>) when the pouch terrace (<NUM>) is pressed and thermally fused.